frontpages – Page 44 – St. Peter's Episcopal

Frontpage, March 23, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. March , 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (March., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (March 28, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Congregational Meeting Jan 19, 2014
B. The Presentation Feb. 2, 2014
C. Ladies Night Out Feb. 15, 2014

10. Latest Bulletin March 30, 11am., Bulletin March 30, 9am. and Sermon (March 23, 2014)

Bulletin 03-30-2014

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Ken Pogue’s "Port Royal Tutoring Program" – Tutors needed

Ken Pogue, our Stewardship chair, has proposed a new tutoring program for Port Royal youth from kindergarden to high school. He provided a sign up sheet to request tutors at church.

It is not just about the learning but for students about professionalism and workplace skills, community and family life skills, motivation (spiritual and secular) and career resources/opportunities. The program will evolve with the students and tutors and will be depend on the commitment of both.

You can sign up for this program online. Link also has Ken’s original description of the program.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Saints of the Week, March 23 -March 30

March
16
23	Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c. 332
24	Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, 1980
25	The Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary
26	[Richard Allen, First Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1831]
27	Charles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Philippines, and of Western New York, 1929
28
29	John Keble, Priest, 1866
30	[Innocent of Alaska, Bishop, 1879]

Sunday, March 23, 2014 (full size gallery)

March 26 – 7:00pm, Frog and Toad Lenten Study

March 30 – 9:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

March 30 – 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

March 30 – 11:00am, Morning Prayer, Rite I

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

Lent Week 4

We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website – Lent at St. Peter’s 2014 which has the events listed. Highlights include:

Introduction to Lent
Our own Lenten Calendar
Frog and Toad Lenten Study, March, 26
Lenten Quiet Day , ECW at Roslyn, Wednesday April 2
Holy Week, April 14-20

If this is not enough, we have other links to various Lenten resources

Good kickoff for Port Royal Tutoring, Friday, March 21

Ken’s and Charles’ hardwork canvassing the neighborhoods paid off with 11 signups and 20+ attending for the beginning of St. Peter’s tutoring ministry. They felt the kickoff went extremely well. They will continue doing the same with Spanish translations of their documents. Pizza and cake were served

Most of the children were between 2nd and 9th grades with a cluster in the middle – 5th and 6th grades. There are three additional adults that would like to pass their GED. Tutors from St. Peter’s include Becky, Justin, Karen and Catherine.

The next meeting is at 5:30pm on Monday, March 24 where the children turn in their yellow sheets indicating their needs and submitted their colored letters for the contest

You can get more information and sign up to be a tutor here

Frog and Toad conclude at St. Peter’s, Wed. March 26, 7pm

Frog and Toad are back this Wednesday March 26 at 7pm, in the third and last part of our Lenten study. Frog and Toad are the main characters in a series of easy-reader children’s books, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel during the 1970’s.

These sessions are not cumulative so you can jump in at any time

Week 3 will deal with the handling the ups and downs of living in community, and how communities can be empowered by positive effort and persistence. Scripture and theology will be part of our study as well.

The Frog and Toad books, in order of publication date, are: Frog and Toad are Friends (1970), Frog and Toad Together (1972), Frog and Toad All Year (1976), Days with Frog and Toad (1979)

Read more "Frog and Toad"..

Lectionary, March 30, Lent 4

I.Theme – The emphasis this week is on the themes of light, vision and insight. Samuel is given insight to anoint a shepherd boy to be king. Paul urges the church to be people of light. In the Gospel the "man born blind" is given sight to see Jesus the Messiah.

