frontpages – Page 20 – St. Peter's Episcopal

Frontpage, Dec. 9, 2018

December 9, 2018, Advent 2

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

Videos from Sunday

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

Project	Focus	Items	Collection
ECM	Local	Funds	Dec. 16 (Christmas)
Endowment Fund	Local	Funds	Dec. 16. Your gift builds the future of St. Peter’s
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.
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.

See the pictures

Article

Advent 1

Advent 1 links

Advent 2

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

More Out of the Bible”

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

Advent 3

Advent 3

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.

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Dec., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Dec., 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Dec. 16, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Dec. 9, 2018)

10. Recent Services:

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year C, 2018-19

Colors		Season	Dates
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

Daily “Day by Day”

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.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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.”

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Dec. 9 – Dec. 16

9	Atilano Coco, Priest, 1936
10	Thomas Merton, Monastic and Writer, 1968
11
12	Francis de Sales, Bishop, & Jane de Chantal, Monastic, Workers of Charity, 1622 & 1641
13	Lucy (Lucia), Martyr at Syracuse, 304 Ella Baker, Social Reformer, 1986 Samuel Johnson, Priest, 1772
14	Juan de la Cruz (John of the Cross), Mystic, 1591 Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, Educator, 1906
15	Nino of Georgia, Missionary, c.332
16

Frontpage, Dec. 2, 2018

December 2, 2018, Advent 1

Pictures and text from this Sunday, Dec. 2

Videos from Sunday, Dec. 2

The Week Ahead…

Dec. 2 – 4:00pm – Advent Lessons and Carols at the National Cathedral

Dec. 5 – 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study

Dec. 5 – 5:00pm – Village Dinner

Dec. 7 – 5:30pm -8:00pm – Port Royal Christmas Tree Lighting, 2018

Dec. 8 – 10:00am – Choir Retreat at Brad’s home

Dec. 9 – 10:00am – Living the Good News – Children

Dec. 9 – 10:00am – Adults – Conversation and Prayer in the Parish House -“Proclaim! What is God proclaiming to us, and what are we to proclaim to the world?”

Dec. 9 – 11:00am – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Advent 2. Heifer banks due, Poinsettia form due

Dec. 9 – 5:30pm – Everett’s Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 9 Readings and Servers

A wonderful event! The story, pictures and videos are
here

We did it!! Thanks to those who contributed monetarily or in spirit. This provides 6 months support in 2019. It is also 25% higher than Giving Tuesday a year ago.

Deadlines Season of Giving

Project	Focus	Items	Collection
ECM	Local	Funds	Nov. 4. By Nov 18 (Thanksgiving) Dec. 16 (Christmas)
Heifer Project	International.	Funds	Nov. 11 – Dec. 9, Fill the Ark!
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.
Village Harvest	Local	Food stuffs, Funds	By Nov 21 (for Nov), By Dec. 19 (for Dec.) Please donate toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex and other paper products

Getting Ready for Advent!

The name “Advent” actually comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming.” It is a reminder of how the Jewish nation waited for the Messiah and how Christians are now waiting for the return of Christ.

Advent which begins on Sunday Dec. 2 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.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event.

The Advent wreath, four candles on a wreath of evergreen, is shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God. The Advent Wreath is beautiful and evocative reminder of the life-giving qualities of light. The evergreens used in the wreath are reminders of ongoing life, even in the face of death.

There are 4 candles, one for each week in Advent, are used with one larger white candle in the middle as the Christ candle. During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Three of the candles are purple. This is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King.

The Third candle is pink, a color of joy, the joy that Jesus is almost here and fasting is almost order. Gaudete Sunday (from the Latin meaning “rejoice”) which is taken from Philippians 4:4-5, the Entrance Antiphon of the day.

Advent begins in a season of darkness but using the Advent wreath we see light winning over darkness. Lighting candles is a way we can keep time in Church And as the season passes, and another candle is lit each week, light finally wins out over darkness with the turn of the solstice in the stars and the birth of Christ on the ground.

At the center of the wreath is a white candle, which is called the Christ Candle. This candle is lit on Christmas Eve as a reminder that Jesus, the light of the world, has been born and has come to dwell with us.

It is a season of waiting, of rest but also a time to find new beginnings. Since the 900s Advent has been considered the beginning of the Church year. It is antidote for our society’s frantic behavior during the holiday season. There is so much in the world that tells you, you are not enough or you haven’t do enough before Christmas but you have to find out during Advent that you are enough.

The first week of Advent is all about hope. Lamentations 3: 21-24: “Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; “therefore I will wait for him.” (NIV).

The altar changes during Advent to represent the new season, particularly in the use of color. 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.

Advent Traditions

Advent Wreath

Advent Calendar

Click the calendar to open

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.Bethlehem Walk, Sun, Dec. 2, After Sun. Potluck luncheon This is a life-sized of outside reenactment of the city of Bethlehem at the time of Christ. The tour is outside and takes approximately 45 minutes Salem Baptist Church 465 Broad Street Road, Manakin, VA 23103 (6 miles west of Short Pump)

2.Village Dinner, Wed., Dec. 5, 5pm-6:30pm Spiral baked ham, Festive scalloped corn, BeBe’s green beans , Pineapple upside down cake –

3.Port Royal Christmas Lighting – Fri., Dec. 7, 5:30-8pm at the town Fire Hall. Food , games, songs and the lighting of the Christmas tree. –

4.Choir Retreat – Sat. Dec. 8, 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.

5. Dec. 9 – Poinsettia form , ECM Christmas donations due

6. Everett’s Christmas – Sun. Dec. 9, 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.

7. Dec. 16 – Endowment Fund, Episcopal Relief & Development gifts due

8. Christmas Play on Advent 4 – Sun. Dec. 23, 11am. Videos Each year it’s unique and at the same time a wonderful introduction to Christmas week.

9. Christmas Eve – Sun., Dec. 24, 4:00pm music, 4:30pm service – Holy Eucharist Rite II. Celebrating Christ coming among us.

10. Lessons and Carols – Sun. Dec. 30, 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.

11. New Year’s Eve Gala – Sun. Dec. 31, 6pm. Parish House

Two Opportunities for Adult Christian Ed.

1. Sundays in the Parish House during Advent – Conversation and Prayer

1. Behold! Dec. 2, 2018, 10am – What are you seeking during the season of Advent?

2. Proclaim! Dec. 9, 2018, 10am – What is God proclaiming to us, and what are we to proclaim to the world?

3. 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.

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.

Advent Connections

Explore with author Alexander Shaia connections – between the Creche and God’s greatest gift and the connection between the winter solstice in Dec, a few days before the birth of Christ

God’s Grace comes to us -St. Francis and the first creche. St. Francis creche represents God is here living with us in humanity.The Manger is the visible expression of when we find our lives in the deepest dark just as when nature on this planet is in the deepest dark that’s when God’s greatest grace comes to our lives. That’s when the turnaround comes. That’s when new hope, new certainty and new trust erupts and those names – hope, love compassion, reconciliation, justice – the freshness of those in us is like the birth of the baby Jesus.

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What is connection between the Solstice and the birth of Christ ? The Gospel of John tells when God breaths out the cosmos, it the moving visible manifesation of Christ. Darkness through the winter solstice is the beginning of fresh radiance – the sun and the son

Advent 1

Advent 1 links

Advent 2

Explore Advent, Part 2

Second Advent readings affirm the coming of a deliverer, the Messiah—Jesus! Malachi announces the approach of God’s messenger, who will refine like fire. Baruch calls for the exiles to celebrate their return home. Paul reminds us to wait for Jesus’ return in glory. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus’ public ministry, calling his listeners to repentance.

“Advent is a time to look for “desert places”: the place of solitude, the place of true silence in which we can become fully awake to our sin and God’s forgiving grace which alone can heal it.”-Br. Robert L’Esperance

This week we focus on John the Baptist through scripture, art and commentary. Let’s move to Advent 2.

John the Baptist presentation.

John the Baptist in art

St Nicholas Day is December 6.

Here is a presentation that provides the background of this saint who has had a colorful and varied history over 1800 years.

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 – Link

From the Episcopal and Lutheran churches – Advent devotions for each Sunday in Advent

From the Archibishop of Canterbury – An Advent course “Getting More Out of the Bible”

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

National Geographic special on Christ’s Tomb

From the Magazine:

Story from the December, 2017 issue The Real Jesus: What Archaeology Reveals About His Life

From the Story:

“At each stop on my journey through Galilee, Jesus’ faint footprints seemed to grow a bit more distinct, a shade more discernible. But it’s not until I return to Jerusalem that they finally come into vivid focus. In the New Testament, the ancient city is the setting for many of his miracles and most dramatic moments: his triumphal entry, his cleansing of the Temple, his healing miracles at the Pools of Bethesda and Siloam—both of which have been uncovered by archaeologists—his clashes with the religious authorities, his last Passover meal, his agonized prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, his trial and execution, his burial and Resurrection.

