THE VINE
The Vine is a collaborative way of being community. It is an extended way of being Church and living out the Good News. The Vine, through conversations, collaborations, partnerships, and community, is simply a neighbor; reaching out, extending a hand, providing space, working side-by-side with others doing the same to meet the spoken and unspoken needs of others, God’s Children.
One of the core tenants of St. Stephen’s is community engagement. Through the Vine we engage the community through events, classes, our food pantry, advocacy, and other activities as an outgrowth of our faith. For over fifteen years The Vine has given the Ferguson community a place to be more than neighbors.
Conversation + Collaboration + Community = The Vine
VINE PARTNERS
A RED CIRCLE
A Red Circle is a growing nonprofit in North County that focuses on community betterment from a racial equity lens. Their programs focus on education advocacy, community wellness, the arts, and economic empowerment. A Red Circle hosts a variety of programs at St Stephen’s and Vine including healthy cooking classes and trainings. Find out more about A Red Circle here: https://www.aredcircle.org/
Gratitude House
The Gratitude House provides a sober home for women recovering from alcoholism and/or drug abuse. Gratitude House has a founded a new residential sober home in Ferguson and will host monthly AA meetings at St. Stephen’s and the Vine beginning April 6, 2024 on Thursdays at 6pm. For more information about Gratitude House, check our their website here: https://gratitudehousestl.org/
St. Stephen’s Food Pantry
In the last year, our Food Pantry distributed 2004 bags of food. It took a lot of people, coordination, and collaboration to accomplish this including volunteers from our parish, North Hills Methodist, several home school families, and Girl Scout Troop 2648. Organized food donations come from Zion Lutheran, North Hills Methodist, the Homeschool Cooperative, local school drives and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts with April Showers and Food Drives. April Showers allow us to have personal hygiene items available. The food pantry is open, and we are giving fruit and vegetables and a bag of groceries each Tuesday and Saturday between 10-12 am. For more info on please contact Carol at carol@the-vine.us
Clay Cafe
Clay Café, as it is now known, has grown from one organization preparing each monthly meal in the first year, to a true community collaboration. The meals are now hosted in collaboration with a variety of community entities (individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses), including our Vestry and congregation who sign up in advance for specific months to prepare our community meal. Clay Café allows our faith community to extend hospitality and the opportunity to organically connect with 50-70 of our neighbors around food, art, entertainment, and community services (i.e., free flu shots) and connection with a variety of community resources. Clay Cafe Dinner is held on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 4:30 and Clay Cafe Brunch is on the 3rd Tuesday starting from 10-12, alongside our Food Pantry opening times. For more info on please contact Carol at carol@the-vine.us
The gentle martial art meets on a Thursday morning from 10-11 am. For more info on please contact Carol at carol@the-vine.us
NORTH COUNTY HOMESCHOOL CO-OP
The North County Homeschoolers Co-op meets weekly at St. Stephen’s. We have classes for children in Pre-K through high school. Registration for the group typically takes place over the summer with classes running September through May. For more information, please contact Becky at Beckykernryan@gmail.com
FERGUSON ECO TEAM
The Ferguson Eco Team was organized in June of 2012 as a response to the environmental symposium, “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream” which took place at St. Stephen’s Church. Composed of residents of the Ferguson area, the team is working to create an ecologically sustainable community and to enable the transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy. How to enable an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling human presence on the planet?! The team encourages what is already happening, catalyzes what needs to happen, and raises questions about current practices and future possibilities. Currently, they work in four areas: planning environmental educational events; support, network, and resource other like-minded groups; advocate on behalf of environmental sustainability; and do research on the area’s ecological strengths and needs. Contact Carleton Stock carletonstock@aol.com .
FERGUSON WINTER FARMERS MARKET
The 3rd Saturday of every month between November – April join us at St. Stephen’s and the Vine between 9am – 12 pm. Warm up w/ some free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Mingle with your neighbors, visit local vendors, listen to live music, and stock up on local produce. All are welcome! For more info on vendor ops or any other market related questions please email Carol at carol@the-vine.us.
VINE COMMUNITY KITCHEN
In 2016 St. Stephen’s and The Vine completed renovations to the kitchen, turning the space into a commercial grade kitchen. The Vine’s Community Kitchen aims to provide a space for local entrepreneurs in the culinary arts to create and grow their businesses. Free of charge, kitchen use is available. For more info on The Community Kitchen please contact Carol at carol@the-vine.us.
