Ministries at St. Peter's

Altar Guild
We are diverse group of ladies (and men, if they would like to join) who love serving St. Peter's. How do we do this? By attending to the altar needs and making the altar area ready for worship and the celebrating of Holy Communion. Every Altar Guilder serves at least eight times during the year. Some like to serve only during the summer months, and others really like to serve during the holidays, when the chancel (the part of the church where you will find the altar) is decked out in all its glory. Others choose to come to the church during the week to take care of behind-the-scenes chores such as vacuuming, filling candles with oil, and preparing supplies for Sunday, and still others invest their time starching and ironing all of the altar linens. There is something for everyone to do!

Serving on the Altar Guild is not really that difficult, and, while it is an investment of time, it really doesn't take that long. We are responsible for dressing the altar for the 10:00 service, and we clean up afterward (which usually takes about 30 minutes). Other opportunities to serve include the Thursday morning Eucharist, and occasional weddings and funerals.

Membership in the Altar Guild is open to men or women of any age.

Acolytes
How does one first become active in the life of a parish community? Often it is through serving at the altar, illuminating the Gospel through torches, holding the Gospel book, and leading the choir and clergy in the procession and recession, beginning and ending our worship as a community. For those interested in serving during the 10 a.m. service, this ministry begins when entering the first grade.

If you have any questions or interest, please contact Fr. Russ Johnson at russ.johnson@stpetersepiscopal.net

Bible Studies
Whether you're a mature, lifelong Christian, or a new seeker, study of God's Scripture will help you grow! St. Peter's offers many opportunities to study the Bible, through traditional Bible study, book studies, even an online Bible study forum!

Adult Bible Studies
When: Tuesdays 2 p.m.- 3 p.m.

Where: St. Peter's, in the parlor

Currently studying: Psalms

Leader: Deacon Linda Yeager

Couples Bible Studies
When: 1st and 3rd Thursdays,
7 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Where: St. Peter's, in the parlor

Currently studying: The Revelation to John

Leader: Fr. Russ

Bible Studies are held in the parlor at St. Peter's

Building & Grounds
Maintenance of the building and grounds of St. Peter’s parish church is partially accomplished by a group of volunteers. Twice a year, prior to Advent and Easter, these volunteers join the Altar Guild to ready the church for the season. Parishioners also perform minor maintenance, such as changing light bulbs, raking leaves, trimming bushes and trees, washing windows and general cleaning. All hands are welcome.

Fellowship
Please check back later for more information.

Gardening Angels
Gardening Angels are volunteers who care for the flower beds surrounding the church, creating a welcoming environment for all who visit. They plant, weed and water as needed, caring for one or more flower beds during the growing season. All hands are welcome, even if they don’t have green thumbs!

Hospitality, Greeter & Ushers
Please check back later for more information.

Lay Eucharist Ministers, Readers & Intercessors
Please check back later for more information.

Membership
Please check back later for more information.

"Praise the Lord! Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" - Psalm 150

Music
We have a vibrant music ministry at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, with a wide variety of opportunities to share your musical gifts in praise and thanksgiving.

Chancel Choir: This mixed chorus sings at our 10 a.m. Sunday Eucharist from September through June, and provides special music for holiday services such as Easter and Christmas. The chancel choir is open to singers from age 16-116! We rehearse every Wednesday evening from 6:30-8 p.m., September through June. Previous choral singing experience is encouraged, but not necessary, and basic music reading ability is helpful.

Handbell Choir: Rehearses every Sunday after church, from 11:15 a.m.-noon, for three weeks, then performs the following week, every other month September through June. Ages 16-116, and all levels of experience are welcomed!

Children's Choir: Open to ages 5-16, this choir gives our young people an opportunity to share their musical gifts, learn more about music and choral singing, and have fun! They rehearse every Sunday after church, from 11:15 a.m.-noon, for three weeks, then perform the following week, every other month September through June, and at special holiday services.

Order of St. Luke - Healing Ministry
The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical ministry of Christian healing. The OSL has member chapters throughout the United States and Canada and works with affiliate chapters around the world.

The St. Peter's Episcopal Church Chapter of the OSL was begun in 2001 and now has 15 members. Our Chaplain is the Rev. Robert Murphy. The Convener (point of contact) of our Chapter of the OSL is Michael Davis, who may be contacted at mdavis@stpetersepiscopal.net or (816) 516-4801.

Order of St. Luke: We Believe in Healing Prayer An excerpt from an article by Derek Prince:
Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. NIV

One of the things that blesses me about the Bible is its profound simplicity. It comes out with the most profound statements in the simplest and shortest words. What interests me as I glance at that verse that I’ve just presented to you, is that there is not a single word in it of more than one syllable. “O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” And yet in those simple words of one syllable what tremendous truth is expressed.

I wonder if you realize that God is the healer of His people? In the second book of the Bible, Exodus, He says, ”I am the LORD that healeth thee”: I am the Lord, your doctor. And in the New Testament in the epistle of James, James writes, “Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, let them anoint him with oil and pray over him. The prayer of faith shall save the sick.” Are you carrying around some sickness, some physical oppression, some burden that the Lord would gladly relieve you of? Have you thought about calling to the Lord? Consider the simplicity of those words: “I called to you for help and you healed me.”

