Social
Why is Social Ministry so very important to us?
For starters, please check the most important commandment, according to Jesus: Matthew 22: 37-39: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ You may also check out James 2:14-17 - or hundreds of other biblical references. Social Ministry is not a political agenda but a faith priority.
Social Ministry and humanitarian efforts have a long-standing and strong tradition at St. Peter’s and are part of our Christian identity. In the 1980’s St. Peter’s founded Nehemiah’s Way, a non-profit organization that provided housing and services to families of domestic violence. Transitional support is provided with housing for up to two years and encompassing counseling, training and children services. Nehemiah’s Way is now part of Laurel House in Norristown.
Today, we have an active Social Ministry Team of about 10 people. The team meets every other month and frequently orchestrates service opportunities in the community, collection drives and the like. Our current Social Ministry unfolds in three different areas: SERVICE, CHARITY and COLLABORATION.
Service
Past service trips and events included: The North Wales Day of Service with 70 volunteers working on 10 different projects; a weeklong service trip to Kentucky in with the Appalachia Service Project, day trips for service at Philabundance, our region's largest food bank, and various smaller events. In recent years we have also worked with local Habitat Chapters, as well as Good Works in Coatesville.
Charity-St. Peter's Thrift Shop
Since the 1980's we have housed a Thrift Shop in our basement, which is open from September through early June, Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. All proceeds from the Thrift Shop are donated to local charities, strengthening the Social Ministry capacity in the greater North Wales area. Click here to learn more about St. Peter's Thrift Shop.
Collaboration and Collection
Another strong part of our Social Ministry is collaboration. We have a number of "favorite" local charities that we support not only through our Thrift Shop but also with collections and donations of goods. When you enter our church from the parking lot you will see large, rectangular donation bins (repurposed old church pews) for food donations. People can bring non-perishable food at any time and drop it off there. It will go to Manna on Main Street in Lansdale. Other collection drives may include coats for schoolchildren or our famous Pie Day (twice a year) to benefit the children at Silver Springs Martin Luther School. Below please check out some of our partnership organizations.
Habitat for Humanity
St. Peter’s members participate with Thrivent Financial with the Thrivent Builds program, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Thrivent Financial is a faith (Lutheran) based organization committed to helping its members achieve financial security and give back to their congregations and communities. Members of the congregation who have policies with Thrivent can direct their Choice Dollars to the church or the charity of their choice.
Since 1991 Thrivent and Habitat have built 500 homes through the Thrivent Builds Program in our area.
Website — 533 Foundry Road West Norriton, PA 19403
Restore: 610-631-3149 | Office: 610-278-7710 | Fax: 610-278-1634
Website — 2031 N Broad St Ste 135 Lansdale, PA, 19446 | 215-368-4888
Lutheran Disaster Response
Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran World Hunger Relief are working to provide food and training to abate hunger around the world, along with other ELCA and Synod supported missions and ministries.
Website — Providing disaster support around the world.
Laurel House
Laurel House is a comprehensive domestic violence agency serving individuals and families throughout Montgomery County. St. Peter’s Nehemiah’s Way organization has joined with Laurel House. St. Peter’s supports Laurel House through member volunteers, providing space for counseling sessions and financially with contributions.
Website — 605 Swede St, Norristown, PA 19401 | 610-277-1860
Manna on Main Street
Located in Lansdale, Manna provides a soup kitchen, food cupboard, financial assistance and a variety of other programs to help individuals in need. St. Peter’s has had a long relationship with Manna through volunteerism and providing food for their food cupboards and for holiday baskets.
Website — 606 E. Main Street, Lansdale, PA 19446 | 215-855-5454
Silver Springs — Martin Luther School
Located in Plymouth Meeting, Silver Springs provides a nurturing and healing environment with a quality education program. The school promotes trauma recovery and family reunification. St. Peter’s supports Silver Springs School with an annual Christmas Giving Tree that provides requested gifts for the students. We also participate twice a year in their “Pie Day” baking special desserts for the children of the school, and with other projects through our Sunday Church School.
Website — 512 Township Line Rd, Blue Bell, PA | 610-825-4440