Serve Our Community
At St. Thomas, we believe loving our neighbors is one of the most meaningful ways we live out our faith. Whether it’s packing food for neighbors, reading with students, supporting local nonprofits, advocating for justice, or simply showing up for someone in need, every act of service is an opportunity to share God’s love.
Serving Our Neighbors
We offer a wide variety of outreach opportunities throughout the year. Some are one-time projects, while others invite deeper relationships and ongoing commitment. Whether you have an hour to give, a particular skill to share, or resources to contribute, there are many ways to get involved.
As Episcopalians, we promise in our Baptismal Covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Serving our neighbors is one way we live into that promise—working together to build a more compassionate, just, and hopeful community.
Service Groups at St. Thomas
Creation Keepers
Creation Keepers’ mission is to share in the stewardship of our earthly home and work to slow the realities of climate disturbance. St. Thomas formed a Green Team, (a group of three or more passionate individuals dedicated to advancing sustainability and environmental action in a community of faith.
Creation Keepers formed in 2016 in partnership with Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL), an ecumenical non-profit advocating at the local, state, and federal levels for clean energy legislation, fair water policy, and environmental justice for the future.
Outreach Council
The Outreach Council helps St. Thomas live out our call to love and serve our neighbors. This group works with our outreach partners, supports existing ministries, and helps identify new opportunities to respond to the needs of our community. The council coordinates outreach efforts throughout the year, encourages parish-wide participation, and stewards the resources entrusted to our outreach ministries. Through collaboration, discernment, and faithful service, the Outreach Council helps connect the gifts of our parish with opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Pride Committee
The Pride Committee helps our parish live out our Baptismal Covenant commitment to respect the dignity of every human being by celebrating, supporting, and advocating for our LGBTQIA+ neighbors and community. Throughout the year, the committee plans opportunities for fellowship, education, and outreach, including our participation in local Pride events. Whether organizing celebrations, welcoming new faces, or helping St. Thomas be a visible sign of God’s inclusive love, the Pride Committee invites our parish to share Christ’s welcome with everyone.
Community Partners
Brewer Early Innovation Academy
St. Thomas has been a Partner in Education with Brewer since at least 2015.
Brewer Early Innovation Academy serves Kindergarten through Second Grade students who are entering school below grade level and live in the lowest income neighborhoods in the Muscogee County School District. We are committed to supporting the students and teachers at Brewer throughout the school year. Our “Brewer Buddies” tutor students one-on-one in beginning reading skills. Our “Buddy Pack” program sends packets of food home with students living in food insecure households. Please let us know if you’d like to get involved.
Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry (CVEM)
The mission of CVEM is to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ by engaging Episcopalians in the Chattahoochee Valley to learn, connect, and act to fight inequity and build strong communities. St. Thomas partners with CVEM in many ways including a monthly offering that supports Direct Assistance ministry to persons in poverty and/or crisis, supporting intercultural art programs for children, a youth leadership program, and education classes and workshops related to social justice. For more information, contact [email protected].
East Carver Heights Community Development Corp.
This community development non-profit grew out of the relationships that started with Boxwood Soccer Club. In addition to soccer and Path to Shine, this organization also coordinates Boxwood F.A.N.N. (Friends and Neighbor Network), a food security group organized by neighbors that provides a healthy two-week supply of food for families along with fellowship and community education. The organization is exploring other ways to be in partnership with neighbors in the community.
Boxwood Soccer Club
Boxwood Soccer Club includes several soccer teams for children 6 – 18 who live in the Boxwood neighborhood. The teams are managed by East Carver Heights Community Development Corporation. St. Thomas members support these teams with supplies and other encouragement. For more information contact [email protected].
Path to Shine
Path to Shine Columbus is a mentoring and tutoring program located at the Carver Heights Presbyterian Church outreach building in East Carver Heights and supported by St. Thomas and East Carver Heights CDC. Path to Shine exists to help children achieve hope-filled dreams. We work on reading recovery, curriculum, homework, and enhancement activities.
GIPL – Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
GIPL inspires and empowers people of faith and faith communities to care for Creation through worship, education, and stewardship of our natural resources. GIPL is part of the national Interfaith Power & Light movement. The Georgia initiative was founded in 2003. Since that time, GIPL has partnered with over 500 congregations to help them reduce energy consumption and costs and implement Creation care initiatives. Our Creation Keepers team at St. Thomas works closely with GIPL.
Global Episcopal Mission Network
The Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) connects and equips Episcopalians to participate in God’s global mission. Through education, training, networking, and resources, GEMN helps congregations and individuals explore global mission, develop meaningful partnerships, support missionaries, and engage in the work of reconciliation around the world.
Msalato Theological College
The African Mission Fund was established in 2004 to support the mission work of Sandra and Martin McCann in Dodoma, Tanzania. Although they returned to the United States in 2016, the fund continues to support theological education in Tanzania.
Each fall, the St. Thomas Outreach Council typically uses the fund to purchase computers for the incoming Degree One class at Msalato Theological Seminary. These computers provide students with access to educational resources and help support their studies. The computers are purchased from a local merchant in Tanzania and delivered directly to the seminary. Donations to the fund come from individuals, churches, and the St. Thomas Outreach Council.
Wynnton Neighborhood Network
Wynnton Neighborhood Network is an ecumenical, interfaith food pantry and utility assistance ministry housed in the Outreach Center of St. Thomas. Seven congregations are involved and many volunteers participate to support the work of this ministry.
Approximately 2500 families, half of which include children, receive food annually from this ministry.
Find Wynnton Neighborhood Network on the web here or on Facebook here.
The Wynnton Neighborhood Network food pantry and utility assistance line is open weekdays from 10:00 am – 12:15 pm, and may be reached at 706-327-0838.
Other Community Partners
In addition to our ongoing community partnerships, St. Thomas often supports organizations and ministries doing meaningful work throughout our community and beyond, including the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, Appleton Episcopal Ministries, El Refugio, Feeding the Valley Food Bank, MercyMed Farm, PAWS Humane Society of Columbus, the Out of the Darkness Walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, SafeHouse Ministries, The Stewart Community Home, and The Village Foster Care and Adoptive Ministry. In 2026, we are also beginning a new partnership with chaplains serving at Rutledge State Prison.
Find your place in serving our community.
Our Ministry Signup form includes opportunities to serve both at St. Thomas and alongside our community partners. Whether you have an hour to give, a particular skill to share, or simply a willingness to help, we’d love to know how you’d like to be involved.