SMILE Ecumenical Ministries

Ecumenical Worship

Since the beginning of SMILE in 1991, ecumenical services have been held for two special times in the Christian year. Each Good Friday, people assemble at 11:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish in Solomons to begin the “Way-of-the-Cross Procession” from St. Peter’s Episcopal Chapel to Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Walking several blocks in silence as a heavy wooden cross is carried; people from all walks of life enter the church for a service at 12 noon. Clergy from the nine congregations comprising SMILE participate with readings, singing and a message. It is truly an uplifting service that prepares us for Easter.

Shortly after Patuxent High School opened in Lusby in 1999, SMILE started a Baccalaureate Service for the graduating seniors. The only baccalaureate service for seniors in Calvert County, it is held usually in late May or early June and takes place in the school auditorium with a reception following. It is a time for parents and students to reflect on their school years before graduating and going on to jobs, vocational schools, college or the military. The students participate in all the planning phases and a dynamic speaker gives a message of encouragement.

Thanksgiving Eve is another time that the nine SMILE congregations come together to praise God for his blessings. Since 1991, this service has been held at different churches. Choirs offer anthems, the clergy deliver a message and all participants sing familiar Thanksgiving hymns. It is a time of celebration to be thankful.

This program also ensures that the holiday baskets contain a grace and other spiritual material. And for the holiday dinners, special place mats are used on the tables that contain the Christmas Story.

Emergency Assistance

This program assists those in financial need and has been ongoing since the beginning of SMILE. After contacting the coordinator, help can be given with SMECO utility bills, rents, mortgage payments, medical bills (including medicines), gasoline, fuel oil, and propane. This program has also helped people who have burned out of their homes or flooded out due from hurricanes and severe storms. When justified, assistance is also given for one to three nights’ emergency stay at one of the local inns.

Holiday Baskets

For the seasons of Easter and Thanksgiving, SMILE volunteers plan and give out bags of groceries that help families have a traditional meal. For Easter, this includes items for a morning breakfast. For Thanksgiving, the traditional turkey is supplied with potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and dessert pies. Recently, Christmas packages have also been distributed. Approximately 400 bags of these special season groceries are given each time. Food is obtained from the highly successful food drives held by scout troops and the local schools. In addition, the churches collect the needed items. Holiday baskets give our clients a healthy meal that the cost of their buying might have prevented.

Holiday Dinners

This program hosts two holiday feasts that are attended by large crowds in the community. The Thanksgiving Day dinner is held at a restaurant in Solomons from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Served buffet style, the meal consists of turkey and all the trimmings. Then the following month, the Christmas Day dinner is held at the legion hall in Lusby, also from 12 noon to 3 p.m. “Santa” makes an appearance and always brings gifts for the children and adults as well. Both dinners are free and open to anyone in the community. Notices are placed in the local newspapers and at the SMILE facility.

Life Styles

This program can best be described as a way to help people achieve their God-given purpose. Scholarships to help people complete their education at a community college or trade school will give them the opportunity to earn a living and support themselves and their families. The issuance of new school supplies enable children to start the year with all the needed materials. Providing information about the nine churches and their services lets people know there is a place to find Christ’s love.

PRAD

Since SMILE started in 1991, volunteers have marked the area for the craft and food vendors at the Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD) during the Columbus Day weekend each October.

Other SMILE Work

Those persons needing community service through the court system and are personally interviewed are given a chance to work at SMILE.

Monetary contributions are given to two county organizations: Calvert Healthcare Solutions, Inc., and Friends of Calvert County Seniors (specifically for their dental program).

Outside our immediate community, monetary donations were made through the nine congregations’ relief agencies for the Tsunami December 2004 victims, the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita victims in 2005 and then the Amish community in Pennsylvania in 2006, and recently helping an orpahage in Africa.

SMILE strives to live by its vision and mission statements.