Caption (siblings): Lamar and Antoinette at the annual Be an Angel party held by volunteers at St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh for families in the ECS FAST Housing program.
Caption (Citizen): Claris became an American citizen in February thanks to the help of immigration attorney and Christ Church, Philadelphia parishioner Ayodele Gansallo. The two met when Ayodele was volunteering with her fellow parishioners at ECS St. Barnabas Mission where Claris was a resident.
Every Rector and Minister-in-Charge of a Congregation in the Diocese shall annually, in some way, present the cause of the Episcopal Community Services to his people and bespeak their support of its work.
- Canon 19 of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
Dear Parish Priest/Parish Coordinator:
Your parish is integral to the success of Episcopal Community Services. ECS Sunday is our opportunity to celebrate this partnership as we work together to make communities stronger.
This spring, parishes all over the diocese will celebrate ECS Sunday, either on the designated date of April 13 or another convenient time. We hope you and your parish will participate.
Inside this ECS Sunday Tool Kit you will find special intercessions and other promotional resources. We know that the support of parish leadership is the single greatest predictor of a successful collection, and we hope you will say a few words on our behalf.
Accompanying this publication is a sample ECS Sunday homily highlighting the plight of the poor in our city. Please feel free to use as is or to borrow liberally from it as you put together your own sermon on ECS Sunday. Speakers are also available to deliver this sermon or to speak to an adult forum. Just contact ECS at 215.351.1460 or email debbiea@ecs1870.org.
It’s sad to say, but the need out there is growing. The US Census announced last year that Philadelphia ranked first among the nation’s 10 largest cities in the percentage of residents living in poverty. That’s just one of many dubious distinctions that make up the reality of life for the quarter of all city residents living in poverty and the many more who are barely getting by.
ECS can’t control the macro-economic forces behind rising poverty but we can and do have a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of families each year. That investment in making communities stronger benefits all of us, whatever our means and wherever we live.
Our communities become stronger when children grow up in safe, nurturing homes. They grow stronger when both children and adults have access to quality education or when we train lay persons to minister in hospitals, prisons, and other institutions where people are in need of healing. Communities become stronger through your generosity, your volunteer hours, and your prayers.
Thank you for your generous efforts to support ECS. Be assured of our prayers that your ministry will be strengthened by your acts of care and concern for the less fortunate among us.
Faithfully,
The ECS Parish Relations Committee
The Rev. Clifford Cutler • Ginger Goodrich •
The Rev. Mary Laney • The Rev. Dr. Jean Mather • Margaret Sipple
