While you’ll find St. Stephen’s buildings sitting quietly on Front Street overlooking the beautiful Susquehanna River, as a congregation we are anything but that.  With respect to outreach and many other things for that matter, we’re truly a small Cathedral doing big things. At every meeting and on all correspondence is our outreach vision.  It serves as a constant reminder of our focus:  "to encourage and empower our fellow congregants to seek the face of Christ in all persons and to put faith into action by serving those in need."  

Below you'll find many different outreach opportunities available throughout the year as well as contact information.  This list is by no means all encompassing so if you have any ideas, let us know.  We'd love to hear from you.  It's our hope and prayer that you become involved with some of these events.  You will find us very dedicated, hard working, and passionate about what we're doing.  "God's work, our hands" as our fellow Lutherans fondly say.  Almost equal to that is the fellowship we share with one another which is second to none.  

Also the next time you're in the Cloister (hallway off the main church area), stop by and look at our new bulletin board with thank you notes, recognition awards, & pictures from various events.  

Outreach Committee:  Meg Burton Conners, Tom Douglas, Gerry Garber, Warren Gillam, Bill Ilgenfritz, Bill Grimes, Cathy Jones, Mary Murphy (Chair), Greg Penny & John Sivley 

May I become at all times, both now and forever,

Downtown Daily Bread (DDB): Sunday, May 5.  Volunteers are needed from approximately noon until 2 p.m., St. Stephen’s serves the food trays and then helps clean up afterward. 

Contact:  Carson Kahoe or Gina Kahoe

Allison Hill Common Ground Cafe: Sat., May 11 & Sat., May 25.  About 250 people are served restaurant style at each breakfast with the end of the month often busier, so  cooks, waiters, coffee servers, readers, a set up crew, and anyone who just wants the best breakfast in town are needed!  When you're there, make sure you check out the new, professional conveyor toaster, a much-needed gift for this ministry from St. Stephen's 2012 Arts Fest proceeds & a Youth Group fundraiser. 

Contact:  Meg Everhart Conners to volunteer or visit at 717.614.7269 or  

YWCA of Greater Harrisburg: Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12.  Cathy Jones is selling the ever popular YWCA Mother’s Day cards.  For $10 you get a beautiful Mother’s Day card all for a great cause:  one night’s shelter for a mother and her children. Be sure to stock up to give as birthday cards or in honor or memory of someone.  Remember  this opportunity only comes around once a year!  Mary Murphy also has them @ the 8 a.m. service.

Contact: Cathy Jones @   

“Sharing Our Caring” Dinner: Monday, May 13.   Four or five volunteers are needed to bring dessert, salad, bread, etc. The meal begins at 6:30, and our own resident professional musician, Jonathan Frazier, will be providing music. This year we’re hoping to bring new volunteers into this wonderful outreach opportunity.  “Sharing Our Caring” is a longstanding outreach & support group for friends & family living with HIV/AIDS. We’re one of several organizations & faith groups signed up to support the event each month at Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit off 7th & Division.

Contact: Bill Ilgenfritz @

St. Barnabas Center for Ministry: Sat., May 18.  Celebrating our 20^th anniversary won’t you join the St. Stephen’s team of walkers on for Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community?  Even if you can’t be there, be there as a virtual walker!  Simply go to www.walkforahealthcommunity.org, choose "Harrisburg" as the walk location, St. Barnabas as the organization you would like to support, then join St. Stephen's team.  Note this is a perfect opportunity to be the great communicator for St. Barnabas by getting friends & family to sponsor you in the walk.

Contact:  Mary Murphy @  

Arts Fest: May 25-27, Memorial Day weekend.  Planning efforts are underway looking for day captains, crew, & new ideas to make set up/take down and volunteering easier.  There’s no admission fee for the public so we may be busier than in past years.

Contact: Joe Schuetz at  

LOCALLY

Allison Hill Common Ground Cafe: When is a breakfast more than just a meal? When it is a community center, a kids' craft session, a book nook for adults, a reading program and book giveaway for children, an opportunity for family members and neighbors to visit in a warm, welcoming place.

Contact:  Meg Everhart Conners for more information to volunteer or visit at 717.614.7269 or  

Artsfest:  Artsfest is always held the weekend of Memorial Day, Saturday through Monday, with St. Stephen’s members serving hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones & beverages; the School holding a bake sale; and the Sycamore House having a book sale. Typically the Cathedral raises around $3,000 and goes towards operating expenses and local outreach ministries.  The fellowship & evangelism is second to none so we hope you'll join us!

Contact:  Joe Schuetz at

Christian Churches United (CCU)/Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven: CCU’s an ecumenical partnership with over 140 member churches including St. Stephen’s.  Their goal is to provide assistance to “many more people in need than one church could provide on its own.”  They have 5 ministries under their umbrella including Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven, housing 20 homeless men along with a 25-unit overnight section for a program previously operated out of church basements during winter months.  City churches continue to be critical for staffing the overnight shelter.  In 2012 St. Stephen’s helped staff two weeks of the overnight shelter from Jan. 13 - 27.  

