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Outreach Ministries Micah 6:8 ..."to love kindness..." The Outreach Committee encourages and supports various programs in Columbus, in the state of Ohio, and around the world. Some of those programs are listed. Money to support the Millennium Development Goals has been raised through special offerings will be allocated by this committee. Andy Workum is the chair of the Outreach Committee and can be reached through the parish office. The Bookworm has been an outreach ministry of St. Stephen's church for more than 30 years. Selling donated used books at bargain prices has made it possible to contribute to such ministries as Neighborhood Services, Habitat for Humanity, Choices, and many others. Volunteers work Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm and after the 10:30 worship service on selected Sundays. Bookworm is open: Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. New helpers are always welcome to join the Bookworm crew. Bookworm customers range from local congregational members to university students to local booksellers looking for a good buy. Your over-abundance may be someone else's treasure. People rarely leave empty handed. Located on St. Stephen's lower level, the Bookworm also is a very pleasant space for various groups to meet throughout the week. Neighborhood Services, Inc. - The neighborhoods surrounding The Ohio State University have long been havens for those with meager financial means. For more than 30 years, the churches in the University Area have combined resources to create Neighborhood Services,Inc. (NSI). NSI provides emergency help to persons in the area. Cheryl Carter, Executive Director of NSI, coordinates the many volunteers and directs the affairs of the agency with the continuing support of the area congregations. The Consumer Choice Food Pantry allows hungry families to shop for the food they need. In addition to food, clothing is also supplied, all donated. A further support for families is the distribution of school supplies twice a year for almost 500 children. NSI hopes to give each child the tools they need to assure their learning. Very important also are the programs at Thanksgiving and Christmas. A special holiday meal is provided at Thanksgiving with meat certificates available. At Christmas, there is a special toy giveaway, with parents choosing for each child, as well as gifts for all family members. Volunteers are always needed as are donations of food and clothing. St. Stephen's pledges $1300 from its operating budget to support NSI and assists in obtaining a grant from the Episcopal Community Services Foundation of the Diocese of Southern Ohio for $5000 yearly. Neighborhood Services, Inc. 1950 E. North 4th Street Columbus, Ohio 43201-1733614.297.0592 614.291.6599 (fax) nsi0089@sbcglobal.net
Micah 6:8 ..."to do justice..." www.breadcolumbus.org The B.R.E.A.D. Nehemiah Action Assemby will be May 5, 6:15 p.m. at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium
B.R.E.A.D. is a 501 C(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization in Columbus that teaches people of faith how to successfully build the power of their congregations in order to publicly confront the local political and economic systems on issues of justice and fairness.
Bread Rises! Membership is interfaith, including Christians, Jews and Unitarians. It is multi-racial and represents many theological viewpoints. What provides the central focus that holds together this diversity is the commitment to do justice in the way that the prophet Micah outlines it in Micah 6:8. Once a year, usually the first week of May, all the congregations in B.R.E.A.D. come together for the Nehemiah Action Assembly. This is when we bring to the attention of a selected public leader our call for justice to address a specific problem in Columbus. In 2007, over 2000 individuals from the B.R.E.A.D. congregations came to Temple Israel to begin our campaign to regulate pay-day lenders. The B.R.E.A.D. Team at St. Stephen's is coordinated by Rae Fellows. For more information on B.R.E.A.D. their web site is: B.R.E.A.D. www.breadcolumbus.org Clinking Quarters - Clinking Quarters happens every Sunday when parishioners drop quarters with a clink into the collection plate.The quarters go into a fund which is distributed quarterly (how else!) to outreach ministries. His Place Dinners - St. John's, Columbus serves a Wednesday evening meal to those in need in the Franklinton area. Churches of several denominations from all over the city take turns providing food and services for these meals. St. Stephen's members regularly take part in this program. Linda Richter coordinates St. Stephen's participation in His Place dinners. Manna Lunches is a ministry that provides sack lunches to homeless people in Columbus. Organized through Neighborhood Services Inc., the Manna ministry has, since its inception, provided tens of thousands of sack lunches. Many churches and some elementary school classes in the University area participate in this program. People pack lunches once a month, usually in teams of two. Cost and schedule are up to the individuals. Carolyn Farrow is in charge of this ministry for St. Stephen's. The Holiday Project coordinates caring people as they visit those in institutions who not get many visitors, particularly at the holidays. This is a national program which has been operating in Columbus for more than 10 years. At Christmas parishioners are invited to participate with others from the community to make visits at the Whetstone Care Center, Twin Valley Behavioral Center, and other facilities. The Rev. Don Farrow is in charge of this ministry for St. Stephen's. The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund - formerly the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief, is a ministry of compassion of the national Episcopal Church. It is the principal channel through which the Church responds to human need at home and abroad. For more information, click here: http://www.er-d.org |
