Food Pantry
For more than 35 years, St. Paul’s has been providing food for the emergency pantry at Vestia (formerly called Social Services) in Pleasant Hill, CA. Vestia provides a list of required food items and, thanks to generous church donations, St. Paul’s volunteers are able to shop for and deliver up to $400 worth of food every other month to help stock the Vestia pantry.
Honduras Mission
Since 2007, St. Paul’s has supported annual mission-driven visits to our sister parish, Iglesia Episcopal San Juan Evangelista, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This year, we continue our relationship by sponsoring children that will help support life-enhancing ministries, such as: Vacation Bible School for parish and neighborhood children, school backpacks with supplies, daily hot lunches, craft projects, and more.
Learn how you can sponsor a child and help make a difference!
Honduras Update
The congregation of Iglesia Episcopal San Juan Evangelista is doing very well during these unprecedented times. During a recent phone call, their Deacon, Reverenda Esmeralda, told us that she makes the rounds of all the families from the parish at least once a week. Nobody lives very far away, but there are certain restrictions regarding travel from home. Twice, the government has distributed food to each household, consisting of beans, rice, sugar, cooking oil, coffee, flour, and soap for cleaning. Once, Esmeralda distributed $20 to each family in the parish, taken out of generous donations from St. Paul’s.
Unfortunately, the Honduras economy is doing poorly. Many have no work and money is tight. But while Honduras has many problems, including a President and First Lady who have both tested positive for COVID-19, the congregation of San Juan Evangelista has not had anyone test positive, nor have they lost anyone due to the pandemic. They have been blessed in many ways and are very thankful for their long relationship between their parish and St. Paul’s.
~Hugh Harvey, July 17, 2020
Rummage Sale
Usually twice a year since the 1950s, St. Paul’s stages a grand “resale store,” raising approximately $12,000 annually to support our Outreach ministries. Proceeds are distributed to charities in alignment with the Millennium Development Goals.
Valentine Tea
This beloved annual fundraiser is a formal tea featuring a delicious assortment of sweet and savory delicacies, plus much more and benefits Contra Costa charities. We serve approximately 160 people in a festive setting in the Parish Hall while local merchants and parishioners donate new items for an energetic raffle and auction. This year, the Valentine Tea is on Saturday, February 11, so prepare to don your high hats and join the fun! Doors open at 2:00 pm and tea begins at 3:00 pm. Tickets go on sale Sunday, January 22 at the St. Paul’s Annual Meeting. $45/ticket.
Warm Winter Nights
St. Paul’s is one of several church hosts for a family shelter that rotates among congregations in Contra Costa County. Families stay in our Parish Hall and we prepare and serve them meals. Winter Nights Family Shelter is a project of the Social Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County.
Boy Scouts
Troop 202 has been a part of St. Paul’s since 1946 and is one of the oldest troops in the East Bay. The boys plan and execute a full range of activities that encourage fellowship, friendship, and good citizenship, working on scout advancement and other service projects. Usually each month there is a camping trip or a weekend field trip, and every summer there are two major excursions. The Scouts meet most Tuesdays at 7:00 pm and are led by Scout Master Matt Gallegos. Know of a young boy between the ages of 11-18 that wants to learn more about scouting? Contact Matt!
