“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Our Outreach at Christ Church expresses our core belief that God is calling us to reach out in Christ’s love to all our neighbors who share with us, “this fragile earth, our island home.” We work together with our community through a variety of ways that involve parish members with local, national, and international non-profits that directly impact the lives of our siblings in Christ. “Outreach” is how we express all that we do to make God’s love visible here on earth. It is food for the hungry, meals for the homebound and providing heating oil and winter clothing for our neighbors. It is helping to build homes for the unhoused and advocating for youth impacted by gun violence. In other words, Outreach is everything Jesus is calling us to do. If you are looking to make a difference in the world around us, please contact the church office to find out how you can join any of these partnerships listed below. LOCAL GUILFORD FOOD BANK https://www.guilfordfoodbank.org/ We have an ongoing relationship with the food bank and donate grocery cards, food and special requests throughout the year. They are in integral part of Guilford Social Services. MEAL ON WHEELS https://givct.org/meals-on-wheels/ Our major fund-raiser is our Chili Supper, held at the time of the Guilford Christmas Tree lighting, and we raise a significant amount of money that helps to feed our homebound neighbors. RAISE THE ROOF http://raisetheroofct.org/ Through this local Habitat for Humanity affiliated organization, we participate in helping to build or rehab homes for families whose living conditions are sub-standard. CHAPEL ON THE GREENhttps://www.trinitynewhaven.org/chapel-on-the-green We participate in this church without walls, a ministry of Trinity Church in New Haven, by preparing and bringing a meal and worshipping together on a regular schedule with other CT Episcopal parishes. ANGELS UNDER THE BALCONY is our annual fund raiser for the Guilford Fuel Assistance program, which began with an endowed grant from Christ Church many years ago. With the continually increasing cost of heating oil, this ministry is vital to helping our neighbors stay warm in New England winters. CT VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM https://www.ctintervention.org/about This New Haven program whose mission is to disrupt, reduce, and prevent violence, provides a safe space for youth after school, and they come with stomachs hungry for after school snacks. We collect and provide donations for them to enjoy.
CHANGE JAR This is something new we are just trying. We have a large jar where people are invited to leave the extra change in their wallets or pockets and when it is full we donate it to a chosen local non-profit.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
NEW YORK HAITI PROJECThttps://www.newyorkhaitiproject.org/ We are partnered with the Haitian Church of the Good Samaritan in New York city in this ministry. We have financially supported the building of a school in Martel, Haiti through Sunday School events, Mite box collections, and direct donations. We have also participated in packing food for shipment to Haiti.