Ministry and Mission

Mission and Outreach Committee

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our Mission is to provide material and spiritual support to foreign, national and local missionaries and mission organizations.

Foreign Missionaries

Kevin Mason and Family, Estonia [http://chasinthemasons.kolhoos.ee/info ]

Brent McHugh and Family, Turkey [www.christar.org/]

Michele Perry, Sudan [http://www.irismin.com/ministryLoc_southern_sudan.cfm]

National Missions

Good Shepherd Mission, Navajo Reservation, Ft. Defiance, AZ [http://www.goodshepherdmission.org/]

Church World Service - CROP [http://www.churchworldservice.org/]

Episcopal Relief and Development [http://www.er-d.org/]

Local Missions

The Williams Family YMCA [http://www.firstcoastymca.org/williams-branch]

City Rescue Mission [http://www.crmjax.org/]

Jacksonville Campus Ministries [http://www.unf.edu/groups/jcm/]

Jacksonville/Mandarin CROP Walk - The CROP Walk is neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world.  Together we raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting.  The churches in the Mandarin area have been walking together in the CROP Walk for seventeen years.  Twenty-five percent of all funds raised go to local hunger fighting organizations like the Mandarin Food Bank. [http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/TR/2009FallCROPHungerWalks/General?pg=entry&fr_id=4107]

Disaster Relief - LESM On the Bay (formerly Camp Coast Care), Long Beach, MS [http://www.lesmonthebay.org/]

Millennium Development Goals - In conjunction with the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, we are supporting one of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals each year.

1 - 2007:  End Poverty and Hunger - Church World Service, Episcopal Relief and Development

2 - 2008:  Universal Education - Church World Service, Episcopal Relief and Development

3 - 2009:  Gender Equality - Church World Service, Episcopal Relief and Development, Our Little Roses-Honduras [http://www.ourlittleroses.org/] 

4 - 2010:  Child Health

5 - 2011:  Maternal Health

6 - 2012:  Combat HIV/AIDS

7 - 2013:  Environmental Sustainability

8 - 2014:  Global Partnership

Prison Ministry

Several times a year Kairos spiritual sessions are held within the walls of the prisons in our area.  You can be trained to serve on a Kairos team or help provide re-entry services to ex-prisoners in the form of housing, food, clothing, counseling, and transportation.

Cuba Mission

Since 1983, the Diocese of Florida has had a Companion relationship with the Diocese of Cuba.  Church of Our Savior has a companion parish, Holy Trinity in La Gloria, Camaguey Province.  We support this parish by prayer, donations of altar supplies and vestments and financial aid. 

HabiJax

This ministry is part of Habitat for Humanity.  Volunteers build homes for our community.  No construction experience is necessary.

Storm Relief

St. Mary's Mission

St. Mary’s is an inner city Episcopal outreach center.  Donations of food and clothing are accepted in the church office to be delivered to St. Mary’s.

I.M. Sulzbacher Center

Teams of 15 to 20 persons volunteer  once a month to serve meals at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center.  The teams buy, prepare, serve, and clean up after the meal.

"Feed My Lambs"

This ministry provides meals to disadvantaged families in St. Augustine.  Parishioners receive a shopping list for “kid-friendly” items for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Volunteers deliver groceries once a month to needy families.

Friends of the Family

The Friends of the Family ministry helps provide short-term help with shelter, food, and clothing to families in need.  Our commitment is to always offer spiritual support and follow the example of Jesus Christ to be servants.  Funding comes from special offerings at Christmas and Easter.

Camp Weed and Cervany Conference Center

Mandarin Food Bank

Donations of food and clothing are collected weekly in a basket behind the last pew in the nave.  The items are taken to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Old St. Augustine Road to be distributed to those in need.

Helping Hands

This special ministry assists in many ways.  They arrange for small receptions after funerals.  They also send cards to new mothers, the sick and to those that need special care.

Ministry of Meals

In times of crisis or other need, the basic necessity of food can be quite a burden.  This ministry provides meals to those in need.

Pastoral Care Team

Lay parishioners are specially trained to visit shut-ins and to offer encouragement when taking parishioners to doctor’s appointments. 

Flower Visitation

This ministry wants to brighten the day of others with special needs and circumstances.  Volunteers include those who arrange the flowers and those who take the Sunday altar flowers to the sick and the shut-ins.

Office Volunteers

Wonderful volunteers give of their time and talent to assist the staff in the Parish Office.  Some volunteers serve on a regular basis and others are available as needed for special projects or events.