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Outreach
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 5:14-16
At All Saints Sharon Chapel we strive to live into this calling and serve our community in many ways. We've only scratched the surface below but we're also always looking for new opportunities to serve.
All Saints Sharon Chapel previously donated time and treasure as volunteers to shop, prepare and serve the evening meal for the men, women, and children at Carpenter's Shelter.
On the first Tuesday of the month, All Saints Sharon Chapel parishioners would gather at Carpenter’s Shelter at 930 North Henry Street in Alexandria (www.carpentersshelter.org) to prepare and serve a meal to the 50–75 men, women and children living there. These families have a temporary home at the Shelter and either are working or participating in job skills training.
*Ministry Opportunity/Awaiting Renewal: This ministry is currently inactive, but we would love to revive it. If you feel called to help rebuild it, please speak with the Rector!
All Saints Sharon Chapel was once a long-time supporter of two local agencies that provide for the disadvantaged in this area. One is the Koinonia Foundation, located on the grounds of Franconia United Methodist Church on Franconia Road east of Beulah Street. The other is United Community Ministries (UCM) located on Richmond Highway near the Hybla Valley Shopping Center.
Both agencies provide food, clothing, furniture and funds to their clients. Sharon Chapel parishioners contribute food, household and personal cleaning items each week when they come to church. The recipient alternates each month with Koinonia receiving donations on the odd months and UCM on the even months.
On the last Sunday of the month at the 10:30 service a basket of food was brought forward for a prayer by the Rector for those in need. The children of the parish loaded the supplies into the car for delivery to the appropriate agency. In addition, the parish donated school supplies at the beginning of August and toys in December. The recipient agency alternated each year. Checks were always welcome and they are delivered along with the other donations.
*Ministry Opportunity/Awaiting Renewal: This ministry is currently inactive, but we would love to revive it. If you feel called to help rebuild it, please speak with the Rector!
All Saints Sharon Chapel Pastoral Care & Crisis Ministry is there for you when you need us or you can join us to be there for someone else in need.
We are all God’s people. We seek to embrace and care for our fellow members of the holy family of God.
Today as members of All Saints Sharon Chapel community we are involved in pastoral care. At All Saints Sharon Chapel, pastoral care includes each member of our congregation, both to serve and to be served.
We value family, belonging and inclusion, thus as a pastoral care minister we seek to know, value, and love each member of our congregation and offer services, assistance and resources to help meet their needs. For home-bound parishioners this may mean bringing communion, helping with meals, or furnishing transportation. For others, a phone call, card or visit may provide a needed boost. Sometimes guidance or mentoring may help someone through a crisis.
Through our ministry of listening, caring and presence we serve as representatives of the whole body of Christ. We seek to bring the love, hope and prayers of the church to those in need. In giving, we receive.
The Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation initiative was previously focused on two areas: raising our awareness of social justice and racial reconciliation issues and taking actions in support of these causes.
All Saints Sharon Chapel is committed to carrying out our Baptismal Covenant’s promise “to strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being” – while acknowledging that discrimination and hatred based on race/ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, religion, and age are ingrained in this country’s history and still take place in our society every day.
We are blessed to have a diverse group of parishioners who believe that each of us is a child of God who brings unique value to our community. With God’s help, the Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation initiative is allowing us to build stronger connections with each other and with the surrounding community.
To read more about this initiative, click here.
*Ministry Opportunity/Awaiting Renewal: This ministry is currently inactive, but we would love to revive it. If you feel called to help rebuild it, please speak with the Rector!
All Saints Sharon Chapel previously conducted a worship service at Sunrise Senior Living of Springfield on the first Sunday of every month.
Sunrise of Springfield is located at the corner of Franconia and Frontier Roads across from the Springfield Mall. We meet in a Gathering Room where there is a piano and we sing hymns before the service using a book of words for hymns which we provide. We also provided large-print booklets with Rite 1 prayers and distribute communion. Volunteers assisted the leader with readings and helped the residents follow in their booklets. The service began at 4:00 p.m. and lasted less than an hour.
*Ministry Opportunity/Awaiting Renewal: This ministry is currently inactive, but we would love to revive it. If you feel called to help rebuild it, please speak with the Rector!