We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do. We welcome all people to our church.
Special thanks to the Davis family–Johnny and Cookie, Johnathan and Tommy Hicks for the gargantuan clean up job they did at St Peter’s after the destructive recent storm.
Second Sunday after the Epiphany – The Wedding at Cana
The Gospel is the story of the wedding feast at Cana, relates the first “sign” of Jesus’ identity and ministry that “revealed his glory.” The passage from John’s gospel speaks of huge stone jars holding 20–30 gallons of water. Jesus makes use of them for his first miracle, teaching that our journey to the sacred comes through the ordinary. It is fitting to remember the sign he performed at Cana as we move away from the high feast days of Christmas and Epiphany and into Ordinary Time
Review the scriptures for this week
Jan. 16 – 11:00am, Morning Prayer Zoom only due to the approaching storm. – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
Jan. 16 – 7:00pm, Compline on Zoom – Join here at 6:45pm for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID: 878 7167 9302 Passcode: 729195
Jan. 17 – 6:30am – Be Still Meditation group in a 20 minute time of prayer Meeting ID: 879 8071 6417 Passcode: 790929
Jan. 18 – 7:00pm – Preparing Your Legacy Meeting ID: 879 8071 6417 Passcode: 790929
More information on the 5 week series…
Bible Study 10am-12pm on Wed. Jan. 19
Jan. 19 – 3pm-5pm, Village Harvest
If you would like to volunteer, please email Andrea or call (540) 847-9002. Pack bags for distribution 1-3PM Deliver food to client’s cars 3-5PM.
Jan. 20 – 7pm, Sacred Ground discussion
Join in the discussion about how St Peter’s can specifically continue to work toward racial reconciliation and healing in our community.
Preparing Your Legacy – An online series beginning Jan 18, 7pm
Being prepared for the future by having a will, getting your estate in order, talking with a trusted financial planner, learning about medical issues that may arise with age, and even planning your funeral can relieve worry and anxieties now, not only for you, but for your family.
St Peter’s will be featuring speakers including a lawyer, financial planner, funeral home director, and an RN with Hospice experience to provide information and answer questions.
The talks will be about an hour with the guest speaker talking for 30 minutes leaving another 30 minutes for your questions and discussion
These talks will happen by Zoom on Five Tuesday nights beginning on Tuesday, January 18 and ending on Tuesday, February 15th.
This first week, Catherine will be talking about starting the conversation around your end of life preferences with your family and also some of the spiritual issues around end of life. Next week, Candy Dyer, RN, will talk about medical directives, DNR’s, hospice, and other medical issues
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 821 8558 7210 Passcode: 957811
Read the reports!
Jan. 23, 11am. What were the key things that happened in 2021 ? What’s in store for St. Peter’s in 2022 ?
These are other questions will be part of the 2019 congregational meeting held after the 11am service.
Come hear the stories of all that we have accomplished as a parish during this past year and to receive updates on our life together as a parish.
We will be electing two members of the Vestry and be hearing reports of the happenings of the ministries in 2022.
Epiphany – Jan 6 until Lent begins March 2, 2022
Adoration of the Magi – Bartholomäus Zeitblom (c. 1450 – c. 1519)
The English word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “appearing” or “revealing.” Epiphany focuses on God’s self-revelation in Christ.
Epiphany celebrates the twelfth day of Christmas, the coming of the Magi to give homage to God’s Beloved Child.
The Epiphany celebration remembers the three miracles that manifest the divinity of Christ. The celebration originated in the Eastern Church in AD 361, beginning as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Later, additional meanings were added – the visit of the three Magi, Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River with the voice from heaven that identifies Jesus as God’s son, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. These three events are central to the definition of Epiphany, and its meaning is drawn from these occurrences.
Lectionary, Jan. 23, 2022
I. Theme – The importance of community
Prisoners Exercising” – Van Gogh (1890)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm – Psalm 19
Epistle – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Gospel – Luke 4:14-21
Today’s readings address us as a community rather than a group of individuals. In Nehemiah, we hear the heartfelt response of God’s people as God’s word is read aloud to the community restored from exile. Paul compares the community of the Church to a body, each individual member necessary to the body as a whole.
