Outreach

“Outreach” is the name for the witness Christians bear to Christ by living lives of loving service in the wider community. Its beating heart is worship, and so the primary witness we bear to Christ is offering of public worship on Sundays and weekdays, and in the proclamation of his gospel to the world: “Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavily laden, and I will refresh you”  — Matthew 11:28

 

Current Outreach Opportunities


It is the outpouring of God’s love for us that inspires the true meaning of Christian Outreach. This is where our engagement with the wider community begins, and outside of worship, it takes many forms, some of which are mentioned here:

Refugee Family Outreach (Summer 2023)


The Outreach committee is looking for summer volunteers to help St. John’s sponsored refugee family with transportation and language skills.

Transportation: This summer, the school-age children will be participating in an enrichment program at Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. It will last for 2 weeks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday (May 31 to June 16). They need volunteers who can assist with driving the children, for drop off and pick up.

Language Skills: Volunteers are needed to assist the family with their language skills. It is especially meaningful for the children to continue practicing over the summer. No experience or special training is needed.

If you are called to help this summer, please contact Melanie Summerell at 912-777-2376 or mfsummerell51@gmail.com.

Fresh Air Home on Tybee Island

Donate Housekeeping Supplies: St. John’s Outreach Committee is collecting housekeeping supplies for the Fresh Air Home. These supplies will help them prepare for their summer campers and keep things tidy all summer.

You may purchase items locally and drop them off in the collection bin in the Cranmer Hall lobby. You may also choose to purchase items via the Amazon Wish List at www.stjohnssav.org/serve/outreach and have those items shipped directly to the Finnegan Family who will deliver all donations in May. If you have any questions, please email Melanie Finnegan.

Sew Pillowcases: Do you enjoy sewing? Our Parish Outreach Committee is also looking for members who enjoy sewing to help them make pillowcases for the children at the Fresh Air Home this summer. If you are interested, please contact Nita Ann Klein at (912) 658-1005 or nak618@gmail.com.

Help Tutor Students (Ongoing)

Our friends at Urban Hope continue to need tutors from 3-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays for students ranging from first through the eighth grade. This is a great opportunity for high school students to volunteer as well. You may volunteer any day of the week for any amount of time you are available. Tutors will need a background check, which may be obtained by calling Trey with Sullivan Staffing at 912-352-3800.

If you would like to learn more, please contact Matthew Sparks for more information at sparksmjw@gmail.com.

 

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Pack Bags of Food for Local Children
1st & 3rd Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m.


The last PACKing day for this school year is Wednesday, May 17. We’ll pack bags and then have our Volunteer Thank You Dinner.

Parishioners of all ages are invited to join this intergenerational fellowship… New faces are always welcome! Volunteers from St. John’s pack bags at P.A.C.K.’s facility on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Volunteers pack bags from 4:30-5:30 p.m. with time to restock from 5:30-6 p.m. Note that all children must be accompanied by at least one parent.

To learn more about this wonderful outreach opportunity, email Emiline Baxter at emilinebaxter@gmail.com.

Sponsor a Child or Cabinet

If you are unable to pack bags, you may choose to sponsor a year’s worth of food for one child by donating $200, or $1,000 to sponsor an emergency cabinet. You may make donations to St. John’s Church with “PACK” written in the memo or you may donate directly to PACK’s website. The number of children who are helped each year is directly connected to the funds they are able to raise. Your generosity is deeply appreciated!

Parishioners in Outreach Video Series

The Outreach Committee of St. John’s Church has been highlighting parishioners talking about the organizations they support with volunteer service. We have over fifteen videos (and counting) in this series. If you haven’t had an opportunity to view all of these videos, we encourage you to hear what others in our parish are doing in the community. You may learn about an organization you never knew existed or be inspired to volunteer yourself.

To watch more videos in this series, visit our YouTube channel playlist.

For ways to get involved in our Outreach, contact us at aterry@stjohnssav.org.