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Centerpoint
Ministries
Balanced
Living
Creative Expression
Compassionate Living Commission
Group Reflection
Praxis of Prayer
Personal Reflection
Retreats
Spiritual Direction
If you are intererested in more information or working with any of these commissions, please contact Janine Canady, Lay Ministries Coordinator, at 361-855-6295 or by email.
BALANCED
LIVING
The Balanced Living Commission
works in the areas of environmental stewardship and simple living. If
you consider that creation is a gift from God, then it behooves us to
care for creation in a way that ensures it will be passed down to future
generations in good condition. Simple living offers us an alternative
to the consumer driven lifestyle popular in our culture and offers us
ways to live a God-centered life. Specifically, we sponsor the gardening
project, which maintains the landscape beds around the church buildings;
recycling at the church; education on simplicity; joint activities with
other commissions, such as Rogation service, blessing of the animals and
Christmas caroling; and a peace class. Commission members meet
as needed. All other activities
are done individually or are scheduled on an as needed basis. Mentoring
for new gardeners is available. A concern for creation, interest in gardening
and or simple living is all that is needed to participate in this ministry.
CREATIVE
EXPRESSION
The Creative Expression Commission
is committed to helping the All Saints' family to enjoy union with God
through supporting and encouraging each person's God-given capacity to
create.
Time Period: Meetings are called as needed. Your knowledge, skills, love
of creative expression are the wellspring for development of future programs.
Significance of this ministry: CREATIVITY - 'Balance, Centering,
Deliberateness, Playfulness, Flow'--God's gift to us; using our creativity
is our gift to God.
Ongoing programs include coordinating the rotating Gallery exhibitions at All Saints' and the quarterly Garden of Readin', a Friday night casual, mutual sharing of our poems, songs, stories, music, art or craft in the All Saints' library. Our artists partipate in the mentoring of children, youth and adult spiritual formation classes by incorporating creative expression into teaching and learning activities. Many artists in our parish have contributed their artwork to enrich the liturgy and sacred spaces of the LifeStreams Sunday service.
You can view some of our parish's creativity at our Online Gallery.
COMPASSIONATE
LIVING COMMISSION
The Compassionate Living Commission's focus is to assist others to become
centers of healing through service to mankind. The commission meets monthly to oversee
volunteers and monetary support for various outreach activities, including:
1. Adopt-A-Caseworker Program - outreach to at risk youth. Volunteers
have an opportunity to sign up to purchase school supplies, Easter Baskets
and Christmas gifts for children.
2. AIDS Care Team Ministry - Volunteers working with those impacted
by HIV/AIDS. Volunteers provide social, spiritual and practical support
in a variety of ways that match the individuals need and the volunteers'
abilities, schedule, etc.
3. Alternative Gift Fair- Annual alternative gift giving program,
held in December. Parishioners are invited to make a donation to the charity
of their choice in honor of another person. The person being honored will
receive notification of this donation.
4. Cliff Maus Housing Program - low income housing complex sponsored
by the local Episcopal churches. Volunteers have worked to provide support
for special projects such as Kids Cafe, which provides adult mentors for
reading and homework. The Compassionate Living Commission continues to
seek ways to reach out to the Cliff Maus Community.
5. Food Pantry - Food distribution on 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each
month. Typically serves at least 100 families each distribution. Volunteers
are needed for a variety of tasks, including some heavy lifting, between
1:30 and 6:30 on these distribution days.
6. Habitat for Humanity - National home building program benefiting
low income families. Four times a year All Saints' takes special collections
to support Habitat and we also observe a Habitat Day of Prayer. Also,
volunteers assist in local house building projects.
7. Metro Ministries - Oversees several community programs to assist
the homeless. All Saints' makes an annual contribution to Metro Ministries.
The Compassionate Living Commission encourages volunteer participation
in Metro Ministry programs.
8. Pastoral Care Team -Volunteers working with homebound and/or
ill church members.
Volunteers typically are assigned to work in mini-teams that share responsibilities
for one week a month to visit in homes and/or hospitals.
