God’s Work. Our Hands. weekend began for Morning Star, Matthews (MSLC) on Friday, September 8 as we rekindled a relationship with our neighbor, Blessed Assurance Adult Day Care Center. MSLC served a BBQ lunch, Tom Eure and Amelia Osborne played music, rounds of BINGO were called, and mandalas were colored with about 60 older adults.

Early on Saturday, the Lutheran Men in Mission prepared their signature hearty breakfast and learned about Disaster Response with Pastor Ray Sipe of the NC Synod. Folks then dispersed to pick up trash on Rice Road, spruce up the grounds at the chapel labyrinth, polish handbells, or collect and sort donations with our community partner, Servant’s Heart. Morning Star also hosted a La Leche League baby fair for lots of mamas and babies.

Following worship on Sunday, the Family Life Center was abuzz as folks from all generations served alongside each other. Some projects, such as the personal care kits for the Men’s Shelter, KAIROS placemats, and baskets of love for our local first responders, are part of ongoing ministries at Morning Star.

We also expanded our community connections by making fleece tie blankets for Living Waters Lutheran Church in Cherokee and packing Lego and slime kits for young patients at Levine Children’s Hospital. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Fresh Change Kits were a special project this year, funded in part by a Refugee Resettlement Seed Grant from the NC Synod. These clothing bags welcome our new neighbors with a fresh set of clothes; a simple, but meaningful comfort at a time when everything else is upside down and feels anything but cozy.

God’s love was shared through the work of our hands and our community will surely be blessed. Even more so, our time serving together was a gift to each of us as we renewed relationships, expanded our vision for ministry, and discovered new connections.