SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011

SPECIAL MISSION PRESENTATION BY  ROBERTA ROSENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE SECOND STEP

The Second Step partners with adult and child survi-vors of domestic violence to enhance supportive com-munity and identify pathways to physical and emotional healing, housing, and financial security. They work at the individual, community and societal levels to end domestic violence.

The Second Step offers a multitude of services and resources to empower survivors of domestic violence to heal from trauma, to forge relationships that create a community of support, to secure affordable housing, and to move toward financial security.

Any survivor of domestic violence is welcome at The Second Step. The Second Step has helped over 2,000 adult and child survivors of domestic violence find a way from violence to self-reliance. Over 95% of our clients are women and their children, although our staff is sensitive to the needs of others. Of those we serve, approximately 30% are African American, 30% are Caucasian, 30% are Latino and 10% are Asian-American.

The Second Step can serve sixteen families in its resi-dences at any given time, with three additional families housed at the Louis Garfield House. The Afterschool Program serves children in our residences. Each year, approximately 120 families use our services as non-residents.

BRISTOL LODGE FOOD KITCHEN: HELPING THE HUNGRY NEAR HOME

Are you seeking way to serve people in need in your area?  Do you shop and cook?  Do you have a few extra dollars after your weekly expenses?  Can you spare a couple of hours, once a month?  Do you enjoy the fellowship of church friends and grateful people?  If so, please consider joining the faithful church volunteers who cook and serve a hot meal, once a month, to approximately 75 men and women at a church in Waltham.  The Bristol Lodge Food Kitchen serves a daily hot meal to needy people, not all of whom are homeless, and we have been volunteering there for many years. Here's how it works:  You can volunteer for once or twice a year or for every month.  Sign up on the Mission bulletin board (next to the church office) and take a recipe.  Buy the groceries needed to feed 12 people and prepare the recipe at home.  The recipes are easy and the costs range from $20-$28.  Deliver the food to Waltham or someone else can do it for you.  Serve the meal if you are available.  Feel good in knowing that you have reached out to your neighbors and that you have nourished them.  Speak to Cynthia Lasker with any questions.  THANK YOU!

BRISTOL LODGE MEALS
& THE CHURCH SCHOOL
The youth in the teen class of God’s Garden are scheduled to prepare the Bristol Lodge meal monthly for the upcoming year. This mission activity is one of many that is planned for our youth. If you like to cook and would like to help prepare a meal during church school on a Sunday, please sign up with Cindy Lou, Director of the Christian Education.

THE FOOD PANTRY
& THE CHURCH SCHOOL
All Church School youth of God’s Garden, Growing in Faith are beginning a new mission activity. On the first Sunday of each month, they will have a food drive to collect for our local food pantry. The congregation is invited to be part of this mission. Please bring in new canned goods and dry food items. The youth will coordinate the donations and drop them off to the pantry. Thank you for being part of our local mission work.

Is the name of the current organization that continues the work of The Boston Seaman’s Friend Society, organized to serve seamen in New England since the early 1800’s. The mission of Seafarer’s Friend is to “meet the unmet spiritual, social, emotional and physical needs” of crew members aboard cargo ships visiting the ports of Boston, Portsmouth and Portland. Chaplains and volunteers visit the ships daily to talk to the crews about their needs and to provide transportation to shopping areas and other shore services.