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If Outreach is defined as a local means to serve those locally in or around Venice, then the word "Missions" is categorized as a way in which we serve those further away. Every year our annual goal is to raise $15,000 for our various mission opportunities. They reach into our domestic and international families, helping renovate people's homes lost in natural disasters, providing books for seminarians in the north or sending our own missionaries to the south with provisions. We support walking for the hungry as a way to empathize with those who live in places where they often walk miles to the nearest watering whole or grain distribution center. Outreach and Missions do go hand in hand and sometimes that is nearby and for others it is far off. Listed below are some of the honorary mentions of missions that we support and for you to join.
Church Periodical Club (CPC)Throughout the year, funds are raised to assist in buying books and periodicals to anyone anywhere who needs them and cannot afford them. . Our annual goal is $500.
Crop Walk Once a year, usually the end of February, volunteers support this national organization with raising funds for the hungry, walking either the 2K or 5K course on the island of Venice. Our annual goal is $6,000.
Dominican Development Group (DDG)
Every spring, volunteers from our parish become missionaries, traveling down to the Dominican Republic to assist this SWFL Diocesan/Deanery based events. Various dinners and so forth are used to raise money to support the purchase of supplies while serving for one week.
Our annual goal is $5,000.
See videos of our last trip there in April of 2010.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Every December, volunteers from Good Shepherd take 1-hour shifts to stand their post, and ring the bell for the Salvation Army. All the way up to Christmas, people who get out of their cars after parking in the Venice Walmart lot, hear the sound of the bells and sometimes the sound of a flute or harp accompaning the sound of sweet hope for the impoverished. Those who volunteer say that this simple action of ringing a bell for the SA restores their hope as well, helping those in need. Our annual goal, of monies raised, is $10,000.
Seminarian Fund
Throughout the year, funds are needed to assist in providing financial assistance for a seminarian at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, of the Rector's selection and/or The Society of the Increase of Ministry (SIMS).
Our annual goal is $1,000.
United Thank Offering (UTO) In December funds are raised to assist the historical Women's Auxiliary Movement, now merged with Episcopal Relief and Development, in the support of Episcopal missionaries worldwide.
Our annual goal is $500 (Amount raised in 2009 was $700).
Joseph Franco, Missions Chair
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or 941-492-4470
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