Being charitable in the time of crisis - Rector's Rambling for May 10,2020

Although much is in limbo because of COVID-19, a committee of the parish has continued its important work.

In 2014, when we signed our new lease arrangement with Olympia, there was a strong feeling that just as we as individuals are expected to tithe of God’s provision to us, so too the parish should be tithing of the provision of God’s blessing to the parish through the new lease arrangement.

Former parish treasurer Cathy Morgan took the lead in our newly formed Outreach Committee.  Basing it on a program in her daughter’s parish in New Jersey (where Cathy has since moved), we solicited various organizations in the neighborhood, asking them to apply for program-specific grant requests.  We have had some sort of parish affiliation with some of these organizations over the years, such as the Episcopal Diocese-related Crossroads and Mariners Inn.  Other organizations were recommended to us by parishioners with whom they had an affiliation and where they volunteered their time.

Over the years, and along with today’s groups, we have given money to support hunger abatement initiatives, which include feeding and community gardening, job training and computer support, community social work, autism awareness and support, crisis pregnancy, human trafficking rescue, educational initiatives, the arts, youth ministry, and a seminary of the Episcopal Church.

This year we are awarding grants to Crossroads, Mariners Inn,                              Elli’s House, Georgia Street Community Collective, Jack’s Place for Autism Foundation, Pregnancy Aid of Eastern Wayne County, Shakespeare in Detroit, Vista Maria, Youth Works Detroit, The NOAH Project, and Nashotah House Theological Seminary.

In this time of crisis the need is great and we are grateful for the opportunity to help ministries making an impact both in our neighborhood and beyond.

Thank you to the committee members who met in person and then on Zoom to do their work.