The Servant - Fall 2017

ServantTHE Fall 2017

LCS Welcomes Julia Menzo as New Director of Community Outreach

Julia Menzo, who has Julia’s deep-seated Lutheran roots make her especially
well-prepared to carry on the legacy of LCS. She is
a long and respected descended from very early congregants of Weisenberg
Lutheran Church in New Tripoli, PA. This group
history with Lutheran of ancestors—who served during the American
Revolution and War of 1812—were instrumental
Disaster Response- during the Church’s evolution in the early 19th century
when Weisenberg rebuilt its house of worship in 1803,
Eastern PA (LDR- and then again in 1830.
Since the early 20th century, a part of Julia’s family has
EPA), will serve as Lutheran also had deep roots at St. John’s Lutheran Church in
Congregational Services’ Emmaus, PA. As a resident of Lansdale since young
(LCS) new Director of adulthood, Julia has been a devoted congregant of
Community Outreach. Trinity Lutheran Church, where today she serves on
Julia Menzo the Church’s Disaster Response Team and also as a
Director of Community “We are thrilled to welcome Confirmation small group leader.
Outreach Julia to her new position,” Julia embraces a universal dedication to building
said Luanne Fisher, president caring communities of people. In addition to her
and CEO of Liberty Lutheran, leadership of LDR-EPA, she also serves in an official
LCS’s parent organization. “Under her leadership, capacity to strengthen networking and connection
Lutheran Congregational Services will reaffirm its among partner LDR ministries up and down the East
commitment to congregational ministries, while Coast, from Massachusetts to Virginia. Additionally,
growing in new areas. Julia’s background places LCS she chairs the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of
in a position to enhance its presence in communities Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, a large
across our region.” coalition of faith-based, civic, and governmental
disaster response partners, and is greatly involved with
As Director of Community Outreach, Julia will advance the organization’s northeastern Pennsylvania chapter.
the mission of LCS to provide education, build capacity, “I cherish the opportunity to connect people with
and facilitate collaboration of ministries that strengthen opportunities to live out their passions. My vision
human relationships. She will also continue in her for LCS is to continue to work with congregations,
leadership role for LDR-EPA. synods and districts to help individuals and churches
live out their own calls to mission and service,
LCS is especially excited about the expertise that and to be strong leaders and partners in their own
Julia brings in program development, volunteer communities,” says Julia.
management and faith-based ministries. In her new
role, she will be accessible to and personally visit faith
communities and congregational leaders who want to
explore education and enrichment through all of the
ministries operated by LCS, which include, in addition
to LDR-EPA, ministries for grief recovery and lay
Eucharistic training.

THE Servant Fall 2015

Pastor Jenn Answers a New Call

We are sad to Because of Pastor Jenn, Lutheran Congregational
announce the Services is well-positioned to continue to grow its reach
departure of The Dr. and services, particularly in the areas of grief recovery,
Reverend Jennifer lay Eucharistic training, and resiliency training to help
Ollikainen as Executive congregations and their leaders most effectively prepare
Director of Lutheran for and/or manage disaster including severe weather,
Congregational Services fires, and violence against the church.
(LCS). During her seven Pastor Jenn led Lutheran Congregational Services with
years in this role, Pastor conviction, energy, and heart. She leaves us to answer
Jenn did an exceptional a calling to serve as Pastor at Trinity Evangelical
job in further building Lutheran Church, a faith community that is blessed to
the capacity of LCS be led by her fortitude and wisdom.
The Dr. Rev. Jennifer Ollikainen to reach vulnerable We are especially pleased that Pastor Jenn’s vision for
individuals and Lutheran Congregational Services will live on through
communities struggling with grief, natural or man- the leadership of Julia Menzo. Julia is a cherished and
made disaster, and food insecurity. familiar friend to LCS, having led Lutheran Disaster
Response-Eastern PA for the last decade.
Additionally, Pastor Jenn admirably grew LCS’ We wish Pastor Jenn many blessings in her new role
training for lay Eucharistic ministers, which has helped and look forward to building on the remarkable legacy
faith communities throughout Northeastern and she has established for LCS.
Southeastern PA maintain an important presence in the
spiritual life of homebound congregants.

