When asked, “What brought you to Calvary?” there’s a good chance the response will be, “The opportunity to serve.” Calvary’s tradition of outreach to the city is a hallmark of who we are and remains crucial to Calvary’s identity.

Our programs attract parishioners and guests from throughout Memphis and beyond, and our ministries to the needy are designed to supplement what is already available. 

Signature events include:

• Calvary’s Lenten Noonday Preaching Series: Perhaps our most visible ministry and certainly among our oldest, Calvary hosts sermons each weekday during Lent by a broad spectrum of local and national speakers. The Preaching series, along with Calvary’s volunteer-run Waffle Shop—a lunchtime tradition for more than 80 years that pairs Southern home-cooking with fellowship—draws thousands of guests to our doors for nourishment of body and soul.

• Calvary and the Arts: A series of free weekly lunchtime concerts and nominally-priced box lunches, targeted primarily to the working people of downtown Memphis.

• Holocaust Remembrance and AIDS Healing Service: Two yearly worship services shared by clergy and lay persons from many faith backgrounds. The latter, now in its 23rd year, is a celebration and affirmation of the value of the lives of all those who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS.

• “Messiah”: A Calvary and Memphis tradition currently performed on alternate years.

• Sunday Morning Community Breakfast and December Emmanuel Meal: Welcoming the homeless and needy into our dining room for a hot meal and fellowship.

Service to the city’s poor and homeless became more focused in the 1970s, when Calvary created the Street Ministry, now operated by the Memphis Union Mission.

Today, the parish continues this commitment through its leading role in establishing the Hospitality HUB (helping people out of homelessness), Calvary Place Childcare Center, and the Palm Sunday service at City Hall. Calvary’s members also collect resources, raise money and provide grants to outside programs that serve populations in need. Calvary serves students at all age levels by supporting public schools and with its program at Rhodes College.

Calvary also is committed to becoming better stewards of creation. A comprehensive recycling program was launched in October of 2011, alongside a creation season reflected in worship and education. A newly commissioned Green Team will continue to guide the parish in a long-term “greening” process.

   But there are challenges as well. As with other programs and ministries at Calvary, some outreach programs have suffered from a lack of support, vision, leadership, or participation.

With God’s grace and guidance, we will continue to address our challenges as we work to make God’s love visible both Downtown and in our larger Memphis community.