Missions and Outreach - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Emmorton, MD

Saint Mary's is very much a community church. Providing the accustomed work and values of a local church, such as Christian Education and Sacramental ministry, we reach out into the greater community providing not only space, but also continuing the earthly work of our Lord by providing service as well.

Housed in a separate office in the Educational Building, The Pastoral Counseling Services of Maryland holds regular office hours providing pastoral counseling to individuals and families who might not have a regular association with a Christian community. Margaret Hardin, LCPC, CCMHC is available for individual, marriage, and family counseling. Her services are fee adjustable, and she can accept third party payments on a limited basis. 410-433-8861 ext 113, 800-453-9801 ext 113, counoff@pcsm.org

Scouting is also a part of our community life with Saint Mary's sponsoring both and Cub Scout and a Boy Scout program. Cub Pack 937 is under the Direction of Rob and Loretta Cook and the Scoutmaster of Troop 973 is Eric Eckstein. Both groups meet regularly in the Educational Building and both have active parental support for their programs.

Saint Mary's is also pleased to be the host for several chapters of the Northeastern Maryland Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous. Groups meet at Saint Mary's on:

For details and information, you can contact Northeastern Intergroup at 800-570-4150.

F.I.S.H., or by its longer and more formal name, Friends In Self Help, is a food pantry operation which covers most of Harford County. Saint Mary's receives donations of non-perishable foods and pantry items for distribution through this program. While most of our offerings are distributed through the Joppatowne Pantry, some items are frequently taken to other county locations as well as locations serving southern Pennsylvania. F.I.S.H. can be reached through its answering service at 410-838-1424.

Particularly at Christmastide Saint Mary's is an active participant in the Empty Stockings Program coordinated by the Aegis, which is one of our local newspapers. This past year, our church family provided Christmas for six individuals, eleven families, and a group home for ten women. Through the offerings of the congregation, each family was provided with gifts, food, and, where necessary, help with housing and medical payments. This activity, while supported by the whole congregation, is orchestrated by the Women of Saint Mary's.

Heifer Project International is located in Carroll County and sponsored by the Church World Service. It is a year round recipient of donations, but is one of our favorite Lenten projects, providing livestock and education for underprivileged families principally in South America. This year, the devastation of a Tsunami in the Pacific has extended their range of service and increased their level of need.

The YWCA before and after school program provides childcare for working parents in the Abingdon area, as well as throughout the county. On days when the schools are closed or unavailable, or in the case of a local emergency, Saint Mary's provides space for the program, which routinely meets in the William S. James School. Since our facility meets all of the licensing and certification needs, we are their back-up site. Details and information on this program is available from Mary Lou Teel at 410-838-3689.

Holy Family House is located in Aberdeen and is the only program in the county providing transitional housing for intact families. This program was a creation of the Harford County Regional Council of the Episcopal Church and has grown considerably since its beginnings in two apartments in Bel Air. Clients are invited to participate in a number of educational and therapeutic programs all fostered in a Christian atmosphere. Volunteers from the church, in addition to providing financial support for the program, provide furnishings for the apartments, necessary personal items for the residents, and holiday support for the families and children. Historically, Saint Mary's has provided the summer Vacation Bible School for the children of those being housed by the program. For information concerning Holy Family House, please contact Mary Jane Shafer at 410-273-6700.