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Get ready for Faith in Action day

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Sonoma Valley Sun
Sun file photo
Two hundred St. Andrew Presbyterian volunteers turned out last year to participate in Faith in Action day. This year’s event takes place on Sunday with more than twice as many volunteers from five Valley churches getting involved.

Quietly last year, St. Andrew Presbyterian shook the ground.  You didn’t notice you say?  Well this year, it will be hard not to.

For Sonoma’s second annual Faith in Action day – happening auspiciously this year on 10.10.10 – the stately white church on Arnold Drive will have unsolicited help from six other Valley religious institutions.  Together they will join forces to forgo regular Sunday services in favor of volunteering their services at nonprofits throughout Sonoma.

Volunteers from the Valley’s faith communities are as follows:  First Congregation, Trinity Episcopal Church, Sonoma United Methodist Church, Congregation Shir Shalom, The Church of Scientology Mission, the Ashram and of course, St. Andrew.  Parishioners from all seven congregations will come together to volunteer to do whatever it takes to help Valley organizations ranging from public schools to the Women’s Cancer Awareness Group, Brown Baggers, Mountain Cemetery and much much more.

For the event last year, St. Andrew has a tremendous turnout with some 200 volunteers pitching in.  Inspired by organizer David Irvine, parishioners were encouraged not to come to church but rather, be the church.  “We had a truly inspiring turnout last year with just our own congregation.  I can only imagine that with seven faith organizations involved, we will easily have 300-350 folks out there on the 10.  It should be pretty cool,” said Irvine.

Faith in Action was initiated by World Vision, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the world dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. Irvine found the Web site while Internet surfing, brought the idea last year to St. Andrew and raised awareness through regular church services._To participate, contact the St. Andrew Presbyterian office at 996.6024. To read more, see next week’s story in the Sun.




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