Tuesday, Feb. 07, 2012

Hope Lutheran feeds hundreds in Wake Forest

Each month, Hope Lutheran Church’s Brown Bag Ministry provides lunches to more than 450 people who otherwise might not have nutritious food to eat.

On the first and third Saturdays, volunteers make sandwiches and pack brown bags with fruit, granola bars, snack items and a printed Bible verse. The volunteers then head to low-income areas in Wake Forest to pass out the food.

The ministry targets children who receive meals through the school lunch program during the week and might not have access to healthy food over the weekend, but provides the lunches to anyone in the community.

“As soon as we pull in, the kids in the neighborhood start coming up to the car. We are handing out lunches faster than we can get them out of the car,” said Tab Cosgrove, associate pastor at Hope Lutheran. All of the food is typically distributed within 20 minutes, he said.

“One woman told us that she keeps all of the Bible verses on her mirror to remind her of God’s love and that he is there,” Cosgrove said.

Texas Roadhouse in Wake Forest donates the rolls, and other food is donated by church and community members. Hope Lutheran accepts financial donations to purchase perishable items. Donations of fruit, snack items and granola bars can also be dropped off at Hope Lutheran Church, 3525 Rogers Road, Wake Forest, during business hours.

The church encourages members of the community to help make and deliver lunches. Groups such as Girl Scout troops are invited to volunteer the first Saturday of each month, and the third Saturday of each month is open to individual volunteers. To volunteer, contact Debbie Irgens at 919-554-8109 or jcirgens@earthlink.net.

“There is definitely a need, even in a suburbia town like Wake Forest,” Cosgrove said. “We are finding that many families are really struggling and could really use some help, and we are trying to respond.”

St. James adds third service

St. James United Methodist in Raleigh recently added a third Sunday morning service at 9:45 a.m. The worship service meets in Carson Hall at the church, 3808 St. James Church Road. The church invites people to come dressed “as they are” and bring their coffee to enjoy. The service, called Common Thread, features music from a small band along with a message and scripture. The first few weeks will explore topics on the theme “Who is This Man?” For more information, email kim@stjamesraleigh.org, call 919-876-5796 or visit www.stjumc.us/commonthread.

Hope Community singles service

Hope Community Church invites singles of any age to attend its upcoming singles worship night at 821 Buck Jones Road in Raleigh. From 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, singles will enjoy food, social time, music and worship. Attendees are welcome to bring a dish to share. The monthly worship service is more casual than Sunday morning services and focuses specifically on issues related to singles. For more information, email singles@gethope.net, call 919-532-0620 or visit facebook.com/hccjourney.

Jewish meditation group and Seder

Beth Meyer Synagogue and Yavneh, a Jewish Renewal Community, offer a Jewish meditation group the first and third Tuesday of each month. The group meets from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. at Beth Meyer Synagogue, 504 Newton Road in Raleigh. The class is free, and newcomers to meditation are welcome. For more information, call 919-848-1420 or visit bethmeyer.raleigh.nc.us.

Yavneh is honoring Tu B’Shvat, the new year for the trees, with a breakfast Seder at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. The event will be at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1725 North New Hope Road, Raleigh. Regular Shabbat morning worship will follow the Seder. If you are planning to attend, email rsvp@yavneh-raleigh.org or visit yavneh-raleigh.org.

Guest pastor at First Baptist

First Baptist Church on Salisbury Street welcomes Dr. W. Randall Lolley as a guest preacher at the 11 a.m. service Sunday, Feb. 12. His visit is part of the church’s 200th anniversary celebration this spring. Lolley was president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1974 to 1987 and also served as pastor at First Baptist Church. Other guest preachers in upcoming months include Dr. R. Wayne Stacy, Dr. J. Daniel Day and Dr. Molly T. Marshall. For more information, call 919-832-4485 or visit www.fbcraleigh.org.