Evangelism and Outreach « All Saints Episcopal Church

Evangelism and Outreach

The Evangelism & Outreach Commission at All Saints’ is committed to building up the kingdom of God through various ministries. These ministries are matched with the gifts and passions of the members of this parish. So please, do not hesitate to let the clergy know about a ministry that you are passionate about. There is always room for new leadership in these areas. The work of Evangelism & Outreach brings people together who might or might not naturally come together in order to worship, work, and play in the name of Christ. We ask that you pray and consider your part in the ministries of Evangelism and Outreach.

STORIES OF RESURRECTION

Oasis on Wednesday nights during Easter

Location: Conference Room

Time: 6:30-7:30

April 11: Jim Cunningham: John 20:24-29 (Doubting Thomas)

April 18: Corey Jones: Luke 24:13-35 (Road to Emmaus)

April 25: Lyndsie Curry: John 20:24-29 (Doubting Thomas)

May 2: Elizabeth VanderKamp: John 21:15-25 (Feed My Sheep)

May 9: Garrett Yates and Jennifer Andress: Matthew 28:16-20 (Great
Commission) and John 20:1-18 (Jesus and Mary Magdalene)

It is often said that we are an incarnational church; we are a church that
believes in the incarnation of God in Christ. In particular, our Anglican
Theology is claimed in our witness to God in the flesh. Our theology is
fleshed out in our response to the reading of scripture and our prayers.
While God calls all of us to be part of the narrative of Christ crucified,
we each have unique replies to God’s story. We are also a church that
proclaims resurrection life in Christ.

During the Great 50 days of Easter for our Wednesday night Oasis programming
various parishioners will share their own story of resurrection. These
stories will be framed in Christ’s story of resurrection as made known to us
in Holy Scripture. This will be a time where we consider how the
incarnation of God in Christ is made alive in our own lives. We will
consider how Christ is revealing resurrection in our own flesh. As Eugene
Peterson notes, join us as we practice resurrection and grow up in Christ.

J.P. Cunningham, originally from a small town in Northeastern Arkansas,
(where his father’s family had lived since 1873, and his mother’s family had
lived since the 1840′s), is fluent in Spanish and worked for years in the
field of international sales, traveling widely throughout Latin America.
Prior to that, he worked as an aide for the United States Congress
specializing in foreign affairs. With one graduate degree in political
science and another in international business, he now lives in northwestern
Georgia where he works writing fiction.

Garrett Yates loves the outdoors, basketball, talking theology over a pipe,
Waffle House, and reading Walker Percy novels. When he grows up he either
wants to make millions playing in the NBA or go to seminary…as of right
now, he is leaning towards seminary.

Lyndsie Curry was born and raised in Birmingham and graduated from Auburn
University in 2010. She and her husband Andrew Curry began attending All
Saint’s in the Spring of 2011. She is currently working for SafeHouse of
Shelby County as the high school prevention educator.

Corey Jones is married to Crystal, and they have a two year old son named
McKeand and another baby boy due in May. Corey and Crystal both grew up at
All Saints’ and attended EYC together. She works in the nursery and Corey
has been the youth minister at All Saints’ for four years.

Jennifer Andress is a wife to Keith, and mother of two sons, John, age 8 and
Will, age 7. Jennifer serves as Birmingham Track Club President, Service
Guild volunteer and former officer for the Bell Center for Early
Intervention Programs, and is a board member for the Breast Cancer Research
Foundation of Alabama. All of the above responsibilities speak to Jennifer’s
passion and experiences: she is a marathon runner, mother to two
hearing-impaired children and a breast cancer survivor. Jennifer, Keith and
the boys joined All Saints’ in September 2011.

Elizabeth Vander Kamp grew up at All Saints’, moved away for 20 years, and
returned in 2003, with her husband, Phil, and newborn daughter, Tressa. The
Vander Kamp family now includes Mary who was born in 2005. As a child
Elizabeth found church to be a scary and intimidating place. But as an
adult, Elizabeth has rediscovered All Saints’ as a community, a second home
even. She is so grateful to be part of a place of learning, giving, and
receiving.

