Ministry of Reaching Outward
“And the king will answer them, ‘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.’” Matthew 25:40
Jesus teaches us to live with outstretched arms. If our faith is alive then we are continuously reaching out to those who are suffering or in need. Our parish family is dedicated to serving Christ by serving others.
MORROW FUND
In 1938, Ethel Morrow established a charitable trust in her will. The income is to be used to relieve the “suffering of the old and destitute of any color or faith.” We are currently investigating the best ways to use this financial resource to help meet the needs of the elderly in our parish and community. Your ideas and participation are welcomed, as well as contributions to the fund.
Contact: Michael Cochran (270-442-8347)
COMPASSION FUND
Inspired by the Morrow Fund, the Compassion Fund was created in 1998 to offer assistance to persons of any age. Contributions are welcome at any time.
Contact: Financial Secretary Trish Hines (270-443-1363)
TO GO BAGS
People in need of assistance are referred to Paducah Cooperative Ministry or other community organizations equipped to help with major needs. However, as part of our mission of hospitality to strangers, we maintain a stock of “To Go Bags” to give to those who stop by in search of help. Your donations of toiletries, snacks such as granola bars or crackers and cheese, new socks, and lunch bags are needed to create these gifts. What a great way to put to good use the miniature containers of soap and shampoo you bring home from trips!
Contact: Carol Ann Narozniak (270-443-9979),
Sherry Threlkeld (270- 443-1363)
PADUCAH COOPERATIVE MINISTRY
PCM is an ecumenical community ministry of “Doing God’s Work With Human Hands.” Established in 1973 and supported by over 48 area congregations from nearly every denomination, PCM programs and services include a homeless shelter for single adults and families, an emergency food pantry, financial assistance for urgent needs, and much more. Grace Church has for many years been a significant partner in this ministry, providing year-round financial assistance and food pantry donations. Each year, Grace Church sponsors a Christmas party for residents of the homeless shelter and parishioners provide gifts for those whose wishes are on the Giving Tree. Volunteers are needed as office assistants and drivers and for special events and Eagle Scout projects.
Contact: Board Member Greg Baur (270-443-8330),
Parish Representatives Vickie Pittard (270-554-7259) and
Elayne Zellmer (270- 442-2166),
PCM Executive Director Heidi Suhrheinreich (270-442-6795)
PROJECT FRESH START
The Fresh Start Transition House is a 3,000 square foot single story building that is the former home of the Army Reserve Medical Detachment Unit. Women, especially those just released from prison, need a place where they are valued so they can learn to value themselves. The Fresh Start Program will give them a fair chance to return to the community without their past haunting them at every step. They will, in every sense of the phrase, be given their own fresh start in life. Their futures will include strengthened relationships and reunification with their children, families and friends. Grace Church is supporting the Fresh Start program by adopting a room to furnish. We have chosen the “Common Room” and are currently seeking donations of furniture and decorations. As the Fresh Start program continues to grow and develop, Grace Church will be seeking new ways to support this important new
ministry. With God’s help, renewal and rebirth are possible. By serving
those involved in the Fresh Start program, we are serving God’s promise
of “New Life to All.”
Contact: The Rev. Meghan Holland (270-705-6252)
UNITED THANK OFFERING
UTO was created by the women of the Episcopal Church in the late 19th century as a fund to assist in developing the Church and its ministry at home and throughout the world. Paducah Cooperative Ministry was jump-started more than 25 years ago with a hefty UTO Grant. While Grace has not participated in UTO offerings in several years, if there is interest, we could begin again.
Contact: Mary Louise Katterjohn (270-442-8560)
GIVING TREE
At the beginning of Advent, we decorate a Christmas tree with names and needs of people in the community. Our challenge is to un-decorate the tree to the glory of God to fulfill these holiday wishes.
Contact: Laura Taylor (270-220-2669)
COMMUNITY KITCHEN
A free meal for those in need is served every day in downtown Paducah. Grace is involved with the Sunday Community Kitchen at Broadway United Methodist Church (701 Broadway). Different groups from Grace provide and serve the meal. We hope to continue to include even more groups and individuals in this holy work during the next year. We are responsible for about 10-12 Sundays each year. Please feel free to volunteer yourself or your group.
Contact: Julia Schaberg (270-442-3184), The Rev. Richard Paxton (270- 442-3857)
SEAMEN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE
With the establishment of a center here in Paducah, we became involved in the ministry of caring for those whose work lives are spent on the river. We assist with the creation of gift boxes at Christmas and Easter and with other special projects. The Chapel at Seamen’s Church Institute is affiliated with Grace Church.
