Clockwise from left. Bundled up!, four birthdays today, the Peace, Dramatic Reading from Canticle 16 – Song of Zechariah, Heifer project collection, Lighting of the Advent candles
Pictures and text from Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018
The Week Ahead…
Dec. 9 – 5:30pm – Everett’s Christmas Party
Dec. 10 – 4:00pm – Vestry
Dec. 12 – 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study
Dec. 14 – 7:30am – ECM at Horne’s
Dec. 16 – 10:00am – Adults – Conversation and Prayer in the Parish House -“Rejoice! What promises of God give you cause to rejoice?” Help prepare for the greening of the church at 11AM.
Dec. 16 – 10:00am – Living the Good News
Dec. 16 – 11:00am – Holy Eucharist, Rite II – Deadline gifts for the Endowment Fund, Episcopal Relief & Development
Dec. 16 – 11:00am – Decorating St. Peter’s Christmas Tree
Sunday, Dec. 16, Readings and Servers
Christmas Deadlines
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Project |
Focus |
Items |
Collection |
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ECM |
Local |
Funds |
Dec. 16 (Christmas) |
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Endowment Fund |
Local |
Funds |
Dec. 16. Your gift builds the future of St. Peter’s |
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Episcopal Relief & Development |
International |
Funds |
By Dec. 16 Help ERD support cleanup for Hurricane Florence and related disasters. Your gift provides their partners on the ground with critical supplies, such as food and water, pastoral care and other urgent needs for communities impacted by Hurricane Michael and other ravaging storms. Funds are also used to assist with the long-term efforts needed to rebuild and heal. |
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Village Harvest |
Local |
Food stuffs, Funds |
By Dec. 19 (for Dec.) Please donate toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex and other paper products |
Two Opportunities for Adult Christian Ed.
1. Sundays in the Parish House during Advent – Conversation and Prayer
A. Behold! Dec. 2, 2018, 10am – What are you seeking during the season of Advent?
B. Proclaim! Dec. 9, 2018, 10am – What is God proclaiming to us, and what are we to proclaim to the world?
C. Rejoice! Dec. 16, 2018, 10am – What promises of God give you cause to rejoice?
2. Advent Online learning – Luke’s Canticles 4 canticles for Advent. Learn at your own pace, as little or as much.
Three years ago during Advent we used Paul Gordon-Chandler’s book Songs in Waiting to present Luke’s 4 canticles. It is appropriate to do this again as we are entering Year C which concentrates on Luke’s Gospel. These are wonderful stories of Mary’s Annunciation, Elizabeth and Zechariah, the Shepherds and Simeon that enlarge anyone’s Advent/Christmas season.
This time we are trying a new approach, an online course, which can be taken at any time in any order in any amount and anywhere there is an internet connection. It is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. (Advent at Starbucks!) You don’t have to complete all lessons to get the benefits. 5 lessons – try one each week.
St. Peter’s art during Advent
Artist Mary Peterman has donated art to be sold during Advent.
This will be raffle open on Sun., Dec. 2 and close on Sun., Dec. 16 when the winner will be announced. Raffle tickets are 1 for $5 and 3 for $10, bought in the Parish House.
Proceeds from Mary Peterman’s art will go to the Heifer Project.
Why cows? Multipurpose animals like cows are reliable sources of lifesaving milk and milk products beneficial in combating malnutrition throughout the world. These animals also provide energy by hauling heavy loads and can be rented to neighbors for extra income.
Decorating St. Peter’s Christmas Tree and donations for the Detention Center
The Greening of the Church. This year, St Peter’s will have a church Christmas tree. Next Sunday, Dec. 16 bring an ornament that holds special meaning for you to decorate the church tree. And please bring an ornament for the Christmas ornament swap.
“The Great Tree of Christmas”
Author Alexander Shaia talks the Christmas tree, a tradition adopted from the Celts. A fascinating perspective!
