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The Heseders are Saint John’s hands-on mission group. We are organized under the Board of Human Needs to support mission trips and projects both foreign and local. The group met on December 6 and discussed possible projects for the upcoming year.

Foreign Missions

Peru: See the announcement article, below. Construction and a medical clinic will be the projects for our “Return to Nueva Palestina,” July 16–22. Kimberly Pepmiller is the coordinator for this trip. We are asking for commitments by the end of January—so start praying!

Mercy Medical Mission Trips: The LCMS has clinics planned for Tanzania (April 8–17), Kenya (June 17–26), Madagascar (July 22–31 and October 7–16) and Uganda (August 5–14). Three examples of LCMS’s Mercy Medical Missions are on the bulletin board near the church office. Check with Nelly Sanford for further information.

Local Missions

Support of the Christ Clinic: Kimberly Pepmiller works at this free clinic once a month. It is hosted at Faith Evangelical Free Church. The organization is starting a new location, to be open once a month, on the north end of town, at Remington and Mulberry. Besides volunteers for the clinic days, the Christ Clinic is seeking help with prescription grant writing. Kimberly will be keeping the Heseders up-to-date on other needs that might come up through the year.

Slammin’ Famine Event: See the article, below. The Heseders are supporting the Sunday School and encouraging the congregation to attend and donate to this great event. We have reserved fifty spots on the food packaging assembly line for Saint John’s on February 27.

Faith Family Hospitality: Several local churches are taking turns hosting homeless families while they get back on their feet. We are looking into what level of support and involvement Saint John’s might be comfortable with.

Habitat for Humanity: We pledged better support for Leon Knox and Ross Shaw, who have faithfully dedicated many hours of Saturdays to building homes with this great organization. Leon and Ross will let us know when help is needed. There are lots of new homes getting started this year!

Wind River Mission Church: Joel Sanford and Elise Smith are looking into the mission church’s needs now that their new pastor, Greg Sonnenschien, has started his work on the reservation.

Fund Raising

We have been making good use of the Thrivent Action Team program to support our fundraising and mission efforts. Thanks to Jeannie Benson and Tom Miles for the coordination of this!

Congregation Meals: The Heseders will be preparing and serving food at various meals through the year. We provided the meal before the December 9 Advent evening service and will do so again for two of the Lent evening midweek services. We will also be hosting the Easter Breakfast on March 27. Your offerings at these meals help the projects mentioned above.

June Yard Sale: This year’s sale will be held the first Friday and Saturday of June. Mark your calendar! We will be collecting items all that week and counting on you, your family and your neighbors to come do some serious shopping!

Christmas Holiday Bazaar: Jo Fredin presented an idea for a November craft show. Tables would be rented out to vendors from inside and outside the congregation. Jo will lead a team to explore how this would work. Watch here for more information as plans develop!

Please contact Nelly Sanford (337-302-4231) or Tom Miles at the church office if you would like to join our group or be on our email list.

[Jesus said,] Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”Luke 10:36–37

“Hesed” is a Hebrew word that means “kindness”, “mercy”, “loyalty”, “loving-kindness” or “steadfastness.” It’s the way God intends us to live together—a “love your neighbor as yourself,” active, selfless, sacrificial, caring-for-one-another brand of living contradictory to our fallen natures. The “Heseders” are continually looking to work together to share some small measure of God’s extraordinary love. Won’t you join us?