other mission opportunities
There are many other short-term or once a year mission outreach opportunities at Covenant Church. If you are interested in learning more about any of activities listed below, simply contact the church office at church@wdmcovenant.org.
coins for concern
Each month, a charitable organization is chosen to receive any of the loose coins that are placed in the Sunday collection plates during worship. We call these donated coins our Coins for Concern. At the end of the month, the local charitable organizations receives the proceeds plus an additional donation gift is given from the Brown Charitable Trust, based on the response from the congregation. Once a year, the list the list of recipient organtizations is evaluated. Coins for Concern is an easy way to provide donations to some of the most critical non-profit agencies in the Des Moines metro area.
Coins for Concern 2023
January: DMARC Food Pantry July: Lutheran Services of Iowa
February: Orchard Place August: Meals from the Heartland
March: Dorothy's House September: Baseball Camp for the Deaf
April: Elipsis October: Eddie Davis Community Center
May: CROSS Outreach Back-to-School Supplies November: West Des Moines Human Services
June: Mary's Helping Hands December: Salvation Army
February: Orchard Place August: Meals from the Heartland
March: Dorothy's House September: Baseball Camp for the Deaf
April: Elipsis October: Eddie Davis Community Center
May: CROSS Outreach Back-to-School Supplies November: West Des Moines Human Services
June: Mary's Helping Hands December: Salvation Army
west des moines human services
West Des Moines Human Services provides opportunities for individuals to improve and enhance their quality of life and sense of community through programs and services. They offer emergency assistance for rent and utilities, transportation, handyman services, youth recreational assistance, clothing and food assistance in addition to many other programs for those struggling with poverty. Each year, Covenant adopts two families for Thanksgiving by providing food baskets with turkey or ham, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, Jell-O, boxed stuffing, rice, cranberries, rolls, butter, pie and whipped cream along with a grocery gift card. Covenant also adopts three families for Christmas and provides gifts for every member of each of the households. To learn more about WDM Human Services, visit their website at www.wdm.iowa.gov.
life serve mobile blood drive
Twice a year, in February and August, Covenant Church hosts an on-site blood drive through Life Serve Blood Center of Iowa. Volunteers are needed to help with the hospitality table but also to make donations to this worthy cause. Remember, there is no substitute for the gift of blood! To learn more about becoming a donor, visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org.
cross Outreach
CROSS Outreach is a ministry effort of the Presbytery of Des Moines and provides a host of services to families and individuals. They provide direct emergency financial assistance toward housing and utility bills, food, and personal hygiene products to low and no income households. To learn more about this important work, visit crossoutreachdm.org.
special national offerings
In our Presbyterian Church USA denomination, there are occasionally national offerings to help support broader ministry and mission effort. Covenant receives three offerings (1) the Joy offering for retired church workers fund and indigenous schools, (2) the Peacemaking offering for national and international efforts toward peacemaking and (3) the One Great Hour of Sharing(OGHS) for national and international human or natural catastrophe recovery through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance(PDA). Covenant Church is one of the highest per capita giving congregations toward OGHS/PDA in our presbytery.
Presbytery of Des Moines
The Presbytery of Des Moines partners with congregations and clergy to minister in a changing world. Always in need of volunteers to help assist its committees, task forces and commissions, the presbytery provides needed support to its central and south central Iowa congregations. Examine their website at www.dmpresbytery.org to learn more about their ministry and where you might be able to help.
barb brown, campus crusade for christ
Barb Brown, a Covenant family member, serves in the North Africa / Middle East area of Campus Crusade for Christ. You can read her April update below.
| barb_brown_newsletter_april_2019.pdf |
