Outreach
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? (Baptismal covenant)
The Episcopal Church has designated St. Peter's as a Jubilee Ministry center based on our ministry of joint discipleship in Christ with poor and oppressed people, wherever they are found, to meet basic human needs and to build a just society.
On the second Sunday of the month, volunteers from St. Peter's go to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Camden from 7:30 AM to 9:30-9:45 AM to participate in their Sunday Breakfast ministry. They prepare and serve a hot breakfast to about 75 people, many of whom are homeless. Volunteers wash dishes, make pancakes, cook eggs, serve coffee, set tables, serve breakfast platters, and clean the tables and dishes. In addition to a group of dedicated adult volunteers, our J2A class of teens often volunteers.
St. Peter's has long been participating in the breakfast program of St. Paul's.
You may also help by preparing peanut butter & jelly sandwiches that our volunteers can take to St. Paul's.
If you would like to take part in this ministry, please contact our office for more info. Donations to purchase supplies are welcome.
We have an ongoing collection of non-perishable food and personal care items for the community pantry at the Christian Caring Center. You are always welcome to write a note of cheer to include with the donations, too.
We also hold shorter drives during the year, for items like special foods, gifts, or school supplies, which are distributed to local organizations such as Oaks Integrated Care.
*** Currently collecting backpacks and other school supplies to go to Oaks Integrated Care for distribution to families. .
St. Peter's has been helping to support Institut La Rédemption, or Redemption School, which is an Episcopal K-12 school located in Gonaives, Haiti, since 2014. Through the work of our International Outreach Team and the generous support of the parish, St. Peter's sends $2000 per year to Redemption School. Money that we have raised has gone towards building school benches for the students and paying teachers' salaries.
Since public education is not adequately funded, most Haitian children seeking an education must attend private and church schools. You can support Redemption School by purchasing Shop Rite or Acme gift cards after weekend services nearly every week, by participating in IOT's other fundraisers, and by joining our International Outreach Team. Donations for Redemption School are always welcome. Contact Deacon Helen if you would like to order a grocery gift card: dcnhelen@stpetersmedford.org
Our adopted children are Thiago in Brazil and Mario in Bolivia.
For many years, St. Peter's has sponsored children through Child Fund International, providing regular financial assistance and collecting donations for the children for their birthdays and Christmas. We pray for our adopted children every week in our services.
St. Peter’s has a long history of reaching out by welcoming community organizations to use our facilities. The following organizations make St. Peter’s their home away from home: the Medford-area MOM’s Club, a TOPS ("Take Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss group, both a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troop, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, and the Rutgers Summer Reading Program. We also provide rehearsal space to the Big Band Express, a well-known area jazz ensemble, and provide classroom space to an area art teacher.