Mission
Mission is the "heart" of St. Mary’s Church. Under the Outreach Commission there are numerous opportunities for ministry which support the surrounding community. With so many ways to serve, there must be a place for you. Christ's own words from Matthew 25:35-40 perfectly describe how we strive to serve Christ through Mission.
"Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."
By working with local, regional, national, and international partners, we seek to provide a variety of opportunities for parishioners of all ages to serve our brothers and sisters in need.
Mary’s Kitchen
Mary’s Kitchen was established in July 1984 as the fulfillment of a dream of the Rev. Dr. John Russell, the Rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
Mary’s Kitchen is located at 110 N. Independence Street in downtown Kinston (next to the Homeless Shelter) and provides daily nutritious meals to approximately 125 people. The all-volunteer staff serves six days a week (Monday through Saturday) to anyone in need.
Over the years it has become an ecumenical ministry, with monetary and volunteer support from many of the area churches and religious communities. Contributions received from local churches, religious communities, individuals, businesses, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the United Way and FEMA help Mary’s Kitchen with food, maintenance and utilities expenses.
Mary’s Kitchen is always looking for volunteers. Volunteers work on assigned day from approximately 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon. For more information please contact Mary’s Kitchen Director Marilyn Wiggins at [email protected] or 252-523-6146.
AA
St. Mary’s hosts two AA meetings a week;
8:00 p.m. on Tuesday - open meeting
8:00 p.m. on Sunday - open meeting
Children’s Christmas Program
The Children’s Christmas Program is a long-time ministry of St. Mary’s Church. Each November the church receives names of children who are in Foster Care in Lenoir County. The children make a list of the items they would like for Christmas. The children’s names and wish lists are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway of the office wing. To participate, volunteers choose one child, and use the wish list as a guide to purchase gifts. The gifts are wrapped and brought to the church the second Sunday of December. The gifts are then blessed and given to the Department of Social Services of Lenoir County.
InterChurchOutReach
ICOR was founded in 1983 as a united effort of Kinston area churches to reach out and touch people who have a need. ICOR exists to provide emergency assistance to individuals needing help with utility bills, medical expenses, fuel costs, housing, transportation needs when people find themselves in an emergency of crisis situation and may not otherwise quality for public assistance. ICOR is open from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Help is needed from volunteers to work as intake workers and to assist from time to time to stock shelves with food. ICOR operates on gifts provided by churches and concerned individuals.
Erasing the Lines
Erasing the Lines is a local mission experience for young people in 6th – 12th grades provided by Son Set Ministries. Young people work with several local agencies during the week and spend Monday through Thursday nights at Rochelle Middle School.
The days are filled with work and getting to know other young people from the community. The nights are filled with fun, games, worship, as well as some free time.
Adults are needed to work with and transport the youth and spend a night at Rochelle.
Episcopal Relief and Development
Episcopal Relief & Development is the compassionate response of the Episcopal Church to human suffering in the world. Hearing God's call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being, Episcopal Relief & Development serves to bring together the generosity of Episcopalians and others with the needs of the world.
Episcopal Relief & Development faithfully administers the funds that are received from the Church and raised from other sources. It provides relief in times of disaster and promotes sustainable development by identifying and addressing the root causes of suffering.
Episcopal Relief & Development cherishes its partnerships within the Anglican Communion, with ecumenical bodies and with others who share a common vision for justice and peace among all people.
It has provided funds to help those struggling from crisis, emergencies and other developmental work around the world for over 60 years.
We will respond to emergency appeals by making contributions to Episcopal Relief and Development. The loose offering collected at Easter is designated for this Fund.
United Thank Offering
The United Thank Offering is a ministry of the Episcopal Church. Through the United Thank Offering, men, women and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. A short prayer of thanksgiving leads to an offering in the UTO box. Congregations are encouraged to hold an ingathering twice a year; during the spring and fall when people can bring their offerings to be collected and joined with the offerings of others. The local ingathering is forwarded to diocesan leadership and then to the UTO office in New York. By combining the offerings, it is possible to fund significant projects that make a difference in the work of the Episcopal Church and a real difference in people’s lives.
Thompson Child & Family Focus
Founded in 1886, Thompson Child & Family Focus (formerly Thompson Children’s Home) provides diverse services in treatment, education and care. Thompson embraces children who are at risk for social and academic failure by providing intensive treatment, protection, specialized education and stabilized family environments. We believe these are the core ingredients that ensure success. The ability of our children and families to achieve independent and rewarding lives is the challenge that connects all their efforts.
The three Episcopal dioceses on North Carolina fund this vital ministry. A special offering taken at Thanksgiving is sent to Thompson Child & Family Focus.
Episcopal Church Women
The ECW is an organization of all the women within St. Mary’s who affect the church's mission through a range of programs including prayer and outreach.
The ECW at St. Mary’s has a long, strong tradition of offering spiritual, financial and physical support for the parish and diocesan programs as well as funding to local and International charities.
Our purpose is to unite the women of St. Mary’s in a program of worship, study, service, discussion, and fellowship. All ECW programs and projects are open to all women of the parish. We are a lively and vibrant group of women of all ages, committed to making a difference in the world we live in.
To learn more about any of the ECW efforts, please contact
Anne Lindley, ECW President.
St. Mary’s Nursery School
St. Mary's Nursery School has cared for the children of our community since 1974. We take pride in our loving, nurturing staff and our play-based learning curriculum which matches standards of both the private and public sectors. St. Mary's Nursery School encourages children to explore the world around them, discover new things, and grow socially and emotionally.
Our goal is to provide a loving, Christian atmosphere for our children that will ready them for their formal education. We hope to give each child a succession of experiences in which they can develop and participate at their own rate. We believe in the value, dignity and worth of each child and in their need to express themselves as individuals. Our purpose is to promote a climate in which the child may gain maturity and a sense of self direction.
St. Mary's Nursery School offers programs for ages 18 months - 4-5 years, 5 days a week, 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. daily.
We hope that you will inquire more about St. Mary's Nursery School by visiting our website www.stmarysnurseryschool.weebly.com or by contacting Director Whitney Grady at 523-7000.
Cherished Member Luncheon
Cherished Member Luncheons are a ministry of the Episcopal Church Women of St. Mary’s Church. Luncheons are held on the first Thursday of the month, from October to April, at 11:30 a.m. for retired individuals. This is an opportunity for fellowship and to enjoy a good meal.
Campbell’s Soup Labels
For many years, the Episcopal Church Women of St. Mary’s have collected Campbell Soup labels which are redeemed for educational materials by Thompson Child & Family Focus. Simply remove the label from any Campbell Soup container and place in the appropriate can in the Narthex or take to the Parish Office.
Make a Donation
If you would like to support the St. Mary's ministries by making a financial contribution, we would be delighted to receive it. We can assure you that your donation will be put to good use. When making a donation, via electronic banking or by mailing a check, please use the following address:
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Attn: Parish Administrator
800 Rountree Street
Kinston, NC 28501
Gifts are tax deductible, and we will be happy to provide you with a tax receipt.
Tips on Stock Gifts to the Church
Many St. Mary’s parishioners make donations in the form of common stock and mutual funds. Whenever you make such donations, please contact the St. Mary’s Administrator, Marilyn Wiggins, at (252) 523-6146 or [email protected]. This will ensure that your transfer is successfully completed and you receive proper credit for the gift. In many cases, your stock broker will not provide the necessary information to us.
