Outreach Ministries

The Rev’d Adam Pierce

2021 brought both change and new opportunities to our outreach ministries. The lived experience of nearly a year in a pandemic saw many of these ministries continuing to adapt and evolve. For instance, Sunday Dinner, which paused its sit down, family-style meal service, continued in 2021 with a pared down corps of lay ministry leaders and staff serving a hot, to-go meal every Sunday. The pause in normal operations invited an opportunity to enter into conversation around the future of this ministry and how it might continue to evolve on the other side of the pandemic; you can read more about these insights in the Sunday Dinner report. In May of 2021, The Rev. Erin Hougland, after discerning a call away from parish ministry, ended her service at Trinity. In July 2021 I began my ministry as Associate for Outreach, Justice, and Congregational Development. Since arriving I have prioritized meeting with ministry leaders to learn of the service they are engaged in and the ways they encounter God in their ministry. I have also sought to enter into relationships with leaders in Trinity’s surrounding neighborhood. I can share two insights from these experiences: First, many know of the great work Trinity does in the community through existing relationships, and second, God is ever present and active all around our city. I have learned in my brief time here that Trinity, in large part due to the relationships already developed and nurtured over the years, is not afraid to respond to new opportunities. I have seen this especially with the gathering of parishioners and St. Richard’s staff and families to care for Afghan Refugees and provide material support for those at Camp Atterbury as well as the re-gathering of the Trinity Welcome Team through the Exodus Refugee Ministry. Partnerships have also made it possible to undertake and develop Trinity Service Corps, which hopes to welcome its first cohort in August 2022. As you read the reports that follow you’ll see many familiar ministries and ministry partners. I hope you will join me in giving thanks for the dedication, care, and expression of God’s call these ministries provide to our neighbors and those who serve with them. You will also see questions being raised around these ministries; both in terms of what new things are on the horizon and the ways in which the care we show our neighbors moves beyond meeting needs alone and begins to address underlying causes of poverty and injustice.

Outreach Advisory Committee

David Bacon & Kate Howe

The Outreach Advisory Committee is responsible for planning and oversight of church outreach activities in collaboration with clergy and staff. We were pleased to welcome the Rev’d Adam Pierce as the new Associate Rector for Outreach, Justice, and Congregational Development this summer. Father Adam is helping us revitalize and rethink our outreach activities. David Bacon succeeded Rick Beardsley as new co-chair. Trinity Service Corps: In 2021, Trinity was approved by The Episcopal Church to host a new Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) program, Trinity Service Corps. ESC is a year of service for young people ages 21-32 who live in an intentional community and work in local organizations to promote justice, while deepening their faith and discerning their vocation. An advisory committee has been working to prepare the 3256 House to serve as a home for Trinity Service Corps, recruiting host organizations and service corps members, and developing the program. Trinity Service Corps will host its inaugural cohort of fellows starting in August 2022. Advisory committee members include: Lisa Adler, John Brady (St. Richard’s), Shelly Furuness, Kate Howe, Andy McConnell, Luana Nissan, Jen Phelps, Todd Relue, Father Adam, and Mother Julia. Outreach Partners’ (Breakfast): Before Covid, the Outreach Advisory Committee hosted a quarterly lunch at Trinity, providing an opportunity for clergy and lay leaders to meet with partner organizations to share updates and discuss collaborations. These lunches were paused in 2020 but we were able to host an Outreach Partners’ Breakfast in the Lemler Garden in early October. In the interim between the last partner brunch and the 2021 brunch a number of outreach partner organizations took on new leadership, and this was the first opportunity that many had to meet one another in person. This event was well-attended and has already led some of our partners to initiate projects that we anticipate will bear fruit in 2022 and beyond. Outreach grants: Outreach grants are typically designated in late fall, but the Committee chose to open its grants process earlier in 2021 to provide assistance to organizations needing extra funding for COVID response or those with budget shortfalls due to the economic crisis. In previous years, applicants were asked to identify a particular project that grant funds would be used for, but the requirements were loosened this year to allow organizations to request funds for whatever they needed most. The Grants Committee (David Bacon, Kate Howe, Matthew Hume, Rev. Adam Pierce, and Terry Langdon) reviewed applications and recommended the following grants, approved by the Vestry and distributed in early December. • Dove Recovery House: $2,500 • Exodus Refugee Immigration: $3,500 • Indiana Justice Project: $1,000 • Mid-North Food Pantry: $3,500 • Shortridge High School: $3,500 Collaboration with the Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation Working Group: The Outreach Advisory Committee and Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation (SJRR) Working Group began discussing ways to collaborate in 2020. These conversations continued in 2021, and we plan to engage more deeply in 2022.

