Immanuel Lutheran Church is housed in a century-old building in the near north side of St. Louis. During that century, both the building and the neighborhood it serves have changed.
The beautiful sanctuary is no longer heated because a flood destroyed the boiler. And the formal membership is now very small while thenumber of people served is much bigger.
The big event of the week is a free breakfast downstairs on Sunday mornings for the benefit of people of the neighborhood, many of whom are poor or homeless. They come to get their fill of high-energy food to sustain them through the bleak week ahead.
One Sunday per month, Trinity families act as the hosts, providing and preparing the day's food. They all report it to be a learning and spiritually fulfilling experience.
The ELCA is funding a worker to organize neighborhood activities such as dinners, a Christmas Party with gifts for the neighborhood children, support to the two Narcotics Anonymous groups that meet at the church and partnering with a local support charity.
Like all such endeavors, more helpers are always welcome.
