Outreach Programs

It is Christmas time, a time of remembrance of so many family times and the giving of gifts. This Christmas I am thinking of all the opportunities we have at St. Philip's for gifting. Our young people are busy fixing shoe boxes filled with items to be sent to children all over the world, a project of Samaritan's Purse. Angel-tree has given us five children, two from one state prisoner and three from another that we can buy items to present to the children as Christmas gifts from their father. We can do alternative gifting to Heifer Project or the Episcopal Relief and Development. ERD is still involved in rehabilitation of victims of hurricanes in our southern states and South America and the Earthquake in Afghanistan and help with those devastated by recent tornadoes. In addition we have our Deacon Marilou's Baby Pantry which is a wonderful gift to many appreciative mothers in Benzie County. Marilou also manages the Christmas Store at St. Philip's for the Department of Human Resources. Mothers will have appointments to come to the store to pick out gifts they want for their children for Christmas.

Once again we shall hear the wonderful story of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to all.

Let not the needed, O Lord, be forgotten nor the hope of the poor taken away.

NOTE:  St. Philip's has been active in donating money to the relief efforts for the victims of natural disasters through Episcopal Relief and Development.  If you wish to donate or want more information on the Episcopal Relief and Development's reports from their relief efforts, click on the following link.  http://www.er-d.org/

 We, as a parish, are involved in a number of outreach programs for action and/or support.

World Outreach

• Episcopal Relief and Development (formerly Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief)

• Heifer Project

• Thehungersite.com

Local Outreach

• Adopt A Family

• Baby Pantry

• Bereavement Support Group

• Benzie Area Christian Neighbors (BACN)

• Benzie Food Partners

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters

• Building Use:  AA, Alanon, Community

• Church services for two nursing homes every two months

• Clothing: winter outerwear for children in five elementary schools

• Commission on Aging: Deliver meals to senior shut-ins

• Dental Clinic

• Discretionary funds of Rector and Deacon for food, gas, heat, electric, etc.

• Doula:  Deacon's outreach ministry supported by parish

• Family Independent Agency Volunteers:  Christmas store, Christmas giving tree, mentoring, transportation for needed appointments and church.

• Benzie County Habitat for Humanity

• Prison Fellowship: Angel Tree Project

• Souperbowl of Caring

• Two cents a meal:  To increase awareness of the needy and the poor.
  In 1998 we began this program for us to put two cents in a brown paper lunch bag and say, as part of our grace, "Let not the needy, oh Lord, be forgotten nor the hope of the poor taken away."
  The money part is not the main emphasis.  The main point is the awareness.   Awareness of the needs of others opens our minds and hearts to Christian outreach.