Ministry of Hospitality
Hospitality- the friendly and generous treatment of guests or strangers”. I think we all agree that hospitality is one of God’s spiritual gifts and part of Christ’s Commission or mandate to His Church. Moving beyond one’s instinct of being kindly or compassionate towards others, Hospitality welcomes, nurtures, supports both friend and stranger, parishioner and guests to our community of faith. It forms an active, shared ministry with different components. One might think of HOSPITALITY as an umbrella with different ribs forming its frame or a pizza with different ingredients. Saint Paul talked about this in his so-called “body language” in his First Letter to the Corinthians 12 (i.e. “foot”, “hand”, “eye”, and “ear”.)
People say that Saint Peter’s Church is a friendly, welcoming place that extends the ministry
of hospitality. Thus, it is important to review, renew and enhance this charismatic gift amongst ourselves right now as we consider our stewardship pledges for 2008 “Opportunities for Ministry”--our time and talent. Here are the ingredients or components of hospitality at Saint Peter’s. We seek your ideas and participation in these avenues of special service here.
Welcoming Newcomers – we are looking for volunteers to become callers on newcomers to our parish, providing a simple telephone welcome call or presenting a small “hello gift” at that person’s door. As we receive inquiries or visitors, we plan each year a parish newcomers’ Welcome Dinner potluck supper, hosted by a Hospitality Committee (now being re-formed) and the Vestry with personal invitations issued to our newcomers. Anyone, in fact, is welcome to attend this festive fellowship meal. We need volunteers to plan and serve this event and to plan a date. Let us know if you are interested.
Social Dinner Groups- are continuing within the parish on a b-monthly basis, involving groups
of 8-10 people gathering in different homes) Again, a potluck). If you would like more information about these friendly gatherings or would like as an individual or couple to join such a group, please let us know soon!
Fellowship Circle- (Formerly know as “coffee hours”) following Sunday morning worship after the 10 o’clock service. We need volunteers on a scheduled basis from September through June to set-up, serve and clean-up. Please offer to take one or two of these fellowship times only once a year! If not, could you offer some refreshments on a given Sunday now and then on a scheduled basis. That would help a lot.
Event Receptions- a small dedicated group of parishioners are willing to provide refreshments and receptions to families following a baptism or a funeral service at Saint Peter’s. We need additional volunteers to help provide this pastoral hospitality right now.
Sunday Flower Delivery – we are seeking individuals, couples or families to start Sunday, March 30th to distribute altar flowers to named individuals or families. We need to find delivery volunteers to be schedules for 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th or 5th Sunday in any given month. This is an important, quiet ministry that reaches out on behalf of the entire congregation to bring good cheer to persons in need. Consider this work as part of your pledge to St. Peter’s this year and let us know if you are interested!
Parish Brunches are held in the parish hall once a month. The next one is Sunday, March 2nd (St.
David’s Day—Lent 4—“Laetare” or Refreshment Sunday when in the old days people were allowed to relax their fasting just a bit). Will you volunteer to help serve or provide “delectables” for this brunch or sometime soon? Call the parish office.
Parish Drivers presently we have only one or two individuals who are willing, as part of their service, to drive individuals to doctor’s appointments, therapy or shopping. Would you consider this very part-time, once-in-a-while ministry?
Providing Meals to Parishioners again this is an occasional service of hospitality. We would like
to generate a small list of person who would be willing to provide sustenance for someone alone or newly returned from the hospital etc...
Please contact the church office if you would like to help with any aspect of our hospitality ministry.
|
|
Habitat for Humanity
The Mission of Habitat for Humanity is to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world by working in partnership with people in need to create simple decent homes in decent neighborhoods where people can flourish and grow into all that intends for them.
This congregation will help further that Mission by:
- Praying for Habitat for Humanity - especially the volunteers and the new homeowners
- Helping with volunteer work crews, locally and possibly in other parts of the world.
- Contributing financially to the work of Habitat for Humanity.
- Making issues of poverty and inadequate housing matters of conscience, both
locally and throughout the world.
- Explore other ways that we might address these issues in our daily lives.
For further information on Habitat for Humanity call locally 508-775-3559
or visit their web site. Habitat for Humanity is supported, in part, by St. Peter's Outreach Committee
Overnights of Hospitality
What is the Overnights of Hospitality program? It is a program in which local churches or synagogues open their doors to a small group of homeless people who need a warm, safe place to sleep, and was created in 1992. St. Peter's gift involved in the winter of 2003. Our guests are very carefully screened and there has never been a problem with any guests at any of the overnight facilities on the Cape. Here's what we need:
- Transportation: someone with a van or large vehicle that can hold up to 6 or 7 people to pick up our guests at the Salvation Army at 6:30 PM on Monday night and someone to transport them back to the Salvation Army the next
morning around 6:30 or 7 AM.
- Chaperones: Need 2 each night.
- Food: Supply snacks, fresh fruit and vegetables for the evening along with muffins, doughnuts and juice for the morning.
- Laundry: Someone to wash the bedding after the overnight and return it to the church before our next overnight.
There will be a sign up sheet at the church or you can call the church office (508-428-3561) to volunteer your time, your linens and/or your money for this wonderful outreach opportunity. Please feel free to visit us on our scheduled nights and meet our guests - your lives will be changed, transformed and blessed, I promise!
Any of our church youth are invited to share in any part of this ministry- supplying food, videos, games, time etc. All are welcome!
Our group of volunteers is growing and your help is always appreciated. We have re-organized the supplies closet and have the maximum amount of mattresses, sheets, quilts, comforters and pillows that we can store- for now. If you would like to donate something, please consider volunteering your time or donate some food items like hot chocolate, oatmeal, crackers or other food items that can be stored for a while. We do have volunteers that provide food each night and morning but it can get expensive for the person who volunteers to do so. Or pick one of our nights, make a casserole or other dish for that night or the next morning and drop it off that day- it is always appreciated. As always, thanks again and bless you all!
|
