Outreach Ministries
As the body of Christ, we are called to serve those who are in need. We are to help the hopeless, comfort the lonely, speak out for justice, protect the vulnerable, and care for the less fortunate. We are to love Christ by loving others. If you have any questions with our outreach ministries and how you can help, please email Amy at amy@coslc.com.
Local Ministries
Cooperating Churches of Sussex (C.C.O.S.)
Seven churches, including Christ Our Savior, help feed the hungry, give financial assistance, and support the community through food drives, fundraisers, and other events. Such events include: Giving Tree, a Christmas-time gift drive; and Mini-Workcamp, where confirmation students participate in spring clean-up jobs for seniors living in the community around us.
Sussex Outreach Services (S.O.S.)
S.O.S. meets the immediate and long-term needs of the Sussex-area individuals and families by providing food, informational resources, client advocacy, counseling, educational programs, preventative health programs, and emergency assistance. Christ Our Savior donates items and gives monetary contributions throughout the year. We have a toilet paper drive in fall, a peanut butter and jelly drive in the spring, as well as ongoing collections in the donation center. For more information check out: S.O.S. Website
Community Banquet
This meal happens on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at the Community Center of St. James Catholic Church. This meal is open to the entire community. Each month the C.C.O.S. takes on various roles to prepare, serve, and clean up from this meal.
Greater Metro Milwaukee Area Ministries
Serenity Inns
This is a comprehensive, seven-month transitional living program for men who choose recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. Christ Our Savior provides meals and eats with the residents monthly. We also help support the Alumni House: sober living apartments. We collect items year-round at the donation station. In addition, we host a Friday Fish & Chicken Fry event to raise funds for Serenity Inns.
Hephatha Lutheran Church
God’s presence in the “thick of it.” Located in the middle of crime and poverty, Hephatha Lutheran Church is home to multiple age groups, cultures, and economic differences. Christ Our Savior has several clothing drives throughout the year, such as our Winter Outwear Drive, to help meet the needs of children and families. In addition, at Christmas-time our youth have made Christmas stockings, and we’ve collected baby items at our Birthday Party for Jesus that went to benefit their Strong Baby Sanctuary program.
Bread of Healing Ministries
What began over 10 years ago as a response to hunger in the 53205 zip code has grown year after year. Now with growing poverty in that community, Christ Our Savior helps feed individuals in poverty by preparing and serving a meal once a month at Cross Lutheran Church. Each January, we have the Mac-n-More food drive to collect food needed at the food pantry. In addition, we have on-going collections at the donation station.
Luther Manor
This is a non-profit, faith-based, senior living community. Christ Our Savior donates cookies to them regularly for their hospitality hour.
Outreach For Hope
Outreach For Hope supports life-giving ministries that serve with the people of low income communities in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA. COS participates in the annual Outreach for Hope Family Bike Ride to help raise funds for this ministry.
Milwaukee Rescue Mission
The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is a homeless shelter located at 830 N 19th St in Milwaukee. Christ Our Savior has collected clothing items and food items, such as boxes of cereal for emergency baskets to be distributed to families in Milwaukee.
Guest House of Milwaukee
Each January and February our confirmation students make sandwiches to benefit those at the Guest House homeless shelter which is located on North 13th St between Juneau and McKinley Avenues in the King Park neighborhood.
Teens Around the Community of Sussex (T.A.C.O.S)
Middle school and high school youth are invited to meet at Christ Our Savior for a time of food, fellowship, and fun to connect with other youth in an affirming environment. You can visit the TACOS website here: www.tacosoutreach.com
National Ministries
Souper Bowl of Caring
A nationwide event, the Souper Bowl of Caring takes place on NFL–Super Bowl Sunday. It’s a day where money and food is collected by the youth for area food pantries
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Throughout the year, COS collects needed items such as school supplies, clothing, and Christmas gifts and donates them to the reservation in South Dakota. We’ve also made trips there to help build homes and make homes handicap accessible.
International Ministries
Lutheran World Relief
Our COS Quilters provide love through their beautiful quilts that are donated to Lutheran World Relief. These quilts are sent through LWR to places ravaged by violence, and around the world to bring warmth, cover and comfort.
Worldwide Hunger Relief
Poverty, homelessness, violence and abuse exist in all nations, continents and islands. In the past years, through Worldwide Hunger Relief, we’ve packaged dried meals that are shipped to countries in regular need and to places hit by natural disasters. Currently, we provide financial support through monetary donations to provide hunger relief.