Healing the Blind Man - El Greco <

"The Miracle of Christ Healing the Blind" – El Greco (1560) . The man in the foreground with his wife may be the blind man’s parents

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Old Testament – 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm – Psalm 23
Epistle –Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel – John 9:1-41

In the Old Testament , The problem was, who shall succeed King Saul who was rejected by Yahweh The Lord sends Samuel to Jesse’s home where there were eight sons. One of them Yahweh wants as the new king. One by one seven sons are passed by. David is called home from caring for his father’s sheep. At once Samuel is given insight that David is God’s choice. Here is a case similar to the Gospel’s account of Jesus’ giving the healed man the insight that he was the Messiah

Psalm 23 is the Psalm of the Day. It harmonizes with the miracle’s account of Jesus’ compassion for a blind person. He becomes one of Jesus sheep. Like the sheep, the blind man hears Jesus’ voice. Like the shepherd, Jesus finds the blind man when he has been cast out (9:35). Jesus provides for the man born blind much more than sight–he provides for him what he, as the good shepherd, gives all of his sheep–the protection of his fold (10:16), the blessing of needed pasture (10:9), and the gift of abundant life (10:10).

In Ephesians, the Epistle reacing, Christians are people of the light according to Paul. Before accepting Christ they lived in the darkness of sin. Christians are to shun the works of darkness and to live in the light of goodness and truth. In the Gospel miracle account Jesus, the light of the world, brings light to a blind man both physically and spiritually.

The Gospel account of the "Man Born Blind" is one of not one but two miracles. The first miracle is told in the first seven verses. The rest of the chapter deals with human reactions to the miracle: the healed man, his parents, the Pharisees and Jesus. The second miracle is the insight the healed man was given enabling him to confess Jesus as the Son of man, Messiah. The chapter begins and ends with blindness. At the beginning a man was physically blind. At the end, the Pharisees were spiritually blind because of their sin. The healed man experienced a double miracle: sight and insight.

Confronted by the blindness of the world, a blindness encapsulated in the man born blind, Jesus said to his disciples, "we must work the works of him who sent me while it is day." This scripture can be seen as a call to us to practice evangelism, providing light to others. It is there, through faith, that they will find life eternal.

Read more from the lectionary

Shrine Mont Retreat with Christ Episcopal, May 2- 4

Final Signup, Sunday, March 30!

Father Jeff and Christ Episcopal Church has extended an invitation to join them at their Shrine Mont retreat on May 2-4. What a beautiful time of year to go!

“Shrine Mont is a place where people are more important than things, where prayer and reflection, rest and recreation are more important than appointments and tasks. It’s a place where people give thanks to God for his creation—from the beauty of the streams, flowers and wildlife which are at home here, to the people who come to this place to celebrate being part of the family of God.”

In addition to the beautiful scenery, amazing home-cooked style meals, and relaxing porches with plenty of rocking chairs Shrine Mont offers…

• A Prayer Labyrinth
• Tennis court
• Volleyball court
• Shuffleboard
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Two large recreation fields suitable for softball, soccer and other sports and games
• Campfire rings
• Horseshoes, croquet and bocci ball
• Scenic hiking trails
• Gift Shop

Just get the signup sheet

Check out our Shrine Mont page

Signups are due back to Catherine by Sunday, March 30. Scholarships are available.

"Bishop Goff" book now online

This is the book presented to the Bishop on Sunday, March 16. It was not only Barbara Wisdom’s idea but she put it together! Thanks Barbara.

We now have a copy online. The links below depend on your device since it is in "flash" format"

1. PC link is here

2. Smartphone or tablet is here

Frontpage, March 16, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. March , 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (March., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (March 22, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Congregational Meeting Jan 19, 2014
B. The Presentation Feb. 2, 2014
C. Ladies Night Out Feb. 15, 2014

10. Latest Bulletin (Mar. 23 11am.and Sermon (Mar. 9, 2014)

Bulletin 03-23-2014

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Ken Pogue’s "Port Royal Tutoring Program"

Ken Pogue, our Stewardship chair has proposed a new tutoring program for Port Royal youth from kindergarden to high school. He provided a sign up sheet to request tutors at church.

You can sign up for this program online. Link also has Ken’s original description of the program. He is currently canvasing the town for the educational needs

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Saints of the Week, March 16 -March 23

March
16
17	Patrick, Bishop and Missionary of Ireland, 461
18	Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, 386
19	Saint Joseph
20	Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, 1711 (new date)
21	Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr, 1556 [new date]
22	James De Koven, Priest, 1879
23	Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c. 332

Port Royal : Block By Block -Part 14, Block of Cumberland, Frederick, Back, Market

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

This block is one block away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Market, Water and Frederick. It encompasses lots 3,10,9, and 2.

