Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here I am; send me. (Isa. 6:8)

Experience the Ministry of Volunteer commitment. Your time and efforts are a much appreciated and effective form of Social Ministry through which your commitment to God, Christianity, Love or any other aspect of your faith can be fulfilled and shared with others. You will enjoy the social communication and the feeling of reward from even the simplest involvement in a charitable or volunteer effort. I know I do as the webmaster of the Church's website. I may not see you, but I know my efforts are helping or assisting others and that always feels good.

Check below to see if there is an area of interest for you to involve yourself with. Seasonal Decorating events are an easy commitment at different times throughout the year. Pick one or try all the seasons. You will probably be exposed to the "sharing of the donuts" ritual, although not officially sanctioned by the ELCA, it is never frowned upon!

Pick an opportunity, try it, like it, or not; then pick a different opportunity next and try that. You will reap rewards you may not have imagined. If you need inspiration, just observe the quantity and quality of the volunteer commitment expressed by our own Youth group. They are somehow involved in almost every Sunday social get together we attend throughout the year. Their guidance and commitment is strong and so ours should be also.

If you do not find a contact for your interest through this page or the Volunteer Opportunityannouncements page, please call Judy Foland (ext. 10) at the office to find the correct contact person for your interest or email to info@blcenc.org 

Click to Print Social Ministries Info Request Form

Ongoing Year-round Activities:   Feeding the hungry at First Lutheran Church in San Diego with the Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO).   Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate sales after Sunday worship.   Sewing/quilting on Wednesdays.   Food collection for St Andrews food pantry.

Throughout the year, we have "work parties" at Bethlehem Church, usually on a Saturday from 9AM to 12PM. Dennis Astroth, our maintenance manager, identifies the needs and schedules the dates. Please watch the announcements for an opportunity to bring your trade skills to help the ccongregation.
Type of tasks we perform:

  1. Scrape, prime, and paint lower cinder block wall near Family Center entrance
  2. Scrape and paint white picket fence on south side of Family Center play yard (next to parking lot).  
  3. Remove broken fence post on Family Center play yard south side picket fence and cement new post in place.
  4. Remove dirt from around base of several landscape plants – mounded dirt is preventing plants from breathing.
  5. Replace water stained ceiling tiles in Childcare classrooms.
  6. Touch-up water stained ceiling in Family Center classroom
  7. Stain and varnish shelf legs in Family Center entrance.
  8. Build retaining wall behind Childcare building – tentative
  9. Paint fire lane curbs red
  10. Paint chain link fence between Family Center and Childcare building

As previously stated, the partaking of the donuts is not  a Church sanctioned ceremony. We do it anyway and we do it early on in the belief that feeding the hungry and weary is a good Christian effort. Free donuts and coffee to the first 100.  Just show up ready to work!

Worship Service

 Worship coordinators - oversee the preparations before and after worship services. Assist the various worship service volunteers in their Sunday morning duties. Recruit attending congregational members to assist at worship service, as needed.

 Acolytes- attend to the lighting and extinguishing of candles for services, assist in gathering offering, assist at Holy Communion. Youth from 3rd grade up.

 Chancel Care- orders and stores supplies, prepare bread and wine for Holy Communion. Includes cleaning up after worship and setting up for the next service, if necessary. Maintains supplies in the pew racks.

 Ushers - Distribute bulletins to the worshipers, assist those who have special needs, assist with gathering offering and assist at Holy Communion.

 Lay Assistants - read lessons of the day, participate in prayers with pastor and assist at Holy Communion.

 Coffee Servers - prepare and serve coffee and snacks at the end of worship services.

For more information   about these opportunities, please contact Dennis Astroth 760-943-8681.  d_astroth@hotmail.com 


Seasonal Decorating

Volunteers - prepare the sanctuary for celebration of the following Church seasons:
  Advent
  Christmas
  Epiphany
  Easter
  Pentecost
  Holy Trinity
  Reformation Sunday
  All Saints Sunday

Music Ministry

Adult Choir - Sing on selected Sundays and special occasions.

Children's Choir - Sing on selected Sundays and special occasions.

Handbell Choir - Play on selected Sundays and special occasions.

Teen Rock - Perform on selected Sundays and special occasions.

Education

Sunday School- Sunday mornings for Pre-K to Grade 6.

Camp Coordination - Grades 4 - 6 winter and summer retreats.

Vacation Bible School- Pre-K to Grade 6.

Youth Groups - Grades 7-12.


Social Ministries

January - we house the homeless at Bethlehem as part of the Interfaith Shelter program.

February - We participate in the Jubilee Campaign for Third World debt reduction.

May - We collect layettes for "Mommy to Be."

June - We provide quilted/sewn schoolbags for local students (LWR).

August - We collect school age children's clothing.

September - We collect blankets and sleeping bags for agricultural workers.

October - We start sewing children's pajamas for Christmas.

November - 1) We help provide turkeys for the Community Resource Center.
2) We sponsor a pre-Christmas alternative crafts fair (LWR).
3) We participate in Angel Gifts (aka Secret Santa).

December - We continue our participation with Angel Gifts.

For more information  about Social Ministries, please contact Jim Cowles jwcowles@adelphia.net  or Chacha Appel (760) 632-1057 or Audrey Murphy (760) 630-7763.