On Tues., Sept. 27, all classes will be canceled for CONCORDIA serves day so Concordia students, faculty and staff can serve their community at multiple locations. 

Amy Bramson, the Executive Assistant for University Advancement, said, “Bil Hood, Sr. Director of External Relations, and I have been working since early summer to secure service opportunities with the 20 or so community partners.” 

Service events include volunteering in the kitchen with the Orange County Rescue Mission, preparing help bags for the homeless with Charity on Wheels and distributing food to families in need with Mariners Church. 

There are even service opportunities on campus such as helping out at Heritage Garden, calling shut-ins at the Phone-A-Thon and producing Braille materials alongside the Lutheran Braille Workers. Student-athletes will be able to serve alongside their teams, and all students are encouraged to participate. 

With the various service opportunities, Bramson said, “CONCORDIA serves is a great day for the entire campus - students, faculty and staff - to be the hands and feet of our Lord and to shine His light in a variety of locations in our city and beyond.” 

Emma Johnson, a junior and Women’s Ministry Coordinator, has been working closely with Bramson and Hood to promote CONCORDIA serves “through tabling outside the Student Union and promoting it at other events such as weekly chapel and Night of Hope.”

Johnson said that her favorite memory of past CONCORDIA serves days was working in Heritage Garden. Johnson said, “I was a staff member for the garden at the time and we unexpectedly had a whole sports team show up. It ended up being a very productive day with lots of bonding and joking around while we served in the garden. At the end of the day we were able to see how much work was accomplished and how much more beautiful we made the garden together.”

Johnson added, “I’m looking forward to witnessing the gospel in people through service. I think Serves day is a really great opportunity for Concordia students to bless their community and show Christ-like love to their neighbors.” She encourages students to participate in CONCORDIA serves “because it’s a great way to detach from the stress of student life. It’s a time to be in fellowship with one another working towards a goal that is greater than ourselves. It replaces the focus from ourselves and our worries to the people around us and how we can help them in our vocations.”

Bramson also encourages students to serve and said, “It’s a great day to enjoy a break from class, spend some time with friends in service, and of course, get a free t-shirt and free lunch!” Every participant will receive a free CONCORDIA serves t-shirt, and after a morning of serving the community, students can visit the cafeteria for a free lunch and enjoy some time eating with their Concordia family. 

For more information on CONCORDIA serves, and to sign up for an opportunity to serve, visit https://www.cui.edu/aboutcui/community/serving/concordia-serves.

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