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.