Silver Spring, Maryland—Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church is excited to share that this year’s Community Service Day, held on April 27, was a huge success. The Spencerville Church Community Services ministry team coordinated 23 service initiatives, including Homes Not Borders, Shepherd’s Table, Elizabeth House, Montgomery County Parks, Grocery Grab and Go, Sunrise Assisted Living, and the Displaced Persons Project. This year’s effort drew more than 200 people from Spencerville Church, with additional members from the Ellicott City Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Tech Road campus of the Beltsville Seventh-day Adventist Church also participating.
“What an amazing day seeing Christ’s love in action!” said Luceta McRoy, event coordinator and leader of the Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church Community Services ministry. “It was a blessing to see the excitement of our church members as they came together to serve others in our community.” She continued, “Whether they were serving meals, washing dishes, providing hygiene bags, making sandwiches, unloading trucks, picking up trash, preparing groceries, loving and caring for the elderly, coordinating showers and haircuts, or serving displaced families, our community services team is pleased to know that we made a difference as the hands and feet of Jesus in our community!”
Crystal E. Ward, the Executive Pastor of Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church, added, “I’m proud of how our Adventist community responded to this opportunity, and am grateful for the participation of our friends at the Ellicott City and Beltsville Tech Road churches! While this is our annual day emphasizing community service, Spencerville is blessed with an active church body engaged in service throughout the year. We’ve been so blessed! It’s a privilege to fulfill our mission in not only knowing Jesus, but making him known through our service to the community.”
Spencerville Church would like to thank Luceta McRoy, our Community Services Ministry leader, for her leadership in this event, as well as our site leaders for coordinating the individual service projects. The church would also like to thank our partners in Community Service Day: Shepherd’s Table, Apryl Showers, Montgomery Beauty School, Homes Not Borders, Elizabeth House, Montgomery County Parks, Sunrise Assisted Living, and Emmanuel-Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Through our Community Services and Connect Group ministries, Spencerville Church members regularly participate in service initiatives that feed the homeless, sort clothing and household items, serve in food-insecure neighborhoods, and collect clothing and food items for families in need. If you’d like to learn more about participating in Spencerville’s active Community Services ministry, contact Luceta McRoy, our Community Services Ministry leader, at community@spencervillechurch.org.
Contact: Jason Lombard Pastor of Media and Communication Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church 301-384-2920 x 123 jlombard@spencervillechurch.org
Shepherd’s Table in downtown Silver Spring was our largest service project this year. Photo: Sheena CrawfordShepherd’s table serves hundreds of people each day. Photo: Jason LombardDonated food is prepared and brought in, where it must be labeled and sorted before distribution. Photo: Jason LombardCatherine and Ana open cans in preparation for Sunday dinner. Photo: Jason LombardDaniel and Carla were excited to volunteer at Shepherd’s Table. Photo: Jason LombardSheena (left) leads Spencerville Church Health Ministries, while Luceta (right) leads Spencerville’s Community Services ministry. Photo: Sheena CrawfordSean, Benjamin, and Patrick sort and label sack lunches for distribution. Photo: Jason LombardBernadette (right) is the owner and operator of Apryl Showers, serving the homeless with a shower and a clean restroom. She especially has a heart for serving our homeless veterans. Photo: Jason LombardJermaine and Jean wait for instructions at Shepherd’s Table. Photo: Ava WiltRob and Ana make sure that every meal includes healthy options like fruit. Photo: Ava WiltOur volunteers are preparing to begin food service. Photo: Sheena CrawfordThe atmosphere was light and enjoyable, and a lot of fun was had in the moments between projects. Photo: Sheena CrawfordAnd of course, after meals are served, dishes need to be washed. Here Patrick (left) and York lend a hand. Photo: Sheena CrawfordFood comes in, gets prepared, and then goes right back out—multiple times each day. Photo: Sheena CrawfordAlex, Maritza, and Eugene made sure that the clients of Shepherd’s Table were