EXERCISING THE MINISTRY OF CHARITY

Agents of Grace is a Christian based organization, open to all people, dedicated to showing the love of God by connecting, uniting and deploying people toward active community involvement. Our direction, as an organization, flows from our Statement of Faith and this provides us the foundation upon which we serve our partnering churches and the community at large. Click here for Agents of Grace homepage. Meets annually. Contact Guy Sanders at 336-665-1056 or 336-334-5792 or guysanders@mac.com.

Greensboro Charities Outreach Committee: The Allocation Committee works with the Discipleship Commission in fulfilling the stewardship obligations of St. Paul and its parishioners.  The Committee solicits and reviews requests for funds from various community charities and, after due diligence, makes recommendations regarding such requests to the Parish Pastoral Council. Meets Weekly: May through July. Contact: Shirley Johnson, 545-0456 email, nelson_a_johnson@yahoo.com.

Blood Bank: To provide opportunities to give a gift that can save a life twice a year, in April and in August, Saint Paul hosts a Red Cross Blood Drive. Volunteers are needed to donate blood, make phone calls, donate snacks for donors and workers, help with sign-ups and help on the day of the drive. For information on our next drive contact: Steve Furr at 665-3599 or 294-2878 or srfurr1@aol.com.

Catholic Heart Work Camp: See their web site or local contact: Susan Rabold at 294-4694 ext. 217 or srabold@stpaulcc.org.

Christmas Giving Tree: The Giving Tree is an opportunity to provide much needed gifts to less fortunate families and beneficiaries of various not-for-profit organizations during the Advent Season. Volunteers are needed to help organize the project, make tags for the tree, trim the tree, choose tags and purchase gifts, sort gifts, and prepare for delivery. Annual event. For more information contact MaryJo Beck at MaryJoBeckCM@aol.com or 292-2468.

CROP Walk: St. Paul’s joins other faith communities in Greensboro in this walk to fight hunger. Sponsored by Greensboro Urban Ministry and Church World Services, the proceeds from the walk help feed the hungry in Greensboro as well in underdeveloped countries. All parishioners are invited to walk or sponsor walkers. Volunteers are also needed to help organize the walk. This is an annual event. Contact: Barb Egloff at 282-8345 frangator@earthlink.net or cassal@stpaulcc.org.

Discipleship Commission: This commission encourages and facilitates disciples to live the Christian mission of serving our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Activities are organized to help mitigate the difficulties that many people in our community experience. Meets Monthly. To read the minutes of the February 16, 2009 meeting click here. Contact: Colleen Assal at 294-4696, ext. 226 or cassal@stpaulcc.org.

Emergency Food Providers: Volunteers provide meals for parishioners who are ill or indisposed and also help with funeral receptions. For more information contact Rosemary Spezzo at 282-5543 or gmaspez@bellsouth.net.

Emergency Overflow Shelter: Each winter, St. Paul's parishioners join members of other churches in the community to provide overflow shelter to homeless individuals served by Urban Ministry. Volunteers stay with the homeless from the evening through the following morning at a designated location. Volunteers are called if and when needed. Contact Jack Polakowski at 282-2415 or jrmoose@netscape.com to have your name placed on the volunteer list.

Food Pantry: The second weekend of each month is designated as Food Sunday. Parishioners are asked to bring non-perishable food items to replenish our food pantry. The pantry is available to needy families in the parish and local community. Help is needed after each Mass to carry the food back to the pantry. Contact: Rudy and Cecilia Shipeky at 286-7449 or rudyshipeky@worldnet.att.net to get on the rotation to help sort and stock.

Good Samaritans: A group of volunteers, who will spend some time with the homebound in order that the caregiver may go to church, grocery shopping or other places as needed. They also visit the homebound and sometimes bring a hot meal, if needed. Male volunteers, in addition to visiting, can help with small repairs. If you are looking for a discipleship that is not too time consuming this is the perfect opportunity for you. Contact Kathy watson at 297-9514 or wwatson@triad.rr.com.

Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network: Provides shelter, food and support for families in search of permanent housing. This ministry rotates among 13 local host churches and is affiliated with a national network. See their web site at Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network (GIHN) Meets quarterly. Contact Lana Gainey at 605-3653 lgainey2@triad.rr.com for a calendar of host dates, training dates, and volunteer needs/jobs.

Grief Support Group: The process of mourning, expressed through grief, will be discussed and shared with those what have suffered a loss in their lives. Meets twice a year for six sessions. Contact: Deacon Gordon Forester at 282-1853 or glf0704@aol.com.

