Resources
Love in Action - An Outreach Luncheon series
Sunday, January 22, in Berktold Hall. Lunch is served at 12:15 PM. Presentation starts at 12:30 PM.
This month, join us to learn more about Community Supported Shelters. If you’ve been unsheltered for years, have experienced trauma, or are struggling with mental and emotional health issues, simply getting along with others can be a significant challenge.
Read more about this event by clicking “Read More.”
By putting our “little bits of good” together, St. Mary’s was able to abolish over $768,000 in medical debt for Oregonians! This good news story began in the fall when St. Mary’s Outreach Council brought forward a new proposal: to spend $5,000 of our outreach allocation funds to buy medical debt for pennies on the dollar and then forgive that debt, working through the non-profit RIP Medical Debt. At that time, it was estimated that our donation would enable us to forgive about $450,000 in medical debt. We surveyed the parish and received enthusiastic support to proceed.
Read the full story by clicking “Read More.”
Do you have a loved one who is tricky to shop for? Maybe someone who doesn’t need a physical gift taking up space? We have some suggestions on ways to celebrate the people you love AND give back to the community at the same time. Here are some organizations St. Mary’s is connected with who are doing good things locally.
That’s My Farmer Dinner - Monday, October 18
Support That’s My Farmer Low Income Fund while eating a delicious dinner prepared by owner/chefs Mark Kosmicki and Tiffany Norton at Party Downtown. They have offered to cook up a fantastic menu with farm fresh meat and produce contributed by That’s My Farmer farm members. This is once again a takeout dinner to enjoy in your home.
To learn how to participate, click “Reach More.”
In July, Bingham+ read an Episcopal News Service story* about St. Bede’s Church in New Mexico that was able to leverage a $15,000 donation to buy $1.4 million worth of medical debt and then, in turn, forgive the holders of that debt.
To read the rest of this article and see how you can give your input, please click “Read More.”
“Our work with and for refugees began when we began to follow Jesus, to follow His way and His teachings. It is because we are followers of Jesus, because we follow the way of love, because we follow the way of compassion, because we follow the way of human decency and kindness that we must be passionately committed to helping the refugees and displaced persons of this day,”
The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, from his 2018 message for World Refugee Day
Click “Read More” to read how St. Mary’s honored World Refugee Day 2021 and helped create refugee camp kits.
The Outreach Ministry Council has been asked by the Vestry to allocate funds raised in 2021 through the Blue Bag Bottles and Cans Recycling Fundraiser to an agency or program that addresses housing for our unhoused neighbors. The Outreach Ministry Council requested input from parishioners and then met on Zoom to discuss the potential organizations to support. We have decided that the money we raise from returning redeemable bottles and cans will go to Community Supported Shelters (CSS).
Click “Read More” to read the full article.
From Christmas stockings to summer activities, the Women of St. Mary’s support children throughout the year. From donations to fundraisers like the ECW table at the St. Mary’s Advent Fair, our funds grow, and we in turn distribute funds to help women and children in the community and beyond.
This year we are increasing our annual giving to Summer Fun Fund to $450. Will you help double that amount, triple that amount, quadruple that amount? Last year an additional $708 was given by parishioners. Children need good summer activities and the need to great. Let’s increase our giving.
Click “Read More” to read the entire article about the Summer Fun Fund.
Refugee Relief Kit Event
The Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County (RRC), which St. Mary's is a part of, invites all community members to join them Thursday, June 17, between 4 and 7 PM in the First United Methodist Church parking lot, 1376 Olive Street (enter on Charnelton Street). Contribute $20 (cash or check) and stay to assemble a relief kit for a refugee family.
Click the “Read More” button below to read more details.
FISH and the Student Food Pantry are the two food basket ministries St. Mary’s collects food donations for. Maybe you’ve noticed the food basket at the back of the church? It is brought forward and blessed during the 9:30 AM Sunday service (when we are worshipping on-site). Katharine Hunt, chair of our Outreach Council, has written the following update on FISH.
When Betsy Halpern and Katharine Hunt tapped me to head up Family Night Shelter, I was fairly new to St. Mary's. I had volunteered a few times at Saturday Breakfast but had no firsthand knowledge of the Night Shelter program. But I felt a deep sense of gratitude to our congregation and our wonderful church.
St. Mary’s Refugee Committee invites you to take part in this Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County (RRCLC) Relief Kit project. Our committee, which includes some great cooks, will be hosting coffee hour after each service on June 18. At that time, we will collect new bath towels and other bucket items, as well as funds for the RRCLC Relief Kit project. There will also be information available about RRCLC and the plight of refugees around the world.
