St. George's Episcopal Church

Give Online
You are here: Home / Archives for Home Page / We Serve

We Serve

Grace in Action Commission for Outreach

by Leave a Comment

Grace in Action OutreachA name can tell you so much about a group or a place.  For the last two years, the St. George’s Outreach Commission has been discerning a new name.  Over the years, this Commission, which works with the community to address areas of need, has had many names – Mission, Evangelism, all reflecting the direction and emphasis of the Commission at that time.

Today, our Commission members find that the St. George’s Outreach Commission has been a powerful incubator for many strong non-profits in our area: Empowerhouse, Hope House, Big Brothers / Big Sisters and the Food Bank. The 2000’s have been a time of strong justice work with the Commission spending a great deal of time devoted to work of understanding the needs of our Community, how we learn about God’s grace through them and with them.  We have worked hard to move away from the language of “us” and “them” and “we have, you take”. We try to be a place where all who reach out find a hand to shake, an ear to listen, hearts to share the work.  We also want to be the ones reaching out – listening deeply to the needs and stories of our community and moving into the world together.

So, in February of 2018 we officially voted to change our name to Grace in Action.  The Committee members felt that reflects the work of this time – that it is by God’s Grace we are able to move in loving Action among and with our community, feeding, caring, working for justice for all God’s beloved.  Grace in Action encompasses much more than just The Table or the Community Dinners. Others around the table are Environmental Stewardship, Death Penalty work, Refugee support, Economic Justice and Deaf Ministries, Interfaith Ministries and Micah.  The conversations about the way our different lenses inform each other are rich and wide.

Responding to our baptismal call, we look to help our community of St. George’s understand more about the realities of those at the margins of our community, those in prison, and those without a voice.  We also look to work in those places, joining hands in solidarity and strength. We meet each month on the second Monday at 7 pm in Sydnor Hall.  All are welcome to join us and to offer thoughts on this journey.  Sometimes we are sharing updates, other times we have speakers to present.

We are a community of Action through God’s Grace.  Join us.

Contact Carey Connors for more information.

Become a Docent at St. George’s

by 1 Comment

Why I love being a docent – and you will too!

CBOae4UWsAEB0v9We are the only downtown church that has docents or tour guides for our historical building. It is part of the church’s outreach to those come who from all over the world and choose to come here.  And we have been doing the program for 40 years!

We do have the longest church history in the area so there are many stories available.  I try to find out why our visitors are here – Colonial history? Civil War? Stained glass windows? The architecture? What about historical pictures – like this 1927 picture by Frances B. Johnston? Maybe, it is just a place to rest on a hot summer day.   In the end, it is not how much you say but making a connection to that person for that short amount of time. While the focus is on the historical church, we emphasize that St. George’s history is still being made at the present time with all the programs the church has to offer.

In many historical sites you can’t touch the history. Hands off!  However, when they walk into St. George’s on the 1849 floors and touch the pews they are connecting with generations that have gone before them.  Yes, touch the windows, the plaques, the kneelers.  We want people to participate in the history that is before them.

What does it take to be a docent?  A love of the church, enthusiasm and willingness to come forward to meet and welcome visitors.  Some people tell me they can’t be docents because they don’t know any of our history. We have you covered – we have a docent’s manual written by our own Craig Rains plus guides for the church and graveyard, a 15 minute walking tour when the docents aren’t here and even a website. And, yes, it is ok to respond “I don’t know” to a question.  We have a congenial docent group who is gladly willing to help you out.

Typically a docent takes one 2-hour shift: 10-12 p.m. or 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on any day from Monday through Saturday during a week. We also have some docents who only exist as substitutes so they are not on the regular schedule.  We try to fit you in.

We are always looking at new ways to expand the program. In the past two years we have organized a history evening in the summer for the community.

Want to give it a try? Have a suggestion for a docent program?  Contact Ben Hicks,  540-373-4133.

 

St. George’s featured in Black History Month living history event

by Leave a Comment

Untold Stories of a Search for Freedom:

“Secret Codes, A Chatham Slave, and the Reverend Turner – Moments in Black History”

Friday, February 9, 2018, 6-9 p.m.
A $5 donation per person is greatly appreciated.

Tours are offered every 20 minutes beginning at 6:05 p.m, beginning at the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 308 Hanover Street, just inside the Charlotte Street entrance. Visitors will then walk to St. George’s Episcopal Church and then to Shiloh Baptist Church, New Site.

“Witness” three untold stories of African Americans during and after the Civil War as they searched for freedom and civil rights. Join in commemorating Black History Month by participating in a living history event presenting three different vignettes at three historic churches in downtown Fredericksburg.

To reserve a spot for a tour, please sign up at the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield’s website www.fowb.org, where you may request which tour you would like to take. Time slots for tours are: 6:05, 6:25, 6:45, 7:05, 7:25, and 7:45 P.M.  Please note that space is limited with only 25 spaces per tour, so signing up early is advised!

Parish Annual Meeting

by Leave a Comment

Save the date! We will be gathering at 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 10 in Sydnor Hall, open to all. Reflect on the blessings of the past year and dream about new opportunities before us. Voting for vestry members will take place at the meeting and also after the 7:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. services. We will announce the vestry nominees and give you more information about them in the next week or so.