Outreach
Spiritual formation is the growth of our souls and bodies into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. God, the Father, shapes our lives by His Son and the Holy Spirit through the grace of the sacraments. We believe that this formation happens intellectually just as much as it does in our habits and emotions. Here at St. Joseph’s, we are committed to being formed into conduits of God’s grace from Sunday worship onwards as we go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
The Heart of Christ
Mercy Ministries Commission
The Mercy Ministries Commission at St. Joseph of Arimathea serves as a resource for members, raising awareness of needs in the parish as well as the broader community, and helps parishioners respond. The commission serves as a contact between congregation, clergy, and community, making each aware of the needs of the congregation and community.
Service opportunities coordinated through Mercy Ministries include the Ministry of Drivers (taking members no longer able to drive to church, doctors’ appointments, picking up prescriptions, going shopping, etc.), The Visitation Ministry, where members visit shut-ins (members sometimes visit along with Eucharistic Visitors as well as on their own).
Within the local community, we support the Hendersonville Samaritan Association, Goodlettsville Help Center and Room In The Inn Sunday lunch program. Within the state we support Camp MacLeod of The 2nd Base Foundation. Globally, we support our Companion Church, Jesús el Señor in Ecuador, which includes the opportunity to travel there yearly in conjunction with members from several other churches in the Diocese.
For specific information or questions related to Mercy Ministries Commission, contact Nell Nestor.
Church in the Yard
Church in the Yard is a ministry of Holy Trinity Church, Nashville. Each Sunday there is a service and meal provided for Nashville’s homeless community. Groups of parishioners from around the diocese participate in preparing and serving meals. St. Joseph’s became involved several years ago, initially as a particular outreach of the Daughters of the King which has subsequently attracted the involvement of other members of the congregation.
If you would like to be involved in this vital ministry, please contact Carl Berg.
Jesus EL Senor
Jesus El Senor is our companion parish in the Diocese of Litoral, Ecuador. Litoral was once the companion Diocese of the Diocese of Tennessee. During that time a number of companion relationships were formed, including that of St. Joseph’s with Jesus El Senor. Over the years St. Joseph’s has helped to fund a preschool, and bakery as an enterprise to help support the community. In addition, groups of parishioners have regularly traveled to Ecuador and aided our companion parish in construction projects and other improvements to their facility. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this important relationship.
For specific information or questions related to our companion parish, contact Sarena Pettit.
2nd Base Foundation
St. Joseph of Arimathea partners with The 2nd Base foundation, a wilderness camp founded by parishioner Carl MacLeod and others in honor of Carl’s late son Mark MacLeod. The nonprofit and it’s camp, Camp MacLeod, work to ensure that children and youth who otherwise would not have access, will have the opportunity to camp. The camp works with other youth organizations such as the scouts, and church youth groups, among others, to see that this happens.
If you would like to be involved in this vital ministry, please contact Carl MacLeod.
Samaritan Center & Goodlettsville Help Center
St. Joseph continues to support both organizations with monthly donations to each. In February, we raise money on “Souper Bowl” Sunday to help support the Hendersonville Samaritan Association. At the Lessons and Carols, held at our church in December each year, the offering is designated for the Hendersonville Samaritan Center.
St. Joseph’s also has a peanut butter and jelly collection box. Members are encouraged to place their donations of peanut butter and jelly in the box in the Narthex. The food items collected are regularly blessed by our priest and then taken to the Samaritan Association food pantry. Additionally, St. Joseph’s has an Angel Tree to supply children in need from names given to us from the Samaritan Association with gifts at Christmas.
For specific information or questions related to Samaritan Center & Goodlettsville Help Center, contact Nell Nestor.
Room in the Inn
Members from St. Joseph help prepare lunch and take it to the Room In The Inn in Nashville, to serve 60-80 men and women. A number of members of St. Joseph participate in this outreach opportunity, both in food preparation and in delivery and serving.
If you would like to be involved in this vital ministry, please contact Kim Waltenbaugh.
