Programs: Outreach, Education, and Community Events
Outreach
Outreach at Messiah is guided by the clear injunction Jesus gave us in Matthew 25.
“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
Our practice of Outreach is always centered in prayer, scripture and our relationship to one another. After a period of discernment, the Outreach Committee has come to the following guiding principles for outreach at the Church of the Messiah:
We are called to be servant hosts to the neediest and forgotten.
We are called to provide the widest possible opportunities for congregation members to create a community of service.
We are called to draw on the breadth of our time, talent and treasure and to freely share them without expectation of recognition or thanks.
We are called to actively seek out new ways God may be calling us, listen for the voices of the forgotten and respond.
We call upon the presence of the Holy Spirit to help us live out these principles and discern where we may go in the future.
In response, Messiah directly supports outreach activities through financial grants, donations of material goods, volunteer hours and educational activities aimed at raising community awareness about the needs of the underserved. Among the most active programs at Messiah are:
Jayne Brooks Food Pantry – Our weekly pantry provides a range of nutritious perishable and shelf stable foods, as well as personal care and household items, to our neighbors in need.
Third Thursday Lunch – Funds raised by a monthly luncheon are distributed to not-for-profit organizations that provide services in Dutchess County. Lunch attendees are educated about the needs and goals of local agencies.
English as a Second Language – Instruction, support and advocacy are provided for members of the Hispanic community through classes in English, legal education and social events.
Storybook Project – Parents incarcerated in the Dutchess County Jail, with the facilitation of Messiah volunteers, record children’s books onto a CD which is then sent to their children along with the book so the children can hear their parents reading to them.
Linda A. Karr Cuddle Blanket Project – Volunteers sew quilted blankets for the children at risk who attend Camp Ramapo each summer. Over 300 quilts are distributed each year.
Rural and Migrant Ministries – Messiah regularly supports projects on behalf of the children served by Rural and Migrant Ministries (providing school kits, Christmas gifts).
In addition to these ministries, Messiah supports Crop Walk, Dutchess County Coalition for the Homeless, Hudson River Housing, IRIS Refugee Program, Larrynaga Sister, Violet Avenue School and Messiah Connections.
We continue to seek new ways God may be calling us, listening for the voices of the forgotten and finding ways to respond. In addition, we take our responsibilities as community members of Rhinebeck and the Hudson Valley by offering our space and talents to many groups including AA, Al-Anon, Family Movie Night, Rhinebeck Bridge Club, Rhinebeck Chamber Music, Sinterklass, among others.
Community rallies at Messiah’s June 30th, 2018 Interfaith Service and Witness in support of Justice For All: Keeping Families Together.
To learn more about Messiah’s programs or to get involved, email the Parish Office.