In baptism we become members of the Body of Christ; in baptism our lives become connected to one another because we are all connected to Him. Therefore, when one suffers, we all suffer. In these troubled economic times, when unemployment soars, we as the Church are called to support one another in prayer, worship, pastoral care, and with creative responses. We are called to spread the Good News by deed as well as word.
When 650,000 Americans lose their jobs in one month, and unemployment soars in some counties of Western North Carolina to 14%, we must be creative. This blog is so we can share our ideas with one another.
Think of what the Church could do that would be helpful to those who are suffering in these times. Let’s share our wisdom and creativity with one another. If you have an idea—even if you aren’t sure how it will work—post it on the blog for other parishes and Episcopalians to see.
My hope is that together we will find the Way to resurrected life.
+G. Porter Taylor
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May 7, 2009
Ideas for helping people and parishes in this current economy. April 25 Meeting at All Souls.
1. Have a job posting area on the Diocesan Website. For any kind of work- paid work, short term work, or even bartering services.
2. Have parishes create Support Groups in their areas.
3. Have congregations in which most members are retired reach out to other parishes in need to give their ideas, skills, and services.
4. Have parishes host a Stewardship Seminar on Refinancing. This would help people change their budget demands. Currently, helping seniors.
5. Start the canned food drive program “I Can, One Can at a Time’. Each Sunday parishioners are asked to donate one canned good. Donate these to your local food bank.
6. Red Wagon Canned Food Drive- for local food banks like ABCCM. Be sure to list drives in your bulletin. Perhaps support a different program each week/month.
7. Create a ‘Backpack Program’ in your parish to help provide meals for children at home over the weekend and the summertime.
8. Join in the ‘Feed the Kids’ program at your local Boys & Girls Club.
9. Create a year round ‘Angle Tree’ Program.
10. Post available jobs in your parish hall. Have fliers with pull off tabs at the bottom with contact information for those who want to be discrete.
11. Publicize your local business that are struggling- provide local support for these business to continue.
12. Start a Church Community Garden Center with fruits and vegetables for your local community.
13. Start a Bag Breakfast- hand out to those in need to take with them and eat at their leisure.
14. Some parishes have endowments restricted for outreach and need to find a way to use their money. Seek out parishes that can use the financial support to either support a program they are involved with or a local program in their area. ‘Adopt A Community’
15. Fortunate parishes should help those less fortunate.
16. Help those families in crises- with large stress.
17. In an effort to address the credit crises parishes should host a credit card counseling session.
18. Find ways for those without jobs to ask for help in a discrete manner. Reach out to those people so they are embarrassed or afraid to ask for help.
19. List available community resources in the church newsletter, bulletin.
20. Provide home repair services for the unemployed and elderly.
21. Have different outreach programs come and speak to your parish about their needs.
COMMENTS MAY BE POSTED BY CLICKING THE COMMENT BUTTON BELOW
2. Have parishes create Support Groups in their areas.
3. Have congregations in which most members are retired reach out to other parishes in need to give their ideas, skills, and services.
4. Have parishes host a Stewardship Seminar on Refinancing. This would help people change their budget demands. Currently, helping seniors.
5. Start the canned food drive program “I Can, One Can at a Time’. Each Sunday parishioners are asked to donate one canned good. Donate these to your local food bank.
6. Red Wagon Canned Food Drive- for local food banks like ABCCM. Be sure to list drives in your bulletin. Perhaps support a different program each week/month.
7. Create a ‘Backpack Program’ in your parish to help provide meals for children at home over the weekend and the summertime.
8. Join in the ‘Feed the Kids’ program at your local Boys & Girls Club.
9. Create a year round ‘Angle Tree’ Program.
10. Post available jobs in your parish hall. Have fliers with pull off tabs at the bottom with contact information for those who want to be discrete.
11. Publicize your local business that are struggling- provide local support for these business to continue.
12. Start a Church Community Garden Center with fruits and vegetables for your local community.
13. Start a Bag Breakfast- hand out to those in need to take with them and eat at their leisure.
14. Some parishes have endowments restricted for outreach and need to find a way to use their money. Seek out parishes that can use the financial support to either support a program they are involved with or a local program in their area. ‘Adopt A Community’
15. Fortunate parishes should help those less fortunate.
16. Help those families in crises- with large stress.
17. In an effort to address the credit crises parishes should host a credit card counseling session.
18. Find ways for those without jobs to ask for help in a discrete manner. Reach out to those people so they are embarrassed or afraid to ask for help.
19. List available community resources in the church newsletter, bulletin.
20. Provide home repair services for the unemployed and elderly.
21. Have different outreach programs come and speak to your parish about their needs.
COMMENTS MAY BE POSTED BY CLICKING THE COMMENT BUTTON BELOW
May 5, 2009
Suggestions for Episcopalians in Meeting the Effects of the Current Economic Crisis in WNC on People
1. Take a comprehensive approach to assessing the needs of the affected people in the parish. The crisis may be similar to that of a community affected by a natural disaster, such as a flood. The needs may go beyond housing, food,clothing and medicine to counseling for psychological trauma. The needs of children will be different from adults, elderly from the young, minorities from the white people.
2. Take a comprehensive approach to the work of the parish in meeting the needs. Make a parish-wide assessment of the abilities of the parish, the individuals and the parish as a whole.
3. Make a realistic assessment of the ability of the Parish and set up a Parish wide project, involving all the members.
4. Organize the work to make use of families working together and parish children to the maximum extent possible. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and for children to learn about the needs of the less fortunate and to experience the blessings of giving oneself to others.
5. Consider taking a leadership role in a community wide project. Expand on the financial counseling by starting a community- wide program to provide financial help by establishing a fund for lending to those who cannot qualify for credit from banks. I saw this on the News Hour this past week. A non-profit credit union was established in a city that had been affected severely by the downturn. It was funded by gifts from individuals and businesses, foundations, etc. Banks who could not lend directly because the borrowers were not "qualified" also made gifts. Default rate was lower than in normal banking.
COMMENTS MAY BE POSTED BY CLICKING THE COMMENT BUTTON BELOW
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