Calvary Episcopal Church

In 2014 Calvary provided seed money for a new Bastrop ministry that has the goal of providing two meals and a snack five days a week to Bastrop's homeless and poor.  The Open Door is located at 906 Chestnut, in the back portion of the Amco Insurance Building.  Beginning in October 2014, Calvary formed volunteer teams who provided and served the meals and snack on the third Monday of every month.  As of January 2015, Calvary began serving every Monday of the month. Be a part of this ministry to the most vulnerable members of Bastrop by signing up in the parish hall for a two hour shift on a Monday.  Calvary members also serve The Open Door individuallly on other days and in other ways, including acting as its bookkeeper.

This group, chaired by Randy Fritz, is working to identify health-related ministry needs in Bastrop County with the intention of applying for a grant from the Episcopal Health Foundation.  In July, this committee helped EHF to convene nonprofit healthcare leaders in the community to begin articulating how EHF can best support healthcare for the underserved in Bastrop, particularly through Lone Star Circle of Care, Bastrop's new FQHCP.

Calvary has an enthusiastic group of volunteers who, in partnership with ReVision of Houston,  will be triaining to become mentors to boys and young men of the Giddings State School.  Calvary mentors will participate in a support group at the church, as well as benefit from the continuing support and guidance from ReVision.  To find out more, contact the Rector.

A group of enthusiastic volunteers is developing a weekly weekday ministry to be based at Argent Court Assisted Living in Bastrop.  The ministry will involve worship that draws on the gifts and talents of the residents who pariticipate and is poised to include other activities, such as storytelling, that will help to form a meaningful community.  To find out more, contact the Rector.  Currently, the ministry team is at Argent Court on every Friday at 10:00 am, except for the last Friday of the month.

Four times a year, Calvary hosts a blood drive with the Central Texas Blood Bank in our Heritage Hall.  Both parishioners and non-parishioners are invited to make the "gift of life" by donating blood during these events.  

Through this committee, Calvary helps to support a variety of independent organizations, including Bastrop Children's Advocacy Center, Bastrop Family Crisis Center, Bastrop Emergency Food Pantry, Calvary Episcopal School Tuition Assistance Fund, and Episcopal Relief and Development.  The biggest focus of this committee is presenting an Alternative Giving Fair during Advent to encourage making financial contributions to these causes in honor of friends and families.  In exchange for a donation, the giver receives a wrapped certificate to present to their honorees. In 2012, more than $9000 was raised.

On the day before Thanksgiving, Calvary provides a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in Heritage Hall for homeless and low-income people in the Bastrop Community.  In addition, parishioners deliver dozens of Thanksgiving meals to people who because of age or infirmity cannot travel to Heritage Hall.  This is a family event, with the youth and children of Calvary waiting tables and providing musical entertainment.  

Each Christmas, Calvary provides Christmas gifts for families identified by the public school system and the Bastrop Long Term Recovery Team.  The Giving Tree goes up in Advent, and parishioners are invited to take ornaments with information about the gifts needed.  When the gifts have been gathered, a Sunday wrapping and delivery party completes this holiday ministry. 

In late summer, Calvary collects backpacks and school supplies that are then distributed by public school counselors to underserved children.

Calvary supports the local food pantry year round by collecting nonperishables. Parishioners are encouraged to bring a "food of the month" to church on Sunday mornings. A volunteer delivers the food weekly to the Food Pantry.

Three different AA groups meet at Calvary during the week.  One grou, The Friday Evening AA Group, meets at 7:30 on Friday evenings in Heritage Hall and the Legacy AA Group meets in Gethsemanee, our youth building on the corner of Ally A and Chestnut, at 7:30 on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  A closed men's group also meetings on Saturday mornings at Gethsemane.  Al-Anon meets in Gethsemane at 7:00 pm on Thursdays.

Calvary provides non-profit groups with meeting space in Heritage Hall at nominal cost.