Outreach
Outreach Listening Session Findings
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Outreach Listening Session during Adult Forum on March 5. The condensed results of the session are presented below. This information is guiding the Outreach Committee as we discern the future focus of our congregational work in the community.
Our church mission statement directs us to be “agents of Christ’s Love in the World.” Living out this mission is a matter of connecting our gifts, resources and passions with the needs and interests of our surrounding community. Our listening within and outside the parish will help us to discern the right matches for funding and participation as we continue to engage our community for the common good.
Outreach Prayer Partners
Below is a list of our outreach prayer partners and more information about what they do.
American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
As a non-political, independent nonprofit, AFEDJ acts as a partner with the Diocese of Jerusalem by helping to increase its capacity to teach and heal. AFEDJ promotes and raises program and infrastructure funds for humanitarian work of the Diocese of Jerusalem and its institutions so it may better serve the needs of all people in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Israel. AFEDJ is devoted to equity, respect and human dignity. For more information, please visit www.afedj.org.
Beyond Borders
Beyond Borders is an international nonprofit organization that offers emerging Haitian leaders the crucial tools and skills needed to mobilize their population and push for social change. As an organization that firmly believes in the God-given dignity and power of Haiti’s people, Beyond Borders designs and supports social programs that empower Haitians to end child slavery, gain access to quality education, end violence against girls and women, and develop systems that support dignified work and sustainable livelihoods.
Jonathan Haggard, son of Connie & Dick Haggard, is the financial officer for Beyond Borders. For more information, visit the Beyond Borders website: http://www.beyondborders.net/
Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels
The mission of Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels is to enable elderly and homebound residents of Northwest Philadelphia and Springfield Township to continue living well at home by providing fresh, nutritious meals through a daily visit from a caring volunteer. Volunteers also provide an important outside connection to homebound clients: someone to look in on them, to visit with them, and to help them maintain a sense of independence.
A number of the volunteers and supporters of Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels are St. Martin’s parishioners. In addition, St. Martin’s contributes Outreach funds. For more information, visit the Meals on Wheels website: http://www.chestnuthillmow.com/
Heeding God’s Call
Heeding God’s Call is a faith-based movement providing support and resources for faith communities to form multi-racial, ecumenical, and interfaith partnerships, working together, on both social and legislative levels, to prevent gun violence.
More information is available at http://www.heedinggodscall.org/
Interfaith Hospitality Network
The problem of family homelessness is complex. A large number of factors that are often out of our control—such as job loss and health crises—can easily change the financial status of an otherwise stable family. The NPIHN program provides assessment and referrals, emergency housing, supportive service and transitional housing. Equipped with new skills and relationships, 92% of our families have succeeded in permanently overcoming homelessness. Our hospitality network is comprised of 1,200 caring volunteers, 30 congregations, concerned citizens of the community, community businesses, and institutions.
St. Martin’s contributes Outreach funds to the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and service opportunities are available. Currently, St. Martin’s needs a parishioner willing to coordinate our work with IHN. For more information, visit IHN’s website: http://www.philashelter.org/
Jubilee School
Located in West Philadelphia, the Jubilee School provides an environment in which children build upon their wealth of creative, intellectual, spiritual, social, physical and cultural resources. The teachers are working to build in students a sense of hope and responsibility, and knowledge of their power to affect change in our community and the world. The aim is, to provide a rigorous, comprehensive private school education, affordable to all, regardless of income. St. Martin’s contributes Outreach funds to the Jubilee School, and service opportunities are available.
For more information, contact Greg Williams at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit www.jubileeschool.net.
Neighborhood Interfaith Movement
The Neighborhood Interfaith Movement (NIM) is a 40-year-old and growing non-sectarian coalition of over 58 religious congregations (Christian, Jewish, Unitarian, and Muslim) and faith institutions in and near Northwest Philadelphia. Unique among interfaith groups nationwide, NIM engages in direct service on behalf of the faith communities it represents. NIM provides a variety of services, such as Victim Assistance; Nursing Home Ombudsman; Child Care Training and Resources; and Interfaith collaboration. St. Martin’s contributes Outreach funds to NIM.
For more information, visit the NIM website: http://www.nimphilly.org/
The Samaritan Counseling Center
The Samaritan Counseling Center of Philadelphia was founded in 1974 as a non-profit, nondenominational pastoral counseling center that provides counseling services for individuals, couples, children, families, and groups. The Center also offers a variety of workshops, inspirational talks, and retreats, as well as consulting services designed to nurture and foster the health and well-being of clergy and congregations. Its staff includes pastoral counselors, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and specialists in child development, chronic illness, and end-of-life issues. For more information, consult their website: http://www.samaritanccphila.org/ St. Martin’s contributes Outreach funds to the Samaritan Counseling Center.
St. Catherine Labouré Medical Clinic
St. Catherine Labouré Medical Clinic, located in Germantown, is grounded in faith and provides compassionate, high quality primary medical care in a dignified manner solely to those without medical insurance. The majority of the patients seen are the working poor who have no health care benefits and are not eligible for state medical assistance. Many have chronic health care issues such as hypertension and diabetes, and, in addition to routine medical care, the clinic provides free medications through pharmaceutical company assistance programs.
St. Martin’s contributes financially to St. Catherine Labouré and service opportunities are available. For more information, visit the agency’s website: http://www.clinicforuninsured.org/ Please feel free to contact Jean McConnell if you have any questions.
Soup Kitchen at St. Mary’s Bainbridge
The Soup Kitchen at St. Mary’s Bainbridge opened in 1982 as part of St. Mary’s commitment to outreach. Over 150 homeless and unemployed adults and their families are served delicious homemade soup and sandwiches on Saturdays throughout the year. The food is provided by affiliated parishes and individuals. St. Martin’s contributes Outreach funds to St. Mary’s Bainbridge Soup Kitchen, and once a month we provide soup. Volunteers are needed to transport the soup, as well as sandwiches provided by a church and a synagogue. Contact Art Misero or Connie Haggard if you are interested.
GUATEMALA 2011
On June 30th, eight intrepid souls, six from St. Martins (Dick Haggard, Sheila Buckley, Phillip Bennett, Karen and Ralph West, along with our leader Terry Clattenburg) and two from other parishes (Martha Thomae and Barbara Tobin), set out for a two-week visit to Guatemala, in our continuing association with four companion parishes. Read more about our trip here.