|
|
Mission and Outreach
|
| The Scottish Episcopal Church has recognised that mission is the only reason for our existence. "As a fire exists by burning, so the Church exists by mission." Without mission, the Church is not the Church, it is an organisation preoccupied with its own self preservation. As Archbishop Temple is reputed to have said, "The Church is the only organisation which exists primarily for its non-members."
We continue to affirm our belief that it is the task of all baptised Christians to carry it out (not just the clergy!). We are all ministers of the Gospel, and we all share in the "priesthood of all believers," called by Christ to share his ministry, to proclaim the Good News, in the way we live our lives and share our faith.
Here are some of the ways in which we at St John's are involved in mission. |
 |
In Dumfries |
- We distribute our monthly church magazine to 500 homes, establishing a live person to person pastoral contact.
- We provide an Anglican Chaplaincy to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. There are usually around 20-30 people in hospital each week who classify themselves as "Anglicans" in some form or another. They receive a visit, a pastoral card, are prayed for, and along with their families (where required) are encouraged and supported in times of bereavement.
- We regularly visit all our members who are in care or in nursing homes such as Charnwood Lodge, Lochduhar, Abbeyfield etc. They are brought Communion regularly and, at Charnwood Lodge, we hold a monthly service.
- We are one of the main supporting churches in the Dumfries "Christian Care for the Homeless" project which provides a drop-in centre two days per week for homeless people. As well as providing prayer and finances, several of our members volunteer there on a regular basis.
- We contribute to school chaplaincy in collaboration with Church of Scotland colleagues at various schools. This involves making a contribution to schools' Religious Observance and Religious and Moral Education activities under the direction of the Head Teacher and being involved pastorally with staff and pupils.
- We encourage groups from the community to share our buildings, and we have all sorts of groups, bringing hundreds through our doors each week.
- Our clergy are also an important mission resource. They engage in pastoral visiting and give support, prayer and encouragement where needed. They conduct many funerals, baptisms and weddings.
|
 |
Overseas
 |
- In Medellin, Columbia, South America, St John's wholly finances a "street worker" called Albeiro. In that city there are thousands of children who are homeless and unwanted, and are considered by the authorities to be a menace to be exterminated. Albeiro works on the streets with those kids, getting to know them and helping them to find a better way of living through the project Let the Children Live.
- In Lima, Peru, also in South America, we support a nursery school, the 27 De Julio Nursery. This school caters for children of dispossessed parents in a slum district of the capital. The children spend the whole day in the care of the school and are fed there too.
|
We hold many fund-raising activities to support these missions. Many of our congregation have pledged to give and covenant regularly. We also have "pigs" (collection boxes) which we fill with money. These are divided between the South American projects. You can find out more about Let The Children Live at the Caring and Sharing website.
Many social events are held each year that raise thousands of pounds for outside charities. We also encourage church members to involve themselves in outreach within our local community.
|
