Welcome!

Download Visitor and Newcomer Booklet (PDF, 4.3MB)

January 1, 2010

Fr. Eric Dudley
Rector

Welcome to St. Peter’s! This parish is full of life and energy, seeking in every way to be biblically faithful in the ancient tradition of Anglicanism.

Anglicans are Christians who find our roots in the Church of England but now live all over the world. With a membership of more than 77 million, we are the world's third largest Christian community. Anglicans are Protestant in our commitment to the authority of Scripture, the importance of Bible study, and the value of preaching; but, we are also Catholic in our commitment to the sacraments, especially Holy Communion. We like to think of ourselves as the “middle way” between the beauty of Catholicism and the best theology of the Protestant Reformation.

We think the strengths of this vibrant church reside in four main areas – the reverence and beauty of our worship, the rigor of our Christian education, the passion of our outreach to the world, and the warmth of our community. Our doors are wide open to you. We hope that when you are here you will experience firsthand the love of God in your life, be challenged to take seriously the truth of His Word, and come to treasure the rich traditions of classical Anglicanism.

As you browse our website, we hope you’ll find your place in the story God is telling at St. Peter’s. If you are interested in learning more about our church, I would love to have you visit with us. Again, welcome to our church!

God’s Blessings,

Eric Dudley +
Rector

We encourage you to get connected and involved at St. Peter’s.
For more information, please visit our Visitors and Newcomers page
or call 850-701-0664, ext. 15.

Worship at St. Peter’s is…

Biblical. The reading and proclamation of Holy Scripture is central to our worship. Our focus is continually on the heart of Scripture: Christ’s incarnation, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and coming return in glory.

Sacramental. We proclaim the Gospel in Word and enact it in Sacrament. By sharing in Christ’s Body and Blood through the Holy Eucharist each week, we are united to Christ and share in the fruits of all He has done for us.

Communal. We gather as the Church for the purpose of praying to God together in a loving and joy-filled community. We find our greatest glory in doing what we were created to do – worship God together as the Body of Christ.

Liturgical. Our worship follows a prescribed pattern, which has deep roots in both the earliest Church and in the biblical focus of the Reformation. The word “liturgy” comes from the Greek word “leitourgia,” which means “works of the people.” Worship is thus an act of the whole congregation, which is offered by all to God in praise, thanksgiving and adoration. The “audience” of worship is God, not us.

For more information, visit the Worship page.

“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2

Education at St. Peter’s is…

Biblically based. St. Peter’s provides biblically orthodox education that leads us into a deeper appreciation of the person of Christ.

Preparation for ministry. St. Peter's classes equip us to be more effective disciples of Jesus Christ, carrying out our baptisms in the world and telling others the good news by serving and witnessing to His glory.

For everyone. We offer classes for curious minds of all ages – children, youth, and adults. Whether you are looking to explore an Epistle, to read a thoughtful book by a respected Christian, or to understand the Anglican faith more fully, we have a class for you.We invite you to take a Sunday school class orWednesday Night Bible Study.We hope you will quickly discover how our Scripture-based education will solidify a central truth of a life well-lived: that Christ must be at the center of our lives if we are to live in a peaceful, hopeful and joyful
manner.

For more information, visit the Adult Education page.

“And these words which I command you today, shall be in your
heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall
talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way,
when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Outreach at St. Peter’s is…

Our response to God’s grace. St. Peter’s provides opportunities for us to respond to Christ’s call on our lives to tell the world of all that He has done for us. Because He has blessed us, we desire to bless others.We believe in making a significant difference in the lives of those in need, not only in our church but also in our community and beyond, by sharing the love of Christ in words and deeds.

Local. St. Peter’s Local Outreach Ministry includes:

Anglicans for Life - A ministry that defends the unborn
Boys Town - A ministry to boys and girls in the foster care system
Brehon House - A ministry to pregnant women in need of assistance
ECHO - A ministry to the homeless
Kairos - A ministry to those in prison
Maryland Oaks - A ministry to needy families aiding them in restoring their lives

International. St. Peter’s Foreign Mission Ministry includes regular trips to Cuba, Guatemala and Uganda.

For more information, visit the Missions and Outreach page.

“And He said to them,
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel
to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Community at St. Peter’s is…

Like a family. Many newcomers comment that they have found a Christian community at St. Peter’s that makes them feel at home. No matter where you are in your life, we pray that you too will experience the sense of family we feel so strongly here.

Transformational. Our hope is that the support of our community will strengthen and embolden you to use your God-given gifts and passions to carry out God’s plan for you.We want to know you and to rejoice as we watch that growth continue!

Multi-generational. From young adult and children’s ministry to senior luncheons and men’s breakfasts, there are many opportunities at St. Peter’s to grow together in our knowledge and love of the Lord. We understand that as we build our church, we are also building a Godly heritage for generations to come.

Joyful. In addition to strengthening our faith in Christ, we get together because we like to have a good time! We take our worship seriously, but we take our fun seriously too. Sharing in the laughter, and tears, of a life lived for Christ is one of our greatest joys.

For more information, please visit any of the following ministry pages:

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42

More about us…

St. Peter’s Anglican Church is a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion and a founding church in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
We are part of the newly created Gulf Atlantic Diocese, a constituent member of the ACNA. Our diocesan bishop is the Right Reverend Neil Lebhar, and our archbishop is the Most Reverend Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh and Primate of the ACNA.
St. Peter’s has two traditional liturgies (worship services) on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and a third liturgy at 5:00 p.m. that is true to the Book of Common Prayer but more contemporary in style. There is also a liturgy of Holy Eucharist and healing held onWednesdays at 12:10 p.m.
Currently worshiping in a temporary location, St Peter’s Capital Campaign is underway to build a new church building on our property north of Interstate 10 on Thomasville Road. For more information, visit www.steppingoutinfaith.net.

How to join our Church!

If you are interested in becoming a member of St. Peter’s and are not transferring from an Anglican church, you must complete the membership process, also known as the Catechumenal Process, which is designed to provide you with learning opportunities to become a more effective disciple of Jesus Christ while deepening your knowledge of the Christian faith. However, you may be fully engaged in the life of our church without becoming an official member.

The Catechumenal Process consists of the following 3 phases:

What does it mean to be a Christian?
What does it mean to be an Anglican?
How can I build up the body of Christ?

For more information, visit the Visitors and Newcomers page.