Trinity Outreach Center: The Outreach Committee continues to serve a supervisory role in making sure that the buildings and grounds of the Trinity Outreach Center remain in good working condition, in service of both the missions of the church and the tenants of the building. The most significant improvement to the building in 2021 was the replacement of the 60-year-old freight elevator in the rear of the building. Used primarily by the tenants in the basement, Mid-North Food Pantry, the Outreach committee is grateful to the Vestry for making the investment to replace it and help keep the Pantry operational during a crucial time for the neighborhood. Committee members: David Bacon(Co-chair), Diana Creaser, Nedra Feeley, Kate Howe (Co-chair), Susan McMahon, Adam Mueller, Jane Stephenson, and Erin Vincent.

Dayspring Dinners

Jan Gould, Coordinator

Dinners at Dayspring, one of our longest standing Outreach service projects at Trinity, has been serving dinners to the residents of the Dayspring Homeless Shelter for over 17 years. Volunteers plan, prepare, and serve meals on the third Sunday every other month. We usually feed 35 to 45 residents, many of whom are children. Each family has an assigned table in the dining room and social distancing is maintained while allowing families to dine together. The meals usually consist of a hot entree, salad or vegetable, fresh fruit, potato or pasta dish, beverage, and dessert. Food is arranged on trays in the kitchen and an adult member of each family comes to pick up the trays. Each table has its own basket of condiments, salad dressing, and margarine. Volunteers provide various items for the meals and reimbursement is available from the Outreach budget, but often these are donated. Some favorite meals are Fried chicken dinners, chili suppers, and pizza or taco night. Once the meals have been served, the volunteer team begins the clean-up process, which is usually a two-hour shift from food prep to clean up. We are always looking for people to add to our team. If you would be interested in volunteering, please email Jan Gould at jang1136@aol.com. We are a small but mighty group and love to have newcomers! The pandemic of 2020/2021 brought new challenges to Dayspring and to our ministry. Families could not safely distance themselves in the Dayspring Shelter and volunteers were not allowed in the building to prep or serve food. Ten Dayspring families were moved to Extended Stay Suites where they could have their own sleeping and dining facilities and where they were able to purchase and prepare their own food. Our volunteers were at a loss as to how we could continue to support Dayspring. Hats off to the wonderful Dayspring staff for finding a way to continue to help families and keep them safe. We were told that it would be of great help to collect and donate Walmart gift cards so that families could shop for their own meals. A quick email and post on Facebook brought on a flood of gift cards which were then given to the staff to distribute to the families. I can’t begin to name all of those that provided these cards but many thanks to all who contributed. We are happy to say that Dayspring has been able to re-open and families are moving back into the shelter and we are once again able to prep and serve meals to the residents. We had a full house at our last dinner in December and everyone ate their fill of Little Ceasar’s pizza and salad! Ice cream bars and sandwiches were distributed for dessert. Our next dinner will be on February 19, 2022. Many thanks to those who have helped keep this ministry going. Humble apologies if I have left anyone out! Volunteers in 2021: John and Cathy Bridge, Bill Coleman, Mary DeVoe, Ginny Cottrell and family, Jan and Jim Gould, Karen E King, George Plews, and Peter Whitten.

Cathy Bridge, Coordinator

Following the United States’ military withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, Taliban fighters seized control of Kabul as the Afghan government collapsed. This triggered a staggering humanitarian crisis resulting in the need to immediately evacuate over 120,000 people from the country. In September 2021, Trinity contacted Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. to discuss the possibility of collaborating with Exodus in its efforts to resettle refugees from Afghanistan in the Indianapolis area. Exodus is a cooperating ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. In 2016, Trinity formed a Welcome Team under the auspices of Exodus and the team assisted in resettling several families from Africa, including a family of six from the Central African Republic. In the Fall, we began organizing the team and working to comply with Exodus’ training and compliance requirements which were much more rigorous than we had experienced in our prior resettlement efforts. It is important to keep in mind that Exodus resettled more refugees this fall than it typically does in an entire year. By November, we were ready to be matched with a family, and the team began preliminary preparations to collect clothing, furniture, and other items that would be needed to set up the family’s apartment. On December 14, 2021, Exodus notified the team that they should be prepared to receive a family on December 16. Fortunately, the team is a talented, resourceful, and energetic group and they sprang into action immediately. Within 48 hours, they had managed to furnish and clean the apartment, stock the pantry, and provide other needed items. On December 16, the team welcomed a family of 7 (soon to be 8) at the Indianapolis International Airport. Thereafter, we met a family of 6 from Afghanistan living next door to our family and began providing assistance to them as well. Shortly after the family arrived, the team introduced them to the Mid-North Food Pantry which enthusiastically stocked the family with enough food for a one-to-two-week period, including the halal-certified meat they require. A group of Trinity parishioners are enthusiastically knitting hats and mittens for both families. The team is also continuing to work on determining the family’s clothing needs and sizes. Of course, the Omicron surge has affected our efforts, as Exodus has understandably requested that the team avoid in person interactions with the family as much as reasonably possible. It has been challenging since the family does not yet have internet access. Our introductory meeting with Exodus and the family took place via conference call which allowed for only limited participation by the team. Hopefully, as Omicron declines and the family acquires internet access, we will be able to be in more regular communication with them. The assistance of an interpreter will be necessary in many instances. Now the team’s focus is beginning to shift to the family’s longer-term needs: creating a budget and setting up a bank account; cultural orientation; ESL and school tutoring; identifying skills and employment opportunities; providing transportation to appointments; and enrollment in an English language program. If any Trinity parishioner would like to join this team as we continue to assist the family in their transition to a new life in the U.S., please contact Cathy Bridge for details about how to get involved. Members: Cathy Bridge, Deb Cooney, Diana Creasser, Catey Hale, Cindy Hancock, Peter Hansen, Shannie Hughes, Sharon Lemler, Chris Plews, George Plews, Matthew Plews, Jody Root, Elsa Sands, Mike Schaefer, Katie Simmons, Ann Smith, Dave Smith, and Jane Stephenson.