The lectionary readings this week have a pattern of linking the art of reading scripture, interpretation and preaching, but we are wise to remember that these are not the only spiritual gifts. Paul reminds us that we need teachers, leaders, interpreters, those who help others in addition to preaching—but there are greater gifts, gifts of faith, hope, compassion, care—and love. These are the gifts that are needed in our world today. All other gifts—preaching, teaching, leading, etc.—should work to the benefit of God’s gift of love.
Luke shows Jesus as he begins his ministry by proclaiming God’s word to his hometown community gathered at a synagogue. We are watching Jesus of Nazareth work out being the Son of God. At the point of Luke chapter 4, the title "Son of God" does not signify the second person of the Holy Trinity, it does not yet entail actual divinity, Jesus has still to work that out; and though it was already true of him, At this point in the gospel, to be the Son of God is to be the royal prince of Israel, the true king of the Jews, of the House and lineage of David, the entitled one, the anointed one, the christos, the Christ, the Messiah.
Today we read of him going public and developing his campaign. He doesn’t go straight to Jerusalem. He does the synagogues, explaining the book of the law of Moses, the Torah. Like Ezra in our reading from Nehemiah. He read the law and made sense of it so the people could understand it, he was giving them interpretation and inspiration and hope. From our perspective we can see him as God having come among God’s people, God talking to them again. But they would not have seen him as the Messiah, doing that. King David was not a teacher. They saw him as a rabbi and a prophet.
He chooses to announce that he’s the Messiah in his own home town, in the town hall, which is the synagogue. He does it by simply reading from the Isaiah scroll.
Read the Book of Exodus during Epiphany
The second book of the Bible, Exodus recounts the journey of the Israelites from slavery to freedom. We hear the great stories of Moses, from his discovery by Pharoah’s daughter on the bank of the river to the burning bush to his presentation of the Ten Commandments. Along the way, we encounter God’s covenant and explore the grand theme of redemption.
This year, we have a bonus time of scripture engagement: the Good Book Club will dive into the first twenty chapters of Exodus from Epiphany, January 6, to Shrove Tuesday, March 1. For those who want to keep reading, we’ll offer a daily reading guide and an overview of the second half of Exodus. That reading period will conclude on Easter.
Bishop Curry has written, “You can’t read the Book of Exodus without being stirred by the theme of the liberation of people. ”
Links
1. Get Involved
2. The Readings
4. Exodus articles from Covenant
Confession of St. Peter – January 18 – "Who do you say I am "
This is not a confession of the church but relates to Peter, the Apostler ! It relates to an event in Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30 and Luke 9:18-20. Jesus went to the predominately pagan region of Caesarea Philippi to question and deepen his disciples’ understanding of his role and theirs. “Who do you say that I am?”
Here is the Mark reading " Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him."
We discover reading the selection on Peter in Holy Women, Holy Men that we are much like him – both godly and strong, sometimes weak and sinful.
“Peter figures prominently in the Gospels, often stumbling, impetuous, intense and uncouth. ““It was Peter who attempted to walk on the sea, and began to sink; it was Peter who impulsively wished to build three tabernacles on the mountain of the Transfiguration; it was Peter who just before the crucifixion, three times denied knowing his Lord.”
“But it was also Peter who, after Pentecost, risked his life to do the Lord’s work, speaking boldly of his belief in Jesus. It was also Peter, the Rock, whose strength and courage helped the young Church in its questions about the mission beyond the Jewish community. Opposed at first to the baptism of Gentiles, Peter had the humility to admit a change of heart, and to baptize the Roman centurion Cornelius and his household.”
Make a Gift Today! 2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 4. Server Schedule Jan., 2022 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Dec., 2021) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Jan. 16, 2021 11:00am), and Sermon (Jan 16, 2022) 10. Recent Services: |
Block Print by Mike Newman
Projects
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, Jan 16 – Jan 23, 2022
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16
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17
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Antony, Abbot in Egypt, 356 |
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18
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The Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle |
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19
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Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095 |
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20
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Fabian, Bishop and Martyr of Rome, 250 |
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21
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Agnes [& Cecilia], Martyrs at Rome, 304 & c.230 |
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22
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Vincent, Deacon of Saragossa, and Martyr, 304 |
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23
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Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts, 1893 |