Our Work in Community

OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

Sharing God's Love

Support for Loaves and Fishes - donating canned good throughout the year

Help in our Local Schools - providing snacks  for students in need

Shirley Friendship Fund - December collection for local families in need.

Knitting for Mariners and Friends - knitters and crocheters make hats and scarves for Seamans’ Church Institute in NY and The Seafarer’s Friend in Boston and prayer shawls to show our love to those who are suffering

Lowell Soup Kitchen Ministry - supplying salad ingredients on the first Wednesday of each month.

Monthly Community Forums - Usually held on the second Wednesday evening, of each month, covering topics of interest to the larger community, See the list below of all topics covered. We are still re-adjusting from COVID restrictions and are not sure when we will next have a forum in person.

Trinity Chapel - Episcopal Church, Shirley MA

EIGHT YEARS OF MONTHLY COMMUNITY OUTREACH FORUMS AT TRINITY CHAPEL- SHIRLEY, MA.

January 2013- February 2021

LEGAL TOPICS

  1. Volunteering in the Prison and Legal System- Ann Oakes and Nancy Shepherd
  2. Legal Issues and Services for Veterans- Tim McLaughlin, Esq.
  3. Restorative Justice- State Senator James Eldridge and Representatives from Communities for Restorative Justice- Concord, Ma.
  4. FAMM- Families Against Mandatory Minimums- Barbara Dougan, Massachusetts Director of FAMM
  5. A.S.A. – Court Appointed Special Advocates, Court Appointed Guardians for Children- Ann Oakes, a C.A.S. A. volunteer
  6. Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative- Lindsey Hefferman, State Coordinator
  7. Mediation – The Free services of Middlesex Community College Law Center- Terry Downes, attorney; Karin Bishop, MCC Law Center; and Jessica Boulanger, MCC Law Center
  8. ‘The Fight for 15’ and ‘Millionaire’s Tax Proposal- State Senator James Eldridge
  9. Estate Planning- John Bowen, ESQ.
  10. Managing Your Assets- John Bowen- ESQ.

UNDERSTANDING AND HELPING CHILDREN

  1. Autism Spectrum Disorder- Liz Hooper Bala, M. Ed, B.C.B. A.
  2. Bullying – Phil Welton, Sheila Bishop, Pam Garramore, Donna Shea, Nancy Sawyer
  3. Safe Child Care Services – Anita Moeller, Northeast Regional Director- Massachusetts

Department of Early Education and Care

  1. Advocacy for Disabled Children- Elizabeth Bostic, President of SPAN- Special Needs Advocacy In Massachusett
  2. Special Education in Massachusetts- State Representative Jennifer Benson
  3. Dyslexia- Deb Plotnic
  4. Katie’s Closet- Mickey Cockrell, Executive Director
  5. Enviroscape- Gaynor Bigelbach of the Nashua River Watershed.
  6. The pending bill, Debt Free College- Senator James Eldridge

HEALTH CONCERNS

  1. Depression and Suicide Prevention- Barbara Whitcomb and Debbie Helms, Director of Samaritans Of Merrimack Valley
  2. Happy and Healthy Aging, Tips for Success- Tamara Bedard, R. N. and Melissa Immonen, LCSW From the Nashoba Associated Boards.
  3. The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health- Its Function and Services – Cherie Rivera, Human Services Coordinator
  4. TADS- Teenage Anxiety and Depression Solutions- Ted Boczenowski, President of TADS,  and Linda Hammill, Mental Health Clinician.
  5. MMJ- Taking the Mystery out of Medical Marijuana- Jean Reed
  6. The Opioid Crisis- Nancy Sawyer
  7. The Mental Health System in Massachusetts and Universal Health Care- State[i] Senator James Eldridge
  8. A Single Payer Health Care System in Massachusetts- State Senator James Eldridge
  9. LEAP- The War on Drugs- Success or Failure?- Jack Cole
  10. Decluttering and Hoarding- Lyn Faust, Director of Metro Community Development Corporation

 

