Community Ministries

Some churches call these ministries "local outreach" -- they are ministries currently serving our local communities. Some, like the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, are a part of every day life for the Christ Church parish. Some ministries, like the Alternative Gift Market, are yearly events in which we participate. Some of these ministries, like the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, are national / global entities with a local connection. Some, like Greene Square Meals, are homegrown and unique to the Cedar Rapids area.

Month by Month Focus Listing

Please see the weekly newsletter for information on the exact nature of our focus on these community ministries:

January thru February 15		Catherine McAuley Center
February 16 thru March 31		School Suplies for Johnson School School Supplies for Inn Circle
April thru May 15		Neighborhood Meals & Enrichment Program
May 16 thru June 30		Arc of East-Central Iowa
July thru August 15		Tanager Place (Expressive Arts)
August 16 thru September 30		Willis Dady Emergency Center
October 1 thru November 15		Winterwear for Johnson School
November 16 thru Dececember 31		Thanksgiving & Christmas Dinners for Johnson School, Inn Circle & Medical/CEC families Toys & blankets for Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry

Alternative Gift Market

Each year, local churches and non-profit groups host the Alternative Gift Market (AGM). It's a festive opportunity to purchase gifts that make a real difference in lives across the globe as well as in our own community. Christ Church is a core supporter of the AGM. We host booths in the market and have fun designing the posters and props for our items, visiting with people as they shop, and helping with "mini-markets" on weekends at our church so that people who aren't able to come to the full Market are still able to participate.

As a shopper, you have a unique opportunity to purchase “gifts of giving” from a wide range of items -- trees, toys, computers, food, stoves, blankets, books, cows, clean water, mosquito netting, medical supplies – that will tickle the fancy of your favorite gift recipients while benefiting local, national and international charities.

For example, you may buy a $5 share to support the Heifer Project or a $20 share to help build wheelchairs for people in Africa. With each purchase, you receive a gift card to send to your friends, relatives or colleagues letting those special people know that this gift has been purchased in their name... be it chickens, solar computers, trees... The SERRV Store and Catherine McCauley Center also offer gifts for sale, a delicious lunch is served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and baked goods are available throughout the day. Bring friends & family & enjoy a giving market! In the meantime, check out the Alternative Gift Market catalog at: www.alternativegifts.org

We hosted the Market at Christ Church from 2001-2003. Watch for the announcement in the fall to learn which local church is hosting this year's Market.

Contact: Kate Rose
Get Connected: Shop the market!

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

As the leaves turn in the fall, come and join the Christ Church team as we walk in support of the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Contact: Debbie Jones
Get Connected: Join the walk -- watch for info in the church news
See Also: www.alz.org/memorywalk

The Arc of East-Central Iowa

At Christ Church, we are pleased to offer classroom space to BASICS, the Arc's before- and after school inclusive services for children with and without disabilities. In the summer, this expands to a full day's program. The Arc also is able to offer Saturday respite care. During the summer of 2008, after their building's loss in the June flood, we were able to house their administrative offices in our Youth rooms. They've since rebuilt their offices and have returned operations downtown.

Contact: parish office staff
Get Connected: daycare open for children of all abilities
See Also: www.arceci.org

CANstruction

Christ Church partners with local architects and engineering organizations to hold an annual event where structures are built of canned goods. Our Youth members enter the yearly contest with their own design concept and contributions from the parish. Structures are displayed for public viewing for one week; food is then sent to HACAP for distribution to local food pantries, including Loaves and Fishes.

Contact: Leslee Sandberg
Get Connected: Come and see! Watch for news, usually late winter. The youth will have specific food requests or ask for money donations for their display.
See Also: www.corridorcanstruction.org

Community Health Free Clinic

The CHFC provides care to about 24,000 uninsured and underinsured patients in the Cedar Rapids area. A dental clinic, pharmacy, eye clinic, counseling and therapy/community resource services, as well as medical care is provided by over 600 volunteers, including licensed physicians, dentists, social workers, nurses, nutritionists and many others.

Contact: Nancylee Ziese, MSW, LISW
Get Connected: Volunteer services and donations are always needed.
See Also: www.communityhfc.org

CROPWalk

Church members (including a yearly Youth team) rally to help CROP raise money to combat hunger, poverty and homelessness. Would you like to walk or sponsor walkers?

Contact: Kate Hogg
Get Connected: Join the Walk - usually in the fall.
See Also: www.churchworldservice.org

Ecumenical Community Center

Thirteen churches working together to provide better community living: Helping Hands provides referrals, financial assistance and advocacy for individuals, families, and community service agencies; Margaret Bock Housing provides low income housing for individuals; and CompuPlace provides assistive technology services to children and adults with disabilities.

Contacts: Claudia Whitney, ECC board member
Melissa Wagner-Kingery, Helping Hands board member
Get Connected: Donate. Helping Hands is where we direct most financial inquiries from those in need.
See Also: www.ecc-cr.org

Flood Relief: Cedar Rapids & Beyond

Christ Church continues to be involved in providing housing to out-of-state volunteers and in assisting flood-related relief work as it arises.

