St. Margaret's Episcopal Church

SPIN (Serving People In Need) is a ministry that began in our community about 8 years ago. The goal was to be able to bring Christ to those less fortunate and living on the streets in Baton Rouge by providing a meal and basic physical needs (hygiene, clothing, etc.) as well as sharing testimonies and God's word each Sunday of the month. St. Margaret's is partners with Progression Church on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

A menu is provided in advance and volunteers can sign up to provide various items on the menu. It is not necessary to bring something if you would like to just come downtown under the "new" I-10 bridge and serve those who come or just be a part of the experience for an hour or two as your heart grows for those less fortunate who are also children of God.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is meant to produce shawls to be given to any person who is physically ill, has financial problems, problems with a spouse, a child or family. In short, this ministry is to bring hope and relief to anyone with any kind of problem and who needs to feel the arms of God around them and to know they are not forgotten.

In 2016, more than 20 prayer shawls were given to people in need of all kinds. Our hope for 2017 is to produce more shawls and to encourage people at St. Margaret's who can either knit or crochet (either men or women) to make shawls.

We need many more shawls. This ministry not only helps people in need, but helps the maker of the shawls. It brings you closer to God. It helps relieve stress as you spend time creating the shawl and saying prayers for the person who will receive the shawl, even though you will probably never meet that person, because you leave your own troubles behind and only concentrate on producing an item which will help someone feel closer to God. Also, it helps you in knowing you are doing something to help other another person. I hope this ministry will grow to the extent this year that we will be able to give a prayer shawl at Christmas to all the people whom SPIN ministers.

SERVING OUR NEIGHBORSLAUNDRY LOVEPRAYER SHAWL MINISTRIESRECOVERY MINISTRYSPIN

This initiative was conceived over 12 years ago in Ventura, California and has spread rapidly with nearly 260 programs across the nation. Laundry Love is a neighborhood movement that partners individuals, groups, and laundromats to care for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized by assisting them in washing their clothes and bedding. Laundry Love believes that through the neutral space of a laundromat, every guest and stranger can become a friend. This is certainly a modern day foot washing.