Nourishing body and soul: how Peace Lutheran Church serves the West Valley community

Rev. Dan Potaznick, Director of Generosity and Strategic Development, shares a note about his time with Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria.

This weekend I visited Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria to give thanks, and it was a busy Sunday. Young members celebrated their first communion, the congregation kicked off their spring endowment drive, and members of both All Saints Lutheran (Phoenix) and Peace Lutheran joined together as a joint choir. 

If that wasn't enough for one Sunday, after worship I joined members & visitors to pack 800 pounds, or 1200 bags, of rice and beans for the West Valley Community Food Pantry. Peace's food packing ministry was partially funded through a Grand Canyon Synod Manna Grant. The effort, I was told as I struggled to tie a plastic bag of rice, is also supported by Sprouts Market in Peoria through the donation of bags to store the product, which a member of the congregation separates by hand.

As I was sent to the bagging station for tying too slow, I was amazed that date over 40,000 bags have been separated, filled, and gifted to the West Valley Community Food Pantry, located at St. John's Lutheran Church in Glendale. This Sunday's gift of 1,200 bags will last the WVFB pantry one month. 

Thanks be to God for the generous ministry of Peace Lutheran Church and for the blessing of being church together!