MINISTRY TO OTHERS
Outreach
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands but yours, No feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ's compassion must look out on the world.
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.
Prayer attributed to St. Teresa of Avila
This poem says it all. All of us want to make a difference in this life, and many do it through generosity and good works. The church is in a position to organize these efforts and become the vehicle through which one person can join with others to reach effective goals, to actually change lives and make a real difference. Join us in one of these programs. The rewards are great - a sense of purpose, joy and well-being, and happy times working with others who become friends in a special way.
Meals on Wheels
Contact: Gail Marshall 363-6611, gdm33@earthlink.net
Deliver meals to York residents who need a hot meal each day. Seven churches in town participate in this ecumenical effort by delivering meals for one week out of seven. Five teams of two people each deliver the meals during the week St. George's is scheduled: a commitment of about two hours (11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) every seven weeks.
Table of Plenty
Contact: Karen Gilroy 363-3904, kgilroy@maine.rr.com
Help prepare and serve a meal at the First Parish Church to those in need. One Tuesday evening every eight weeks St. George's sends a team to prepare, cook, serve and clean up a wholesome meal for 50-100 people. For each meal we need a team of five cooks, six servers, three dishwashers, three set-up people and two clean-up people. We also ask for some cooks to prepare desserts or parts of the meal at home ahead of time to simplify preparation. A sign up-sheet with the various team jobs is hung in the church two weeks before each meal. Time commitment varies from 1/2 hour to maximum of four hours.
York Community Food Pantry
Contact: Kate Ford, 363-3454, krmford@aol.com
Collect food and monetary donations and deliver to the food pantry, which serves area families in need of assistance. Volunteers can also assist in the unpacking and distribution of items on Thursdays. Two hours a month to gather and deliver donations from St. George's.
Habitat for Humanity York County
Contact: Liz Reisz 363-2267, EReisz@aol.com
Work to build housing in partnership with needy families with this action-oriented group. Volunteers can serve in fundraising and communications, family selection and partnership, site selection and building, and positions on the Board of Directors. Commitment can be ongoing with Habitat committees and leadership and/or on specific construction projects.
Pastoral Care & Hospitality
Pastoral Care
Contact: Pauline Cashman 363-5619, cside@maine.rr.com
The Pastoral Care Coordinator facilitates communication and coordination among the various subministries of Pastoral Care at St. George's (Hospitality Ministry, LEMs, Prayer Chain, Hospital Visitation Ministry, Pastoral Visitors) to make sure all pastoral care needs are met.
Pastoral Visitors
Contact: Pauline Cashman 363-5619, cside@maine.rr.com
Pastoral Visitors visit those who are shut in, permanently or temporarily, those who are undergoing an emotional crisis, those who are physically handicapped; or those who do not or cannot come to church regularly but wish contact with a member of the church.
Hospitality Ministry
Contacts: Hospitality Coordinator: Pauline Cashman 363-5619, cside@maine.rr.com
Funeral/Memorial service receptions-Marti Santoro 363-5526, marti@maine.rr.com; Peter Blanchard, 363-1369, pblancha@maine.rr.com
Emergency food delivery- Pauline Cashman 363-5619, cside@maine.rr.com; Peter Blanchard, 363-1369, pblancha@maine.rr.com
Delivery of Altar flowers-Charlotte Hefford 363-9770, chefford@maine.rr.com
Sending cards-Linda Perkins, 363-6365, lnd978@aol.com
Newcomers & Nametags-Marcia Williams 646-2660, rwilli2@maine.rr.com; Pat Kriensky, 641-2246, pkriensky@verizon.net; Pauline Cashman 363-5619, cside@maine.rr.com
Assist parishioners with emergency needs and to help celebrate and observe the joys and sorrows of our lives together at St. George's. Provide food for those who are just home from hospital, have an illness or other emergency. "Meals in a bag" are prepackaged, nonperishable foods assembled by volunteers that make an easy-to-prepare meal. Coordinate receptions following funerals. Families select and pay for food from a menu that Hospitality provides and volunteers set up, serve and clean up following the reception. Coordinate the delivery of altar flowers to parishioners for special occasions or at times of illness or confinement to home. A carnation is placed on the altar to honor families with newborn children and grandchildren. Send cards at times of celebration, illness or bereavement to remember shut-in parishioners. Prepare and deliver wonderful homemade soup to comfort parishioners in need of "soup for the soul" during difficult times. Welcome newcomers with a packet of information about St. George's and a loaf of homemade bread. Follow up with newcomers to help them find their place at St. George's. The committee is co-chaired by Marti Santoro, Marj Esau, Charlotte Hefford, Eve Barrett, and Pauline Cashman. A number of volunteers help out regularly. Volunteers are always welcome to join in this wonderful ministry. Just contact the church office and indicate a desire to help, or contact the church office to let the clergy know of a particular need within St. George's Church.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors and Lay Eucharistic Volunteers
Contact: Marj Esau, 646-3062, marellesau@yahoo.com
The role of the Lay Eucharistic Visitor (LEV) is to assist the Rector by bringing the sacrament of Holy Communion to those confined to their homes, nursing homes or the hospital. LEVs are licensed by the Bishop of Maine after a training period. A self-scheduled LEV visit usually lasts between a half-hour and an hour. There are quarterly meetings, held when necessary, that last approximately two hours. We also have LEV Volunteers who accompany the LEV on a visit and participate in the service. A one-hour orientation is provided before the first visit. This ministry requires approximately one hour a month.
Hospital Visitation Ministry
Contact: the Rev. James H. Gambrill 363-7814, jgambril@maine.rr.com; the Rev. Sudie Blanchard, sblanchard@stgeorgesyorkharbor.org
Visit Episcopalians (whether St. George's members or not) who are in York Hospital (will go to other hospitals upon request).
Prayer Chain
Contact: Bette Pollock 363-5256, bette.pollock@verizon.net or parish office 363-7376, office@stgeorgesyorkharbor.org
Pray daily for the sick and shut-in members of St. George's and their friends. The Prayer Chain keeps in touch by telephone and answers prayer requests.
Transportation of People to Services (TOPS)
Contact: Ted Little 363-7527, elittle004@aol.com
Allow homebound, wheelchair-bound, and disabled parishioners to attend services by driving them to church in your car or in a provided van fitted for wheelchairs. Forty-five minutes before and after services.
