Service in Community Speaker Series Begins

Service in Community Speaker Series Begins

Wally Stettinius and Fay Lohr kicked off the Service in Community Speaker Series on March 3 with an overview what’s coming and why.  Fay reminded us of the Baptismal Covenant, in which we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons.”  One way in which we at St. Mary’s and those in the greater community fulfill that promise is through service organizations.  Wally went through some statistics about the number of service organizations–most of them faith based–and the revenues that they raise and distribute.  He noted that we in Richmond are particularly blessed to have a great many organizations that provide opportunities to serve others, organizations that are led, as Wally pointed out, by some of the best managers in the country.

The program continues on the first and third Sundays of March, April and May with these impressive speakers and topics, all at 10:00 am in the New Parish Hall:

March 17–Homelessness: Why it is a Problem and What We Can Do to Help, presented by Karen Stanley, Executive Director of C.A.R.I.T.A.S.

April 7–Healthcare: What are Free Clinics and How They Help Our Community, presented by Sally Graham, Executive Director of the Goochland Free Clinic & Family Services

April 21–Education: Issues Publice Schools are Facint and the Impact of Povverty on Education, presented by Harold Fitrer, President and CEO of Communities in Schools

May 6–Hunger: The Size of the Problem, What is Being Done About It and What More Could Be Done, presented by Fay Lohr, CEO Emeritus of FeedMore

May 19–Community Partnerships; Putting Christian Principles into Practice Through Programs to Build Healthy Minds, Bodies and Spirits, presented by T.J. Joyce, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond

This series is a joint production of the Outreach and Adult Ministries Committees.

World Pediatric Project Funds Life-Saving Surgery for St. Lucia Boy

World Pediatric Project Funds Life-Saving Surgery for St. Lucia Boy

St. Mary’s parishioners have raised over $5,000 for World Pediatric Project to bring Merlik Cobbe to Richmond for life-saving heart surgery and an eye procedure at the Medical College of Virginia.  An adorable 8 year-old boy from St. Lucia, Merlik will be traveling to Richmond in March with his mother, Rosemary.  They arrive late on March 13th and will be staying at the Hospital Hospitality House near VCU while they are here.  We are still looking for contributions of jigsaw puzzles, books, information about Richmond, t-shirts or sweatshirts from U of R or VCU, magazines for Rosemary, coffee cake, baked treats and other items to make their stay as happy as possible.  Please contact Molly Snow if you are interested in contributing to the welcome basket! (mcmitche@hotmail.com)

Merlik and his mother will join us for the 11am service on March 18th with coffee and treats afterwards!  One of the treats will be an extended coffee hour during which the children will sing for our guests.  Merlik’s first procedure will be the next week, and he will need to stay in the hospital for about one week after his surgery. While he is in the hospital, we will provide updates about his progress, and hope that you will visit with him and bring him good cheer!