Social Ministries

A light of Christ's love in the world through these ministries:

* Life Sustaining Ministries

* Life Changing Ministries

* Seasonal Ministries


LIFE SUSTAINING MINISTRIES:


Hope Center (programs for individuals who are unsheltered and impoverished)

Dinner Program: We engage in fellowship and provide dessert and milk for meals on various dates throughout the year.


Loaves and Fishes: CTS volunteers and provides a meal to about 60 people 2-3 times per year at the Hope Center. Many of our dinner guests are trying to stretch their paycheck, some are dealing with mental health issues and others, due to the economic downturn, have found themselves homeless. This is a humbling and blessed event.


Sorting Clothes: There is also a need for assistance in the Hope Center Clothing Shop with sorting, organizing, washing and mending clothes given as donations.  If you care to volunteer, call the Hope Center at 262-549-8726.


Siena House

Each Tuesday, a meal is taken to Siena House Shelter in Waukesha.  The shelter serves approximately 18 men who are homeless. A good meal and great fellowship is shared through sharing Christ's love with our brothers at Siena House.


Hunger Task Force

CTS participates in a food sort at the Hunger Task Force. Several members of CTS, along with brothers and sisters from the Mosque in Brookfield sort together in fellowship.


Waukesha Overflow Shelter

CTS provides meals, sleeping bags, clothing and personal care items during the extreme winter months for individuals who are unsheltered.

 


LIFE CHANGING MINISTRIES:


Prayer Shawl

A special outreach, creating and presenting shawls to those in need. Each shawl gives its recipient a tangible reminder of God's presence, care and love. Over the centuries, shawls have come to symbolize shelter, peace and comfort. Members of our shawl ministry lovingly donate their time and skills by creating knit, crocheted or tied fleece prayer shawls, filled with the power of prayer. Members of our prayer shawl ministry meet on the third Wednesday of each month (September through May). We gather in the narthex at 6:30pm. During our gatherings we knit, crochet, tie fleece and teach any new beginners that join us! We enjoy meeting with one another for fun and fellowship while creating shawls of love and prayer. If by chance you're not available to join us, please know you can still be part of our ministry! Prayer support is always appreciated! We also gladly welcome donations of yarn, needles, hooks or even monetary donations for additional supplies of fleece, labels and cards that accompany each shawl. For further information about our ministry, please feel free to contact Yvette Schambow at 262-470-0187 or Beth Grossmeyer at 262-364-6078. If we are unavailable, please leave a message.


Jail Ministry

Bible Study: On the 2nd and 4th Saturday every month from 9:30-11:00am, a story from the Bible is read and multiple choice questions are discussed with the Huber residents. It is a deeply moving and spiritual experience for all.


Driver Program: Volunteer to drive brothers and sisters in Huber to worship on Sunday mornings.


Serenity Inns (A seven-month Addiction Recovery Program) 

On the third Monday of odd numbered months, both Youth and adult CTS volunteers carpool from CTS at 5 pm to Serenity Inns, in downtown Milwaukee, and return to CTS by 7:45 p.m. From 6-7 p.m., all share a meal, fellowship and an inspiring discussion time with recovering male addicts. This is an opportunity to help transform lives and live the Word.  


Reformation Church

CTS continues their partnership with Reformation Church in Milwaukee. We have participated and supported a variety of Reformation’s programs and activities throughout the year. Collections for the SONshine Pantry and the community store at Reformation happen at various times during the year. CTS also provides lunches for one week of the summer youth program known as S.A.L.T. There are many other fellowship and service opportunities that take place at Reformation during the year. All are welcome to participate in this blessed partnership.


Women’s Aftercare/Joyful Souls

Joyful Souls is a mentoring program for women who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. It is sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Jail Ministry, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church and Carroll University's Criminal Justice program. Members include women who have been incarcerated, families of the incarcerated and individuals suffering from mental illness and addictions. We meet for dinner every Friday night at 6pm at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church on Center Road and Hwy. 59. Our goal is to provide a faith-based program in a safe and loving environment. Programs include crafts, cooking, Bible studies, fun outings and community services. Children are welcome. There is no cost for participants. We welcome speakers, educators and anyone who would like to cook dinner for us! For information, call Linda at 262-506-8366.


Coming Together To Get Ahead (CTGA)

The ultimate goal of this national program is to help people make life changes towards leading a self-supporting and self-directed life style. CTS members provided meals and participated in fellowship with inspectors and mentors in the CTGA program. CTGA is a 16 week course that looks at poverty and gives participants skills, knowledge and networking opportunities in order to become more self-sufficient as well as positively impact their community. CTS members have provided and participated in meals prior to class which have led to rich conservation.  



SEASONAL MINISTRIES:

Blood Drive

We are always in need of blood from our dedicated existing donors, as well as new donors. CTS and St. John Neumann Catholic Church join forces and supply blood to save lives of friends, family members and neighbors that need it to any of the 50+ local hospitals.


Pride Fest

In partnership with the Milwaukee Synod Pride Fest activities, CTS members have the opportunity to participate in Pride Fest Ministry. Often the Synod seeks volunteers to take shifts at the Synod Pride Fest booth. Watch for information during the summer months on how to get involved with Pride Fest.


Lent Food Drive

Bags of non-perishable food items are collected during Lent to help stock the pantry shelves at the Waukesha Food Pantry. Watch for the bags to be filled in the narthex during Lent.




CHRISTMAS MINISTRIES:

Christmas Clearing Counsel

In late November, a sign-up poster is placed in the Narthex with up to 20 families with children. CTS members can sign-up to buy gifts for each person. Labeled, boxed with gift receipt, and unwrapped gifts are delivered to the designated Sunday School Classroom at CTS by mid-December. The gifts are then wrapped by CTS volunteers and delivered on a Saturday, a week or two before Christmas.

Bike Build

The Christmas Clearing Council coordinates the assembly of many bikes that are put together and delivered to families in Waukesha who have fallen on hard times financially during the holidays



Virginia Health & Rehab Center:

CTS is supplied with the names of 6-7 of the residents, who normally do not have visitors. A sign up poster goes up in the Narthex in late November with gift choices for the individuals.


ERAs Senior Network Holiday Giving Program

CTS is a participant in the ERA's Holiday Giving Program. The program aims to fill 350 care packages for seniors and adults with disabilities living on a fixed income in Waukesha County. The wish list includes items like: postage stamps, $10 Walgreens, Pick-n-Save or Walmart gift cards, $5 McDonald's gift cards, crossword/word search books ,pens, handmade flat ornaments, bookmarks and door hangers. Watch the Narthex in late November for sign up and details.


Ongoing Service Projects at CTS

* Help fill the grocery cart in Narthex with non-perishable items for the Waukesha Food Pantry.   

* Please see the Bulletin Board in Narthex for a list of various goods and supplies requested for the SonShine Pantry at Reformation Lutheran Church. You may place your donations in the blue bin below the list. 

* Bring in your old eyeglasses for the small receptacle on floor next to Welcome Center. The Lion’s Club volunteers periodically pick them up for people that can’t afford them.

* Bring in your aluminum cans to recycle. There’s a bin for them in The Ark. Proceeds go to our Youth Group here at CTS.

* If you do your grocery shopping at Sentry Fox Run, ask them to donate your receipt to the “Funds for Friends” program.

* Shop Amazon? They will donate a portion of sales to CTS with the AmazonSmile program. Check our website for detail on how to sign up!