Ministries

OUTREACH

Christ & Grace church offers a host of opportunities to serve the community, the region and the world. Parishioners are committed to the Great Commandment: To love God and our neighbor as ourselves.

 

The Men's Shelter

Twenty-six to 30 volunteers from Christ & Grace provide a hot dinner for 35-40 men on the third, fourth and fifth Wednesdays of each month.  Each month a different team shares the preparation and delivery and also serves the food.

   

Men's Shelter Christmas Party

The Wednesday before Christmas many parishioners provide an extensive Christmas dinner for the men at the shelter, sing carols with them and give them a gift of sweatshirts or flannel shirts and a Christmas cookie goodie bag. 

 

Downtown Churches United Lunch Program

We provide lunch for the homeless 6-7 times a year at various churches in the community.

 

Hand-Maidens

This year-round ministry provides love and a sense of security to children who are ill, traumatized or just in need, through the gift of handmade quilts and crocheted or knitted blankets.  A handful of dedicated sewers meet weekly for quilt assembly, while other volunteers create items at home.  All levels of expertise are welcome.

 

Meals on Wheels

About 10 volunteers deliver meals to shut-ins through the national Meals on Wheels organization. 

  

Workcamp Lunches

Lunches are provided for a week to a team of young people who are renovating homes for people in need in the Tri-City Area. (About 5-10 volunteers are involved in this outreach program.)

 

Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners

The Department of Social Services identifies needy families, and Christ & Grace provides complete turkey dinners for them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We typically help about 8-10 families at Thanksgiving and 25-30 families at Christmas. 

 

Angel Tree Ministry

Christmas gifts (toys) and gift cards for clothing are purchased for 40 children of incarcerated parents accessed through the Prison Ministry. Gifts are wrapped and delivered shortly before Christmas. (Nearly 60 parishioners volunteer for this program.)

 

Holiday or special Occasion MemorialCard Program

The Christ and Grace Outreach Program offers a service to those who would like to make a contribution to a charitable organization in honor or in memory of a friend or family member.  A card is sent to the family of the deceased or to the one honored for any special occasion.  

 

Rebuilding Together Petersburg

Formerly called “Christmas in April,” this community-based program assigns homes that need minor renovations to service organizations and churches in Petersburg. During two consecutive Saturdays in April, volunteers work at the assigned homes.  (A total of 10-20 volunteers from Christ & Grace work on this project each year.)

 

Walk against Hunger

We participate in the Downtown Churches United (DCU) Walk against Hunger in November each year. Those who participate in the 6-K walk raise funds for the needy in Petersburg.

 

 

Mission Trips

Our international mission trips serve our Companion Diocese of Belize with building schools and offering Vacation Bible School for students.  In the past, 13-18 volunteers have participated in this mission each time the church has organized a trip. 

 

Martha Merritt Food Pantry Collection

Parishioners donate each Sunday a "food of the month" for the Martha Merritt Pantry, and the EYC deliver it. 

 

Jackson Feild Home for Girls

Garments and toiletry items are picked up or delivered to the Jackson Feild Home.  

 

One-time Outreach Services

Assistance to a family that had to relocate to Virginia because of Hurricane Katrina. (We provided beds, kitchen items, towels, etc.)

Malaria nets for Africa

Care packages for the troops in Iraq

St. Joseph's School retention effort

 

Funding Charities

The Outreach Committee distributes designated funds to a number of local, national and international charities.