Habitat for Humanity: seeks to eliminate substandard housing from the face of the earth.  Locally, we work in partnership with prospective homeowners to help them build high-quality affordable family housing in Greensboro. Homeowners contribute a minimum of 500 hours of “sweat equity,” and purchase their own home from Habitat with a no-interest loan. Their mortgage payments, in turn, fund the construction of additional homes for others. Meets irregularly. Next date undetermined. Contact: Susan Cole at 668-0527 or sscole@triad.rr.com.

International Teacher Outreach: Individuals and families interested in befriending a teacher who will be teaching in Guilford County on a three year work visa are paired up with and international teacher with similar interests. Contact Norma Hinderliter at 298-32127 or hola98@hotmail.com.

Hearts for the Community: Every two years St. Paul’s holds a dinner/dance/auction to raise money to be distributed among agencies which are responsive to the needs of people in Greensboro. Our next event will be in 2008. Contact: Susie Barnes at 294-4696 or sbarnes@stpaulcc.org.

Holiday Food Baskets: Twice a year, for Easter and Christmas, St. Paul's provides holiday meals to those in need. Parishioners organize the effort, contribute food and/or money for the food, sort and pack food for delivery. Meets twice a year. Contact Tom Regan at 855-6082, tfr34@bellsouth.net or cassal@stpaulcc.org for details.

Ministry of Consolation: The experience of the death of a loved one is a time of confusion, pain, and anxiety. The mission of the Ministry of Consolation is to console and comfort the family through prayer and support, to provide guidance and assistance in the actual planning of vigil services and the funeral liturgy, to assist the priests, deacons, and family during these services, and to assess any special family needs with which the parish community of Saint Paul’s can assist. Group meets together semiannually. Contact: Rudy & Cecilia Shipeky at 286-7449 or rudyshipeky@worldnet.att.net.

Ministry to the Sick and Homebound: Brings the Eucharist to the homebound on a weekly basis be it at home, assisted living residences or nursing home for a short or long period of time depending on an individual’s needs. Contact Mary Nickel at 288-5358 mary.nickel@att.net for information about upcoming workshops & commissioning of ministers.

Mobile Meals: Volunteers deliver hot meals to homebound people in the community. Volunteers commit one day per month and our assigned parish day is the 2nd Friday of each month from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Serves Monthly. Contact: Lillian Leonard at 299-0736 or dubleonard@aol.com to become involved.

Publicity Committee: Seeks to share information about the parish community and activities with the larger Triad community. Contact: Dan Camia at nandancam@aol.com or 292-6767.

Reemployment Support Group: This group meets every other Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M. to assist those who are out of work or looking to change professions. Parishioners who become aware of job opportunities are asked to contact Colleen Assal at 294-4696 ext. 226 or at cassal@stpaulcc.org to share this information with the group.

Santa For Seniors: Each year in December, members of our parish go the senior center downtown to host a Christmas parth for less fourtunate senior citizens. For more information contact Colleen Assal at cassal@stpaulcc.org.

Senior Wheels: Senior Wheels is a transportation service for older adults. Rides to scheduled medical appointments are provided by caring volunteer drivers from local religious congregations. St. Paul the Apostle Church provides rides on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Contact: Chuck Sartore at 292-0736 cassal@stpaulcc.org.

Singles Fellowship: Open to all Triad Catholic churches, this group provides opportunities for those who are single again to make friends and get together for social activities. Contact: Lee Branch at 288-0739 rand7775@bellsouth.net or Marlienne Goldin at 286-0967 marlgold@aol.com.

Sister Parish Program: This program assists parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle and of the Parish of the Child Jesus in Manta, Ecuador, in living out our baptismal call to discipleship by establishing a long term spiritual, cultural, and personal relationship. Opportunities are provided for personal growth, commitment, and involvement in our communities. Meets Quarterly. Check this site or the bulletin for the next date. To read the minutes of the July 31, 2007 meeting click here. For more information about the Sister Parish Program, contact Ken Kaczmarsk at 294-2558 or ken_kaczmarek@yahoo.com.

Urban Ministry Food Collection: These events are held to raise awareness of needs of the poor by asking for and collecting non-perishable food items for Urban Ministry. This is accomplished by spending an hour or so at a supermarket handing out flyers and explaining the purpose of the drive. Contact Frank Cunningham at 292-9964 or jfc55@triad.rr.com for information about the next drive or visit Greensboro Urban Ministry on the web.

Urban Ministry Soup Kitchen: Volunteers from St. Paul the Apostle Church prepare and serve hot lunches on the fourth Saturday of every month. Contact Margaret Magee at 668-3569, mmagee@dixon-hughes.com or cassal@stpaulcc.org.

Wild and Wooly Knitters: Throughout the year, St. Paul parishioners gather to knit and crochet hats and afghans for those in need. Call for next meeting date and time. Contact: Ruth Gerlach, 605-9813.