Giving Blog

Why We Give — Russ Carter

September 28, 2017 by St. George's Leave a Comment

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION: WHY DO YOU GIVE?

Since its inception, I have been blessed to be a healing prayer minister on Sunday mornings. During my time as a healing prayer minister, my faith has been both strengthened and challenged. I have been enriched by the gift of Love in bringing God’s comfort to my fellow St. Georgians. At times, I am emotionally and psychologically upset for what we pray, but even in these times of uncertainty, we can feel the strong presence of the Holy Spirit embracing both the prayer recipient and me. I have been truly blessed as a healing prayer minister at St. George’s. — Russ Carter

Sharing Our Talents

September 24, 2017 by St. George's Leave a Comment

Are you good at planning? Writing? Are you artistic? Are you a “detail” person or an “idea” person? What are you best at? Tithing your talent—talent given to you by God—is yet another way to give back to God and contribute to your faith community. In my role as a volunteer at St. George’s, I consider what I have to offer not exactly a talent but more of doing things that I love to do, like entertaining, organizing, meeting new people, making people feel welcome, inviting new people in. This week alone I have given over 50 hours of my time to one of my happy places from which I receive so much. As I look around St. George’s, I see talent everywhere. Won’t you share some of this talent with us?

—Jan Meredith, Director of Membership, Fellowship, and Newcomers

“What’s My Ministry?” Adult Forum for Oct. 1

September 22, 2017 by St. George's 1 Comment

Sunday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Sydnor Hall

Stewardship is about giving of time and talent as well as money. This interactive event will give parishioners a chance to share about the ministries they love and inquire about ministries they’d like to know more about.

Imagine sitting around tables in Sydnor Hall with a few other people, talking, networking and sharing. “What’s a ministry that I would like to tell others about?” “What’s a ministry that I would like to know more about?” Then move to a new table group a few minutes later and begin the process again. Over the hour, we will have a chance to interact with lots of different people. If someone is interested in a particular ministry, someone else might say, “hey, you need to talk with…and point them out.” The process will be guided by our stewardship commission. We hope it will be a fun and effective way to share about ministry and discern how to offer your time and talents.

My Time: The Table

September 14, 2017 by St. George's Leave a Comment

The Table opened its market style format in late January 2012. We had a group of volunteers who basically sat at the Food Bank on Mondays, sorting through boxes and the cooler looking for the healthiest foods they could find. The evening session opened in September 2013. We doubled our budget and started purchasing fresh produce from the Flores farm. Along the way, we started gleaning at five Wawa’s, a Jimmy John’s, and two Paneras. In 2016, we served more than 22,000 people and had a budget of $50,000. The Table has approximately 50 volunteers involved every Tuesday – half of whom are shoppers and non-St. Georgians.

Running The Table takes an enormous amount of time – more than one person can handle. Last year, we started to transition to a “board” with designated people running key areas. I think everyone realized just how much work was involved with running The Table when I fractured my elbow this past spring. All of a sudden, people were needed to open The Table in the morning and organize setting up. Leftover produce needed to be distributed to other pantries. Boxes needed to get back to the Food Bank. New volunteers needed to be added. Groups wanting to donate time and food had to be coordinated. Supplies needed to be ordered and purchased. And then there was the recordkeeping so necessary for grant writing. I could still do that one handed.

This week I will put in 30 to 40 hours picking up donations, maintaining records, having meetings with other agencies and food pantries, and physically moving donations around. Why is this work so important to me? Because no one should go hungry. I have seen the horrendous impact that divorce, job loss, medical emergencies, accidents have on people who are already stretched thin. Fast food is cheaper and easier than a healthy salad or vegetables, but it adds to medical issues. Thanks to a dedicated group of grant writers and donors, The Table will continue to prosper and send healthy food out in to neighborhoods that are currently underserved. I plan to be with them!