October - December
 

SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRY REPORT
November 2008

Attract, Care, Transform & Serve

Ministry Status
Continues to provide a wide range of service and giving opportunities in order to encourage every TLLC member to participate in the Social Service Ministry of TLLC in some meaningful way (Attract, Transform, Serve).
Ministry Activities/ACTS
List DotProject BEAT - Event summary below. (Attract, Transform)
List DotMission Laredo - Sign-up booths after services every Sunday in November for Christmas gifts and December delivery trip. So far almost all gift signups complete and about 18 TLLC members have signed up to go on the trip. Council members encouraged to consider attending. (Attract, Transform, Serve)
List DotOlivewood Project - Olivewood sales in office narthex after services Nov. 16 and 23
Upcoming Events and Ministry Plans
List DotThanksgiving Special Offering designated to Meals on Wheels and More
List DotAdvent Special Offerings designated to Safe Place
List DotDecember 6-7: Mission trip to Mission Laredo to deliver Christmas gifts and participate in La Posada and worship.
List DotChristmas Special Offering designated 50% to needs of church at Council's discretion and 50% to Lutheran Social Services of the South

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Halaney

Project BEAT
Austin's continuing conversation on racial division and unity comes to TLLC

On Sunday, October 5th, approximately thirty five members and friends of Triumphant Love gathered for a unique conversation on an important and sensitive topic: race relations in Austin and Travis County. Reverend Michael Manor, LCSW, Travis County Intermediary, guided the discussion, which is part of Project BEAT, Austin Area Interreligious Ministry's on-going dialogue on racial harmony within the greater Austin community. This 2 ½-hour event was hosted by the Social Service Committee at TLLC, the first Christian congregation west of IH 35 to be a part of this ground-breaking dialogue.
After opening prayer, lunch, and introductory remarks, Mike quickly established the rules for a safe, trusting, respectful environment in which participants felt comfortable to listen and share honestly on the topic. Participants first watched a video clip of a frank and surprising dialogue between two Christian men, one African American, one Caucasian. These men were friends, then roommates, and lastly professional colleagues, who had decided to work together (one consulting remotely) on building a multiracial church. The two men had co-authored a book based on the three years of letters they wrote to each other about their perceptions and beliefs on race, how those beliefs evolved over time, and how the two men continue to heal the racial divide between them.
After the video, Mike encouraged participants at each table to examine two questions within a Christian context: What's a concern or opportunity facing our community regarding race relations, and what can TLLC do to address these concerns and challenges? The responses and ideas that came forth from these insightful and energetic conversations are now compiled. The Social Service Committee will be reviewing participant responses this fall and will begin an on-going e-group conversation about what TLLC can do to address our community's race-related challenges. This group along with the Social Service Committee will review congregational responses to Mike's questions, choose and organize a plan of action, bring it to committee, and establish an on-going opportunity for the congregation to actively bridge the racial divide in Austin.
To participate in the e-group conversation, contact anyone on the Social Service Committee or email mnichols@austin.rr.com.