Contact the Community Involvement Team

St. Peter’s, through our Community Involvement, supports several local missions. St. Peter’s hopes to continue to grow in it’s local missions.

 

Habitat for Humanity – 2010

 St. Peter’s has helped Habitat for Humanity the last couple of years with both volunteers and financial support.  The Community Involvement Team will be focusing on this ministry in 2010 with several opportunities for support.

 

A few years ago, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis worked in partnership with several Central Indiana United Church of Christ congregations on a successful build project in 2007.  This was a wonderful example of the core values of our UCC.  A united and uniting church are we; “In essentials – unity, in nonessentials – diversity, in all things – charity.”  The recent UCC outreach campaign reminds us, not only that God is Still Speaking, but also that Changing Lives is our church’s wider mission.  In the year 2010, we have a great opportunity to take this message forth and change lives in a very tangible way!

 

By January 15^th, H4H asked that all interested churches prayerfully consider this opportunity to participate in this wonderful example of UCC leadership in the community.  St. John’s UCC – Southport has volunteered to coordinate the build project, along with hosting panel day.  St. Peter’s has agreed to partner in this year’s build.  The approximate start date for this project is September 8, 2010.

 

In addition to Greater Indianapolis, there is also an urgent need for Habitat homes in Hamilton County.  They are getting ready too!  You might be questioning whether there truly is a need for affordable homes for needy families in Hamilton County.

 

Did you know that in Hamilton County, over 12,000 families live in substandard or inadequate housing?  And…that there are 5,448 families receiving food assistance here?

 

These are statistics, but real people are behind these statistics, and they are our neighbors.

 

The economic recession has hit people on the margins of poverty very hard.  Many families with children are being pushed to the limit of their housing options – they are in desperate need of adequate housing.  They face uncertainty regarding where they will live and how they can afford Hamilton County. 

 

QUICK FACTS:

How does it work?
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner (partner) families.

Habitat is not a giveaway program.  In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the house of others.

Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans.

The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. 

How are partner families selected?
Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates.

The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan.  Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.

Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.

  

The Community Involvement Team will be asking for your help in the coming months.  We will provide as much information as possible on the families receiving homes by both Habitat affiliations – Hamilton County and Greater Indianapolis.  As information for the build schedule and other volunteer opportunities is available, we will be asking for volunteers to help with the actual on-site building; special projects (for those unable to help with the actual build or are too young); to provide lunch for the volunteers; and the greatest need of financial support.

 

If you are interested in working with the Community Involvement Team to promote and encourage, please contact Cheryl Hinton at communityinvteam@stpeterscarmel.org.

 

If at any time, you just want to make a donation to either affiliate, please go to:

 

Hamilton County                                                          Greater Indianapolis
www.hfhhc.org                                                           
Clickwww.indyhabitat.org on the “Donate Now” button                               Click on the “Donate” button

 

Let the Gardening Begin!

 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. (MT 13:31, RSV)

 

The St. Peter’s Peace Garden effort begins again! Our little mustard seed of an effort began last year and was a great success! Together we grow food for donation to pantries and local networks including our refugee friends.

Please join us this year! Anyone of any age can participate in this ministry. You won’t need to have any garden experience or knowledge to participate and have fun!

 

First Garden Meeting is Sunday, March 7^th 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall – We’ll finalize the garden plan and discuss our upcoming activities (see below). Our draft schedule looks like this:

 

MARCH – Meet, mulch and propagate! We invite the congregation to grow plants at home or to donate seeds and plants when the time comes. Stay tuned for an email about the garden plantings following the March meeting. We’ll also schedule a few mulching days to help the soil.

April – Mulch and Tilling. If it is not too wet, we can till up the grass for the third row. We’ll also help the pre-school create a butterfly garden in the playground area.

May – Till and Planting Day! (Let’s hope May isn’t too wet to plant our garden!)

Planting-Harvest – Garden tending, harvest and pantry deliveries

 

Please join us on March 7^th.  For more information, please contact Beth Meyerson at meyersonb@comcast.net; or visit our Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=88871053895

 

East 10th Street Serving project

We have had the pleasure of serving dinner to the East 10th street Methodist community twice since this project began in 2009.  We took a turn in June and then again in October.  Other churches in the area also help out on a rotating basis.  Dinners are held Sunday nights at the church on East 10th street in Indianapolis.  Eight to ten St Peter’s folks have joined in to serve fried chicken, beans, coleslaw and dessert to over 80 people.  It is a wonderfully rewarding experience for all involved.  If you would like to continue with this ministry or have questions, please contact the church office.

 

Carmel Relay For Life
When: 9a.m. Saturday, June 5th – 9a.m. Sunday, June 6th
Where: Carmel High School Football Stadium

Relay For Life is a 24 hour, family friendly, team format  fund raising event for the American Cancer Society. It is their largest fund raising event and YOU can be a part of it. .We need families and individuals to make our team a success. Don’t let the 24 hours discourage you, you don’t have to be there the whole time (although it’s lots of fun!). It’s a wonderful opportunity for fellowship while raising funds for a great organization that does amazing work!! Please contact the church office if you have questions or are interested in joining the St. Peter’s team.