May I recommend that to you? May I say that I thank God for doctors and nurses and all who help the sick and infirm. But the ultimate healer is God. Why not take your case to Him? I’ve done it many times and He’s healed me. I believe He’ll do it for you. - Derek Prince

Do you believe that God can heal you? We, the members of the Order of St. Luke believe in the healing power of prayer. One or more of our members is in the side chapel during communion and available to pray with and for you. Please come and pray.

Outreach
St. Peter’s Outreach committee works year round to coordinate our Outreach activities. The good people of St. Peter’s support the efforts of the Outreach committee and so in reality, the parish is the "Outreach Committee".

Food Pantry: Monthly from January through September we help support the food pantry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in KCMO and the food pantry of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in conjunction with the Community Action Council. We accomplish this by rotating on a monthly basis the pantries we will support that month and we list the items needed monthly in our Epistle and our parish members bring in items that are needed from canned goods to diapers. We also regularly receive cash donations from some parish members which allow us to supplement the items we receive by going shopping for additional items.

Feed the Pig: Starting in October we begin our “Feed the Pig” campaign to help buy hams for St. Mary’s Episcopal Church to provide for those individuals who need their help. Parish members will drop cash or checks into our “piggie” jar and this helps the Outreach Committee financially afford to buy the hams. Occasionally we will have enough cash on hand to help Christ the King Catholic church on Wornall Road by supplying a few hams for their Christmas needs.

Thanks Sacks: As October winds down and we start moving to November we will put out "Thanks Sacks" for parish members to pick up. These sacks have a list of items needed on the outside of the sack and parish members will buy the items, place them in the sacks and return them to church. Shortly before Thanksgiving several of the committee members will deliver the sacks to St. Mary’s while HyVee delivers the hams we purchased for St. Mary’s. As an example, in 2011 we delivered 92 sacks of groceries and purchased 90 hams to help the clients of St. Mary’s.

Wish Tree: Before Thanksgiving is over the committee has put up a "Wish Tree" full of items to buy for Christmas to help the Guadalupe Center in Kansas City. The committee will usually adopt four or five families from the center and then when the tags are made and placed on the tree, parish members take the tags and buy the gift listed, wrap it, and return it to church for delivery to Guadalupe Center in plenty of time for Christmas.

Kansas City Rescue Mission: Our Outreach efforts don’t end there. We have a committee member who works directly with the Kansas City Rescue Mission and through the year toiletry items and backpacks will be gathered for those in need at the mission. Another member of the committee coordinates knitters and winter hats will be knitted and taken to the Kansas City Rescue Mission. In 2011 at least 150 hats were knitted and delivered. St. Peter’s also makes occasional donations to the Episcopal Community Services Kitchen to help feed their clients. As the need arises other items or donations are made such as gathering clothing and household goods for the people of Joplin after the May 22nd tornado. The diocese of West Missouri held 2 no-charge garage sales to assist those in Joplin and the wonderful people of St. Peter’s stepped up and donated 4 carloads of items to be taken to Joplin for each event.

Backsnacks: Ted Bell, an Outreach Committee member is heading up a “Backsnack” program. During the school year Harvesters provides backpacks and bags of food items to be placed in the packs and taken to students in need at a local school. This year Ted and his volunteers pick up the empty backpacks, fill them with the Harvesters items and usually another little treat or so that is provided by various donations from the parish members, and then the backpacks are delivered on Friday to the school. This is a weekly event throughout the school year. This year the school we are working with has 45 students that receive the backpack. It is an excellent way to ensure there are some nutritious items for the students over the weekend that otherwise might not be available to them.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church: St. Peter’s also has a group of parish members who volunteer their time on at least one Saturday a month at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Kansas. They will either help with the free breakfast that is served there or they will assist in the food pantry helping stock and hand out items as needed.

As stated previously, the people St. Peter’s really make our Outreach efforts possible due to their loving generosity. It just takes a few bodies that we consider the formal committee to coordinate the efforts. As a member of the committee, we see first hand what the combined efforts of the parish can accomplish on a regular basis. One need only to serve on the Outreach Committee to see Christ’s love at work through the people of St. Peter’s.

Small Groups
Sometimes sitting in a large church full of hundreds of people you don't know can be a little intimidating and overwhelming. We offer a variety of chances to get to know some of your fellow parishioners better and meeting folks with similar interests.

Dinners for Eight: Sign up for this small group, and you will be placed in a group of 7-9 people, a mix of couples and singles, men and women, young and old. Everyone in your group will take turns hosting a potluck dinner at their home - the host provides the main dish, and the others in the group provide side dishes, salads, bread, dessert, drinks, etc. A few times a year, the groups are reassigned to provide the opportunity to get to know even more people. Please contact the church office at (816) 942-1066 to be placed in a group.

Stewardship
St. Peter's vestry has elected to use the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to encourage biblical and spiritual principles of giving for our stewardship program. Our hope is to help you grow spiritually in your relationship with God by supporting our church's mission and ministry with a percentage of your income. The New Consecration Sunday has been adopted because it is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to recieve. It is our belive that as followers of Jesus Christ we are called to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship.

Stewardship