Six Aquidneck churches work together in New Orleans on Habitat for Humanity mission trip

In April Emmanuel Church sponsored its fifth mission trip to the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina, collaborating with the Aquidneck Island church community to send seventeen volunteers to New Orleans. Six Churches participated in this ministry together; Channing Memorial, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, St. Barnabas Roman Catholic, St. Columba’s Episcopal, St. Mary’s Episcopal and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

The Aquidneck group worked for Habitat for Humanity, who has coordinated over 100,000 volunteers since the storm, helping more than 400 families. Volunteers left the comforts of Rhode Island behind to work with others from across North America to bring hope to the people in New Orleans.

After almost six years, many people are still suffering from the effects of Katrina. Neighborhoods are still boarded up. Lives are still torn apart, but in the midst of it volunteers found people full of hope.

Volunteers participated in various projects. They put clapboard on a house for a New Orleans family of six, helped Episcopal Community Services sheetrock a home for a woman who has lived in a FEMA trailer for four years now, and worked for the Latino Farmers Cooperative as well as New Orleans Mission.

Each member of the group returned home with new friends from the Aquidneck church community and a feeling that is difficult to explain. What each member knows is that someday they will return to New Orleans. The need is so great.
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Celebration of the Volunteers Return- Sunday May 15, 2011 at 10 AM  The Episcopal service will include southern spiritual music and some members of the mission group will talk about their life-changing experiences.

Story Sharing & Slideshow- Sunday May 22, 2011 at 4 PM at People’s Café. Member of the group would like to share their stories of compassion, of giving, and of receiving with the Newport Community.

Donations of canned goods and non-perishable food items will be collected on May 15th and May 22nd to be donated to the Salvation Army, Newport food pantry. Services and events are free and open to the public. For more information call 401-847-0675.

State of the Congregations Follow Up Resources and Letter from Bishop Wolf

May 6, 2011

Dear Friends,

Thanks to those who were with us at the "State of the Congregations" meeting last Saturday. There were over 115 people there from more than 30 congregations. The presentation made by the Rev. David Lucey on behalf of the Program and Budget Committee was frank and clear; if we are to thrive as a diocese, each church must take an unvarnished look at its current reality, figure how it can best utilize its assets – financial, physical and human – in order to further God’s kingdom.

In addition, we need to talk to our neighboring churches and find effective ways to collaborate in such a way that the Gospel mandates are creatively fulfilled and needs are met in the local communities. This may lead to mergers, partnerships, shared ministry or other ideas that you generate.

We left the meeting committing to three things.

1. Each church will complete the form from Alban Institute and have conversation with their leaders and congregation about the financial future.
2. Each Deanery will meet within the next month inviting leaders –both clergy and lay – from each church to discuss what each church is currently doing and begin conversation about how groups of congregations can work together to enhance ministry, share resources and save money
3. Another meeting will be held in the fall to report back how the work has progressed.

If you were not at Saturday’s meeting, I ask you to view the material we distributed at Saturday’s meeting including Fr. Lucey’s PowerPoint presentation, 2009 Parochial Report Statistics, and the Congregation Budget Self-Test so that you can be part of this important dialogue.

Faithfully Yours,
Geralyn Wolf