Serve God, serve your neighbors
Mission and Outreach
MORE Justice
Midlands Organized Response for Equity and Justice
MORE Justice is a growing network of faith-based congregations that are culturally, economically, racially, geographically and religiously diverse – coming together to fulfill our scriptural mandate to “do justice” and make the Central Midlands area a more just place to live for all people.
St. Martin’s works together with other congregations to empower marginalized people and act powerfully to address serious community-wide problems through direct action. We accomplish this by identifying a problem, doing research, educating the public, and publicly addressing the root causes of, and solutions to, poverty and injustice in our communities.
Disaster Response
In the aftermath of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, St. Martin’s loads up the Disaster Response Unit trailer and heads into the fray to help folks begin to put their lives back in order. Opportunities to join a team will be publicized by email as they are available (and we pray they often are not!)
Community Sharing Garden
Come see our nearly 550 sq feet of beds of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our first community garden! The beds were built as an Eagle Scout project, and planted by volunteers. Our garden has fed parishioners, families in need of food assistance, and passersby alike!
Everyone in the community is invited to help! Join our Facebook Group to keep up with opportunities and gatherings.
El Refugio and Immigration Support
Through El Refugio and the Episcopal Migration Ministries, we provide small acts of mercy and support to detained immigrants. Before COVID, we sent our first group of missionaries to Stewart Detention Center to make visits.
This summer, we will be partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Lancaster to repair a home for a family connected to us through the Asylum Network of Episcopal Migration Ministries. More information to come!
Harvest Hope
We have a long-standing commitment to Harvest Hope, the food bank in Richland County. Each year we commit to collect over 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food. Food is ordinarily collected on Sundays and brought up in red wagons with the pledge plates — offering to God the fruits of all our labors.
Bring any canned good with you to worship on Sunday to donate!
Other partnerships and outreach
Family Promise
Family Promise organizes houses of worship, social services agencies, nonprofits, and other local organizations to work together to provide a truly holistic response to families experiencing homelessness and at-risk families. During the pandemic, Family Promised switched to a residential model where families stay in apartments during their program. We provide gift cards to help families stock their own pantries and other things to help them establish a sense of home.
Safe Space Dinners
St. Martin's partners with Reformation Lutheran to assist them and provide meals for their monthly Safe Space Dinners, a ministry for homeless LGBTQIA+ youth, including people of color. Each month, these youth (14-23 years old) are offered a safe pace and time to gather for rest, recharge, a home-cooked meal, and a backpack of helpful day-to-day items.
Camp Air
A yearly summer reading day camp for rising 4th & 5th graders. Skilled teachers help young people improve their reading comprehension skills in the lively and fun camp structure, complete with games, cooking, and more! Camp Air is currently on hold.
Crayton Backpack Program
A backpack meal ministry for students across the street who find themselves food-insecure on the weekends. We’ll be restocking the pantry soon and sending backpacks home as soon as the school year begins again. Watch the e-newsletter to find out how you can help!
St. Luke’s Outreach
For decades, we come together once every other month with our friends at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to prepare a sit-down meal with neighbors in the Waverly neighborhood and neighbors who use Fresh Start homeless ministry. During the pandemic, we have been packaging pre-cooked meals in take-out containers and distributing them from St. Luke’s front doors.