A note from Meg Burton Conners:  “ When I attended confirmation classes at St. Stephens long ago, I learned that one definition of being a Christian was to be Christ-like. Serving as a volunteer at the Overnight Winter Shelter is simple, and it's safe. Volunteers from area churches arrive at 7 p.m., put on the coffee pot, set out cocoa and granola bars, and put out mattresses and blankets. Guests are admitted at 8 p.m. and checked in by a staff member who greets most by name and swaps sports news with some. The men choose a mattress and quickly settle in. Some chat with their friends, some read; all are well behaved and weary, having walked a mile or so in the cold to the shelter after spending the day on the streets. Guests are grateful for shelter and know that those who cause problems will be asked to leave. The staffer leaves about 9:30 and many of the men are asleep before lights out at 10. Volunteers sleep in a separate room next door, lulled off by the sound of snoring and George talking in his sleep. Up at 6 the next morning to fix coffee for the early risers who go to jobs, the volunteers say goodbye to guests (most of whom leave with a 'Thanks' and 'Bless you') by 7. They finish with cleanup and leave by 7:20, having provided a warm night's shelter for up to 30 of Harrisburg's homeless neighbors. I believe the Overnight Winter Shelter is an answer to Christ's call to love our neighbors." 

In case you'd like to volunteer again or volunteer for the first time, there are openings the week of March 10th & March 24th. Please contact Jacquie Rucker directly at   or 230-9550. 

Downtown Daily Bread (DDB): DDB is a soup kitchen located at Pine Street Presbyterian Church. Their mission is to provide services for the homeless & feed the hungry (40,000 meals/year) 7 days a week including weekends & holidays. On the first Sunday of every other month from approximately noon until 2 p.m., St. Stephen’s serves the food trays and then helps clean up afterward.

2013 dates to still serve are May 5, July 7, Sept. 1 and Nov. 3. Over the year this equates to almost 600 meals. New volunteers are always welcomed & encouraged. It’s not only a good way to meet fellow parishioners, it’s also a way to provide a service to the community and help those in need. If you can’t volunteer your time, we also gather donations of non-perishable foods (canned soup, fruits or vegetables, coffee, sugar, spices, plastic forks and spoons, napkins, seasonally appropriate clothing) as well as personal items (such as disposable razors, soap, shampoo, deodorant, tooth brushes, laundry detergent, men’s and women’s underwear, socks, and blankets). Just drop them off in designated baskets available in the church and we’ll get them to DDB.

In addition to this easily quantified service to DDB patrons, St. Stephen’s volunteers also benefit from the qualitative opportunity to experience the difference between altruism and Christianity, the subject of a 2012 Sunday sermon from Bishop Baxter. In a Good Friday Meditation on the subject of Jesus’ dying utterance “Why have You forsaken me?,” Carson best described how those we serve at DDB embody Jesus in both His perfect and imperfect forms, a nexus that eluded others who serve with him (such as his mother). As Carson illustrated, the DDB patrons who find consolation in the thought that God will always protect them and bless us for doing “God’s work” as we ladle their food embody the calm, ever-loving, never-doubting Jesus who asked God’s forgiveness for those who tortured Him. Conversely, the forlorn at DDB who wonder, sometimes audibly, why God has forsaken them to the streets reflect the doubtful, frightened, vulnerable Jesus who, in His darkest hours of despair and loneliness, also questioned His Father’s abandonment.

Providing sustenance to the needy – humbling.  

Experiencing altruism – rewarding.  

Experiencing Christianity through Christ’s appearance in the many different lives that surround us - priceless. 

Contact: Carson Kahoe   or Gina Kahoe

20th Annual Great Pumpkin Chase: Saturday, Oct. 26th, 9 a.m. @ City Island's Carousel Pavilion.  This is one of St. Stephen’s biggest fundraisers of the year where we all come together as a Cathedral (Parishioners, School & Sycamore House) to reach out to those locally in need. Add to that over the race’s history it’s become a favorite among runners & families alike. For last year’s 5k & 1-mile fun run, we had over 500 participants and raised $12,000 which was divided equally among 5 local outreach ministries.  This year's recipients include Allison Hill Common Ground Café, Christ Lutheran Free Dental Clinic (the only one in the tri-county area), Downtown Daily Bread & Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven.  This is a huge undertaking with many opportunities to volunteer as your schedule suits.

