Honorees who have made outstanding efforts in social ministry on behalf of the church received awards at the third annual Celebrate Social Ministry event, held October 22, 2006, at the Holiday Inn in Fogelsville.

Among the awards are the Love in Action awards, given to individuals, groups, or congregations who have been involved in a significant social ministry activity. Categories that were considered include—

• Scope of Service: World, nation, community, ecumenical partners, congregation.
• Types of Service: Existing programs, program expansion, innovative programs.
• Service Provider: Lay youth or adult, pastor, congregation, partnership, youth group, women’s group, men’s ministry.
• Service Characteristics: Personal initiative, dedication, relationship between faith and service.

This year's recipients for the Love in Action awards were—

• The Disaster Relief Team from Friedens, Oley, and Grace, Reading
• The Mission Ladies, Zion, Womelsdorf
• Intentional Involvement in Social and Outreach Ministries, St. Timothy, Allentown
• Our Weekly Bread Program, St. Paul, Reading

The Disaster Relief Team from Friedens, Oley, and Grace, Reading
For over ten years the Disaster Relief Team has been responding to the devastation caused by natural disasters. Beginning with the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, this dedicated group of people made a difference right after the hurricane and went back a year later. A big change occurred in the group with the addition of the disaster response trailer. This trailer is equipped with the tools and supplies the group needs to respond quickly to the needs of those who have lost their housing. The 40-plus people, young and old, skilled and not so skilled but willing to work, have made a substantial difference in the lives of people who have lost everything. To those so vulnerable, the Disaster Team works to bring hope.

The Mission Ladies, Zion, Womelsdorf
The Mission Ladies at Zion Womelsdorf, actually have names and they are Geneva Richard and Lois “Dolly” Oberly. These two women use their considerable energy and 161 years of experience to accomplish impossible tasks. At the ages of 80 and 81, Geneva and Dolly have raised $40,000 worth of materials for health kits, layette kits, sewing kits, quilts, and school bags for Lutheran World Relief. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, they prepare 20 food baskets for people in need; this year they decided to do it at Easter, too! They are the spark that lights the fire of social ministry at Zion. Their inspirational work has led others to get involved so that Geneva and Dolly not only do social ministry, they teach by example.

Intentional Involvement in Social and Outreach Ministries, St. Timothy, Allentown
The congregation council at St. Timothy, Allentown, recognized in 2004 the need to move in a different direction. Like many churches, St. Timothy was looking in instead of moving out. In the last two years, the congregation has developed a true sense of reaching out by working out in the community. Members of the Intentional Involvement in Social and Outreach Ministries group spend their time at Daybreak, St. Paul’s Breakfast Ministry, Parish Nurse Ministry, Young Ministers Construction Outfit and Quilters. Members of this ministry live out their understanding of church by being the Body of Christ in the neighborhood. With the leadership of Pastor Gerald Rounds, the Director of Outreach, the people of St. Timothy seek new ways to make Christ known through word and deed.

Our Weekly Bread Program, St. Paul, Reading
Social ministry can be the claiming of an opportunity God has placed in our grasp. Shirley and David Baker claimed that moment when they contacted Panera Bread Company with a plan to distribute their slightly less than fresh bread. Through the generosity of Panera Bread Company and the planning and hard work of the volunteers, families who are clients of the St. Paul Food Bank receive bread and words of comfort from the pastor following the Saturday night worship service. Members of the congregation are encouraged to take the bread to people who are in need. At particularly "abundant" times, bread is shared ecumenically with the soup kitchen at Central Park United Methodist Church and Opportunity House (formerly the Reading Berks Emergency Shelter). The bread distribution efforts of Shirley and David Baker have given the members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church a new understanding of bread as the life of the world.