At St. Stephen, you can find opportunities to serve the community through various mission outreach projects. Whether it’s just one time or a sustained commitment, there’s a place for you to connect with others while serving.
Consider which of these opportunities best utilizes your talents, and sign-up today!
Matt Loynachan has provided us with an update on Room In the Inn. Here’s what’s going on and an update on where we can use more help.
1. Because of our high sack lunch counts these past few months, our inventory of granola bars and applesauce is running low. If you are able pick up some items next time you are shopping, it would be appreciated. Please save your receipts and turn them in for reimbursement. If you have any questions, please contact Matt or Mike.
2. PNS is in need of sheets, towels and blankets. Sheets and blankets should be twin size. Gently used and laundered is fine. We will continue to collect these items in the bin outside the office door, and we will deliver them to PNS on our sack lunch delivery dates.
3. Even though RITI has finished for the winter session, we are still collecting men’s washable pants and jeans for our guests. While we welcome all sizes, we are particularly in need of larger size pants (36-42 waist).
We also get a lot of requests for small backpacks and rolling suitcases and hooded sweatshirts and tennis shoes. We especially need shoes sizes 11-14.
Our rep. at the Presbyterian Night Shelter has even expressed the need for larger shoe sizes.
Please place your donations in the bin outside the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Matt.
4. Please remember that RITI will start back up in July. If you would like to know how to participate this during the summer session, please contact Mike for more details.
5. We are collecting toilet paper and toiletries for our friends at Quail Trail. If you can pick up an extra package of toilet paper or travel size toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant etc next time you go shopping, we will have a drop off spot by the PNS tables in the Narthex of Parish Hall or you can leave them in the bin outside the church office. If you have any questions please contact Mike.
6. Once again we are in need of boxes. We have used a lot over the past two months for the sack lunches and book drive. Medium size boxes (something in the neighborhood of 18 x 24) work the best. You can leave them in the Parish Hall Narthex (the church office on Day School days) or I will be happy to get them out of your car on Thursday or Sunday mornings.
7. We held another tour of PNS this past week. These tours are a great way to increase the understanding of the mission and operations of PNS. If you have not been on a tour or if you would like to go again, please let Matt know. We are very flexible on times and we can accommodate most schedules. Please remember to place your name and sandwich counts on your bread wrappers. This helps us plan for our other items we put in the lunches. If you need more stickers, please contact Mike.
Once a month, St. Stephen Presbyterian Church prepares and delivers approximately 400 sack lunches to the Presbyterian Night Shelter to help feed their guests and staff.
St. Stephen is active in various denominational mission opportunities and makes regular financial contributions to Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Causes; Grace Presbytery Mission Support; Synod of the Sun educational and leadership mission; the Christmas Joy Offering; One Great Hour of Sharing; and the Theological Education Fund.
We also regularly announce ways to participate in Presbyterian Disaster Relief funding for regions of the world in critical need of funding.
St. Stephen is part of the Samaritan House Supper Club, a way for faith communities to provide a home-cooked meal for the residents of Samaritan House. On the third Friday of each month we prepare and serve dinner to the residents, all of whom are affected by HIV/AIDS and need the housing and other services provided by Samaritan House. Your donation can help provide a meal by selecting “Samaritan House Supper Club” under the “FUND” drop down menu (see the “Donate” button on home page) OR mail a check to the church.
• We also provide Easter Baskets filled with bunnies, goodies, and gift cards to various children in need via the Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services network.