OFM

ORGANIZING FOR MISSION

ORGANIZING FOR MISSION

This past year St.  Stephens participated in Bishop Waggoner’s “Organizing for Mission” project.  The goal of our team was to educate and motivate members of our parish to share 0.7% of their income to help alleviate hunger.

The St. Stephens committee:

  • Dianne Earll, Team coordinator;
  • Deb Chorley, Faith Formation coordinator;
  • Molly Cline, Communications coordinator;
  • Joan Craig,  Education coordinator; and
  • Steve Ferrell, Financial coordinator.

The committee decided that it was important to focus on groups in the community that actually fed people.  To educate the parish, the team set up various meetings with individual groups such as Altar guild, Glastonbury, Book Club, and Women in Ministry.  We also coordinated a kick-off Sunday at the coffee hour on the first Sunday in Lent.  We had a table and representatives at the coffee hours during Lent.  Based on the above criteria, the committee hosted a series of speakers from the community for our Wednesday evening Lenten program.  We heard from representatives of Crosswalk, Mid-City Concerns, Shalom Ministries, Women’s & Children’s Free Restaurant, and Holy Trinity Dinner Table at our soup suppers.  The funds that were donated at each supper were donated to the agency for that evening.  We learned a great deal about the face of hunger in our community.

The children of the Parish participated by selling pretzels during the Sunday morning coffee hours in Lent; the proceeds were donated to the OFM campaign.

At the Bishop's visit, which was also hosted during Lent, the parish heard his personal narrative and vision for OFM, and information about El Hogar, the Episcopal school and farm in Honduras, which will receive 50% of the monies raised by the Diocese.  On the remaining Sundays of Lent, one of the five committee members shared a personal narrative each week.

The participation from the congregation was wonderful.  The majority of the congregation (about 92 people) participated, sharing $17,219.

The committee would like to thank all members of the parish who helped make this program a success.  Many parishioners who were not committee members also contributed their time and talent to assist the committee, so thanks to all of you as well.

We had a great team!

Dianne Earll, Team Coordinator