At this time, masks are not required at worship services. However, we welcome and encourage mask wearing. We have a special section of the church designated for those who want to remain masked and surrounded by those who are masked. Please ask an usher when you arrive if you’d like to sit in the “mask required” section of church. All members of the St. Peter’s choir, clergy, and church staff are fully vaccinated. The church is cleaned regularly, windows are open (weather permitting), and hand sanitizer is provided.

Community - St. Peter's Church

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS

Whether you have been a member at St. Peter’s for decades or you are a new visitor, we invite you to attend one of our small groups or volunteer to serve with a ministry. You are sure to find a welcoming group and an inviting place to grow your faith and meet others.

For more information on any of our Fellowship Groups, fill out this online form or contact Parish Administrator Kate Randall at [email protected] or 215-925-5968. Some meetings times (but not all!) are posted on our calendar.

Adult Education

On most Sundays, St. Peter’s invites you to attend a class to grow and explore your faith. Some times there is a guest speaker, while other times the classes are more discussion-based.

Book Group

St. Peter’s Book Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month in a member’s home to discuss a book, movie or occasionally a play.

Churchyard Gardeners

Volunteers are needed to help prune seasonal plants, remove ivy, plant annuals, rake leaves, and general upkeep of the garden and grounds. The churchyard which surrounds St. Peter’s Church at 3rd and Pine Streets is a green oasis in the Society Hill neighborhood and is enjoyed by the entire community for its beautiful scenery and its history. No experience is necessary—our gardening group is a welcoming bunch! The group meets from March through November, generally once a month on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.

Food Cupboard

Volunteers are needed weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings to prep and distribute groceries at our St. Peter’s Food Cupboard. Click here for more information and links to volunteer sign-ups.

Twenties N’ Thirties

Twenties N’ Thirties (TNT) is an informal gathering of those in 20s, 30s, or thereabouts. We gather for fellowship and fun; it’s a great opportunity to get to know some others. Gatherings sometimes focus on our faith, with group reads and special Eucharist in the churchyard. Other gatherings are more social, with bowling night and pumpkin painting. Bring a friend and join us! You can sign up for the TNT email list here to get notices of upcoming events.

Sages

Sages is an energetic group of retired parishioners who meet monthly on a Wednesday for lunch and discussion. Often the meeting is accompanied by a presentation from authors, leaders in the arts, and other people of interest. All ages are welcome to attend, and friends are always welcome.

Forties & Fifties (Via)

The name “Via” was chosen as the name of Forties & Fifties because of its translation as “the way,” which inspired images of a road or a shared path. Recognizing that faith-based friendships are powerful and life enriching, it symbolizes the journey that we are traveling together. We gather about once a month for lunch and other fun activities.

Taphophiles

A group of parishioners gathers one Saturday a month (May through October) to gently and methodically clean some of the hundreds of headstones in our churchyard. The group is called “Taphophiles” — those with a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries and epitaphs. We use water and a safe, but effective solution (and a bit of scrubbing) to reveal the names, dates, prayers and messages which give us a brief glimpse into the lives of those who have preceded us here at St. Peter’s.

St. Peter’s Writers

Our lively, convivial group of scriveners meets twice a month to read, discuss, and support one another with our personal works of fiction, nonfiction, and essays.

Tour Guides

We open the church for a few hours every Saturday and Sunday to welcome visitors to our historic site. Our volunteer guides have greeted thousands of wayfarers from all over the world.

"What knocks me out, time and again, is the way this parish connects. The ministries I have seen most are the liturgical ministries, the Food Cupboard, and the knitters, and I am continually stunned at the stories that come out in these groups. There are networks of relationships here, some of them decades old, but which have been welcoming and inclusive."

Marianne Lipson

parishioner