“…The traditional location of that tomb, in what is now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is considered the holiest site in Christianity. It’s also the place that sparked my quest for the real Jesus. In 2016 I made several trips to the church to document the historic restoration of the Edicule, the shrine that houses the reputed tomb of Jesus. Now, during Easter week, I return to see it in all its soot-scrubbed, reinforced glory.”

Christmas Deadlines

2. The Christmas pageant will be Dec. 23, 2018 as part of the 11am service. If you would to participate, please let Catherine know.

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Dec., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Dec., 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Dec. 9, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Dec. 2, 2018)

10. Recent Services:

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year C, 2018-19

Colors		Season	Dates
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

Daily “Day by Day”

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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.”

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Dec. 2 – Dec. 9

2	Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637
3	Francis Xavier, Missionary to the Far East, 1552
4	John of Damascus, Priest & Theologian, c. 760
5	Clement of Alexandria, Priest & Theologian, c. 210
6	Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c. 342
7	Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, 397
8	Richard Baxter, Pastor and Writer, 1691 Narcisa De Jesus Martillo Moran, Mystic & Worker of Charity, 1869 William West Skiles, Deacon & Missionary, 1862
9	Atilano Coco, Priest, 1936

Frontpage, November 25, 2018

November 25, 2018, Christ the King

Pictures and text from this Sunday, Nov. 25

The Week Ahead…

Nov. 27 – Giving Tuesday (all day)

Nov. 27 – 3:00pm – ECW Tea

Nov. 28 – 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study

Dec. 2 – 10:00am – Adults – Conversation and Prayer in the Parish Houses – “Behold! What are you seeking during Advent”

Dec. 2 – 10:00am – Children -Living the Good News

Dec. 2 – 11:00am – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Advent 1

Dec. 2 – UTO offering due

Dec. 2 – 12:00pm – Coffee Hour potluck

Dec. 2 – 1:00pm – Bethlehem Walk (Salem Baptist Church 465 Broad Street Road, Manakin, VA)

Dec. 2 – 4:00pm – Advent Lessons and Carols at the National Cathedral

Sunday, Dec. 2 Readings and Servers

Support the Village Harvest on Nov. 27, Giving Tuesday

A $10 donation feeds 6 people, 12 pounds each. It provides 70 pounds of food and $420 in total value!
A $20 donation feeds 12 people, 12 pounds each. It provides 140 pounds of food and $840 in total value!
Donating $200 puts you and or your organization into the “Village Club” for special recognition since you have covered the food for one Village Harvest!

How to Give ? Two ways:

1 Go online on Nov. 27 and use St. Peter’s new PayPal account and donate via credit card using this link or churchsp.org/givingtuesday2018/

2 On or before Nov. 27 make out a check to St. Peter’s with “Giving Tuesday” in the memo line

St. Peter’s Church
P. O. Box 399
Port Royal, Virginia 22535 or put it in the plate.

We have an online recap of the Village Harvest over 4 years here and one used at church ‎here

ECM provides Thanksgiving for 5 families

From Helmut Linne von Berg – “Caroline County Social Services identified five needy households in the two Port Royal trailer parks for us. Three persons in one, two individuals in another and three single person households. On Tuesday, 20 November, ECM men took the following items to each of the households:

Oven browned turkey breast, (the three person household also received a package of smoked ham)
Mashed potatoes,
Turkey gravy,
Whole berry cranberry sauce,
Green beans,
Sweet corn,
Mixed veggies,
Dinner rolls,
Pumpkin/sweet potato pies,
Whipped cream,
Smart Balance buttery spread,
Apple sauce,
A gallon apple cider for each household

“Without a doubt, most of the recipients were quite needy and very much appreciated our gifts.”

The complete article is here.

Getting Ready for Advent!

Advent which begins on Sunday Dec. 2 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.

Here is 2017’s Advent 1 in pictures.

A St. Peter’s Advent and Christmas

2.Village Dinner, Wed., Dec. 5, 5pm-6:30pm Spiral baked ham, Festive scalloped corn, BeBe’s green beans , Pineapple upside down cake –

3.Port Royal Christmas Lighting – Fri., Dec. 7, 5:30-8pm at the town Fire Hall. Food , games, songs and the lighting of the Christmas tree. –

5. Dec. 9 – Poinsettia form , ECM Christmas donations due

6. Everett’s Christmas – Sun. Dec. 9, 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.

7. Dec. 16 – Endowment Fund, Episcopal Relief & Development gifts due

8. Christmas Play on Advent 4 – Sun. Dec. 23, 11am. Videos Each year it’s unique and at the same time a wonderful introduction to Christmas week.

9. Christmas Eve – Sun., Dec. 24, 4:00pm music, 4:30pm service – Holy Eucharist Rite II. Celebrating Christ coming among us.

11. New Year’s Eve Gala – Sun. Dec. 31, 6pm. Parish House

Two Opportunities for Adult Christian Ed.

1. Sundays in the Parish House during Advent – Conversation and Prayer

1. Behold! Dec. 2, 2018, 10am – What are you seeking during the season of Advent?

2. Proclaim! Dec. 9, 2018, 10am – What is God proclaiming to us, and what are we to proclaim to the world?

3. Rejoice! Dec. 16, 2018, 10am – What promises of God give you cause to rejoice? Help prepare for the greening of the church at 11AM.

2. Advent Online learning – Luke’s Canticles 4 canticles for Advent. Learn at your own pace, as little or as much.

Advent

Advent 1

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 B to Year C and from a concentration on the Gospel of Mark to Luke.

Here is an introduction to the Gospel of Luke. Here is a shorter one “Living the Good News” There are several articles which are a general introduction to Luke on the web: 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.

#AdventWord Help make an online Advent Calendar for 2018.

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.

Just on the Advent Wreath

There are several articles/presentations about the infancy narratives 1. Brief summary between Matthew and Luke 2. Longer 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 on Dec. 10, 2017 Here is a link to the Dec. 2, 2018 event.

Advent is a time of learning.

Trinity Church in New York has released 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?

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Dec., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Dec., 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Dec. 2, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Nov. 25, 2018)

Dec. 2, 2018

10. Recent Services:

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year B, 2017-18

White

Gold

Christ the King

Nov 25-Dec 1

White

Yellow

Daily “Day by Day”

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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.”

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Nov. 25 – Dec. 2

25	James Otis Sargent Huntington, Priest and Monk, 1935
26 26	Sojourner Truth, Liberator and Prophetic Witness, 1883 Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter, 1748
27
28	Kamehameha and Emma, King and Queen of Hawaii, 1864, 1885
29	Dorothy Day, Activist, Contemplative & Writer, 1980
30	Saint Andrew the Apostle
1	Charles de Foucauld, Monastic and Martyr, 1916
2	Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637

Frontpage, Oct. 14, 2018

October 14, 2018, Pentecost 21

The bell ringers, Light and dark on the Rappahannock River, Guest minister Ron Okrasinski greets the congregaton after the sermon on the “Rich Young Ruler”, Fall Leaves

Pictures, sermon link and text from this Sunday, October 14

The Week Ahead…

Oct. 17 – 10am-12pm, Ecumenical Bible Study

Oct. 17 – Village Harvest, 3pm-5pm

Help needed: 9:30ish, help needed to unload the truck. Many hands make light work. 1PM, help needed to set up. 3-5PM help needed for the distribution itself. Help the shoppers gather what they need. You can still bring cleaning supplies on the day since these are not available at the Food Bank. Thank you for your contributions of both food and time. Everyone can share in making this important St Peter’s ministry happen.

Oct. 18 – An Afternoon in Guatemala, 4:30pm

Oct. 21 – 10:00am, Living the Good News Christian Ed for children

Oct. 21 – 11:00am, Holy Eucharist Rite II

Sunday, Oct. 21 Readings and Servers

October’s Village Harvest, Oct. 17

For Oct’s Village Harvest on Oct 17 we are distributing cleaning supplies. Help needed: 9:30ish, help needed to unload the truck. Many hands make light work. 1PM, help needed to set up. 3-5PM help needed for the distribution itself. Help the shoppers gather what they need. You can still bring cleaning supplies on the day since these are not available at the Food Bank.