supplied with toiletries and hygiene products. Photo: Sheena CrawfordAlex is always positive and ready to share a smile and a laugh. He shared how much he enjoyed serving at Shepherd’s Table. Photo: Jason LombardVanessa and Donna were all smiles at Shepherd’s Table at the sign-up table for haircuts and styling. Photo: Sheena CrawfordAva Wilt shares a photo with her group at Shepherd’s Table. Photo: Ava WiltMerle Poirier (with help from her assistant, lower center) leads our group at Sunrise Assisted Living in Silver Spring. Photo: Lisa FroelichManuela engages one of the residents with a smile and a kind word at Sunrise Assisted Living. Photo: Jason LombardLandon prayed for the residents of Sunrise and that the music, singing, and story was a blessing. Photo: Jason LombardSilonia played a beautiful piece on. the piano to bless the residents. Photo: Jason LombardIsabella played a piece on the cello. Photo: Jason LombardMerle shared a story with the residents. Photo: Jason LombardSilonia and Sophia shared a violin duet. Photo: Jason LombardElliot shared flowers with the residents. Photo: Jason LombardLandon helped pass out flowers as well. Photo: Jason LombardLandon, Reagan, Connor, and Levi helped act out part of the story Merle shared with the residents. Photo: Jason LombardChristina enjoyed the kids participating in the music. Photo: Jason LombardCynthia and her boys were an active part of the program. Photo: Jason LombardServing at Sunrise is a great family activity and a way for all ages to be involved serving. Photo: Jason LombardOur middle school kids waited for their part of the program. Photo: Jason LombardMerle’s story had everyone on the edge of their seats. Photo: Jason LombardThe ministry at Sunrise Assisted Living was blessed to have a large group! Photo: Jason LombardLuke and his father, Nahum, helped pick up trash at Burtonsville Park. Photo: Jason LombardThe Timon family was on hand to ensure that our local park stays clean. Photo: Jason LombardSometimes, picking up trash is a team effort, as Chris and Jacob demonstrate. Photo: Jason LombardSometimes, you have to reach a little to get all of the trash. Photo: Jason LombardVictoria was one of many of our young adults who gave of their time on Community Service Day. Photo: Jason LombardBrittany and Riley shared their efforts at Burtonsville Park. Photo: Jason LombardPastor Lerone has fun wherever she is—including picking up trash at the park. Photo: Jason LombardMay was our project leader at the Burtonsville Park project. Photo: Jason LombardLizzie and Carla coordinate food coming in to be sorted at Emmanuel Brinklow’s Grocery Grab and Go. Photo: Jason LombardMaddy coaches Rodney on how to pick a good onion. Photo: Jason LombardKeri packed the bags of produce for distribution. Photo: Jason LombardJessica helped ensure that every bag had the right mix. Photo: Jason LombardBob graciously took on cabbage duty. Photo: Jason LombardLizzie ensured quality control was maintained as the bags were prepared for distribution. Photo: Jason LombardKaren brought her trademark joy to the bag packing process. Photo: Jason LombardElena, like many of our youth, was happy to be involved in Community Service Day. Photo: Jason LombardAs the raw materials come in, they must be sorted for packing. Photo: Jason LombardJudy made sure that the team never ran out of bags. Photo: Jason LombardLauron and Lilian prepared the sandwiches. Photo: Jason LombardIt was a well-oiled production line as the team made hundreds of sandwiches for Elizabeth House in Laurel. Photo: Jason LombardPastor Kandace sorted and labeled lunch bags. Photo: Jason LombardKelly made sure that the team never ran short of supplies. Photo: Jason LombardGabriella waits for Lilian to bag the sandwich so it can be added to the other items in the lunch sack. Photo: Jason LombardNancy worked with Lauron and Lilian to keep the sandwich production line moving. Photo: Jason LombardJi and Pastor Kandace organize the bags to be packed into boxes for distribution. Photo: Jason LombardA team photo of the group ministering to displaced persons in Riverdale. Photo: Brenda ChaseThe children enjoyed activities and games, including this sack race. Photo: Brenda ChaseMaria was all smiles as she painted the faces of the children. Photo: Cassie FoardThe lines were long at the face painting stations as the kids were excited to participate. Photo: Brenda Chase.A group of people who weren’t available on Sunday served their community on Sabbath afternoon at A Wider Cirlce. Photo courtesy of Jane Mwebi.A Wider Circle, located in downtown Silver Spring, collects donations of clothing and household goods for distribution to those in need. Photo courtesy of Jane Mwebi.
