Outreach supports efforts to “share God’s love” by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through invitation and serving the needs of people beyond our congregation. Below are the local, national and international Outreach Opportunities to serve along with contact information to participate...

Upcoming Outreach opportunties

Mission trip participants:

• John, Linda and Amy Bavier
• Curt, Mary and Connor Grimley
• Dave, Lisa and Laura McCarty
• Lucinda and Andrea Palm
• Trang Pham

Thank you for your continued support of this vital ministry. The next trip will be January 19-26, 2008. If you are interested in sponsoring a child to attend school, contact Rich 763-421-0504.

partnership and the church in Villa Esfuerzo
upcoming Adult Mission Trips

School Supply Drive
During the month of August, we will collect school supplies for students and teachers attending low-income schools in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis. Monetary donations are also accepted to purchase supplies. For more information, e-mail Tabi

Neighborhood Open House
Here’s an opportunity to reach our neighbors and let them know about our congregation and its mission. The neighborhood is invited to an open house on Saturday, August 4 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Schematics of our building plans will be available and the Facilities Team will be there to field any questions. In addition, the open house will take place during the Jeremy Sanoski outdoor concert that will be held that afternoon. For more information, contact Mike at 763-420-9522.

Jr High Mission Trip
A group of Jr. High youth and adults from Maple Grove Lutheran go to Rock Island, Illinois August 5-10 to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for all of your support! Remember to keep them in your prayers for safety and for God's hand to touch each participant. For more information, contact Todd.

Maple Grove Lutheran Foundation Silent Auction
Our mission is to financially assist and empower our congregation and serve our community in the spirit of Christian giving. Thanks to your donations and attendance at the auction last year, we raised nearly $5,000! Because of this, we distributed funds to CROSS (Christians Reaching Out In Social Service), ASON (Americans Serving Other Nations) and the MGLC Camp Scholarship Fund. Due to the significant success of last year’s auction, the Maple Grove Lutheran Foundation is sponsoring our 2nd Annual Silent Auction on Sunday, October 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Bring a friend to help the Foundation continue to grow and in turn enable us to further our meaningful mission of helping others. For more about MGL Foundation, visit Maple Grove Lutheran Foundation.

Silent Auction Donations Needed
Your donations are extremely important to the success of the Maple Grove Lutheran Foundation silent auction. We are seeking a variety of donations for this evening of fun and excitement. Some ideas include gift baskets, gift certificates, sports tickets, theatre/arts tickets, sports memorabilia, art work, vacation home use, personal services (slave for a day, house cleaning, maintenance, running errands). For more information,  contact John Poyer at 763-420-7719.

Located in Brooklyn Park, Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization founded in 1987 by a Minnesota businessman. After making a trip to Honduras, he felt called by God to help starving children around the world.

How you can help. Package nutritious meals that will be sent to those in need around the world. Groups serve the third Thursday of each month, 6:00-7:30 p.m. in Brooklyn Park near the intersection of Hwy 81 and 694. Contact Todd.

Food Collection Sunday
The first Sunday and first Wednesday of every month is Food Collection Sunday. During the offering, children bring their donations forward to the altar. A special way to encourage children to be an active part of the worship service and encourage helping others. Food is donated to CROSS, serving Maple Grove and the surrounding communities and Jordan New Life, serving a section of Minneapolis.

Other Outreach opportunities throughout the year

Adopt-A-Highway
Service project for youth to clean-up a 2 ½ mile stretch of East Fish Lake Road each spring and fall. Contact Todd.

Blood Drive
Much of today’s medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors. While 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, only 5% donate regularly.

Here’s an opportunity to roll up our sleeves and give the gift of life; be a blood donor.  The foremost reason donors say they give is because they “want to help others.” The Memorial Blood Centers Bloodmobile comes to MGLC twice a year in the spring and the fall. To donate blood, you must be age 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Volunteers needed to coordinate the bi-annual blood drives. For more information, contact Curt at 763-424-2782 or visit www.mbc.org.

Boy Scouts
MGLC provides facilities for scout activities and supports Troop 84 as their Charter Organization. For more info, contact Tom at 763-420-1009.

Carry the Cross          
Each year the members of several area churches gather at the Maple Grove Arboretum for a Good Friday prayer service. MGLC members carry a cross from our church to the prayer service as a public witness to our faith in the crucified and risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Contact Pastor Peterson.

Loaves and Fishes
Our 15th year serving Loaves and Fishes! Four times a year MGLC members serve a hot meal and smile for residents of the River of Life Lutheran Church neighborhood in North Minneapolis. Join us in this wonderful service event. Help with shopping, cooking, setup, serving, and clean up. Contact Curt.

Kinship of Greater Minneapolis
Spending time with a child who needs a positive and supportive presence. Kinship is a well-run program that matches individuals and families with children ages 5-15 in need of trustful, adult friendship and encouragment to realize their God-given potential. Training and on-going support provided. For more information, visit kinship.

Mission Trip to Bethlehem Lutheran Church
MGLC members went to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina clean up in 2006 and began a partnership with Bethlehem, the only African American Lutheran church there. This church is taking its place as the cornerstone of life in the community. Another mission trip is planned. Please keep Pastor Patrick Keen and his congregation in your prayers. For more info, see Pastor Peterson or Mary.

Metro-Paint-A-Thon
Painting the exterior of a home for a low-income senior citizen the first Thursday and Saturday of August. MGLC has participated for 16 years. Contact Mike at 763-420-9522.

Youth Mission Trips  
Every year the senior high youth at MGLC serve as the hands and feet of Jesus on a summer mission trip. Trips have gone as far away as Georgia, San Francisco, Illinois and as close as North Minneapolis. For more information, contact Todd.

Church School Mission Projects        
Various monthly projects support local missions:

September – School supply collection for CROSS

October – College Care package supply collection

November – Giving to Families Advocating for Children in Crisis Christmas

February – Church School kids offer two cents for each meal eaten together during Lent. Donations are given to financially-challenged families of Jordan New Life church.

March – CROSS Easter Baskets are made with supply donations from Church School kids and assembled by two year olds through kindergarten during the Eggstravaganza party.

April – Donations for St. Anne’s Place, a shelter for battered women.

For more information, contact Kathy at 763-420-6344.