Ministries: Standing Committees

Each committee described below is a Standing Committee of the Church. Parishioners are invited to serve on committees by indicating their preferences on the Time and Talent Pledge Card completed once each year, or by contacting the appropriate committee chair. Each Standing Committee is formed in January and is chaired or co-chaired by a member/members of the Vestry. Each committee reports to the Vestry four times yearly and provides an annual report for review by parish members.

--Christian Education Committee
The Christian Education Committee addresses the religious-education needs of the parish throughout the year. It recruits teachers, selects curricula for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and assigns space for all educational activities. It plans the Pentecost Birthday Celebration and the children’s activities at Parish Family Suppers, Lenten Suppers, and various other programs. In conjunction with the clergy, it sponsors periodic Adult Forums (which meet during the Sunday School hour) and creates and facilitates new adult classes, as necessary. Led by the clergy, Bible Study classes are also under the auspices of this committee. The committee also seeks input about Christian Education Activities from parishioners, critiques its progress and adds to its responsibilities as needed.

--Finance Committee
This committee ensures parish finances are adequate to meet the needs of current, upcoming, and potential expenditures. The committee recommends a balanced budget to the Vestry, commensurate with the parish’s fixed expenses, committee requests, annual pledges and other income sources. The committee recommends appropriate financial action by the Vestry. Our current Junior Warden chairs the Finance Committee.

--HOOP Ministry: Helping Our Own People
HOOP is a ministry involving the entire parish family. At its best, HOOP is Everybody Helping Everybody. HOOP aims to get all members of the parish active in service to Christ by serving one another in His name.

HOOP helps parish members in times of joy need, and sorrow. HOOP members and other parishioners help when there is a birth, an illness, or a death in our parish family. HOOP committee members visit homes, hospitals, or nursing homes; members provide help with transportation, make telephone calls, and send cards, provide meals, deliver meals, etc.

--Evangelism Committee
The primary responsibility of this committee is to recruit, incorporate and nurture our church members. The committee formulates and facilitates programs which serve current and potential church members, such as: strengthening the welcoming ministries of ushers and greeters, contacting and providing information to interested newcomers, fostering a strong sense of community among parishioners by making identification and name-recognition among members easier and more comfortable, and evangelizing/recruiting through the parish’s Alpha Course and other means. Four times a year, this committee organizes Saints Alive!, a potluck dinner hosted by a parish family, to which newcomers are especially invited. The church welcomes new ideas and invites members of the church family to become contributing participants of the Membership Committee.

--Outreach Committee
The major purpose of this committee is to spread the good news of the Gospel through voluntary participation in, and monetary contributions to, community agencies and activities designed to meet the needs of people in the larger Jackson community.

Angel Tree -- This is an annual effort to make Christmas better for needy families in Jackson. “Angels” are “adopted” by St. Luke’s parishioners from the Angel Tree, located in the Commons several weeks before Christmas. Gifts of clothing and toys are provided for each “angel” by “adopting” parishioners.

Community Kitchen – The Community Kitchen provides hot meals to the needy in the Jackson community. Volunteers from St. Luke’s help serve meals—and clean up afterward—for a week in each of the months of March, July and November.

Manna Ministry – Four times a year (February, May, August and November) we collect money to buy, bag, and deliver food items to RIFA for children who do not have anything to eat over the weekends.

West Jackson Learning Center – St. Luke’s is a Partner in Education (PIE) for this agency, which is located in the former West Jackson Elementary School building. We provide the Center with school supplies and other services, as requested.

Monetary Support – In addition to the projects and activities in which St. Luke’s parishioners are actively involved, we contribute funds to various agencies throughout the area.

 

--Program Committee
One Wednesday evening each month, the Program Committee prepares or arranges a meal for the entire parish family, serves the meal, and facilitates a program. Programs range from guest preachers to rhythm and blues musicians. The committee also plans the Annual Church Picnic, usually held in early September. This event occurs immediately following the 10:30 service, at a local park, where the entire parish is encouraged to dress casually and enjoy a picnic lunch, fun, and games. The Program committee also provides a meal or other programs throughout the year, as needed.

--Property Committee
The Property Committee manages the upkeep and maintenance of the physical plant, grounds, and furnishing of the Baltimore Street property (church and parish halls). The Sexton and church members do much of this work, and parishioners are encouraged to offer their technical skills appropriate to these needs. The Property Committee is also responsible for anticipating the needs for physical improvement and expansion as properties deteriorate, technological progress occurs, membership grows, programmatic foci shift, and/or new opportunities arise.

There is always a need for members’ talents in planning, designing, and developing our physical resources. When completing the Time and Talent portion of the Pledge Card, parishioners are asked to list their management experience/expertise and any experience they have in contracting services that might relate to maintenance and security of our property.

--Stewardship Committee
This committee plans, recommends, and implements the annual Stewardship Campaign and conducts specific Stewardship Education throughout the year. The planning process leading up to the Campaign includes review of previous successes and recommendations for future enhancements. The Campaign itself serves to: explain to others how one’s talents can be put to good work within our parish and community, elucidate the financial needs of our parish and community for the coming year, and make personal contact with all the “stewards” on our parish roll. 

--Youth Committee
This committee is composed of adult advisors to Episcopal Young Churchmen (EYC), to ensure a balance of activities for our youth (6th to 12th graders) to include: study, prayer and worship, social activities, service programs, mission events and Christian-growth retreats. The adult advisors work with youth leaders chosen by their peers for one school-year term. The adult advisors recommend and help coordinate activities agreed upon by the youth. Adult advisors also serve as a catalyst for involvement with the diocesan youth program, coordinated by the Diocesan Youth Council, and for participation in activities such as Happenings and Youth Camps and retreats.

 

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