Missions 

Christiania is involved in many projects reaching out to those in need globally and locally

GLOBAL OUTREACH

• Christiania is partnered with the Ihemi congregation in Iringa Tanzania, East Africa.  Many times in the last years groups or individuals from the congregation have visited.  The members have traveled to help with student sponsorship, clean water drilling, to teach at the local university, and the establishment of the Agriculture Institute. Every year we sponsor many students to further their education.   See the youth page also for a report on the trip in 2008 when a group of students and parents visited Ihemi.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Habitat for Humanity 

The 2009 Habitat for Humanity project will be the construction of  a home in Dundas.   Christiania is scheduled to work on August 1, 2009 from 7:00 am to 3:00.    Up to 10 workers are needed on that day.    If you can help, contact Gordon Storlie.  

Loaves and Fishes 

Every 5th Tuesday Christiania shops for, prepares, serves and cleans up a meal for low income working people at the Creekside Community Center in Bloomington. The meal of pizza, salad, peaches and apple cobbler is always appreciated and the crew, including many teenagers, has lots of fun working together. The next meal is March 31, 2009

Adopt a Highway   

In the spring and in the fall, teenagers and adults gather to clean up four miles of County Road 46 in front of the church. We gather for pizza following.

Baby Shower for Jesus    

Around the Festival of Jesus’ Baptism in January, the congregation brings in new and slightly used baby items for Lutheran Social Services.

Spring Cleaning Drive     

After Easter the congregation brings in dust mops, buckets, sponges and other household cleaning supplies for Lutheran Social Services

Operation Backpack   

In July and August the congregation brings in backpacks, pencils, notebooks, crayons and other school supplies for children in the Northfield School District. Christiania has been recognized as one of the most generous donors!

Grocery Cart and Minnesota Food Share Month  

A grocery cart sits in Fellowship Hall to collect groceries for the food shelves in Dakota, Rice and Scott Counties. A special emphasis for gifts, including money, is emphasized in March.

Christiania Garden

A garden has been planted by the East Cemetery.   All work will be done by anyone who wants to show up.   Proceeds will go to members and also to the local food shelves. 

More

Financial Gifts                           

Christiania’s gifts to benevolence hover around 10% of the total budget.

Gifts go to support the larger church through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Saint Paul Area Synod, the Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala, a new Hispanic congregation in St Paul, world hunger and disaster relief throughout the world, Lutheran Social Services, Camp Onomia, Lakeville Assistance Fund, Habitat for Humanity, 3 local food shelves, Meals on Wheels, Northfield Retirement Center and others. 

In addition, the Christiania Lutheran Church Women (CLCW) makes gifts of $7,000 every year, and individuals make many other gifts, primarily for education, church buildings and medical supplies to Iringa and unexpected tragedies in our community, that are not run through the budget.