Webster City High School singers entertained Tuesday during the annual Lenten Luncheon at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Hidden figures.

Many fingers are working quietly in our churches to provide for others, not only in our community, but in areas far from their homes. The diversity of projects and the creativity shared by the women of our church community was brought to light at the annual Lenten Luncheon held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Tuesday.

The importance and the impact of their work is hard to measure, but listening and viewing the long list of projects shows the compassion and insight to address the needs both near and far.

More than 120 women filled the Community Room Tuesday where they were entertained by singers from Webster City High School at the opening of the program.

Five churches presented their projects during the event.

Cindy Henning of the First Congregational Church served as Master of Ceremonies.

“The five community churches got together to plan the luncheon,” she said. “There was at least one person from each of the churches who helped with the planning.”

The idea for the local mission focus came from the planning meetings.

“When everybody started telling about their projects, we were amazed!” she said. “We had no idea what each of the church groups were doing.”

That realization prompted the theme “On Mission for God’s Kingdom.”

The presentations began with the Congregational Church, which explained its efforts to keep items from the landfill by reusing them. From creating bags out of t-shirts for food pantries, to their annual thrift sale, which gives proceeds back to other organizations in the community, the focus is local.

“The thrift sale mission gives our church family a place to donate things no longer needed in their lives,” said Henning. “Selling most things by filling a bag for $7, we have raised $15,000 over the past five years.”

In addition to their Piecemakers quilting group, the church had a list on display of more than 30 other local and international mission projects that they support.

Shirley Boman presented projects from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Reminiscent of war-time, they make bandages that are sent to areas with natural disasters and war zones. And knitters create hats for area school children in addition to creating blankets to be shared with those in need.

Multiple resource kits have been created by members from the Trinity Lutheran Church. Linda Hutchinson explained that personal hygiene kits are created for students who attend South Hamilton and Webster City schools.

But they also have created kits for people newly diagnosed with cancer, and rape kits, known as Lily Kits, distributed by Mary Greeley Hospital.

Trudy Anderson of Asbury United Methodist Church explained that her church has teamed up with Midwest Missions out of Pawnee, Illinois, and Jefferson. It takes in items that can be repaired and sent to areas in need, including medical supplies, tools, emergency equipment, bicycles, and sewing machines. They have also created sleeping mats for the homeless made out of grocery bags.

The final presenter was Robin Streigle of the Church of Christ who said when she first moved to town, she realized there were homeless individuals in Webster City. So one of their projects has been to create blessing bags for various groups, including homeless individuals, foster care children and for newly released prisoners from institutions.

These projects are not the only things our churches bring to our community. This is just a sampling of what Webster City women have accomplished by working together through their churches.