Reaching out to Share Christ's Light
We are very active in our mission to serve as Christ served. We partner with several local, national, and world organizations to serve those in need. If you don't find a project that interests you, share your ideas with the Outreach Committee.
" I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. "
Matthew 25:35
Current short-term Projects
Cereal Bowl - January Project
A friendly competition between Team Flakes (last name begins with A-L) and Team Puffs (last name beings with M-Z). Bring in ANY cereal prior to Feb. 4 when the ounces will be totaled. All cereal collected from this fun competition will be donated to the Kountze Commons Food Pantry.
Crossroad Connections
Collecting clothing for recently released inmates. This program is run during the fall and winter months. These are for adults, primarily men but women's clothing is also accepted. Urgent items needed are: winter coats & gloves; plus-sized clothing; work pants & jeans; white cotton socks.
On-Going Programs
Green envelope
The Green Envelope is our monthly donation project. Each month we designate a specific partner-in-service to receive funds. Donation envelopes are in the pews.
JANUARY - MSLC Youth Program
Refugee Family
Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger. As a major outreach initiative, we are partnering with Lutheran Family Services to host a refugee family. The family is here and settled-in. Join us as we provide continuing support and encouragement.
Prayer Shawls
Join the prayer shawls knitters and crocheters on Sundays and please grab a prayer shawl if you know someone in need of comfort and prayer.
Little Free Library
The LFL is stocked with a variety of good, quality books that we hope will interest you and our neighbors. Stop by and take whatever interests you. You can return the book when you’re finished or contribute a book you no longer need. The LFL books are always free!
Past projects and results
Green envelope program
- November 2018 - ELCA World Hunger
- October 2018 - Food for Friends
- September 2018 - Food for Friends
- August 2018 - New Visions Homeless services
Habitat for Humanity
Morning Star has been a supporter of Habitat for over 20 years. We are a member of the Faith House Coalition. As of November 30, the Faith House churches have raised $43,000 in cash to support the building efforts. Incredible! This year, the Faith House Coalition completed a new build on Emmet Street, and Lino, Grace and family were all moved in before Christmas
More Results
Angel Tree Results
The first 20 gifts were delivered Dec. 18 with more delivered Dec. 19. Thanks Cindy for coordinating this project. Gifts for 40 children, ages 22 months to 17 years, were shared through our partners at Lutheran Family Services and Boys & Girls Westside Club. You also donated gift cards totaling $190 to help support families through Restored Hope. Thank you all for making Christmas merrier for those children and families.
Food for Friends
Food For Friends started about 20 years ago by a member of Morning Star, Bob Donovan, who saw a need to feed his "working poor" brothers and sisters a Thanksgiving meal. These were individuals, some he knew and some he didn't know, who worked hard every day but never seemed to earn enough around the Holidays to have those special meals. A Green Envelope offering started with the first few years seeing approximately 50 families with Thanksgiving meals delivered by Morning Star volunteers.
In 2018, 158 families received Thanksgiving meals from donations by our Green Envelope offering. After Bob relocated to another church, different individuals assumed leadership over the years. Currently the Dan and Laurel Mooney family lead this volunteer project.
Welcome the stranger project updates
2 children with welcome signs at the Omaha airport
Family is settled
The apartment is set up and the kids are in school. See video walk-though below.
Transportation support
Volunteers are serving with transportation support four days a week to help the mother of our family to get to English class. She is doing great as her English skills are improving. Please contact the Outreach team if you are available to support this need.
Keep up the momentum
Outreach Goals for 2019
Serving our community within: We will continue with our defined programs as previously mentioned in serving our community within and for future working toward more volunteer opportunities for us (our whole congregation) to play a more active role in the day to day lives of our Preschool children and staff.
Serving our community within the city: Again, we will continue programs previously mentioned with a goal in 2019 for supporting a new organization, Scatter Joy Acres, a volunteer organization that rescues, feeds, and cares for neglected animals training them to be therapy animals, who in turn support vulnerable individuals.
Serving our community within the world: We will continue our established programs. Our refugee program was new for this congregation in 2018. We started with the will to carry out this goal, and with major congregational support, we were successful in supporting a family of six from Afghanistan who arrived in Omaha mid-October 2018 with a fully furnished apartment and other necessities to start their new lives in this country. Our goal is to grow this program with continued support for our first family until they are fully self sufficient, and growing the program to support future refugees for years to come.
Stained-glass from our Welcome Center with the words "Welcome the Stranger"