TRINITY OUTREACH MINISTRY

Mission Statement

The Trinity Outreach Ministry of Trinity Cathedral (TOM) is established to support and encourage involvement in advancing the care of God's creation, justice for all people, service for those with compelling human need, and participation in the Millennium Development Goals campaign.

Participation in TOM is open to all interested Cathedral members. TOM is a lay-ministry driven collection of programs and projects coordinated through an energetic group of communicants dedicated to a broad spectrum of community, regional, statewide and global programs. Led by Cathedral member Rob Smith, TOM meets monthly to guide, coordinate and direct funds budgeted in the Cathedral budget toward these efforts. The ministries of our diverse Cathedral membership are thus maximized to respond to a broad spectrum of needs and issues. New members are encouraged to participate in existing projects or to offer their ministries for inclusion in our efforts. An annual ministry fair provides opportunity for members to learn of efforts by our members.

Recognizing that the Cathedral is but one congregation in the Diocese of Arizona, the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Communion, whenever possible, our ministries are coordinated with programs and projects conducted by the Diocese of Arizona, other ecumenical organizations and non-profit efforts in the Diocese, state and community.

Funding proposals are reviewed by a subcommittee of TOM before being brought to the full committee. Proposals must meet criteria established by the Cathedral Chapter and TOM and are thoroughly screened and assigned a committee member to act as liaison for the project. When feasible, funding accompanies active participation on these projects by Cathedral members.

Want to become more involved? Cathedral members wishing to receive e-mails announcing outreach events, meeting agendas and notes are encouraged to e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it requesting that you be added to our e-mail list.

Report on 2009 activities

The Cathedral chapter's charge to Trinity Outreach Ministry is “to support and encourage involvement in advancing the care of God's Creation, justice for all people, service to those with compelling human need, and participation in the Millennium Development Goals campaign.” Participation in TOM is open to all Trinity Cathedral members. Our mailing list now includes more than 100 people, with numerous lay members providing leadership for our activities.

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported these extensive and worthwhile efforts to be the church in the world!

For 2009 we organized our work around five main areas for action, advocacy, education and support:

BORDER/IMMIGRATION

• Collected and distributed supplies, and provided support for the Migrant Center in Naco, Sonora 
• Collected 100 gallons of water for No More Deaths to serve migrants in distress along the border region this summer
• Sponsored a TOM member for training with No More Deaths to help with humanitarian aid in the desert
• Hosted a forum on the work of No More Deaths and humanitarian aid projects in southern Arizona 
• Participated in training for organizing immigration issues sessions in 2010

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• Organized 10 volunteers for the annual city homeless census
• Fielded volunteers to hand out water to up to 180 people a day during heat warnings at the Salvation Army aid station near Trinity, with 30 ‚ÄúTrinity Hot Shots‚Äù on call during July and August on 15 separate days.
• Recruited team captains and volunteers for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for the homeless; 258 people served on Thanksgiving morning.
• Organized Project Angel Tree to collect, wrap and distribute Christmas gifts to children of prisoners.
• Arranged forums for Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition to discuss state budget cuts to human service programs, to learn about the work of Phoenix Rescue Mission and Interfaith Cooperative Ministries, and consider helping with refugee resettlement through Lutheran Social Services.
• Discussed downtown development issues and considered the proposed Jackson Street Entertainment District.
• Helped celebrate the opening of the Central/Roosevelt light rail station, and signed up to officially ‚Äúadopt‚Äù that station.
• Supported attendance at Chapel Rock summer camp and school supplies for Trinity children in need.
• Provided support for health clinic facilities and supplies at Interfaith Cooperative Ministries.
• Joined 16 other parishes in building a Habitat for Humanity home last spring at the Ora Vista subdivision in South Phoenix and is currently building another at the same location.
• Supported the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in Guatemala in March 2009 through the Episcopal Habitat Coalition.
• Organized calendar of monthly outreach and service events and drives.

ENVIRONMENT

• Organized 31 volunteers over many months to apply energy saving film to windows in Atwood Hall, resulting in a saving of 8,000 kilowatt hours of electricity over the previous August and at least $2,000 in energy costs by delaying the need for air conditioning by a month this past spring.
• Organized a series of energy saving awareness presentations during Lent.
• Became a founding member of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light, the 30^th state chapter to organize around this religious response to global warming, and hosted a tour of energy saving measures at the Cathedral during the AzIPL kick off tour of green churches.
• Provided speakers and information in support of the Diocesan Convention's presentations on stewardship of the Earth.
• Included ‚Äúgreen tips‚Äù for use in the Cathedral's Sunday bulletins and weekly emails.
• Organized monthly hikes into nearby mountain parks
• Supported the adoption at General Convention of the Genesis Covenant, calling for reducing energy use by 50% in ten years at all Church facilities.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

• Supported education for three school children at the Baobab House in Tanzania 
• Supported efforts to rescue child slaves in India through Free the Slaves
• Supported maternal health care program in Haiti through Maison de Naissance
• Advocated for restoring MDG funding within the national Church 2010 budget
• Advocated to Congress for MDG funding through U.S. foreign aid
• Organized displays and liturgy for awareness of MDGs and the specific programs Trinity supports
• Organized a workshop attended by 35 people from around the Diocese on the Church's relief programs in Asia.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Supported through a letter from the Dean and Bishop an agreement between the city, project developers and union to allow workers to organize at the new Sheraton Downtown Phoenix.
• Arranged a forum on the history of conflict in the Mid-East

