Community Support Ministries

We are able to eliminate the stress of trying to find affordable rides for important appointments with our Care-A-Van ministry. We serve members of the congregation and community who need transportation to and from Worship, medical appointments, and other important appointments. We are in need of volunteers who have a valid drivers license, dependable transportation, pass a criminal background check, and are willing to transport members without compensation within Saginaw County. For more information about volunteering or getting a ride, please contact Arleen Cronk via email or phone at 989-274-5253.

CCM is actively looking for dedicated Christians (especially retirees!) who love their nation and desire to promote a culture that respects religious freedom, the sanctity of human life at all stages, and God's design for marriage and family. We do diaper drives, bible studies, public briefings, promote world view studies at the high school, including offering scholarships to the World View Academy summer camps, organize the Frankenmuth Community National Day of prayer; to name just a few. We currently have more project opportunities than volunteers so your participation is needed. Please contact Darrin Urbytes (989-652-3422) to get involved today!

We strive to provide guidance and support for individuals facing financial difficulty. These efforts mainly involve the members of St. Lorenz, the 48734 zip code, and the immediate surrounding communities. Our primary emphasis is to provide basic financial guidance and advice for budgeting and debt reduction. We may also offer limited and short term financial assistance to avoid utility shut off, help with rent/mortgage, assist with food/fuel, or help overcome various other bills and debt. Community Services is not designed or prepared to provide for immediate and greater emergency needs such as homeless shelter/housing, next day utility shutoff, and the like. For these greater needs, please contact “211 Northeast Michigan” at 211 or toll-free 888-636-4211; www.211nemichigan.org.

For more information or to make an appointment with a Case Advisor, call Karen Grasel at 989-652-6141, and leave a brief message with contact information.

CrossRoads Counseling Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry which offers professional counseling and educational services to anyone and is supported by many Christian churches from the area, not just St. Lorenz and not just Lutheran. Some of their resources include Stephen Ministers, Prayer Partners, and financial assistance for counseling through the Good Samaritan Support Program. The unique features regarding CrossRoads is that the building is owned by St. Lorenz and much of its support is provided by St. Lorenz, but the ministry itself is not limited to just St. Lorenz. For more information including counselor specifics, please visit us at crcounseling.org.

Mission Fest is an opportunity to share with our congregation and community the local, national, and international mission opportunities that we support. It is typically held outdoors on the fourth Sunday of August each year in the St. Lorenz Churchgrove. The weekend services include a mission-focused purpose led by a guest Pastor from a cooperating mission supported by St. Lorenz. A chicken barbecue meal as well as bratwursts and hot dogs are also served for a charge. The Mission Fest is also teaming with children's games and inflatables, as well as activities to teach them about mission work. Leading up to Mission Fest the congregation is asked to help provide goods and supplies for a local charity culmination in many "blessing Bags" going to help families in need. Mission Fest is a great way to show others how beautiful it is to live with Jesus! For more information contact Rob Desimpelare at 989-652-3475.

The National Day of Prayer is the first Thursday in May. Locally, we join other Christians in front of City Hall around noon. Across the land, we pray for our country and its governmental leaders. Prayers and songs are offered collectively, followed by small group prayers. We are thankful to live in a land where we have the freedom and privilege to do so! Join us! You can help us get the word out by allowing a yard sign on your lawn for one week prior. We will put the sign in your lawn and pick it up afterward; no hassle for you!

For more information, contact Martin Hall via email or phone at 989-868-3366.

Prayer shawl ministry provides needed items that are knitted or crocheted with care and prayer, including afghans, lap blankets, hand muffs for dementia, hats, mittens, scarfs, newborn hats for MMR, baby blankets for Baptismal Chests and Prayer Shawls. As each item is created, the person stitching it says prayers for its recipient as they do the work; sometimes without knowing who it will eventually go to! The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets every Tuesday from 1:30 to 3:30 at The Rock to knit, crochet, and have good conversations. Anyone interested in joining is welcome; and if you need to learn how to knit or crochet they are willing to teach you. For more information, contact Nancy Frank at 989-652-2017.

For our short term mission trips we partner with Mission Opportunities Short Term (MOST Ministries), a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. As our sending agency, MOST does require basic background checks and provides excellent training materials suitable for groups or individual preparation. By partnering with MOST, we strive to achieve our ministry goal; to assist Missouri Synod affiliated Lutheran congregations in Central America with Gospel outreach to the local community. Helping these congregations be the “Hands of Christ” in their community gives them greater opportunity to present the “Heart of Christ” to their neighbors. We strive to do this through congregational-held servant events that meet the perceived needs of the community as defined by the local congregation. If you are interested in joining us on one of our medical/dental or eyeglass clinic trips, please contact Mark Keinath via email at markkeinath@yahoo.com or phone at 989-412-3205.

The principal purpose of Willing Workers is to share Jesus’ love through caring for others by assisting them in daily activities and/or needs. Specifically, Willing Workers provide help for individuals and non-profit organizations who are physically or financially unable to do maintenance or repairs as needed or have need of tasks requiring group assistance. Willing Workers accomplish many tasks that are done each year in support of those in need. We are always looking for individuals with various skill sets such as carpentry, construction, electrical, plumbing, painting, wallpaper, drywall, etc. We can also use individuals who are willing to help with moving furniture and appliances, yard work, or general help on any project. For more information about willing workers, contact Gary Schiefer at gschief01@gmail.com or phone at 989-239-8096.