Offerings
Service + Learning
AMEN St. Louis Sample Schedule
Monday:
9am-12pm : Lydia’s House
“Lydia’s House provides domestic violence survivors and their children a safe place to heal, a voice for justice, and an opportunity for better and sustainable lives.” We’ll hear the story of this organization and about the service they provide to our community. Working behind the scenes with staff we’ll organize supplies, prepare housing for new arrivals or whatever their needs are on any given day. The residents identities are held in confidence as well as the location of the facility. We will not be interacting with the resident. The person we will be interacting with is a former resident turned staff member and she will share her story and experiences, and guide us in our work.”
1pm - 3 or 4pm Father Dickson Cemetery:
We’ll be working with member of “The Friends of Father Dickson Cemetery. Dr. Jeff Smith , Emeritus Professor of History at Lindenwood University. Jeff, a friend of Oak Hill and AMEN St. Louis, as well as the cemetery, will share stories about the folks interned at the cemetery as well as the importance of maintaining these sacred spaces in our communities.
We’ll also be doing some grounds keeping work. Before working, we’ll enjoy our packed lunches in the area.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/african-american-history-at-father-dickson-cemetery.htm
Like many historic cemeteries, Father Dickson Cemetery was plagued by neglect and threatened with development throughout the years. However, this historic treasure is now cared for by a private group, the Friends of Father Dickson Cemetery, who have partnered with other community organizations to keep it beautiful and accessible for those who wish to visit and pay respects to the many individuals who are interred there. If you are interested in visiting or learning more about Father Dickson Cemetery, you are encouraged to reach out to the Friends of Father Dickson Cemetery at friendsoffather@aol.com. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site sells printed guidebooks for Father Dickson Cemetery in its bookstore, and the cemetery is the penultimate stop on the Bike Through History program, offered monthly by park staff.
https://www.nps.gov/places/father-dickson-cemetery.htm
https://www.slcl.org/content/history-father-dickson-cemetery
https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=8439DDA1-EB5F-458D-A64A-BF385E011076
Tuesday
9am - 1pm New Roots Urban Farm
Black Farmer Antajuan Adams will lead us in discussions about Food Apartheid, Systemic Racism and the racial divide that exists in St. Louis and many of our communities around the country. We started a partnership last year with New Roots and have been providing funds to help empower local Black growers to provide food or their neighbors. Funds are used to help purchase supplies, equipment and fair wages for local farm workers. The goal is to reclaim the land that has been destroyed in the name of Urban Renewal and use it to help sustain the community. Of course, Antajaun tells the story much better. This year we will also be renting a garden row for our mission teams and congregation to plant and maintain and share the produce with the local community. Sometimes, art projects happen, and there’s always quality time with bunnies, chicks and ducklings. Most important, we all converse and learn with each other and talk about ideas we can take back to our home communities. Scroll through the Facebook page to get a full picture of the work being done by Black Farmers in the St. Louis community.
https://www.facebook.com/NewRootsUrbanFarm
We’ll enjoy lunch at the farm.
2pm - 4pm ish
Environmental Justice Discussion/ or Activity to be announced.
Wednesday
9a, - 12pm ish
We return to New Roots Urban Farm, or Antajuan may have us work with one of his farming colleagues .
Plans for lunch are not specific yet. Either the Farm or another outdoor location.
1pm - 4:30pm ish
TBA
See more for Wednesday evening activity.
Wednesday is not done, yet!
6:30pm - 8pm ish
GAMES and TEAM Building in the Park
https://www.towergrovepark.org/
We’ll join Clayton Delaney, fitness trainer, youth soccer coach and referee, and friend of Oak Hill and Amen St. Louis, for a fun night in our local park. It’s within walking distance, but you might want to save your energy for the fun and drive. Clayton will lead us in an assortment of games, physical and mental. Something for everyone! We plan to have hotdogs and other pico type food. We’ll be joined by members of the community and youth from two other area churches. (We’re all small and try to share youth activities.)
Thursday
9am - 12ish pm
Green House Venture
https://www.greenhousestl.org/
“Our mission is to educate, excite, and equip an inclusive population of elementary students to pursue a sustainable world through a hands-on program in bio-science and urban agriculture.” We’ll work with staff to maintain the highway embankment gardens and other gardens on the “campus”. Read more about it here. https://www.greenhousestl.org/the-ghv-campus/
3pm - 5 pm St. Louis Area Food Bank https://stlfoodbank.org/ We will be working in the warehouse preparing who knows what, for distribution to various local food pantries. It may be fresh produce, canned or packaged foods, cleaning and hygiene products. Whatever is needed for their next project or delivery.
It’s a good 30-40 minute drive, depending on traffic and we recommend departing at 2pm depending on your lunch location
You’ll receive an email with a link to have each of your group to register individually.
Friday 9am- 12pm Isaiah 58 Ministries https://i58ministries.org/ I58 Ministries serves the Oak Hill/AMEN St. Louis zipcode as well as three other zip codes in the St. Louis area. You’ll be working at the Fresh Food Friday Event assisting the guests with food selections that will be donated that morning from several area grocers. Items will include frozen meat, deli items, dairy products, fresh produce, bakery goods galore and whatever else comes in on the truck and van. You may also assist in unloading the donations as well as sorting them in the distribution area by food groups. Regular weekly volunteers will be on hand to guide you. They especially enjoy when there are younger folks to help with the heavier lifting.
Friday afternoons are free to explore St. Louis! Ask us or ideas!
Confirmation Class
At Amen STL, we honor the hard work of discipleship, in the Fall months we typically offer groups a retreat to start off their time of inquiry. Then in the Spring months we host weekend retreats for confirmation classes, designed to celebrate the culmination of study, growth, and dedication.
Group Retreats
Pastor, Spiritual leader, Organizer? Want to gather your group to renew, rest, and grow? We would love to talk with you about how our space could fit your needs.