Tecate, Mexico

Christ Lutheran Church is building a house for the Director, Misael Morelos, of Rancho San Juan Bosco Orphanage, and his family. The orphanage is home for boys ranging in age from 6 to 17. Since 1992, Miseal and his wife, Yolanda, a medical doctor, have taken over operating the boys orphanage. The boys are either orphans or needed to escape from less than ideal home lives. The orphanage is financed entirely by private contributions.

Christ Lutheran became involved with the orphanage when a group went down with Third World Opportunities in 2004. We learned that Misael and Yolanda had given up their space at the orphanage to house volunteers. Seeing the need for Miseal and Yolanda to live on site Christ Lutheran approached them about building a house for them. They have done so much for so many boys it was time to show them how much they are appreciated.

We broke ground in April 2005 and named our project Casa de Cariño. The pictures will show the progress to date. We hope to have the house finished and the family moved in by the end of May 2006.

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Our Daily Bread

"Harvest For the Hungry" began in 1995 as an outreach to the homeless and hungry in our neighborhood. A hot nourishing hot meal is served every Friday at noon to an average of 75 persons. In1997 The San Diego Catholic Workers, followers of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin who founded the Catholic Worker in New York in 1933 to serve the homeless, needy and helpless, began a partnership with Christ Lutheran Church in this outreach by organizing and providing the food and cooks for this meal. Many volunteers from Christ Lutheran Church, the Catholic Workers, the community and the poor and homeless work together to live out Jesus' command in the gospel to "Feed the Hungry" In 2004 the name of the program was changed to "Our Daily Bread."

All are welcome to join us and can contact Tina from the Catholic Workers at 619-298-3755 or Joan in the church office 858-483-2300 or joanrw@sbcglobal.net.

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Community Christian Service Agency (CCSA)

Christ Lutheran is one of 30 churches that fund and support CCSA.  CCSA is a local agency that helps the needy in Pacific Beach and Clairemont.  Our services are free and include food, clothing, bus passes, nurse’s clinic, medical & housing referrals, California ID cards, etc.  (See attached “Fact Sheet” for details.)  Our mission is to temporarily help people so that they can improve on their present condition, thereby, we have strict limits on how often people can use our services.  We do not proselytize.

Donations are tax deductible and we are always in need of volunteers, food, clothes, hygiene items, and funds.

Visit our website at www.ccsasandiego.org on how you can help, donate, volunteer, or find out about our current project.

Our church’s CCSA representative is Matthew Wuest; please call for him for more info at (858) 623-9858.

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Luke 3:10-11

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Rwanda Orphanage Project

The Rwanda Orphanage Committee was established by the Church Council in the fall of 2005. Its charge was to assist with the organizing of an orphanage in Kigali, Rwanda where hundreds of orphans are living and dying on the streets without food, shelter or hope.

The first goal is to provide food and bedding. Approximately $50,000 is needed to accomplish this goal.

The Committee will be working to help in a building project to house the orphans and start an education program to teach the children to read, write, and learn a skill to sustain themselves and help others.

For more information contact Ron Reinsch, rreinsch@san.rr.com or Pastor Paul Oas, pauloas@aol.com or download the Rwanda Brochure.

Rwanda Brochure (click here)

Visit there website at www.rwandanorphansproject.org

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Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Since 1985 Christ Lutheran Church has hosted a traditional (all the fixings) Thanksgiving Community Dinner. Over 600 meals are served on-site or for take-home. The congregation and friends donated the entire amount of food needed for the dinner, along with cash contributions to cover items that had to be purchased. People of all ages from all parts of the county participated as guests or volunteer workers over the course of the week. Guests of all ages and every imaginable background fill Garman Hall.

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AA & NA Support Groups

In 1982, Christ Lutheran Church opened the doors of the Gathering Place for meetings of Alcholics Anonymous. The first AA group met at 7 a.m. every Monday through Friday, and appropriately called itself the Dawn Patrol. This meeting continues to the present, and is attended daily by between 50 and 80 recovering alcoholics. Because of the many miracles of successful recoveries from addiction at DP, the members affectionately refer to the Gathering Place as, "God's Garage".

Nearly every evening of the week other AA and NA (narcotics anonymous) groups also have meetings for recovery from addiction. The love and generosity of Christ Lutheran Church community are gratefully appreciated by those in recovery.