The Lightfoots dominated this block from 1846-1909. One owner has owned Lots 2 and 9 since 1905.

Lots 3 and 10 were first consolidated in 1810-20 with the Hipkins and later the Bernards. The ownership was the same until the 1980’s when at some point they were split off and sold to the Stehls and now owned by Robert Bryan.

Lot 2

John Brown, silversmith, was the first to live here, from 1757 until his death in 1777. His brother advertised the property for sale, October 30, 1778, which included a six-room house with kitchen, laundry, meat-house, stable, smith’s shop, garden “paled in,” and a new warehouse below the river-bank.1

the lot is dominated by Riverview. Riverview was built in 1846 as the residence of John Rernard Lightfoot (1814-1888) and his wife Harriet (“Hal”) Lightfoot (1822-1871) and their eight children; members of the family lived here until 1909.

Sunday, March 16, 2014 (full size gallery)

Last Sunday (Second Sunday in Lent, March 16, 2014)

March 19 – 7:00pm, "Frog and Toad" Lenten Study, part 2.

March 23 – 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

March 23 – 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

Lent Week 3

Link to Lent 1 and beyond gallery

We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website – Lent at St. Peter’s 2014 which has the events listed. Highlights include:

Introduction to Lent
Our own Lenten Calendar
Frog and Toad Lenten Study, March 12,19, 26
Lenten Quiet Day , ECW at Roslyn, Wednesday April 2
Holy Week, April 14-20

If this is not enough, we have other links to various Lenten resources

Presiding Bishop Lenten Message

Lenten Message text

Lenten Message video

"I would invite you this Lent to think about your Lenten practice as an exercise in solidarity with all that is – with other human beings and with all of creation. That is most fundamentally what Jesus is about. He is about healing and restoring that broken world."

Hymn of the week – March 23, 2014 "Rock of Ages"

"Rock of Ages" was written by the Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.

From wikipedia – "Traditionally, it is held that Toplady drew his inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England. Toplady, a preacher in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a storm. Finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial lyrics on a playing card.

"The fissure that is believed to have sheltered Toplady is now marked as the "Rock of Ages", both on the rock itself and on some maps, and is also reflected in the name of a nearby tea shop.

Frontpage, March 9, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. March , 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (March., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (March 13, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Congregational Meeting Jan 19, 2014
B. The Presentation Feb. 2, 2014
C. Ladies Night Out Feb. 15, 2014

10. Latest Bulletin (March 16).and Sermon (March 9, 2014)

Bulletin 03-16-2014

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Ken Pogue’s "Port Royal Tutoring Program" – Tutors needed

Ken Pogue, our Stewardship chair has proposed a new tutoring program for Port Royal youth from kindergarden to high school. He provided a sign up sheet to request tutors at church.

You can sign up for this program online. Link also has Ken’s original description of the program.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Saints of the Week, March 9 -March 16

March
10	William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645
11
12	Aelred, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167
13	Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, 367
14
15
16	[Richard Meux Benson, Religious, 1915, and Charles Gore, Bishop of Worcester, of Birmingham, and of Oxford, 1932]

Port Royal : Block By Block -Part 13, Block of Cumberland, Frederick, Back, Market

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

This block is four blocks away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Cumberland, Frederick, Back and King. It encompasses lots 58,59,65,66 . .

Lot 58

Owners here: Judith Banks (c. 1778); at her death, her ad¬ministrators were Joseph Jones, John Taliaferro, & John Skinker who transferred her Lots 58, 59, 65, 66 in 1796 to John Victor. In the same year owners were Walter Scott first, and then William S. Stone, both of Fredericksburg; David B. Powers (1875). Lot 58 was divided in 1892: the upper half along Cumberland St. to Frederick St. was deeded to Shiloh Baptist Church, the lower half retained by Powers. Lot 58 became the graveyard of Shiloh Baptist Church.

