Fellowship

Annual Parish Picnic/St. Peter’s Day
The entire parish gathers to celebrate the end of the Sunday School year and the church’s patron saint with a popular and enjoyable annual picnic. The lawn and grounds of St. Peter’s become a playground and picnic area to meet and mingle. Tents shade conversation and coffee for adults and storytelling for children, and ice cream freezers grind out fresh treats while a moon bounce, games and contests for all ages—including a fathers and tykes wiffle ball game and prizes—fill out the fun quota.

Bazaar
The St. Peter’s Bazaar, held in the fall, allows parishioners to work together to raise funds to help others, and features: a Christmas Shop with unique and beautiful crafts, both traditional and new; a Gourmet Shop with items prepared by parishioners; a “pre-owned” book sale with lots of variety; a fabulous bake sale; marvelous soups and other lunch offerings; and, of course, doughnuts and coffee to welcome everyone who enters.

The parish’s talented chefs pull together in the weeks leading up to the bazaar to blend, cook, pickle and preserve goodies for the Gourmet Shop. Canning jars (especially half-pint and one-pint sizes) are always welcome, new or used.

Biannual Yard Sale
Every other spring, St. Peter’s provides an opportunity for parishioners to clear out their unwanted or excess “stuff” by holding a massive yard sale, the proceeds of which go to support church programs. Parishioners pick up pricing kits and bring their donations priced to sell. Shoppers delight at the treasure trove of goods. And a thorough spring cleaning generally clears out enough space at home to make room for all new stuff.

Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour is a noisy time for fellowship and conversation.  It takes place in the back of the church after the 11 a.m. service on Sundays.  Coffee, doughnuts, and juice are also available after the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. service.

Hospitality Teams
Hospitality Teams are formed of parishioners who share responsibility for serving coffee and snacks after the Sunday services over the course of one month per year. Occasionally these same families help with other special receptions and events taking place that month.

Lenten Suppers
During Lent, St. Peter’s offers a light supper (often soup) on Wednesday evenings, followed by a Lenten program (past programs have included St. Peter’s Stephen Ministers presenting situational discussion and training of key skills for relating to and supporting others) and concluding with Evensong.

Men’s and Women’s Retreats
Annual retreats for the men or women of St. Peter’s are held at relaxing and rejuvenating locations in the vicinity (often the Loyola Retreat House on the banks of the Potomac River in Faulkner, Maryland). These popular events offer participants an opportunity to pray, relax, and visit, and allow them to pause and find time to reflect on their spiritual journeys through life.

St. Peter’s Women’s Bridge Group
The St. Peter’s Women’s Bridge Group welcomes new participants—from beginning bridge enthusiasts to experienced players. The group provides an opportunity to play bridge and work on your game with no pressure. Members take turns hosting the gatherings, which begin with social time at 7 p.m., and bridge starting at 7:30 on the last Tuesday of each month. Play is optional and on a “first-come, first-served” basis—usually there are two or three tables of bridge, and partners rotate after six hands. If you are interested in participating, please contact the church office for further information.

St. Peter’s Pedalers
St. Peter’s Pedalers is a group of bicyclers who ride together in pursuit of fellowship and fitness. Rides are organized on many weekends in good (and not so good) weather. Almost annually, the Pedalers mark the vanguard of the westward migration of St. Peter’s to its annual retreat, riding 130+ miles of trails and back roads over two days, and spending the night (sometimes in an inn, sometimes a hiker’s hostel) along the way, arriving at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, Virginia, on Friday afternoon in definite need of rest and recuperation. On these rides, the Pedalers collect pledges made on their behalf to donate to an organization such as the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

St. Peter’s Prayer Group
St. Peter’s holds a monthly prayer group for parishioners called to a deeper prayer life to together explore prayer, seek guidance on how to pray, and consider books on prayer to read as a group. Members pray together and for the body of Christ at St. Peter’s and for our ministry. The prayer group meets in the chapel the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.  All are invited—just bring yourself and an open heart!  The members of the group also have a prayer circle from their home every Monday from 9 to 9:30 p.m.

Seder
St. Peter’s celebrates Holy Week with the traditional liturgies as well as a Seder meal on Maundy Thursday. Parishioners prepare and deliver to the church the many parts of the meal—from roast lamb to bitter herbs to haroset, and approximately 140 people attend this popular event. The meal includes traditional Seder readings, concluding with a scripture reading, a darkened room, stripped altar, and silent exit in preparation for Good Friday.

Shrine Mont/Parish Retreat
Spring is the time for the annual Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont—“A Place Apart for Rest, Devotion, and Fellowship,” located in Orkney Springs, Virginia. The retreat is an opportunity to be together without the usual demands and pressures of life in the Washington area. This restorative and fun-filled weekend is for all members of the parish—singles, couples and families—and enables parishioners to learn more about their fellow worshipers. Highlights include a featured guest speaker; the Forbes Ramsey Memorial Golf Classic; softball, soccer, Frisbee, and tennis games; hay rides; the Fishing Derby; and St. Peter’s World-Famous Talent Show.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (a.k.a. Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), is an occasion to fortify oneself before the fasting of Lent begins the following day. For the non-carb eaters, sausage, bacon, and vegetarian sausage are offered. Griddles and frying pans are needed, along with volunteers to flip pancakes, pass syrup, and clean up. Bring your appetites and/or spatulas and indulge a little.

Steve Kuhn Memorial Men’s Breakfast
On the last Wednesday (or sometimes Saturday) of each month, the men of St. Peter’s get together at 7 a.m. in the church meeting room for breakfast and fellowship and a program geared to the interests and activities of the group. Participants take turns setting up, preparing a simple breakfast, and cleaning up.