Soles4Souls
For over ten years, St. John’s has been a contributor to Soles4Souls. Soles4Souls turns unwanted shoes and clothes into opportunity by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to beneficial use. Whether it is disaster relief or supporting homeless kids, they distribute shoes and clothing in the U.S. and around the world. They fight poverty by helping people in developing countries launch and sustain their own small business selling donated shoes and clothing. Soles4Souls protects that planet by repurposing unwanted items and putting them to effective use. They keep them out of landfills and extend their lifespan.
At St. John’s. Barbara Landis and Brad Zuke lead this effort by collecting and storing donated shoes throughout the year. Around Holy Week, the youth group prepares the collected shoes for shipment to Soles4Souls. We also receive shoes that have been collected at other nearby churches & schools.
If you have shoes you would like to donate, bring them to the Atrium on Sunday or to the church during the week and place them in the Shoe Box.
Betty Finney AIDS Memorial Garden
The garden, located in the Mayor Janice P. Stork Corridor Park (formerly “Linear Park”) on West Lemon Street in Lancaster, honors more than 450 Lancaster residents lost to HIV/AIDS, their courageous caregivers, and faithful advocates. Volunteers do general garden maintenance.
Angel Tree
Every year, St. John’s supports the Vineyard Personal Care Home and Fulton Elementary School by providing Christmas gifts for residents and families in need. On the first Sunday of Advent, you’ll find the Angel Tree in the Parish Hall decorated with numerous “tags.” Please help us spread some Christmas joy by taking a tag or two! Gifts are due by the middle of December wrapped and ready for delivery!
School Supply Drive
Every summer, St. John’s parish collects school supplies for Fulton Elementary School, our neighborhood school across the street! Pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, scissors, tissues, rulers, and more are offered to the teachers and staff during our Fulton Luncheon in August. Donations can be dropped off anytime throughout the summer!
Martha's Ministry
Members, as well as friends of St. John’s, gather to knit and crochet every Tuesday afternoon. Making and providing prayer shawls and pocket-size prayer shawls is a specialty of this group. They also support the “Fence of Love Ministry” by providing hats, gloves, and socks on the fence along W. Chestnut Street for our neighbors in need. Our needle workers can be found gathered in the Parish Hall on Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. and between services on Sunday mornings. We welcome beginners, rusty and seasoned stitchers. Donations of yarn are welcomed.
Prison Ministries
“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”– Matthew 25:36
St. John’s is committed to serving those on the margins. St. John’s is active in
providing: one on one minister visits to those experiencing incarceration, participating in monthly in prison worship services and inviting returning citizens, including youth, to fulfill their community service hours by partnering with us in serving the Lancaster community.
Immigration Clinic
Every Tuesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 PM a group of volunteers gather in the Parish Hall to provide one on one counseling and support to our immigrant neighbors. This ministry is run through the Parish Resource Center and opportunities to volunteer are abundant. Already this year, over 35 clinics have been held and over 300 people assisted! If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to info@connectprc.org for more information.
