Leading up to and during the Christmas season, St. Peter’s offers several special holiday outreach opportunities.
Salvation Army Teddy Bears: Once a year in November the people of St. Peter’s get to revisit their childhood and dress teddy bears provided by the Salavation Army as their fancy dictates. The bears are then returned for distribution to needy children.
Operation Christmas Child: This ministry brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. The children and youth of the parish fill, wrap and deliver shoeboxes each November to a local distribution hub.
Adopt a Family: During the Christmas season, the parish is provided with the wish-lists of a local family in need. We invite the family to a holiday dinner at the church. During the evening parishioners and the family share a simple meal, sing carols, decorate a tree, and all the children present work on a craft project together. Also during the evening the wrapped gifts are given to the parents to take home to enjoy on Christmas.
Mitten Tree: Throughout Advent and the Christmas season, parishioners are invited to bring new mittens, hats and scarves to decorate a Christmas tree set up in the back of the church. At Epiphany the items are donated to the Holy Trinity Food Pantry in West Orange for distribution.
Caroling: Members and friends of the parish visit a local nursing home and parish shut-ins singing Christmas carols and bringing holiday cheer.
