Mission
At Prince of Peace we believe that we have been called to serve Christ by helping those in need in the world, both locally and abroad. If you are looking for a way to make a difference, join us! (You don’t have to be a member before you can participate with us.) These are a few of the ways we share God’s love:
Sarah's House
We provide meals for Sarah’s House, a local emergency and transitional housing program, on the second Sunday of the month during odd-numbered months. POP also donates clothing and personal items to the residents on an occasional basis.
During the pandemic, we have provided catered meals for the residents instead of preparing and serving meals ourselves.
Crofton Christian Caring Council (CCCC)
In cooperation with eight other Crofton area churches, we provide financial assistance via CCCC to community residents who are facing utility shutoffs and eviction notices. We are available via phone on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon to assist those who call.
CCCC also operates a Food Pantry and a Baby Pantry. Food pantry donations may be brought to Prince of Peace or taken directly to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church during their Food Pantry hours (Mon., Wed., and Fri. from 10 am to 12:30 pm).
The Baby Pantry can be reached by calling Community United Methodist Church at 410-721-9129. For the Baby Pantry, acceptable donations include diapers, wipes, baby wash, shampoo, and baby food. All items should be new and unexpired.
More details are available on the CCCC Facebook page.
CCCC Food Pantry
We collect non-perishable food items on an ongoing basis for the Food Pantry housed at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Crofton. The Food Pantry is part of the ministry of the Crofton Christian Caring Council. Check the bulletin announcement or the list posted near the collection bin to find out what our current "Food of the Month" is.
The Light House Shelter
During the month, we collect supplies to provide at least 70 bag lunches for the Light House Shelter, which provides services to homeless residents of Annapolis.
Prior to the pandemic, we prepared lunches together on the last Sunday of each month. We look forward to returning to this time of mission and fellowship.
We have also used their catering company, which equips shelter residents with cooking and catering skills, for our annual Consecration Sunday luncheon in the past.
Earth Care
We are committed to being responsible stewards of God’s creation and try to be aware of our environmental impact in our church activities.
Since becoming an Earth Care Congregation, we have begun using EcoPalms for our Palm Sunday procession and have also replaced all bulbs within the church building with LEDs.
Our ongoing collections include used eyeglasses, used household batteries, used tennis balls, used pens/glue sticks, and used oral care products (toothbrushes, empty toothpaste tubes) for reuse (eyeglasses) and recycling (batteries, tennis balls, pens/glue sticks, and oral care products). Additionally, we are a drop-off point for collections of the Crofton Christian Caring Council. We also collect books for our Little Free Library and annual Used Book and Media Sale.
We occasionally offer special collection opportunities, such as our technology recycling event at the end of January 2023.
We have been pleased to host Annapolis Compost's post-Halloween Pumpkin Composting event for two years.
Start The Adventure In Reading – STAIR
We are excited that STAIR volunteers will be back in the building at Nantucket Elementary School this fall (2022)! After a few years of not being able to meet with students, we are thrilled that we can once again help students become proficient readers.
Studies have shown that children who struggle with reading after second grade are far more likely to drop out of school later. You don’t have to be a member of our church to join us in this ministry.
Congratulations to STAIR for being one of the recipients of the 2016 Exemplary Volunteer Awards given out by the Anne Arundel Public Schools. It is great to know that our work is making an impact in our community!
Comunidad Presbiteriana la Trinidad
Comunidad Presbiteriana la Trinidad (Presbyterian Community of the Trinidad) is a worshiping community serving the Hispanic community in Anne Arundel County. Led by Rev. Jose Lopez, this group seeks to serve, organize, and support Hispanic residents of Anne Arundel County. Members have been active in community gardening at Hollywood Farm in Annapolis.
Back-to-School Backpacks
Our 2022 collection supplied 20 Anne Arundel County students with backpacks, binders, headphones, and pencil cases via the Department of Social Services. Thank you to the congregation for their support of this year’s program! Our annual collection begins in July and ends in mid-August.
Thanksgiving Baskets
We provide food and gift cards for Thanksgiving dinner to local families in need as part of our Holiday Sharing Program via the Department of Social Services. In 2022, we supported 16 families and 3 seniors through this mission.
The youth of the church organize the food and pack the bags each year for congregation members to deliver.
Angel Tree Gifts
In 2022, we provided gifts and gift cards for the same 16 families and 3 senior citizens who received our Thanksgiving Baskets, plus two families associated with Comunidad Presbiteriana la Trinidad. As part of our commitment to literacy and a love of reading, all 52 children involved also received a book.
Used Book & Media Sale
Our annual book sale, which raises funds to support our mission activities throughout the year will be held on April 22 and 29, 2023 . Collection of books/media will begin on Feb. 1.
Thank you to those who supported our 2022 sale and helped us raise over $6,400 to help with missions locally, regionally, and internationally. We greatly appreciate the community’s donations and purchases!
Heifer International
Each year at Christmastime, POP members support families around the world via contributions to Heifer International. It’s a great way to give a gift to someone you love without adding more “things” to his or her life. Who wouldn’t appreciate knowing that their gift from you was to help a family lift themselves out of poverty?
In 2022, we raised $3,320 for this mission! Our donations included support for an alpaca, a goat, rabbits, flocks of chickens, honeybees, a share of a water buffalo, fish, garden seeds, and sending a girl to school, as well as many gifts designated for the area of greatest need.
Mission Trips/Disaster Assistance
We support disaster teams worldwide through our One Great Hour of Sharing collection, part of which funds Presbyterian Disaster Assistance as it works around the world to help communities in crisis.
Past mission trips have included home reconstruction in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy through Jersey Shore United, repairing homes in rural West Virginia through the Cabell-Lincoln County Work Camp, and making five trips to D’Iberville Mississippi for relief work following Hurricane Katrina. We also donated over $28,000 to relief efforts.
Little Free Library
Our Little Free Library allows passersby to “Take A Book * Return A Book”. Part of an international movement to promote literacy, Little Free Libraries are available in more than 70 countries around the world. Our Library joins our STAIR program and annual Book Sale as ways in which Prince of Peace promotes literacy in our community. Stop by and check out our ever-changing book options!
Hilos de Plata
Through Crofton Community Missions, we support one abuela (“grandmother”) who is served by the Hilos de Plata mission in Panajachel, Guatemala. Our financial contribution provides nutritional food and other needed items to make her life more comfortable.
So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.)/CARE
A portion of our monthly Two Cents a Meal offering goes to S.O.M.E., which serves poor and homeless residents of Washington, D.C., and CARE, which serves poverty-stricken individuals and families worldwide.
Habitat for Humanity
When needed, we help build and refurbish homes for low-income residents through Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. Houses have been built recently in Annapolis and Severn.
PC(USA) Disaster Assistance
God’s people are called on to stand in the "GAP" — Give. Act. Pray.
To support emergency relief for those fleeing war or natural disasters, donate via the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance website, call them at (800) 872-3283, or mail a check to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
PC(USA) Special Offerings
Twice a year, we join with Presbyterians around the world in contributing to Special Offerings. The One Great Hour of Sharing offering, collected on Palm Sunday, supports the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger, and Self-Development of People programs. The Christmas Joy offering, collected on the last Sunday of Advent, supports retired clergy and future leaders from communities of color. In 2022, we collected $2,255 for the OGHS offering and $1,655 for the Christmas Joy offering.