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Block Print by Mike Newman
Projects
Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting
Daily meditations in words and music.
Your daily prayer online, since 1999
"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."
Saints of the Week, May 14 – May 21
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13
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[Frances Perkins, Public Servant and Prophetic Witness, 1965] |
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14
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15
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[Junia and Andronicus] |
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16
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[Martyrs of Sudan] |
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17
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[William Hobart Hare, Bishop of Niobrara, and of South Dakota, 1909] |
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18
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19
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Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, 988 |
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20
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Alcuin, Deacon, and Abbot of Tours, 804 |
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21
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[John Eliot, Missionary among the Algonquin, 1690] |
May 14 – Easter 5
Group picture, Shrine Mont retreat, 2017. See the pictures and a 4 year review of the Shrine Mont retreats.
The Week Ahead…
May 15 – 181st anniversary, St. Peter’s consecration
May 17 – 10:00am, Ecumenical Bible Study
May 17 – 3:30pm-5pm – Village Harvest Distribution
May 17 – 6 pm, "Road to Emmaus", Christian education
May 21 – 10:00am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade
May 21 – 10:00am, "Road to Emmaus" (repeat from Wednesday)
May 21 – 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, "Rogation Sunday"
May 21 – UTO Collection
Sunday, May 21 Readings and Servers
St. Peter’s at the Washington National Cathdral, May 20
12 people and friends from St. Peter’s journeyed on Sat. May 20, 2017 for a tour of the Cathedral and garden. Story and photos...
Thanks to Jim Heimbach and Catherine for the photos and Elizabeth Heimbach for organizing the trip.
Village Harvest, May 17 keeps up the pace
We served 157 people, the exact same number as April. However,slightly less food was available – 1,429 pounds vs. 1,559 in April. People come from Port Royal, other places in Caroline county, King George, Montross and Westmoreland.
May 15 – 181st anniversary of St. Peter’s Consecration – Here is the 175th
It’s hard to believe it has been 3 years since we celebrated the day. The anniversary of the consecration is this week. Here are some links to refresh your memories:
Historical record May 15, 1836
In 1836, Bishop Richard Channing Moore’s pastoral address at the Diocesan Council in Fredericksburg, tells of the Consecration of St. Peter’s Church:
“On Sunday, May 15, 1836 I went to Port Royal at which place I consecrated a new Church: a building which is a great ornament to the town, and reflects the greatest credit upon those by "whose munificence it has been erected, and which, I trust, will prove a blessing to them and to their children to their latest posterity. The congregation was very large and attentive during the whole service. Prayers were read by several of the clergy who attended on the occasion — the discourse was delivered by myself — the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered — I baptised three children and confirmed two persons. It gives me the greatest pleasure to mention that a very handsome large silver cup was presented for the use of the altar, by a benevolent gentleman in the Parish; and I have every reason to believe that the sound of an organ will soon accompany the voices of the congregation in singing the praises of God and of the Redeemer of mankind. The Rev. (William) Friend stands high in the estimation of his parish; and I trust will see the work of the Lord prosper tinder his pastoral care.”
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175th Anniversary – The Day |
May 15, 2011, 11am service |
Service Honoring our Ancestors May 15th, 2pm
Village Harvest distribution, Wed., May 17, 3:30pm-5pm.
We can use your donations up to the time of distribution. This month please donate paper products to supplement the fresh produce that will be distributed. The numbers and food distributed show significant increases over the same time last year. People are always grateful for the paper products that you provide.
Help unload produce at 9:30AM, come at 2pm to help prepare for the distribution and/or be on hand to help the clients who come to “shop.”
Travel the Road to Emmaus continuing Wed. May 17, 6pm. This week’s topic is Church history. You may also attend the class during Christian Education at 10AM on Sunday morning.
This 6 week class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.
These classes will be held on Wednesday, May 10; Wednesday, May 17: Tuesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 31; Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together. Topics include:
1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe?
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?
Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.
Rogation Sunday, May 21, 2017
Rogation Sunday, a time of celebration and prayer, is a time set aside to appreciate and recognize our dependence upon the land for our food and most importantly upon our dependence of God for the miracles of sprouting seeds, growing plants, and maturing harvest.
The Rogation Days, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day, originated in Vienne, Francein 470 after a series of natural disasters had caused much suffering among the people. Originally, the Christian observance of Rogation was taken over from Graeco-Roman religion, where an annual procession invoked divine favour to protect crops against mildew. Archbishop Mamertus proclaimed a fast and ordered that special litanies and prayers be said as the population processed around their fields, asking God’s protection and blessing on the crops that were just beginning to sprout.
