Mandates for Outreach Ministry

Diocesan Prayer

Most gracious and loving God: Strengthen the hearts of your people in this Diocese, that loving you with our whole heart, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, we might, in the power of the Spirit, obey the call of Jesus, to go into our world as disciples making disciples, and making a difference, through your saving love. Amen

Mission Statement of the Chapel of the Cross

The Chapel of the Cross, historically linked to the University of North Carolina and the Town of Chapel Hill, bears faithful witness to the presence of the living God on the campus, in the community, in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and throughout all the world, We are called to:
1. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
2. Learn and teach the Christian faith,
3. Love one another,
4. Strive for justice and peace among all people,
5. Care for those in need,
6. Share our many blessings, and to do all with truly thankful hearts in the name of Jesus.

Outreach Ministry Committee Mission Statement

To serve God by bringing Christ's love, justice, and mercy into the world through education, stewardship, and leadership through social outreach.

Scriptural Mandates

Deuteronomy 15: 7-11
If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community, in any of your towns within the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, what ever it may be. Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, “The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,†and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.

James 1:22-25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says, is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does.

John 21:15-17
Jesus said, Do you love me, Peter?. Feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep.

Luke 4:16-19
He went to Nazareth , where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 10:30-37
The Good Samaritan. Go and do likewise.

Luke 14:12-14
When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, and lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Mark 12:29-31
The most important commandment,

Matthew 10:6
Jesus sent his 12 disciples out and said, Go to the lost sheep of Israel .

Matthew 15:32-38
Jesus feeds the 4000. I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry. The disciples said, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?

He took seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke them and gave them to the disciples and they in turn to the people. All ate and were satisfied and they picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Matthew 19:21 and Luke 18:22
Jesus said to him, If you wish to be perfeët, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.

Matthew 25:34-40
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 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.

Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.

The Book of Common Prayer

The Baptismal Covenant
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
The Catechism
The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. Our duty to our neighbors is to love them as ourselves, show respect, be kind to all; seek justice, freedom, peace and necessities of life for all and to use our talents and possessions as ones who must answer to God.