Outreach

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Angel Trees

Just before Thanksgiving each year, our Christmas Angel Trees appear in the Parish Hall. Among the decorations are small white cards tied with red ribbon. Gift requests written on these cards are for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) children, indigent Legacy Link clients, and patients at nearby Willow Wood Nursing Center. Take a card or two, sign your name on the sheet by the number that corresponds with the number on your card. Then, buy and wrap the gift, tape the card to the gift and return it to the Parish Hall by the date requested. We could use one more volunteer for this ministry. If you can give a couple of mornings, please call Dee Milledge and she will love you forever.

Gainesville Action Ministries (GAM)

Contact: GAM (770-531-0144)
Gainesville Action Ministries (GAM) is a vital part of the outreach of St. Gabriel's. A week rarely passes where we do not receive a phone call from someone in tremendous need, often facing eviction or loss of utilities. They typically are people who find themselves out of work, or recovering from an illness or injury that has affected their income. The financial need is often in the thousands of dollars, and no one church is able to address that level of need. GAM was formed by a community of 21 local churches to pool our resources to help people with great temporary need. The assistance of GAM tends to be far more than financial: they also assist in family budgeting, finding medical or employment resources, resume preparation, and locating affordable housing. St. Gabriel's participates by sending financial support to GAM and by giving written referrals to those in need of assistance. We do not currently have any St. Gabriel's volunteers for this wonderful ministry, but GAM is always open to volunteer assistance. Please feel free to contact GAM at the number noted above.

Nifty Needles

Fueled by creativity, a generous and charitable spirit, and a love of craft, Nifty Needles is a group of faithful women and men dedicated to providing prayers, warmth, and comfort to those in need through the gift of handcrafted items. Nifty Needles is also a non-profit organization. Even though we are quite young (founded in November, 2009), Nifty Needles has already been involved with and made significant contributions to several local and international organizations.

Chemo caps for The Longstreet Clinic
Duduza (comfort) dolls for the Haiti-Micah Project
A prayer blanket for a local woman who had recently lost her husband
Dishcloths, scarves, hats, etc. for the ST. Gabriel's Fall Festival
Baby caps for the Caps for Good Program, an organization dedicated to reducing infant mortality worldwide, and
Blankets and bears for the Edmondson-Telford Center for Children, Gainesville, GA, a center that helps local children who have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.

All knitters and crocheters of all skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to join us. If you are interested in joining or for more information, please contact Marsha Lewis.

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Every year around mid-December, St. Gabe's takes a whole Saturday to mind the Salvation Army pot, usually at the Wal-Mart in Oakwood. The day is split into 2 hour shifts and generally couples or teams will each share a shift. This is a great opportunity to promote the Christmas Spirit with shoppers, as well as to promote their generosity towards those less fortunate. Traditionally, the Choir takes the last evening slot where there is sure to be singing to go with the bell ringing! Sign up sheets will be available a few weeks prior to the event. Please feel free to contact Lindsay LeMay with any questions.

Sheltering Tree

On the wall in the Parish Hall is the silhouette of a beautiful tree with detachable green leaves. Written on each leaf is a need for Legacy Link (indigent elderly in North Georgia) clients and the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. Take a leaf, fill the need described, and return it with the leaf attached, to the table near the tree. It will be delivered to the appropriate person or place. From time to time, there are emergency needs in the community. These will be written on yellow or red leaves on the tree.

Sheltering Tree: Legacy Link

The dark green leaves on the Sheltering Tree indicate items that are needed for many clients who are served by The Legacy Link. This is the Area Agency on Aging and Disability Resource Center for our area. Jean Waller works for the agency. Medicaid and Medicare do not pay for the items requested on the Sheltering Tree but these people have great need for them. Liquid nutrition like Ensure or Glucerna are needed, as well as adult diapers. These can cost thousands of dollars each year. The generosity of the membership of St. Gabe's is legendary at the agency. Please take a leaf and assist a person who really needs your help. Contact Jean Waller for more information on these and other Legacy-Link related programs.

LEGACY LINK

South Hall Community Food Pantry

The South Hall Food Pantry was started in 2004 by three churches. Today, there are five churches involved in providing food for those in financial need. A referred family can receive food from the Pantry once a month. The pantry is open three days a week. In an eight month period, the Food Pantry can serve in excess of 1,825 individuals. Visit us at http://www.shcfp.org for more information, We need YOU! Our goals and needs are:

We need to train new folks to have backup support when our regulars are away;
We want to inspire other members as we have been inspired. This ministry is special to those who serve and those we serve;
We want to share the humbleness we feel when those who come to us show such gratitude;
It is a great opportunity to let others know that God loves them and that someone cares.

Ch'Angels

As you leave the nave after Sunday service, you will notice one of the ushers near the door holding a box for collecting change. Each month, the total change collection will be sent to a different charity. A sign on the collection box will tell you which one for that month. If you have a favorite charity, you can suggest having it added to the list by writing a note to that effect and putting it in the box on Lori's door. Many of the charities rotate on/off but a few remain on the list permanently (e.g., Gabby's food and Vet Care).

Good News At Noon

There is a place for the hungry and hopeless to go in Gainesville. Good News at Noon was started over 20 years ago by Gene Beckstein to reach out and feed those who hunger in the Gainesville area. Good News at Noon feeds roughly 150 people a day and is supported by 55 churches and over 400 volunteers. St. Gabriel's participates by serving supper twice a year. We typically need 4 volunteers to help serve the food at the Good News at Noon kitchen, and perhaps 10-15 volunteers to help supply the food for the meal. For more information about the ways you can be a part of the important ministry, please contact Callie Flack.

Haiti-Micah Project

The Haiti-Micah Project was started in 2004 by Rev. Joseph Constant. This wonderful ministry seeks to care for the "street orphans" of Mirabalis, Haiti. Prior to January, 2010, the Haiti-Micah Project fed, clothed and provided education for 150 homeless children a day. Since the horrific earthquake in 2010, they have been doing the same for over 400 children a day. For just three hundred dollars, a child can be fed, clothed, and educated for an entire year. Last year we raised $1,200 to sponsor four children: Mariana, Mirlande, Ednelson, and Thorny. We also sent two dozen duduza dolls (hand-knitted "comfort dolls") for the children and their friends. This year, we hope to continue our financial support of our Haiti-Micah kids, and to perhaps enlarge our extended family beyond four children. Contact our parish administrator for additional information.

Quilting Ministry

We need YOU!!! The quilting ministry needs anyone who can sew by hand or machine. Even if you can only sew a straight line, we need your help. The quilts are very much appreciate by the persons who receive them. Most recipients can believe that people they don't even know pray for them. Our ministry has helped many. And, we hope you can sew and talk at the same time. We have fabric and batting, all cutting materials, machines and patterns. We also welcome non-members of St. Gabe's. Please come and enjoy!

Anglican Rosaries

Jan and Drew Madajewski have been building our "Rosary Ministry" since 2005. The Anglican Rosary is a form of prayer and features 33 beads. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox rosaries have many more beads. Unlike prayers assigned to the beads of the rosaries of other faiths, Anglicans are encouraged to assign their own prayers to the beads.

We would like to share one person's opinion about what having a Rosary means to them: "I carry it every day and love putting my hand in my pocket and finding it there. I can pray during meetings, while waiting for appointments, even in long traffic commutes. Sometimes, I just don't know how to pray for certain things, and the rosary gives me a sense of my connection to God. I have developed my own routine with each bead. I can't thank you and your friends enough for this lovely symbol that reminds me of the nearness of God and His availability at any moment."

To view our rosaries and read additional information about prayers and the meaning of elements of a rosary, click here.