Eucharistic and Stephen Ministers
at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Eucharistic Ministries at St. Peter’s
St. Peter’s has a number of Eucharistic Ministers (8 as of 2025) who are matched up with elderly and homebound members.
They are trained in the art of the compassionate visit and once a month they offer Holy Communion that was blessed and consecrated when the congregation gathered for Sunday services.
You may contact the church office or the pastor for more information.
“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.” Psalm 71:9
Stephen Ministry at St. Peter’s
Stephen Ministry was founded in 1972 by a Lutheran pastor and therapist in St. Louis. Stephen Ministry equips trained laypeople to offer confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing life’s challenges. The program emphasizes quality training, confidentiality, accountability, and compassionate presence, ensuring that no one in our congregation or community has to face hardship alone.
Our Stephen Ministry began in January 2013, when Laurie Kane, Rebecca Ledder, and Pastor Wagner attended a week-long training conference in Orlando. Following their return, Laurie and Rebecca completed an additional 50 hours of ministry training and were commissioned as Stephen Ministers.
They soon launched St. Peter’s first training class of six women, who met weekly for 20 weeks and graduated in November 2013. Since then, our ministers have been matched with care receivers, meeting one-on-one each week to offer ongoing Christian care. The team continues to gather twice a month for supervision, prayer, and continued learning.
If you would like more information about how to have a Stephen Minister visit with you or someone you love, or if you would like to know more about the ministry at St Peter's, please contact the church at 215-699-4604.
Who Are Stephen Ministers?
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A Stephen Minister is a caring Christian friend who walks beside someone who is hurting. They listen, pray, and offer support through life transitions—always keeping conversations private and centered in God’s love.
“A Stephen Minister is not a counselor or a therapist; they are a companion on the journey toward healing.”
Who Are Stephen Leaders?
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Stephen Leaders are pastors and lay leaders who coordinate and guide the ministry. They receive specialized training to equip new Stephen Ministers, provide continuing education, and oversee ongoing supervision and care.
Mission and Vision
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Our Mission:
To equip, send, and support laypeople in carrying Christ’s healing love to those facing life’s challenges.
Our Vision:
To be a ministry of outreach—within our congregation and beyond—providing quality Christian care with integrity and compassion.
When Stephen Ministers Are There for You
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Stephen Ministers are present in those quiet, difficult “after” moments—
…after the phone call you hoped would never come.
…after the doctor says there’s nothing more to be done.
…after the last child leaves home and the house feels too quiet.
…after the courtroom closes and a loved one is taken away.
…after friends have moved on, but you still need to talk.
Stephen Ministers are there for individuals “after” the crisis, when the hurting individual is trying to figure out what their new “normal” looks like. Each Stephen Minister typically has one same-sex care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week.