Opportunities to Serve
There are many ways to get involved in our church and the community at large. Here are just a few ways:
Interfaith
Contact: Rev. Luis-Alfredo Cartagena, Pastoral Associate
646-355-5564 • pastor.luisalfredo@gmail.com
For over twenty years, The Park has been the host site for the Saturday Community Lunch Program. Each week, over 200 people show up for a hot meal served by volunteers from The Park and our ecumenical and interfaith partners in this endeavor: Park Avenue Methodist Church, Manhattan Church of Christ, St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, and Congregation Da’at Elohim. Many of our guests have been coming for years to enjoy a meal and table companionship. Many are homeless. There are the “irregular regulars” who stop by when times get a little tight. And, with the downturn in the economy, we are seeing new faces.
Service opportunities include cooking and serving food, providing hospitality and helping to clean up.
Heschel-King Interfaith Service
Contact: Church Office
office@parkavenuechristian.com
Every January, The Park joins with Congregation Da'at Elohim/ Temple of Universal Judaism to produce a special service honoring the lifelong friendship and shared work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. The planning committee would welcome your participation.
Music and Arts
Music Ministry
Contact: Paul Vasile, Minister of Music
pvasile@parkavenuechristian.com
The music ministry of plays a vital role in our worship life, helping God's people to offer their heartfelt praise and prayer through hymns, responses, Psalm singing, choral anthems, instrumental music and more! We are committed to musical diversity and excellence, and welcome the gifts of children, students, volunteers and professional musicians from our congregation and community. Above all, we seek to provide opportunities for learning and growth and hope that our work together will glorify God, build a community of respect and love, and help each of us to realize our greatest potential.
You are warmly invited to join any of the choirs or ensembles: Sanctuary Choir, Gospel Choir, Youth Chorale, Drumming Circle, Recorder Consort.
Arts at The Park
Classics, New Works, Cabaret, Choral, Classical, Opera, Comedy, Children's Theater and the Performing Arts: Arts at The Park is professional theatre, cabaret, orchestral and choral music, political and theological discourse, and family and holiday events at the Park Avenue Christian Church. Our mission is to entertain, empower, and inspire while turning neighbors into friends.
Volunteers are needed regularly to usher events (calendar at http://parkavenuearts.info/) and host receptions, and are invited to enjoy the performance for free!
Hospitality
Greeters Ministry
Contact: Iris Burroughs, Greeters Chair
The Greeters are a welcoming presence at our front doors whenever we worship and occasionally for special events. Volunteers are asked arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the start of worship services to help greet and hand out bulletins.
Coffee Hour
Contact: Sarah Armstrong-Crumb, Co-Chair of the Deacons
twopets85@hotmail.com
Every Sunday after worship services we offer coffee and light refreshments in the parlor to members and friends of The Park. Volunteers are invited to donate, or to purchase and be reimbursed for, light refreshments (such as bagels, cookies, fruit, home baked goods, cheeses, etc.) and to help host the coffee hour.
Outreach
Lifeline Recovery Ministry
Contact: Tom Ehrich, Coordinator
tom.ehrich@lifelinenyc.org
Lifeline, a God-centered recovery fellowship, is one of The Park's newest endeavors. Participants come from diverse backgrounds, confront different addictions and participate in various approaches to recovery. Though we may be affected by each other's addictions, we've ALL come to believe that we need a higher power to attain freedom from the effects of addiction. Our purpose is to help each other grow along spiritual lines and maintain conscious contact with God (as each of us understands God). We meet once a week, on Sunday evenings from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., to share a unique mix of inspiration, music, sharing and fellowship.
Service opportunities include helping with set-up, staffing the book table and simply supporting others by your presence. Visit http://www.lifelinenyc.org/
The Forward newsletter and marketing outreach
Contact: Bill Weber, Director of Communications
media@parkavenuechristian.com
We reach out to our community in a variety of ways, and service opportunities abound! We regularly need help folding and mailing The Forward, our monthly newsletter; We have a booth at three street fairs (June, September and October); We distribute fliers in the neighborhood before big events and in the Narthex during such events ... to name only a few!
Building and facilities care
Contact: Ron Silvers, Facililties Director
rsilvers@parkavenuechristian.com
There are a host of little tasks around the building and grounds of the church that could use the service of volunteers: such as maintaining the tree pits and flower beds on our sidewalk, clearing and re-organizing closets, deep-cleaning the fellowship hall kitchen, among many others.
Visiting homebound and hospitalized
Contact: Church Office
office@parkavenuechristian.com
There are a number of members and friends of The Park whose health, occasionally or on a regular basis, prevents them from joining us in worship and fellowship, and who would love the company of visitors. Pick up the phone, grab a friend, or head out on your own to friendship and fellowship!
Flower Guild
Contact: Carol Griffiths
The Flower Guild ensures that there is a bouquet of fresh flowers in the sanctuary for worship each Sunday. Service opportunities include: purchasing flowers ($50); reaching out to members/friends at church and encouraging them to contribute flowers and seasonal plants; preparing mailings of invitations to out-of-city members and friends for contributions of Easter lilies; sending "Thank You" letters and bulletins after Easter; checking the Flower Chart Weekly, and keeping an accurate record of Flower Reservations; organizing poinsettia donations for Christmas
Altar Guild
Contact: Carol Griffiths
The Altar Guild performs periodic maintenance on the materials used for Communion and around the chancel: candlesticks, wine and bread trays, chalices, cruets, etc. An extra set of hands is always welcomed.
Youth Ministry
Contact: Tina Jackson
tjackson@parkavenuechristian.com
The Park Sunday School provides religious education for children and youth from all faith traditions, churches, and denominations. The program includes: unique religious study with the Montessori Method a discovery technique that engages the whole child-hands, heart, mind, senses, intuition emphasis on the spirituality of childhood as we experience our stories from the Judeo-Christian heritage worship together in a church community that emphasizes peace, love, and service as the basis of our life together.
Donate Glasses
Contact: Church Office
office@parkavenuechristian.com
Donate your used glasses to those in need. A drop box is located in the Adams building lobby on the shelf next to the security station.