Evangelism and Outreach Commissioners:
Cherry Wagstaff ( cwagstaff@bcbsal.org)
Jeremy Harper ( jharper1185@charter.net)
Outreach Chair: Cooper Morrison ( coopermorrison@gmail.com)
Evangelism Chair: Trent Ponder ( trent.ponder@martinjayretail.com )
Clergy Contact: Jack Alvey (205.769.3180, jalvey@allsaintsbirmingham.org)

55th Place

55th Place provides money by selling donated goods for Episcopal Interfaith Ministry of Grace Church. They also provide free clothing and household items for the needy in the Birmingham area.

How to get involved:
… Volunteer in the thrift store
… Contribute merchandise to be sold
… Help transport contributed goods
Contact: Betsy McKay, 870-8332, mckayal@bellsouth.net

Angel Tree – angeltree.org

Angel Tree is a ministry that has taken place at All Saints’ for 25 years. It is part of Prison Fellowship and connects children with their incarcerated parent. The parent makes an application with the prison chaplain and we provide the gifts in the name of the parent. We usually have about 75 children and give each child something to wear, something to play with, and something educational. They are invited to a Christmas party at All Saints. Caregivers of the children are given the gifts to take home for Christmas Day. Small gifts are given to the children by Santa, the Christmas Story is read, and a birthday cake for Baby
Jesus is enjoyed. Look for ways to get involved in November of each year. Also, contact our parish liaison if you would like to know more.
How to get involved:
… Sponsor a family during November by taking a card off of our Angel Tree
… Help with the Angel tree party
Contact: Lucy Hortberg, 979-6166, hortberg@msn.com

Balm of Gilead

Balm of Gilead ministry is a program of Cooper Green Hospital and the Jefferson County Health Department. The program is a palliative care unit with emphasis on providing comfort to those who are in pain, and support for family members. All Saints’ sponsored a room when the unit was opened and now supports the work of the unit by visiting with patients and their families and by helping support the unit’s staff. Knitters from All Saints’ provide afghans to simulate the healing Balm that is spoken of in the Bible. Altar flowers are divided into smaller vases and delivered to each of the patients in hopes of brightening up their day. Several members of All Saints’ visit with patients and provide treats for the staff. There are no regular meetings of the volunteers involved in this ministry. Visits are made in pairs as frequently as the individuals can and when it is most convenient for the volunteers.
How to get involved:
… Several members of All Saints’ visit with patients and provide treats for the staff. Visits are made in pairs as frequently as the individuals can, and when it is most convenient for the volunteers.
Contact: Pat King, 942-5617, bp3king@bellsouth.net

Birmingham Hospitality Network (BHN)

birminghamhospitalitynetwork.com
Birmingham Hospitality Network is an outreach ministry offering temporary shelter to homeless families. There are sixteen other area churches participating in the program. Each church takes a turn for a week at a time to help the families have a safe, Christian environment to call “home”. Volunteers are needed to prepare rooms for the families, spend the night, provide dinner, and clean up when our guests go to the next church.
How to get involved:
… Volunteers are needed to prepare rooms for the families
… Volunteers are needed to spend the night
… You could provide dinner, or food for lunches
… Help is needed cleaning up when our guests go to the next church
… We need volunteers to help do laundry after our guests leave
Contact: Jennifer Freeman, 532-4469, fjennifern@gmail.com

Bridge Ministries – bridgeministriesbham.org

Bridge Ministries focuses on preventing homelessness by assisting people in crisis situations pay their rent or utility bills or to secure temporary emergency lodging. When families living in local shelters are ready to move to permanent housing, Bridge Ministries can help with security and utility deposits. A number of its clients are referred by local hospitals and hospice services. Bridge Ministries also helps individuals obtain dental care, eye glasses, prescription drugs and other durable medical goods. It also maintains a small pantry of non-perishable food and personal hygiene products.
How to get involved:

… Office volunteers are sometimes needed
… Bridge Ministries is one of the recipients of the 4th Sunday Food Drive that All Saints’ sponsors.
… Volunteers are needed to deliver the collected food to Bridge Ministries.
Contact: Lois Woodward, 871-6473, lwoodward@balch.com

