Opportunities to
live out our mission statement
to
 "See, Grow, Serve . . .to the
Glory of God'

Adopting Families - Called by God to be servant people, South Canyon members adopt families at Christmas who need hope and a hand up. People are given the opportunity to live out their faith in a tangible way as they purchase clothing, gifts, food and Christmas trees with trimmings which are delivered to the families' homes. On Palm Sunday, members again reach out to the families in the community by returning with non-perishable food items, Easter baskets, and some fresh food.

Missionary Family Support - South Canyon collects specific food items not available to our missionary family, Drs. Timothy and Holly Nelson, who have been in Cameroon for 3 years with their children, Spencer (13 years old, 7th grade), Jenna (11 years old, 6th grade) and Madeline (9 years old, 3rd grade). Tim a surgeon, and Holly, a pediatrician, work at "Hospital Protestant de Ngaoundere" which is owned and run by the Cameroonian Lutheran Church. The care packages sent throughout the year are much appreciated.

Meal-A-Month Project - Help feed the hungry in our community through the food pantry at Church Response. A meal suggestion is provided monthly. Pick up a grocery bag on the grocery cart in the narthex and return it with enough non-perishable food to feed a family of four.

Food Certificate Program - This program benefits Church Response and our congregation at no cost to you. Food certificates or gift cards may be purchased at the church and can be used like cash at the grocery store. In turn, the local grocery stores give 5% of what is spent back -- 3% to Church Response and 2% to our congregation.

Cornerstone Rescue Mission Meal - South Canyon Lutheran Church prepares and serves an evening meal on the third Thursday of the month. There is an opportunity for people to donate food and/or help serve the meal. The Mission, a homeless shelter, strives to meet the physical needs of people which provides programs that will help each individual become more self-sufficient.

School Kits for Lutheran World Relief - School supplies are donated, bags are sewn, and supplies are sorted and packed for shipment to be sent to places all over the world. They provide needed supplies for children returning to school after the disruption of war, living in a refugee camp, or others needing supplies.

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child - South Canyon shares resources with under-privileged children by filling shoeboxes that are distributed to children all around the world. Boxes along with suggestions of what to buy for a boy or girl are given out on Rally Sunday and returned in late November to reach the children by Christmas.

"Clothe-A-Kid" for School - Through Love INC, children in need are provided with brand new clothing items to start the new school year. Church volunteers purchase a pair of pants, 2 shirts, underwear, socks and a jacket - all needed clothing for school.

Diaper Closet - This new program through Love INC is housed at South Canyon Lutheran Church and is used as the incentive for people in their relational ministries program. In the short term they can earn gas vouchers, diapers, food, furniture, appliances, etc. In the long term they can gain self-respect, self-reliance, friendships, values, knowledge, faith, etc. Coordinating this ministry are Kim Schaefer and Cindy Dressler.

Engaged Prayer Ministry - Members offer daily prayers for couples who are engaged and plan to be married at South Canyon Lutheran Church. Members of the congregation are also invited to inform us when their son or daughter is getting married, if they would like prayer support for them. The wedding does not need to be held here for them to be included in this prayer ministry. With first names of a couple and their wedding date, those who volunteer ask God to strengthen the couples faith and commitment to each other. No meetings or training are involved.

Military Prayer Ministry is available at South Canyon Lutheran Church for loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors currently serving in a war zone. Prayer guardians pray for them and their family on a daily basis until they return safely home. The name and address of the military person deployed and the name and address of their immediate family members, spouse and parents may be called in to the office or e-mailed to kreena@sclc-rc.org.

Life, INC is an incentive-based budget mentoring program to help people over the course of a year as they grow into greater life sustainability. The program has proven invaluable to participating clients. A meal is prepared and served to the clients and volunteers on the third Thursday of the month several times a year. Canned vegetables are also collected every week and donated in support of the clients participating in the course. Upon completion, South Canyon provides each family with a quilt.

Loaves & Fishes - Meals are provided to families after the birth of a baby. Volunteers may furnish the entire meal, contribute an entrée or side dish, or offer to deliver the meal to the family.

In Touch - Adopting one of our recent high school graduates going off to college is an outreach to our college freshman as they experience their first year away from home. They receive an occasional care package, card, phone card, note of encouragement, etc. from their home church. The WELCA circles are invited to participate as well as any other groups, families, or individuals in the church.

LWF Fair Trade Coffee Project - South Canyon Lutheran Church supports the (coffee with a conscience) coffee, tea, cocoa, baking chocolate and organic chocolate candy bars that are sold the first Sunday of every month. The LWR Coffee Project ensures that more of the money you spend on coffee reaches the farmers who actually grow it. Fair trade coffee is a simple solution that means the difference – quite literally – between surviving and not surviving for small-scale coffee farmers.

Habitat for Humanity - South Canyon Lutheran is a covenant church that gives support through housing work groups, financial gifts, prayers, and building involvement. Members from South Canyon volunteer Thursdays and Fridays weekly to help with the construction work. Lutheran congregations have worked together to sponsor "blitz builds" by providing the finances as well as the labor to build a home from the ground up. Other ways to get involved - provide sack lunches for the work crews, serve on a committee, give financial gifts, etc.

Welcome Ministry - First time visitors are sent a water bottle as a gift for worshiping at South Canyon Lutheran. Telephone contact is attempted to assist them with any questions they may have about South Canyon Lutheran Church, its programs and ministry opportunities. New members are received quarterly. There is a meal and orientation on Thursday evening prior to the reception of new members on Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Outreach to General Beadle Elementary School - South Canyon has esablished a partnership with a local elementary school which continues to be very rewarding. The congregation has provided new and gently-used winter coats and sweat pants for students. Classroom and teacher snacks are purchased from the Food Bank for the school several times a year. South Canyon Lutheran purchases all the ingredients needed for one of the breakfasts provided for the students before school holidays when no school lunch is served.

Card Ministry - Staff members send cards through a weekly caring ministry to celebrate accomplishments, congratulate families who have a new baby, comfort those who are ill or need encouragement and families who experience a death in the family, etc.

Special Ministry Offering Opportunities - South Canyon Lutheran Congregation Council selects ministries in our community and the South Dakota Synod, along with outreach to our neighbors abroad, to uplift with our prayers and gifts throughout the year.

  • Lutheran Outdoors in South Dakota
  • Lutheran Campus Ministry
  • Luther Seminary
  • Lutheran Social Services
  • Prison Congregations of America
  • St. Dysmas of South Dakota
  • Missionary Support
  • Love, INC.
  • Cornerstone Rescue Mission
  • Habitat For Humanity
  • Lutheran Shared Ministry
  • Lutheran World Hunger Appeal
  • Church Response