Outreach @ St. Thomas

As one of our parishioners recently said, “At St. Thomas we worship like we mean it!” And that worship extends to the many ways we reach out to those in need. There really is no neat and tidy line we can draw between the Eucharist and outreach--God’s hospitality is as real at a folding table for homeless guests as it is at the altar in church.

Outreach at St. Thomas includes a number of different ministries that help those in need and provide fellowship at the same time. Our Project Outreach committee gives away thousands of dollars each year to organizations in the area and around the world. Other groups provide meals and shelter for the homeless, gifts for children at Christmas, support for our companion parish in Ramallah, and help with construction and community development in El Salvador.

Here are just a few of our outreach programs and activities:

Congregations for the Homeless

Each night during July, St. Thomas is transformed into a shelter for 30 men who are making the transition to permanent housing. (This is the only shelter program for single men on the Eastside.) We provide a place to sleep, three meals, and all the supplies they need. In the evenings, the men meet with case managers and life coaches, and attend a variety of classes. To remain in the program, they each commit to following a plan that will lead to permanent housing and a productive life as part of a community.

We count on parishioners to supply food, personal items (like toothpaste), cleaning products and, of course, a warm welcome. 

Companion Connections

This group encourages, cultivates, and fosters relationships and partnerships that further God’s kingdom at home and abroad. We reach out beyond the parish in prayer, partnering, communication, and financial support to embrace those who hurt. Our two newest Companions are the Arab Episcopal School for the Blind in Irbid, Jordan and the Evangelical Home for Children in Ramallah. Both institutions are ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem, which is a Companion with the Diocese of Olympia.

The Giving Tree

Together with La Iglesia de la Resurrección in Mount Vernon, we provide Christmas gifts and new clothes for children living in the Skagit Valley, primarily from families of migrant farm workers of Hispanic descent. These Christmas gifts are most likely the only gifts the children will receive.

Sandwich Makers

For more than 30 years, this group has been making sandwiches for hungry people at the Compass Center in Seattle. We meet at 9:00 am on the first Wednesday of each month in the Great Hall kitchen, and we always need and welcome new team members.

The Sophia Way and YWCA Angeline's Eastside Women's Center

St. Thomas supports the only two programs on the Eastside serving single adult homeless women. The Sophia Way provides support services, overnight shelter, and one-bedroom apartments. The Eastside Women's Center in downtown Bellevue is a drop-in day center for very low-income and homeless single women. Teams from St. Thomas prepare and deliver lunches for 18-20 women one week each month. We also gather women's clothing in good condition and hygiene items (such as unopened travel-size shampoo and lotion) to donate to the women.

Teen Ministry in El Salvador

Each year since 2005, St. Thomas has sent members of the Youth Group to El Salvador to work on community development projects and to make connections with Anglicans in that country.

Our 2010 pilgrims were Brigitte Ashley, the Rev. Jo Beecher, Rachel Best, Adam Breunig, Siena Brown, Will Bush, Michaela Clouse, Kathryn Jones, Matt Lanier, Lily Moodey, Benjamin Reed, Adam Rynd, and Sam Wang.

Contact: Brian Gregory (brian@stthomasmedina.org
or 425-454-9541)

Thanksgiving @ st. thomas

St. Thomas delivers Thanksgiving dinners to recipients of Hopelink Assistance who request them. In 2010, we served over 1200 people! These meals are provided by contributions from the parish and are cooked, assembled, and delivered by members of the parish.

Following the deliveries, St. Thomas parishioners enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together as a church family.

For information about the 2011 event, email Tammy Waddell.

Together We Build

This multi-faith coalition of a dozen Eastside faith communities provides Habitat for Humanity of East King County with funding and volunteers to build affordable housing. We seek greater understanding by working together on a common, constructive project. For details, visit  www.togetherwebuild.org.