Cahaba Valley Health – cahabavalleyhealthcare.org

Cahaba Valley Health Care is a nonprofit organization based in central Alabama, and is dedicated to providing access to quality healthcare for the underserved, primarily Hispanic, communities in Jefferson and Shelby Counties.
How to get involved:
… Cahaba Valley Health Care is looking for dentists, doctors, nurses, and anyone willing to give up a Sunday afternoon to help those in need.
Contact: Matt Ennis, 979-0206, matt@cahabavalleyhealthcare.org

Connectors

Connectors is a ministry at All Saints’ designed to help parishioners and newcomers alike plug into all of the many opportunities and activities that All Saints’ offers, meet new friends and to connect or reconnect with all that makes a church feel like a home. In addition to numerous outreach programs, All Saints’ offers programs for people of all ages, interests and backgrounds and the Connectors ministry is here to help anyone who is interested find that perfect fit!
How to get involved:
… We are always looking for Connectors. Connectors will sponsor a new member and help them find their way around All Saints’. Please contact our parish liaison to become a Connector.
Contact: Mary Reed Durkin, maryreeddurkin@gmail.com

Community Kitchens of Birmingham -thecommunitykitchens.org

Community Kitchens of Birmingham is a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding anyone who is hungry. There are two locations; one at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Southside, and the other at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn. Volunteers are needed to cook and serve meals.
How to get involved:

… Volunteers are needed to cook and serve meals. Call our liaison to schedule a time for your group to prepare a meal.
Contact: Bert Jordan, 967-7805, bjordan@wallacejordan.com

Disaster Response Team

The Disaster Response Team is an outreach ministry of All Saints’ that helps communities respond to natural disasters with assistance.

How to get involved:
… Contact our Parish Liaison in order to be added to the email distribution list so when a disaster does occur you will be notified promptly.

… Travel to a disaster site and help in a variety of ways
Contact: Buddy Bland, 879-1050, bland.310@gmail.com, or the Reverend Jack Alvey, jalvey@allsaintsbirmingham.org, 769-3180

Discovery Weekend

This is a new ministry at All Saints’ that offers spiritual renewal. Explore your relationship with God in the context of a Christian community. We encourage newcomers (members or visitors), new Episcopalians, new Christians, and even long time members who want spiritual renewal or who are simply interested to attend. Discovery Weekend takes place right here at All Saints’.
How to get involved:
… Attend the weekend during the late winter (February or March).
… Help with meals or buy supplies
… Help staff the weekend.
Contact: The Reverend Jack Alvey, 769-3180, jalvey@allsaintsbirmingham.org

Episcopal Place- episcopalplace.org

Episcopal Place serves as a model for providing affordable, independent living for seniors and adults with disabilities. The unique partnership between government, the faith community and the non-profit sector allows Episcopal Place to meet the needs of today’s seniors who want to age at home, remain independent for as long as possible, and live not just longer but better lives. The non-profit foundation funds supportive services such as transportation to nearby banks and grocery stores, nutritional and exercise programs, subsidized meals and housekeeping, resident activities and pastoral care services. Volunteers are used to help provide many of the supportive services which keep residents active and involved. For more information about volunteering or living at Episcopal Place, call 939-0085.
How to get involved:
… Volunteers are used to help provide many of the supportive services which keep residents active and involved.
Contact: Amanda Ennis, agennis4@gmail.com

Episcopal Relief and Development – er-d.org

Working in partnership with the worldwide Church, ecumenical agencies and local organizations, Episcopal Relief & Development saves lives and strengthens communities around the world. Our programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. You are invited to check out the ERD website for other service opportunities and join with other Episcopalians to help build up the Body of Christ.
How to get involved:
… You are invited to check out the ERD website for service opportunities and join with other Episcopalians to help build up the Body of Christ. The website is also an excellent source for responding to worldwide disasters and injustices through monetary gifts.

Contact: David Smith, 328-7820, dsmith@bsc.edu

Firehouse Shelter – firehouseshelter.com

The Firehouse Shelter is an overnight shelter providing food, clothing and
hospitality to homeless men in the downtown area. The Firehouse Shelter needs volunteers to stay overnight, day program and soup kitchen volunteers, and donations of money, men’s clothing, and toiletries. All Saints’ supports this ministry in several ways, the first being through our 4th Sunday Food Drive. Also, on the fourth Saturday of each month, volunteers from All Saints’ cook a dinner at Firehouse Shelter.
How to get involved:
… Volunteers are needed on the 4th Saturday of each month to cook a dinner at Firehouse Shelter.
… We also support Firehouse through our 4th Sunday Food Drive. Volunteers are needed to deliver the collected food to the Firehouse Shelter.
Contact: Harry Purnell, 410-9022, hsp323@bellsouth.net

Fourth Sunday Food Drive

This particular ministry provides a way in which donations can be made to local food banks by bringing the food directly to All Saints’. Four local pantries benefit from this ministry (Bridge Ministries, Firehouse Shelter, Grace Food Pantry, and Greater Birmingham Ministries) on a monthly basis. We collect donations in the Great Hall and pick up following the fourth Sunday each month.
How to get involved:
… Intentionally set aside a budget for the food drive and drop off your
donation in the Great Hall at the end of each month.
… Deliver the collected food to the designated ministry.
Contact: Cherry Wagstaff, 942-0277, cwagstaff@bcbsal.org

Grace Food Pantry – gracechurchwoodlawn.com

Grace Food Pantry is located at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn and provides food for the hungry. In addition to sending a monetary contribution to Grace Food Pantry in our annual budget, the people of All Saints’ support this ministry through our 4th Sunday Food Drive.
How to get involved:
…Please contact our parish liaison or visit the website to learn more about how you can help out at the pantry by serving meals.
… Make a donation of non-perishable food and toiletries for the Fourth Sunday food drive.
Contact: Pat King, 942-9022, bp3king@bellsouth.net

Greater Birmingham Ministries – gbm.org

Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) is an ecumenical and interfaith organization in Birmingham, with a forty-year history of services and community organizing. Begun in 1969, GBM has sought to carry out a faith-based response to poverty by meeting people’s emergency needs while also pursuing social and economic justice for all people. All Saints’ supports GBM in its annual budget as well as through various projects throughout the year including the Fourth Sunday Food Drive and a Christmas project.
How to get involved:
… Please contact our parish liaison or visit the website to find out how you can volunteer.
Contact: Cherry Wagstaff, 942-0277, cwagstaff@bcbsal.org

Greeters

This ministry welcomes those who attend worship services on Sunday. They also provide assistance, directions, or information to any visitor, member, or guest.
How to get involved:
… Serve one Sunday a month and welcome parishioners and visitors to All Saints’, and also provide assistance as needed

Contact: Jim Wooten, 943-0442, jmwooten@aol.com

Habitat for Humanity – habitat.org

Once again this year All Saints’ will participate in the Habitat for Humanity “Building on Faith” during Lent. Mainly congregations of various faiths work together to build a group of houses, beginning after Ash Wednesday, with dedication of the houses and handover of the keys to the new owners on Good Friday. Our Saturday work day will be on March 3rd, so please hold the day on your calendar. This is the second weekend of the construction schedule, so we will be working on wall and roof construction and related activities. We’ll get out a signup sheet soon. In the meantime, contact Don Hortberg for more information: Hortberg@msn.com.

