Instead of their normal Sunday worship, members of the College United Methodist Church in Warrenton gathered on the morning of Sept. 8 to receive their service assignments as part of their third annual “SERVE Day.”

“This is the third annual SERVE Day, and our worship is coming to church and gathering for a few moments of encouragement and information and then we spread out into 12 different places,” said Pastor Doug Kraus. 

Congregation members were distributed throughout the community into 12 different ministries. They included, distributing cookies for first responders, serving brunch at Turning Point Advocacy Services and Anchor House, organizing the Anchor House Community Closet, working in the Leslie Love Memorial Reading Garden at Daniel Boone Elementary School and making cards and cookie packs for the Warren County Senior Center. 

They also painted at the Sheltered Workshop, played Bingo at the Oak Pointe Assisted Living Facility, went on litter patrol and helped Pastor Kraus with drive-thru prayer. 

The drive-thru prayers were somewhat of a novel idea that Pastor Kraus and organizer Elaine Auch had seen in other communities and wanted to try here in Warrenton. 

“We’re trying to entice them to come in, if they need prayer, we will pray for them right here. We offered them a cross, a stone cross, … And we also offered them some sweet prayer,” said Kraus. 

Attendees of drive-thru prayer also received cupcakes and other assorted sweets. 

Vicki Adrian, one of the volunteers who served at the Anchor House, was appreciative of the opportunity and was glad to volunteer for her second year in a row. 

“It’s very rewarding, it’s our way to give back to the community,” said Adrian. 

Adrian, among others, was volunteering at the Anchor House and their Community Closet on Sunday. 

Anchor House serves as one of the few resources for the homeless community in Warren County and offers housing and other supplies like clothing to those in need. While volunteers helped serve brunch at Anchor House on Sunday morning, their work at the Anchor House Community Closet was arguably more important. 

The Community Closet is situated behind the Anchor House building and holds a wide range of donated clothing from undergarments to winter coats. First responders in the area have access to the closet so that when they come across someone in need, especially as the colder months of winter approach, they can provide them with warm and clean clothing. 

Volunteers from College United Methodist Church helped reorganize donations in the closet and also made their own donations, shoes. 

Anchor House Co-Owner Jane Kelley was appreciative of the donations. 

Another group of volunteers spent their time that morning outdoors, replenishing the landscaping and plants in the Leslie Love Memorial Reading Garden at Daniel Boone Elementary School. 

They replaced the mulch in the garden and replanted flowers and other accents around the sidewalks of the garden, ensuring its beauty will remain for years to come. 

Another group of volunteers invited passersbyS into the College United Methodist Church parking lot, where they could voice their concerns to Pastor Kraus and receive some reassurance and prayer, along with a sweet treat. 

At the end of the morning, volunteers congregated back at the church for lunch and will return to normal services this Sunday, until next year.