SERVE
Contact:
Patricia Laidig, Chair
or Dave Gradwell, Vice Chair
‘for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:35-36 (NRSV)
The St. John’s Outreach Commission and Social Justice & Transformation Commission teams have numerous initiatives, both new and ongoing, which have always depended on the participation of many in the St. John’s community for their success. There are many opportunities to answer Christ's call to serve those in need beyond St. John's: our work extends from Howard County to Kenya, and includes a broad range of efforts, from food and housing insecurity to criminal justice reform to health care assistance for our Kenya Connect partners. Won’t you join us?
OUTREACH COMMISSION
The Outreach Commission meets the first Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m., currently via Zoom. To join the commission, offer an outreach idea, or inquire about an initiative, email Outreach@stjohnsec.org. Please note in the subject line the initiative in which you are interested (e.g., ReBuilding Together; Zoom log-in)
Covid-19 Relief Efforts
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, St. John's is working to support many organizations. The Outreach Commission's "Porch Pictures" project will benefit the following organizations:
Howard County Food Bank: working in conjunction with the Community Action Council of Howard County to meet the increased demand for food, especially for children who no longer receive in-school meals.
FIRN Howard County (Foreign-Born Information and Referral Network): serving the immigrant population of Howard County and many of whom items like diapers, sanitary supplies, and food.
UMBC Retrievers Essentials: providing desperately needed food for college students who are food insecure. During the pandemic, many students are experiencing food insecurity due to loss of jobs on and off-campus.
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Casseroles for The Children’s Home: providing homemade casseroles for delivery to The Children’s Home. Current recipes (with instructions for delivering casseroles to St. John's) are available by clicking the "Casserole Recipes" button above.
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Howard County Pop-up Pantries: assisting the Howard County Food Bank and the Howard County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) to distribute pre-packed grocery bags full of food to families across Howard County.
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Lunches for the Grassroots Day Resource Center: donating non-perishable items and assisting with the this lunch program for 45 clients living in hotel rooms as a Covid prevention measure.
Outreach 2020-2021 Calendar (tentative due to Covid-19 restrictions)
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"Pots & Pans" Collection
Sun., March 14 at all services
Monies collected are used to purchase gift cards to include in Easter baskets.
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Kenya Connect 5K
Sat., March 27 or April 3 TBD
Lead: Sharon Runge
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Easter Basket Ministry & Camp Gift Cards
Sign up Sun., March 7, 14, and 21
Deliver Sun., March 28
For individuals and families at ARC of Howard County and Strong City Baltimore-The Club at Collington Square
Leads: Diane Standeven and Bonnie Sturm
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Clean Sweep Rummage Sale
Collection Days: April 5-7, times TBD
Sale Days: Fri.-Sat., April 9-10, time TBD; Volunteers needed.
Funds raised benefit the efforts of the Outreach Commission.
Lead: Monica Fabbri
Sat., April 24, 8 a.m. – completion
St. John's send a team of volunteers to provide free home repairs to low-income families
in Howard County
Lead: Dan Wise
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Stock the Pantry for the Homeless
Collection Dates: Sundays, May 2, 9, 16, and 23
This food drive helps stock the pantry at the Grassroots Day Resource Center.
Lead: Melinda Becker
Mission Trips
Dates TBD when travel is safe
St. John’s members including our young people participate in mission trips in various locations throughout the world including; work with Habitat for Humanity in West Virginia, Kenya Connect in Wamunyu, Kenya, El Hogar in Honduras as well as work in Haiti and Jamaica and various medical missions. We work, play and live life together knowing that the time we spend away will change us through the love we share. Read more about St. John's Mission Trips. Contact: Rev Ann Ritonia, aritonia@stjohnsec.org.
Additional Outreach Partners
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Kenya Connect: St. John's has been a partner of Kenya Connect for many years. Kenya Connect's mission is to engage and empower students and teachers in rural Kenya to succeed in the 21st century. St. John's parishioners participate in collections, 5K walks/runs, and other events to raise money for schools in Kenya, and go on mission trips offered twice per year. Contact: Sharon Runge, sharon@kenyaconnect.org
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El Hogar: El Hogar provides a quality education and a safe and nurturing home to poor and disadvantaged children in Honduras. St. John's supports El Hogar through fundraising events and mission trips. Contact: Gill Gawthrop, gill@gawthropbuilders.com
Youth Ministries Outreach Partners
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Project PLASE (People Lacking Ample Shelter and Employment)
SOCIAL JUSTICE & TRANSFORMATION COMMISSION
Awareness • Education • Advocacy • Service
The Social Justice & Transformation Commission works to bring opportunities for awareness and education in social justice issues to the St. John’s community to foster advocacy and service toward transformative change. We meet the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., currently via Zoom (except when we have an event). We welcome new members! To join the commission, offer an idea, or inquire about a social justice initiative, email SocialJustice@stjohnsec.org. Please note in the subject line the information in which you are interested (e.g., book discussion, volunteering)
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Service Over Self: Howard County Reentry Program Backpack Project
Ongoing
It is our hope that items supplied in the Reentry Backpacks for the Howard County Dept. of Correction, might bridge some of the gap for basic needs until men and women released from incarceration are able to find some security in their housing, food, and clothing. More information.
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Social Justice Book Studies
Wed., Jan. 27, and April 21
Book selections TBD in Parish Events as dates approach
Book discussions reflecting the current focus of the Commission are held throughout the program year. During Covid isolation, these studies will be held via Zoom.
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Lenten Program
Wednesdays, March 10, 17, and 24; 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Each year a program is developed based on the current year’s focus to view and discuss a documentary, host a panel discussion of experts, and host a roundtable discussion with experts about opportunities for advocacy and service.
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Voter Registration
During each election cycle we provide an opportunity and forms to register to vote or have a name or address change.