Outreach at St. Margaret's

The Outreach Committee endeavors to live up to these guiding principles:

• Follow Christ's example of love and service to those in need.
• Nurture relationships and involvement.
• Give a portion of parishioners' financial offering to ministries both near and far.

The Outreach Committee is comprised of volunteers who have a passion for helping others and share that passion with the rest of the parish. New members are always welcome. Contact the committee for more information, outreach@saintmargarets.org.

What Does a 'Missional' Church Look Like?

Bishop Greg Rickel suggested that parishes in the Diocese of Olympia read the book Missional Renaissance by Reggie McNeal for Lent 2010. The author defines a “missional” church as one with an external focus, where people not programs are emphasized. To see a "missional" church in action, check out St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas: http://episcopalchurch.org/multimedia/jubilee/.

Featured Outreach: Congregations for Kids

Each year we help Congregations for Kids collect school supplies and backpacks to help more than 1,400 Bellevue students have a good start heading back to school.

Our ingathering this year will be July 18 to Aug. 8 -- be on the lookout for back to school sales! Here is a list of supplies they need: C4Ksupplies.pdf

Outreach Ministries

Here are some of the ministries our Outreach Committee sponsors:

• Emergency Feeding Program

  Parishioners bring food to church to be donated to the needy. The food is blessed during church services and delivered to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church for packing and delivery. Learn more at http://www.emergencyfeeding.org.

• Crossroad Meals

  Parishioners prepare dinner and serve it once a month to the hungry at the Salvation Army Center in the Crossroads area. Help is always welcome! Contact crossroads@saintmargarets.org.

• Eastside Baby Corner

  Each Mother's Day we collect supplies and funds for this organization that provides clothing, baby furniture, baby food, diapers and other supplies to needy Eastside families. Learn more at http://www.babycorner.org.

• Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council (EISCC)

  The Outreach Committee has a representative to this organization that supports programs to help the needy, homeless, elderly, handicapped, emotionally disturbed and others in our community. Broader social justice issues are also addressed. Learn more at http://www.eiscc.net.

• Congregations for the Homeless

  During the month of September, St. Margaret's opens its doors to homeless men in our community. Parishioners provide meals, laundry and companionship to the men who arrive every evening for food and shelter. Volunteers shop for supplies, provide dinners, bake cookies, make lunches, wash towels and make the men feel at home. Learn more at http://www.cfhomeless.org.

• Congregations for Kids

  Through Congregations for Kids’ Good Start Back to School annual summer project, we help provide backpacks and school supplies for more than 1,400 students in the Bellevue School District. Learn more at http://www.congregations4kids.org.

• Crop Walk

  Each spring, parishioners raise money and participate in this ecumenical event to fight hunger all over the world, including our local community. Learn more at http://www.churchworldservice.org.

• Mission to Seafarers

  We support this ministry of the Anglican Church to care for the spiritual and practical welfare of all seafarers. During the Christmas season, a ditty bag filled with toiletries, warm gloves and hats, as well as a pocket-size Gospel, is given to each seaman who visits the Seattle area. Learn more at http://www.missiontoseafarers.org.

• Bridge Ministries

  Each month, this ministry invites people with disabilities to a social gathering, where they are offered companionship, activities and food. Learn more at http://www.bridgemin.org.

• Alternative Christmas Market

  Outreach Committee members provide a venue for parishioners to buy gifts that make a difference, supporting ministries such as Church World Service, Heifer Project International, Episcopal Relief and Development, NetsforLife, and our partner medical mission in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

• Christmas Giving Tree

  Parishioners are invited to buy gifts of toys and clothing for children of farm workers at Iglesia Episcopal de la Resurreccion in Mt. Vernon, Wash.

• Emergency Voucher Program

  Parishioners buy packets with bus tickets, McDonald's meal coupons and a card with information about St. Margaret's to give to street people and others in need.

• United Thank Offerings (UTO)

  Many keep the discipline of dropping coins in their UTO collection boxes when they when they want to thank God for their blessings. Those coins add up, and we collect them periodically for the outreach mission of the Episcopal Church. Learn more at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/uto.htm.

Funding for Outreach

The Outreach Committee uses funds from sales at our Thrift Shop, the church's annual budget and special ingatherings to support and encourage outreach in the community, the region, and in the world. A small percentage of interest from our Endowment fund is also set aside for outreach.