GRACE and ST JOHN’S
An Episcopal church in the diocese of Connecticut
2927 Dixwell Avenue (P. O. Box 185065), Hamden, CT 06518
OFFICE@GRACEANDSTPETERS.ORG 203-248-4338
OUTREACH MINISTRIES
Serving our Neighbors
The promises we make at our baptism include vows to
“seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves,” and to
“strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
We welcome volunteers from the wider community to join us in any of the many ways we reach out to our neighbors.
GRACE & ST PETER’S RECOGNIZED BY HAMDEN BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE
Receives Religious Service Award in Ceremony at Town Hall, February 28
PROCLAMATION:
WHEREAS, Grace and St. Peter’s Church is the recipient of the February 2020 Religious Service Award from the Hamden Black History Committee; and
WHEREAS, Grace and St. Peter’s Church has been at the heart of Hamden community life for over 200 years. The Grace Church was established in 1790 and constructed its current building in 1820. In 1966, the church building, which had been on the north side of Dixwell Avenue, was moved across the street to its present location in order to make room for the new Hamden Police Department headquarters. In 1990, the St. Peter’s community joined Grace Church, creating the dynamic community that exists today; and
WHEREAS, Grace and St Peter’s Church is celebrated for its open and welcoming spirit, and its involvement in numerous community and outreach ministries. Dinner for a Dollar has been serving healthful, flavorful, hot meals every Friday evening for more that eight years. This is inspired Hamden Plains United Methodist Church and others to begin Dinner for a Dollar programs. The Hamden Emergency Warming Center, run in collaboration with the Town of Hamden and Columbus House, provides shelter on winter nights for those without homes. Abraham’s Tent, also a wintertime collaboration with Columbus House, furnishes living quarters and meals for a week for twelve homeless men. Swords To Plowshares turns bought back guns into gardening tools and was the catalyst for the recent Hamden gun buyback during which almost 150 weapons were turned in to the Hamden Police Department. Other Grace and St Peter’s ministries include serving dinner and leading musical events at Columbus House, leading lunch time sing alongs at the Miller Senior Center, sharing space with a variety of community groups and organizations; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Bob Bergner and all at Grace and St. Peter’s demonstrate a truly loving spirit and are clearly delighted to have the opportunity to live out their faith in service to the people of Hamden and beyond;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Curt Balzano Leng, Mayor of The Town of Hamden, do hereby congratulate Grace and St. Peter’s Church on this well-deserved recognition. On behalf of all residents of The Town of Hamden, I thank Pastor Bergner and the entire Grace and St. Peter’s Community for thier wonderful outreach programs and service to all of the Hamden community. I look forward to continuing to support and partner with Grace and St. Peter’s in all future endeavors.
Curt Balzano Leng, Mayor
December 2019
HUNGER IN HAMDEN podcast series features Dinner for a Dollar
Three episodes of a “Hunger in Hamden” podcast have recently been released by the Quinnipiac University Podcast Studio. Allison and Rev Bob were interviewed, and Dinner for a Dollar highlighted, in Episode 2.
To access the podcast series, click on the link below!
DINNER FOR A DOLLAR
We serve a delicious, wholesome, home-cooked meal
every Friday night 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
All are welcome. Suggested donation is $1,
but no one is turned away.
This ministry fills an important place in many people’s lives.
Some come for the delicious food.
Some come for the companionship.
Some come to volunteer.
All those who come, for whatever reason, are helping to build community.
The pandemic emergency has nearly doubled the number of people we serve every week, as we have had to switch our sit-down dinners to takeout only, and comply with new mask and hygiene rules during food preparation.
At the same time, with our help, Hamden Plains United Methodist Church has opened its own Dinner for a Dollar on Saturday evenings.
Click here for an article in the New Haven Independent celebrating Dinner for a Dollar’s 8th anniversary ... and here for an interview with Dinner for a Dollar founder and leader Allison Batson!
Click on the link below for the latest updates on the Dinner for a Dollar Facebook page!
PARTNERING WITH COLUMBUS HOUSE
Grace & St Peter's provides help to Columbus House in its service to people in the area who are homeless.
As a host site for the Abraham's Tent program,
each winter we provide overnight shelter, meals, and fellowship for 12 men for one week.
In partnership with town officials and service providers, we have also been a site for Columbus House's seasonal warming center in Hamden, staffed by Columbus House employees to accept walk-ins throughout the night.
Several times a year, members of Grace & St Peter's also take our turn cooking and serving a meal at Columbus House itself, where we add to the warmth and fellowship by singing with the guests.
SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES
Grace & St Peter's is privileged to be part of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's actions in literally turning weapons of violence into tools for growing food.
Under the leadership of retired Bishop Jim Curry, a small portable blacksmith forge travels to local communities, where people are invited to observe and participate in melting down gun parts and forging garden tools, which are given to community gardens.
The forge is stored in the garage at Grace & St Peter's, and our Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Bob Bergner, often travels with it to the local events. In July, Bishop Curry visited Grace & St Peter's to do a demonstration.
Click on the link below to learn more about Swords into Plowshares!