The concept of selling pumpkins to raise funds has evolved into so much more. In the hands of loving and caring individuals, these orange vegetables have changed lives. We are proud to have the opportunity to spend time and energy doing something so rewarding.  

Our congregation has been honored with the label “The Pumpkin Church”.  We have raised many thousands of dollars to help fund local concerns such as Carlsbad Battered Family Shelter, Jonah's House food pantry, Carlsbad Community Kitchen, Grace House, Crossroads, the Loving Care Center of Carlsbad, our mission sister congregation Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey, and others. 

Volunteers, community support and hard work can make anything happen!

Since 2007 St. Peter Lutheran Church, in cooperation with Tax Help New Mexico, has operated a volunteer income tax preparation site.  The site offers free assistance in preparing and filing income tax returns. We can help most New Mexico residents with an annual household income of less than $50,000 or who are over the age of 65.

All volunteers are IRS certified. Spanish language assistance is also available. Volunteers are trained to help taxpayers take advantage of tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.  The free tax return preparation service prepares and files tax returns electronically.  Our site volunteers volunteered 1,180 hours during the 2011 tax season. 

St. Peter’s tax site serviced 512 clients in 2011 (2010 tax year).  We prepared 400 Federal returns (379E-filed) and 499 State returns (386 E-filed and 94 On-Line at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue web site).  The total amount of Federal refunds obtained by our clients was $416,000 (rounded) and the total amount of State refunds obtained by our clients was $93,000 (rounded).  That is a total of $509,000 (rounded) in refunds.  We also saved our clients an estimated amount of $75,000 on tax return preparation fees.

The goal of our tax site is to be welcoming and respectful while providing a professional quality service which eliminates tax preparation fees for our clients.

St. Peter’s tax site usually opens on the last Saturday of January and operates through April 15^th of each year.  The site coordinator is available throughout the year for tax help by appointment. 

Stephen Ministers: Sarah Hadfield, Pam Coor, Katherine Law

We all have events in our lives which may cause us to experience physical, emotional, or spiritual pain.  Even when we have friends and family, we may feel alone or lost.  We know that God is with us in these times, but often the caring heart, listening ear, or loving touch of another person can make God’s presence more real to us.  This is the purpose and design of the Stephen Ministry program.

As a Stephen Minister, I have the opportunity to accompany an individual on a journey that may result from the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, illness, or even a struggle of faith.  My goal is never to “fix the problem” but rather to listen, support, and share the love and grace of God.  The friendship that may occur as we journey together is a blessing to me, for which I am grateful.

God did not promise to excuse us from hardship, but He did promise that we need not struggle alone.  If you or someone you know has need of one-on-one, confidential, Christian caregiving, please make that known to Pastor Geri.  St. Peter is joined with several other congregations to train and support Stephen Ministers so that caregivers can be well-matched with care receivers.

--Submitted by Sarah Hadfield

Carlsbad Transitional Housing and Homeless Shelter, Inc. (CTHHS) was incorporated as a non-profit agency in 1999. Our mission is to promote the social welfare of the City of Carlsbad by aiding in relieving a serious shortage of decent, safe and sanitary housing for families of low or moderate income, and, in so doing to combat discrimination and community deterioration. We also provide information and mentoring services in order to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency and become productive members of our community. Since our founding, we have served 18 families. Currently we own three houses, most client families stay in one of our houses for twelve months.

We work closely with Carlsbad Mental Health Services. Founding and participating churches include Carlsbad Mennonite, Epworth United Methodist, First Christian, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Grace Episcopal, San Jose Catholic, Sunset Church of Christ and St Peter Lutheran.

And then there's Vacation Bible School !!!  What more need be said!!