Outreach


1,000 Mugs for South Africa

The “1,000 Mugs” Project was the dream of Marlene Nelson, a Messiah parishioner and Harvard Ceramics’ potter whose passionate desire was to make and sell 1,000 mugs and donate the money to support public education for the children of Khetani, a black township outside Winterton, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.  She previously spent time on a dairy farm in Winterton where she taught pottery to some of the local Zulu farm workers.  Through her generosity, she financed the construction of a church building for the Khetani Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational worship community.

Marlene’s dream was cut short by cancer which claimed her life last September.  However, she had shared her vision with her colleagues and friends at Harvard’s Ceramic Program.  And so in her memory, Wasma’a Chorbachi coordinated the effort to do what she was not able to do:  make 1,000 mugs and donate the profits from their sale to South Africa.  Many of the mugs were created by master potters, such as Chorbachi, who has several pieces on permanent display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  The money will be used to fund a library for the Khetani primary school and if funds permit, for the high school.  The Parish of the Messiah is coordinating the sale of the mugs and absorbing any administrative costs as part of its outreach ministry.  The project kicked into high gear on October 7, 2009 with the pottery show and sale with Bishop Shaw, also a potter, as our special guest.  For further information, to see a catalog of the mugs, and place mug  orders, visit www.1000mugs.org  

 

To read a recent Boston Globe on-line article about  the 1,000 Mugs Project, click on this link:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2009/09/local_church_and_artist_to_hol.html


Support for the Newton Food Pantry

“I was hungry and you gave me food.” 

Hunger knows no geographical boundaries.  Many families in the western suburbs depend on organizations such as the Newton Food Pantry for assistance.  Help stamp out hunger right around the corner by bringing donated items to the church during any service or concert event.  Special wooden containers for donations are located inside the front entrance of the church and near the church office. 

The Newton Food pantry is a non-profit organization run by volunteers. The pantry is located at the former Waban branch library located at 1608 Beacon Street at the corner of Beacon and Woodward Street in Waban Square.

Food is distributed every Wednesday from 1:30-3:30 pm except the third Wednesday of the month. The pantry is open on the 3rd Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 p.m. The pantry provides a three day supply of food, one time per month, for eligible Newton residents.

Non-perishable donations may be made every Wednesday from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. and on the 3rd Saturday from 10-11 a.m. In addition, non-perishable items may be donated anytime during office hours (6-7 days per week) at Hammond Residential Real Estate, 1631 Beacon Street, Waban, across from the Food Pantry.

You may contact volunteers Vicki at (617) 965-8906 or Jackie at (617) 527-2394 for more information. If you would like to send a cash donation, please make checks payable to the Newton Food Pantry and send to:

Newton Food Pantry
1608 Beacon Street
Newton, MA 02468

 Some items needed are listed below:

Non-perishable food:

Small personal care items:
   canned tuna, peanut butter    soap and detergent
   canned fruits and vegetables    toilet tissue
   canned meals such as beef stew    toothpaste, tampons, etc.
   pasta, cereal, and other dry food   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mustard Seed Project -- South Africa

 

For many years people at Messiah have prayed for and contributed to the work of Joan Reeve.  Joan is a member of All Saints Church, the Anglican parish in Winterton, a small town in the southwestern farmlands of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.  A longtime opponent of apartheid, she has played a leading role within her parish to address the economic and social difficulties of their community.

 

One of her efforts, the Mustard Seed Project, supports the education of children who otherwise would not be able to attend school.  The project is on a small scale intentionally, as Joan hopes to support these children until they graduate from high school.  She feels the best results are achieved when support starts at the beginning of a child’s education.

In one of her letters, Joan says, “Pray for the lives of these kids so that they’re not dropped halfway.  I really would like the whole thing to become funded by South Africa rather than us asking people overseas to fund it.  We need to build a culture here in this country of trying to sort ourselves out, but our congregations are small.  And everyone is involved.  Everybody is doing something in some way or another.”

Gifts in support of her work can be made at any time of year.  Make checks payable to the Parish of the Messiah, with “Reeve Fund” written on the memo line. 


Hildebrand Shelter

 

Each Advent, we collect Christmas gifts for the women who live at the Hildebrand Shelter for homeless families in Cambridge. Gifts for children are also welcome, but as so few mothers receive gifts that is the area of greatest need.  Parishioners are asked to donate personal items such as toiletries, slippers, nightgowns, or socks as well as gift cards from local stores such as Target and Marshalls.  Gifts do not need to be wrapped, but if the gift is wrapped, please tag the package with a content label (eg, slippers, size 8).  Several collection boxes are located within the church or gift card donations marked "Hildebrand" may be placed in the offering plate.  

 

The beginning of the school is another time when items can be donated.  Anything that a young person needs for going back to school on the first day are welcome such as back packs, spiral notebooks, pads of paper, pens, pencils, markers, and rulers.

 

Additional gifts may be made to the Hildebrand Shelter any time during the year by sending or bringing them to the church office at 1900 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale MA 02466.  

 


Episcopal Relief and Development      


Parish of the Messiah supports the world-wide relief and development work being done by Episcopal Relief and Development or ERD.  ERD provides emergency assistance in times of disaster by saving lives and building hope in communities around the world.  When the immediate crisis is over, ERD rebuilds devastated communities and offers long-term solutions in the areas of food security, health care, and HIV/AIDS.

 

ERD saves lives after an emergency:
Disasters, whether man-made or natural, happen all the time.  When they strike, ERD helps people by supplying food, water, and medicine immediately.  ERD prevents vulnerable people from further suffering, especially women, children, and the elderly.

 

ERD helps communities rebuild when the crisis is over:
Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other catastrophes leave people with nothing. 
ERD works hand-in-hand with local communities to build new homes, plant crops, create clean water systems, construct clinics and schools, and offer critical post-trauma counseling.

 

ERD creates opportunities for people living in poverty:
In many places in the world, people can't feed their families or give them basic health care. Through
ERD's food security and primary health care program, ERD provides farming and business training, health care services, and HIV/AIDS programs in communities where families are struggling to survive.  ERD gives people the tools to earn an income and create opportunities for their children. 

 

To learn more about ERD, just click on the button below, or go to www.er-d.org  

 


 

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