Grace Lutheran Church supports many local, national, and world-wide ministries and their services through prayer, volunteering, and with financial resources through the generous giving of our congregation. Our outreach into the community and wider church through our benevolence budget is overseen by the Social Concerns committee.
A brief description of some of these ministries along with links to their web sites follows.
Breaking the cycly of poverty and homelessness
Each year Urban Ministry of Palo Alto provides 22,000 free hot meals, 17,000 bags of groceries and 4,800 nights of housing through a rotating emergency shelter program. Other supportive services include housing referrals, a clothing closet, a money management service and transportation vouchers. The Drop-In Center near the main train station in downtown Palo Alto is the only center of its type in the Mid-Peninsula and serves as the point of entry for those who are newly homeless or have recently decided to break the cycle and are searching for shelter and transitional housing. The agency works closely with other community groups to avoid duplication of services and to leverage additional materials and services. Urban Ministry receives much of its food at little or no cost from Second Harvest Food Bank. A substantial amount of canned food for distribution at the Food Closet is collected through community food drives.
Sunny View retirement community provides quality housing, care and services to elders. Sunny View retirement strives to provide: Feelings of home in a place that is comfortable and inviting. Reassurance that neighbors and caregivers are caring and loving. Comfort in a community that gives joy and meaning to life. Sunny View has been a leader of quality care amoung the California Associations of Homes and Services for the Aging. Founded by the holistic approach to promote the well being of residents’ body, mind and spirit. They are accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.
Voice of the Children provides street children with food, clothing, shelter, education and medical treatment through its Christian* orphanage, soup kitchen, and other programs in and around St. Petersburg, Russia. Voice of the Children serves all children regardless of race, religion, or background.
Bayshore Christian Ministries (BCM) serves youth in the East of Bayshore community, meeting practical and spiritual needs through leadership training, spiritual development and life skills application. BCM programs continue to grow and effectively serve over 250 youth participants each year in small group settings with individualized attention. An emphasis on long-term, deeply committed mentoring relationships results in a profound impact for the youth. Founded in 1984 and incorporated in 1987, Bayshore Christian Ministries is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) non-sectarian organization, whose programs are open to any East of Bayshore youth regardless of disability, race, religion or ethnic origin.
Friends of Global Health Ministries (GHM) help provide a gift of life -- both physical and spiritual -- through Lutheran health care work across the world. GHM goals are met by providing financial support, shipping of urgently needed medical supplies, assisting in recruiting of medical personnel and funding for training of national heath care givers.
Mount Cross is a beautiful campground and retreat setting located in the Santa Cruz mountains of California, combining the beauty of nature with the contemplation of religious life.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) commitment to supporting people who live with chronic hunger and poverty around the corner and around the world is carried out by ELCA World Hunger through relief, development, education, and advocacy.
Kyros (KIR-os) is the Greek word for a power that is legitimate, but limited and compassionate. Using scriptural wisdom, social research, and extensive experience, Kyros Ministry develops leadership within the religious community to create healthy power relationships within congregations, prevent misuse of power, and protect those at risk of abuse. The "what" and "why" of Kyros’ work is found in its Affirmation of Faith and in the social justice work that it does.
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Grace Lutheran Church | The Rev. Matthew A. Smuts, Pastor | 3149 Waverley Street • Palo Alto, CA 94306 | 650 494-1212 | 650 494-1572/fax |
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