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A message from the Outreach/Evangelism Committee...

Dear St. Mark’s Parishioner,

One of the goals of St. Mark’s Outreach/Evangelism Committee is to expand the parish’s current outreach activities to provide increased focused hands-on ministries. Although opportunities are identified in this letter for contributing treasure, the emphasis of these expanded ministries is on contributions of time and talent. These additional ministries will strengthen St. Mark’s Year-round Stewardship Program. The intent is to have a large portion of our parish participate in these expanded ministries to provide the critical mass required to make a difference. The Committee decided that these ministries should address the needs of the two age extremes: elderly and youth. Three outreach opportunities are identified and described below: expansion of our existing program with Kemp Elementary School and creation of new programs with Canterbury Court and CARE House.

Opportunity #1 consists of expanding our existing tutoring program with Kemp Elementary School. This program is in partnership with four other neighborhood churches: Community United Methodist, St. Mark’s Lutheran, St. Helen’s Catholic and Corinth Presbyterian. The tutoring currently occurs at U.S. Grant Elementary School in Riverside, the temporary home of Kemp School while its facilities are being demolished and rebuilt. This worthwhile program addresses the fact that many children in our community, like so many others around the nation, do not have the reading skills that they need in order to succeed in school and, later, in life. Often, they have no one at home to help them. But, by God’s grace, they do have you!

Please consider giving just one hour per week of your time, helping a child learn to read. Essentially, you will be doing the same things that you might have already done with your own children and grandchildren or other family members: listening to them read, helping them with difficult words, talking with them about the story, and simply giving them encouragement.

Opportunity #2 is with Canterbury Court. Canterbury Court is a program of Episcopal Retirement Homes. Located in West Carrolton, Ohio, Canterbury Court has a contract with HUD to provide rent subsidy. It provides a community living arrangement with 150 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments under one roof. The eligibility criteria for these apartments include persons who are 62 years of age or older or persons who are physically disabled and in need of the design features of an accessible unit. The average income and age of a Canterbury Court resident is $13,055 and 77 years, respectively. Volunteer needs for Canterbury Court include the following: 

a) Bingo: Call bingo for 20-30 residents from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and/or Saturday evenings

b) Coffee Hour: Serve as host to 20-25 residents, provide snacks (e.g., Danish or donuts) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

c) Transportation: Provide transportation to residents for physician appointments, grocery shopping, running errands, etc.

d) Friendly Visitor: Participate in the Friendly Visitor Program and visit with residents, read (e.g., mail, books or scripture) to persons with sight problems, etc.

e) Mending and Alterations: Perform mending and alterations of clothing.

f) Exercise Class: Service as instructor of an exercise class

g) Gardening: Assist residents with their gardens

Opportunity #3 is with CARE House. Located in Dayton, Ohio, CARE House is the community’s advocacy center for child victims of abuse and neglect. The child-friendly environment and multidisciplinary approach are at the heart of its advocacy work on behalf of children. CARE House is a partnership of The Children’s Medical Center, Dayton Police Department, Montgomery County Children Services, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. These agencies work together to: a) Implement a prompt, comprehensive, multidisciplinary response to child victims of abuse and neglect, addressing the needs of the victims and their non-offending family members; b) Hold the offender accountable for his or her actions; and c) Provide the child victims and their family with needed services to protect the child from further harm. 

The child-friendly environment of the advocacy center helps put children at ease during their visit. The comfortable furnishings, colorful rooms and children’s activities give children a sense that this is a good place….their place. Volunteer needs for CARE House include the following:

a) Play Activities: Initiate and conduct play activities with the children

b) Clerical Duties: Perform light clerical duties

c) Bulletin Board: Be in charge of a culturally diverse bulletin board, select and rotate monthly themes, etc.

d) Stuffed Animals: Provide stuffed animals which are presented to each child during his/her initial visit

e) Snacks: Provide individually wrapped snacks for the children

f) Juice Boxes: Provide juice boxes for the children

g) Paper Towels: Provide rolls of paper towels

h) Gardening: Maintain (e.g., water and weed) flower beds

i) Basement Cleaning: Clean and reorganize basement

j) Gazebo: Paint gazebo

Included with this letter is a pledge form. Please place a check mark (a) in the “Acceptance” column for each activity for which you are willing to continue as a volunteer or become a new volunteer. Indicate when you can support your volunteer activity in the “Availability” column. Please be as specific as possible. For example, if you are able to volunteer regularly on a weekly basis and you know both the day and time, specify “weekly” and the day and time. If you can volunteer twice per month, specify “twice per month”. If you prefer to be flexible and volunteer as time allows, specify “TBD” (i.e., to be determined) in the “Availability” column. Once you have completed your pledge form, please return it to Jim Rudd.

On behalf of St. Mark’s Outreach/Evangelism Committee, I thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration to serve as a volunteer for these worthwhile outreach projects. Let’s pool our parish’s God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure to enable us to make a difference in the fulfillment of the missions of Kemp Elementary School, Canterbury Court and CARE House. 

Your Partner in Christ,

James L. Rudd
Co-Chairperson
Outreach/Evangelism Committee

Download and print out the PLEDGE FORM by clicking HERE!

Click HERE to learn more about VOLUNTEERING in your community!

SEE FATHER MIKE'S "BACK TO SCHOOL" NEWSLETTER ON HELPING OUR KEMP ELEMENTARY CHURCH-SCHOOL PROJECT BY CLICKING HERE!

Remember that one of our duties as Christians is to go out into the world and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!

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Hunger Sunday:  Food and money are collected and distributed to area food banks on the third Sunday of every month.

United Thank Offering:  Two in-gatherings per year to assist those in need are collected.

Salvation Army Support:  Household goods and financial assistance are provided.

Christmas Project:  Gifts and food baskets are supplied to needy families in the area.

Other Collections:  Examples include the Christian Children’s Fund, distribution of toiletries to Veterans, and special disaster relief.

Fred Stott Memorial Educational Assistance Grant:  A yearly scholarship is awarded to a local high school student on a need basis.

Recreational Activities:  Examples includes St. Mark’s Softball Team, Parishioner Get-Togethers, and Youth Group.