Outreach Ministries Committee
About the Committee
Statement of Purpose
Recognizing ourselves to be rooted in God’s love, we will seek opportunities to bring awareness to our congregation about the ways in which we can reach out, serve, support and strengthen those in need in our local, regional, national and global communities.
Through our ministry, we will strive to become informed about social issues on all levels as we work in partnership with other agencies offering services and resources for anyone who is struggling.
Matthew 25, v. 40: Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Goals
To educate the St. Paul’s congregation about and encourage participation in the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada
To support ongoing congregational outreach initiatives
To engage with the local community in ongoing community projects
To seek opportunities to serve and strengthen those in need of support, either physically or emotionally, by offering tangible means for hope, comfort and protection
To foster discussion and visioning for St. Paul’s regarding new initiatives in outreach to the local community
To inspire meaning and purpose by enhancing the visibility of our church within the community
Upcoming Outreach Ministries Events
St. Paul’s 2025 Lenten Project
As we know all too well, some things have been more difficult since the pandemic – the economy has fluctuated, interest rates were higher for a period of time, there have been supply chain issues and the prices for groceries and other necessities have risen. All of this has created increased challenges and stress for parents struggling to raise their children without regular or sufficient employment as well as adults or seniors on fixed incomes.
The tariffs that may be imposed on our country by the American government will increase financial difficulties, the challenge of providing healthy food for children, and may result in loss of employment. Because of this, the organizations that offer support to low income, underemployed, or otherwise vulnerable people will also be challenged to “do more with less”.
Over the next six weeks in Lent, our congregation will have opportunities to donate Canadian-made products for the Caldwell Family Centre (CFC) to support their Food Bank and/or their meal programs.
The hope is to support children and their families who may experience food insecurity while at the same time supporting our Canadian farmers and manufacturers by only buying Canadian products that are labelled as a “Product of Canada” (as this means a 98% likelihood of all-Canadian ingredients).
Each week the chart will let you know the donation request for the upcoming week. Next week the donation request will be Canadian apples. These can be used in the food bank as well as in the children’s meal programs.
The donation requests for upcoming weeks include Canadian dairy (financial donations please), PEI or other Canadian potatoes or Canadian carrots, Canadian beef (again, financial donations please), Canadian-made baby items, as well as tinned vegetables of any kind. These items will be collected in a basket at the front of the sanctuary.
If you choose to make a financial donation, please mark your offering clearly as “Lenten Project”.
We thank you for your ongoing support!
Ongoing Local Community Support Programs
West Carleton Food Access Centre
Matthew House: Annual donation event
Past Events & Fundraisers
Regional
On Thanksgiving Sunday, October 13 2024 and World Food Sunday, October 20 2024, donations were made to the children’s meal program sponsored by the Caldwell Family Centre. 141 meals were supplied through the support of the St. Paul’s congregation.
Caldwell Family Centre (Lent 2024)
Ottawa Mission + West Carleton Food Access Centre (Advent 2023)
Ottawa Mission (Lent 2022)
As an Advent project 2023, numerous hand knitted items were delivered to the Ottawa Mission and the West Carleton Food Access Centre.
National
2024: Some members from Outreach Ministries attended an indigenous event in Carp recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Our church services each Sunday begin with an acknowledgement of the lands on which we are situated as unceded lands of the Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples.
Canadian Foodgrains Bank (Lent 2023)
First Nations awareness/activities, including trips to Madahoki Farm, began early in 2021 and continue. This later expanded to include a weekly Land Acknowledgement as of April 2022.
Visits to Madahoki Farm in Fall 2023 and Summer 2024
Global
United Church “Gifts of Hope” projects have been promoted during Advent (2021: Olive trees; 2022: Kindergarten in a Refugee Camp; 2023: Aid for Displaced Persons).
Aid for Displaced Persons:
The Committee selected this project for the 2023 Advent season from the United Church “Gifts with Vision” brochure. Information was provided to the congregation regarding families in many parts of the world who had to flee the safety and security of their homes due to the impact of war, famine or natural disasters. Cardboard figures, each representing a $10 donation, were hung on a garland in the sanctuary during December 2023. A total of $920 was raised for this worthwhile project.
World Food Sunday:
World Food Sunday 2024 was recognized by a ration meal being served to the congregation after the church service. A ration meal is a 1/2 daily serving consisting of lentils or beans, rice, one flat bread and water. Global hunger is increasing and in excess of 783 million people in areas of famine are forced to survive on these daily portions. Conflict, climate change causing drought and flooding, and war are major causes of so many facing global hunger.
Golf Tournament for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation:
A partnership between St. Paul’s United Church and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral was formed to organize a charity golf event in support of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. The tournament took place on August 27, 2022 at the Edgewood Links course on Dunrobin Road, in West Carleton.
70 golfers and 65 diners registered for the event and were treated to a Ukrainian themed dinner and music. $25,277.58 was raised for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for medical aid and services with the greatest need.
August 2022 golf tournament for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation
Christmas Concert for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation:
A Christmas concert fundraiser was held at St. Paul’s United Church on November 27, 2022, and raised $1,280 for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for medical aid and services with the greatest need.