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Whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever joys or burdens you carry, you are welcome at Calvary Episcopal Church.
Calvary is an eclectic bunch of Christian people. We don’t all think the same thoughts, or dress the same way, or vote for the same candidates, or even believe all the same things about the mystery of God and what it means to be human. But, with St. Paul, we believe we need each other because of our differences, not in spite of them. God calls us out of estrangement into unity, not uniformity. A body made up of identical members can’t do much work in the world. Thumbs are so much more useful with fingers to push against, are they not?
So, we invite you to join in the life of this congregation with all that you are, in all your splendid uniqueness, maybe just for today, but maybe for the rest of your days. We are a fuller expression of Christ’s body because of your presence. And has our world ever been more needful of Christ’s reconciling, loving, and merciful body than now?
Worship times
Year-round, Calvary volunteers prepare and serve a hot breakfast to approximately 200 homeless persons in our community. A member of our clergy team leads everyone in prayer before breakfast. Volunteers are always welcome.
This service features more traditional "Elizabethan" language in a quiet and intimate setting. This service ends before 8:45 a.m. and many of the early morning worshipers gather for the parish breakfast which follows in the Mural Room.
Using more contemporary language, this service attracts a congregation that includes many families with young children. The liturgy is an upbeat celebration of the Eucharist. During the Song of Praise, children aged 3 through 2nd grade are invited to follow the cross from the church to Children's Chapel, a special version of the Liturgy of the Word. Children are escorted back into church in time to join their families for the passing of the Peace and Holy Communion. The Calvary Choir leads the congregation in traditional and contemporary music with occasional help from the Boys and Girls Choir and the Calvary Ringers handbell choir.
Volunteer opportunities
Take a look at Calvary’s parish life and ministries, and you will recognize a lively parish where wonderfully diverse people have found a spiritual home and created a loving community. The opportunities for ministry and fellowship at Calvary not only allow people to build authentic relationships with one another, but they also provide a supportive atmosphere for strengthening relationships with God. See below
Ministries
COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
There are many opportunities to serve our neighbors at Calvary. We have three important community initiatives: poverty issues, women's missions, and children's needs. Opportunities for you to get involved can be as different as eating lunch with a middle-school student each month to building raised garden beds to scrambling eggs for hundreds of our poor neighbors. The needs listed here are varied. One person is not asked to do everything for a certain agency. Just pick the part you like and let us know your availability. We will train you and welcome you. If you are interested in learning more about how you can help with community ministries, contact Christine Todd.
Community Breakfast, serving 150-200 homeless and poor neighbors who eat and pray with us here at Calvary each Sunday morning. Needs are monthly egg scramblers, servers, dish washers, coffee makers, etc. Also, fundraising for support.
Community Breakfast Prep, preparing for Sunday breakfast by cracking eggs, etc. on Saturdays. Needs are placing bacon in pans and making to-go containers.
Calvary Clothes Closet, providing individuals here at Calvary an opportunity to select much needed clothes, blankets, and toiletries and relying solely on your donations of used clothes. Needs are collecting clothes from friends and neighbors, publicizing the need for clothes, and helping guests with their selections.
Emmanuel Center, striving to break the cycle of poverty through education and strengthening young minds, bodies and spirits within a context of Christian witness. Needs are tutors, collection of school supplies, or mentors.
Emmanuel Meal, serving a Christmas luncheon in the Mural Room to our homeless and poor neighbors on Monday, December 21st. Needs are serving, hosting, and purchasing turkeys.
Friends of Thistle and Bee, providing opportunities for women who have been victims of trafficking with a social enterprise of bees and herbs for teas. Needs are gardening, fundraising, and marketing.
Friends of the Mental Health Court, providing ministry for those defendants suffering from mental illness who are given a chance to have their charges dropped in exchange for completing a year-long treatment plan determined by the Shelby County Court. Our volunteers provide incentives for participants and advocate for the program. Grizzlies Prep, educating young men in grades six to eight, preparing all students to excel academically and demonstrating integrity. Grizzlies Prep is our next-door neighbor and requests Calvary parishioners serve as students’ Lunch Buddies.
Hospitality Hub, connecting individuals with the resources they need to begin their journey out of homelessness located next door to Calvary. Needs are dropping off lunch monthly for those who clean up blight through Work Local, organizing toiletries, updating database, and grant writing.
Lives Worth Saving, meeting needs of our police department and our District Attorney to respond to trafficking and prostitution in our city offering women a safe path to a new life. Lives Worth Saving orientations are offered quarterly with workshops offered the second Friday of each month here at Calvary. Needs are hosts.
MIFA, supporting the independence of vulnerable seniors and families in crisis. Needs are delivering a delicious meal through Meals on Wheels.
MOMS Demand Action for Gun Sense, attending meetings and helping with publicity fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from fun violence.
Room in the Inn, serving people experiencing homelessness by providing emergency shelter and meals during the coldest months of the year—November through March sharing the love of God through hospitality. Needs are preparation of meals, hosting neighbors, and logistics.
Soup Sunday, providing nutritious soup from scratch once a month to parishioners to help fund Calvary’s hunger ministries. Needs are chopping vegetables, filling containers, and selling delicious soup
102 N 2nd St
Memphis, TN 38103-2287
United States
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