Contact: The Rev. Kempton Baldridge, Chaplain (270-575-1005)
KNITTING MINISTRY
Knitting caps and scarves for the Seamen’s Church Institute or residents of PCM’s Homeless Shelter has long been a fulfilling project for several individuals in our congregation. A “Prayer Shawl” Ministry has now been developed where knitted shawls are blessed at the altar before being given to those in need of warmth and comfort. Are you interested in getting together occasionally with other knitters to work on any of these projects?
Contact: Coordinator Needed
QUILT LUNCHEON
The Quilt Luncheon is held each year on the Friday of the Paducah quilt show, usually the last week of April. Proceeds from the event benefit both inreach and outreach projects of Grace Church. The co-chairs are the overall planners for the event with assistance from others in planning the menu, collecting and hanging the quilts, setting up the dining area, publicizing the luncheon, and taking advance reservations. Church volunteers prepare and donate the food.
Contact: 2011 Co-Chairs Genie Drossos (270-443-1297), Peggy Henney (270-415-5539)
READING CAMP
The goal is to help second through fourth-grade children improve their literacy skills and become more confident students in a fun summer day camp setting. Following a successful model developed by the Diocese of Lexington, we offered our first Reading Camp in 2009. Reading Camp 2012 has been scheduled for July 16-20. We also offer several follow-up activities for campers during the school year. Many volunteers are needed each year to ensure the camp’s success. Contributions may be made to the Reading Camp Fund at any time.
Contact: Coordinator Dabney Haugh (270-442-2163), The Rev. Libby Wade (270-443-1363)
DIABETES WALK
This outreach opportunity is for anyone interested in participating in the annual Four Rivers Walk to Cure Diabetes. The 1st Four Rivers Walk to Cure Diabetes was in 2009 at Noble Park with over 1,000 walkers raising over $97,000 for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Ways to get involved are to volunteer on walk day or before, organize your own team to walk and raise money, join an existing team, and make/collect donations. The 2012 Walk is scheduled for June 9.
Contact: Parish Liaisons Ashley and Tom Shadoan (270-534-0667, ashleyshadoan@comcast.net, tomshadoan@bellsouth.net)
HEARTLAND CARES
Heartland Cares is a local agency providing a comprehensive continuum of care for HIV clients and providing prevention education and outreach to the community at large. In 2010, Grace hosted a vigil service in honor of World AIDS Day. From time to time, there are other ways to help.
Contact: Heartland Cares Executive Director Sue Fenske (270-444-8183 or 877-444-8183 toll-free), www.hcares.org
REPAIR AFFAIR
Paducah’s Repair Affair brings together churches, businesses, contractors, and individuals to help low-income homeowners with critical repairs. It is organized by the local non-profit Midtown Alliance of Neighbors with main work days in the spring and fall. Donations and volunteers are always needed.
Contact: The Rev. Richard Paxton (270-442-3857)
PROJECT HOPE
The motto of this no-kill animal shelter in Metropolis is “saving the world—one dog and cat at a time.” Grace supports this organization through various hands-on youth group work projects, providing space for an annual fundraiser, and hosting an adoption fair. Other volunteer opportunities are available.
Contact: Parish Liaison Donna Groves (270-217-7781)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Over a decade ago, Grace built a Habitat house. In 2006, we helped construct a house as part of an ecumenical Habitat Apostles’ Build project and in 2009 we assisted with a build in Mayfield. Are you interested in exploring possibilities for a new Grace Habitat project?
Contact: The Rev. Richard Paxton (270-442-3857)
GIRL SCOUTS
Grace became home to its first Girl Scout troop in December 2010. Girl Scouts is an organization dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. 2.3 million girls worldwide are discovering fun and friendship, as well as developing their full potential with such things as leadership, team-building, and decision-making skills. Girls also learn about philanthropy and perform community service. Badges are earned while participating in many different activities. The troop’s community service project in the spring of 2011 was cleaning the grounds of Grace Church in preparation for Easter.
Contact: Peggy Henney (270-415-5539)
BOY SCOUTS, TROOP #1
Troop #1 was founded in 1911 by the rector of the parish, the Rev. Clinton S. Quin. It is the seventh oldest troop in the United States and the second oldest continuous troop in Kentucky. During the years, the troop has been an important outreach to young people throughout thecommunity. The scouts meet at Grace on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Grace Church Troop #1 Committee Liaison Dr. Paul Grumley (270-442-7488), Scoutmaster Dr. Carl Baker (270-442-1760), www.troop1paducah.com
CHILDREN’S OUTREACH PROJECTS
During Sunday School and Good News Time or at Grace Kids events, elementary and preschool children participate in helping others. They have made hats and scarves for PCM, pet pillows for Project Hope, Easter cards for the Seamen’s Church Institute, and birthday cards for parishioners. Occasionally their creations are presented for blessing at the altar during a Sunday service. In 2011, 2nd- 5th graders hope to gather 515 cans of soup for PCM! Ideas for outreach projects for children or families are always welcome.
