Doing the work Jesus started
Susan Boze, Vestry Liaison
Holy Comforter has a long and distinguished history of work focusing outside
our walls, and into the community and world. We have engaged in many types
of activities through the years, such as refugee resettlement, building a
Habitat for Humanity house for our Centennial project, and mission trips
to Native American reservations. It is appealing to many to have a chance
to put faith into works that help build a better world. We strive to have
hands-on ministry as well as advocacy and financial support.
Holy Comforter shows its commitment to Outreach in many ways. We are a
designated
ONE congregation, which means we set aside 0.7% of our budget to address
the United Nations 8 Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty
internationally. Many of the projects that we support address these issues
as well.
Below is an overview of the current outreach ministries that are a part of
our work. There is room for many more people to join in these projects.
High Hopes-We provide financial support to this program which provides advocacy in housing for handicapped persons and maintains a residential facility, Independence House.
ROSMY and the Tanzanian ministries both address these important issues, as do the health centers we support.
This is the work of the HoCoEco ministry with the rain garden that fronts the church being the most prominent.
The Outreach Ministry meeting is the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Parish House. Anyone is welcome to attend.
AA and other support /recovery groups meet in our facilities.
Overseas Mission-We provide financial support to two congregations in Tanzania, East Africa, and a portion of those funds help with education costs of children in those parishes, many of whom have been orphaned by AIDS. Some of our Christ Families are helped with educational access and barriers through this program.
Food Pantry - Our food pantry provides food to families in need on the following days and times:
- The 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
- The 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, from 11:00am to noon
Donations of shelf stable goods such as canned food and pasta are welcome on the days our Food Pantry is open.
The pantry is stocked by donations brought in by members of the parish and
by
other churches who partner with us, as well as by food purchased by us from
the
Central Virginia Foodbank.
Click here for the Food Pantry rota.
Click here to see a list of current Food
Pantry needs.
Side By Side (formerly ROSMY): We provide financial support, advocacy, and direct ministry to youth struggling with gender issues.
Cross Over Health Care Center and Health Brigade (formerly Fan Free Clinic): Financial support assists these two agencies in providing health care to low income and high risk clients. In-reach and Rector's Discretionary Funds-Assist with medical costs to maintain optimal health in some situations.
Episcopal Relief and Development Fund-On going contributions from the parish and individual members have far reaching impact worldwide.
ONE is a grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African policy makers and activists.
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy