Ministries of Service

Service through outreach and social justice ministries reflects our mission to love our neighbors as ourselves.

If you would like to learn more, share your gifts, or get involved in any way, please contact the church office.

Service and Justice Ministry Team

Our Service + Justice Ministry Team has developed a set of principles (see below) that guide our service and justice ministries. The ministries have two focus areas: Education and Hunger.

– Education
We are building relationships with Eureka Elementary School, Pacific School District and Rockwood School District to offer assistance that includes snacks, school supplies and scholarships. We’re also partnering with educators on special projects, strategic planning and holiday gift-giving. St. Francis also hosts Trailblazer Academy in our building.

– Hunger
St. Francis has been collecting donations of non-perishable food and personal care items for more than 25 years to share with our neighbors in need. We also began a free meal ministry in 2021 that serves hundreds of dine-in and take-home dinners each month. Our volunteer team has formed partnerships with many community businesses and other faith communities to maintain the free meal service on the fourth Sunday of each month.

Service and Justice Ministry Principles

Mindful of the needs of the world, we primarily serve our neighbors.
We embrace the need to focus our service and justice ministries in select areas, trusting God to take care of those we can’t.
Without judgment, we serve the overlooked, those lacking the basics we take for granted, those struggling to shape the future for themselves.
We build relationships with those we serve by letting St. Francis’ spirit of hospitality enliven all we do.
We make longer term service commitments because building relationships and gaining understanding take time.
We speak up for those we serve. We advocate for them and seek to change systems that entrap or hold them back.
We bridge the divisions we encounter in our service, even when it makes us uncomfortable.

Ways to serve

Click on the tabs below to learn more about each ministry.

Blood Pressure Screening

Volunteers offer blood pressure screenings between services on the second Sunday of every month.

Card Ministry

Members in this ministry work with our Pastoral Care Team to send handmade birthday, anniversary, sympathy and special note cards to our members to let them know that St. Francis is thinking of them.

Grounds Committee

Our Grounds Committee is dedicated to taking care of weeds and other problems as well as making improvements to our church property.

Helping Hosts

These volunteers welcome visitors to the church during the week and assist with office and building tasks.

Meal Care

Volunteers prepare soups, casseroles, and entrees for friends who are homebound, welcoming new family additions or experiencing other major life events.

Meal Ministry

St. Francis organizes a free meal for the community on the fourth Sunday of each month. Our volunteer team has formed partnerships with many community businesses and other faith communities to maintain the free meal service, which provides hundreds of dine-in and take-home dinners to our friends in the community each month.

Memorial Garden

St. Francis has a dedicated space on the church property to bury cremains. Benches, trees and plaques in the garden remember loved ones.

Pastoral Care

Our pastoral care team is made up of leaders from various ministries at St. Francis who are trained to care for the needs of the vulnerable through emotional, social, practical and spiritual support.

Prairie Project

This sacramental restoration project involves working with community partners to reclaim one-quarter of an acre of land surrounding our Memorial Garden to prairie use. It is an outward sign of the inner reality of our desire to root ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Shawls

Volunteer crafters knit prayer shawls to give to the sick. The Pastoral Care Team shares the shawls with those experiencing illness or loss.

Quilting

The quilt ministry is made up of several members who create beautiful, handcrafted memory quilts for parishioners experiencing difficulties or celebrating life events.

Service and Justice Ministry Team

This team has developed a set of Service and Justice Ministry Principles that guide our service and justice ministries. The ministries have two focus areas: Education and Hunger. Please see the featured ministry section above for more details.

Stewardship

Our stewardship team presents a themed campaign each year to encourage our members to share their time, talent and treasure with St. Francis. The gifts are used to maintain the life and property of the church.

Tellers

Each week after the Sunday services, volunteers document the financial contributions of members, friends, and other supporters collected that day and during the previous week.