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Block Print by Mike Newman
Projects
Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting
3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
Knowing that not everyone prays at the same pace, you have control over the pace of the retreat. After each screen, a Continue button will appear. Click it when you are ready to move on. If you are new to online prayer, the basic timing of the screens will guide you through the experience.
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, Nov. 26 -Dec. 3
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26
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[Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter, 1748] |
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27
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28
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Kamehameha and Emma, King and Queen of Hawaii, 1864, 1885 |
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29
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30
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Saint Andrew the Apostle |
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1
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Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637; also [Charles de Foucauld, Hermit and Martyr in the Sahara, 1916] |
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2
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Channing Moore Williams, Missionary Bishop in China and Japan, 1910 |
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3
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[Francis Xavier, Missionary to the Far East, 1552] |
Advent which begins on Sunday Dec. 3 is like a breath of fresh air -a new church year, a new set of Gospel readings from Mark, and the anticipation of the birth of Christ. During each of the 4 Sundays of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love by lighting the Advent candles.
There is a color change in the church. Today, many churches have begun to use blue instead of purple, as a means of distinguishing Advent from Lent. Blue also signifies the color of the night sky or the waters of the new creation in Genesis 1. Blue emphasizes the season is also about hope and anticipation of the coming of Christ. Christ is about transformation as the sky changes from dark to light filling our lives with grace.
The altar trimmings and a stole for Catherine were made last year by artist Susan Tilt. They feature blue as well as space-age design that goes well with the season. The Isaiah reading this week hints at this.."O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,so that the mountains would quake at your presence."
Here is 2016’s Advent 1 in pictures.
December, 2017 Newsletter
Check out our Dec., 2017 newsletter with upcoming events of the season, news of St. Peter’s and the Diocese and a recap of Outreach activities in Nov.
November 22, 2017 – Thanksgiving
A small but an amiable crowd for the Thanksgiving, 4:30pm service
Description, pictures, sermon, bulletin. The great hymns were sung. There is a video of "O Jesus, crowned with all renown", H 292 which was the last hymn
November 26, 2017 – Christ the King
"Christ Surrounded by Musician Angels" , 1480’s – Hans Memling
The Week Ahead…
Nov. 28 – #Giving Tuesday. Consider a donation for our food ministry to help us reach our $500 goal! St. Peter’s Episcopal, P. O. Box 399, Port Royal , VA 22535. Here is our #GivingTuesday page. $10 feed 10 people, 80 pounds of healthy food
Nov. 29 – 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study
Dec. 1 – 10:00am – Choir retreat at Brad’s house
Dec. 3 – 10:00am – Dickens, A Christmas Carol and the Bible
Dec. 3 – 10:00am – Children’s Christian Ed with Becky
Dec. 3 – 11:00am – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Advent 1
Dec. 3 – UTO offering due
A St. Peter’s Advent and Christmas
Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus as one of us. Jesus brought God’s light into the world during his lifetime and we expect him to return to reign in glory at the end of time.
1. Choir Retreat – Fri Dec 1,10:00am – The choir will be gathering to rehearse Christmas music followed by lunch. Set aside some time to pray this morning for Brad Volland, our organist, and our dedicated choir.
2. Dickens A Christmas Carol and Bible” – Sunday mornings 10am, Dec. 3, 10
Where to find it ?
2 The book and audio are available free at Project Gutenberg on the web. It is available in plain text, formatted text, Kindle for book readers (with or with images). It is available in in audio in mp3 format and itunes audiobook
3. Port Royal Christmas Lighting – Fri. Dec. 8, 5:30pm-8pm – at the town Fire Hall. Food , games, songs and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
4. Dec. 10 – Poinsettia form , ECM Christmas donations due
5. Dec. 17 – Endowment Fund gifts due
6. Christmas Play on Advent 3 – Sun. Dec. 17, 11am. Each year it’s unique and at the same time a wonderful introduction to Christmas week.
