Outreach and World Missions
The outreach committee has the enviable job of working with the numerous projects and missions that St. Peter’s supports outside the church itself. Help for various organizations is provided not only financially but more importantly through the many volunteers who give generously of their time and talents by serving on the boards of these groups, by coordinating activities and by putting in many man hours.
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Organizations Served
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Habitat for Humanity
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Jail Ministry
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Neighbors Concerned
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Hospice of the Highland Rim
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Boys’ and Girls’ Club
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Family Center
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Kids Fighting Aids
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Litoral companion parish (Ecuador)
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The Peoples’ Table
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Episcopal Relief and Development
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| Columbia Cares |
Columbia Counseling Ministries |
| Hope House |
Pregnancy Center of Columbia |
Fellowship
Fellowship and mutual care are very important aspects of our common life at St. Peter’s. Members, visitors, and friends find many ways to come together. Here are just a few of them.
A special annual event is the Whitsunday Pilgrimage, when the church family gathers for Pentecost at St. John’s, Ashwood. Attendees participate in worship, picnic on the grounds, and enjoy a refreshing respite in this simple, peaceful, and holy place.
Another yearly highlight is the Pig Roast, including hay rides and savory barbeque with all the trimmings, at the farm of a long-time church member. This event occurs each fall.
Other opportunities for fellowship include:
- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
- Weekly Lenten dinners and programs
- Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
- Children’s Halloween Party
- Construction of Family Advent Wreaths
- Birthday Party for Jesus
- Monthly Friendship Dinners
For members and friends of the parish who are ill, hospitalized, or need special assistance, pastoral visits and care may be obtained by contacting the church office.
Evangelism
We desire at St. Peter’s to assist spiritual seekers asking life-changing questions; those desiring to know more about Jesus and the Christian faith; as well as those searching for a new church home.
The Evangelism Commission brings together all of the ministries at St. Peter’s involved in inviting and welcoming our visitors. This includes greeters and ushers as well as those involved in our Inquirers’ Class and Alpha Course.
Alpha
The Alpha Course is offered at least once per year at St. Peter’s. It is a 10 week course which gives attendees an opportunity to explore—in a relaxed, friendly setting—the most common spiritual questions asked by people in our day and time. For more information please go to www.alphausa.org
The Episcopal Church Women
The Episcopal Church Women, who meet monthly at the church or a member’s home, hold an annual bake sale to help provide funding for the EYC, The Peoples’ Table, and Kids Fighting Aids. The group also makes blankets for the nursery at our regional hospital and fills many shoeboxes for the Good Samaritans’ Christmas project.
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Flower Guild
The Flower Guild arranges greenery and flowers for each of our worship services.
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LEM
A group of Lay Eucharistic ministers is licensed to meet the needs of parish shut-ins. These ministers take the Holy Sacrament to those who are unable to attend services at the church.
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Christian Education
Sunday School for Young People
St. Peter’s uses three curricula in its Christian Education program for young people: Godly Play for preschool through fourth grade; the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum for middle school; and a catechism-based curriculum for high school youth.
Sunday School for Adults
Adults currently have a choice of two different classes on Sunday mornings. The Café Class studies topics related to Christian spirituality and practical discipleship. Topics can vary from week to week or season to season depending on the needs and interests of the class. The Library Class is more “academic” in nature and studies books or undertakes multi-week courses.
Other Opportunities for Adults
Mid-week, congregation-wide programs are offered in the fall of the year as well as during Lent. Also a Women’s Bible Study meets regularly for Beth Moore studies or other classes of interest to the ladies in our congregation.TOP
Daughters of the King
The Holy Comforter Chapter of The Daughters of the King was reinstated at St. Peter’s in 2004 and now has 29 members, ranging in age from their late twenties to their middle seventies. The group provides food for funeral visitation, serves annually as hosts for a Lenten supper, provides worship bags for children during church services. The group sent prayer books and Bibles to a parish in Mississippi following Katrina and recently collected faith-based books to restock the library of a church in the diocese. However, the group considers prayer as its most important ministry. Through the sending of prayer grams and maintaining a daily special needs prayer list, the members strive to follow the example set by our Lord. Some of the most important prayers are for our youth as they attend the St. Michael’s Conference in Michigan each year. Each youth is adopted by one or more members of the DOK and prayed for individually during the week.
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Altar Guild
The altar guild of St. Peter’s is comprised of 16 members and a directress who take great pride in their ministry by keeping the altar beautifully attired, the brass and silver spotless and gleaming, the woodwork oiled and polished, and the linens and vestments cleaned and ironed. “The altar guild members of our beautiful church enjoy working together to achieve an aura of beauty and holiness.”
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Choir
Currently St. Peter’s has 16 choir members ranging in age from nine years to "undisclosed." The group’s choirmaster is a former United States Army Chorus soloist. The choir, whose repertoire ranges from classical music to spirituals, is blessed to be accompanied by a very gifted organist.
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Youth
Youth are a cherished part of St. Peter's. Parish-wide committees and programs include youth representation. Our young people are active in fun activities such as youth group, canoeing, swim parties, and lock-ins. They show their desire for deepening discipleship through their eagerness to participate in worship, education, and community service.