Christ Church Outreach News: September 15, 2022

Outreach Continues the Quilt Raffle at Our Flea Market to Benefit SLYC

You can buy raffle tickets at a table during the Christ Church flea market to continue our support of St. Luke’s Youth Center, which operates year-round as the nonprofit SLYC. We helped launch the raffle last month when SLYC leaders visited and displayed the quilt (see photos). It was handcrafted by parishioner Nancy Winchester, who designed a queen-size quilt and separate pillow cover in a fall theme.

Please buy tickets (1 for $5, 5 for $10, and 10 for $25) at the flea market on Saturday, Sept. 17. They will be on sale from Outreach members at Christ Church through Dec. 4. The raffle drawing is Dec. 10.

Future stops for Nancy’s quilt will involve some of the area congregations that support SLYC, which is the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is among partners, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC and five other organizations.

You, too, are partnering with SLYC in that Vestry-approved funds for Christ Church Outreach supported Camp Imagination, held during the summer as described in the July newsletter. The Outreach Commission contributed $500, and others at Christ Church made donations.

West Baltimore families collaborate in SLYC’s leadership and offerings, which include “Moms on a Mission” and an after-school program. We heard about how it was founded on faith from Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot. She spoke of her calling when delivering the sermon during both services at Christ Church on Sunday, Aug. 7.

UNICEF Gets Humanitarian Aid for Pakistan Flooding

Since June, Pakistan has been deluged with relentless monsoon rains that dumped up to five times the average 30-year rainfall. More than a thousand people died and 3 million children were imperiled. UNICEF, which has helped the world’s children for 70 years, responded. On its website, UNICEF describes taking steps to combat waterborne diseases and malnutrition, with the support of donors worldwide.

Christ Church is among these donors. On behalf of parishioners, members of the Outreach Commission voted to contribute $500 to UNICEF to assist in humanitarian relief efforts. It is the latest in a series of disaster-relief donations this year that have helped victims of wildfires and floods in the United States and refugees in Europe fleeing the war in Ukraine. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Heartfelt thanks go out to one and all who make this possible.

Christ Church Prison Ministry: Reconnection and Restoration

More than 2 million people are incarcerated in U.S. prisons. Cut off from family and community, they are left to languish in an overcrowded, underfunded, sometimes corrupt system. Some—particularly people of color—are serving unjust convictions.

Matthew 25 tells us Jesus commanded us to visit those in prison, saying, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” Our baptismal covenant, too, calls us to seek and serve Christ in all people—which includes those imprisoned, for whatever reason.

Christ Church is forming a group to discern our gifts, talents, and passion for serving those in prison. We will hold several meetings over the next few months, via Zoom, to discuss what might be involved: from simple acts of kindness like letter-writing to the possibility of hands-on relational ministry. If you’re interested in participating, please email Deacon Denise.

SAVE THE DATES: January 8-14, 2023 DreamBuilders Trip to Puerto Rico!

Our mission trips to San Juan in 2019 and 2022 were so successful and rewarding that we are heading back for a third trip to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Maria. Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph, devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017. FEMA estimated that 53% of all structures on the island were significantly damaged. Now, 5 years later, thousands of families in Puerto Rican are still living in damaged homes or crowded in with family members waiting for the day when their home can be made livable again. We are delighted to work with the SBP Puerto Rico team, who share their professional skills with friendship and fun.

We have reserved great housing in apartments a few blocks from the beach and near restaurants and shops. The average temperature in Puerto Rico in January is between 80-83 degrees. We will be opening registration for this trip soon, but we are limited to only 20 people, so SAVE THE DATES!

Donate Diapers, Baby Care Items for Transport to Columbia Community Care

Starting this fall, Leigh Smith has become our representative and takes parishioners’ donated items to Columbia Community Care (CCC), so that they can be distributed on Saturdays or stored until needed for home deliveries. Information about distribution sites, home deliveries, and how to volunteer in multiple ways can be found on the CCC Group on Facebook.

At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the primarily volunteer organization. Please collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday.

FISH Needs Our Prayers and Patience Along with Snacks and Cookies

Our representative from FISH of Howard County recently had surgery and a replacement was not immediately available to empty our yellow bin between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Paul Wisniewski is recovering; please pray for his good health. Pickups are resuming, so please continue donating cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill the shopping lists. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.

In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.