Ministries

Parish Ministries

St. Peter's Church offers a variety of opportunities to serve within the church. These dedicated, active groups always welcome extra hands, minds, and hearts.

Altar Guild

There is a fascinating history to this work and a meaningful ritual. Our duties are simple and rewarding. We prepare the altar for communion using the silks, linens and vessels that have been donated to the church over the years. After the service, we wash and put away the communion ware. Dedicated members also serve by washing and ironing the linens and polishing the silver. Certain members assist by scheduling the volunteers for each month. In addition to preparing for the 8:30 and 10:30 Sunday services, we assist for weddings, funerals and additional services during Lent and special feast days.

To volunteer, contact Sharon Couch DeBonis or the St. Peter's Church office.

Christian Education

Please see the Christian Education page for more information on these ministries.

To volunteer as a Christian Education teacher or discussion leader, please contact Laura Saffares or the St. Peter's Church office.

Flower Guild

Our committee arranges flowers each week for the main altar and any others that have been subscribed to by our parishioners as memorials or celebrations. We purchase flowers early in the week, condition them, and usually arrange on Friday mornings at the church. During Advent and Lent we arrange greens only as a prelude to the upcoming Holy Days.

To volunteer for the Flower Guild, contact Susan Buse or the St. Peter's Church office.

Grief Support Group

St. Peter's grief support group meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Grief support groups can help people by providing emotional and spiritual support in a safe, caring and nonjudgmental environment. Members heal and reconcile their grief as they both receive support for themselves from other group members and give support to others. Our culture tends to avoid the work of mourning and expects people to just get over it quickly. In the group, you can feel free to mourn and be with others who are also grieving. Everyone's grief is unique but group members often share similar experiences.

The group will be facilitated by Judy Burns, MSW, LMSW. Judy has and continues to  facilitate a grief support group for widows at a local hospital for 5 years. For more information, contact Judy Burns or the St. Peter's Church office.

Lay eucharistic ministers

Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist the clergy in the administration of the Sacrament at Holy Communion.  Versatile as they are, LEM's are occasionally also called upon to perform the functions of Acolytes and Lay Readers, when none of our regular Acolytes or Readers are available. 

Many of our Lay Eucharistic Ministers also serve as Lay Eucharistic Visitors, taking the Reserved Sacrament to parishioners who, for various reasons, are prevented from joining our worship on Sunday morning.  Our dedicated LEV's travel to parishioners' homes and to the local hospitals making sure that every parishioner is included in the Sacraments and worship of our church.   

Anyone who is interested in serving as a Lay Eucharistic Minister or a Lay Eucharistic Visitor can feel free to contact Fr. Hartt in person at the St. Peter's Church office or by e-mail.

Lectors

Lectors fulfill an important role in the worship service by reading the lessons, or scripture passages, from the lectern.

To volunteer to be a lector, please contact the St. Peter's Church office.

Usher Guild

Our ushers make our first impression. They meet and greet people of our community, visitors to the Albany area and the members of our parish family. They are the first persons to show warmth and to offer a sincere welcome to our historic Saint Peter's Episcopal Church.

To volunteer for the Usher Guild, please contact Fred Buse or the St. Peter's Church office.