St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Christ Church, East Orange SOUP KITCHEN

As we work to develop a relationship with Christ Church in East Orange, St. Peter's has answered the call to assist them with their soup kitchen ministry. Serving lunch each Saturday for approximately thirty-five people, Christ Church has recently seen a dramatic increase in the number of hungry people in need of a meal to as many as fifty people.

St. Peter's has or will prepare and serve lunch at Christ Church on October 24th, 2009 and on February 27th and May 15th in 2010 (all second Saturdays of those months).

If you are interested in helping with this new ministry, please call Stephanie Wethered at 973-226-6500.

Christmas Gifts and Easter Baskets

Christmas and Easter are important to all of us and we are committed to reaching out to children in need on these special days.

St. Peter's Church is committed to making Christmas brighter for children who do not have the family or the support of a loved one who is able to provide gifts during the holidays. We are working with the staffs of Family Intervention Services' Kid Connection program (whose children are some of the toughest cases involved with DYFS) and PATCH (a program that provides support services to children whose parents are incarcerated) to ensure these kids receive a gift this holiday season. In 2008 St. Peter's collected 350 gifts at Christmas.

24 Easter baskets will be needed for children at the Therapeutic Learning Center.

Birthday Presents for Jesus

A ST. PETER'S TRADITION
Each year children are invited to give a birthday present to Jesus at the 4:00 Christmas Eve service. These gifts will be given throughout the year for birthdays of the girls and boys (ages 3-5 years old and mostly boys!) at Youth Consultation Services' Therapeutic Learning Center. Gifts will be presented by the children of St. Peter's during the Offertory, and SHOULD BE UNWRAPPED (to better facilitate processing by case workers). If you have any questions about the Therapeutic Learning Center, please feel free to contact Christine DiGiovanni at (973) 618-9345. Thanks to all for participating in this meaningful recognition of the birth of our Lord!

Good Shepherd Home

The Good Shepherd Home is located in Cameroon, West Africa. We join with other area churches to provide financial support for the approximately 65 orphans at the Home that is run by the Benedictine Sisters of Bethany. Members of Saint Peter's are working to raise funds to build a much needed secondary school for the children. During Lent the church school children will be raising money to buy a farm animal for the Home. $30 per month will feed, clothe and educate one child at the Good Shepherd Home. Thirty-six new sponsorships are needed.

To learn more about the Good Shepherd Home and to print a chid sponsorship form click here

Contact Liz Irwin

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity - Twice a year members of Saint Peter's Church work alongside new owners constructing their homes in Newark. One example of the work involved in this ministry is a trip
to the Central Ward to paint and put aluminum siding on several homes. A great sense of accomplishment is derived from bringing homes closer to completion. You don't have to wait for the next outing to participate. You can help out anytime. Next dates are April 4 and May 2.

To learn more click here.

Contact: Tim Cutting

Christine's Kitchen

Christine's Kitchen is located at Holy Trinity Church in West Orange. St. Peter's serves between 75 and 100 meals four Saturdays a year between Noon and 1:00 pm . Various volunteer activities include: donating paper goods, preparing food, shopping for food as well as serving the meal and cleaning up. Our dates for 2009-2010 are December 5, March 20th, Jne 19th, October 30th and December 4th.

Contact: Alan and Helen Pulitano

Call church office at 226-6500

St. Paul's Shelter

Located in Paterson St. Paul's Shelter provides night time shelter and programs for up to 45 men. Saint Peter's provides and serves supper on the first Monday of the month September through June. The men at St. Paul's are very appreciative. Cooks and drivers are always needed. Sign up in the upper room after Church.

To learn more click here.

Contact: Jill McClain

Apostle's House

Apostle's House is located in Newark and provides shelter for families. Saint Peter's collects back to school supplies for the children at Apostle's House during August and at our Vacation Bible School. Each child receives a new backpack donated by the Episcopal Church Women group filled with the school supplies at the beginning of September.

To learn more click here.

Contact: Tamara Bross and Lauren Evers

Addtional ministries actively supported by St. Peter's include: Multi Faith Food Drive, Thanksgiving Food Baskets, Weekly food donations for the food pantry, Halloween Costume Drive, Crossroads Camp Scholarships, Prison Ministries Camperships, Belleville Care Closet, North Porch, Afghan and Knitting ministries.

David St. George Outreach Endowment Fund

If you would like to apply for a grant for your organization. please download the attached forms and submit your application by September 22, 2009.

Application for funding (Word document)
Instructions (Word document)

GRANTS $30,000 IN 2008

Initiated by previous rector, David St. George, this Endowment Fund provides financial support to various local and diocesan charities active in outreach ministry.

In early summer, we send grant applications to a number of organizations as well as post the application on our website. Information about an organization's mission, financial reports showing both income and expenses, a budget for the coming year, and details of how a grant would be used are all part of the application process.

A committee of caring parishioners reviews the grant requests in the fall, and decides how to allocate available funds. Special thanks to: Gert Behrle, Wayne Copeland, Tim Cutting Sr., Sharon Ellis, Renee Himes, Fred Jenkins, Dana Leach and Jill McClain, who all graciously donated their time and prayerful consideration of the many applications received this year.

If you would like to learn more about the David St. George Outreach Endowment Fund and are interested in participating in this ministry, please call Liz Irwin at (973)228-7591.

This year's grant recipients are listed below:

APOSTLE'S HOUSE - $3,000 grant to provide emergency shelter and accompanying services to 200 women and children.

CALDWELL HUMAN SERVICES - $3,500 grant to provide emergency assistance to residents of Caldwell, Essex Fells and West Caldwell.

CEDAR HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (St. John's Episcopal Church in Boonton) - $2,500 grant to be used for training staff for academic support, increase number of laptops in computer lab, and help fund cultural and performing arts program in after-school program for low-income children in Boonton.

CHRISTINE'S KITCHEN (Holy Trinity - West Orange) - $1,000 grant to assist in funding operation of soup kitchen ministry.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - $3,000 grant to provide assistance with home building program for low-income families in Newark.

HAVEN OF HOPE FOR KIDS - $3,000 grant to help provide food and sundries for guest families (Haven of Hope conducts six-day retreats for families with children suffering from life threatening illness, families who have suffered the loss of a child, and for healthcare professionals caring for such children).

JUBILEE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Christ Church - Belleville Soup Kitchen) - $3,000 grant to help fund supplies needed to run soup kitchen operation.

NORTH PORCH - $3,250 grant to assist in funding newly opened (4th) North Porch Center in Clifton (North Porch Centers provide seven-day emergency supplies of formula, baby food, diapers, clothing and bed linens for needy mothers and infants).

ST. PAUL'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (St. Paul's Shelter) - $2,000 grant to support operations of emergency men's shelter.

ST. PETER'S RECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND - $500 grant to be used at Rector's discretion for outreach ministry.

TONI'S KITCHEN (St. Luke's - Montclair Soup Kitchen) - $3,000 grant to assist in meeting operating expenses associated with their soup kitchen ministry.

YOUTH CONSULTATION SERVICES' THERAPEUTIC LEARNING CENTER - $2,250 grant to purchase therapeutic supplies for classrooms, resource room and play area, and to assist in funding a cultural arts outing for the children.