Contact: Youth Minister Stefan Jagoe (270-443-1363 or 270-519-6019), Charlene Baker (270-443-1047)
ACOLYTE OUTREACH PROJECTS
Each year during Advent and Lent our young acolytes choose an outreach project and challenge the congregation to help them raise money. Past projects have included the Heifer Project, Paducah’s Skate Park, Habitat for Humanity, Noble Park’s accessible playground, our diocesan Alleluia Fund project to build a medical clinic in Rwanda, and Food for the Poor.
Contact: Acolyte Outreach Coordinator Trish Hines (270-443-1363)
EYC OUTREACH PROJECTS
Teens regularly reach out to help others through youth group projects such as Adopt-a-Highway, Make a Difference Day, Bikes on Broadway, and the Soup-er Bowl of Caring.
Contact: Youth Minister Stefan Jagoe (270-443-1363)
GREATER PADUCAH SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT (GPS)
We are called by God to be good stewards of the earth. In 2007 Grace was one of the first churches to join GPS, a local nonprofit organization focused on developing and implementing long-term environmentally focused sustainable programs for the greater Paducah/McCracken County area through partnerships between communities, organizations, business, and government. Through our newsletter, Grace encourages members to join GPS, recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum through GPS, work as volunteers on recycling days, and become advocates for the development of a sustainable full-service recycling program by the City of Paducah and McCracken County. Information about recycling days and hours, as well as volunteer opportunities, can be found at www.recyclenowpaducah.com.
Contact: Coordinator needed!
YOUNG ADULT SERVICE CORPS (YASC)
In 2008 Grace Church provided financial support for Cortney Dale, the first member of this diocese to serve as a missionary with the Episcopal Church’s Young Adult Service Corps. YASC is for Episcopalians who are 20-30 years old. Applicants must have a high degree of maturity and faith commitment, as well as a willingness to be a humble guest, gracious ambassador, and authentic companion. During their year of service, young adults experience cultural engagement, spiritual commitment, and vocational discernment. YASC missionaries work in fields such as teaching, administration, health care, youth ministry, technology/communications, agriculture, refugee ministry, or orphan care. Host countries presently include Tanganyika, South Africa, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Uganda.
Contact: Information and applications for service with the YASC may be found at www.episcopalchurch.org.
MISSION TRIPS
Since Hurricane Katrina, Grace parishioners have participated in several mission trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help clean up and rebuild. These trips have been organized by Grace Church and St. John’s (Murray). While the need is still great on the Gulf Coast, numerous opportunities exist for mission trips that reach out to neighbors around the world, from a poverty immersion experience in Louisville to interactions with our companion dioceses of Scotland and Rwanda. Your ideas and participation are welcomed.
Contact: The Rev. Meghan Holland (270-443-1363)
PROJECT AIDS ORPHAN
This Paducah-based organization works with AIDS orphans in Kenya. Our Young Adult Ministry group helped with a multi-faith prayer service during the violence in Kenya in 2008 and a Hunger Banquet in 2009.
Contact: Board Member Matt Jaeger (270-217-8690), Director Paul Bilak (270-443-7255)
EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT (ERD)
For more than 60 years, Episcopal Relief and Development has been the compassionate response of the Church to human suffering in the United States and around the world. ERD works with Anglican and ecumenical partners to save lives and build hope by responding to emergencies such as hurricanes or tornadoes and partnering with local communities to enhance their capacity for finding lasting solutions to poverty and disease. You can help through direct donations at www.er-d.org, responding to special offerings for ERD in our parish, or giving Christmas gifts through the Gifts for Life catalog published each year.
Contact: Parish Liaison Sherry Threlkeld (270-443-1363)
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs)
The Episcopal Church has committed itself to eliminating extreme poverty by working through the MDGs (www.er-d.org/mdg). Fulfilling the eight MDGs would mean lifting more than 500 million people out of extreme poverty and more than 300 million out of extreme hunger. Child health would improve, HIV/AIDS and malaria would pose less threat to health, major progress would be made toward environmental stability and gender equality, and global partnerships for development would be established. In 2007, Grace met the Episcopal Church’s MDG challenge through the Young Adult Ministry’s Global Aid Day and an Adult Education series. We also became a ONE congregation (www.one.org). In 2008, the vestry included a line item in our budget for MDG work and will continue our local recycling efforts. An Environmental Stewardship Committee is working to challenge and educate us as well.
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