St Thomas Church

 ST THOMAS’S CHURCH, RONDEBOSCH

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

1.  FINANCIAL SUPPORT:  We tithe our income and send a contribution on a monthly basis to different organizations who do not have access to major public support.

      We also make a monthly contribution to the support of the spiritual counsellor at St Luke’s hospice.

      We support monthly Aldine Marcus who helps run Freaky Friday and is currently doing theological studies.

      We support monthly the National Alpha Office.

2.   We run the ALPHA COURSE twice a year. This is our principal evangelistic outreach.

3.   Our parish has a very active Task Team in support of FIKELELA which is the Anglican  Church’s outreach to those affected by HIV/Aids.  The team  organizes the supply, packing and distribution of Food Parcels and Care Packs for Aids affected households and Comfort Packs for abused children.  They raise funds to provide for this and also support Fikelela with donations of secondhand clothing and many people are involved in knitting and crocheting for the Aids orphans – from baby clothes to school jerseys.

4.   A number of people from St Thomas’s have been accepted by RED CROSS HOSPITAL to visit and play with children.

      We also have a large number of people who have committed themselves to making SANDWICHES (6 loaves twice a week) for the mothers who spend all day with their sick children.

5.   We distribute GROCERIES (with secondhand clothing) to indigent families in Nyanga and Gugulethu.  This distribution is controlled by Rev. Marjorie Mamputo.

6.   St Thomas’s is involved with other churches and schools in the praying for the police project and members attend the monthly prayer meetings at RONDEBOSCH POLICE STATION.

7.   A group of women conduct SEWING CLASSES for domestic servants on Wednesday afternoons at St Thomas’s church hall.  This grew out of a centre of concern many years ago.

8.   Our parish has an ongoing involvement with and commitment to HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.  We undertake one major build each year (ie raise the money and provide people to build one house from scratch.) and some people assist with other builds throughout the year.

9. A group of parishioners is also involved in a ministry to POLLSMOOR PRISON.  They visit the prison regularly to pray for the prisoners.  St Thomas's also supports the work of Hope Prison Ministries who provide training and support for prisoners.

      (We send one of monthly tithing donations to “Loaves and Fishes” and also to the Haven Night Shelter to assist them in their work for street people because we have an ongoing problem with vagrants abusing our grounds and do not feed or clothe street people directly from our church premises.) IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE ABOVE ACTIVITIES PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE !