PROPERTY

The leader, typically our Junior [Peoples] Warden, is responsible, with the help of others who serve on this ministry [the Sexton, and volunteers from the parish] for organizing and accomplishing the ongoing maintenance needs and improvements of the parish grounds and buildings (the Grove, the Rectory & Aiden House, St. Thomas’s cemetery, and the church building).  Oversight responsibility includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems in the buildings, as well as the sidewalks outside.  The Property Ministry must oversee preventative maintenance and maintenance contracts (HVAC system), including pest control.  Along with volunteers, this ministry organizes mowing of the front yard, garden care, grounds clean-up, and other tasks as they arise.  The leader is our interface with the Church Insurance Company, the City of Newark, building, and utility inspectors, as well as the real estate/property manager for the diocese on jointly owned property, which is the Grove adjacent to the church.  The ministry team responds to the City of Newark citations for code violations as they occur, and develop and approve rental contracts for the rectory.  It is important also to interface with the parish business manager to coordinate payment of bills associated with the commission. If you have gifts & interest to serve with our Property Ministry, contact Terri Quinn Gray.

OUTREACH

The Outreach Ministry offers a number of opportunities to fulfill the Matthew 25 ministry when Jesus says, “As you have cared for the least of my children, you have cared for me.”Some of these opportunities are as follows:

• Hope Dining Room helps feed the homeless of our community the third Monday each month at Kingswood UM Church. Contact Alice Ryan or Patricia McCullough. 
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• The Manna Offering delivers nonperishable food from the donation baskets found in the Church to Emmaus House and the Newark Welfare Committee Food Closet.  Contact Duncan Pike or David Coker. For information about our ministry to Emmaus House, contact Karen Krauss, and for the Newark Welfare Committee, contact Bettie von Frankenberg.

STEWARDSHIP

The Stewardship Ministry is responsible for the ongoing education and encouragement to the congregation to embrace the gifts of God we each are given, and be good stewards for the greater glory of God to the same. This is done through annual pledges of time, money, and talent to the mission and ministry of St. Thomas’s parish. This requires strategic planning, writing letters, making announcements, and keeping the parishioners up-to-date on the progress being made toward meeting the budget goals throughout the year. Contact John Killingsworth or Bob Gilley.

FINANCE

The Finance Ministry is responsible for working with the Vestry in developing the annual budget, monitoring monthly financial status of the parish to report to the vestry, advising the vestry on budgetary, expenditure, asset acquisition, borrowing as requested, and monitoring parish financial control to maintain our good stewardship of the gifts of the people. Contact Roby Roberson.  

Funds Management is responsible for managing St. Thomas’s endowment funds as managed by the Diocese on our behalf. Contact Amy Keach or Treasurer Stover Babcock.

HOSPITALITY

This ministry coordinates the preparing and serving of food and refreshments at such parish social functions as baptism, wedding, and funeral receptions. They plan and organize pot-luck dinners for Epiphany Eve “Burning of the Greens”,  Maundy Thursday Soup and Bread Supper, and other special events. For catered events, the members of this ministry coordinate with the caterer as necessary.  The leader also coordinates the serving of refreshments after Sunday morning services. Contact  Bernadette Blair; Martha Holyoke or Sally Price.