Education

Faith Formation is a lifelong process.

Join us at St. Peter’s as we grow in faith together through community, worship, prayer, service, and education.

Educational offerings are provided for all ages on Sunday mornings (except during the summer months) between services.

ADULT OFFERINGS

PathFinders

The adult Sunday School of St. Peter’s adopted the group name “Pathfinders” several years ago in a robust debate ending in a democratic vote. This should tell you a lot about our parish culture. Meeting between our 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday church services, our programming has alternated between ordained rector and deacon-led one to two month units to laity-led units of the same length. 

In response to a call from our congregation for Pathfinders to spend more time in Bible study, our current unit uses a curriculum from The Bible Project and is leading us in an in-depth analysis of this important document. Previous units included The Way of Love curriculum from our national Episcopal Church website and a study of Paul’s missionary journeys. Our approach relegates religious dogma to probing questions and study as we all travel The Episcopal Way at our own pace and in our own way. If our Pathfinders group appeals to you, we invite you to attend St. Peter’s this Sunday and sample a loving and supportive culture respectful of your beliefs beneath the Cross of Jesus.

Small Groups

St. Peter’s has long recognized the foundation of Holy Scripture as a key element in building Christian character. Our small group offerings include a helpful study of scripture. In addition, a variety of topics, both religious and cultural, provide a forum for the sharing of different views and understandings on how God influences our life’s work, and the relationships we are called to nurture.

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Over the course of a year St. Peter’s has been blessed by the leadership of both lay and clergy in presenting small group studies of the Book of Common Prayer; a theological discussion of Danielle Shroyer’s, Original Blessing; an overview of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament); and classes focused on preparing new and long term members for Confirmation and the Renewal of Baptismal Vows.

One of St. Peter’s greatest gifts is our diversity - generationally, politically, culturally, and theologically. It is also true, that, like so many of our Episcopal Churches, those characteristics also come with challenges as well as opportunities. Scheduling times for our forums that accommodate the busyness of our lives has been challenging.

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Yet, we remain committed to our mission as people of God. Holy Scripture, and its preeminent place in the development of our Christian character, is unwavering. Our Small Group offerings will continue to play an important part in that unwavering truth.

CHILDREN & FAMILY OFFERINGS

During the year, St Peter’s offers children, youth, & their families a variety of worship, learning, & outreach opportunities. Most are described here, but for more info, see our church website calendar, Facebook page or contact cindygutowski@gmail.com to receive a weekly group text for news & reminders of upcoming events for kids & their families.

Our mission at St. Peter’s is “to be a welcoming community to all ages - embodying God’s word & sacraments, inviting spiritual curiosity, celebrating children & youth, and embracing the world with God’s Love”. We strive to nourish the mission for our children with worship, Sunday school, small group, family & intergenerational learning experiences, diocese youth programming, and outreach projects. While we recognize Christian Formation is a life-long endeavor, we feel no child is too young, too small, or too inexperienced to be part of St. Peter’s community.

Worship

Children are always welcome to worship at all services. There is a Children’s Resource Center just inside the north transept of the sanctuary with liturgical activity sheets, and a variety of books for children to enjoy during services.

A Family Service, specifically designed for children & youth, but open to all, is held the last Sunday of every month at the 10:30am service. The children & youth are involved as greeters, acolytes, and readers. A lively intergenerational lunch is held after the service.

TruthWalkers

TruthWalkers is our Sunday school class welcoming all children on Sunday morning between services from 9:15-10:15am. As our way to “inspire spiritual curiosity”, this class uses the Godly Play curriculum, a unique & highly acclaimed approach to religious education for all ages. Each week during the school year, the group explores the language of God & God’s people through Godly Play’s sacred stories, liturgical lessons, parables, and wondering questions.

Family & Intergenerational Events

St. Peter’s offers a variety of annual events for all to enjoy. Among these are: Trunk or Treat … Worship in the Park … Blessing of the Pets … Advent crafts … Christmas Eve Pageant & Family Service … Chalking of the Doors … Family Ash Wednesday & Lenten activities … Palm Sunday procession … Maundy Thursday Footwashing … Family Good Friday Service … Easter Breakfast & Egg Hunt … Pentecost Celebration … Engage Cafe congregational meal (Wednesday nights during the school year) … Monthly Summer Engage Cafe with intergenerational activities, and much more! (See our parish website or Facebook page)

DaySpring (Diocese of SW FL) Summer Camp

This summer, elementary and high schoolers went to our diocesan summer camp, DaySpring, with parish scholarship funds. They returned with glowing reports and have inspired others to go next summer. Our scholarship committee is excited to continue offering camp scholarships to interested participants. 

Outreach Projects Kids & Family Involvement



St. Peter’s has a vibrant outreach ministry. Our kids & families are actively involved in many of them.

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• Angel Tree - provide Christmas gifts for kids on the Angel Tree program
• Back to school supplies for local schools
• Laundry Love - children-driven fundraiser that provides laundry funds to underprivileged in our area
• Packing Thanksgiving baskets for needy families in local schools
• Hand-made seasonal cards for shut-ins & those on prayer list (children-driven)
• Friends in the Park - making emergency bags for the homeless (children-driven)
• Collection of pet supplies for pet placement/adoption group
• PC’s Last Friday Downtown event - participation in St. Peter’s community face-painting booth