Social Ministries

Serenity Inns (A seven-month Addiction Recovery Program) 

On the first Tuesday of even 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. More recently a small group from CTS has begun participation in a “Building Bridges” conversation group with Reformation and its other partners. These conversations are rich and create a forum to become better connected as brother and sisters in Christ. Two conversations took place in 2016 and two more will take place in 2017. All are welcome!


Women’s Aftercare/Joyful Souls

These wonderful ladies have been incarcerated for addiction and/or have been dealing with mental health issues. They meet with their mentors and friends, for fellowship, fun and food, on Friday nights from 6-8 p.m., at the St. Vincent de Paul Store in Waukesha (Sunset & Prairie). There is always a need for mentors or providing snacks or desserts during this amazing fellowship!


Hope Center

We provide breakfast for 30-40 people as well as dessert and milk for meals on various dates throughout the year. There is also a need for helping in the Hope Center Clothing Shop sorting, organizing, washing and mending clothes.  


Outreach to El Salvador & Nicaragua

Developing a partnership with a church or community in El Salvador continues to be on CTS’s Social Ministry radar. We are sending two members with a group from Ascension in 2017 to further explore the needs and partnership opportunities in El Salvador. We expect that a partnership in El Salvador would be in conjunction with another congregation in the area like Ascension.  


Loaves & Fishes

There is a need for both volunteers and food, twice per year at The Hope Center, to serve an awesome meal to about 60 people. Many of our dinner guests are trying to stretch their pay check, some are dealing with mental health issues and others, due to the economic downturn have found themselves homeless. This is an humbling and blessed event.  


Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

CTS as well as several other congregations in Waukesha, have been collecting non-perishable food, furniture, clothes and toys that are hand delivered to the proud people of Pine Ridge. In addition we make Christmas boxes which are delivered to the reservation in early December.  

  

Siena House

Each Monday a meal is taken to the 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.  


Refugee Resettlement Committee

On November 29, 2016 CTS welcomed a refugee family of four to the Waukesha area from the Burma region. The family is of the Karen sect. Some extended family had settled in the small Waukesha Karen community years earlier which made for a blessed reunion with family. Having family already here and a Karen community has made the transition easier. We look forward to walking in faith along the path ahead with these brothers and sisters.


Virginia Health & Rehabilitation Center

The Virginia Health & Rehabilitation Activities Director supplies CTS with the names of 6-7 of their residents, who normally do not have visitors. A sign-up poster will go up in the Narthex, so that you can provide gifts that are to be labeled, unboxed with gift receipt, and placed in gift bags for ease of opening. These gifts need to be delivered to the Pastor’s office. 


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. 


God’s Work, Our Hands

This neighborhood service project is sponsored by the ELCA Synod. CTS has a Hunger Harvest food collection in our neighborhood. The food goes to our local Waukesha Food Pantry. CTS mails out a postcard letting the neighbors know which food items are needed, and to let them know about CTS. This is a great cross-generational ministry. Each team is given the same food item list and are asked to go door-to-door, in search of the non-perishable food items. The team with the highest score, will be announced in the next CTS email, and at the Waukesha Food Pantry donation table in our Narthex. There is at least one adult chaperone per team. Fun, fun, fun!!!


Haiti Food Pack

In spring, CTS, invites SJN to fill thousands of bags with rice, protein, veggies and soy, to feed the hungry of Haiti. This is a great opportunity to bless those less fortunate and several families have a great time working as a team. GOAL: 150 Boxes, 32,400 Meals, 150 boxes x $32.40 per box = $4,860.00. Free will offerings are collected by CTS and SJN, to help cover the cost of shipping. In the future we will be looking to partner with other food packs instead of hosting our own.  


Hunger Task Force

CTS participated in a food sort at the Hunger Task Force. Several members from CTS along with brothers and sisters from the Mosque in Brookfield sorted together.  


Wisconsin Blood Drive

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


Red Food Truck Drive

Bags of food donations are normally collected 2-3 times each year to help stock the Food Pantry shelves at the Waukesha Food Pantry. During Lent we have a red truck that we fill to the hilt! 


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.  


Blanket Blitz

A goal to raise enough funds for a 100 blankets to be purchased for the ELCA Disaster Team to provide aid when our brothers and sisters need it the most.  


Christmas Clearing Council – Annual Bike Build

Many bikes are put together and delivered to families in Waukesha who have fallen on hard time financially during the holidays.


Waukesha Food Pantry

Food donations are needed throughout the year to stock the shelves at the Waukesha Food Pantry. We always have a grocery cart for non-perishable food donations at CTS.  


SOPHIA

Stewards of Prophetic, Hopeful, Intentional, Action. If you are passionate about Transportation, Immigration, Health Care, Education, Treatment CTS is looking for volunteers to attend some of the monthly meetings and participate in SOPHIA activities. 


Huber Bible Study

On the 2nd & 4th Saturday every month, from 9:30-11:00 a.m., 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.  


Additional Opportunities to Serve

  • Lutheran World Relief Soap Collection
  • “Blue Bins” to provide assistance to the Hope Center, Hebron House and Reformation Church
  • Eye glasses- Donate your old eye glasses to the Lions Club
  • Cell Phones- Donate your old cell phone to The Women’s Center that provides safety, shelter and support to women and their families.
  • Jeans of any size and color for The Hope Center.
  • Interfaith
  • Refugee Families need diapers, new pillows, twin sheet sets, blankets & gently used car seats.