Please find attached the Outreach Vestry Report for 2012. If you have any questions on the Report, please contact Wilna Parry.
As followers of Jesus, we at St. Clement’s strive to be the hands and feet of Christ in the communities we live in, our country and in the wider world. We believe we can do infinitely more than we can ask and imagine through the Spirit working in us to strengthen and encourage us in our walk.
We prayerfully hold up the work of the worldwide Church, the world, our communities and neighbors. A clear desire was expressed by our parish that we work together with other churches on the North Shore to minister to the hurting and needy whenever possible. We joined forces with other North Shore churches in the successful Sponsorship of two Karen families who are now happily settled in Surrey and making a positive contribution to their new neighborhood and country.
We contribute to our local North Shore Harvest Food Bank with contributions of non-perishable and canned goods. The Church School children plant a garden in summer and deliver fresh produce to the food bank in the fall. Lookout Shelter receive donations of clothing, we collect “comfort” items for Union Gospel Mission as well as the Diocesan Street Outreach Initiative to be distributed amongst the homeless.
We meet on a monthly basis (except for a short hiatus over Summer) for shared soup lunches on the second Sunday after church. Donations towards lunch are given to a variety of speakers: in the past we have supported the work of numerous agencies, both locally and abroad.
Families put together small gifts for Operation Christmas Child, distributed by Samaritans Purse to children who have never received a gift.
As Anglicans we support the work and mission of The Primate’s Relief and Development Fund. In 2008 we participated with over 500 Anglican communities in the Amazing Grace Project: over $95,000 nationwide was raised for suicide prevention in northern Canada. During November 2010 we sang in the Silent Night Project, with the aim of supporting Anglican military chaplains.
There are many unsung heroes at work in our community, visiting the sick, caring for the needy, making a difference in their communities. As we are strengthened and fed by the Eucharist, so we in turn are able to go out and share what we have received with such abundance with others.
Please contact Wilna Parry (604.988-0148) or by email at parryfamily@shaw.ca if you’d like to learn more.
