Community Service & Outreach
Here are some of the ways in which you can be involved in building community here at CTL:
Kids Hope USA (KHUSA) is a national, non-profit organization which facilitates mentoring relationships with at-risk children through a church-school partnership. Each participating church serves one school. Directors are trained by KHUSA staff and then return to the congregations to recruit, train, and support mentors. Each mentor meets with one child for one hour, one day a week to provide undivided attention for these very special children. Each mentor and child have a prayer partner from the congregation, who prays for the mentor and child at the time they meet and other times as well. Statistics show that children who have mentors have better attendance and make good progress academically and in other areas of development, even though this is not a tutoring program. CTL has been involved with KHUSA since 2011. We are making a difference in the lives of the children we serve!
E-Team exists to Energize, Encourage, and Equip the congregation in God’s mission to share the Good News. The Christ the Lord E-Team (Evangelism) partners with other church committees and groups to develop events that live out the Gospel in our community and world. This group also encourages a spirit of hospitality among all those who gather within the building. They are responsible for community meals, potlucks, and receptions, and can always use help with those!
Pastoral Care supports ministries such as Caring Meals, Communion Ministers for the sick and home-bound, the Card Ministry, and the Prayer Chain that help us relate directly to members. It is our goal to assure connectivity to each member as part of our ministry.
Caring Meals ministry provides home-cooked meals for people affected by stressful situations (serious illness, new birth, death in the family, etc.). Anyone who wants to serve others, wants to be part of a ministry but cannot commit to regular meetings, loves to cook, desires to bless families and new babies, or to comfort those who are in the midst of difficult circumstances is encouraged to join us in this rewarding and delicious ministry.
The Card Ministry handcrafts beautiful cards for all occasions. They are available for use by anyone who would like to congratulate, thank, console, welcome, or encourage others in our community and beyond.
Bound & Un-Gagged is a group that provides a monthly opportunity for reading and discussion of a wide variety of books. They meet at a local restaurant for breakfast once a month. Your friends and neighbors with whom you share the love of reading are welcome!
Mutual Ministry Committee provides support for the Pastor and staff of the church, looking to ensure their physical, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing and encouraging healthy relationships among staff members and between the staff and the congregation.
Property & Grounds is our own group of “fix-it” guys and gals who maintain and beautify the building and property that God has entrusted to us. Projects include all-church clean-up and work days and setting up for events at the church. Anyone who is at all handy is encouraged to join in!
We believe that love for God always goes hand-in-hand with love for our neighbor. Here are some of the ways we seek to serve our neighbors here and around the world:
Social Ministry supports the overall mission of CTL, which is to be “centered in Christ and reach out to care,” and focuses specifically on helping to meet the physical needs of neighbors both in our community and around the world. Some of the organizations we help support include: ELCA World Hunger, the ELCA Malaria Campaign, Elgin PADS homeless shelter, Ecker Center for those dealing with mental illness, Community Crisis Center for those dealing with domestic abuse, Christmas White Gifts and school supplies for students in District U46, Living Well Cancer Center, All Peoples Interfaith Food Pantry, CROP Walk for hunger.
Soup Kettle is a community ministry that provides meals every day of the week for people who need them. CTL volunteers help with setup, serving, cleanup, and hospitality for the guests the fifth Friday of each month.
Christ the Lord Lutheran Church is a member of the Habitat for Humanity - New Hope Partnership which is affiliated with the Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley habitatnfv.org. The partnership consists of several area churches whose mission it is to work together to build or rehab homes through volunteer efforts including labor, donated building materials, financial contributions, and homeowner participation.
Needles and Pins is a special crafters’ ministry that creates prayer shawls and baptismal blankets, baby caps, sew Quilts of Valor for veterans, and other items for the community.
A Community Garden is planted on the church grounds in the Spring to help grow vegetables to be given to local food pantries so people can enjoy fresh produce.
We participate with other local ELCA congregations for a day of service that is called God’s Work, Our Hands. This takes place the second Sunday in September.
CTL is host to a number of community organizations. Included are Cub Scouts (CTL is the charter organization) , a Community Crisis Center support group, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Northern Kane County Wild Ones prairie gardening group, other garden clubs, an American Sewing Guild chapter, homeowner association meetings, piano recitals and more. If your community group is looking for a place to meet, talk with us!