PUTTING FAITH INTO ACTION.

WHAT’S YOUR PASSION?

Perhaps it’s ecology.  Developing a more in-depth understanding of the Bible and its relevancy to your life.  Becoming active about political issues and policies that matter to you.  Or, helping those in need both locally and globally. 

Good news! At St. Mark, it’s likely that you’ll find a group of similarly minded individuals who believe that putting their faith into action—in ways that reflect their particular interests—also deepens their worship experience at St. Mark, and profoundly affects their lives. 

Deacons | Ecophilians | Health Ministries | Nicaragua Covenant Committee | Peace & Justice Commission

Our Deacons, for example, provide support to the congregation as well as offer our members various ways to assist nearly 20 service organizations that include:

AIDS Services Foundation (ASF)	helps the more than 1,500 men, women, children and families living with HIV.
Alzheimer's Family Service Center	works to improve the quality of life for families callenged by Alzheimer's or other dementia.
Breast Cancer Angels	provides financial and emotional assistance for women and their families as they are going through breast cancer treatment.
Creative Identity	provides a day-care program for adults with disablities (Autism) and offers activities that allow them to express themselves using music and various artistic media.
Family Promise	shelters homeless families with children and assists them in returning to financial stability and permanent housing.
Glenn Martin Elementary School	educates 730+ K-5 students in Santa Ana.
Hannah's House / Casa Teresa	provides a transformational, comprehensive program for homeless pregnant women, age 18 or older who are alone.
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)	a self-help organization for families and friends of those suffering from serious mental disorders.
Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter (OCIF)	provides shelter, transitional and counseling programs to support homeless families.
Serving People in Need (SPIN)	serves both low-income and homeless people and families, by offering both financial assistance and education to become self-sufficient.
Share Our Selves (SOS)	offers social, dental medical services as well as a comprehensive CARE center to those in need of basic living essentials.
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen	a hunger relief program that serves 250-275 meals seven days per week.
Western Service Workers Association (WSWA)	helps service, domestic and other low-paid workers in Orange County with medical/dental services, and other social services and works to help them acquire a living wage.

To get involved with any of the above organizations, simply click on any of the links below for the volunteer opportunity that interests you.

Volunteer Skills needed	Organizations (follow link for contact information)
Childcare Assistance	-Casa Teresa
Cook / Food Service	-Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter -Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
Drivers	-AIDS Services Foundation -Serving People in Need (SPIN) (please contact Kim Frazier, Director of Volunteers at 714-751-1109 ext. 19)
Food Pantry Stocking	-AIDS Services Foundation -Someone Cares Soup Kitchen -Western Service Workers Association (please contact Lisa Schwartz 714-835-9961)
General Office Administration	-AIDS Services Foundation -National Alliance for Mental Illness -Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter -Serving People in Need (SPIN) (please contact Kim Frazier, Director of Volunteers at 714-751-1109 ext. 19) -Share Our Selves
Medical volunteers (Registered Nurses, Optometrists, Dentists, lab techs, etc.)	-Share Our Selves -Western Service Workers Association (please contact Lisa Schwartz 714-835-9961)
Teachers (English as a Second Language - ESOL, career planning, job seeking/retention, etc)	-Casa Teresa -Western Service Workers Association (please contact Lisa Schwartz 714-835-9961)
Spanish Translation	-AIDS Services Foundation -Share Our Selves
Tutors	-AIDS Services Foundation -Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter -Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
Staff Special Events	-AIDS Services Foundation -Casa Teresa -National Alliance for Mental Illness -Serving People in Need (SPIN) (please contact Kim Frazier, Director of Volunteers at 714-751-1109 ext. 19)

Still other ways of putting faith into action include:

Ecophilians 
The name Ecophilian is derived from “eco-” meaning habitat or environment and “philia” meaning a friendly feeling for. To that end, caring for creation with ecological awareness is the focus of St. Mark’s environmental committee.  A perfect local example of this mission is our own church campus, for which the Ecophilians provided important guidance in terms of energy-saving design and environmental sustainability during the two-year building process.  They also participate in the annual Orange County Coalition for the Environment Conference, coordinate St. Mark’s yearly Earth Day program, and award the annual Parry Environmental Scholarships to two deserving college students who have a demonstrated interest in the spiritual dimension of environmental sciences. 
Click here to learn more

Health Ministries
The purpose of Health Ministries is to promote and support all aspects of health (body, mind, and spirit) in our congregation.  We offer first aid and CPR classes, lectures on nutrition, end-of-life issues, grief/loss, and other topics.  Blood pressures are taken the last Sunday of each month, and we offer free flu shots in the fall in coordination with the Hoag Hospital Community Medicine Department.  Our Parish Nurse is a valuable resource for information, education, and resources between individuals and the health care system.  She is also a grief councilor available by phone or visitation.  A Care Team visits the sick, provides transportation for doctor appointments, and any other services to support individual and families.
Contact the church office for phone numbers to contact individuals.

Nicaragua Covenant Committee
This group has been in partnership with sister congregations in the poverty-stricken area of Acahualinca, near Managua, Nicaragua for over 15 years.  We have worked in partnership to help provide a children's nutritional program, the building of a community center, the development of rural health clinics, dental clinics, and micro-loans that grant individuals small loans that make it possible to begin a business.

Peace and Justice Commission
From participation in global initiatives such as the annual Bread for the World Campaign; to hands-on support working with Presbyterian Disaster Relief to help victims of Hurricane Katrina rebuild; and to local educational programs such as St. Mark’s Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussions, the Peace and Justice (P&J) Commission is involved!  P&J works to identify and fight the root causes of social injustice by clarifying social issues and recommending priorities for study and effective use of resources by the St. Mark congregation.  Among many other activities, P&J hosts the annual popular St. Mark “Alternative” Christmas Market, held the Sunday before Thanksgiving to offer an “alternative” to traditional holiday shopping.  Available for purchase are crafts, books, Free Trade food items, jewelry and many other items from 20 local service organizations and cooperatives around the world.  All proceeds benefit the participating charities.