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Mission & Ministry Beyond Emmanuel

Faith in Action 

Our Faith In Action (formerly the Mission Committee) is now organized into four (4) pillars: 
  Basic Needs Provision                 Justice & Equity
             EarthLove                    Diocesan Involvement 
These reimagined paths focus on stewarding the gifts of the people God has gathered into our church family
​so that we can be responsive to the world in which we live right now. 

We are lay led by Kathleen Martin and Tom Smith.  Below are contacts for each pillar.
Our clergy liaison is Deacon Jerre Birdsong and our staff liaison is Katie Gregston.

1. Basic Needs Provision

To serve this ministry, contact Peg Cooper or Laura McLaughlin
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Emmanuel Food Center began in 1973 as an Emergency Food Center for St. Louis County.  Today, we still operate a food center that is open Monday-Friday 9 am to 2 pm. In addition to the food center, we donate non-perishable food and funds for food to various organizations such as Webster-Rock Hill Ministries and Isaiah 58 Ministries.  Our food center receives referrals from other churches, from our community. Food donations are always welcome!  For a list of food staples to donate, click here. For information, contact Charlotte Martin.
Webster-Rock Hill Ministries is a social service agency located in 63119 zip code.  They provide food, clothing and support to anyone in need.  Please use the special gifts section and note that it is for Webster-Rock Hill Ministries in the description section.

2. EarthLove

To serve this ministry, contact Lynn Stephenson or Stephanie Jeude
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This pillar supports our own apple orchard (!!!), burgeoning butterfly and pollinator gardens. We also participate in Creation Season with Christians around the world each fall.

An Environmental Stewardship Work Day is scheduled annually. Watch for details in the Emmanuel weekly newsletter.

Learn more about how to steward the gifts of creation given to us by God.  You can make a small Milkweed perennial bed which helps the Monarch butterfly. Consider including other native pollinator-friendly plants such as Blue Indigo, Bee Balm, Purple Cone Flowers, Field Thistle, Blazing Stars, or. Oxeye Sunflower. Here is a link to a website providing information on Pollinator friendly plants for your zip code. https://pollinator.org Source - Episcopal Diocese of MO. Creation Care Ministry and MO Dept of Conservation.

For more information see visit the Creation Care page on The Dioceses of Missouri website.

Watch the Emmanuel weekly e-news for Earth Day 2025 activities and events.

3. Justice & Equity

To serve this ministry, contact Mimi Shipp or  Tricia Copeland
Churches Together for Justice held an End Gun Violence march and rally on June 8. 
It was extremely well attended, peaceful, and meaningful. 
We are so grateful to all who made this happen!
Article: Why do kids get shot in St. Louis, A new study shows just how little we know.

​Black Lives Matter Vigil of Solidarity - gathers weekly on Fridays at 6:00 pm on the street corner at our church. This group has been gathering in vigil since the murder of George Floyd and will gather as a prayerful protest and effort seeking justice.

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​Emmanuel PRIDE: See our PRIDE page for more information on annual events like our PRIDE Prayer service and PRIDE Picnic during PRIDE month each June.
Rosebud Reservation Mission, South Dakota:  Emmanuel Episcopal Church has a deep and meaningful 30+-year relationship with the Lakota people of South Dakota. In October 2023, the Church of the Holy Innocents in Parmalee, on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, was destroyed by arson. The church was rebuilt, and a mission team attended the consecration of the new worship space in September 2025.  Read a Reflection by Donna Erickson on this important mission relationship and the recent adult mission trip there.  (See pics ->)
Each year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving,  we participate with local churches in an ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Service, at which we honor our indigenous siblings in Christ and raise funds for the Firewood for Elders.

This year, this ecumenical service will be hosted by Webster United Methodist Church in Webster Groves. An ecumenical choir is being formed and everyone is invited to bring a snack for the fellowship time that folloews the service.

For updated information, see Emmanuel's weekly e-newsletter.
Other ministries supported by this pillar:
Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), Churches Together for Justice, 
UCC Freedom School, the weekly BLM Vigil of Solidarity, Missouri Jobs with Justice,
Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association,
​and other advocacy issues and initiative petition drives as they arise

4. Diocesan Involvement

To serve this ministry, contact Donna Erickson or Mary Jane Kuhn
The Emery Washington Convocation, a group of churches in our region of the Diocese of Missouri, serves to amplify our impact in service and justice. We recently raised over $25,000 forgiving more than $5.7 million dollars in medical debt!
Companion Diocese of Puerto Rico: ​The Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico is now officially in companion relationship with us in the Diocese of Missouri. Mutual mission trips will be planned for 2023. Watch for details!
Hispanic-Latinx Ministry Engagement in the Diocese of MO. Valori+, our Priest in Charge is the diocesan missioner for this new, developing ministry. For more  information, formation options, tips, and Spanish phrases, go to the diocesan webpage If you'd like to participate, please contact Valori+.
Other ministries this pillar supports:​
Episcopal City Mission, United Thank Offering (UTO), and Episcopal Relief and Development
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR NEXT EVENT:
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025
Sunday, April 28, 2024
we packaged 25,000 meals.
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Sunday, April 30, 2023
we packaged 15, 120 meals.
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Sunday, April 24, 2022
we packaged 14,256 meals.