Thank you for your contributions of both food and time. Everyone can share in making this important St Peter’s ministry happen. Last month we fed 112 and we had ample foods to serve many more over 13 pounds available per person.

All Saints Remembrances for All Saints Sunday

The All Saint’s Day Service is Nov 4.

Email Catherine by Monday, Oct. 28 with the names of those who have died in the past year that you would like to have remembered.

From Catherine – “We’ll enjoy some traditional Guatemalan food together, and I’ll talk about my time in Antigua, Guatemala. I want to tell you about all sorts of things that I experienced in my time away and to share with you how my experiences affected me. I’ll share some of my photos with you, and please bring your questions.” Please let her know if you will be there so there will be enough food for all!

Email Catherine

Celebrating Luke, Oct. 18

We move to the Gospel of Luke in December as part of the three year Gospel cycle – Matthew, Mark (this year) and Luke (next year) in Year C. Surprisingly, most of the New Testament came from Luke’s hand.

An article on Luke is here.

Lectionary, Pentecost 22, Proper 24

I. Theme – The call to discipleship means service and sacrifice.

Robert Hord’s Chalice

"Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?" – Mark 10:38

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Old Testament – Isaiah 53:4-12
Psalm – Psalm 91:9-16 Page 720, BCP
Epistle – Hebrews 5:1-10
Gospel – Mark 10:35-45

Today’s readings confront us with the reality that the call to discipleship means service and sacrifice. In Isaiah, the “suffering servant” of Israel, though innocent, takes on the sin, sorrow, pain and oppression of God’s people. According to Hebrews, Jesus, the full embodiment of the “suffering servant,” identifies with humanity and offers himself as final high priest and ultimate sacrifice.

In the gospel, Jesus reverses our understanding of greatness: those who would lead must serve. One reason we are so disgusted by John and James may be that we recognize a shred of their ambition lurking within ourselves. We have probably all had the experience of launching a project with confident enthusiasm (and utter naivete). Whether it’s a food drive for the hungry, a new family budget or a vow to get shipshape organized, we plunge ahead with dreams of glory.

Like James and John, we gloss over any possible difficulties. Reality hits with a clunk. And then we appreciate the enormous difference between the apostles pre- and post-resurrection. When they rely on themselves, they are a sorry lot: self-seeking, argumentative, downright stupid. Yet Jesus can see beyond all that and can assure them of fellowship with himself. How? Perhaps he sees them as they would become, filled with the Spirit after Pentecost: transformed into courageous witnesses whose dreams of greatness had been replaced by the humble goal of serving the lord they love and others

The Gospel: "Speaking to the Soul: The Next Level"

From the Episcopal Cafe

Mark 10:35-45

"We are two-thirds of the way through Mark’s gospel, and James and John have gotten the message…well, they’ve gotten part of the message, anyway. They have seen the miracles. They have travelled with Jesus and heard him preach the new covenant. And that’s where they get lost. They have seen Jesus in the glory of the Transfiguration. They have come to believe he truly is the Messiah. And they think they deserve a share of his glory. They want the best seats in the house of the Lord… and they’re not shy about asking for them.

"Jesus listens. He sees how far they have come and how far they have yet to go. He knows it’s time to take them to the next level. And it’s not the level they were planning on. They are angling for positions of prestige and power. Jesus is committed to a life of selfless love and sacrificial service.

"Patiently, he explains to them: You don’t understand what you are asking for. Jesus knows the suffering that awaits him. He asks if James and John are ready to share his fate… if they are prepared to drink of the cup that I drink of. In posing the question this way, Jesus is being very forthright with them. This was a common metaphor of the day, used to warn of great peril. But in their enthusiasm and ambition, James and John are blind to the danger. Jesus, knowing the martyrdom waiting for them all, cautions that they will share his fate. And ever in obedience to the will of the Father, he tells them that the honors they seek are not his to give.

"Overhearing this talk of honors and rewards, the other apostles want to get in on the action. They start to grumble that James and John are getting too big for their britches. Then Jesus shuts down the whole brouhaha, telling them that they’ve got it all wrong. The disciples accept Jesus as the Messiah, but they still don’t have a clue about what that really means. Jesus wants to take them up to the next level, to have them fully understand what it means to follow him. He tells them that to be a Christian means to serve, not to lord it over people. It did then and it does now.

Frontpage, Oct. 7, 2018

October 7, 2018, Pentecost 20

Coffee hour, stained glass windows when the sun appeared after the sermon, the sermon, filling bags with 300 daffodil bulbs to celebrate Stewardship Sunday, fall leaves

Pictures and text from this Sunday, October 7

The Week Ahead…

Oct. 10 – 10am-12pm, Ecumenical Bible Study

Oct. 11 – ECW Fall Gathering. Epiphany Episcopal Church 3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Oak Hill, VA 20171. 8:30 a.m.Registration, 9:30 a.m. Meeting, 1:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Oct. 11 – Honoring Bishop Shannon, 6pm-7:30pm Aquia Episcopal

Oct. 14 – 10:00am, Living the Good News Christian Ed for children

Oct. 14 – 11:00am, Pentecost 20, Holy Eucharist Rite II II

Sunday, Oct. 14 Readings and Servers

October’s Village Harvest, Oct. 17

For Oct’s Village Harvest on Oct 17 we are distributing cleaning supplies. Bring your supply to the church by Sunday, Oct. 14. Thanks for your help for this worthwhile ministry. Last month we fed 112 and we had ample foods to serve many more over 13 pounds available per person.

ECW Fall Meeting, Oct. 11

The meeting will be at Epiphany Episcopal Church 3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Oak Hill, VA 20171.

Map and Church website

Join us for a day of Fellowship, Education and Holy Eucharist with Bishop Bob Ihloff.

• Hear UTO Grant recipients, Claire Hitchins and Mark Heisey, of Charis Community.
• Hear Just Ask spokesman, Bill Woolf, on Combatting Human Trafficking in Virginia.
• Learn about The Triangle of Hope and Mother’s Union Initiatives from the Rev. Rock Higgins and the Rev. Cayce Ramey.

Honoring Bishop Shannon, Oct. 11

The event will be held at Aquia Episcopal Church, 2938 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, VA

The Fredericksburg Region is hosting this gathering to honor the time that Bishop Shannon has served as the Diocesan Bishop of this Diocese. He will be resigning at the end of the Convention which takes place on the first weekend in November.

The time will include an opportunity to talk with the Bishop, hear some reflections from him, and also to join in a short worship that will close our time together. The Bishop is hoping to receive cards with short messages of appreciation.

If you can attend, please let Catherine know or sign up on the Diocesan website. And if you cannot attend and would like to send a card to the Bishop, Catherine will carry it to the Bishop that evening. If you have questions, please give Catherine a call at 540-809-7489.

Lectionary, Pentecost 21, Proper 23

I. Theme – Working for Justice may cause us to change our lives and lifestyle

“Rich Young Ruler”

“He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” – Mark 10:20-22

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Old Testament – Amos 5:6-7,10-15
Psalm – Psalm 90:12-17 Page 718, BCP
Epistle – Hebrews 4:12-16
Gospel – Mark 10:17-31

Today’s readings encourage us to work for justice, to release our attachment to things and to trust Jesus to form us into a people of compassion. Amos decries Israel’s unjust treatment of the poor and oppressed. Trusting in God’s justice, Job wants God to hear his case in person. The author of Hebrews points out that only through Jesus will any of this be fully accomplished—as our apostle and high priest, he builds us into “God’s house.” In today’s gospel, Jesus advises a wealthy man who seeks God to obey God’s commandments and to detach from his possessions and focus fully on God. With God all things are possible!

Being faithful to God calls us to live into God’s ways of justice. We need to love our neighbor as ourselves—it is the commandment Jesus gives us—and we cannot love our neighbor without seeing to their needs. And it is hard for us to see to their needs when we are too busy caring for our stuff, worrying about our material wants, rather than seeing the needs of others. This is a difficult lesson for us, and I’m not sure I’ll ever fully be able to let go of all the things I have. But I know that faith is a lifelong journey, and I don’t have to accomplish it all now. Before God, all our sins are exposed, but before God, all things are possible, all forgiveness is given, and all things are made new

Voices on the Gospel

The Gospel story of the “young ruler” is challenging . “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Some thoughts:

1. David Lose, President of Luther Seminary, Philadelphia

“That is, Jesus might be looking at us with love and, perceiving the deep heart sickness in each of us, actually asking something of us, giving us something to do, something to give up or away, somewhere to go. Now don’t get me wrong: this is not about our salvation; we are saved by grace through faith for Christ’s sake alone. But what if it doesn’t end there? Or better, what if, in one sense, it only starts there. That is, what if God isn’t only concerned about our eternal destiny but also cares about the life we enjoy here and now, with each other in God’s creation”

2. Suzanne Guthrie, writer

“Jesus loves him, but he walks away. The heartbreaking image of the rich young ruler who Jesus loved, turning away in grief, is too much a mirror of daily life. Jesus loves me, but I turn away because of my life of glittering distractions. It doesn’t even have to be money, although money is often connected to it.

