OUTREACH
FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
Friendship house is an organization that helps people who are struggling with any number of issues in their lives. Once a month, on a Sunday afternoon, Fir-Conway Lutheran Church serves the meal at the Friendship House Cafe’ in downtown Mount Vernon. Volunteers provide lasagna, salad, garlic bread, milk and cookies for anyone who is hungry. We welcome help to keep this program going by providing donations of food or funds and volunteering to serve the meal. Sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall.
YMCA Oasis Teen Shelter
At the YMCA Oasis Teen Shelter, homeless youth from all over Skagit County are given overnight shelter, hot meals, and the support they need to improve their lives. Oasis has provided short-term emergency shelter to youth ages 13-17 since 1997 and operates 365 days a year. Fir-Conway Lutheran Church supports this organization with financial and practical gifts.Often collecting warm coats, sweatshirts, hats, mittens and scarfs.
Other needs are listed on their website www.skagitymca.org/ymca-oasis
Josephine Caring Community
Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood is a Lutheran facility that combines a Preschool Program, Nursing Care, Transitional Rehab, and Senior Assisted Living. The local ELCA churches support this Community through financial and direct involvement. We are invited each year to the annual meeting, and the Chaplain Andy Yee comes up to share what is happening there at least once a year. The Lydia Ladies Aid has helped with gifts over the years.
Family Promise
We have been a host church Family Promise in the past and hope to find ways to help them into the future. More recently we have helped other churches by providing overnight support. “Working as a team, churches, community members and businesses network together to shine a light in the darkness for homeless families in Skagit Valley.”
Prayer Chain
When there is an illness, hospitalization, death in the family, or any kind of struggle, the prayer chain at Fir-Conway can get activated. There is one list for people who have home phones, and another for those with texting and cell phones. Messages are also sent out by email. It is an important outreach of prayer for those who are struggling. The same prayer chain may also be used to share about recovery from illness or for those who have a new baby or have good news to share! Prayer chain requests can be sent to secretary@firconwaylutheran.
Easter Egg Hunt
Each year, on the Saturday before Easter, several members of Fir-Conway Lutheran and their children create an Easter Egg Hunt for the nearby Conway School children. The plastic eggs, candy, and prizes are all donated. It is a good outreach for our congregation to invite our neighbors in the school community to enjoy the event. The parents and children are grateful. If other kinds of outreach to young families are suggested we will consider more events.