The Latin word rogare means "to ask", thus these were "rogation" processions. The tradition grew of using processional litanies, often around the parish boundaries, for the blessing of the land. These processions concluded with a mass. The Rogation procession was suppressed at the Reformation, but it was restored in 1559. The poet George Herbert interpreted the procession as a means of asking for God’s blessing on the land, of preserving boundaries, of encouraging fellowship between neighbours with the reconciling of differences, and of charitable giving to the poor. The tradition of ‘beating the bounds’ has been preserved in some communities. In the latter a group of old and young members of the community would walk the boundaries of the parish, usually led by the parish priest and church officials, to share the knowledge of where they lay, and to pray for protection and blessings for the lands. Others maintain the traditional use of the Litany within worship. In more recent times, the scope of Rogation has been widened to include petition for the world of work and for accountable stewardship, and prayer for local communities, whether rural or urban.
The Sunday before the Rogation Days came to be considered a part of Rogationtide (or "Rogantide") and was known as Rogation Sunday. The Gospel formerly appointed for that day was from John 16, where Jesus tells his disciples to ask, and ye shall receive.
This is a time to recognize those who till the field for a living. I had a conversation with Johnny Davis, "retired" farmer several years ago. He has done this all of his life I asked simply "what has changed about farming over your life time."
1. There is a better relationship with the land. With modern equipment, the land is disturbed less in contrast to mechanized plows of an earlier generation. Also, with better efficiencies, less fuel is used decreasing c02 gases and lowering these costs
2. Crop insurance. Crop insurance helps to supplement the income of a farmer when there are losses of crops. Approximately 80 percent of acres of major program crops are insured–many at higher levels of coverage.
3. Increased cost of seed and inputs as well as machines. $50 to $250 for a basic 50 pound unit.
May 21, UTO Collection
The mission of the United Thank Offering is to expand the circle of thankful people.
Over 125 years ago, the United Thank Offering was founded as a women’s ministry to help individuals pay more attention to the spiritual blessings in their lives by making small thank offerings to support innovative ministries in the Church for which the church budget had not yet expanded to fund.
The offering raises over $3 million. Where does the money go? Every penny goes to grants that focus on meeting compelling human needs and to expand the mission and ministry of the church at home and throughout the world.
The Diocese of Virginia has received funding for two grant requests for the 2016 granting cycle. Grace Aheron received $2,500 for “Sacred Solidarity: Race Justice at the University of Virginia.” This was one of ten Young Adult grants. In addition, Taylor Poindexter at the Virginia Theological Seminary received $2,260 in funding for expansion of the prayer/meditation gardening project on the seminary grounds. This was one of five Seminarian grants.
Thoughts for your UTO Blue Box:
Give thanks this day for your own health. Drop a coin in your Blue Box as you give thanks and pray for the continued health and improved health of those you love.
Give thanks this day for friendship with others. Drop a coin in your Blue Box as you give thanks and pray for your friendship with others.
Give thanks this day for the UTO’s work with mission by contributing to their work. Check out the following grants that have been supported by the UTO.
Bring your boxes back on May 21, write a check to “St. Peter’s- UTO” and continue the work of this vital ministry.
Lectionary, May 21, Easter 6
I.Theme – We will know Jesus after his resurrection in the Holy Spirit. This Spirit, the Spirit of Truth will abide in us as Jesus abides in us.
"The Advocate" –Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Acts 17:22-31
Psalm – Psalm 66:7-18 Page 674, BCP
Epistle –1 Peter 3:13-22
Gospel – John 14:15-21
This week is somewhat philosophical in the search for meaning – who will support them after Jesus is gone ?
Paul goes to Athens and tries to build a common basis with Greek philosophy and Christ though Christ divinity was hard to muster with the Athenians. There is an appeal to universal wisdom.
So too does the writer of first Peter by presenting Jesus as proclaiming salvation to the lost souls in Hades during the time between Good Friday and Easter morning. The writer tries to ease the suffering of those at his time saying "even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed." This week brings in the Holy Spirit. 1st Peter says "He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."
John’s Gospel tries to provide of meaning of the Holy Spirit. The readings are shifting from Jesus physical presence to the presence of the Holy Spirit which will help the disciples carry on his work. The Holy Spirit is called the advocate, communicating the truth and to be a consistent presence with both the community and the disciple. This Spirit will abide in us as Jesus abides in us.
The Spirit is sent in Jesus’ name and reminds us of what he taught. The spirit is the advocate – one who will support, help and intercede for them. The Paraclete comes to speak to us for Jesus. Jesus emphasizes the intimate unity of Jesus, God, the Spirit, and the believer.