St. James is a very active and giving congregation – from close to home in the Gettysburg community – to global outreach efforts. Read on to learn more about our donation collections and when we collect for various organizations.
First Sunday of the Month – Food Collection
SCCAP (South Central Community Action Program) is our local food pantry. SCCAP organizes and coordinates summer and fall gleaning efforts with local farms. Donations of non-perishable food items are accepted at the church; no items in glass please. Donation bins are located outside of the Worship Space the first Sunday of each month.
Second Sunday of the Month – Service Project
During the Sunday School hour, youth complete service projects for the community. Sometimes they make cards, prepare dry soup kits, or tie fleece blankets. If you have a service project suggestion, please be in touch with the church office.
Fifth Sunday of the Month – Giving Branch
Fifth Sunday Servant Events occur periodically through the year when a given month has 5 Sundays (as opposed to only 4 Sundays). The Giving Branch is placed outside the Worship Space and is covered with “leaves” suggesting donation items. Pick an item or two off the branch, and bring to church on the 5th Sunday of the month. Non-profit organizations which we’ve collected for:
- United Way of Adams County – school supplies
- Gettysburg C.A.R.E.S. – personal care items and cleaning supplies
- Holiday Family Outreach – monetary donations
- Tender Care – infant care & child donations
- Adams Rescue Mission – personal care items
- St. James Early Learning Center – classroom supplies
- SCCAP homeless shelter – personal care items
Ruth’s Harvest – continual collection of donation items
Ruth’s Harvest supports children within the Gettysburg Area School District who experience food scarcity at home. Each church within the community is assigned to collect and donate a specific item for Ruth’s Harvest. St. James collects individual servings of vegetables. Collection bins are located outside the church office, and we collect individual serving of vegetables year round.
Operation Christmas Child (a mission of Samaritan’s Purse)
Operation Christmas Child is a international effort to give children a brighter Christmas and share the Good News and promise that Jesus brings. Christmas gift boxes (the size of shoeboxes) are filled with small gifts, school supplies, and personal care items and are sent to children all over the world. St. James collects monthly themed items July thru October. Gift boxes are packaged in November to be delivered in time for Christmas.
Noisy Offering
Occasionally we incorporate Noisy Offering (collection of loose change in metal buckets) into our worship services. This is an especially fun giving opportunity for our Youth. Noisy offerings allow us to collect funds in a unique way and give to a special need or organization. Previous collections have been for Gettysburg Community Soup Kitchen on “Souper Bowl” Sunday, Holiday Family Outreach, and Lutheran World Relief for Emergency Water Filters.