7. Everett’s Christmas – Sun. Dec. 17, 5:30pm. Gather round the Everett’s table for a delicious pot luck dinner, over the top Christmas decorations, and Christmas caroling. All are welcome.
8. Christmas Eve – Sun., Dec. 24, 4:30pm – Holy Eucharist Rite II. Celebrating Christ coming among us.
9. Lessons and Carols – Sun. Dec. 31, 11am. This traditional Anglican service, developed in England, gives us the opportunity to hear the story of our salvation in Jesus Christ through scripture and song.
10. New Year’s Eve Gala – Sun. Dec. 31, 6pm. Parish House
Choir Retreat, Dec. 1, 10:00am
Fri’s choir retreat has been an annual event for several years. It is a combination of a separate practice away from the demands of Sunday to concentrate on the Christmas music as well as an opportunity to prepare a meal and enjoy each other’s company.
This year’s retreat will be held again at Brad’s home in Stafford :
54 Woodbourne Lane
Stafford VA 22554
Home 540-659-8568
Cell 540-223-0127
Sunday, Dec. 3, Readings and Servers
Advent in 2 minutes Check out this Youtube video
Advent in 1 minute– A 2015 video from St. Mary’s Cypress
Bishop Goff on Advent – the most wonderful time of year
Diocese of Va. Advent Meditations, Week 1
Explore Advent, Part 1– Over the next 4 Sundays there will be a presentation each week focusing on that week’s scriptures, art and commentary and how they demonstrate the themes of advent. Let’s get started with Advent 1.
Advent is the time when we change to a different year in the Lectionary. This year we move from Year A to Year and from a concentration on the Gospel of Matthew to Mark. This year we move from Year A to B and from a concentration on the Gospel of Matthew to Mark. Here is an introduction to the Gospel of Mark. There are several articles which are a general introduction to Mark 1. Shortest from christianity.about.com 2. Longer from the Catholic Bishops 3. Longest from a Catholic portal. Each of the readings is covered separately
Interested in the Church calendar ? Matthew’s interest about time in First Advent lends itself to understand how we measure time.
Advent resources from the Episcopal Church Foundation.
The Season of Advent is alive with colors, candles, wreaths and song. David Bratcher has written a wonderful article on Advent traditions.
There are several articles/presentations about the infancy narratives 1. Brief summary between Matthew and Luke 2. Longer comparison 3. Web comparison
Advent is a time when we take on different disciplines. Here is Rev. Brad Jackson’s 20 minutes of Advent a day
Advent is a time of meditations.
There will be a number of these meditations added through the season.
1. From Kentucky Crescent Hill Baptist which has meditations from Advent 1 through Christmas.
2. From Creighton University, a Jesuit college – Praying Advent
3. From Wales, Advent Themes and Resources. This has a "pop-up" lectionary at the bottom.
4. From the Episcopal Church Foundation’s Vital Practices –
A. What Fresh Hell is This – The wait demanded of us in Advent is a more difficult one with no tangible outcome accessible to us. A reflection to think about Advent through Joseph’s eyes as he travels to Bethlehem with Mary.
B. Secrets of the Advent Artichoke. Feeling pressure to have everything done already? “Secrets of the Advent artichoke” for a season in which we prepare and anticipate
C. Taking Advent to the Streets. Some real Advent actions throughout the season
5. Barbara Crafton on spiritual discipline in Advent (Credo)
6. Reflection on Advent – Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury shares an Advent Reflection.
Advent is a time of music. Here is a link to National Cathedral’s Advent Lessons and Carols to be held on Dec. 10 .This is the one held Nov. 27, 2016
Advent is a time of learning.
Trinity Church in New York is releasing a video series by Dr. Michael Battle entitled "The Book of Revelation: The End of the World or Heaven on Earth?". It is based on his book Heaven on Earth: God’s Call to Community in the Book of Revelation.What if Revelation is not about end times, but rather a guide to how we create heaven on earth, right now?
