Community Outreach at SsAM
If you would like to volunteer in the community, click here!
Community Outreach, Pathway Report, January, 2012
Warm Your Heart with
Cold-Weather Ministries
CODE PURPLE Shelter on Icy Nights
Any time the wind-chill gets to 15ºF or colder, we open the church as a shelter from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., at which time the Salvation Army opens and provides a place to sleep. Our guests are offered soup and sandwiches. At least one person from Friendship House provides supervision. To volunteer, please call Phil or Susan Murphree at 302 427-0392.
ANGEL TREE GIFTS, MID-DECEMBER
The Community Advocacy Committee sponsors the Angel Tree project which provides Christmas gifts (4 each) for the children and grand-children of those incarcerated in Delaware prisons. As always, you can select a "gift angel" and purchase the gift indicated on the angel. Gift request angels are given out after Thanksgiving and the gifts themselves are due back two weeks later for distribution.
REMEMBERING THE SUNDAY BREAKFAST COMMUNITY AT CHRISTMAS
Early every December we collect presents for our friends who attend Sunday breakfast. Gifts of a scarf, hat, warm gloves, socks, or toiletries are very much appreciated. 99% of our breakfast friends are male, so plan accordingly. (If your gift is for a woman, PLEASE mark the package prominently.) Note: The cost of each gift, individually wrapped or bagged, should total approximately $5 to $7 each. If you have any questions, please contact Geoff Sawyer, 302 655-5530.
UNDEE SUNDAY, EVERY NOVEMBER
When the winter and cold temperatures approach, our homeless friends need long underwear. In response, the Community Advocacy Committee has UNDEE SUNDAY every November. Along with your pledge of talents and dollars during the stewardship season, please think of giving this small token of love to our needy friends.
Please bring at least one set of long johns and deposit them in the box provided in the narthex of the church in order to fill this need for Friendship House. In case you cannot find long underwear, please submit a donation, and we will procure a pair for you. For details, call Phil or Susan Murphree at 302 427-0392.
In The Spring
History of Wilmington Garden Day. An annual tour of gardens and homes to benefit charities in Wilmington, Delaware.
Year-Round Ministries
APOSTLES IN MISSION (AIM)
Funds are regularly collected during worship services by our Community Advocacy committee to help people locally. Click here for details. In 2011, AIM decided to support for one year a student at Hope and Resurrection School in Southern Sudan.
SUDAN
SsAM is a member church of the American Friends of the Episcopal Church in Sudan (AFRECS). Judi Gregory, a member of SsAM, took a six-month mission trip to Sudan in 2008 and serves on the AFRECS Board of Directors. Click here to visit the AFRECS website. In 2011, our AIM Fund offered support to a student at the Hope and Resurrection School in Southern Sudan.
UNITED THANK OFFERING
This national program encourages prayers of thanksgiving while depositing spare change into little blue boxes that are then brought to church once a year. Click here to learn more about the United Thank Offering and the many ministries it funds.
FOOD BANK DONATIONS
To expedite our support of the St. Patrick’s Food Pantry, we will be providing special envelopes for cash contributions. These may be picked up at the rear of the sanctuary and included with the offering. This does not replace our collection of non-perishable food items and we encourage and appreciate those donations. However, if a cash donation is more convenient for you, please use the food bank envelopes. If you would like to make your contribution by check, please make the check payable to St. Patrick’s Food Pantry. Pat Saunders will collect the envelopes and tally the cash and checks. The purchase of needed items will be coordinated with the Food Bank.
COAT AND CLOTHING COLLECTION
As you clean your closets, why not donate your unused clothing to SsAM? We will be giving used men’s coats and hats to the Seamen’s Center at the Port of Wilmington for seafarers who come from places like the Philippines and have no winter clothing. Any other clothing that is donated will be given to Delaware Clothing Bank, which is an outreach of Friendship House. So clothing of any size – men’s, women’s and children will be gratefully accepted. The clothing drive will continue to the end of November. Please give any clothing to our Sexton Charles, who will store it until the Community Advocacy committee sorts it.
FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
Our church has an active partnership with Friendship House, a Christian ministry committed to making a difference in the lives of the homeless through hospitality, education, empowerment and community. The lower floor of our church building is dedicated to a Women's Day Center, which is a drop-in center for women during the day and, at night, Andrew's Place, where older men can find shelter, food and fellowship. For details, visit the Friendship House website. Or, give us a call at (302) 656-6628.
Newsletters from Friendship House can be seen by clicking here.
SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST MINISTRY
Each Sunday morning between 6:30 to 8 a.m. seven local church communities, including SsAM, take turns preparing and serving a hot, healthy breakfast to people who are hungry. Click here to learn more.
COMMUNITY CHAPEL PROGRAM
Each Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. SsAM hosts a nondenominational interactive service in the Chapel immediately following the Sunday Morning Breakfast Ministry. This service is especially designed to minister to the spiritual needs of those who attend the Sunday Morning Breakfast, but is open to everyone. This inspirational gathering includes hymns, prayers, a homily and the sharing of life experiences. Those who wish to participate in this ministry are invited to contact the church office. To see descriptions of all our worship services, click here.
DANCE PROGRAM AT BAYLOR PRISON
In the fall of 2011, SsAM provided a grant for the seventh year to help underwrite the cost of the Avodah Dance Ensemble, a program organized by Pacem in Terris. The dance ensemble held a week of residency of Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on May 18–22. Click here to read an article on page 3 of the July-August, 2009 issue of the Bi-Monthly Vision.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Several meetings a week are held at SsAM. For details, call the church at 302 656-6628.
REGAL HEIGHTS MINISTRY
The fourth Sunday of each month, SsAM parishioners and ministers share their faith and love by assisting residents of this skilled nursing center at a Holy Communion service. If you would be willing to help bring residents from their rooms or to assist with the worship service, please give us a call at (302) 656-6628.
EPISCOPAL RELIEF
Our parish supports the worldwide outreach efforts of the Episcopal Church. We encourage you to visit the website of Episcopal Relief and Development.
FAITH CENTER and Lutheran Community Services
SsAM is a partner-in-mission with Lutheran Community Services, which includes FAITH Center, an effort started by one of our members, Retha Fisher. Click here to learn more about LCS and their effort to serve those in need in Wilmington, Delaware.
Partnering With Annual Grants
Delaware Futures – this educational program is helping to prepare over sixty disadvantaged students for college
Friendship House – for support of the many programs for the homeless administered by Bill and Marcy Perkins and their staff.
Sojourners' Place – transitional housing program to help those recovering from drug or alcohol abuse.
St. Michael's School and Nursery – scholarships for children; the school gives out $30,000 per month in scholarship aid.