GROUP
REFLECTION
This Commission is the part of the Centerpoint ministries designed to
oversee and develop various small groups in the church such as the practical
wisdom study groups, Cursillo Reunion groups, EFM groups and may work
with the Mentors group on Academy projects. These groups are formed in
order to create an environment in which the development of spiritual friendship
and companioning is possible and where there is the genuine enjoyment
of discussion and the sharing of spiritual paths.
PRAXIS OF PRAYER
Emphasis is on teaching and practicing various aspects of personal and
corporate prayer. Includes Contemplative Options classes, Lectio Divina,
Rosary, Icon, etc. Commission volunteers assist with the design and implementation
of educational and praxis opportunities utilizing a variety of prayer
and meditative options.
Labyrinth Care Team: The mission of the Labyrinth Committee
is We are a team whose ministry is the stewardship of the Labyrinth as
sacred space...an external pathway for all God's people to awaken to the
Presence of the Divine. Committee members share the labyrinth and its
meaning and purpose whenever possible; serve periodically on Thursday
nights as guides for the labyrinth; facilitate small groups that request
assistance in walking or knowledge about the labyrinth; serve at special
events.
Time Period: Meets as needed. Periodic events. Training: Training
is available to new members to assist them in becoming guides. Skills/Abilities/Interests:
A desire to deepen their own inner lives and a commitment to assist others
as they seek God through this path. Open-mindedness and a willingness
to serve the church in the best possible way are needed inner qualities.
Significance of this Ministry: Serves both our own community,
as well as the larger community by providing a path to deepen our inner
lives. This ministry supports our mission statement as a parish and is
an integral part of the sacred space and opportunity that All Saints'
extends by its presence.
Isabel Rendall Chapter of the Daughters of the King: An order in
the Episcopal Church for Women dedicated to a life of prayer, study and
service to their church and community.
Time Period: Life-time vows are taken upon entering the order.
Training: Attend meetings--(comes from within)
Skills/Abilities/Interests: A willingness to put others first--a
hope of living a life in Christ.
Significance of this Ministry: As intercessors for the church
we vow to pray daily for all those in need. We willingly offer ourselves
in service and help to our community.
PERSONAL
REFLECTION
The Personal Reflection Commission is a Centerpoint Ministry whose emphasis
is guiding others to interdisciplinary material for their personal growth,
including utilization of a large collection of resources maintained by
this group in the church library.
Time Period: Assist with library maintenance for one or two hours
a month.
Training: Orientation Skills/Abilities/Interests: Organization,
ability to be self-directed.
Significance of this Ministry: Maintains the numerous wonderful
resources available to all that seek to deepen their spiritual understanding
and experience through independent study.
RETREATS
Plans, schedules, and holds one or more retreats throughout the year,
encompassing spiritual formation, education and families. Volunteers work
in everything from leading retreats to helping in the kitchen. Some of
these retreat opportunities have included:
1. Annual Family Retreat at Camp Capers.
2. Lebh Shomea for personal silent prayer retreats. Lebh Shomea is located
south of Kingsville
and is available for individual or small group silent prayer retreats.
Time Period: Volunteers generally sign up for the duration of
a single particular retreat and are expected to attend all planning and
training meetings associated with the preparation of that retreat.
Training: No prior training is necessary, only a willingness
to be present for an entire retreat.
Skills/Abilities/Interests: Good team working skills, willingness
to help others, dependability
Significance of this Ministry: This ministry is one way in which
we help others 'deepen their inner lives', by providing them with the
opportunity to hear speakers and learn more about themselves and others,
as well as a safe and conducive environment, away from the everyday hustle
and bustle.
SPIRITUAL
DIRECTION
Spiritual Direction is a way to deepen our spirituality. It is a formal
process of making spiritual guidance available in a relationship with
a spiritual director. In the environment the director and directee listen
to what God is saying in the life of the directee. Spiritual direction
is available to any adult (regardless of church affiliation) who wants
to deepen his or her inner life and discover the next step in their spiritual
journey. Spiritual directors and directees meet on a regular basis usually
30-60 minutes. There is no charge for spiritual direction. Contact the
church office at 855-6294 for more information regarding Spiritual Direction.
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