Our ministries and programs are a vital part of our mission
at Middleham and St. Peter's Parish.
The Newcomers Hospitality Committee meets regularly to discuss ways the parish can welcome visitors and involve them in our church family. The committee also organizes parish wide fellowship events.
Holy Eucharist, Rite II according to the Book of Common Prayer is celebrated each week. The three Sunday services differ in style. St. Peter's Chapel located on Solomons Island and Middleham Chapel located on H. G. Trueman Road, Lusby are the more traditional services. The worship service in the Great Hall is somewhat informal with a mixture of traditional and contemporary music. Volunteers are involved in each service as greeters, lay chalicists, readers, and coffee hour hosts. Each Wednesday morning a service of Holy Eucharist with the laying on of hands is held at St. Peter's Chapel. The Parish Hall is home to a Tracker Action Nyack pipe organ, Middleham Chapel has an Allen electronic organ, and St. Peter's has a two manual Wickes pipe organ.
Choir — The choir is open to all ages and voices. They practice once a week and sing in rotation at Sunday services. Everyone is welcome and no audition is necessary.
Acolytes — Youths age 9 or older may volunteer to be an acolyte. Acolytes serve or assist the priest conducting the service. They are trained to serve at both chapels and the Great Hall for Sunday services and other special services throughout the year.
Altar Guild — Anyone may be a member of the altar guild. Members prepare the worship spaces for all services by arranging flowers, cleaning the materials for the Eucharist, tidying up the chapels, filling the liquid candles and listing hymns.
Lay Chalicists — Lay chalicists assist the rector during the Sunday services and special services throughout the year. Responsibilities include serving the chalice during the Eucharist, reading the Epistle, leading the Psalm and conducting the prayers of the people. They also lead Morning Prayer in the chapels when requested by the clergy. Training is provided.
Lay Readers — A lay reader is the person who is assigned to read the first lesson on Sunday during the Eucharist at one of the three worship services.
The Stewardship Committee is dedicated to raising the awareness of the need for good stewardship of God's gifts including time, talent and treasure. An annual stewardship campaign is conducted as well as other means of promoting giving such as the Ministry Fair which seeks to provide information about and support for the wonderful ministries we pursue at Middleham and St. Peter's.
Prayer Chain — An email-based prayer chain is maintained by the Parish Health Ministries. Names are kept on this prayer chain for 30 days or less. The Prayer Chain is a group of people within the parish who devote time each day to pray for those on our prayer list. Anyone who wishes to give a name of someone to be remembered in prayer should contact the parish office (410-326-4948).
Parish Nursing — This ministry is a specialized practice of professional medical personnel within the parish that facilitates holistic health in the church and responds to the needs of the church family. The committee focuses on the spiritual, emotional and physical dimensions of the parishioners. In conjunction with the clergy, Parish Nursing seeks to help the congregation re-discover and reclaim the Christian role in health and well-being.
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) —The ECW meets every other month on the second Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. In addition to providing a place for fellowship and learning, the ECW supports the parish through fundraisers and provides hospitality for parish gatherings and funeral receptions. They coordinate the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, and Mayfest, an annual indoor yard sale held on Mother's Day weekend.
The Order of the Daughters of the King — This ministry is open to adult women, who commit themselves to a life of prayer, service, study and evangelism. The group organizes Parish Quiet Days and meets regularly throughout the year.
Holy Clippers —The Holy Clippers are volunteer parishioners who meet every other Wednesday during the grass cutting season to maintain the grounds at the Lusby campus: Middleham Chapel, the Parish Hall and the Cemetery. Anyone is welcome to "come when you can, leave when you must."
Planned Giving & Endowment —Through planned giving, Middleham and St. Peter's provides the opportunity for parishioners to ensure the continuation of our mission and ministry in the community and world well into the future.
The following have been established to support and encourage planned giving at Middleham and St. Peter’s:
- The Endowment Fund – enables donors to give gifts which will allow the Parish to provide for the long term care and capital improvement of its infrastructure, especially its two historic chapels, and more completely develop ministries beyond what is possible through annual operating funds. The fund is prudently and responsibly managed in order to assure present and future donors that their gifts will be administered according to their wishes. Each year, the endowment makes available up to 5% of the value of the Endowment (typically $15,000 or more) to support the ongoing work of our parish. A part of this is made available to develop new ministries or expand current ministries through the endowment grant process.
- The 1684 Society – is a legacy society named for the year of the founding of Middleham Chapel and has been formed to recognize those persons who have made a planned gift to the Parish or to the Endowment Fund. Members of the 1684 Society know that they have looked beyond this life and made provision for the continuing financial support of their Christian community. Provision is also made for special membership in the Society for those who have made an outstanding contribution to the Parish in the form of time, skills, devotion, dedication and love.
The Planned Giving and Endowment Board – has been established by the Vestry to:
- administer the endowment,
- receive gifts,
- administer the parish wish list, including the disposition of memorials,
- administer the endowment grant process,
- promote planned giving, and
- support the 1684 Society.
The Board carries out an active program of seminars and events in response to the interests of the Parish. The Board members include: Joanne Koterwas, Andy Miller, Hugh Davies, Jim Yoe, and Tom Briggs.
Plus the following ex officio members: The Reverend David G. Showers,
Joan Shisler – Senior Warden and Tim Wakeman - Treasurer
To learn more about opportunities for planned giving at Middleham and St. Peter’s, contact the clergy at the church office (410-326-4948), Board Chairman Hugh Davies (410-326-0370), or any of the Board members.
|
MINISTRIES AND PROGRAMS