Is this story about poverty? Upholding voluntary poverty in times of financial distress seems a little callous and ignorant, as if poverty were some nostalgic romantic ideal. On the other hand, the wildly imbalanced culture of greed for possessions and power drove us to cause the current global economic crisis. Where is the balance? Where is love?”

Frontpage Sept. 16, 2018

September 16, 2018, Season of Creation 3B

Ducks enjoy a St. Peter’s water puddle, St. Peter’s cross reflected in another puddle, flox, leaves turning and falling, “Fairy” mushrooms, Fall Crocus. Nature is alive!

Pictures and text from this Sunday, Sept. 16

The Week Ahead…

Sept. 19 – 10am-12pm, Ecumenical Bible Study

Sept. 19 – 3pm-5pm, Village Harvest

Bring a loaf of bread to share at the harvest. Help needed: 9:30ish, help needed to unload the truck. Many hands make light work. 1PM, help needed to set up. 3-5PM help needed for the distribution itself.

Sept. 23 – 10:00am, Living the Good News Christian Ed

Sept. 23 – 11:00am, Season of Creation 4, Holy Eucharist II

Sunday, Sept 23 Readings and Servers

Looking Ahead …

Gospel on the River – Sat, Sept. 29, 5pm at the Heimbach home

Creating nature mandalas with Karen Richardson during Christian education, Sept 30, 10am

ECW Fall Meeting – Thurs.,Oct 11. 8:30am registration The meeting will be at Epiphany Episcopal church in Oak Hill, VA. The registration is due Oct. 1. Registration Form

Stewardship – Sept 16, Distribution of 2019 Pledge Cards

Elizabeth, Stewardship message, Sept. 16, 2018

Stewardship is … “Using the gifts that God gives us to do the work God calls us to do.” No gift is too large for God’s work. We give back as we are given by God.

Pledging should be about growing your faith. As your faith grows so should your giving.

Make your pledge for 2019 and return it Sunday, Oct. 7

If you didn’t receive a pledge card in church, you can pledge online

The Commitment

A better word than pledge card is commitment card. We commit so we can give:>

Commit to help us reduce hunger in this area, through the Village Harvest Distribution
Commit to us to bring hope to our community,
Commit to help us bring comfort to those suffering in sickness or loneliness,
Commit to help us in Christian education and encourage fellowship.
Commit so we can make a difference.

What should be our commitment to what God has given us ?

God calls us to share in God’s mission of caring for the world, using all the gifts God has given us. Our gifts includes those of treasure. Over 80% of the funds used to support and plan for ministry in a year come from pledges.

Read the Stewardship Letter.

Got Questions ?

Is my stewardship defined only by the money I give to the church?

Why should I pledge ?

How much should I give ?

See our Faq

Why Give to St. Peter’s

Giving is an act of worship along with prayers, sermons and music. Get your money’s worth of the service and give—it is a blessing to be able to do so. Moreover, give till it feels good!
Giving allows our ministries to expand. As Scott Gunn writes at Forward Movement, “Jesus was always taking his followers to new places, literally and metaphorically… As followers of Jesus, I think we’re called to go to new places.”
Giving acknowledges the reality is that all we have was given by God anyway. All that we are is a gift . From Deuteronomy – The Lord “gives you power to get wealth” which includes labor, influence, finances and expertise.
Giving is part of our responsibilities in the baptismal covenant (look in the Prayer Book, pgs. 304-305). We commit our lives to reconcile ourselves to God and to one another. Lives are transformed with our gifts to change and repair a broken world as we reconcile ourselves to God. As Bishop Curry likes to say -“change the world from the nightmare it often is into the dream that God intends.”
We freely receive from God so we should freely give back. We mess up in so many ways in our lives but grace is never held back by God so don’t withhold your gifts from God.

Connecting our Stewardship Campaign to the Season of Creation

Language from the Bible supports both the Season of Creation and our pledge campaign using the language of – planting, growth, production of fruit, and feeding.

Here’s some of our language and imagery, linking these practices, both ancient and continuing, with our common life at St. Peter’s:

Plant: We begin with the seeds: Worship and prayer, baptism, evangelism, welcoming, pastoral care
And the seeds soon grow: Education, communications, upkeep of buildings and grounds
And produce fruit: Fellowship, belonging, new members, confirmation, marriages
To feed people who are hungry in body and spirit: Village Harvest, Village Dinner, Christmas and Thanksgiving Season of Giving -welcoming community groups to our Church
And our roots are deep: Tradition, reconciliation…
Settled into the ground of our being: Jesus Christ
Watered by the vows of the Baptismal Covenant – to continue in worship, repent and return, respect the dignity of others.
Jesus said, “I am the vine, You are the branches…bear much fruit.”
All of this depends on your gifts, regular income that provides the rector and staff; that lights, heats, and cools our buildings, that provides materials for worship, for service, for outreach.

Celebrating Hildegard -1098-1179) – musician, writer, prophetess – and saint

We celebrate Hildegard’s life on September 17.

Accounts written in Hildegard’s lifetime (1098-1179) and just after describe an extraordinarily accomplished woman: a visionary, a prophet (she was known as “The Sibyl Of The Rhine”), a pioneer who wrote practical books on biology, botany, medicine, theology and the arts. She was a prolific letter-writer to everyone from humble penitents looking for a cure for infertility to popes, emperors and kings seeking spiritual or political advice. She composed music and was known to have visions

Hildegard commanded the respect of the Church and political leaders of the day. She was a doer: she oversaw the building of a new monastery at Rupertsberg, near Bingen, to house her little community, and when that grew too large she established another convent in Eibingen, which still exists today (though the present building dates from 1904).

Ecclesiastes in Music

The Old Testament reading is the famous passages from Eccleasistes 3:1-8 used in weddings, funerals and many events. It is best known in its transformation into song.

Pete Seeger, an American Folk Singer, wrote "Turn, Turn, Turn" in the late 1950’s. It was based on the King James version of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The song was originally released in 1962 as "To Everything There Is a Season" on the folk group the Limeliters’ "Folk Matinee" and then some months later on Seeger’s own "The Bitter and the Sweet."

The folk rock group the Byrds made it into an international hit in 1965. The idea of reviving the song came to lead guitarist McGuinn during the Byrds’ July 1965 tour of the American Midwest, when his future wife, Dolores, requested the tune on the Byrds’ tour bus. McGuinn added harmonies and the Byrd’s trade mark 12-string Rickenbacker guitar.

Focus on 5 areas of the Environment in the Season of Creation

We have taken the five Sundays reading and highlighted a specific environmental area which we will cover weekly. (This week, Climate Change.) How is this area affecting us ? What can we do at St. Peter’s and individually to improve our use of them ?

1. Water – Sept 2

Isaiah 55:9-10
“8 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.”