Contact: Kate Rose
Get Connected: Bring your Mission Group to Cedar Rapids! Click here to read all about this. (Parishioners & friends can click to learn more about the Hospitality Committee).

Greene Square Meals

Heart of Iowa

A residential treatment program for pregnant and parenting women addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. The program is intended to restore women and their children to society in a state of sobriety with the ability to be productive. Opportunities for involvement include leading worship, tutoring and assisting in Bible study.

Contact: Nancylee Ziese
Get Connected: Involvement (as above) as well as financial giving.
See Also: www.asac.us

Johnson School of the Arts

One of our local elementary schools, JSA can connect us with several ministry opportunities, such as providing winter coats & mittens and school supplies, as well as tutoring and mentoring in before- and after-school enrichment activities.

Contact: Lisa Butler
Get Connected: Watch the Community Ministries focus announcements for specific ingatherings. Those who wish to get involved in tutoring and/or mentoring should call the parish office to get connected with a child who can use your gift of time to help them grow.

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry

A shared ministry of Christ Episcopal and Westminster Presbyterian, the Pantry is located at 1251 3rd Ave SE and is open every Tuesday afternoon to provide food and fellowship to all who come. Donations and new volunteers are always welcome. Check the church newsletter for each month’s needed food items. Christ Church members interested in volunteering may call Linda Antisavage in the church office, 363-2029.

Contacts: Val Neubauer, Westminster Presbyterian general info
Linda Antisavage, Christ Church volunteering
Get Conntected: Volunteer! See also the food item of the month in the church news.

Neighborhood Meals & Enrichment Program

During the summer months, when the school lunch programs are unavailable, NMEP provides a warm, nutritious meal for neighborhood children and their families at locations throughout Cedar Rapids. Ten community churches, including Christ Church, provide food, monetary donations and volunteers. In a typical summer, over ten thousand meals are served..

Contact: Mary Craven
Get Connected: In early summer, watch for the big sign-up for volunteers and for news of what ingredients you can donate for meals.

Prison Ministries

Linn County Correctional Chapliancy: Inmates’ prayer requests are emailed or mailed to volunteers. Anyone called to volunteer may participate in worship, Bible studies, dialogues or special events/services including drama, music or art.

Contact: Maridee Dugger

Anamosa State Penitentiary: A team of Episcopalians conducts weekly Bible studies, sponsors and mentors an Education for Ministry seminar, and offers a communion service once a month at the Anamosa State Penitentiary chapel. Prayers and funds to assist this ministry are always welcome and appreciated.

Contacts: Anne Williams
Melody Rockwell

Iowa Correctional Institute for Women: The women at Mitchellville knit scarves, hats and mittens for children in the Cedar Rapids area with supplies provided by Christ Church.

Contact: Vikki Waller

Get Connected: Contact the people above to see how you can find your place in prison ministry.

Relay for Life

Christ Church enters a team each June in the American Cancer Society fundraiser. The relay is held at Kirkwood Community College. Committee members are needed to plan our team’s involvement, hold a kick-off event, sign up team members, and fire up the team to reach our fundraising goal.

Contact: Doug Anderson, (319) 363-0728
Get Connected: Join the Relay! This is a big event at Christ Church. Team members are needed around the clock. Sponsors are needed, too!
See Also: www.relayforlife.org

RESULTS: Ending Poverty

Christ Episcopal Church hosts the Cedar Rapids chapter of RESULTS — an advocacy organization for the poor. The CR Area RESULTS group meets once monthly to write letters to Congress, letters to the editor, and to make phone calls to elected representatives on behalf of legislation which will improve people’s lives.

Contact: Leslee Sandberg
Get Connected: Come to a RESULTS meeting: and learn how to advocate by doing hands-on work!
see also: www.results.org

Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Between November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and December 10 (International Human Rights Day), awareness of the reality of gender violence around the world is created to strengthen the will to end it and transform relationships between women and men into ones of equality.

Contact: Barbara Schlachter
Get Connected: Pray through these 16 Days. A brochure is available at the church.

Summer Reading Camp

Christ Episcopal Church and Coe College sponsor a four-day summer reading camp in July/August on the Coe campus. Mornings are filled with reading with mentors, skill building games and journaling. We swim in the Coe Pool. Following lunch in the Coe cafeteria, we have fun hands-on experiences in the biology, chemistry and physics labs. Mentors, drivers, and snack providers needed.

Contact: Leslee Sandberg
Get Connected: This is another BIG event at Christ Church! Mentors, drivers, snack makers needed. Throughout the year, collect children's books to be used at the Camp.

Tanager Arts Program

Waypoint Women's Shelter

Get Connected

Community Ministries are a part of our Jubilee Ministries Commission. Come to the monthly JM meetings, usually the fourth Monday of the month, 7 p.m.

See the contact person listed for each community ministry. The parish office (363-2029) can get you connected to the ministry contact. If no contact person is listed, speak with Leslee Sandberg.

If you are connected with a local community ministry, please let your church know! As a Jubilee Ministries Parish, Christ Church is dedicated to supporting its parishioners in their personal ministries.