Stewardship & Outreach Ministry

MaryAnn Gregory, Chair

 

The Outreach Ministry coordinates the mission projects, outreach activities, special offerings and charitable donations made on behalf of St. Paul’s, as it strives to serve the community and the wider world.  Some of the organizations and missions supported by St. Paul’s include:

·        Shepherd’s Staff

·        Carroll County Food Sunday

·        Lancaster Seminary

·        Homewood Retirement Centers

·        Hoffman Homes for Youth

·        Church World Service

·        Westminster Community of Shalom

·        Access Carroll

·        Carroll Co Neighbors in Need Christmas project

·        Hope Alive

·        Disaster Relief projects

·        And many others

It supports the work of the United Church of Christ through

·        Our Church’s Wider Mission

·        Catoctin Association of the UCC

and the  UCC special Offerings:

·        Neighbors in Need

·        The Christmas Offering

·        One Great Hour of Sharing

·        Strengthen the Church

 

The UCComUNITY team, under the leadership of Glenn Patterson, has been working to build a sense of church community at St. Paul's. This

evangelism team is undertaking many activities to welcome everyone to our church community.

 

The Stewardship committee is promoting the Consecrating Stewards program.

 

 

Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen (Kate Demarest, Coordinator)

 

Jesus said, “I was hungry, and you fed Me…” (Matthew 25:35)

 

St. Paul’s Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen operates under the guidance and support of the Outreach Committee. St. Paul’s is part of a consortium of churches in the Westminster area that provide a midday meal each day, with St. Paul’s serving the Thursday meal. Approximately 50 to 75 guests are served from noon to 1 p.m. each Thursday in Fellowship Hall by a group of dedicated volunteers. A large number of volunteers provide main dishes, salads, and desserts in advance, with a smaller core of volunteers setting up, serving, and washing dishes.

 

The majority of the responsibility for the Soup Kitchen is shouldered by the weekly coordinators: Emily Murray, Ruth Gray and Ben Rogers (who share responsibility for the second week), Larue Lennon, and Etta Ray Griffin. (When there is a fifth Thursday, volunteers from the First Presbyterian Church of Westminster coordinate the meal.) The weekly coordinators call volunteers to remind them to bring food items before Thursday’s meal and shop for perishable items and staples. The coordinators also coordinate the activities involved with preparing and serving the meal on Thursday.

 

There are a number of current concerns among the Soup Kitchen coordinators. First, there is a need for new volunteers to provide main dishes, salads, and desserts. Some of those who have provided these items in the past, find themselves unable to continue, while others have left the church. In addition, there is a need for additional volunteers for preparation, serving, and cleaning up on Thursdays. With the current pool of Thursday volunteers dwindling, we need to find members of the church community who may be willing to serve on a regular or occasional basis.

 

In spite of the challenges, the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen provides a meaningful outreach opportunity for St. Paul’s Church.

 

 

Last update: September 13, 2005