Outreach to Our Neighbors

At St. Michael’s, our Mercy & Social Justice ministry connects members with several partner organizations to offer opportunities to serve those in need.  Here is an idea of what do annually.

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Fall

September, October, November

Trunk or Treat We gather in our parking lot on Halloween with decorated cars and an abundance of treats to offer our neighbors who come to enjoy trick or treating safely and with great cheer!

Thanksgiving Gift Card Collections for clients of River City Food Bank and the Center at St. Matthew’s to make their Thanksgiving Dinner Special!

Winter

December, January, February

HART Winter-Shelter is an opportunity for our members to offer warm hearts, a homemade breakfast, a hot shower, and a bag lunch to those living on the streets.

Gifts from the Heart is a gift giving program where members of St. Michael’s buy presents for our neighbors accessing services through the county.

Gifts from the Heart 2022 Thank You NotesGifts from the Heart 2022 Video

Habitat for Humanity – Unity Build is an opportunity for our members to work with other faith communities building houses for those who would otherwise not be able to be home owners.

Spring

March, April, May

Easter Gift Card Collection for clients at River City Food Bank and the Center at St. Matthew’s.

Lent Coat Drive We collect coats to give to Starr King K-8 and to distribute at the Center @ St. Matthew’s.

Hygiene Kits for Star King 5th Graders   We collect shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, deodorant, and other essentials to partner with the teachers and staff teaching a Hygiene Unit for the 5th graders.  This will be our second year engaged in this project.

Rise Against Hunger Over 50 members of St. Michael’s Church and Troop 802 joined together to pack over 10,000 meals to send overseas to hungry children in impoverished areas.  With their bellies full, they will now be able to concentrate better at school. We look forward to our next event in 2023.

Diaper Drive We collect diapers for the clients who access River City Food Bank at the Center at St. Matthew’s.

Summer

June, July, August

St. Michael’s Indoor Yard Sale 2023, June 17th we will have a yard sale with items that members donated and organized the previous week.

More Information

Star King K-8 Backpack Project During the summer months we collect Backpacks, and other supplies needed for the students at Starr King K-8.

Charitable Giving

Bob McMichael came to our beloved (and now retired) Deacon Cindy and me a while back wondering about our reserve funds. He thought that having some reserves was prudent and wise. However, he wondered if we could take a “significant amount” and use it to relieve some of the suffering that was growing around us all exacerbated  by COVID. We brought this to the vestry and embarked on a journey together to determine if Bob’s idea was right for St. Michael’s at this time. The vestry determined that it is the responsibility of the church to give to those in need when we are able to do so. And so we are!

St. Michael's Significant Gift

Working for Justice

St. Michael’s has joined in the conversation that is struggling with what it means to treat others with equity and strive for justice for all God’s people.  Here are some ways we found that can assist us in this elusive endeavor.

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Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter movement has caused many of our members to wonder how to live into the biblical principle that says we all must treat each other with equity.  We know we are created in the image of God and all deserve to be treated justly, mercifully, and with equity.  We also know that there have been times in our history when we have treated blacks less than in our policies and in our institutions.  As a group, we must remember that they are not less than and that their lives matter.

Sacred Ground is a class that the Episcopal Church developed and encourages congregations to offer.  It is a comprehensive look at the beginnings of our country and how we have treated people of color disrespectfully.  We completed one class together and look forward to offering it again in the future.

Sacred Ground

Documentary & Discussion

We often use our DOCUMENTARY & DISCUSSION time on the fourth Sunday of the month at 6:30pm to dive deeper into social justice issues and what we can do to address injustice.  Past documentaries include themes of racial injustice, environmental issues that create economic injustices, and sometimes we take a break watch documentaries on things like Fungi!

If you have a suggestion on a good topic and/or documentary for the group to watch, please email the office.

Last DocumentaryNext Documentary

Feed the Hungry

St. Michael’s believes no one should be hungry.  We also know that often, those who are most vulnerable, have to pick between paying rent and buying food, or getting medicine and buying food.  This is why we are so committed to our feeding partners:  River City Food Bank and Loaves and Fishes.  We appreciate all our members do to support both of these organization.  People give generously to the “soup pot” the 4th Sunday of the month to support our feeding programs.  People also volunteer at these organizations.  If this is something you are interested in, tell them St. Michael’s sent you!

Volunteer at RCFB

Immigration

The Sacramento area has a high concentration of immigrants and refugees from Afghanistan and the surrounding areas in the Middle East and from Ukraine.  We have members who are engaged in work with International Rescue Committee.  If have interest in getting involved with this organization, please connect with Christina Manning.

St. Michael’s supports new immigrants and refugees by supporting The Center at St. Matthew’s.  The diocesan outreach center hosts River City Food Bank and Highlands Community Charter School.  River City Food Bank feeds those who are in need.  Highlands teaches ESL and cultural classes to help immigrants and refugees find employment.

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California also has a group who meets regularly to work in immigration. They have two programs that you may find of interested:  Episcopal Migration Ministries and Welcoming the Stranger.   For more information about Episcopal Migration Ministries or Welcoming the Stranger ministry, please contact Lynn Zender.

Serve in the Greater Community

We are delighted to offer opportunities for our members to love their neighbors and serve others.

Mercy & Social Justice

Serve in the Church

We are delighted to offer opportunities for our members to serve in our worship. Additionally, our members have opportunites to care for each other.

Serve in WorshipPastoral Care

Group Study

At St. Michael’s, we are determined to keep our sense of community intact during these remote times. We offer a number of Adult Education courses and groups to help you stay connected while still staying safe.

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Thursday Morning Bible Study Zoom

We Begin at 10:00 am and end at 11:30 am. This very special group of men and women meet to read, study, and struggle with biblical stories in order to find practical application for our lives. Most of our discussions center around theology and human behavior. We look for God’s Word to help us apply it to our lives to make them more manageable and God-centered. We read the Bible from the Spiritual perspectives of the group. There is no obligation to conform to any one believe. One only has to be open to struggling with the complexity and paradox often found in the stories! This is an open bible study and all are welcome!

We are comparing Gospel themes and stories in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. All are welcome, we would love to have you join us!

Daughters of the King Study

The Order of the Daughters of the King is an order for women and girls who are communicants of the Episcopal, Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches.

Because Daughters of the King accept a Rule of Life, we define ourselves as an order, not an organization. Our community is found primarily in our local chapters, but it includes chapters throughout the United States as well as internationally. If you would like more information or have questions about it, please contact:

Sue Corbin at (916) 228-1277 or Mary Hutchinson at (916) 284-1644