Serving Our Community As the Hands & Feet of Jesus
“I did not come to be served but to serve . . .” Jesus in Mark 10:45
Jesus calls us to serve others, especially those in need or those who are on the fringes of society. At Calvary, serving is a way of life that energizes us.
Thanksgiving Eve Dinner
Calvary’s 38th Annual Community Thanksgiving Eve Din
Calvary has partnered with Pastor Nava and The Open Door since its inception. We helped Pastor Nava find the land The Open Door ministry is located at on Highway 95. Today, The Open Door is a family shelter and soup kitchen.
Every Monday, a group brings and cooks food for breakfast and lunch at The Open Door. On Thursdays, The Open Door provides brown bag lunches that Calvary volunteers pass out in front of our sanctuary. For more information, contact Jamie McDonald, our Lay Ministry Coordinator, at jamie@cecbastrop.org.
Since our founding in 1869, Calvary has been located at the intersection of downtown & the river. Our unique location opens doors to minister to our downtown community. We open our Parish Hall doors to the community for summer festivals and the Christmas parade so people have a place to cool down or warm up and find some refreshment. We also have a presence at downtown events by passing out bottled water or snacks. Learn more at our Downtown Ministry page. For more information, contact Jamie McDonald, our Lay Ministry Coordinator, at jamie@cecbastrop.org.
The first three Fridays of the month, Calvary’s Argent Court team leads a worship service at Argent Court Assisted Living in Bastrop. We regularly have 10-20 residents who attend and we have become good friends with them over the years. This ministry is entirely lay led and includes musicians, readers and a preacher. For more information, contact Jamie McDonald, our Lay Ministry Coordinator, at jamie@cecbastrop.org.
Every November, Calvary’s Daughters of the King chapter receives a list of gifts from families working with the Family Crisis Center. Parishioners and community members choose the gifts they want to purchase, wrap them and bring them to the Parish Hall. In early December, elves from the Family Crisis Center come and make sure the gifts are distributed to each family, making Christmas possible for families having a hard time.
On the second Sunday in December, Calvary holds an Alternative Giving Fair. People looking for gifts can donate to a number of local charities that Calvary partners with. Cards explaining the gift and the purpose of the charity are wrapped, making a thoughtful gift that will make a difference in people’s lives.