Summer of Service

You may have heard about Phase I of our strategic planning process - a proposal to improve accessibility on our campus by creating a driveway closer to the doors, adding parking spaces and a covered drop off near the chapel, and creating an accessible altar rail and choir area in the nave. Those plans are being refined over the summer. We hope to have detailed designs ready to share with you by the fall.

Now it is time for Phase II of our strategic planning process - focused on outreach. We gather for worship to be sent out into the world, to love and serve the Lord by loving and serving our neighbors. St. Thomas has a long history of loving service in our community: Wynnton Neighborhood Network food pantry and utility assistance, a thriving partnership with Brewer Elementary, partnership with CVEM and East Carver Heights, Path to Shine and soccer and FANN, computers for students at Msalato Theological College in Tanzania, care for the environment, and more.

We also serve through the work of our parishioners. Many among us work and volunteer with nonprofits that make a difference in our community. On Sunday mornings this summer, parishioners will share about these organizations. We are also scheduling times to volunteer together. Our Summer of Service will culminate in an outreach discernment afternoon on Sunday, August 6, a time to pray and explore together how to deepen our impact on the community around us.

God is calling us in this season to look both inward and outward - to Love God, Love Every Person, Learn AND SERVE Together. What a gift it is to have so many ways of serving and making a difference.

Blessings,

Rev. Grace

Collect & Share

Sometimes serving looks like giving financial gifts or items to support the work of others. We will offer several opportunities to collect items for ministries in our area. For example canned goods for WNN (particularly fruit and tomatoes during VBS), men's clothing for SafeHouse, supplies for Stewart Home and more.

Serve Together

Serve a meal at SafeHouse or Circles in Columbus, see the kitchen at Direct services, pack food boxes at Feeding the Valley, build a bed with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, take water and snacks to soccer camp, and more! We're hoping to learn by touring and serving this summer. Stay tuned for details about these opportunities and others!