Lutheran Church of the Atonement
Great Rivers Collaborative
The Holy Spirit guides our congregation to perform amazing mission and ministry using the resources we have been blessed with. Recently, leaders from several area ELCA churches gathered to discuss how the gifts within individual congregations could be used in conjunction with other congregations to perform even greater mission and ministry. From these conversations, the Great Rivers Collaborative (GRC) was formed.
The GRC member congregations are Atonement, Living Christ, Shepherd of the Hills, St. Philips, Unity, and Zion. The GRC Committee already has several ideas and will share them with you soon. We encourage you to participate as you are able in upcoming GRC events!
If you have questions or ideas, please contact Atonement’s GRC representatives, Keith Tomazi (314-831-1607) or David Cole (314-921-4264).
GRC Calendar
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Amazing things are happening! Click here to see events sponsored by the GRC as well as the individual GRC congregations.
News & Events
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October 1, 2023
Service Sunday
Atonement members will participate in our annual Service Sunday to do God's Work with Our Hands, and we invite our sisters and brothers at the other GRC congregations to join us. The day starts at 8:15 in Atonement's gym with a brief sending service that will include communion. Everyone will then proceed to their project areas on campus or at remote locations. Projects will wrap up by noon or sooner.
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To sign up for one of the projects listed below, please click here. If you have questions, please contact David Cole (314-921-4264).
Name | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
Bake Cookies | Bake prepared cookie dough for Gateway 180 lunches & police/fire departments | Atonement Kitchen |
Garden Cleanup | Prepare the gardens ar A Red Circle for the winter | 351 Chambers Rd |
Assemble Hygiene Kits | Assemble kits for TEAM and A Red Circle
Goal 50 large in bath towel, 50 small in hand towel | Atonement Gym |
Assemble Fun Activity Bags | The bags will be given to children in hospitals & emergency rooms.
Color first page/write note (activity books, XPLOR magazines, etc.) all donated by State of Mo by Gretchen Bangert | Atonement Gym |
Trash Cleanup | Location depends on status of Mo Am Water Project status | Florissant Rd or Parker Road |
Thank You Notes | Write and/or color notes for Veterans going on Honor Flights | Atonement Gym |
Food Drive | Collect canned and non-perishable food items. Load items collected into cars for delivery to TEAM. | Atonement Gym |
Brown Bag Lunches | Pack brown bag lunches for Gateway 180 | Atonement Gym |
Goodie Bags for Shut-ins | Assemble bags with practial and fun items for Atonement shut-ins to enjoy. | Atonement Gym |
Prep Island | Begin work to prep soil for spring planting of native plants for pollinators | Atonement back parking lot |
Pack Red Bag Lunches | Assemble Red Bags that contain packaged food and useful information for Atonement members to hand out to the homeless. | Atonement Gym |
Assemble Fleece Hats | All Materials supplied, assemble hats for children | Atonement Gym |
Yardwork for Atonement Senior #1 | Bailey Trim bushes and clear fence line | Florissant |
Yardwork for Atonement Senior #2 | Gibiliterra Trim bushes and pull weeds | Florissant |
Set Up (on Saturday) | Move chairs, altar, set up sound system for Sending Service & projects on Sunday morning | Atonement Gym |
Coat Swap | Set out coat rack and sign(various times) | Atonement Parking Lot |
Take Down (on Sunday) | Take down and store chairs, altar, and sound system after the Sending Service | Atonement Gym |
Prepare PowerPoint | Coordinate with Worship Committee & Pastor to create a PowerPoint in advance to show at the Sending Service |
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October 29, 2023
Reformation Celebration
You are invited to the Great Rivers Collaborative (GRC) Reformation Celebration at Unity on Sunday, October 29. The event starts at 4:00 p.m. with a worship service focused on ”Love Your Neighbor.” A joint choir with members from several GRC congregations will be led by Unity’s Music Director, the Rev. Blake Duncan. An offering will be taken (both cash and non-perishable food items) to support the Eastern Missouri Conference ministry, God’s Helping Hands. Afterward, we will enjoy a meal featuring brisket and a variety of pot-luck items, fellowship, and a fun activity.
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Please RSVP starting on October 1 and no later than October 22 by filling out the form at https://forms.office.com/r/a5GqqyQMHm or calling David Cole (314-921-4264).
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We hope you will join us in this celebration of our Lutheran heritage!
Unity Evangelical Lutheran Church
8454 Glen Echo Dr, Bel Nor, MO 63121