The following organizations will be the recipients of our Advent offerings for 2023.
Restoring Vision: provides reading to people in underdeveloped and impoverished countries. Vision is one of our most important senses. It impacts one’s ability to interact with the environment and other people. By providing a simple pair of reading glasses we can immediately and positively impact a person’s life, the well-being of one’s family and community.
Women at the Well: Is a United Methodist congregation located within the walls of the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, in Mitchellville, Iowa. It offers ministries designed to encourage the spiritual growth of its members, assist them when they transition back into the world outside the walls and to better understand the hurts and hopes of those who reside within the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women. Lovely Lane is a committed partner supporting this ministry.
Nourished: Nourished is a growing new community and strives to be a place to grow relationships that feed the soul. We do this through two experiments: a spiritual community and a gluten free bakery. Studies show that nearly 30% of the population is gluten free by choice or by medical diagnosis, but for many in this population, there are few, if any, options in restaurants and coffee shops. On the flip side, there are many who identify as spiritual but not religious, have religious trauma, or are un-attracted to the inherited church. We seek to provide refuge for both of these groups of people by providing space of care by listening with intention as a way to form meaningful friendships, creating a generous space for all to live into their authentic selves, and supporting each other as we explore our spirituality. Nourished is a missional campus of Lovely Lane, and your gift this Advent will bring us one step closer to opening up our own space.
Hillcrest Family Services of Dubuque: People come to Hillcrest for help, for guidance, and compassion. At Hillcrest they leave feeling better physically through the Health Services, building confidence in troubled youth through the foster group care programs, giving hope to the homeless and promise to those wanting a family. Hillcrest builds character in adults who have lost their dignity, and adds stability to the lives of families in need of mentoring.