Service, Justice & Ministry Partners
Now Accepting Justice Fund Nominations
Deadline September 15, 2025
At Immanuel we believe that, as servants of God, we are called to work for the common good of every member of society. We are committed to addressing social and cultural injustices related to race, sexuality, peace, equity, poverty and the environment. Recognizing that there are so many organizations already doing important work in the community for the dignity and justice of all our neighbors, our congregation has committed to set aside $5,000 in our annual budget as an offering to one justice-oriented organization each year. We invite you to nominate justice-oriented organizations that you believe could benefit from these funds. We will accept nominations through September 15, and a recipient will be chosen from these nominations in late October. To nominate an organization, please fill out the nomination form.
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity Project
NEXT WORK DAY: Monday, August 18, 2025, 8:30am-3:30pm in Maplewood (SIGN UP)
Choose from ONE of the following jobs:
- Construction team
- lunch for the workers
- photography
No experience required. Minimum age 16 for construction volunteers. Not only do we build a home, we build community, putting our faith into action. Come join us and help make the dream of home ownership a reality.
If you are interested please contact Ruth Lunde or Lynn Swanson at 952.974.1689.
Start Shopping for School Supplies
Each year we at Immanuel help to provide school supplies for 120+ students at Prairie View Elementary School. If you are interested in purchasing the school supplies for a student, please sign up using the link below. You will have the option to sponsor a student(s) from a specific grade level and after signing up you will be sent their supply list. Each list costs about $20-35 to complete. All supplies must be returned to Immanuel by August 20.
- Additional opportunities for service and donations include:
- Providing school supplies for Cristo Obrero (not a designated list).
- Backpack donations for elementary aged students.
- Volunteer to deliver supplies to Prairie View August 25-27
- Volunteer to hand out school supplies at Prairie View’s back-to-school event on August 27
- Volunteer at Cristo Obrero’s back to school event on August 28
Sign up HERE.
Community Meals in N. Minneapolis!
Join is in preparing/serving/enjoying meals with our partner congregations and their community! Upcoming dates:
- August 19 (Salem)
- October 21 (Salem)
- December 16 (Salem)
Every other month we join Salem Lutheran Church in preparing and serving their to-go meals. Volunteers needed from 4-6:30pm. Immanuel members are also always welcome to just attend these meals as guests! It is a great opportunity for fellowship.
Sign-up HERE
Humanity Alliance Food Pack Event
Help prepare food for families in need
Wednesday, August 20, 5-7pm in Victoria (SIGN UP)
The Humanity Alliance prepares and delivers thousands of meals each week to families in need. Most of the families are in Carver or Hennepin county, however some are in other areas also. Adults and youth can come to help prepare food. Immanuel confirmation students as well as adults have volunteered in the past, and found it to be rewarding and fun!
Volunteers can either carpool (meet at 4:30 pm in the Immanuel parking lot) or to meet at the Humanity Alliance in Victoria (arrive before 5 pm).
Current Ministry Partner Visits
Here at Immanuel, we are blessed with some incredible congregational partners and over the summer we invite you to join Deacon Savannah in attending worship with each of them! You can see the dates for each below, and please sign up HERE if you plan to attend.
- August 24th – Redeemer Lutheran Church, 10:30 am (carpool from Immanuel at 9:45am)
Little Dresses for Africa
Humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable of God’s children
If you can do basic sewing, we have a perfect project for you! Pillowcase dresses, made by volunteers from around the world, go out as little ambassadors to plant in the hearts of little girls that they are worthy. As relationships are built, projects are completed through clean water, education and community. Premade kits are available to make six pillowcase dresses. Pick up a kit in the atrium at Immanuel. Donations of pillowcases, rickrack, bias tape and thread are also welcome. For more information contact Ilene McCluskey 952-941-8471.
Our Immigrant Neighbors
Update from the Service & Justice Committee
We, your Immanuel Service & Justice Team, share your concerns about our neighbors who are immigrants. We are following our partners’ leads and accompanying them in short- and long-term efforts they indicate are useful. Please call Immanuel’s office (952-937-8123) to volunteer as a notary, lawyer (especially with immigration experience), Spanish-speaker and/or copying assistant. We also anticipate fundraising events with our partners. The Team also is using guidance and resources from:
- Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service [LIRS])
- ELCA’s AMMPARO Migrant Ministry (including their Facebook posts)
- Lutheran Social Service’s Refugee Services
We will update you as we receive additional information. If you know someone who is seeking immigration information, please contact us. You can help by supporting local businesses, including restaurants, owned and/or operated by folks who are immigrants. They may be struggling because their usual customers are staying home out of fear.
Minneapolis Area Synod Resources
In recent weeks, our synod office has received requests for resources and information about immigration, ICE enforcement, and support for immigrant communities. They have compiled a webpage in English and Espanol with pastoral messages, trainings, resources, articles, and other helpful links related to the recent executive orders and the impact they have on those in our communities. If you have resources to share, please send to Nicholas Tangen.
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Truth & Healing Group
During the past year the ELCA has initiated the “Truth & Healing Movement” as an intentional opportunity for the church to increase it’s understanding of our colonizing impacts on Indigenous people in the past and present. The movement is focused on providing opportunities to learn the true, and largely ignored, history and current realities of Indigenous people with the hope that by listening and learning, these truths will bring healing for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.
At Immanuel, we have decided to start a group committed to this work within our own context here in Eden Prairie and in Minnesota. We will be meeting monthly over the course of the next 9-12 months to learn together and to form our own action plans for how we might be better neighbors- following the guidance of Native Governance Center. Learn more!
Have an Hour or Two?
Become an on-call servant!
We know your life is busy but we also know you have a heart for helping others. We can help! Immanuel often has opportunities to assist with projects that require a very limited time commitment. Consider joining our On-Call Servant email list! When a need arises we will send an email and if you are available to help, let us know. It's that easy! Send an email to Sarah (sarah@immanuel.us) in the office and you will be added to the distribution list.
Diaper Squad
Support our partner Redeemer Lutheran as they help with a food shelf in their neighborhood. Donations ofbaby wipes and diapers of all sizes are needed - these items are in high demand for families accessing food shelves. Volunteers are needed to deliver diapers to N. Minneapolis the first Saturday of the month.
A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.