Volunteers in the Community

While this issue of Cross Roads is focused on volunteers who work within the parish, the volunteer work done by parishioners outside the parish is immeasurable - in types, hours, and importance.

Frank Holt, Social Ministry Committee Member

When we think of the need to serve and help others, sometimes taking that first step to actually get involved is a difficult obstacle to overcome. For various reasons, finding the time to give back to the church and to our community through volunteerism is something we may decide to put on the back burner and hesitate to commit. The rationale for this decision may be because we feel the need or help is already being taken care of by others and is not really needed or valued. These impressions are definitely off the mark. If you are willing to get involved, you will make a difference in the life of our parish and to the community we serve.

Volunteering time to help improve the lives of others is a something we are all called to do. Opportunities to reach out to make a difference in the lives of others come in many sizes and shapes. From helping out at the church to serving on committees to provide outreach in our community, many of these efforts are ongoing and volunteers find joy knowing that their efforts are making a positive impact to serve the church and provide outreach to the needy. A sampling of volunteer opportunities available through the Chapel of the Cross includes:providing administrative support to clergy/staff, serving on the Altar Guild, singing in the choir, helping feed the hungry, providing tutoring assistance to the needy, helping church-supported organizations reach out to their needy populations, participating in mission trips, among many others.

Volunteering can be a rewarding experience; many parishioners, for various reasons, may not have taken this journey and benefited from the satisfactions received by answering this call to make time to help those less fortunate. By following this path, you may discover a new level of joy and satisfaction that comes as a reward from getting involved to help others. By taking time to get involved in outreach opportunities, you may also find joy in developing relationships with other parishioners who share this same spirit of serving as volunteers to the church and our community.

There will be a unique opportunity available at the church this summer, that will need many volunteers to help the Chapel of the Cross provide temporary shelter for homeless men. The men's shelter at the corner of Airport Road and Rosemary Street will be closed for renovations from mid-May through late September. Churches in the area have been asked by the Inter-Faith Council to volunteer their facilities to provide temporary shelter for these homeless men until the shelter re-opens this fall. With the Chapel of the Cross's commitment to help on this project from July 18-31, volunteers from our parish will be needed to assist with this project. More details regarding our commitment to this project and roles of interested volunteers will be publicized later this spring. Your time and energy to help with this important community effort is needed and appreciated.

As we go through life, many memories and experiences are long lasting and powerful. We all seek happiness and strive to do things that will make us feel we have contributed to the well being of others. Volunteerism is one means of accomplishing this goal. Through participation in outreach efforts, one's gratitude for having such opportunities is enlightened by becoming more aware of how blessed we are to have the opportunity to give back as volunteer. For volunteer opportunities involving social ministry outreach, please contact the Social Ministry Committee Chair, Sandra McClaskey.