2. Earth – Sept 9

Collect
“O God, creator of heaven and earth, you have filled the world with beauty and abundance. Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that rejoicing with your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ”

3. Food – Sept 16

James 5:7-8
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. ”

4. Climate – Sept 23

Romans 8:18-21
“18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ”

5. Energy – Sept 30
Isaiah 40:28-31
“The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.”

This Week – Understanding Climate Change

Article – Hurricane Florence and climate change

Article – Global Warming Primer

Article – Global Warming & Climate Change Myths

Article – Climate -Climate change could render many of Earth’s ecosystems unrecognizable

Article – Climate Change is making storms like Hurricane Florence even worse

Prayers for the Earth

Based on the Fifth Mark of Mission

To Strive

God, creator of the universe,
Fill us with your love for the creation,
for the natural world around us,
for the earth from which we come
and to which we will return.
Awake in us energy to work for your world;
let us never fall into complacency, ignorance,
or being overwhelmed by the task before us.
Help us to restore, remake, renew. Amen

To Safeguard

Jesus, Redeemer of the World,
Remind us to consider the lost lilies,
the disappearing sparrows;
teach us not to squander precious resources;
help us value habitats: seas, deserts, forests
and seek to preserve this world in its diversity.
Alert us to the cause of all living creatures
destroyed wantonly for human greed or pleasure;
Help us to value what we have left
and to learn to live without taking more than we give. Amen

Integrity of Creation

Spirit of the Living God
At the beginning you moved over the face of the waters.
You brought life into being, the teeming life
that finds its way through earth and sea and air
that makes its home around us, everywhere.
You know how living things flourish and grow
How they co-exist; how they feed and breed and change
Help us to understand those delicate relationships,
value them, and keep them from destruction. Amen

To Sustain

God, of the living earth
You have called people to care for your world –
you asked Noah to save creatures from destruction.
May we now understand how to sustain your world –
Not over-fishing, not over-hunting,
Not destroying trees, precious rainforest
Not farming soil into useless dust.
Help us to find ways to use resources wisely
to find a path to good, sustainable living
in peace and harmony with creatures around us. Amen

To Renew

Jesus, who raised the dead to life
Help us to find ways to renew
what we have broken, damaged and destroyed:
Where we have taken too much water,
polluted the air, poured plastic into the sea,
cut down the forests and soured fertile soils.
Help all those who work to find solutions to
damage and decay; give hope to those
who are today working for a greener future. Amen

Anne Richards, Mission Theology Advisory Group, Resources available on www.ctbi.org.uk The Dispossession Project: Eco-House

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Sept., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Sept, 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Sept. 23, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Sept. 16, 2018)

10. Recent Services:

Aug 26

Photos from August 26

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Pledge online

Colors for Year B, 2017-18

Green

Ordinary Time

Jun 3-Oct 31

Daily "Day by Day"

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Sept. 16 – Sept. 23

16	Ninian, Bishop, c. 430
17	Hildegard of Bingen, 1170
18 18	Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, 1882 Dag Hammarskjold, Diplomat, 1961
19	Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690
20	John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
21	Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
22	Philander Chase, Bishop, 1852
23	Thecla of Iconium, Proto-Martyr among Women, c.70

Frontpage, Sept. 30, 2018

September 30, 2018, Season of Creation 5

Children leading the procession, Creating Mandalas in the Parish House for Christian Ed ending the Season of Creation, A sunlit filled church (finally!), Caroline’s Promise award given to St. Peter’s for supporting school supplies.

Pictures and text from this Sunday, Sept. 30

The Week Ahead…

Oct. 3 – 10am-12pm, Ecumenical Bible Study

Oct. 3 – 5pm-6:30pm, Village Dinner

Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Vegetable Medley, Maple Apple Cake

Oct. 4 – St. Francis Pet Blessing, 4:30pm

Oct. 7 – 10:00am, Living the Good News Christian Ed

Oct. 7 – 11:00am, Pentecost 20, Holy Eucharist Rite II

Oct. 7 – Stewardship pledge cards collected

Sunday, Oct. 7 Readings and Servers

The Pets are blessed – St. Francis Day, Oct. 4, 2018

Under clear, but warm skies for an early October Thursday, Catherine blessed six dogs – Max, Opie, Bo, Rosie, Charlie, Koda, and one kitten–Cricket. It was a heated contest but Max and his owner came out with the $25 Pet Smart gift certificate. Elizabeth Heimbach’s mouse treats were delicious as usual and Catherine added “munchies” for all. Including Catherine there were 17 people.

“Read the rest of the story and see the pictures

Your turn! Please turn in your pledge card, Oct. 7 and receive a daffodil bulb!

Elizabeth, Stewardship message, Sept. 16, 2018

Stewardship is … “Using the gifts that God gives us to do the work God calls us to do.” No gift is too large for God’s work. We give back as we are given by God.

Pledging should be about growing your faith. As your faith grows so should your giving.

Make your pledge for 2019 and return it Sunday, Oct. 7

If you didn’t receive a pledge card in church, you can pledge online

Check out our stewardship page

The Commitment

A better word than pledge card is commitment card. We commit so we can give:>

Commit to help us reduce hunger in this area, through the Village Harvest Distribution
Commit to us to bring hope to our community,
Commit to help us bring comfort to those suffering in sickness or loneliness,
Commit to help us in Christian education and encourage fellowship.
Commit so we can make a difference.

What should be our commitment to what God has given us ?

Read the Stewardship Letter.

Lectionary, Pentecost 20, Proper 22

I. Theme – Relactionships

Cerezo Barredo – Mark 10:2-16

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Genesis 2:18-24

Psalm 8

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Mark 10:2-16

You may want to call this “relationship” Sunday- Man to Woman, God to Man Genesis is about the creation of women (“helper” who married and becomes “one flesh” and the Gospel when Jesus is questioned about divorce from the pharisees (yet another relationship). The Psalm is about the dominion of God but brings in Man. “God made humans “a little lower than God.” Well how much lower ? Sometimes we are really “low” but echoing Genesis we have dominion over the earth and there is assertion we are royal creatures. ” Hebrews considers a special Christian community and relationships to others. Christ is seen as the model who walked a difficult road with the realization of something greater lay ahead

A Pet Blessing for St. Francis day

We will bless our pets beside the Parish House, Oct. 4, 4:30pm.

The creatures who keep us company bless us in so many ways. Bring your pet to St Peter’s on St Francis Day for a blessing, and to give thanks for these companions on our journeys. There will be blessings to go for those of you who would like to take blessings home to your pets. Our time together will include Elizabeth Heimbach’s delicious mouse cookies and other treats for both animals and humans. All who attend can enter a drawing for a gift certificate to PetSmart. Be present to win!

The blessing -"Our pets have already blessed us. On St Francis Day, we get to bless our pets. St Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1182 to 1226, had a great love for animals and the environment. He understood the earth and everything in it as God’s good creation and believed that we are brothers and sisters with everything in creation. So on this day, we remember St Francis and thank God for the gift of our pets.

"When you have a moment with your pet, offer this blessing written by Bishop Mark S. Sisk:

Live without fear. Your Creator loves you, made you holy, and has always protected you. May we follow the good road together, and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.

"Who was St. Francis? " – a link collection

Brief biography

St. Francis movie on Youtube

"Brother Sun, Sister Moon"- trailer

Director Franco Zeffirelli’s "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" focuses on the early years of Francis of Assisi in this 1972 film.

Poem by Jan Richardson from the "Painted Prayerbook"

Addressing myths about St. Francis

St. Francis preaching to the birds

Rhonda Mawhood Lee: "Go a little crazy on St. Francis Day", a sermon preached at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Durham, N.C

"It’s appropriate to go a little crazy on St. Francis Day, because during his own lifetime, many people thought Francesco Bernardone was insane."

Past Celebrations of St. Francis at St. Peter’s

The 2017 event
The 2015 event
The 2013 event
The 2012 event
The 2011 event
The 2010 event

The service in 2013
The prayer of St. Francis

Pictures

2017 Gallery
2015 Gallery
2013 Gallery
2012 Gallery
2011 Gallery

Here’s is a link 2013’s animal kingdom.

Oct. 7 is also "World Communion Sunday"

What is World Communion Sunday? Churches this Sunday all over the world celebrate oneness in Christ in the midst of the world ever more in need of peacemaking and the universal and inclusive nature of the church. The tradition originated in the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in 1933, was adopted throughout the US Presbyterian Church in 1936, and subsequently spread to other denominations. The Episcopal Church also remembers students serving abroad, particularly the Young Adult Service Corp in the Episcopal Church.

Poem for World Communion Sunday

THE TABLE WITH NO EDGES by Andrew King

We will sit down where feet tire from the journey.
We will sit down where grief bends the back.

We will sit down under roofs wrecked by artillery.
We will sit down where cries sound from cracked walls.

We will sit down where heat beats like hammers.
We will sit down where flesh shivers in cold.

We will sit down where bread bakes on thin charcoal.
We will sit down where there is no grain in baked fields.

We will sit down with those who dwell in ashes.
We will sit down in shadow and in light.

We will sit down, making friends out of strangers.
We will sit down, our cup filled with new wine.

We will sit down and let love flow like language.We will sit together at the table with no edges.
We will sit to share one loaf, in Christ’s name, in one world.

Hurricane Florence – How can I help

From Episcopal Relief Development

Read about the cycle of Rescue, Relief, Recovery

A message from the Bishops in the Diocese of North Caroline

“We greet the Church from our dioceses in the Carolinas, and we thank you for your prayers before, during and after Hurricane Florence. Our region has suffered considerable damage, and the path of the storm has affected all of our dioceses in varying ways. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering and to the grieving families who have lost loved ones.

