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
November Green Envelope
This month the Green Envelope offering goes to ELCA’s World Hunger. More than 800 million people (11% in our world today) are hungry. As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. The ELCA is positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible to respond,
supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty. Your Green Envelope offering makes a difference!
*All data from www.ELCA.org.
Operation Christmas Child
In more than 100 countries, Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts are used by local Christians as a strategy for evangelism, discipleship, and the multiplication of
believers and churches in their communities. You are encouraged to pack a shoebox this season! More
important than the items inside the shoebox, the gifts are an opportunity to share God’s love and the light of Christ with children in need. Each gift shows a precious child that he or she is loved and not forgotten. Please pack any standard size shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, hygiene items, other small gifts, and a personal note with a picture. How to Pack Your Shoebox” brochures and red and green shoeboxes are available. Please return your shoebox gifts to Morning Star by Sunday, November 24.
ON-Going Events to join
2019 Habitat for Humanity Build
Morning Star is part of a 15-church coalition working together on a house build. The Faith Coalition Build has started.. Our Coalition will help with a build at 3019 Pratt St.
Remember...you can volunteer for our build at any time. You don't need to wait for God's Work, Our Hands Sunday!
Tai Chi Classes
Tai Chi has returned to Morning Star!
Master Frank Fong & Tina Fong lead a Tai Chi class in the Welcome Center on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM. The class is adaptable for all ages and abilities. There is no charge. An offering will be taken.
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.
NOVEMBER - ELCA's World Hunger
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. Our first 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. Please take 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
- September 2019 Food for Friends
- August 2019 Table Grace Cafe
- July 2019 New Visions Homeless Services
- June 2019 Scatter Joy Acres
- May 2019 - ELCA Disaster Relief: Local Flooding
- April 2019 - Project Harmony
- March & February 2019 - Habitat for Humanity
- January 2019 - MSLC Youth Ministry
- December 2018 - Refugee Program
- November 2018 - ELCA World Hunger
- October 2018 - Food for Friends
Habitat for Humanity 2019 Effort
Morning Star has been a supporter of Habitat for over 20 years. We are a member of the Faith House Coalition. Our 2019 Faith House home dedication is Tuesday, November 26 at 10 AM at King Solomon Church on Evans St. All are invited to join!
More Results
Cereal Bowl - January Outreach Project
A friendly competition ran through the month of January between Team Flakes (last name begins with A-L) and Team Puffs (last name beings with M-Z). Participants brought in ANY cereal prior to Feb. 4 when the ounces were totaled. A total of 2,249.9 oz. of cereal collected from this fun competition was donated to the Kountze Commons Food Pantry. The Puff team was victorious this year with a total of 1,201.4 oz over the Flakes donation of 1,048.5 oz. of cereal. Thanks everyone for participating!
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
Family is settled
The apartment is set up and the kids are in school. See video walk-though below.
Transportation support for our Refugee Family
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.
Progress Update April 15th
Morning Star welcomed our Afghan refugee family in mid- October.
Try to imagine traveling thousands of miles with four young children? The generosity of our Morning Star family provided the contents of their 2 bedroom apartment. A childhood friend from Afghanistan, living in Omaha, helped the family purchase a van.
Mohammad, the father, quickly secured a $11/hour job. It seems necessary to begin at this level to create a work history. The three girls are enrolled in elementary school and love school. Muzghan, the mother, is enrolled in ESL classes and 2 year old Ahmad attends also. Muzghan is determined to learn English and eventually get a driver’s license. Morning Star members drive her to her classes M-F.
Several members took the family on a zoo outing which they loved. Morning Star gifted the family a zoo membership. Prior to Valentines’s Day the girls came to Morning Star and made valentine cards and boxes for their valentines. The family invited those who have been assisting them to help celebrate Ahmad’s second birthday. The food and friendship were amazing. During Spring break, Morning Star members took the girls to the Joslyn Art Museum to experience the special children’s interactive exhibit. We are looking forward to having mom and the children participate in our Easter egg hunt.
Support from Lutheran Family Services is winding down. An internal MS grant will help assist with their rent for an additional six months. The family is so very grateful for all of Morning Star’s help help and caring.
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.
