• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • LCA Portal
  • Login to LAMP
  • LCA Online Donations
  • Contact

SA/NT District

137 Archer Street
North Adelaide SA 5006
Phone 08 8267 5211

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About Lutherans
    • Our Mission
    • District Staff
    • Congregations and Pastors
    • Job Opportunities
    • Child Safety Commitment
  • DEPARTMENTS
    • Mission
      • Aboriginal Ministry
      • Mission Grants
    • Administration
    • Communications
    • Professional Standards
    • Chaplaincy
    • Child, Family, Youth, Young Adults
    • Ministry Partners
    • Other Ministries
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Together Magazine
    • eNews
    • Call Information
  • EVENTS
    • Convention of Synod
    • Conferences and Other Events
    • Training and Workshops
  • RESOURCES
    • LCA Worship Resources
    • Policies and Procedures
  • LoginPress

Passing On The Blessings: A Volunteer’s Story

4 June 2020

by

Volunteering is simply a way of life for Carmel Wuttke.

A member of Waikerie Lutheran Church, Carmel serves her community through a list of volunteer activities that is almost as long as it is full of love.

Within the church, Carmel is a pastoral and home communion assistant, Ladies Guild president, music roster coordinator, singer in the church band, as well as volunteering with Mainly Music and Messy Church.

On top of this she takes on the tasks of privately visiting people in need across the church community, and organising family baptism gifts to celebrate these special occasions.

“I began volunteering when I retired in 2008,” says Carmel. “As I’d been on the frontline as a secretary and was used to interacting with people all the time I wondered what I would do when I retired, so I am very thankful for the things that God puts in my path.”

Carmel’s love for people is evident in the numerous volunteer activities she also undertakes within the local Waikerie community, where she is a very well-known and much-loved figure.

“I personally have served breakfast club beside Carmel to the students at Waikerie Lutheran Primary school and commented in awe of her willingness to give of her time,” says local Tamara McPherson, a Waikerie Lutheran Church member.

“I have also followed Carmel through the supermarket and I don’t think she walks more than half the length of an aisle before asking with genuine interest how another person is. She recalls family facts relative to those individuals and warmly engages on a level that is far deeper than the usual ‘how are you?’”

As well as breakfast club at three different schools, Carmel is also a Meals on Wheels coordinator, conductor of the Probus choir, Gideon’s Auxiliary treasurer, a primary school volunteer and works with the local newspaper as a reader to create a talking version of the publication.

Local seasonal events in the Riverland are another opportunity that Carmel relishes.

“I love being able to help and I love it when God opens a door and shows me someone I can help,” she says. “I love hearing people’s stories – everyone has a story and if we ask the right questions we can hear them.”

Carmel says one of her favourite activities is working with the elderly in the community.

“I think it’s the people thing – finding out how they are, how they’re coping, sometimes they just need a word of encouragement and a bit of a lift, and if I can be that lift then it’s passing on a blessing.”

While Carmel admits that recent times have been challenging with quarantine measures in place and being unable to be physically present for most of her volunteer work, she has still been in touch with people on the phone constantly, ‘making sure everyone is OK.’

Tamara McPherson can vouch for Carmel’s seemingly everlasting energy when it comes to caring for those in her community and recalls a classic Carmel quote – ‘I wasn’t born to stay at home and clean, so if I’m out and about doing God’s work in the community then I couldn’t be happier!’ – that she feels sums up Carmel’s ethos perfectly.

“Carmel has a deep love for her fellow community members,” says Tamara. “She reaches out with the warmest of smiles, laughter and hugs in times of joy, grief and uncertainty – her compassion is truly boundless.”

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT congregations

« Comfort and Connection
Professional Standards Update »

Primary Sidebar

Archives for all Posts

  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • Tags

    Aged Care ALWS Australian Lutheran World Service Award Bishop Blueprint Ministries Blueprint Ministries Youth Bushfires Camps Central Australia Chaplaincy Christmas community events conference congregations Convention of Synod COVID disasters Easter Education events German language congregations Grant history little town productions lutheran care Lutheran Community Care Lutheran Disability Services lutheran nurses Lutheran Women of SA-NT LWSA-NT mission nurses outreach pastors Prayers Professional Standards schools Staff visual arts volunteering wellbeing WHS worship youth

    Footer

    Contact Us

    137 Archer Street North Adelaide SA 5006
    Phone 08 8267 5211
    Email us

    © 2023 Lutheran Church of Australia

    Privacy Policy • Disclaimer

    Designed by LCA Communications