“We are assessing the damage to our communities, which as you will know from news reports, varies widely. Conditions will continue to change for days due to rising rivers. For the present, we ask you not to send goods or travel to this region to help. The infrastructure in many places cannot support those who are here, let alone others. In the hardest hit places, there is a shortage of accommodation. Gas, food and water are in short supply. And with downed power lines in many places and curfews remaining in force, it is not safe.”

“Now is the time to offer financial support. Contributing to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Hurricane Relief Fund will ensure that we have enough resources to support the work of our church partners as they serve the most vulnerable in their communities. They are best positioned to assess needs and timing for response efforts.

One of the immediate ways Episcopal Relief & Development and our partners help individuals is by handing out gift cards to local stores so that people can choose what they need the most. It not only affords people dignity but it also helps stimulate the local economy, which needs to recover post-disaster.

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Oct., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Oct, 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Oct. 7, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Sept. 30, 2018)

Sept. 2

10. Recent Services:

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year B, 2017-18

Green

Ordinary Time

Jun 3-Oct 31

Daily "Day by Day"

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Sept. 30 – Oct. 7

30	Jerome, Priest, and Scholar, 420
1 1	Therese of Lisieux, Monastic, 1898 Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, c. 530
2
3	John Raleigh Mott, Ecumenist & Missionary, 1955
4	Francis of Assisi, Friar, 1226
5
6 6	William Tyndale & Miles Coverdale, Translators of the Bible, 1536, 1568 Henrietta Stockdale, Monastic & Nurse, 1911
7 7	Birgitta of Sweden, Mystic and Prophetic Witness, 1373 Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Pastor, 1787

Frontpage, August 19, 2018

August 19, 2018 Pentecost 13, Proper 15

Clockwise – Altar this Sunday, the peace, wedding anniversary for Cherry and Woody, Dr. John Sellers preaching, rainbow earlier the week

Pictures and text from this Sunday, August 19

The Week Ahead…

August 22 – 3:30pm Funeral Service for Marsha Dobson. Covenant Funeral Home, 4801 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg.

August 26 – 9:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I. Catherine returns from Sabbatical.

August 26 – 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II.

Sunday, August 26 Readings and Servers

Lectionary, Pentecost 14, Proper 16 Year B

I. Theme – The Joys and Challenges of Following Jesus

Cerezo Barredo (1999)

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Old Testament – Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Psalm – Psalm 34:15-22
Epistle –Ephesians 6:10-20
Gospel – John 6:56-69

Today’s readings invite us to consider the joys and challenges of following Jesus. In the first reading, Joshua leads the people of Israel in the choice to follow God. In Ephesians, Paul exhorts Christians to protect themselves with the armor of God. Jesus’ words cause many to turn away from him, but the twelve disciples recognize his teaching as the words of eternal life.

God is present in the community of believers, not in the mountains or the valleys or heaven or earth—God is present among us. We trust in God working in us and among us. We know that God is faithful even in times of doubt and trial. And we know that the way of God is the way to God—the way to eternal life is The Way. It is about how we live our lives for Christ and for others, not for our own gain, for when we seek our own gain, we lose. When we seek to save our lives, to find eternal life, we lose it, but when we seek to live for others, we find our own lives. We cannot be focused on our own mortality if we wish to follow Jesus. For the way of Jesus is the way to the cross, to die to live, to put to death the things that tie us to an earthly life—sin—and to live in Christ’s love.

The hard sayings Jesus gave to his disciples are still hard. That our true life depends on spiritual certainties rather than earthly realities requires a tremendous leap of faith. Even if we, like Peter, give Christ our allegiance, wholehearted trust is more difficult to attain. The universe is full of gods to choose from—they range from pseudo-Messiahs to devils. In between are the enticements of hedonistic pleasures and worldly crowns. Like the tribes in Joshua, we can choose from a dazzling array. Can we say, as they did, “As for me and my household, we will serve the lord”?

The mystical union of Christ with his Church is not an evident fact within Christendom. The Body of Christ is rent with divisions like those of an incompatible marriage. We have marred the model marriage of Christ with his Church by not really understanding the hard sayings that he has given us. The marriage covenant with Christ means to forsake all others and have no other gods.

We are drawn to God by love—just as human love draws us toward a particular person and inspires the desire for a permanent commitment. Mutual choice makes a covenant. The earthly things we know point to heavenly realities. A strong marriage is one in which union transcends the separate existence of husband and wife. The desire of each to give all to the other means that both receive from each other.

God has pledged love and blessings to us forever. God has told us this most explicitly through Christ. How poignant is Jesus’ question to his disciples: “Do you also wish to go away?” May we answer him with Peter’s firm conviction: “lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Aug 24 – The Feast Day of St. Bartholomew

St. Bartholomew

Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and is usually identified as Nathaniel and was a doctor. In Mark 3:18 he is one of the twelve Jesus calls to be with him. He was introduced to us as a friend of Philip, another of the twelve apostles as per (John 1:43-51), where the name Nathaniel first appears.

He was characterized by Jesus on the first meeing as a man "in whom there was no guile.” He is also mentioned as “Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee” in (John 21:2). His day is remembered on August 24. After the Resurrection he was favored by becoming one of the few apostles who witnessed the appearance of the risen Savior on the sea of Galilee (John 21:2).

From Eusebius history, Bartholomew went on a missionary tour to India, where he left behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. Other traditions record him as serving as a missionary in Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Parthia, and Lycaonia.

Along with his fellow apostle Jude, Bartholomew is reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century. Thus both saints are considered the patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He is said to have been martyred in in Armenia. According to one account, he was beheaded, but a more popular tradition holds that he was flayed alive and crucified, head downward. He is said to have converted Polymius, the king of Armenia, to Christianity. His brother consequently ordered Bartholomew’s execution. The 13th century Saint Bartholomew Monastery was a prominent Armenian monastery constructed at the site of the martyrdom of Apostle Bartholomew in what is today southeastern turkey

In and Around the Web…

Ten articles you may (may not) find interesting…

1. A small N.C. church reaches out in big ways

They are bigger than us – 70 members but not that much bigger. The major difference is their town is bigger:

"On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the parish hall bustles with up to a dozen children and a handful of adult church volunteers, who help them with their homework in math and English.
"Soon, the church will plow a 10,000-square-foot plot of land in the rear of the sanctuary to prepare the soil for next spring’s planting season.
"Now, Advent is beginning, and the church will adopt several needy families and shower them with gifts on Christmas.
‘North of town, a retired telephone marketer and church member has been baking cakes for every foster child in the county for the past 10 years."

2. Woman reads to dogs, returning the love

"There are small ways to make a difference and this lady from the North Shore in Pittsburgh is the perfect example… The dogs won’t understand what she’s reading, but hearing a calm human voice has proven to comfort shelter animals before. This is a nice reminder that there are other ways besides adoption to support animals who have forgotten what it means to be loved. "

There is a related article here about children reading to cats.

3. Black churches bucking the trend of decline

This article takes place close to us in Alexandria. "At Alfred Street Baptist Church, the pews start to fill more than half an hour before the service begins. So many people attend, church leaders are now asking people to limit their attendance to one service…There are numerous reasons why some black churches retain their members, but, most prominently, the church has played a historic role in black life that has fostered a continuing strong black Protestant identity. Members and visitors at Alfred Street say the church’s holistic ministry — the preaching, the singing and the community outreach — are what draw them in and keep them there."

4. This May Be Our Last Communion

There have been tragic attacks on American churches but I don’t know any American Christians who go to church consciously thinking, “I may die today, but I am going to church; I don’t know what will happen, but Jesus is with me.” This is the case in Nigeria. Read about their struggles with the by jihadist terrorist group Boko Haram.

5. Four Decades of the Refugee Crisis in 3 minutes

From the Washington Post – "What does it sound like if you turn four decades of global refugee movement into a three-minute music video? Brian Foo, who calls himself a ‘data-driven DJ,’ recently answered this question: quiet at first, but loud and alarming at the end. The New York City-based researcher used refugee data from the United Nations from 1975 to 2012 to create the audio visualization."

6. Party Of 1: We Are Eating A Lot Of Meals Alone

An NPR article. "But a lot of us are lone wolves these days when it comes to dining. New research finds 46 percent of adult eating occasions — that’s meals and snacks — are undertaken alone."

"One of the drivers of solo-eating is the shift towards more single-person households. According to Census Bureau data, the proportion of one-person American households increased from 17 percent in 1970 to 27 percent in 2012."

"But it’s a problem when it comes to the elderly living alone or in assisted living. They’re vulnerable to malnutrition for lots of reasons. They’re too frail to open food packages or screw off tops, they’re alone or depressed, they’ve lost their appetites, or they’re not motivated to cook a meal for one."

