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St. John’s is a Center for Jubilee Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

Since 1988, St. John’s has been designated by the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church as a Center for Jubilee Ministry because of the “direct and dynamic link between our theology and our ethics,” demonstrated in numerous outreach and neighborhood ministries. St. John’s takes very seriously God’s call to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and care for the sick. (Matthew 25:35)

"Our mission is to make a direct and dynamic link between our theology and our ethics.  In other words, the 'talk' of our faith and the 'walk' of our faith."

St. John’s offers myriad opportunities for all ages to participate in programs that nourish the mind, body, and spirit. If you feel called to join in one or more of our Jubilee Ministries, please contact our Parish Secretary, Patti Means, using the most convenient contact information below, and she will help direct you to the appropriate person.  Or you may fill out a Time & Talent survey to see the full range of volunteer opportunities available.

In Our Community

Community Breakfast Program

This project is currently held at the First Reformed Church on East Orange Street on the third Saturday of each month. A hot breakfast is prepared and served to approximately 175 people from the downtown community. The time commitment is from 8 to 11 AM. Dining room, serving, kitchen, and clean up help is always greatly appreciated. This can be a great family service project which is church-sponsored.

Dinner Out

A meal program held at Brightside Baptist Church on the second Wednesday of each month where a hot meal is served to individuals and families from the inner city community. St. John’s is responsible for providing the food 3 times during the year and assisting other churches in serving the meals monthly. The commitment is from  4:30 to  6:00 PM, and longer when St. John’s is preparing the meal. Help is needed during the day in this preparation.

New Year's Eve

St. John’s hosts several activities during the "Countdown Lancaster" celebration. A hot meal is served from 5-6 pm to the inner-city community. Volunteers are needed to help facilitate these events. 

Crispus Attucks Shelter

A homeless shelter that benefits from food and supplies from St. John's.  At Thanksgiving, St. John's provides homemade pumpkin pies for needy families and baskets for meal distribution.  Children in the shelter and youth programs benefit from St. John's Angel Tree.

Food Bank / Door Ministry

A weekly distribution of pre-packaged bags of non-perishable food items from Sunday morning collections.  Continued support from parishioners is needed to maintain a food supply for the needy.

Campus Ministry

Informal conversations and occasional sharing of family life with Franklin & Marshall College students.  Volunteers are needed.

Blankets & Sew On

A community ministry that makes and donates baby blankets, hats, and other items to local mothers, babies, and small children of need in the Lancaster area.  New members are welcome.

South East Lancaster Health Services

In answer to a community need, a partnership has been established with the prenatal program of the SELHS.  Volunteers are needed to help with support for a parenting group composed of low-income new mothers and their children.

Angel Tree Project

The Angel Tree is an Advent project to provide Christmas gifts for needy children from the community.  Volunteers help with organizing gifts and facilitate the delivery to the children.

In Our Neighborhood

Robert Fulton School Participation

An ongoing relationship with St. John's in support of tutoring, maintaining school uniforms, and fund raising activities with parish participation.  St. John's provides a luncheon for the staff at the beginning of the school year.  Continued support from the parish is needed for special projects throughout the year.

Eagle's Nest After-School Program Volunteers help with academic support, crafts, games, and cooking for 4th and 5th grade students from Robert Fulton School on Wednesdays from 2-5pm (October through April).  Help is always welcomed.  Cookies & Books Volunteers read children's books to neighborhood children in the church courtyard and share cookies and drinks on Wednesday evenings during July and August.  Teen and adult readers are welcome to join in this neighborhood ministry.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration A celebration of the life, contributions, and dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr., is held at St. John's on the designated holiday in January. Volunteers help with activities that include music, dancing, crafts, learning, and lunch for the young people of our community.

In Our World

Children's Friendship Program for Northern Ireland (CFPNI)

Irish Catholic and Protestant teens become friends with each other without fear of retribution.  They spend four weeks in a St. John's home where host families provide a neutral setting.  Upon returning to  Northern Ireland, the young people continue their friendship and participate in CFPNI follow-up activities. Host families are needed to accommodate  these teens during the month of July.

Recycling

This is a recycling project for cans, plastics, glass and styrofoam.  Receptacles are provided for collection, and contents are periodically transferred to a facility for final processing.  Volunteers are needed to facilitate this process.

Diocesan Emergency Response Commission

Formed at the Diocesan level, this commission is responsible for organizing efforts to respond to local, national, and global disaster.  St. John's has participated in Katrina relief efforts in Mississippi.  Opportunities for participation in relief operations will unfold as needed.  A volunteer group list is needed to be called upon in response to a disaster.

CROP Walk

An annual fall walk event to support the reduction of world hunger.  St. John's youth and families promote participation.

Support for these Programs

Operation Understanding Grants

Each year, gifts of thanksgiving -- coins in the United Thank Offering box -- from each individual are combined with others at the parish and diocesan celebrations and finally within all of the Episcopal Church USA.  These gifts total nearly $3 million and are given away in the form of grants.  These grants continue to support and strengthen the mission and ministry of the Church throughout the world.  St. John's has been fortunate to receive several grants through the Diocese.

Food Coupon Sales

The sales of these coupons, from five major food markets in Lancaster, help fund the many programs sponsored by the Jubilee Committee.  St. John’s Jubilee Committee receives 5% of the total sales. Volunteers are needed to sell these coupons on Sunday mornings.

Time, Talent, and Treasure

Time, talent, and treasure gifts are received from a generous parish.

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

(Frederick Buechner)