OFF-SITE MISSION PARTNERSHIPS
Are you looking to find a community organization already doing good work and want to join in? Saint Mark’s is in partnership with many local non-profits. We support these organizations in several ways, depending upon the partnership: annual congregational pledge, recruiting Saint Markans as volunteers for events or on an ongoing basis at the service location, occasional congregational collections of goods, or in-kind donations of cathedral event space. We are also happy to help you connect your gifts and your passions with one of our mission partners so you may work directly with them.
Emerson Spanish Immersion Learning Center (ESILC)
ESILC is located in the Loring Park neighborhood. Saint Mark’s seeks to serve the needs of the students and families through our relationship through the Parent Teacher Association. The school has a very vibrant, diverse, and active community. Contact: the Rev. Tim Kingsley, Community Engagement Coordinator.
Dignity Center
The Dignity Center, a non-profit offshoot of our neighbor, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, works with people to achieve and maintain stability in housing and employment. Participants engage with one advocate, working together on skills such as problem solving, decision making, organization and budgeting. The Dignity Center relies on volunteers in several areas, not just advocates, to support this ministry. Contact: George Ewing.
City House
The work of City House inspires hope, trust, and healing through spiritual listening with people on the margins—including those experiencing poverty, addiction, and imprisonment. City house provides spiritual listeners at our Sunday Night Supper, as well as other outreach posts and social service agencies around the Twin Cities. Several times a year, City House makes listening training and urban pilgrimages available to Saint Markans. Contact: the Rev. Rena Turnham, Deacon.
ALIGN Minneapolis (Formerly Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness or DCEH)
Align Minneapolis is an interfaith collaboration of 13 downtown Minneapolis churches, synagogues, and mosques working together to end homelessness in Hennepin County. Saint Mark’s is a member congregation in the work to coordinate faith community led direct services and to connect this hands on work to advocacy in solidarity with those in our community experiencing housing insecurity. Housing advocacy, Contact: John Cuningham. Direct service through Align member congregations, Contact: the Rev. Rena Turnham, Deacon.
Minneapolis College (former Minneapolis Community and Technical College)
Minneapolis College located in the Loring Park neighborhood, is a public two-year college enrolling over 11,000 credit students annually and is an active partner in initiatives designed to strengthen the social, economic and cultural vitality of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. We seek to support the students through our annual Christmas offering for the Lionheart Scholarship, as well as through special requests that come through the Student Resource Center. Contact: the Rev. Lowell Johnson, Deacon.
Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)
NAZ exists to permanently close the achievement gap and end generational poverty in North Minneapolis. Together with their partner organizations, NAZ family coaches walking side by side with low-income families as they put their children on a path to college. We at Saint Mark’s work to connect our resources with NAZ and NAZ partners for the further of NAZ’s mission. Volunteer opportunities exist for Saint Markans to fundraise for NAZ through Saint Mark’s, as well as directly with NAZ via events and personal networking. Contact: the Rev. Tim Kingsley, Community Engagement Coordinator.
Ascension Catholic School Tutoring Program/Reading Partners
This program for the students at Ascension Catholic School, a NAZ partner school, pairs volunteers with students for a weekly reading session to improve reading and language skills. Training and background check required. Contact: Ann Pannier.
POP UP THINK TANK
Saint Mark’s is the recipient in 2018 of a significant Missional Innovation Partnership grant through the Episcopal Church in Minnesota to fund its partnership with Pop Up Think Tank an unique community engagement model to support local nonprofits and individuals seeking to serve their communities from within. Saint Mark’s will be training a team to run two Pop-Up Think Tank events for two North Minneapolis organizations to support and expand their respective missions through idea generation and networking. Contact: Rev. Rena Turnham, Deacon.
GROVELAND EMERGENCY FOOD SHELF
Groveland Food Shelf is a non-profit providing emergency groceries for hungry individuals in the Minneapolis area and is is located at Plymouth Congregational Church. About 2,000 clients are served per month and over 40,000 pounds of food are distributed. Saint Marks is a founding congregation member of the Groveland Food Shelf. Support is given through monetary donations and food donations (directly to the foodshelf) and by having a Saint Markan sit on the organization’s board. Minneapolis College, one of the Saint Mark’s partners, also distributes food through Groveland Food Shelf at the Student Resource Center on campus. Volunteer opportunities exist to work at the food shelf or assist with seasonal congregational fundraising campaigns. Contact: Heidi Haner.
CITIZENS FOR THE LORING PARK COMMUNITY (CLPC)
CLPC is the official neighborhood association for the Loring Park neighborhood.The mission of CLPC is to cultivate continuing leadership and help a diverse neighborhood realize a more harmonious, thriving, and beautiful community. CLPC has four main areas of focus: community livability, economic vitality, sustainability, and historic preservation. Volunteer opportunities exist for those wishing to liase with CLPC on behalf of Saint Mark’s or connect on specific community events. Contact: Rev. Lowell, Johnson, Deacon.
CIRCLE OF THE BELOVED, EPISCOPAL SERVICE CORPS
Circle of the Beloved is a community of young adults who live together in intentional community while spending a year serving in non-profit organizations. Young adults come from all walks of life and various faith and family backgrounds to spend a year living at Liberty House and serving together in North Minneapolis.. The Episcopal Service Corps is a national young adult service year program affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Saint Mark’s supports Circle of the Beloved through the annual Easter offering as well as through volunteering. Contact: the Rev. Tim Kingsley, Community Engagement Coordinator.
DOWNTOWN GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
The Downtown Coalition for Grief Support is a unique resource to help adults understand and express grief, and most of all, begin moving forward. It is an all-volunteer, non-denominational organization that believes in the power of people to turn pain into promise through encouragement, education and comfort on both professional and personal terms. All meetings are held from 9:30-11:30 am on Saturdays. Location rotates between downtown faith communities, so please reference the weekly schedule. Contact: Linda Schelin.
VISITATION SISTERS OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS / SAINT JANE HOUSE
Saint Mark’s is supported by the contemplative prayer and non-violent presence of the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary , who live in an urban monastery in nearby North Minneapolis. The Sisters sponsor the ministry of the Saint Jane House, a retreat center, guest house, and spirituality center. For more information on the Sisters’ ministry, please contact Sr. Karen Mohan, VHM, Community Leader.
For questions concerning ways to serve at Saint Mark’s,
please contact The Reverend Rena Turnham or The Reverend Tim Kingsley
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Sunday Night Supper
Feb 09 at 4:00 PM
Saint Mark’s offers a great opportunity to practice hospitality and feed the people of God on the second Sunday of the month. To volunteer, contact: The Rev. Tim Kingsley, Community Engagement Coordinator.