Pastoral Care

St. Peter’s Pastoral Care Committee serves and supports parishioners when they are sick, disabled, or otherwise in need of personal support and attention from their parish family.

The committee, which includes the Rector, meets monthly to confidentially discuss the needs of parishioners. We pay special attention to members who are unable to attend church for any reason and those coping with illness or surgery. The committee plans home visits and phone calls and coordinates with our priest and lay ministers for home communion. We also may arrange for transportation, home delivered meals, and respite care.

Prayer Requests

Prayers of the People are an integral part of our congregational worship and of our care for our community. If you would like specific prayers for someone added to the list of those prayed for during services, please be in touch with the rector or the office. Requested prayers are included in worship for a period of four weeks, but can be extended.

Flower Ministry

The Flower Ministry delivers Sunday altar flowers to members who are ill or home bound, and to those who just need to have their day brightened.  Along with the flowers, a volunteer delivers a Sunday bulletin and a card with this greeting: “These flowers have been on the altar at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. They have heard the hymns that have been sung, the prayers that have been offered and the sermon that has been preached.  Now with their silent message they come to you with our love.”

During Advent and Lent we send winter greens or a small olive wood cross with a purple ribbon.

Fellowship Opportunities

Sunday Coffee Hour

Each Sunday, a simple coffee hour follows the 9:00 AM worship service, with light snacks, coffee, tea, and juice. Coffee hour is an opportunity to visit with members, newcomers, and strangers and become more familiar with the life of the parish community. It is also an opportunity to mingle with Loaves and Fishes noon lunch program guests who arrive early to enjoy coffee hour fellowship. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up on the form posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

Newcomer Luncheons

Throughout the year, the Vestry hosts small newcomer lunches in the Parlor so that newcomers can meet the parish leadership, learn one another, and ask questions about St. Peter’s. These lunches also afford an occasion for our leadership teams to become better acquainted with newcomers.

Easter Brunch, Summer Picnic, and Fall Harvest Dinner

St. Peter’s offers several parish-wide opportunities for fellowship throughout the year. These are frequently pot-luck meals. (St. Peter’s folks like to cook!) These occasions include a special Easter brunch, an early summer cook-out or ice cream social in June, and a fall Harvest Dinner grounding our October Stewardship campaign in thanksgiving.

Episcopal Church Women

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) organization is open to all women in the parish.  Meetings are held on the First Monday of the month at 1:30 in the afternoon. Meetings, usually at members’ homes, are dedicated to fellowship and events planning. It has been a tradition at St. Peter’s for the ECW to host the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Luncheon for the greater community.  ECW also is the primary organizer for funeral or other special receptions.  The “donated” funds received from this are designated by ECW for special church or community project needs.  Recent beneficiaries include Loaves and Fishes, Meals on Wheels, the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, and the AIO’s Food Pantry.  The ECW also sends cards to members of the parish who are ill.  ECW heartily welcomes new members.  We urge all who are interested to contact the church office to be put in contact with the current president.