Outreach » St. Martin's Episcopal Church

Share the gift of life: Red Cross blood drive Jan. 12

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Dec 292011

St. Martin’s will be hosting a blood drive Thursday, Jan. 12 from 3 till 7 p.m. Please consider donating blood to give the “gift of life” to those who need it. Volunteers are also needed to assist the American Red Cross at this event.

Please tell your friends and family about this event to help make it a success!

How to sign up:

- online: Go to the Red Cross website and use the sponsor code “stmartins.”

- in Park Hall: Find the sign-up sheet in our parish hall the next time you’re at church.

Donation times are at 15 minute intervals beginning at 3 p.m. and ending at 6:45 p.m.

Tips/rules for donating:

1. Anyone 17 and older can donate.

2. Medications do not prevent people from donating.

3. One-year cancer survivors as well as diabetics and people with high blood pressure are eligible.

4. Discontinue drinking tea 3 or 4 days ahead of donating as the tannins in it can block absorption of iron.

5. Drink lots of water.

6. Be sure to eat at regular meal time and drink plenty of fluids before donating.

For more information about this blood drive, please contact D’Arcy Elsperman.

Youth to serve Peace Meal Dec. 3

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Nov 292011

Did you know that St. Martin’s has sponsored 5 Peace Meals in 2011?

On Saturday, December 3rd, a group of high schoolers & parents will head down to St. John’s in Tower Grove to prepare and serve a free meal to people in the community. This weekly food ministry is run by St. John’s Episcopal Church & invites groups from Diocesan parishes to help prepare the meals.

Keep us in your prayers this weekend and stay tuned for pictures from the evening.

Want to get involved? Wayne Peters is our parish coordinator & is always looking for people to help.

Holiday Outreach Opportunities

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Nov 172011

by Alice McLaughlin

Saint Nicholas was born in the Middle East about 350 miles northwest of Bethlehem in the 4th century. Legends tell of his love for children, his kindness and the miracles he brought about. He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble.

Once again we have an opportunity share our love and kindness during this Holy Season. Here are a few ways you can help:

Saint Nicholas Gifts for Circle of Concern

Please stop by the display in our parish hall and select a gift tag for one of our adopted family members from Circle of Concern. Purchase a gift and return it wrapped by December 5. Please attach the tag to the gift box.

If you prefer to leave the shopping to the Outreach Committee, you can leave a monetary donation, with checks made out to St. Martin’s with St. Nicholas on the memo line.

Holiday Gifts for Episcopal City Mission

St. Martin’s Outreach Committee is also collecting new items for Episcopal City Mission to give to children in detention. Purchase an item from the suggested list below and return the unwrapped gift by December 15.

gloves
stocking caps
books (Bluford series recommended)
t-shirts or sweatshirts (adult L or XL)
basketball shorts (adult M,L, XL)
yoga pants (adult M, L, XL)
gift certificates from Wal-Mart, Target, Sports Authority
body wash, moisturizing lotion, hair gel (Ampro brand), Palmus cocoa butter, baby oil, TCB hair grease, Pantene hair products, lip balm
candy (for stocking stuffers)
games (chess, checkers, Scrabble, Monopoly, UNO, etc.)
newly-released PG-13 DVDs

Thank you for your generosity!

Thanksgiving food collection

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Nov 012011

St. Martin’s is collecting food for a special Thanksgiving donation to Circle of Concern’s food pantry. Please bring your donations to church no later than Sunday, Nov. 6.

Circle of Concern is asking for any or all of the following items:

flour
sugar
chocolate chips
spices
boxes of stuffing
cranberry sauce
disposable pans
muffin mix
canned yams
vegetables
pumpkin pie filling
evaporated milk
non-refrigerated pie shells
turkey gravy
canned fruit
cake mixes
frosting

Circle of Concern feeds the hungry and provides long-term and emergency assistance to low-income families living in western St. Louis County. Visit their website to learn more about their good work.

Thank you for your contributions!

UTO ingathering: Nov. 20

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Nov 012011

Sunday, Nov. 20 is the next ingathering for United Thank Offering. Please plan to bring your UTO box with you to church with any money you’ve collected. All Sunday school children received boxes to collect donations, but the entire parish is encouraged to participate (extra boxes are available in the Narthex).

UTO is a ministry for the mission of the whole church. Through this good-will offering, men, women and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. The money we give supports missions and ministries throughout the Episcopal Church. By participating, we can discover that thankfulness leads to generosity.

Give a little, help a lot….

The UTO collection is sponsored by St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Women.

Collections for Joplin

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Sep 152011

St. Martin’s Youth Ministries is teaming up with the Outreach Committee to collect targeted items for a “Give-A-Way” at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Joplin. This effort will be in lieu of our annual coat drive in honor of St. Martin. Please drop off any of the following items in Park Hall, now through October 9:

new and gently-used winter coats
blankets
Halloween costumes and decorations
Christmas ornaments and decorations
Christmas trees
new, unwrapped Christmas gifts for children and youth

For more information, please contact Director of Youth Ministries Heidi Gioia.

Reflections from Joplin

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Aug 262011

Five St. Martin’s members traveled to Joplin, Missouri in July on a weekend mission trip with the Diocesan Youth Group. Steve Gillies shares his experiences helping to clean-up the area that was devastated by a tornado earlier this summer.

by Steve Gillies

When Heidi Gioia made the request to the congregation for adult volunteers for the Diocesan Mission trip to Joplin, I don’t know why, but I knew I wanted to go. I told my wife Susan I wanted to help and she said she felt the same way.