Outreach
Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with Your God...
Opportunities in Outreach Ministry Abound!
“North Como Presbyterian Church is a Christian faith community…glorifying God through…loving service throughout God’s world.” Jesus gave us this commandment through the Scriptures: “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” How do we respond to this commandment and this part of our stated mission? By loving those whom God loves: our neighbors - especially the least, the lost, the left behind - and our Earth, God’s good creation.
There are many needs in our community and world, and many ways to share God’s peace, compassion, and justice in the greater community. Our faith community has a variety of gifts to share in ministries of loving service. We hope that the contents of this page will help you consider opportunities to share your gifts in loving service. There are opportunities in the areas of advocacy, hunger, housing, children, the disadvantaged, the elderly, the environment, and international ministries.
Our prayer is that every member of the North Como community will feel connected in some way to at least one if not several of these ministries. Talk to a Church and Society Committee member about how you might serve. Drop in to one of our meetings at church at 7 pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Please prayerfully consider how some of your God-given gifts, time, talent, and treasures might be shared in loving service to do God’s work in the world.
The Church and Society Committee
North Como Presbyterian Church
Advocacy for a Better World
Being fair and just to our neighbors is to be involved in public policy issues that advocate for peace, for our earth, and for those who suffer in our world. Learn about the issues. Visit the denomination website at www.pcusa.org/washington and Joint Religious Legislative Coalition at www.jrlc.org for Minnesota issues.
Stand up for public policy that reflects your faith:
• Communicate with your elected officials.
• Write letters to the editor.
• Support candidates and issues with your gifts, time and lawn signs.
• Speak up respectfully and positively.
• Be an informed voter, and VOTE!
Blue Barrel/Minnesota Foodshare
Nonperishable food donated to the Blue Barrel in the atrium is delivered to Fairview Foodshelf for neighbors at risk for hunger and malnutrition. For more opportunities to help the foodshelf, see www.keystonecommunityservices.org/foodshelves.html. Monetary donations are even more helpful ($1 buys $9 worth of food) - anytime and especially during March’s Minnesota Foodshare campaign. www.gmcc.org/foodshare .
Holy Hammers
We are part of a coalition of 14 churches that builds homes with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. Sign up in the early spring for the summer build. For more information, go to www.pcotw.org and click on Holy Hammers.
Liberty Plaza
This low-income housing project at 431 Marshall Ave. in St. Paul has children’s summer and after-school programs, English as a second language and computer classes. (see Service Enriched Housing at www.tchdc.org )
Meals on Wheels
Deliver meals every third Wednesday to homebound residents in our area.
Ministry of Quilts
North Como Quilters meet at church at 9am on Wednesday mornings to make colorful and comfortable quilts to donate to persons in need in our community.
Presbyterian Homes
Serve at this network of retirement/assisted living/skilled nursing homes. Volunteer opportunities abound! – visiting, chapel, host parties, library, transport, deliver flowers, bingo, etc. See Volunteer section under Site Contents at www.preshomes.com
Project Home
Houses homeless families at an overflow shelter in a local church. Serve an evening snack and breakfast, help children with homework, and host families overnight. (see Programs at www.spacc.org )
Union Gospel Mission
We provide financial and material support to our neighbors at Union Gospel Mission, a Christian service agency that works to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs of economically disadvantaged men, women, and children of the Twin Cities, through residential, educational, and religious programs. See Volunteer opportunities at www.ugmtc.org .
Seasonal Opportunities
Bring toys for House of Faith Nursery School in November, and mittens, hats and scarves for the Mitten Tree in December. Purchase Christmas gifts from Heifer Project and Ten Thousand Villages sales. Sign up for CROPwalk in the fall (learn more at CROP Hunger Walk at www.churchworldservice.org ).
Denominational Partnerships
As members of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities, the Synod of the Lakes and Prairies, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) we support mission outreach in our community, our region, and around the world. We help feed the hungry, house the homeless, encourage the hopeless, aid disaster victims, foster new churches, educate the young, train ministers and missionaries, and share God’s love with all God’s children. We receive special offerings such as One Great Hour of Sharing, Peacemaking, Christmas Joy, and Pentecost. Buy a copy of the Mission yearbook in the fall, learn about our world-wide mission outreach, and pray with and for our many faithful mission workers. www.pcusa.org/navigation/mission.htm
Memberships and Support
North Como supports the Saint Paul Council of Churches (www.spacc.org ), Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (www.jrlc.org ) , Interfaith Children’s Advocacy Network (see iCAN at JRLC site), People Incorporated (www.peopleincorporated.org ), Department of Indian Works (see DIW at SPACC site), Covenant Network (www.covenantnetwork.org ), and other groups through memberships, regular donations, and study and service.
Church and Society Committee partners with other groups at North Como Presbyterian Church in supporting and promoting outreach ministry:
Benefit Concerts
In association with North Como’s Music Ministry and the greater community, we present concerts and other programs to support our brothers and sisters around the world. www.globalharmonychorus.org
Youth in Mission
We support our youth as they participate in mission trips and in other service activities, as part of Youth Ministry.
SPAM Weekend
Spend an autumn weekend doing Service Projects Around the Metro. An ad hoc team plans a weekend full of service opportunities to help folks in need in our community and around the world – just sign up, show up, and serve!
North Como Preschool
This licensed preschool serves 3 through 5 year olds and is open to any child regardless of race, religion or gender. The church provides the classrooms and associated building costs rent-free as an outreach ministry. (see Preschool page on this website)
North Como Environmental Team
Lev. 25:23-24. The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.
The North Como Environmental Team is a member-staffed group dedicated to a better understanding of the connection between our spiritual and environmental beliefs and ethics. The main goal of this group is to advance improved environmental awareness among our church community through educational resources, events, and promotion of sustainable practices throughout the church. For more information about the Environmental Team or to find out how to join, contact Carole Rust at 651-488-1273. The Environmental Team meets the first Tuesday of every month at North Como from 7- 8:30 PM.
Keep checking back to the website to hear the latest about upcoming environmental events, projects, and resources at North Como!
Upcoming Environmental Team Events and Resources
To take the Minnesota Energy Challenge and help make North Como carbon neutral, click on www.mnenergychallenge.org.
If you have questions about recycling or other general environmental questions please email us at ncpc@northcomochurch.org.
