SERVICE
"And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind.
Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching."
Titus 2:7
As we worship together and grow in well-being through this community, we are equipped and empowered to be disciples on mission and to serve others beyond our walls.
Explore the various ways that St. Mary's reaches out to others and reflect on how you might help bring healing, comfort, joy and peace to the greater community. It is in this way that we honor God and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
St. Mary's contributes time, talent, and treasure to the MLK Community Center. St. Mary's donates and participates in initiatives such as the
- food pantry,
- annual Santa's Workshop, and
- Rinse and Renew program.
Community Outreach Team
The Community Outreach Team selects an annual theme or issue for its focus. Issues have included immigration, housing insecurity, caring for the environment, and food insecurity. The team then fosters awareness about the issue through speakers, a book discussion on the subject, and a project that centers on that need.
St. Mary's selects an agency program that is designed to help fill gaps in the safety net.
Agencies that St. Mary's has partnered with include
- Habitat for Humanity,
- Crossroads Rhode Island,
- The Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center
- Conexion Latina, and
- The Aquidneck Land Trust.
Soup Kitchen
The people of St. Mary's have been involved with the local Soup Kitchen for over 50 years. Faithfully, we have provided a complete dinner on the second Thursday of every month at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Newport.
Many hands are needed to cook, prepare the meal, offer hospitality and clean up.
Community Garden
St. Mary's Community Garden's donates fresh, organic produce to local food pantries and to help alleviate hunger on Aquidneck Island. Located on St. Mary's property, the garden has relied on the efforts of parishioners and friends to raise fresh vegetables for donation to area food banks, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Lucy's Hearth, and the Salvation Army. Cutting flowers are also grown for use by the St. Mary's Pastoral Care Commission and community. Since its inception in 2011, the garden has contributed thousands of pounds of fresh food in an effort to reduce hunger and food insecurity on Aquidneck Island.
The garden is open to members of the community with free seasonal plots. Our intention is to bring organic gardening within reach of a larger local population while encouraging gardeners to donate excess fruits and vegetables to local food pantries.
