Our Mission Statement
Living 4 Giving (L4G) is a group of Christians from Trinity Lutheran Church of Dover, New Jersey. L4G encourages the church membership to be aware of societal needs by providing various opportunities to serve within our church, local, and worldwide communities. This can be in the form of service, tangible items and/or monetary gifts.
God's Work. Our Hands.
"God's work. Our hands." Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-one church freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ - every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life - flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace.
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Fair Trade Market
The Fair Trade Market (previously known as the Alternative Gift Fair) is held every other year in November just in time for Christmas shopping. We have items sold at the Fair that are handcrafted. It is a way for you to shop with intention for ethically-sourced wares.
Advent
In 2022 our Advent project was to collect money for Seafarers International. Did you know that the international shipping industry is responsible for the carriage of around 90% of world trade? Working on these ships are seafarers (mariners or crew members), often for months on end. In that isolation, they are at risk of piracy, abusive co-workers, depression, and accidents. These mariners hail from over 150 nations. When they finally enter a US port, many are denied shore leave because they are viewed as security risks. Or they are allowed on land, only to have no transport to take them where they need to go.Seafarers International House staff assist them by being able to board their ships or offer rides in our vans.Since 2012, SIH officially continues the work of the German Seamen's Mission in New York with German speaking staff and port chaplains.
Love Sunday
Traditionally held near Valentine's Day (this year January and February), our project usually is a tangible item that can be donated to a group in need. In 2022 we collected donations for Project Kind which we named "Project Love Your Neighbor". We chose 8 non-perishable items to collect: jelly, peanut butter, individually packaged snacks, non-perishable food items, brown paper lunch bags, sandwich/quart size plastic bags, hand warmers, personally written 'Kind Notes'.
Souperbowl Sunday
On Superbowl Sunday TLC holds "Souperbowl Sunday" and the congregation collects non-perishable food items for our Food Pantry. This year we collected: shelf-stable milk like Parmalat (44 quarts), Canned fruit (36 cans), Rice - one/two pound bags (27).
Lent
Each Lenten season we choose a project to dedicate our time and talent to. In 2022 we collected money for Ukraine through Lutheran World Relief. This money was matched through several unnamed benefactors. We collected $8,130 making our total donation $16,260!
Mother's Day
In 2022, we collected money for Church World Service which will purchase many blankets, which, we understand will go to Moldova, Ukraine's neighbor, welcoming refugees.
Father's Day
For our 2022 Father's Day project we will celebrate all the men in our lives who have made a difference by donating to The Travis Mills Foundation. The Travis Mills Foundation supports recalibrated veterans and their families through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. The retreat is located in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. Veteran families who have been injured in active duty or as a result of their service to our nation receive an all-inclusive, all-expenses-paid, barrier-free experience in Maine where they participate in adaptive activities, bond with other veteran families, and enjoy much-needed rest and relaxation in Maine’s outdoors.
Other Projects
Sometimes the need arises and we are ready for the call. We will add in projects as warranted.