Haiti Lunches Program (Krik! Krak!) – dioala.org

The clergy spouses of the Diocese of Alabama have teamed up to ensure that 300 children in Haiti receive hot lunches each day. They have asked the support of each parish in Alabama. The people of All Saints’ not only support this ministry in the budget but also seek opportunities to establish relationships with these children.
How to get involved:
… Please contact our parish liaison to see what we are currently doing for this ministry.
Contact: Cherry Wagstaff, 942-0277, cwagstaff@bcbsal.org

Kairos – kairosprisonministry.org

Kairos is a ministry directed toward building Christian community and
providing Christian training in prisons. This is done by conducting three-day short courses emphasizing the forming of small share and prayer groups and follow-up for one year.
How to get involved:
… Join an ecumenical team and serve on a Kairos weekend
… Make placemats for the weekend
… Be a prayer partner
… Bake cookies for the three-day weekend
… Donate Bibles and books for prisoners to read.
Contact: Jay Jones, 979-2470, jaypllx@bellsouth.net

My Child’s Closet – mychildscloset.org

My Child’s Closet is a charitable organization that provides gently used clothes for needy children and teenagers. They also provide new underwear and school uniforms as monetary donations allow.
How to get involved:
… Make a donation of gently-used clothing or accessories
… Make a monetary donation that will be used to purchase underwear and school uniforms
Contact: Blanche McIntyre 223-9982, blanche.mcintyre@att.net, or Sally Elwood, 908-4387, sallyelwood@gmail.com

M-Power Ministries – mpowerministries.org

M-Power Ministries provides education and healthcare opportunities to people in need. There are numerous volunteer opportunities for individuals looking to share their gifts through our medical and dental clinic, literacy program, and adult education program.

How to get involved:
… M-Power loves volunteers and invites you to check out the website or contact our parish liaison to find out what gifts you have to offer.
Contact: Betty McCulloch, 967-7447, bettym@mpowerministries.org

Nametag Sunday

Do you ever find yourself trying to remember the names of the family members sitting in front of you Sunday morning? One Sunday a month everyone attending morning services is encouraged to wear a nametag. The Nametag Sunday ministry is responsible for distributing nametags to those attending church.
How to get involved:
… Once a month, show up for one of the morning services a few minutes early. When the weather is nice there is a table you can set up in front of the church with nametags and pens.
… Pass out nametags to those attending and encourage them to wear them.
Contact: Rhonda Nabors, 970-3854, rsn1@bellsouth.net, or Cherry Wagstaff, 942-0277, cwagstaff@bcbsal.org

Newcomer’s Coffee

Newcomer’s coffee is a social hour that meets in the library which is held six times a year to allow prospective members to interact with the clergy and church members in an informal environment. A brief overview of church programs is reviewed along with a time set aside for asking questions. At the end of the coffee a tour of the church is offered. Help with refreshments and hosting is always welcome. Please contact our parish liaison to get involved.
How to get involved:
… Provide refreshments
… Host a coffee hour, or come and visit with newcomers and visitors
Contact: Tom Abernathy, tabernathy@bricebuilding.com

Our Little Roses – ourlittleroses.org

Our Little Roses is a ministry in Honduras that is dedicated to building lives, preparing and equipping once homeless girls to enter and support them in a middle class society. Our Little Roses provides each girl with shelter, education and love. Uniforms and school fees are provided, and a staff of teachers helps newly-arrived girls catch up with their peers. In order to create revenue and to pay for their expenses, Our Little Roses gives people and/or groups the opportunity to sponsor a member of the Our Little Roses home. Other ministries of Our Little Roses include Holy Family Bilingual School, chapel and B & B hostel. Most recently All Saints’ has the honor of sponsoring Karla Lainez. Karla was born on November 27, 2003. She joined Our Little Roses family on October 29, 2008. With All Saints’ help Karla will be able to enjoy the benefits of a safe and loving home.
How to get involved:
… Make a donation to Our Little Roses
… Sponsor a child.
Contact: Katharyn Lowry, katharynlowry@hotmail.com

Sawyerville Day Camp – sawyervilleworkproject.org

The Sawyerville Day Camp is a project sponsored by the Youth Department of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama and the parishes of the Black Belt. Held each summer, this day camp for economically disadvantaged children and youth in Hale County, Alabama is an outreach event marked by faith in action and peer ministry.
How to get involved:
…. Donate food or drinks for the Day Camp staff and campers
…. Donate swimsuits for the campers
…. Fund an event during camp, for example: a field trip, renting an
inflatable for a party, or a drum circle
…. Be a prayer partner for a staff member
Contact: Susanna Whitsett, 870-9699, swhitsett3@bellsouth.net, Memily Colvin, 979-8684, memily.colvin@gmail.com

Service Saturdays

The Outreach Committee is committed to providing four opportunities each year specifically designed to get families involved with outreach. This is a great way to bring families and parishioners together for a day of service.

