_FrRandall.jpg)
Outreach & Social Justice
The Outreach Grants Committee considers the needs and determines how to disburse special Christmas and Easter offerings to local, national and global organizations serving the needs of others.
|
Our Christmas and Easter offerings are designated as outreach funds for which this commission is responsible. The Outreach Grants Committee meets three or four times to consider needs and to determine how to disburse this money to local, national and overseas outreach organizations. Parishioners designate special offerings during Christmas and Easter, and throughout the year individuals designate gifts as memorials or thanksgivings for outreach work.
|
Our outreach programs include
St John's Guild
The Thrift Shop
Martha’s Table
KIDS HOPE USA
Millennium Villages
Gulf Coast Mission
Haiti Medical Missions
Dominican Republic Partnership
Partners in Housing Transition, St. Luke's signature local outreach program, assists formerly homeless familes to reach self-sufficiency through the provision of basic household furnishings.
|
MISSION The mission of Partners in Housing Transition is to assist formerly homeless families to reach self sufficiency through the provision of basic household furnishings. HISTORY Created in 1991 as collaboration with Housing Resources Inc.'s Transitional Housing Program, Partners supplies complete sets of household furnishings: everything from large items such as beds, dressers, couches, tables and chairs to bedding, complete kitchen set-ups, vacuums, cleaning supplies and lighting. In 1997 Partners was recognized as an Episcopal Church Jubilee Center. HOW WE OPERATE St. Luke's operates a unique service in that we pick up and deliver all furnishings. Clients choose which furnishings they would like from available stock. This opportunity for choice provides dignity in a particularly difficult time for our clients. We respond to referrals from HRI, Inc., and the YWCA Domestic Assault program and other area agencies. We accept donations of used or new basic household items which may be dropped off at St. Luke's Office on the second Saturday of the month from 9:00am to 12:00pm. We can also arrange to make pick-ups during the week. We have many opportunities to serve Help sort and store donations |
Jubilee Ministry Center of The Episcopal Church is faith in action--loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Our faith in God compels us to serve each other. Jubilee Ministry connects these two important dynamics of the spiritual journey, enabling God's reconciling work to be seen through us. Jubilee Ministry Centers are outreach ministries recognized nationally by The Episcopal Church for Christian services to others.Back to Top
St John's Guild was established to "enable and encourage individual parishioners to be involved in social action ministries, including participation in ISAAC (Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy & Action in the Community)."
|
St. John's Guild: Social Justice Ministry St. John's Guild was established to "enable and encourage individual parishioners to be involved in social action ministries, including participation in ISAAC (Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community)." We are grounded in trust and dedicated to modifying policies to reduce suffering from injustice, according to our baptismal vows. We offer opportunities for richer relationships, deeper life meaning, and spirituality. HOW WE WORK Both St. John's Guild and ISAAC start with one-on-one relationships in which trust and understanding emerge. Small groups form around common interests. St. John's Guild links with other groups within the parish with common interests to work toward a stronger church community. St. John's Guild is a voting member of ISAAC. We also work with the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) and the All-Michigan Episcopal Network (AMEN) to build a stronger community. |
Back to Top
The Thrift Shop sells gently used clothing and household items. The Thrift Shop Board supports outreach activities in the community.
|
Clothing for men and women Opportunities to Serve Work a three-hour morning or afternoon shift St. Luke's Thrift Shop |
Back to Top
Back to Top
KIDS HOPE USA is a national program in which one church is paired with one school. Church members who volunteer to mentor commit to meeting one hour per week (approximately 27 hours a year) with one child. St. Luke's is paired with El Sol which is Kalamazoo Public Schools K-5 dual language school. Learn more coming soon.
Back to Top
Millennium Villages (Mayange, Rwanda)
St. Luke's is embracing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by partnering with the Millennium Villages project in Mayange, Rwanda. Millennium Villages focus on all eight MDGs in a holistic and comprehensive manner as villagers are empowered to end extreme poverty and build sustainable futures. Learn more coming soon.
Back to Top
Gulf Coast Mission: Each year the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan works with Episcopal Relief & Development to send a mission team to be involved in the continuing efforts to rebuild those areas of the Gulf Coast devastated by Hurricane Katrina. St. Luke's members have been involved in these efforts and St. Luke's member Terry Dorcy serves as the ERD representative for this effort in the diocese. Learn more coming soon.
Back to Top
Haiti Medical Missions: Following the destructive earthquake in Haiti, St. Luke's has partnered with St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Dowagiac, MI in support of their regular medical missions to Haiti. St. Luke's raises funds to help provide medical supplies as part of the medical mission. We are looking at additional ways to be involved in ongoing work in helping build a sustainable Haiti. For example, how doctors and nurses from St. Luke's may become more involved in the way that Dr. Andrew Latham, a member of St. Luke's, participated in a similar medical mission trip to Haiti.
Back to Top
Dominican Republic Partnership: The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan has entered into a companion diocese relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic. St. Luke's will be joining other parishes of our diocese in exploring the ways that we can be involved in supporting this new companion diocese partnership.
Back to Top
| Copyright 2011 St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan - Web Centers USA, Kalamazoo, Michigan |