Prepared by Rob Smith, Chair, Trinity Outreach Ministry, December 2009

2010 Action Plan

Nine souls gathered on December 7, 2009, to develop this action plan for Trinity Outreach Ministry in 2010 (Rob S, Ray+, Mina and Dick van D, Kelly S, Claudia S, Doug R, Maeve J, Cindy M)

Our charge from the Cathedral chapter is “to support and encourage involvement in advancing the care of God's Creation, justice for all people, service for those with compelling human need, and participation in the Millennium Development Goals campaign.” We planned activities for action, education, advocacy and support around our five main topic areas with lead people noted:

Border/immigration

• Immigration issues forums - education on 1/30, policy in February -- Ray+ w/ Doug R, Elizabeth H-B, Rob S, Dick van D A tentative date of April 10 has been set for a forum and worship to which our Bishop has been invited. We will learn about immigration issues, their impact on persons in Arizona and what we can do to improve our immigration laws.
• Migrant aid/water drives - April and August
• Border Procession at Nogales - 4/24 For further information, contact The Rev. Seth Polley This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Supplies for Naco Migrant Center - April

Community Service

• Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for homeless - Jerry Roseberry w/ Mina van D, Maeve J
• Habitat for Humanity support - Tim and Jennifer Sprague
• Refugee resettlement - Kelly Swanson w/ Rob S, Karin R , Marilyn S, Mina van D, Ray+, Mary-Audrey M We have assisted a family from Bhutan who arrived on January 28th.
• Homeless census with City of Phoenix - January 26 -- Jim Svara - a team of 10 persons assisted on January 26th. Thank you.
• Water/heat aid station w/ Salvation Army - June-August - Rob Smith
• Adopt Central/Roosevelt light rail station - Sherry Johnson A blessing of the station will be conducted in March by Dean Knisely
• Calendar for monthly support drives - Maeve Johnson
  • January - blankets for JUSTA, Phoenix Rescue Mission Blanket drive will be extended into February
  • February - food drive
  • March -
  • April - border/migrant ministries Forum tentatively scheduled for April 10th, border procession April 24th
  • May - MDGs
  • June - food banks
  • July - school supplies
  • August - migrant aid
  • September - socks and underwear for needy children
  • October -- MDGs
  • November - Angel Tree
  • December - quilt sales for women's shelter
• Angel Tree gifts for prison families - November-December -- Cindy Mellott
• Quilts to support women's shelter - December - Mina van Dyne

Environmental stewardship

• Involvement and support for Arizona Interfaith Power and Light - Cindy Mellott w/ Rob S
• Recycling and reusables at Trinity
• Dean's hikes - January - May - Rob Smith
• Green tips in Trinity publications - Doug Ryan
• Green Lent, including Bible study Green Lent Displays are planned for each Sunday during Lent featuring Fair Trade, Green buildings, Energy reduction at Trinity, Canals as public space, and recycling.

Millennium Development Goals

• Baobab House and school kids in Tanzania - Mina van Dyne We are supporting education for two girls in Tanzania.
• Healthy Mothers in Haiti - Mina van Dyne A fund-raiser to supplement funds already in Cathedral budget.
• Projects considered for India and China 
• MDG liturgy and awareness - October
• Advocacy for Congressional funding - Rob Smith

Social justice

• Understanding national church programs - Judy Conley w/ Rob S

Trinity Outreach Ministry will meet for planning purposes the first Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at Trinity.

TOM will host education forums every last Sunday of the month at 9:30 am at Trinity.

All TOM activities and meetings are open to all members of Trinity Cathedral.

Prepared by Rob Smith, Chair, Trinity Outreach Ministry, December 2009; updated February 6th

CALENDAR

Deacon Maeve Johnson coordinates the "Ministry of the Month" calendar with TOM and other church activities. She would welcome suggestions and ideas from members and particularly encourages any who wish to participate in these and other outreach events to be in touch with her. Our weekly calendar will alert you to the current need.

We rely on all Trinity members to make these events successful. We are grateful for all the wonderful support we receive from all our members. Your gifts are truly a blessing to many members of our community that rely on your support. We'll be calling on you… And if you see something that is missing, and especially if you want to help do it, let us know!

MEETINGS

Check the Cathedral calendar and Sunday bulletin announcements to be sure, but TOM typically schedules an educational program for all who are interested every last Sunday of the month beginning in August, 2009 from 9:15 - 10:30 am in Bishop Atwood Hall. We realize this schedule will require some of you to make choices; but that's life. If you regularly plan to attend the new (old) 9:15 am service, you might wish to consider attending worship at 11 on the last Sunday! Our ministry planning meeting is set for every first Monday evening of the month at 5:30 pm at Trinity. Anyone interested is welcome to all TOM meetings and activities.

Want to get involved?

Members new and old and of all ages are requested to help us add to the ministries of outreach, evangelism and loving support to our community. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to learn how you may participate in our important mission to our community and world.