Outreach Ministries
One of the promises that we make in baptism is to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves." Members of St. Margaret's are active in ministry to the world through individual involvement in all kinds of community ministries. In addition to individual efforts, St. Margaret's focuses its collective outreach in several directions, always seeking to serve the community around us.
Adopt-A-Street
Periodically members of St. Margaret's gather on a Saturday morning to clean up part of Chenal Parkway. Clean-up dates will be published on our calendar and in our weekly email. For information please contact Joe Chacko.
Ministry Leader: Joe Chacko
Backpack Food Program
Through the Backpack Food Ministry, we collect food to supplement snacks and meals for elementary-aged children who rely on school for their primary nutrition. Everyone is invited to participate by bringing food to the basket at the altar each Sunday during the offertory or donating designated funds for others to do the shopping. Other volunteers help to shop, sort, and pack the food, and some volunteers take turns delivering the food to our partner schools. We support 40 local children at three schools, making a big difference in our community.
Ministry Leaders: Nancy Bullard
Arkansas House of Prayer
The Arkansas House of Prayer is a joint ministry of St. Margaret's Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, providing a haven where people of all faiths may come for silent prayer in a beautiful and holy place.
Volunteer Greeters keep our House open on Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Our Greeters give 2 - 4 hours per weekend to greet newcomers and welcome them to our House. Greeters offer a quiet hello and show visitors where to find the restroom and where to put their belongings before entering the prayer room. Greeters will want to make use of the extra time in quiet to catch up on reading, writing, or even social networking (we have wifi)!
In addition to Greeters every weekend, we also have a Garden Team that works year-round to maintain the simple beauty of our landscape and gardens. Garden volunteers gather on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month, 1-3pm.
Executive Director: James Matthews
Daughters of the King
The Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK) is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of Prayer, Service, and Evangelism. We have made a commitment to Jesus as our Savior, and we follow Him as Lord of our lives. We are an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, churches in communion with it, or churches in the Historic Episcopate. Today our membership includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA), and Roman Catholic churches. An Order is a community under a religious rule; especially one requiring members to take solemn vows. We don't just enroll as members and attend meetings; we take life-long vows to follow the Rule of Prayer and Rule of Service.
Ministry Leaders: Debby Walter or Suzanne Kirchner
Website: www.doknational.org
United Thank Offering
United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity.
Through the United Thank Offering, millions of dollars are distributed every year to supportmission projects and ministries throughout the Episcopal Church.
Everyone can participate in the United Thank Offering. Simply pick up one of the blue boxes at church, set it up at home, and remember to make a small offering every time you give thanks. At our next ingathering (every year in October), bring your box to church, and share your gifts with the world!
Website: United Thank Offering
Needlework Guild
The Needlework Guild is a group of knitters and crocheters who primarily create prayer shawls and caps for those in need. These projects are lovingly and prayerfully made as our gift of compassion; they are blessed and delivered by our clergy. Beginners are welcome to join in the fun while developing their skills. Participants meet monthly at 10:30 a.m. on the second Thursday at St. Margaret's for sharing ideas, skills and fellowship while working on their projects.
Ministry Leader: Jenny Jackson
Episcopal Relief & Development
Episcopal Relief & Development is the compassionate response of The Episcopal Church to human suffering in the world. Hearing God's call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being, Episcopal Relief & Development serves to bring together the generosity of Episcopalians and others with the needs of the world.
Episcopal Relief & Development faithfully administers the funds that are received from the Church and raised from other sources. It provides relief in times of disaster and promotes sustainable development by identifying and addressing the root causes of suffering.
As a community, St. Margaret's supports Episcopal Relief & Development with gifts at Christmas, and collections during the season of Lent. Individuals are also encouraged to reach out to the world by supporting this important work.
You can find more information at https://www.episcopalrelief.org.
Website: https://www.episcopalrelief.org
St. Francis House
St. Francis House is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in January 1970 as a social outreach of the Episcopal Church to the State of Arkansas. Today, St. Francis House operates an active social work program, providing immediate material assistance (food, medicine, shelter, clothing, utility and rent payments, transportation, and other such basic needs) to clients in crisis situations. In 1988, St. Francis House was granted a contract with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to house homeless veterans. The program provides a setting for homeless veterans, including the services of counseling, transitional housing, meals, laundry, employment services, and activities. In 2000, a health clinic was opened in partnership with St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center to provide health care needs of St. Francis House’s clients.
At St. Margaret's, members may drop off donations of home goods and clothes at the center, we frequently raise money to support their work, and sometimes provide home cooked meals to the veterans housed in their shelter around the holidays. Individual members may also volunteer their time at St. Francis House.
For more information, visit stfrancishouse.org