About our Program
The Outreach Program at Church of Our Saviour is directed to reach out into the immediate and larger community fulfilling our church's mission to be "in service to others, in Christ's name."
The committee of approximately ten parishioners meets bi-monthly as the Outreach Committee. All members of the congregation and guests are welcome and invited to the meetings.
The Outreach Committee's efforts are supported financially through the Church of Our Saviour operating budget and through fundraisers throughout the year.
Our outreach efforts are currently structured on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG's), which were adopted as a framework for Christian action by the Episcopal Church in 2006.
Every quarter, we focus on one of the eight MDG's by:
- identifying organizations working on this particular goal
- researching the organizations
- deciding how we can best support their efforts
- mobilizing resources at Church of Saviour to provide volunteer help, if local, as well as financial support
As part of our mission in educating our community about charitable organizations, we refer to charitable watchdog organizations such as:
Our Recent Work
We are continuing to fund ongoing micro-loans for four women entrepeneurs in developing countries through Kiva.org. Kiva was recently featured in an interview with Bill Clinton by Keith Olbermann at MSNBC.
Focusing on MDG #6, to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, our parish has made a 5-year commitment to a sister parish in Tanzania. Through individual $50/year pledges from our members, we support 50 AIDS orphans as they receive their primary education. This work is under the sponsorship of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in partnership with the Diocese of Central Tanganyika through the organization Carpenter's Kids.
More about Carpenter's Kids:
Our link in Tanzania is the Ibihwa Parish, which is located 35 kilometers from Dodoma. Agriculture and small businesses are the main sources of income. The main crops include cassava, white and brown millet and maize. Cash crops include groundnuts (peanuts), sunflower seeds and simsim (sesame seeds). The road conditions are mostly good and public transportation is available. Tap water is available although it is poorly distributed. There is one primary school and one secondary school in town. There is no health center although there is one nearby. Healthcare until the age of 5 is free with a contribution made by the family for older children/adults. Healthcare, despite government subsidies, is often prohibitively expensive.
AIDS is responsible for the deaths of many parents and guardians in the village, resulting in many orphans. The most vulnerable of these children were chosen last September for the Carpenter's Kids program. The children were fitted for uniforms and shoes and photographed. Uniforms and school supplies were distributed last October 2008. Breakfast by the Mama Lishes (the women who cook the children breakfast) began Oct. 27, 2008.
A review of the Ibihwa students we help sponsor was occurs every 6 & 12 months. School supplies and uniforms will be distributed every year. Two Communication Coordinators have been appointed in Ibihwa Parish, who will learn how to use the online bulletin board to be in touch with Church of Our Saviour. We look forward to getting to know our link parish in this way.
2009 Photos from Ibihwa
2009 Annual Review of the Ibihwa ministry
Safeguarding Our Youth
Addressing the ongoing tragedies of youth addiction and suicide in our community, the Church of Our Saviour Outreach team helped found the Youth Addiction and Suicide Prevention Coalition of Southern Marin. We provide space for monthly professional-led forums and community-building opportunties for adults and teens as well as weekly parent support meetings. Our goal is community transformation in building safe paths to adulthood and to uphold and safeguard our most treasured resource: our young people.
The Environment
Our new Care of Creation Ministry is continuing to meet. Find our more on our new Care of Creation Ministry page!
Combatting Hunger
On a Tuesday morning once a month, we cook for and staff a luncheon for the homeless in conjunction with Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Mill Valley. Contact Marsha Dugan for more details.
In September, we brought many loaves of homemade bread to offer as a symbol of so many who go hungry around the world. Following the service, our parishioners wrote letters to local and national government officials to express the need for the Global Poverty Act. This day was sponsored by Bread for the World.
Involving our Youth
Our youth are also involved in our Outreach Program. Our youth group, EPIC, joins with other members of our community in helping serve lunch with the Southern Marin Homeless Coaltion at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church on a regular basis. Members of EPIC helped with Rebuilding Together on April 26th to rehabilitate a private residence in Nicasio.
St. Anne's Circle
St. Anne's Circle is the creative extension of our Outreach Committee. St. Anne's gathers many Sunday mornings after 10:00 am services to work on sewing projects and other crafts, including:
- quilts and stuffed animals for babies and children
- items, crafts, and cards for fundraisers to support our Outreach activities
We currently preparing projects to sell at our annual Christmas Bazaar on December 7th. Proceeds from the bazaar will go to those in need in the wider community.
More Information
For more information about our Outreach Program, contact Maggie Lang.
