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.
From the meeting
3. Article and video of the Jan 23, 2022 meeting.
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Review the scriptures for this week
Jan. 23 – 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Congregational Meeting – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
- Bulletin Jan. 23, 2022
- Sermon written Jan. 23, 2022
- Sermon Video Jan. 23, 2022
- Commentary Jan. 23, 2022
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.
Jan. 23 – 7:00pm, Compline on Zoom – Join here at 6:30pm for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID 834 7356 6532 Password 748475
Jan 24 – 6:30am – Be Still Meditation group in a 20 minute time of prayer Meeting ID: 879 8071 6417 Passcode: 790929
Jan 25 – 7:00pm – Preparing Your Legacy Meeting ID: 821 8558 7210 Passcode: 957811
More information on the 5 week series…
Bible Study 10am-12pm on Wed. Jan. 26
Preparing Your Legacy – An online series, that began 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. Planning ahead and making decisions early will spare family and loved ones the need to wrestle with what to do about things we have left undone before we die.
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 series will cover various aspects of the planning that can take place to ease the transition from life to death, and to leave clear information for family and friends after death.
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.
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 821 8558 7210 Passcode: 957811
Preparing Your Legacy – Schedule
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7PM Opening the Conversation about End of Life with Yourself and your Family
The Rev. Catherine D. Hicks
Catherine has served as the Rector at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Port Royal, VA, since August of 2010. Before graduating from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2010, Catherine worked as a Medical Social Worker at Mary Washington Hospice from 2000-2007. In addition to earning an MSW degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000, she also holds a Certificate in Aging Studies from VCU. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia.
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 Medical Considerations and Medical Directives
Mrs. Candy Dyer, RN
Candy has served as an RN for 29 years. For 19 years she worked at Mary Washington Hospice as an RN Case Manager and as a Patient Care Coordinator. Her work as a Hospice RN dealt with patient care and medical issues and considerations around death and dying. Candy has taught CNA and LPN students at technology college. For the past six years she has worked with Dr. Patrick McManus, MD, in Fredericksburg, VA. Candy enjoys geriatric nursing. Candy also enjoys crocheting and putting together jigsaw puzzles.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 7PM Final Arrangements—Working with a Funeral Home
Mr. David Storke, Owner and President of Storke Funeral Home, Bowling Green, VA
David graduated from John Tyler Community College with an AAS Degree in Mortuary Science. In 1986 he passed his National Conference Board Exam and State Board Exam and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He purchased the former Powell Funeral Home in Bowling Green, VA in 1991, renaming it Storke Funeral Home. David is an active member of the community, having served in various leadership roles through the years.
Tuesday, February 8, 2022, 7PM Financial Considerations
Mr. Michael Williams, Senior Wealth Advisor and Senior Vice President, South State Wealth, Richmond, VA
Michael earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia in 1983. Following college, he was employed by First Virginia Bank in Retail Banking. After receiving his MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in 1988, Michael worked for Andersen Consulting (Accenture) for 3.5 years before entering the trust and wealth management industry where he has held numerous positions. Michael leads the South State Private Wealth team based in Richmond, VA. He joined South State Bank in 2014.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 7PM Estate Planning
Leigh Frackelton, Jr., Attorney
Leigh’s law practice focuses exclusively in the areas of wills, trusts, estate administration and taxation. Leigh graduated in 1974 from Washington and Lee University where he majored in History. He earned his law degree in 1977 from T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond and then went on to William and Mary where he earned a Master of Law in Taxation in 1978. He passed the Virginia CPA exam in 1989. After finishing his formal education in 1978, Leigh began the practice of law in Fredericksburg. From 1986 until 2021, Leigh taught full time at the University of Mary Washington and is currently a Professor Emeritus in the College of Business. He currently practices law at Parrish, Snead, Franklin, Simpson, PLC in Fredericksburg, VA.
The Sacred Ground Scholarship.A scholarship fund has been established which will help minority students pay for education after high school. Contribute by donating to St Peter’s and put “Sacred Ground Scholarship” on the memo line
Conversion of St. Paul, Jan 25 – in art and words
On January 25 we remember how Saul (or Paul) of Tarsus, formerly a persecutor of the early Christian Church, was led by God’s grace to become one of its chief spokesmen. Here are two art works that depict the event :
“The Conversion on the Way to "The Conversion of St. Paul"
Damascus” Caravaggio 1601 Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767
"and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. " Acts 9: 3-5
The Italian painter Caravaggio painted the one on the left in 1601 for the Cerasi Chapel of the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in Rome. The painting depicts the moment recounted in Chapter 9 of Acts of the Apostles when Saul, soon to be the apostle Paul, fell on the road to Damascus.
Caravaggio is close to the Bible. The horse is there and, to hold him, a groom, but the drama is internalized within the mind of Saul. There is no heavenly apparition. He lies on the ground stunned, his eyes closed as if dazzled by the light.
Caravaggio’s style featured a dark background with usually one point of breaking light. Paul is flung off of his horse and is seen on his back on the ground. Although Paul reflects the most light out of all the characters, the attention is given to him in a strange way. Because Paul is on the ground, he is much smaller than the horse, which is also at the center of the painting but he is pictured closer to the viewer.
The second painting constrast with Caravaggio in the use of color and light. This one has some of the most vibrant colors. Heaven’s light is shown coming dynamically from left to right. The painting is like the key frame in a movie on the conversion. At the time Lepicie was a professor at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris
Read more about Paul’s conversion…
Lectionary, Jan 30, 2022
I. Theme – The power given us through God’s love and presence.
Brow of the Hill Near Nazareth" ” – James Tissot (1886-1894)
"When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way." – Luke 4:28-30
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm – Psalm 71:1-6
Epistle – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel – Luke 4:21-30
Today’s readings reveal the power given us through God’s love and presence. Jeremiah protests his call to prophesy, but God commands him to speak boldly. Paul teaches a quarreling community that, while all the spiritual gifts have value, respect and love for each other deeply empower us. Jesus proclaims that the power of his ministry will not be confined to his hometown or even to his faith community.
The two major themes in this week’s reading stand out in clear relief: Firstly, God’s grace is not always a comfortable and gentle thing to experience. Integral to God’s grace is the work of justice which distresses the comfortable and self-assured (the "no") even as it comforts the distressed (the "yes"). Jeremiah is told that his message will not only build up but break down; The psalmist reflects on his vulnerability and the threat of evil in spite of his long life of relationship with God; The love that Paul speaks about is not an easy or comfortable way to follow, but challenges our self-centredness and lethargy toward others; and finally, Jesus makes it clear that his ministry is not “friendly” and non-disruptive, but a life-changing, all-inclusive confrontation of self-righteousness and injustice
Secondly, as with Jesus’ near execution in Luke, those who choose to follow Christ in his liberating work, must expect that they will find themselves in confrontation with injustice and those who propagate it. This will inevitably lead to great sacrifice and suffering. The work of grace is not all acceptance and healing. Sometimes it is a wounding battle – not least because we are called to love even those we challenge
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 (Jan, 2022) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Jan. 23, 2021 11:00am), and Sermon (Jan 23, 2022) 10. Recent Services: The First Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 9, |
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 23 – Jan 30, 2022
|
23
|
Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts, 1893 |
|
24
|
Florence Li Tim-Oi, 1992 |
|
25
|
The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle |
|
26
|
Timothy & Titus, Companions of Saint Paul |
|
27
|
John Chrysostom, Bishop & Theologian, 407 |
|
28
|
Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Friar, 1274 |
|
29
|
Andrei Rublev, Monk and Iconographer, 1430 |
|
30
|