The chaplain at the detention center needs Christmas cards, envelopes and stamps. Please bring your donation to church next Sunday.
Advent Calendar
Click the calendar to open
Advent Thoughts
Advent is a season of Watching and Waiting. It is a season of leaning into hope
Lord Jesus:
Come into our world and heal its wounds
Come into your church and raise it up
Come into our homes and make them holy
Come into our work and make it fruitful
Come into our minds and give us clarity
Come into our lives and make them beautiful
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
God of the past, the present and the future, grant me patience when I must wait, courage when it’s time to take action, and the wisdom to know when to wait and when to act. Amen.
Golden Hour at St. Peter’s
Come to St. Peter’s in the late fall and early winter between 4pm and 6pm and the beauty is overwhelming. These were taken on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016.
Advent 1 links
Advent 2 links
Additional Meditations:
Suzanne Guthrie – “A Way in the Wilderness” (2014)
Daniel Berrigan – “Advent Credo” (2004)
Catherine Adler – “Advent Hands”
From the Presiding Bishop-
Advent Messages 2012-2017
From the Archibishop of Canterbury – An Advent course “Getting
From the Diocese of Virginia –
Learning the Art of Waiting in Advent (2012)
Rt. Rev. Susan Goff
Be Awake, Alert, Aware, Alive, Part 1 (2013)
Be Awake, Alert, Aware, Alive, Part 2 (2013)
Rt. Rev. Susan Goff
“Send us Now Into the World in peace.” (2018)
Rt. Rev. Susan Goff
2018 Devotions from the Diocese of Virginia (2018)
Liturgical Layers – Advent
Bishop Shannon Johnston
Christmas Flowers
Linda Hemming, Aquia Church
Advent Waiting in Hope
Jeff Borden
The surprising origins of the Twelve Days of Christmas
Make Ready the Feast highlights one scripture citation and one recipe during Advent
Explore Advent, Part 3 – Over the Sundays in Advent 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 continue with Advent 3.
A. Voices for Advent 3
“In Advent the church emphasizes these ways of continual change: Repentance. Conversion of life. Self-examination. Awakening. Deepening. “
– Suzanne Guthrie
B. “You Don’t Want to Be a Prophet (Isaiah, Luke)
“Christmas without Anglicans?” – Anglican contributions to Advent and Christmas carols.
Christmas Deadlines
1. Poinsettias for Christmas Eve and Christmas – If you like to donate a poinsettia for Christmas, the cost is $10. Please complete the order form and include a separate check to St. Peter’s with poinsettia in the memo line. Deadline Sunday, Dec. 9th.
2. Donation to the Endowment Fund. By Dec. 16
3. The Christmas pageant will be Dec. 23, 2017 as part of the 11am service.
2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Dec., 2018) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Dec. 16, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Dec. 9, 2018)
10. Recent Services: |
Print by Mike Newman
Projects
| Colors | Season | Dates | |
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| Dark Blue | Blue | Advent 1-2 | Dec 2-Dec 15 |
| Pink* | 3rd Wk of Advent | Dec 16-Dec 23 | |
| Dark Blue | Blue | Advent 4 | Dec 24 |
| Dark Blue | Blue | Christmas Eve | Dec 24 |
| White | Gold | Christmas | Dec 25-Jan 5 |
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, Dec. 9 – Dec. 16
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9
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Atilano Coco, Priest, 1936 |
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10
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Thomas Merton, Monastic and Writer, 1968 |
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11
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12
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Francis de Sales, Bishop, & Jane de Chantal, Monastic, Workers of Charity, 1622 & 1641 |
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13
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Lucy (Lucia), Martyr at Syracuse, 304 Ella Baker, Social Reformer, 1986 Samuel Johnson, Priest, 1772 |
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14
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Juan de la Cruz (John of the Cross), Mystic, 1591 Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, Educator, 1906 |
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15
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Nino of Georgia, Missionary, c.332 |
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16
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