Contacts: Mary Murphy (773-2806) or Megan Frascella (

Click here for The Great Pumpkin Chase Web page

Helping Hands Ministry of HBG, Inc.:  For more than 13 years St. Stephen’s Cathedral opened its doors every Sunday evening to the homeless & others in need, providing space and volunteers to assist Helping Hands serve a hot meal. Though they have moved and are dearly missed, we hope you’ll consider helping one of the five days serving meals.  They continue to be one of the recipients of the Great Pumpkin Chase proceeds, with the Sunday school children keeping the tradition of making the Valentine’s Day cards & collecting candy, and receiving items collected from the HUGS Tree Project (hats, underwear, gloves & socks).  To volunteer contact Kathleen Schulkens directly (717.919.4383 or )

“Sharing Our Caring” Community Dinner: This is a local HIV/AIDS support group that meets monthly at the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) on Jefferson Street in Harrisburg. Volunteers are needed to help greet the 30 or so members attending; provide & serve the food; sit, eat & converse with the members; and help with clean-up. Be sure to mark on your calendars Monday, May 13, 2013 to assist in this year's dinner. Also note dinners are served the 2nd Monday of the month so even if it's not our annual turn, they truly welcome & appreciate your help & company.

Contact: Bill Ilgenfritz @

Coordinator for Sharing Our Caring Dinner @ MCC, Patrick at

St. Barnabas Children’s Ministry: Now celebrating its 20th year, St. Barnabas was founded by our own Bishop Charlie McNutt and Bishop Guy Edmiston from the Lower Susquehanna Synod. Located in Uptown HBG, St. Barnabas offers children ages 7 – 12 an 8-week summer day camp. A variety of experiences allow spiritual, emotional, physical, educational & social growth. Our 4th annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is Sat., May 18 so be sure to sign up with St. Stephen's team at www.walkforahealthycommunity.org.  Also we'll be serving 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches the week of June 10 at summer camp and need volunteers to make this possible. 

Contact: Mary Murphy or visit the website for more information: www.stbarnabascenter.org

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School:  St. Stephen’s Episcopal School is a close-knit, child-centered community. This downtown Harrisburg school provides a superior, affordable education for children 3 year old through eighth grade.  The diversity of the students reflects the mission to welcome children of all ethnic and religious heritages. St. Stephen’s Cathedral founded the school in 1978 as an outreach and mission. The school, a 501(c)(3) is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Elementary Schools. It is governed by a Board of Directors.  An alumna and successful artist wrote, “Attending such a diverse and enriching school as St. Stephen’s initiated my exploration into art and gave me the confidence to continue my pursuit.”

Visit the website for more information at www.ststephensschoolharrisburg.org, or contact 717.238.8590 to arrange a tour. Email: 

The Sycamore House:  The Sycamore House is a community house founded in faith in Christ and commitment to a life of prayer, service, community development, and creativity. It exists for Christians seeking to explore what it means to live in community for the purpose of service and building relationship with God, one another, and the surrounding city. Our ministry is to one another, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the greater Harrisburg area.

Contact:  Kathy Yorkievitz, email:

To download the application: Click on this link:   Sycamore House Information and Application

YWCA of Greater Harrisburg:  Dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom & dignity for all.  In addition to being a recipient of the Great Pumpkin Chase proceeds for 5 years, we continue to reach out to them as often as we can.  Annually we sell their Mother's Day cards around the April - May timeframe. With the purchase of each $10 card it provides a night’s shelter for a mother & child. The YWCA has also received items from the Sunday School Children’s “HUGS” (hats, underwear, gloves & socks) project between Christmas & Epiphany.

Contact:  Cathy Jones ( )

NATIONALLY

Sacred Stitches: Sacred Stitches meets quarterly and is composed of knitters from the Cathedral as well as from other churches in the Diocese. They knit many different items for many different causes all over the world as well as locally. The items range from baby caps for area hospitals and mid-wife kits in Uganda to pocket prayer shawls for our armed forces and sweaters for the Seaman's Institute in New York to children in Rowanda.

Contact: Anne Yellott ( )

Youth Service Trip to Virginia’s Eastern Shore:  On average there are 35 youth & parent participants who repair houses to those in need.  This is a 5-day trip typically held the third week in June.  All young people from grades 7 – 12 are eligible (entering 7th graders in fall) for our annual youth service trip. There will be a small fee for the trip and the Cathedral will be underwriting the other costs.  (Part of our offering will be the cost of the materials for the project.)  We will be sleeping in the parish hall of a local church as we work on renovating homes.

If you are interested, please contact the office at 717-236-4059 or email the office at

INTERNATIONALLY

Bishop Masereka Christian Foundation Scholarship Program:  Annually we help to sponsor 12 Ugandan students orphaned by HIV/AIDS in western Uganda. For each $330 scholarship this includes tuition & fees, uniform, scholastic materials, daily lunch, & a mosquito net.

Contact:  Cathy Jones ( )

Mama Rosa Fund:  While initially a 3-year commitment, for the past 4 years we’ve made $500 quarterly payments totaling $8,000.  We received regular acknowledgement and thanks for these funds which have primarily been used for food, clothing, and medical treatment for 13 orphans.  With this year’s donations totaling $265, we will still continue offering St. Stephen’s parishioners an opportunity to contribute to the Mama Rosa Fund. 

Contact:  Cathy Jones ( )