Mission and Outreach

Saint Peter's has a long tradition of helping those in need within our local community, the larger region and across the globe.  With many hands, we do our best to serve where we're needed as we do the work Christ has given us to do.  

 

Local

 

Community Dinners

Saint Peter's has begun hosting Community Dinners every other month (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov).  These dinners are designed to be low cost and we make the meals available at no cost to persons in need through WUMCO.  These dinners are not a fundraiser for the church and averaged out at even cost in 2010!  Our hope is that they provide a place for the community to come together and celebrate our common bonds.  

 

Community Garden

St. Peter's planted a garden in 2010 and gives away the harvest from this garden to the local food bank.  We also used the produce in Community Dinners that are available free to those in need.

 

Door Ministry

St. Peter's reaches out to those who turn up on our door seeking assistance whenever we can.  We usually coordinate our assistance with WUMCO.

 

Helping Hands

Saint Peter's is joining with other local churches to provide small home repairs and improvements to persons in need within our local community on an ongoing basis.  Projects are based on need and scope and are funded and completed by gifts of money and talent.

 

Habitat for Humanity

We often take part in Habitat projects in Poolesville, the surrounding community, and the wider County.

 

Preschool Story Time

On many Wednesdays throughout the year volunteers from St. Peter's offer Preschool Storytime, alternating between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.  This free program invites children who are not yet in elementary school to come and enjoy bible stories, songs, crafts, snacks and games.  

 

Rebuilding Together This is an annual project to rehabilitate a home in our community working through a larger County-wide program.  Some may remember "Christmas in April", this project's former name, as it happens each April.  Volunteers provide resources and labor to help those in need with improvements and repairs to their home.

 

Rummage Sale The Women of St. Peter's offer rummage sales twice a year our of our parish.  Originally intended as a fundraiser for the women's projects, we have come to realize how important the Rummage Sale is to persons with limited incomes.  Because clothing and other items are offered at such reasonable prices, it is in some ways like a temporary thrift shop - providing much needed help to people in need.  The Women of St. Peter's also give away a portion of the proceeds to outreach efforts.

 

Thrift Shop

Saint Peter's supports the local  Friendly Thrift Shop at 17617 West Willard Road.  By finding volunteers to serve at the thrift shop when it is open (W,F,Sa,Su), we are able to help people with low cost but very essential items.  Profits from the Thrift Shop are shared with area churches for their outreach efforts.

 

Vacation Bible School

Saint Peter's offers an annual Vacation Bible School each summer that serves more than 60 local children, most of whom are not members of the parish.  It is an important offering of the parish for the local community.  

 

WUMCO (Western Upper Montgomery County) Help

St. Peter's supports our local regional outreach with financial support and volunteerism.  We collect food for the WUMCO food pantry on the first Sunday of each month.  We also adopt families in need around the holidays and collect hats and gloves for WUMCO to distribute in the winter months. In addition, we help with what will become an annual Fall 'Funraiser' Walk and festival to raise money for WUMCO.   WUMCO is a valuable resource for hose in need in upper Montgomery County. 

 

Regional

 

Adult Mission Trips

Periodically adults go from St. Peter's to places all over the country in order to lend a hand to those in need.  Most recently a group traveled to Appalachia to help with home repairs.  

 

Bishop's Appeal

Saint Peter's supports the Bishop's Appeal for the Diocese of Washington.  The Bishop's Appeal funds many programs and outreach efforts of the diocese, including support for the Bishop Walker School, Youth Ministry, Latino Ministry and our companion relationships with South Africa and Jerusalem.  

 

Frederick Mission

Members of St. Peter's travel to Frederick one Saturday a month to provide a dinner for the men who live at the Frederick Rescue Mission.  

 

Frederick Soup Kitchen

Saint Peter's has a long tradition of providing the evening meal on Christmas Day at the Frederick Soup Kitchen.  Saint Peter's members and friends travel to Frederick to prepare and serve the meal for all who come.

 

Walker School for Boys

Saint Peter's supports the work of the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys as it offers a free private education to boys in the 8th ward of Washington D.C.  When possible we collect funds and resources for the school which operates solely through the generosity of donors and the Diocese of Washington.  

 

Global

 

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)

ERD is the worldwide relief agency of the Episcopal Church.  Saint Peter's supports ERD through occasional fund raising efforts and special appeals around global disasters.  The parish sent thousands of dollars to ERD for tsunami and earthquake relief and rebuilding in recent years.

 

Hope in South Africa

Started through a partnership with the Anglican Church in Richmond, South Africa in 2005, Hope in South Africa has grown out of our parish efforts to become a regional effort to build communities in the area around Richmond, South Africa.   Hope in South Africa has many partners all over the world who make this ministry possible.  You can learn more about Hope in South Africa by visiting the website here.

 

Mission Trips

As needs arise and funds can be raised, St. Peter's engages in mission around the country and around the world.  Most recently trips included serving those in need in Colorado and the Gulf Coast.  Some of our trips are for youth, as a parish and through the Diocese of Washington Spring Break mission trips. 

 

St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Richmond, South Africa

Saint Peter's has a companion relationship with St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Richmond, South Africa.  While a number of parishioners have been to St. Matthew's on trips to South Africa, our relationship is changing as the parish as a whole takes over responsibility for the companion relations.  Previously it was a part of Hope in Richmond (now Hope in South Africa).  Since that ministry has grown and broadened it's reach, the parish is picking up the relationship for itself.  In the past we have helped St. Matthew's with structural repairs and worship materials.