St. Peter’s Provides Help and Hope in the Hill Country

Sorrow is deep, yet faith and hope are abundant, as communities in the Texas Hill Country grapple with unthinkable loss and come together to rebuild lives, homes, and their communities.  

St. Peter’s in Kerrville opened their doors immediately following the July 4 Flood, moving about in the city and beyond in Hunt to conduct worship, offer spiritual counseling, and provide financial and emotional support to families and first responders.

The church, only a mile from the Guadalupe River, was spared any physical damage but the emotional burden is high.  The first service following the flood, held at St. Peter’s on Sunday, July 6 was standing room only.   The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas, joined the Rev. Bert Baetz, Rector at St. Peter’s, and the Revs. Mike Wheeler and Rich Nelson in the celebration of the Eucharist. In his sermon, Father Baetz, emphasized that our Lord is with us now, during difficult times and for all our days, quoting the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”.  To listen to the full sermon, click here.

During the service, Bishop Read conveyed that the Diocese of West Texas, The Episcopal Church, and dioceses around the country are standing alongside St. Peter’s congregation and Hill Country communities for the long-term and will respond with resources as needs develop. To read more about the diocesan response, click here.

Located in downtown Kerrville, St. Peter’s is actively bringing the light and love of God to the Hill Country. A task force was formed to coordinate a response to those in need through both financial and ministerial support, enabled by the generous donations made to the funds set up through the Diocese of West Texas and St. Peter’s, as well as contributions of time and talent.  The new ministry, Help and Hope for the Hill Country embodies “Faith in Action”.  Efforts to date have included:

• Support for grieving families, including financial aid to cover funeral expenses
• Opened the church six days of the week for prayers and worship services
• Created the position of Help and Hope Coordinator and called Katharine Boyette to fill the position
• Partnered with the Diocese of West Texas, Episcopal Relief & Development, and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to provide resources for Help and Hope for the Hill Country
• Provided a mobile relief unit to meet the immediate needs of first responders and workers in Hunt
• Provided support for grieving families, including financial aid to cover funeral expenses
• Established a “Pop-Up” Chapel in Hunt for worship, pastoral care, counseling, and ministry support
• Delivered supplies to the Hunt Volunteer Fire Department as needed and as requested: tools, coolers, ice, deep freezer, and a side-by-side ATV for first responders to deliver food through difficult to traverse terrain
• Purchased four additional ATVs to assist with debris removal and transportation at local camps
• Ongoing collaboration and coordination with various area mental health agencies, such as the Children’s Bereavement Center and the Institute of Spirituality and Health
• Distributed grocery and clothing gift cards to families in need
• Provided school supplies for Center Point Middle and High School
• Granted monies totaling $700,000 for immediate assistance to over 280 individuals or families directly affected by the flood
• Coordinated with the Children’s Bereavement Center to provide training for St. Peter’s School Faculty, equipping the faculty for their ministry with children affected by the flood
• Provided catered lunches for the Hunt School Staff
• Offering space and support on St. Peter’s campus for community counseling with the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
• Offering a free Holy Yoga Class available to the community, starting August 12 and running through November 18th. This class offers attendees not only yoga instruction but healing and centering mindfulness practices to help process trauma and grief
• Providing space and pastoral care for the reunification of sensitive family items recovered by “Found on the Guadalupe
• Ongoing collaboration with city officials, local clergy, state and national recovery agencies
• Overseeing a case management program to shepherd families through the long-term recovery process

St. Peter’s is working to create a flexible space in downtown Hunt for counseling, organizing volunteers, rebuilding the Hunt Store, and providing resources and fellowship to the community and victims of the flood. This is a work in progress but potentially could become a Help and Hope Recovery Village between the Hunt Store and the Hunt Pavilion (where Sunday worship services take place).

Through the Help and Hope for the Hill Country ministry, two mobile homes were purchased to be stationed behind the Hunt Store in an easily accessible area.  The long-term goal of the village is to have a central location to provide resident services that will be flexible and meet the dynamic needs of the community including medical assistance, resource distribution, volunteer coordination, and office space as required.

Father Bert spoke about the vision for the Help and Hope Recovery Village stating, “We know that we have to be nimble, so the Recovery Village may take several forms to meet the needs of the Hunt community in the aftermath of the flood”.

Listen to Father Bert+ as he shares how God is present and working through St. Peter’s and the Help and Hope Ministry.

Click here to stay informed about the ongoing ministry work of St. Peter’s Help and Hope in the Hill Country and learn how you can help.