Outreach at St. Stephen's | Upcoming Events and Trips | For the Love of Children | Outreach Committee
The Center for Reconciliation and Mission | The Millennium Development Goals
Outreach at St. Stephen's
By
definition, the church is about mission. The formation of a community gathered
in Jesus' name is an action of God's love reaching out for the establishment of
God's Kingdom. This "being embraced" calls us to embrace others. We
follow Jesus as his disciples by this manner of life. To join in God's work of
the Kingdom is to be the church in service and love. By definition, the church
is about mission.
St.
Stephen's Outreach Committee is one of the major coordinators of the mission work
of the parish. Its role is to discern the needs of the world and the resources
of the parish-and facilitate the intersection of the two. In the words of writer
Frederick Buechner, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep
gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." The
Women of St. Stephen's-our parish chapter of the Episcopal Church Women-also play
a major role in outreach on behalf of this church.
The Center for Reconciliation and Mission is another expression of our involvement in the world.
The
organization of the Outreach Committee demonstrates how we approach mission: we
have a subcommittee on local mission, another on regional and national concerns,
and a third on international efforts. The Outreach Committee also has a grants
subcommittee, and a communications subcommittee. For information on Outreach,
call or email the Rev. David Anderson or Carol Dickinson, Outreach Chair.
The Millennium Development Goals
A project team consisting of parishioners, vestry members, clergy and staff at St. Stephen's is at work on providing opportunities for our parish to learn more about the MDGs and to support them in a variety of ways. Each month we focus on one of the eight goals. You can read more about the MDGs in the current issue of The Spirit (our parish newsletter), pick up any of the materials displayed on our Outreach table (in the hall near the church office), or by visiting any of the following Web sites:
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals
The One Episcopalian Campaign
The Episcopal Public Policy Network
Upcoming Trips and Events
Upcoming outreach events and trips include the following. Staff contacts are listed for each; email the contact or call 288-2867.
International
South African Pilgrimage
The 2007 pilgrimage was a life-changing experience for a dozen men and women, several of whom reported on the trip during the Rector's Forum, and in an article in the January 2008 issue of The Spirit. A project team is now at work on plans for a 2008 pilgrimage.
For more information, contact Janet Allen, ext. 305
Dominican Republic
Future work will be focused on the village of Azua.
For more information, contact Weezie Blanchard via email or at 288-2867.
National
Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief (November 9-15)
We plan to send two groups: one to Camp Coast Care in Mississippi and one to New Orleans. There is much work to be done and it is not all construction. No special skills are necessary to participate. A fall trip is also planned (November 9-15.) To sign up or obtain more information, contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.
Family Mission Trip to the Mission-on-the-Bay in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi (August 3-9)
Contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867 for additional information.
Local
Cross Over Ministry Neighborhood Mission Trip (Saturday, October 4)
St. Stephen’s will conduct a “neighborhood mission trip” from 8:30 a.m. until noon at this faith-based clinic which provides health care to Richmond’s poor and uninsured. No passports, no vaccinations and no need to leave town! To volunteer or obtain more information, contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.
Spring Fling at Fairfield Court Elementary School (Saturday, May 3, 10 am–noon)
This party is a result of the For the Love of Children fundraiser held here at St. Stephen’s. We need about four more families (including your children) to sign up to help that day with games, face painting, food and more. To volunteer or ask questions, contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867. (More events coming out of the For the Love of Children fundraiser are listed below.)
Career Day at Fairfield Elementary School (May 9)
St. Stephen’s is working with Fairfield School to host this event. We are seeking the following professionals: Doctor, Dentist, Architect, Nurse, Author, Artist, Vet, Engineer and others. Time slots for Career Day are 9:30-11:00 and 1:30 – 3:00. Presentations need only be 5 to 7 minutes.Information: contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.
Second Annual Outreach Golf Tournament (Wednesday, June 4)
This year’s tournament will benefit our work in Richmond’s East End. Space is limited, so sign up now to play. There are many sponsorship opportunities available as well. Brochures are available at Information Central and here on our Web site. For more information, contact Thomas Parrish, 359-8532, or Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.
Peter Paul Development Center–Summer Tutoring and Camps
Volunteers are needed for “after school enrichment” at Peter Paul Development Center this summer: Monday-Thursday, 1-5 p.m., during the weeks of June 23, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28 and August 4. PPDC is open to ideas for enrichment such as watercolors, tissue paper collage, woodworking, science fun, etc. This is a great opportunity for families, or for individuals age 16 and older. For more information, contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.
Jean’s Camp (June 23–26, 10 a.m. until noon, at St. Stephen’s)
St. Stephen’s Outreach Committee is planning to host a Math Camp for children in
grades 3-5, from the Peter Paul Development Center. Volunteers are needed for this camp as well as donations of snacks and school supplies. For more information, contact Deb Lawrence via email or at 288-2867.
For the Love of Children
 On Friday, February 1, St. Stephen's hosted a festive dinner to raise awareness of, and funding for, our ministries among children in Richmond's East End, and in South Africa. One of the features of that event was a call for volunteers to help with three events over the course of 2008. Regardless of whether you attended the February 1 dinner, we would love to have you participate in any of the following events:
Fall Festival, Saturday, October 11, 2008, at Peter Paul Development Center
10 Families are needed. Sign up online or contact Deb Lawrence, 288-2867.
Pumpkin painting, games and Halloween treats will make this a fun-filled day for all.
Advent Fair, Sunday, November 30, 2008 in Fellowship Hall
12 Adult Volunteers are needed. Sign up online or contact Deb Lawrence, 288-2867.
This intergenerational event will help us prepare for the birth of Christ in our hearts and his presence in our lives. Families from Peter Paul Development Center will join us for this fun-filled occasion.
The Outreach Committee
Mission Statement
Through our baptism into Christ’s Body the Church, we are called to seek and serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbor as we love ourselves, striving for justice and peace among all people, while respecting the dignity of every human being. The Outreach Committee has as its purpose the responsibility to discern what work God is calling us to do in His world and community. We have a mission to understand what is happening around us, recognize existing needs, and identify how we can use the gifts of this parish to accomplish God’s work in the world. The Outreach Committee also seeks to encourage and support members of this parish community to share their faith through the stewardship of their time and talents.
Guidelines
The following guidelines represent the efforts of the Outreach Committee to enable and support the members of the St. Stephen’s community to do God’s work in the world.
- Seek out appropriate outreach ministries within the city of Richmond, the Diocese of Virginia and the wider Anglican Communion and encourage personal participation and financial support.
- Keeping our mission statement as criteria, select those deserving ministries which, through our participatory and financial support, will be provided sustenance and love. Special emphasis will be given to those ministries which are:
- focused in our local community.
- well-managed and committed to being responsive stewards of gifts received.
- effectively carrying out its mission with a spiritual component.
- responsive to the needs of the weak or disadvantaged for the basic necessities of life.
- Evaluate thoroughly each year the effectiveness and merit of outreach ministries we support and share these results with the Vestry, Clergy and Congregation.
- Where members of our congregation serve as leaders of specific outreach ministries, encourage and facilitate the recruitment of volunteers from within the congregation.
- Remain open to the possibility that the Spirit may call and lead us to explore
new outreach ministries in the future.
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