Ministries - Outreach
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Since September 2007 St. Matthew's has offered free English classes for adult
non-English speakers from Raytown and other surrounding communities. These classes
are provided two evenings per week, Monday and Wednesdays, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm from
September to May. Our goal in providing this community service is to live out our
mission within the community:
- to offer sanctuary and acceptance
- to advocate for and empower those in need
- to strengthen and encourage each other
Through this ESL Community Service we pursue this vision:
- to provide free, methodical, consistent English instruction to students of all ethnic backgrounds and languages
- to foster and encourage the building of a diverse community based on mutual respect and acceptance of a wide variety of ethnic origins
Community of Hope
The Community of Hope International creates Christian communities of Lay Chaplains
committed to pastoral care, united in prayer, shaped by Benediction spirituality,
and equipped to be present in a compassionate, listening, non-controlling manner
in order to make a difference in the health and well-being of those in need. In
this ministry of presence, The Community of Hope serves in any setting where adults
, youth or children are sick, in crisis, at risk, or underserved. The Lay Chaplains
usually go in pairs and visit shut-in parishioners, those in the hospital, retirement
homes, and, in some cases, just a home visit to someone who would enjoy the company.
A 14- week, 42-hour Curriculum and training period, based on Benedictine spirituality, prepares those to be commissioned as Lay Chaplains. Monthly Circle of Care meetings are held to help support and sustain the Lay Chaplains. Currently St. Matthews has 13 commissioned Lay Chaplains serving the Parish and wider community.
Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP)
St. Matthew's has provided assistance to REAP for a number of years by providing contributions of food and money as well as volunteers. Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) helps the people in our community who are temporarily unable to help themselves. Their goal is to provide a hand up to their clients, not a hand out.
Meeting Facility for AA
Alcoholics Anonymous makes exclusive use of the old St. Matthew's Chapel Building
to the west of our main building to hold their meetings. There are a large number
of people from Raytown and the surrounding area who attend AA meetings in this facility.
This facility is in use almost daily.
Provide Space for Community Activities
We provide space in our building for the use of various community groups such as Girl Scouts, Community Band, Raytown Widows group, and other groups on an as available basis. Also, we have provided space in our building for a number of years as a polling place for the Jackson County Election Commission.