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Making Space for Everyone: Living our Mission to Welcome All

Over the past few months, our staff has been working diligently to improve how we welcome newcomers, strengthen connections within our community, and invite others to our events and services.


Starting this year, we are excited to offer two Newcomers classes annually, doubling our opportunities to connect with those exploring St. Peter’s. These classes are for anyone, whether you're new, curious, or seeking deeper connection. Bring your questions and uncertainties - we welcome it all! This engaging four-week class is always is a wonderful way to get to know us and others in the community.


Another new initiative is writing personalized postcards to newcomers who recently moved to Kerrville. Thanks to Kerr County Greeters, a nonprofit that welcomes new residents, St. Peter’s receives contact information for individuals who have opted into greetings. Our communications coordinator designed the postcards, and our staff and volunteers are mailing these invitations to introduce our church and invite new neighbors to attend a service or event.


Children bring joy to services, and they can be their authentic selves in God's house.
Children bring joy to services, and they can be their authentic selves in God's house.

Coming soon you'll notice new connection cards in the pews and brochure to share St. Peter’s story and what to expect during services. Launching this spring, we hope these tools make visitors more at ease. Parents of young children, individuals attending alone, and those who haven't attended church in awhile, or ever, often feel nervous. Together, we ease those feelings by extending kindness, making introductions, and ensuring everyone who enters St. Peter’s feels at home.


In our most recent newcomers class this October, we received valuable feedback that reflects the warmth and hospitality of our community. One participant shared, “Every person I met, each shared and showed their compassion to welcome me. I felt part of the family from my first step in the door.” Another echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’ve never felt more welcome!! St. Peter’s is truly a family!” 


The sense of belonging was further emphasized by another newcomer who wrote, “We felt very seen and welcomed just by being invited to the class!” And another expressed, “Thank you for your time and sharing such great, and helpful information. I feel part of the community already.”


Our heartfelt hope is our efforts to welcome newcomers, visitors, and our active parishioners give all who enter a sense of belonging.



Welcoming all is more than our mission statement—it is one of St. Peter’s greatest strengths. We hope to continue this legacy to the fullest, always improving.


As our staff brainstormed ways to create a more inclusive environment, we recognized the need to accommodate neurodiverse individuals in our community. Neurodiversity, as John Elder Robison explains in Psychology Today, is “the idea that neurological differences like autism and ADHD are the result of normal, natural variation in the human genome.” Robison, who has Asperger’s syndrome, emphasizes that “many individuals who embrace the concept of neurodiversity believe that people with differences do not need to be cured; they need help and accommodation instead.” (Robinson, 2013)


Our first step toward better inclusion is creating sensory kits—individual bags containing sensory toys, calming activities, noise-reducing headphones, and fidgets. We are working to make these kits available this spring for anyone who needs them.


In the process of developing these resources, we reached out to Lisa Puccio, Coordinator for Special Needs Ministry and Family Faith Formation at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Houston. Lisa shared, “It makes my heart glad that there are congregations like St. Peter's (which I had the pleasure of visiting in 2018) that want to be more inclusive. The disability community is desperately in need of faith communities who welcome them unconditionally. The starting place is to meet the needs of one family and build from there. Again, it's critical that your congregation—leadership and membership—is committed to being inclusive.”


At St. Peter’s, there is a place at the table for everyone. Whether it’s through a postcard, a sensory kit, or a simple conversation, every effort we make reflects God’s love for His people. Together, we continue to maintain a place where everyone feels embraced and valued.


Robison, John Elder. "What Is Neurodiversity?" Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2 Oct. 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/my-life-with-aspergers/201310/what-is-neurodiversity.





CHURCH INFORMATION

St. Peter's Episcopal Church

The Rev. Bert Baetz, Rector
320 St. Peter Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Google Map

(830)257-8162 Phone
office@stpeterskerrville.com

SCHOOL INFORMATION

St. Peter's Episcopal School

Janet Boutin, School Director
321 St. Peter Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Google Map

(830)257-0257 Phone

(830)257-0283 Fax
stpeterskerrville@hotmail.com

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