Re-Entry Program: The Rescue Mission of Trenton.
Trinity Cathedral has had a presence in the “TEACH” program at the Rescue Mission of Trenton since 2008. TEACH offers educational classes to Rescue Mission residents who are transitioning to freedom after being recently released from the prison system. Classes include GED preparation, computer skills, and life skills training. In the computer skills area, up to five students at a time use modern computers in a renovated workspace, working on individually tailored exercises to match their skill level. Training includes the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Access), and is focused on improving employment prospects. But this is also a ministry of presence: Some of the participants have been incarcerated for a decade or more, and are very grateful for the volunteers’ time and commitment to help them reintegrate. Deacon Chris Cox is a regular volunteer, with Jon Carl Lewis, E.J. O’Suilleabhain and Frances Burns having volunteered in the past. This is a very rewarding ministry, so please don’t hesitate to ask Deacon Chris for more information if you feel so called.
CROP Walk
CROP stands for Community Response to Overcoming Poverty and hunger, and raises money for both domestic and local concerns and overseas projects. In 2015 Trinity Cathedral was pleased to be the venue once again for the October Trenton CROP Walk, in collaboration with Trenton Ecumenical Area Ministries (TEAM). The sponsored walkers from the Cathedral were Ellen Wry, Judith Miller, Althia Muse, Carolyn Ford and Deacon Chris Cox, who between them raised a total of $1,723, - a 50% increase over 2014! Thanks to everyone who donated so generously.
Respectfully submitted by Dcn. Chris Cox
Millennium Development Goals
In addition to the CROP walk, Trinity Cathedral aided two other projects in 2015 in support of our Millennium Development Goals initiative. Firstly, we continued our monthly commitment to our sponsored child in Lusaka, Zambia. Through the agency of Children International, we helped provide medical and dental care, nutritional needs, and educational opportunities through the expansion of community schools, teacher training, and the provision of classroom materials. We also provided extra donations for special events such as Christmas, Easter and birthday. Please take a look at the corkboard in the corridor near the Cathedral office for more information and photos of our sponsored child, Joseph Chizhiba.
The second MDG project in 2015 was a fundraiser to install clean water supplies for villages in Grand Bassa County, Liberia. With the help and guidance of Sayah Richardson (who has family in the area) we identified a particular need in villages that are collecting their water from a local creek, which is potentially contaminated with bacteria and parasites. Installing a clean water well involves digging below the water table, lining and capping the well and installing a hand pump. A properly constructed well can be sufficient for an entire village, but costs money. Through the generosity of the Cathedral congregation with raised $2,500, which will pay for at least one well. We are coordinating the project with Fr. Augustus Quoi of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Buchannan, Grand Bassa County. Thanks to everyone for such a generous response to our sisters and brothers in Liberia!
Respectfully submitted by Dcn. Chris Cox
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. (TASK)
The Cathedral has served as a satellite location for TASK since 2009, serving hot meals in Synod Hall each Thursday evening. Meals are prepared at the TASK headquarters on Escher Street and transported to the Cathedral in heat-insulating containers, along with juice, milk, bread and cookies for desert. We typically serve between 40-60 guests each week, who are looked after by a very faithful band of volunteers who set up, serve the meals, clean up afterwards, and generally “keep order”. We invite individuals and groups from outside the Cathedral who wish to share in this important ministry, and have regular volunteers from other churches in the area, including Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal church in Mercerville, and Abiding Presence Lutheran church in Ewing. A number of student volunteers join us during the summer months. As in other years, we were blessed with a large donation of socks and hats to be given away in the winter months, thanks to Ellen and Brann Wry. This is a very rewarding “hands on” ministry suitable for all ages and skills! Please talk to Deacon Chris Cox or one of the regular volunteers for more information.
Respectfully submitted by Dcn. Chris Cox