Some choose to eat alone but others are alone. Can the church do anything about this to ensure people have the right nutrition?

7. Church Doors into the Community

What do the placement of doors say about us ?

All Saints’, Kingston in England has stood in the center of the town for centuries. To show how old it is two Saxon kings were crowned there!

"Historically, one main door, the west one, leads down to the River Thames, the principal means of transport; and the other, the south door, to the ancient Kingston market place where all the business was transacted. As Kingston has developed in the last century and this one, the Church has been surrounded by a vast commercial shopping centre, and the town now has a major, secular university, as well as a substantial night club scene. Much of this, especially the commercial shopping centre, is on the north side of the Church. In recent years All Saints’ has undergone some major renovation work including opening up the north door, and thus direct access to the many activities of the town taking place on that side of the Church and the vast number of people who walk by on a regular basis. For me this has been both a symbolic and practical sign of the Church’s engagement with the community and context in which it is set."

"All Saints’ has many casual visitors and, since 2003, has offered a ‘Listening’ service in which anyone can share whatever is concerning or troubling them. It is a fine example of pastoral care in action.

How do we better open our doors to Port Royal and engage the residents ?

8. Remembering the remarkable life of Brother Roger, Taizé community

10 years ago the founder of this community was murdered in a service. Brother Roger founded the community of brothers known as Taizé in France that gradually grew into the monastic, ecumenical community that it is today consisting of over a hundred brothers from around the world. How did they respond? "In a world that is hyper-militarized, the brothers modeled a different response – one of trust, prayerfulness and compassion in a desperately wounded world. Taizé continues to organize what is called a “Pilgrimage of Trust” in different cities around the world each year where thousands of pilgrims are welcomed into people’s homes and churches." Taize music is sung in churches throughout the year, including St. Peter’s.

9. Jesus said "I am the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11).Here is how to learn to become a real shepherd

From Spain. "From 1982 to 2009, the number of sheep farms in Catalonia almost halved, from 3,964 to 2,085, according to the most recent census." Shepherds are getting old. Here is an innovative approach to restocking the supply of shepherds. NY Times focuses on one of four schools in Spain that are organized to do just that.

10. Who are we as Episcopalians ?

This week there have been at least two efforts to define Episcopalians and dispel misonceptions. Here is one from Laurie Brock, rector of St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church in Lexington, Kentucky. In response Father Kevin Morris, Rector of The Church of The Ascension in Rockville Centre, NY. wrote this alternative list spotlighting clergy’s role in the misperceptions

Somewhat, in jest, here are the late Robin Williams "Top 10 reasons to be an Episcopalian" (he was Episcopalian) :

10. No snake handling.
9. You can believe in dinosaurs.
8. Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them.
7. You don’t have to check your brains at the door.
6. Pew aerobics.
5. Church year is color-coded.
4. Free wine on Sunday.
3. All of the pageantry – none of the guilt. (At one time he said Episcopalianism was "Catholic light: half the religion, half the guilt."
2. You don’t have to know how to swim to get baptized.

And the Number One reason to be an Episcopalian:

1. No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. August, 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (August, 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website

9. This past Sunday

10. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Aug. 26, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (July 8, 2018)

Aug. 19, 2018

11. Recent Services:

Photos from August 12

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year B, 2017-18

Green

Ordinary Time

Jun 3-Oct 31

Daily "Day by Day"

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Aug. 19 – Aug. 26

18	William Porcher DuBose, Priest, 1918; also [Artemisia Bowden, Educator, 1969]
19
20	Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, 1153
21
22
23	[Martin de Porres, 1639 and Rosa de Lima, 1617, Witnesses to the Faith in South America]
24	Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
25	Louis, King of France, 1270
26

Frontpage August 26, 2018

August 26, 2018 Pentecost 14, Proper 16

Pictures and text from this Sunday, August 26

The Week Ahead…

Sept. 2 – 11:00am, Season of Creation, Holy Eucharist II

Sept. 2 – 12:00pm, Potluck Coffee Hour

Sunday, Sept 2 Readings and Servers

Season of Creation

Sept 1 – Oct 4, 2018

For Five Sundays in September we will be in this optional lectionary within Pentecost. This week we will explore what it is and why we have one. The end of the season, Oct. 4, is the Feast of St. Francis.

Sept 1 was proclaimed as a day of prayer for creation (World Day of Prayer for Creation, or Creation Day) by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I for the Orthodox in 1989, and was embraced by the other major Christian European churches in 2001 and by Pope Francis for the Roman Catholic Church in 2015.

The event is celebrated in many faith traditions and has a centralized website. The theme of this year’s celebration is “walking together.” As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are on a pilgrimage to better care of creation.

In walking together, we follow the role of Jesus, who walked with friends on the roads around Jerusalem. As he traveled the byways of his community, Jesus invited us to encounter God through God’s presence in creation. Whether by considering “the lilies of the field” or the “grain of wheat that falls to the earth,” the spiritual journey of following Jesus is closely tied to the everyday wonders of nature that He experienced in His earthly journey.

Why a Season of Creation ?

From The Season of Creation: A Preaching Commentary by Norman C. Habel and David Rhoads

There are many reasons! Here are seven of them:

First, because God is first and foremost the Creator of all of life. To fail to focus adequately on this dimension of God’s reality in worship is to fail to appreciate the fullness God’s work, and it is to narrow and diminish our relationship with God. Our own fullness of life depends upon our relationship with God as Creator.

Second, because we were created with the rest of nature. We came from Earth and we cannot survive without all that Earth provides. Just as Earth has creative powers, so Earth itself has restorative powers. Unless we have centered opportunities to express awareness of and gratitude for our dependence upon Earth and our relationship with other creatures, we will not be whole as human beings.

Third, because God has given us a creation to celebrate with! In recent years, much of humanity has viewed creation as a resource to be exploited rather than a mystery to be celebrated and sustained. The time has come not only to celebrate creation but to transform our human relationship to creation by worshiping in solidarity with creation

Fourth, because through worship we have an opportunity to come to terms with the current ecological crises in a spiritual way so as to empathize with a groaning creation. Worship provides a viable and meaningful way not only to include creation’s praise of God but also to engender a deep relationship with the suffering of a groaning creation.

Fifth, because a fresh focus on the wonders and wounds of creation will help us in positive ways to love creation and so care for creation as our personal vocation and our congregational ministry. Worshiping with this new awareness may well provide the impetus for a new mission for the church, a mission to creation.

Sixth, because this season enables us to celebrate the many ways in which Christ is connected with creation. From the mystery of the incarnation to the mystery of a cosmic Christ who reconciles all things in heaven and Earth, we celebrate the connection of Christ with creation. And we seek to identify with Earth in solidarity with Christ.

Seventh, because this season enables us to deepen our understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit in relationship with creation. As the “Giver of life” and the “Sustainer of life,” the Holy Spirit is the source of our empowerment, inspiration, and guidance as we seek to live in a way sustainable for all God’s creation. Being “in the unity of the Holy Spirit” encompasses our relationship with all of life. This is foundational for our worship.

What is the Season of Creation ?

The Season of Creation is an optional season for the church year. For the most part, the seasons of the church year follow the life of Jesus: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter. The remainder of the church year encompasses Pentecost season (or Ordinary Time), which celebrates life in the Holy Spirit.

For centuries, our theology our theology has focused on relationship with God and our human relationships with one another. The Season of Creation focuses God’s relationship with all creation and with our relationship with creation (and with God through creation). It highlights our role in understanding and addressing address the ecological problems we face today as a part of God’s creation.

Lectionary, Season of Creation 1, Year B

The lectionary readings were chosen by Catherine with approval of Bishop Shannon.

I. Theme – The Challenges of Abundance

To live in God’s presence is to live the abundant life, and this abundance, which God has so generously put in place within all of creation, is meant to be shared. God’s word, planted like seeds in our lives, grows up and draws us to God. These seeds, when they take root and grow, produce abundant joy and peace in our lives, reflecting the nature of creation itself. Because God has been generous to us, our lives are to reflect God in the ways we give God’s love and blessings to one another. In the gospel, Jesus has us ponder our lives—can God take root in our lives and grow into the abundant life that God has laid out for us in creation itself?

Focus on 5 areas of the Environment in the Season of Creation

We have taken the five Sundays reading and highlighted a specific environmental area which we will cover weekly. (This week, water.) How is this area affecting us ? What can we do at St. Peter’s and individually to improve our use of them ?

