Our Outreach Ministry
We take seriously our call to follow Jesus in respecting the dignity of every human being and for caring for the marginalized and poor, by working for justice and peace. We also share in the work of the Diocese of Montana and the larger church through our diocesan assessment. Apart from our assessment, all of our outreach comes in the form of volunteer hours, projects funded by the Memorial Foundation and special offerings from our congregation. The urge to help stirs us to action over and over.
Social Concerns Committee
At Holy Spirit, responding to social concerns is integral to our mission and our congregation. The Holy Spirit Memorial Foundation provides funding to the Social Concerns Committee to manage in support of outreach projects chosen by the Committee and, when necessary, approved by the Vestry. In recent years, we have sponsored a number of outreach programs that benefit our church, the local community and the world at large such as Missoula Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, The Parenting Place and Red Cross in Missoula, the Family Resource Center at Hellgate High School (our neighbor), funding for students in El Golfo, Mexico, and for food assistance on two of Montana’s Native American Reservations. Holy Spirit is a founding member of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative and volunteers from our congregation are active in two important programs – Family Promise (supporting temporarily homeless families) and the Housing Advocate Network. For information on many of our past activities, Read our Social Concerns Committee 20th Anniversary booklet
Current advocacy projects
Watch for more information on this website, in the Paraclete, Spirited Times, and in the Sunday service leaflet.
Rio Grande Borderlands Ministry
For the past four years, Holy Spirit’s vestry has approved a covenant with RGBM that involves a monetary pledge and a pledge to do what we can to publicize, support and lift up this ministry. We are proud that we were the first Episcopal Parish to partner with RGBM. We continue this support, and add to it by working to assist refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers in Montana and by sponsoring Diocesan Resolutions which reflect constantly changing needs for this support.
Community Ministries
Homelessness, instability, financial stress, incarceration, lack of community… these issues are at the forefront for many of the at-risk families, youth and children at Hellgate HS and Parenting Place. We have the opportunity, through service, education, prayer and advocacy as church members and with other Missoula Interfaith Collaborative members, to build life-changing relationships at Hellgate and Parenting Place. Learn more about our Community Ministries: Hellgate High School and Parenting Place.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MISSOULA
Holy Spirit has participated in the Good Neighbor Build for many years now, raising funds for Habitat homes and helping to build them. Every year, Holy Spirit volunteers join Habitat for at least two "build days," above and beyond funding provided through our Social Concerns budget. In addition, if you recycle your aluminum cans here, those funds also go to Habitat.
MISSOULA FOOD BANK
For many years the Holy Spirit congregation has been making Sunday donations to the Missoula Food Bank, using the little manila envelopes found in the pews. But 2025-2026 is a special year, as the Vestry and the Social Concerns Committee have worked together to start an effort to Act with Compassion and Mercy. The Missoula Food Bank is our partner for this first year, which includes events such as:
- Regular get-togethers to help pack food for Food Bank clients and students
- Coordinating donations of Thanksgiving turkeys
- Community Concerns events focused on food insecurity, food waste and topics such as food and theology
HATS/GLOVES AND SOCKS
In January of each year, Holy Spirit holds a collection event appropriate for the season. We collect clean, used or new men's and women's socks, as well as donations of clean new or used men's and women's gloves and winter hats. These items go to the Poverello Center for distribution to Missoula men and women who, being homeless, spend many of their winter hours outdoors.
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Holy Spirit hosts a Red Cross blood drive in our parish hall in February and in fall. Check our calendar for dates.
EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT (ERD)
The birthday and anniversary offerings throughout the year support Episcopal Relief and Development's Global Needs Fund. The Global Needs Fund allows Episcopal Relief & Development to fight poverty and disease worldwide by helping people sustain healthier, safer and more productive lives. We also gather funds for ERD occasionally in response to disasters. Read more about Episcopal Relief and Development at www.episcopalrelief.org.
In addition, in a typical year Holy Spirit's Social Concerns Committee will make timely donations to Episcopal Relief & Development for specific situations… recent examples include disasters in Kentucky and Puerto Rico, hurricane Helene, flooding in Texas and fires in California.
UNITED THANK OFFERING
The United Thank Offering is a program of the The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church, founded and administered by women since 1889. The UTO Committee is a spiritual and financial partner in the mission work of The Episcopal Church, through every person in every pew. It promotes thank offerings, to receive the offerings and to distribute the monies collected through grants ranging from small amounts to major contributions. Although these grants serve our church missions internationally, their impact has also been felt in our own diocese through a $40,000 grant to Partnership Health Center here in Missoula a few years ago.
EMMAUS CAMPUS MINISTRY
Emmaus Campus Ministry is a Christian community that is committed to social justice, care of the environment, and working with marginalized people, which values conversations and questioning over convicted belief, and helps students find their own place and path in life. Holy Spirit has been a partner in Emmaus Campus Ministry for many years and has participated in various fund raising events including the annual Oktoberfest celebration, in addition to channeling funding from the Diocese of Montana and serving on the Board overseeing the Ministry. Read more about Emmaus Campus Ministry.