Outreach
You might say that outreach - caring for others -is in our DNA.
As a colonial parish, Abingdon's heritage is to provide spiritual and earthly care for the souls on God's earth. For over 350 years we have prayed with and for the people of Gloucester County and the world around us. As advances in transportation and technology have made the world smaller and more connected, our outreach efforts have expanded even more to reflect this growing community.
While many of our efforts are still focused in Gloucester, we strive to follow where the Spirit leads us - wherever it may be.
For more information, contact the church at admin@abingdonchurch.org.
Local Programs
Much of our outreach effort extends to the community in which we live, work and worship. On a weekly basis, someone from Abingdon is bringing help to those who need our gifts. We are recharged by being able to provide tangible assistance to our neighbors.
In addition to church-wide programs, Abingdon Church members volunteer their time and energy supporting Meals on Wheels holiday program, the Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner, the Abingdon Elementary School Panther Pack Food Program, Cary House Adult Home, Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester, G.U.E.S.T. (Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team) program, Red Cross Blood Drives, Walter Reed Communion Care services, and Arts at Abingdon, to name a few.
Regional Programs
In 2018, our Abingdon Youth and their adult leaders traveled to Roanoke Virginia and as part of the REACH effort, assisting in gardening, feeding, and caring for those in need.
We have also provided monetary or other on-going support to: the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society, Gloucester-Mathews Care Clinic, Rural Infant Services Program, Covington Boys Home, Avalon Center shelter and support services, Saint Francis Service Animals, Bread for Life, Food from the Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Hurricane Florence relief supplies, College Student Support, and many others.
International Programs
Several members of Abingdon have participated in international missions which include providing medical care, promoting understanding, developing relationships, teaching children, and more. They have traveled widely throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America to such places as Haiti, India, Philippines, Congo, and Peru.
Programs we are currently supporting include:
Women to Women, Connecting Virginia to Congo
Women to Women is a program in conjunction with the Diocese of Bukavu (Congo) in assisting vulnerable women (and their children) to independence and self-sufficiency. Our members are active on the Diocese of Virginia committee and in the local medical organization which funded a new microscope for the clinic in Goma.
African Team Ministry
This ministry is focused on providing African artistic entrepreneurs with a market for the carvings, beadwork, paintings, and other beautiful creations. All the money raised from sales of these items is returned to the artists so they can provide for their families and their community.