The purpose of the Outreach Committee is to proclaim Jesus Christ to each other and to all the world by providing opportunities to share Christian love. To this end, the committee seeks to address social needs by leading the congregation in extending Christian compassion and helpfulness to the aged, ill, orphaned, and persons of all ages in need.

Since assuming the chairmanship of the committee in June of 2004, Becky Miller Pryor has not only continued with the many long-standing activities of the committee, but has also worked hard to expand our congregation’s service to our community in additional ways..

In fulfilling those goals many members of the congregation assisted with various activities throughout the year. Our outreach to the community included:

• Monthly Lunch n Fellowship. This long-standing event has now been opened to the public for a free meal and  conversation, one day a month. Read more.
• Hosting homeless children and their families through our association with Family Promise of Lycoming County. Donna Elkin and Debbie Maggs are the coordinators for hosting at St. Mark’s. Many members of our congregation have made significant commitments to this ministry which occurs four different weeks per year. This is presently the most significant work of the committee. I am honored to volunteer during hosting weeks.
• Hosting the community on our front lawn for the Fourth of July festivities. We provided refreshments, information about St. Mark’s, a patriotic program in the Nave and good cheer to many people. We are the only church in the Center City area to provide outreach to the community on this national holiday. I encourage its continuance.
• Hosting a meal packaging event at St. Mark’s. This event brought participants from other Lutheran churches and throughout the community to assist with packaging. The 20,000 meals were distributed free of charge to local food banks for distribution to those in need.
• Providing food and monetary donations to St. Anthony’s Center.
• Collecting non-perishable food items throughout the winter, spring and summer months for the UCLC Food Bank. The Worship and Music Committee collect a large quantity of items during Harvest Sunday.
• Entertaining residents of the Selinsgrove Center with songs, stories, and gifts for the residents and their caregivers. It is this chairperson’s opinion we are better Christians for making this trip each year to visit with the ladies of CM-6.
• Providing more than 40 general gifts of sweatshirts, socks, pajamas, slippers, and the like for Christmas gifts to the residents of the Danville State Hospital.
• Collecting hygiene items throughout the year and making monetary donations to the Shepherd of the Streets Emergency Fund.
• Supporting the work of The Pregnancy Care Center, Family Promise and Daniel’s Closet by providing clothing and baby items through our association with the Newberry Branch of NGA (Needlework Guild of America.)
• Being supportive of activities of the UCLC. This year we were the Center City anchor church for the first Heroin Task Force Prayer Walk.
• Pastor and other members of the congregation provide service to our community and beyond by volunteering locally at St. Anthony’s Center, Shepherd of the Streets, Daniel’s Closet and UCLC worship services at nursing homes and other institutions.

Many other opportunities to reach out in Christian love to our neighbors exist. I encourage you to pray and answer Christ’s call to serve.