Mission and Outreach
In our Baptismal Covenant we are called to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. We are also called to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. To both of these callings we have answered “We will with God’s help.”
Our Outreach Mission Statement
The Mission of the Outreach of St. Mary’s Church is, with God’s help and our resources of time, talent and treasure, to inspire and support the members of our parish community in finding ways as individuals and as a community to make a meaningful difference in serving people who need help.
What we do:
St. Mary’s assists parishioners who are interested in personal, direct involvement with human services agencies to find areas that fit their interests, and respond to requests for volunteers. St. Mary’s responds to local, national and world tragedies by supporting organizations such as Episcopal Relief and Development and joining others in efforts to help those in distress.
Goochland Fellowship and Family Service
St. Mary's supports this center for aid to the needy throughout the year, with donations from our Outreach funds and in kind gifts to stock the second-hand shop at GFFS. St. Mary’s maintains Mary’s Closet as a collection point for the GFFS shop and provides dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas for families in Goochland. The Giving Tree gives our families a chance to share their Christmas with others by providing gifts for a particular needy child.
The GOOD Van takes services to the needy
Goochland Onsite Outreach Delivery (GOOD) means that Goochland Fellowship and Family Service (GFFS) help is on its way in a mobile office traveling to Goochland churches to spread the word to Goochland’s neediest citizens. St Mary’s parishioners drive the van and provide information and referrals to services that make a great difference. Get on the GOOD Van and do some good! outreach@stmarysgoochland.org
Emergency Housing in Goochland. You can help.
St. Mary’s parishioners are be rolling up their sleeves to help Goochland Fellowship and Family Service provide badly needed emergency housing for Goochland citizens. St. Mary’s is renovating and furnishing an apartment in Goochland Courthouse.
Learn more about working or providing furnishings, and stop by the Café (outside the kitchen) to see the display.
Goochland Fellowship & Family Service Food Bank
In addition to collecting canned food at Children’s Chapel each moth, St Mary’s collects unexpired canned & boxed food year ‘round, for the food bank at Goochland Fellowship & Family Service. Protein foods, such as canned meat, tuna, peanut butter, and stews are especially needed. Check out the Collection Bin in the Children’s Activity Room near the Nursery.
Free Clinic of Goochland.
The Free Clinic, providing medical care to Goochland’s uninsured and underinsured, was conceived within St. Mary’s Church and came into being with the support of St. Mary’s Vestry and her doctors, dentists, nurses, planners and other professionals, as well as many open-hearted donors. St. Mary’s was honored in the Diocese of Virginia with the 2004 Bishop’s Community Outreach Award for its work to establish the Free Clinic of Goochland, Inc.
Bright Begi
nnings
In August, St. Mary’s parishioners will participate in the Bright Beginnings program of the North Richmond YMCA . This program provides school supplies and clothing for disadvantaged children. Stop by the Giving Tree to find out how you can help.
Grandparents’ Support Group (Henrico Department of Social Services)
Parishioners help grandparents who are struggling to raise their grandchildren by themselves. If it takes a village, then our little village can help. Help them do the right thing.
Our Summer Vacation Bible School joins hands with a group of inner city children, who come for activities, fun and Bible stories. A small part of Children’s Ministries at St. Mary’s.
CARITAS Wintercots Housing program (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter) Each winter, those who are homeless come home to the shelter of St. Mary’s Church for two weeks. Good hearty food, supportive conversation, a warm place to sleep, opportunities for showers and laundering clothes, even time for games and movies are found in our parish hall. Would you like to help this year? Would you like to help this year? When I was hungry, you gave me food…
Goochland Habitat Team
Each summer, St. Mary’s parishioners grab their hammers and install vinyl siding on an entire house built be area churches. Goochland County’s Habitat for Humanity builds houses for those who could not otherwise afford them and St. Mary’s is privileged to roll up its sleeves to help. You can join us!
Refugee Resettlement
St. Mary’s has “adopted” two families from war-torn areas of the world and provided housing, clothing, food and help with job placement. Both families now enjoy freedom and independence.
Emergency Assistance
Brother, can you spare a dime? Local departments of social services, church organizations like Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS) and GCCA (Goochland Christian Churches Association (GCCA) and needy individuals approach St. Mary’s for emergency assistance for rent, food and utilities. St. Mary’s sets aside the offering from the first Sunday of each month to respond to these requests. Who is my brother?
Youth Mission Trip
Every year, our high school youth give a week of their time to travel to an impoverished area to help with home repairs and improvement. Learn more about the Youth Mission Trip.
Goochland Christian Churches Association
St. Mary’s joins with other Goochland County churches in projects and efforts to help those in need in Goochland County. One such effort has been the Goochland Housing Improvement Initiative through which St. Mary’s volunteers erected a new roof over a leaky trailer, providing security and a healthier home for someone who was suffering. St. Mary’s partners with several Goochland churches to enable their members to provide hospitality at our church for CARITAS guests during the weeks they are residing at St. Mary’s. Frequent GCCA meetings and activities help to strengthen the body of Christ in this area.
St. Mary’s Episcopal School
Our preschool offers financial aid to students otherwise unable to attend a private preschool. Everyone benefits when our doors are opened wide.
St. Mary’s provides a significant portion of its annual budget in grant awards to charities in the metropolitan Richmond area.