2018 Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training Schedule Available

Lutheran Congregational Services offers one- 2018 Dates
day trainings for volunteers selected by their Saturday, March 10, 9 am – 4 pm
pastors to bring the communion meal from worship Good Shepherd Lutheran
to ill and homebound members of their congregations 4201 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road
who are unable to attend service. Reading, PA 19605
LCS’s training ministry engages learners in the Biblical Saturday, May 12, 9 am – 4 pm
and theological background of the Sacrament of Holy St. Michael’s Lutheran
Communion and teaches potential Eucharistic Visitors 25 E Church Street
about visitation and administration of the sacrament. Sellersville, PA 18960
If you are interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Saturday, September 22, 9 am – 4 pm
Visitor, please contact your pastor and register Christ Lutheran
within the Lay Eucharistic Visitor section of 69 Main Street
www.libertylutheran.org/lcs. Hellertown, PA 18055
The cost of the training is $25 per person. Saturday, October 6, 9 am – 4 pm
Christ Lutheran
467 S Main Street
Conyngham, PA 18219

THE ServFaall n20t17

Lutheran Congregations Answer in the Wake of Severe Storms

Thousands of families have been affected

by one of the worst tropical storm seasons

on record. During Hurricane Harvey more
than 46,000 people throughout the Gulf Coast
of Texas and Louisiana sought shelter in hotels
and another 39,000 sought refuge in mass care
shelters. Just days later, as Hurricane Irma tore
through western Florida more than 7 million
people were evacuated, including those within 46
hospitals and 200 medical facilities. In addition
to these storms, Puerto Rico was left entirely
without power in the wake of Hurricane Maria,
devastating the island and its people to the point
of near humanitarian crisis.

Following these disasters, Lutheran congregations Volunteers from Trinity Lutheran, Lansdale, deliver 90 cleanout kits

in these affected areas are helping with cleanout Lutheran congregations throughout Eastern
activities and providing care for those who are not able Pennsylvania are also standing with our brothers
to return to their homes. and sisters in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico by

Social ministry organizations such as Lutheran participating in the Hurricane Relief Kit Campaign. 
Services Florida and Upbring are working with Having assembled hundreds of cleanout, hygiene
governments and non-governmental organizations and school kits, we’ve already been able to make an
to plan for long term rebuilding projects. Meanwhile, impact in the lives of many. We invite you to join us
District and Synod leaders are working to support in this effort.

pastors on the ground in their effort to provide Information on how to make these kits, and
comfort and resources to their communities. where to deliver them locally is provided at

www.libertylutheran/ldr. Thrivent Action Team funds
can be used for these projects. Use Promo Code “2017
Hurricanes” and your application kit will be expedited.

Please join congregations like Reformation Lutheran,
Reading; St. Timothy Lutheran, Allentown; and Christ
Lutheran, Kulpsville; in our effort to rebuild the lives of
those still dealing with lingering tragedy.

For more information on how the Lutheran community
is serving those in the United States and around the
world, visit Lutheran Church Missouri Synod at
www.lcms.org/disaster-response and Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America at www.ldr.org.

THE Servant

#GivingTuesday is a 1923 Hanover Ave.
global day of giving Allentown, PA 18109
fueled by the power
of social media
and collaboration.
Keep a look out in
November for how
you can be part of
#givingtuesday.

For more information, call Julia
Menzo at 267-464-7740, or email
[email protected].

Make It, Take It Kitchen Curriculum Now Available!

Make It, Take It Kitchen (MITIK) is a free resource • A compassionate team who
works together to make
designed to help your congregation teach MITIK happen
economical and healthy cooking skills to those who
struggle with food insecurity. The program provides a free • Some funding to support the
cooking lesson, including a hot meal. Participants will cost of the cooked food and
not only learn the skills they need to thrive in the kitchen, the take home items
but will be given recipes, nutritional information, and
additional food and supplies to start them off. • Our training manual to get
The Instructor Manual was created so that congregations you started
and other organizations can take this great program to
their own communities. The training manual includes
To start your own MITIK program you will need: seasonal lesson plans, handouts, and program documents
for record keeping.
• A relationship with pantries and/or meal centers so that MITIK is possible thanks to a startup grant from the
you can recruit participants Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)
Domestic Hunger Grant, which was written as a
• A kitchen within an easy to get to location for your partnership between the Peanut Butter Project, founded by
participants Nancy Walters, and Lutheran Congregational Services.

• Volunteers who will be trained to support the program For more information on arranging your own
in the kitchen as well as child care MITIK, contact Julia Menzo at 267-464-7740
or [email protected].