Mission Statement
-
The mission of the Service and Outreach Commission is to make known God’s presence
in our surrounding community by helping those in need. Our service to the community
included many different initiatives, several of which are described in separate reports
contained in this annual document: These are the REACH Cold Weather Shelter for the Homeless, St. John’s Preschool, the St. John’s Shelter for Homeless Families, the
Alternatives to Violence Prison Ministry, the Church’s Van, and the Shawl Ministry.
SERVICE AND OUTREACH COMMISSION -
The sale of Martin’s & Weis gift cards to parishioners garnered $2000 which was given to our
Preschool. In 2011, plans have been made to sell gift cards from other stores to bring in
additional outreach revenue. -
We supported Habitat for Humanity in Washington County by joining in with 18 other
churches to build a house by providing a donation of $4000 and furnishing volunteer
labor for work Saturdays. Next year St. John’s has agreed to partner with other area
churches to build another Habitat House. -
Each Sunday our children bring to the altar donated food that is then delivered to a local
food bank. -
Additional financial support was provided to San Mar Children’s Home, Habitat for
Humanity and REACH through the purchase of St. John’s tables for their fund raising
drives. -
For the Christmas season our Rector challenged the congregation to double the number of
shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child over the preceding year. We were thrilled to
deliver 93 boxes which is 4.65 times more than in 2009. -
The second year of gleaning apples in a local orchard to give to a food bank had many
new participants and 800 pounds of apples were collected. -
Our church sponsored an Afternoon Arts Academy in cooperation with the Art Museum
and Girl’s Inc. Starting in January this program will connect art teachers from the
museum to teach classes at the Girl’s Inc. facility. Plans are being made to exhibit their
work in our parish hall and award prizes to the budding artists. -
Members of this commission are: Joy Rath, Gary Lambert, Darrell Fowler, Charlie
Foreman, Doris Haines, Melissa Hutton, Bill Alexander and Bill Beard. Any new
volunteers will be warmly welcomed and accepted!
-- Bill Beard & Bill Alexander, Co-Chairs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our parishioners are involved in the community in many ways, including the following:
-
Deliver food packages to area residents from Food Resources, Inc.\
-
Habitat for Humanity - construction and publicity director
-
Maryland Symphony Orchestra Guild. Educ. Comm.
-
Kindly Canines (Therapy dog Program/Dog Visitation Program)(2)
-
READS library program
-
Deliver Prayer Shawls to Franklin county Probation Office
-
Identifies family need situations in course of employment and arranges assistance through CAC, YMCA after school program, and individual donors from Saint John’s\
-
Volunteer at Cold Weather Shelter (3)
-
Preschool Board of Directors (3)
-
Stephen Minister
-
Parish Visitor
-
Writes “Senior Saints” column for SOUNDINGS
-
Parish Choir member
-
delegate to Regional Council and Diocesan Convention
-
Board Member of U. of MD. Colonnade Society, scholarship provider
-
Master Gardener to Western MD Hospital beautification project
-
Church Newcomer Visitor (2)
-
Provided seated massages at the Free Clinic of the Panhandle and at other locations
-
Spiritual Director
-
Apple Orchard Gleaner for food pantries (2)
-
Fabric and Grounds
-
Hospital Auxiliary volunteer
-
Hagerstown Neighborhood Center (Afternoon Arts Academy)
-
Neighborhoods 1st program
-
Take donated food to food bank
-
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation Board
-
Lay Eucharistic Visitor (2)
-
Tutor for ESL
-
Visits aging and elderly friends. Meals on Wheels
-
Transports elderly to medical appointments
-
Saint John’s Shelter Board
-
Hospital Emergency Room volunteer