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

  1. NEADS- an organization which provides assistance dogs for both veterans and the disabled- a representative from the organization and his dog
  2. Poverty Issues and Community Response- Jeanne Dubois, Executive Director of the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, and Patty Stearn, Director of Loaves and Fishes
  3. Hospice Services and the End of Life Needs- representatives from the Nashoba Associated Board of Health, and a vocal presentation by the Threshold Choir.
  4. Literacy Volunteers of the Montechusetts Area- Amy West. Program Coordinator.
  5. Traveling With Special Needs- Heather Leonard
  6. Operation Lipstick- A group of women who teach other women not to buy guns for the men in their lives who are prohibited from purchasing guns- Jean Reed
  7. Sanctuary City and State- State Senator James Eldridge
  8. Climate Change and What We Can Do About It- Vince Maravento, Interfaith Power and Light
  9. Ranked Choice Voting- two representatives from the Ranked Choice Voting Organization
  10. Habitat for Humanity- Carolyn Read, Regional Director
  11. Promoting Cross Cultural Understanding- Metro West Mission Hub- Brazilian Ministries
  12. Simple Passage at Home-  Home Funerals, Peg Lorenz
  13. How and Why We Preserve History- Our Town’s, Your Family’s- Meredith Marcinkewicz
  14. Poverty in Massachusetts- Senator James Eldridge
  15. Vision for the Town of Shirley- Mike McGovern, Shirley Town Administrator
  16. Hunger in Shirley- Patricia Stern, Director of Loaves and Fishes
  17. !00 % Renewable Energy- Senator James Eldridge
  18. Shirley Chief of Police- Samuel Santiago
  19. Gerrymandering- Nathan Lockwood, a leading advocate for Ranked Choice Voting
  20. Voter Suppression- Joyce Hackett, founder of Lift-Every- Vote
  21. Civic Engagement in Shirley- Shirley Community Roundtable moderated by Brian Goldberg

RELIGION

  1. Diverse Outreaches of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts: Common Cathedral ; Ecclesia Ministries; and Life Together
  2. Urban Ministry – the Rev. Edwin Johnson, Priest in Charge, St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Dorchester And  Will Harron of Life Together
  3. The Status of Church and State Separation and the Rise of Secularism in the USA- Author and Lecturer, David Niose
  4. What is the Shaker Faith?- Meredith Marcinkewicz
  5. The Islamic Faith- Dr. Malik Khan, President of the Islamic Center of Boston
  6. Living as a Muslim Woman in the U.S.A.- Tina Khan
  7. Judaism . Examining the Roots of the Abrahamic Faith- Rabbi Richard Backer
  8. Jerusalem- Israel and Palestine- The Rt Rev. Gayle Harris, Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
  9. Who is Jesus? – Panel Discussion by representatives of the three Abrahamic Faiths – Christianity, The Rev. Marsha Hoecker; Judaism, Rabbi Richard Backer; and Islam, Dr. Malik Khan. The discussion was moderated by the Rev. Nancy Shepherd.
  10. Seafarer’s Friend- the Rev. Lance Andrews. Chaplain

SUNDAY AFTERNOON FUN EVENTS AT TRINITY CHAPEL

JANUARY 2013- NOVEMBER 2018

  1. Lecture on Lighthouses of New England—Jeremy D’ Entremont- a writer, photographer, Maritime historian and leading expert on New England’s historic lighthouses
  2. A Musical afternoon with Emilie Faucher and special guests
  3. An afternoon with renowned pianist, Deborrah Wyndham
  4. A series of yoga sessions (free) with Ashlee Dione
  5. Gospel Hymn Sing- Meredith Marcinkewicz (Several Sundays)
  6. Justice- its definition and its application in healthcare, housing and schools, preceded by a Community Brunch
  7. Colors of Love- Musical Afternoon of Song and Voice ,  Janice Yancey, Director
  8. A Connecticut River boat trip, Meredith Marcinkewicz
  9. A Mystery Ride to Amherst New Hampshire
  10. A Mystery Ride to Montague Book Mill - Meredith Marcinkewicz
  11. A Mystery Ride to Old Deerfield, Ma. - Meredith Marcinkewicz
  12. The Flute Trio Concert- Sherley Thom and two other musicians
  13. Shirley churches and their hymn styles- Meredith Marcinkewicz
  14. Changes and Styles of Crosses- Meredith Marcinkewicz
  15. The Geography of Holy Week - Meredith Marcinkewicz