In its years of existence, St. Anne Episcopal Church has consistently reached out to those in need. St. Anne's Outreach Service Commission has offered up resources - both financial and in kind - to support over 20 different groups in need ranging from tsunami and hurricane relief efforts to The National Cathedral in Washington DC.

St. Anne members have been directly involved in numerous outreach projects including:

Navajoland: St. Anne's has supported a yearly mission trip to the Navajo Reservation in conjunction with other local Episcopal churches. Thirty St. Anne parishioners have taken part in this effort since 1996, and each team helps members of the Navajo nation in a variety of ways to promote God's love and understanding. Fundraising for this project is driven largely through a parish mulch sale held every spring.

Appalachian Service Project:  For years, St. Anne's has formed teams of students and advisors to assist residents in Appalachia with home repair projects. St. Anne's intends to send a to the Appalachian Service Project in June of 2010.

The Craft Group is an informal group with a tradition of raising funds for St. Anne. A tithe donation is always made to the Episcopal Church Women Outreach group before any other projects are funded. While sharing their passion for crafts, this group has been instrumental in the raising of funds and recent purchases of a new dishwasher and two stoves for the kitchen, new doormats, commemoration plaques by the trees, microphones for the sound system, and a floor polisher. The group has also made contributions to the Choir Director's Fund and funded a new stained glass window recently installed over the nave of the church.

The Parish Health Ministry started in 1998 and provides a healing ministry with a holistic approach, promoting wholeness of body, mind and spirit. We offer blood pressure screenings monthly. Recently we offered a blood draw through one of our physicians to check cholesterol, renal panel and other chemistries. We have also offered flu shots and diabetic screenings. Periodically we have programs that encourage positive health changes with a spiritual emphasis.

St. Anne's charters Boy Scout Troop 941, which meets at the church on Monday nights.

Boy Scout Troop 941

• Do you need to talk to a Christian friend who knows how to listen?
• Would you like to talk with a qualified person about a personal situation you are dealing with?
• Are you looking for a caring person to help you through a crisis?
  
  What is Stephen Ministry?
  
  Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which trained and supervised laypersons called Stephen Ministers provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis, a tough time, or a life transition.
  
  Stephen Ministers are not counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and to care, not to give advice or counsel.
  
  Stephen Ministry is confidential.
  
  In what kinds of situations might a person receive a Stephen Minister's care?
  
  Loss of a loved one
  Depression
  Divorce/separation
  Hospitalization
  Terminal or chronic illness
  Job loss
  Loneliness or discouragement
  Being new in town
  Birth, adoption, miscarriage or infertility
  Disappointment
  Health problems
  Life changes
  Retirement
  Aging
  Fear
  Family problems
  Incarceration
  
  ...and many others
  
  How can someone receive care from a Stephen Minister?
  
  Deacon Carol Christian is our Stephen Leader who coordinates referrals. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, please contact Deacon Carol. (If you want to talk about Stephen Ministry for someone else, please make sure you get his or her permission first.)
  
  How does one become a Stephen Minister?
  
  Stephen Ministers undergo 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving, including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, assertiveness, and using Christian resources in care giving.
  
  Our next Stephen Ministry training course will begin in January 2010. Please contact Deacon Carol, Meg Chamberlain or Rob Turley to learn more.
  

St. Anne is one of eight area churches participating in the Upward Flag Football/Cheerleading ministry. This faith based sports ministry is open to boys and girls in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Evaluations are held in August, practices and games are held through mid-November.

Upward website

Financial Peace University offers 13 lessons/topics that will change the way you think about personal finance. Dave Ramsey teaches about how to save money, live on a budget, communicate about money, eliminate debt, find bargains, and experience the joy of giving.

St. Anne's will offer Financial Peace University beginning January 12, 2010, at 7 pm.

More about Financial Peace University