Bill Coleman, Chair

2021 was a busy year for the Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation Working Group. During the early months of 2021 we engaged in discussions about our role in the Trinity Family. These discussions resulted in the development of a threeyear Strategic Plan based on our Guiding Principles and the “Becoming a Beloved Community” program adopted by the national church. We were inspired by the charge from Bishop Curry to “Love our Neighbor.” In a strong show of support, the Trinity Vestry approved the Plan by unanimous resolution at its April meeting. The following are additional Working Group’s activities and events for 2021: Get Out The Vote Campaign. In late December 2020 we responded to a special request from Faith in Indiana sent to representatives who had participated on the 2020 election Faith Voter teams. They were requesting assistance in getting out the vote for the 2021 Georgia senatorial special election. While our efforts did not include the Faith Voter teams, we participated in the phone bank to encourage voters in lowincome zip codes to vote. Meeting with Indianapolis Mayor’s Staff. On March 19, we participated in a meeting with Mayor Hogsett’s staff arranged by Faith in Indiana. A joint team from All Saints Episcopal and Trinity presented issues on Covid response, gun violence reduction, and immigration issues. Our input along with that of others resulted in the implementation of a $150 million three-year plan to reduce gun violence in Indianapolis. Sacred Ground Grant Application. Members expended significant effort to prepare an application for a Sacred Ground grant through the national church. While our application was not approved, the process allowed us to hone in on objectives for the coming years. Sacred Ground. During the fall we sponsored 10 weekly sessions focused on the Sacred Ground film and reading program that explores the use of discriminatory practices against minority races through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. We are looking forward to an exciting 2022. Anyone interested in joining the Working Group please contact Rev’d Adam Pierce apierce@trinitychurchindy.org, or Bill Coleman billcoleman@aol.com, Members: Amy Sue Bacon, David Bacon, Bill Coleman (Chair), Linda Cuticchia, Nedra Feeley, Laura Cruise Gibson, Dick Hughes, Jane Stephenson, Cindy Strietelmeier, and Bob Wood.

Diana Creasser, Chair

The Sunday Dinner, in collaboration with Second Helpings, has continued to offer a warm meal to our neighbors, as well as other donated items every week during 2021, except the Fourth of July. We have continued the “to go” bagged meal, which was adopted when the pandemic began and also still maintain strict COVID precautions. Current practice involves staff doing the actual meal preparation and set-up. Three to four volunteers are needed to serve the food into containers and prepare the meal bags. These are then delivered to the TOC lobby and handed to each guest who comes to the door but not inside the building. While we continue to feed and engage with the people who come, all volunteers agree that we miss the deeper fellowship of our previous buffet and seated meal. Father Adam Pierce joined the clergy of Trinity Church in July and immediately became involved with the Sunday Dinner. Diana Creasser continues to manage the overall logistics of the ministry along with a strong staff team. Sheila Adkins works as the kitchen manager and cook, Maria Williams, operations and meal delivery and Greg Booker, meal delivery and facility support. The staff are integral to the smooth weekly meal. The biggest challenge this year has been engaging enough consistent volunteers to work each week. Mother Julia, Father Adam and Diana Creasser hosted two parish-wide forums on October 10th and 20th to discern ongoing parish support of the Sunday Dinner ministry. Seventy- two parishioners, who had previously been involved with the Sunday Dinner were asked to join in conversation and address three questions: What drew you to the Sunday Dinner? What concerns do you have about this ministry? What are your thoughts on changes moving forward? Thirty-eight people participated with those individuals pretty evenly divided between in person and zoom. Responses were favorable for continuing the dinner but many mentioned expanding it to be more holistic and not just focused on food. People miss engaging with our guests but emphasized the lost camaraderie with fellow team mates. There was a clear message that they want teams to be reformed and a schedule published. The electronic sign-up system is not preferable. Teams and a schedule for each team to work every eight weeks is nearly complete. A comprehensive needs assessment and visioning will be conducted some time in 2022. Guests: 43 average/week 2,340/ calendar year • Black 1581 or 83% • White 197 or 10% • Other 108 or 7% • Children 113 or 6% Meals served: 65/week 3,380/ calendar year At the beginning of the pandemic, Second Helpings and the ISDH approved giving out meals to people who were not physically present. Many guests take more than one meal for family members at home or others in need.