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.
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 (4150 Dupont Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55412) 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
Current Ministry Partner Visits
Here at Immanuel, we are blessed with some incredible congregational partners and continuing into the fall on the first Sunday of each month, we invite you to join Deacon Savannah in attending worship with each of them! See the schedule below and sign up HERE!
- October 5th- Salem Lutheran (worship starts at 10am, carpool 9:15am)
- November 2nd- Redeemer Lutheran (worship starts at 10:30am, carpool 9am)
- December 7th- All Nations Indian Church (worship starts at 11am and coffee hour at 10am, carpool 10am)
- TBD- Cristo Obrero (keep an eye out for future opportunities to worship with Cristo Obrero this fall, likely not on a Sunday morning)
Advocacy from a Lutheran Perspective
For the kickoff of Immanuel’s Wednesday Night REcharge! on September 10 at 6pm, Tammy Walhof, Director of Lutheran Advocacy–Minnesota will be the presenter. Walhof has worked with faith and justice for over two decades and with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since 2014. She shares passionate energy when she talks about her work, including her expertise in poverty, hunger, creation care and related issues. She has a background in public policy and is a frequent advocate at Minnesota’s State Capitol. Join SALT and Immanuel’s Service & Justice Committee for this presentation. It will include information about:
- What is Advocacy?
- Challenges in Minnesota’s Housing and Environment
- How to be an Advocate
Prior to the presentation, Immanuel’s Wednesday Café will serve dinner 5:15pm in the atrium.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota's 2025 Gala
Join our partners at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS-MN) for a festive evening celebrating the meaningful ways that LSS-MN—together with friends like you—is Leading with Abundance as they mark their 160th anniversary of service to Minnesota. You can find event information and sign up HERE. There is no cost with this registration because two tables are already sponsored for Immanuel. This year’s gala will take place September 20 from 5:30-8:30pm at The Depot Minneapolis, 225 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Folks who are unable to attend this year’s event can still support the work of LSS-MN by making a donation HERE. Your generosity helps inspire hope, change lives and build community each year for more than 91,000 neighbors, in all of our state’s 87 counties.
Men Serve Lunch at Simpson Housing
Saturday, October 4 REGISTER
Great news!! No experience needed to participate in the next Men’s Simpson House Lunch Service. We’ll leave promptly at 10:15 AM on October 4 from the Immanuel parking lot, carpool over to Simpson’s interim shelter site (the former Zion Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis) and serve a hot lunch to 30-35 homeless individuals in need. Best of all, you’ll be back to Immanuel no later than 1:30 PM. Register online or email davidalanbeach@gmail.com. If you’re interested, act fast: There are a limited number of volunteer slots available, and they fill up quickly!
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.