The next Service Saturday will be held at M-POWER Ministries, a faith-based social services agency helping people trapped in the cycle of poverty with services provided by three centers. The M-POWER Education Center provides adult education programs such as a GED Course and a Career Readiness Course. The M-POWER Literacy Center is the largest adult literacy program in Alabama. And the M-POWER Health Center is the only free medical and dental clinic in Jefferson County.

How can you help? We have several projects that we will be working on, such as painting two health center offices, planting shrubs and pansies in front of the building, installing new towel and hand soap dispensers in the Health Center, and making hygiene bags that will be given to our needy patients (a great project for the kids!). We need people of all ages and talents!

To sign up contact Cooper Morrison at coopermorrison@gmail.com, 601.618.7371.

Supporting our Community

All Saints’ provides meeting space and resources for many different ministries, classes, and support groups in our community. Among those that meet regularly at All Saints’ are AA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, a caregiver’s support group, yoga, Music Together, and a string music class. We also participate in the annual Way of the Cross walk on Good Friday and the Ecumenical Thanksgiving service with other area churches.
How to get involved:
…. Contact our parish coordinator for more information, or to be directed to the appropriate parish contacts.
Contact: Theresa Hester, Parish Coordinator, 879-8651, office@allsaintsbirmingham.org

Sweep

SWEEP is always looking for members who are willing to attend monthly meetings and make phone calls to newcomers. If you are unable to attend the monthly meetings, please contact our parish liaison to find out other ways to get you involved.
How to get involved:
…. Make phone calls to newcomers
…. Attend monthly meetings
Contact: Pam Phillips, 823-6635, pbphillips@bellsouth.net

The Lovelady Center – lovelady.homestead.com

The Lovelady Center opens their doors to women & children who have been broken and beaten down by bad choices, circumstances, and/or bad relationships. They provide a structured environment in which the Holy Spirit ministers healing and wholeness in Jesus Christ through the residents. Freedom Rain Ministries was founded by Brenda Spahn in January of 1997, and is a 501(c) 3 non-profit ministry. The initiative became known as The Lovelady Center, which is currently located in the former East End Memorial Hospital in Birmingham’s East Lake neighborhood. They seek to provide not only the best possible opportunity for women to recover, but also to break the generational cycles that may be present in their children as well. This helps the present generation and the next generation at the same time, by empowering mothers to continue what they began when they graduate from the program and leave Lovelady.
How to get involved:
…. The All Saints’ ECW (Episcopal Church Women) collects items for the Lovelady Center year-round
Contact: Reynolds Harper, 427-6775, or Blanche McIntyre, 223-9982, blanche.mcintyre@att.net

Tract Rack

The Tract Rack, which is maintained by volunteers, is located in the cloister and is a good source of pamphlets and booklets meant to encourage and
nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith. It includes “Forward Day by Day”, a booklet of daily meditations, and the popular “Carenotes” published by Abbey Press, along with various church information leaflets.
How to get involved:
….Replenish the track rack in the Cloister as needed
Contact: Pauline Johnson, 942-8898, pbejohnson@bellsouth.net

UTO – alabamaecw.org/uto

The United Thank Offering, or UTO, is an Episcopal Church tradition dating back to 1889. The blue and white UTO boxes are collected at semi-annual ingatherings held in May and November at All Saints’. Women bring their boxes full of money, or they pick up a UTO envelope and write a check to represent their thankfulness. The money collected at All Saints’ is sent to the national UTO organization and distributed by grants to organization in the US and worldwide.
How to get involved:
….Contribute to the semiannual gatherings held at All Saints’ during May and November
….Please contact our parish liaison if you would like to find additional ways to support this ministry
Contact: Betty McCulloch at 967-7447, or bettym@mpowerministries.org.

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Evangelism and Outreach