1. Water – Sept 2

2. Earth – Sept 9

3. Food – Sept 16

4. Climate – Sept 23

Prayers for the Earth

Based on the Fifth Mark of Mission

To Strive

To Safeguard

Integrity of Creation

To Sustain

To Renew

Anne Richards, Mission Theology Advisory Group, Resources available on www.ctbi.org.uk The Dispossession Project: Eco-House

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Sept., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Sept., 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Sept. 2, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Aug. 26, 2018)

Sept. 2, 2018
11. Recent Services:

Aug 5

Photos from August 5

Aug. 12

Photos from August 12

Aug. 19

Photos from August 19

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year B, 2017-18

Green

Ordinary Time

Jun 3-Oct 31

Daily "Day by Day"

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Aug. 26 – Sept. 2

26
27	Thomas Gallaudet, 1902, and Henry Winter Syle, 1890
28	Augustine, Bishop of Hippo and Theologian, 430; also [Moses the Black, Desert Father and Martyr, c. 400]
29	[John Bunyan, Writer, 1688]
30	[Charles Chapman Grafton, Bishop of Fond du Lac, and Ecumenist, 1912]
31	Aidan, 651, and Cuthbert, 687, Bishops of Lindisfarne (new date for Cuthbert)
1	David Pendleton Oakerhater, Deacon and Missionary, 1931
2	The Martyrs of New Guinea, 1942

Frontpage Sept. 2, 2018

September 2, 2018, Season of Creation 1B

From left to right top to bottom -The Peace, Cookie Davis’ flowers, prelude violin and piano, fabric from Guatemala on the altar, Catherine’s sermon, examples of Creation at St. Peter’s, the belfry alive with the sun.

Pictures and text from this Sunday, Sept. 2

The Week Ahead…

Sept. 5 – 10am-12pm, Ecumenical Bible Study return

Sept. 5 – 5pm-6:30pm, Village Dinner

Sept. 9 – 10:00am, Living the Good News Christian Ed – Children

Sept. 9 – 10:00am, Season of Creation Christian Ed – Adults

Sept. 9 – 11:00am, Season of Creation 2, Holy Eucharist II

Sunday, Sept 9 Readings and Servers

Oct. 11 – ECW Fall Meeting. 8:30am, registration, 9:30am, meeting, 1:30pm Eucharist. Registration by Oct. 1 The meeting will be at Epiphany Episcopal church 3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Oak Hill, VA 20171. More information

Christian Ed for Children – Living the Good News

In 2011-2012 we emphasized the lectionary for both Adult Ed and Children using “Living the Good News”. We are returning to it in the fall of 2018 for children of all ages. It has a supporting introduction on Youtube.

From their website Living the Good News is:

Lectionary-Based
With Living the Good News, your church’s education program focuses on the same cycle of weekly readings used in your worship services; it also provides an opportunity for everyone in your education program, from Nursery to Adult, to center on the same theme, providing a "whole community" approach.

At the youngest levels, the curriculum almost always (but not exclusively) focuses on the gospel reading. The Adult level always includes ALL the readings. As you go down in age level, fewer of the readings are included, until, at Primary and below, it is almost always the gospel.

Christian Ed for Adults – Season of Creation for Adults, 10am Parish House

During this four week series starting Sept 9, we’ll consider and discuss scriptures that illustrate the theme of the week, spend some time in prayer based on the theme, and leave with some ideas to consider during the week that follows.

Week 1 – Theme 1—September 9 Finding God in Creation

“God is present in and through creation. We can better understand the character of God by seeing how God interacts with all of creation. The more we know of God, the more we grow in our love for and connection to God and what God has created.”

Season of Creation

Sept 1 – Oct 4, 2018

For Five Sundays in September we will be in this optional lectionary within Pentecost. The end of the season, Oct. 4, is the Feast of St. Francis.

Why a Season of Creation ?

From The Season of Creation: A Preaching Commentary by Norman C. Habel and David Rhoads

There are many reasons! Here are seven of them:

What is the Season of Creation ?

“Fun fact: planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old.
Mankind? About 140,000 years old.
Let me put that in perspective:
If you condense the Earth’s lifespan into 24 hours,
that’s one full day,
then we have been here on this planet for…
…drumroll please…
…three seconds.
Three seconds, and look what we’ve done….”

Prince Ea’s annotation for the video.

Lectionary, Season of Creation 2, Year B

I. Theme – Abundance through Water

Because of God’s graciousness and mercy, we have all that we need, and even more than we could ever ask for or imagine. In Isaiah, water is a sign of God’s overflowing generosity to all of creation. Jesus, turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana, provides more for the guests than anyone would have thought possible or even reasonable. To celebrate and to share this abundance with that same sort of profligate generosity shapes our calling as followers of Jesus.

Water is part of transformation of life (Isaiah), the promise of salvation and everlasting life. It can be associated with cleansing or generosity (as in the Gospel).

Water in Christian Life

Water is a primal force of creation and cleansing. The Old Testament create story describes the earth as nothing but darkness but with the Spirit of God "hovering over the waters." The story of Noah shows God cleansing the earth with a great flood.

Water has positive and negative sides We toured the Waterways exhibit in Feb., 2018 at the Fredericksburg Museum and brought out the dual role of water. Pictures and description of visit.

In John’s telling of Jesus’ first miracle, Jesus asks the servants to “Fill the jars with water,” and they fill them to the brim. Similarly, the Polynesian residents fill their rainwater harvesting tanks to the brim and experience a similar miracle of transformation from what could be a disastrous situation into one of good news and hope.

Water is very present in Baptism. Baptism means immersion or bath in Greek. The immersion cleanses the person of sin and provides rebirth into Christian life.

The Holy Spirit is the source of all life. It is the Spirit that moves over the waters of chaos, bringing Life. The Spirit’s presence at Jesus’ baptism is the sign that he is truly human – a human being in the image of God filled with the Life of God. Jesus fulfils God’s purposes in creating human beings. In John 3:5 Jesus answered Nicodemus, "No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit."

Focus on 5 areas of the Environment in the Season of Creation

We have taken the five Sundays readings and highlighted a specific environmental area which we will cover weekly. (This week, earth; last week water.) How is this area affecting us ? What can we do at St. Peter’s and individually to improve our use of them ?

1. Water – Sept 2

2. Earth – Sept 9

3. Food – Sept 16

4. Climate – Sept 23

Prayers for the Earth

Based on the Fifth Mark of Mission

To Strive

To Safeguard

Integrity of Creation

To Sustain

To Renew

Anne Richards, Mission Theology Advisory Group, Resources available on www.ctbi.org.uk The Dispossession Project: Eco-House

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector

3. St. Peter’s Sunday News

4. Sept., 2018 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Sept, 2018)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. This past Sunday

9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Sept. 9, 2018 11:00am), and Sermon (Sept. 2, 2018)

Sept. 2, 2018
10. Recent Services:

Aug. 12

Photos from August 12

Aug. 19

Photos from August 19

Aug 26

Photos from August 26

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Colors for Year B, 2017-18

Green

Ordinary Time

Jun 3-Oct 31

Daily "Day by Day"

3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Sacred Space

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."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, Sept. 2 – Sept. 9

2	The Martyrs of New Guinea, 1942
3
4	Paul Jones, 1941; also [Albert Schweitzer, Physician, 1965]
5	[Gregorio Aglipay, Priest and Founder of the Philippine Independent Church, 1940]
6
7	[Elie Naud, Huguenot Witness to the Faith, 1722]
8
9	Constance, Nun, and her Companions, 1878

14	Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky & Channing Moore Williams, Bishops & Missionaries, 1906 & 1910
15	Teresa of Avila, Mystic & Monastic Reformer, 1582
16	Hugh Latimer & Nicholas Ridley, Bishops and Martyrs, 1555
17	Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, and Martyr, c. 115
18	Saint Luke the Evangelist
19	Henry Martyn, Priest and Missionary, 1812
20
21

7	Birgitta of Sweden, Mystic and Prophetic Witness, 1373 Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Pastor, 1787
8	William Dwight Porter Bliss, Priest, 1926, and Richard Theodore Ely, Economist, 1943 Thais of Alexandria, Monastic, 5th c.
9	Vida Dutton Scudder, Educator and Witness for Peace, 1954 Wilfred Thomason Grenfell, Medical Missionary, 1940 William Carey, Missionary, 1834
10
11	Philip, Deacon and Evangelist
12	Elizabeth Fry, Social Reformer, 1845
13
14	Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky & Channing Moore Williams, Bishops & Missionaries, 1906 & 1910