Lent 1 – March 9, 2014 (full size gallery)

March 12 – 7:00pm, Lenten Study on "Frog and Toad"

March 12 – Online Lenten course "Making Sense of the Cross" ends

March 16 – 10:00am, Bishop Goff meets with Godly Play

March 16 – 11:00am, Baptism, Reception Holy Eucharist, Rite I with Bishop Goff

March 16 – 12:00pm, Luncheon for Bishop Goff and for those Baptized and Received

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

Frog and Toad return to St. Peter’s, Wed. March 12, 7pm

Frog and Toad come visiting during Lent on three successive Wednesday evenings (March 12, 19, 26) at 7pm that are guaranteed to be entertaining and enlightening. Frog and Toad are the main characters in a series of easy-reader children’s books, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel during the 1970’s.

We will join Frog and Toad in delving into the Lenten themes of what it means to wait patiently in a world in which we expect instant results. Along with Frog and Toad we’ll experience the true meaning of gluttony and face into the difficulties of the temptations that even the good things in our lives can bring to us. And along with Frog and Toad, we’ll experience the ups and downs of living in community, and how communities can be empowered by positive effort and persistence. Scripture and theology will be part of our study as well.

Here’s our first session on March 12 attended by 11 people with excerpts from the discussion and some photos.

Read more "Frog and Toad"..

Bishop Goff Art (full size gallery)

“Doing visual art is central to my spiritual life. As I create, I find myself in deeper communion with God’s creative power. I often enter a state of being that is akin to prayer, where clock time has no meaning, and I am energized and nourished.” – The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff

Bishop Goff will be with us for visitation at 11am March 16th. She will meet with the children at 10am. After the service there will be a luncheon in the Parish house honoring Michael Fox who will be baptized, the Fishers who will be received and the Bishop.

Many people don’t know Bishop Goff is also an artist. She has worked in many mediums – fiber sculpture, acrylic, mixed media, collage, and screen prints. Her knowledge of Spanish and Latin America often shows in her choice of Latin American subjects

RegionOne hosted Bishop Goff with Colonial Beach artist Susan Tilt at St. Mary’s in November, 2012. The gallery was created at that time

She became the first female bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia when she was consecrated at St. Paul’s Richmond in July , 2012. Her biography is here

Getting Into Lent – A review

Lent – Week One and beyond (full size gallery)

Links -We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website – Lent at St. Peter’s 2014 which has the events listed. Highlights include:

Introduction to Lent
Our own Lenten Calendar
Online Course "Making Sense of the Cross" – David Lose – Wednesday, March 5-12,
Frog and Toad Lenten Study, March 12,19, 26
Lenten Quiet Day , ECW at Roslyn, Wednesday April 2
Holy Week, April 14-20

If this is not enough, we have other links to various Lenten resources

A new Lenten Link – "Love Life"

A new resource – "Love Life" from The Society of Saint John the Evangelist. What new word is God speaking to you today ?

They will be looking at the Gospel of John through this series, which predominates our Lenten lectionary. You can subscribe to the daily emails above which contain a video and transcript. Here is their description

"The title of our series is Love Life and we want to talk about the abundant life that Jesus promises us in this gospel. And we’ll be looking at it through a variety to themes: revelation, invitation, participation, collaboration and location. We’ll look at those themes over the course of the six weeks. But we’ll be really sharing from our hearts what this gospel means to us and what we believe it can mean to you all."

I have found the first two days of this resource both very inviting and insightful. Try it out. There is also free resource book at the above site.

For more Lenten resources see this link – other Lenten resources

"Making Sense of the Cross" – The Cross as an experience not just a theory

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2014 ChurchNext is sponsoring a free online course Making Sense of the Cross, a series that invites online learners to “listen in” on an open conversation about the cross. Click here to learn more and register for free. There is still time to take it since it will take less than 1 hour . Dr. David Lose, professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class.

As a sample, here is an introduction to his course. This section is "The Cross and Experience":

"While theories, such as theories of the cross, are helpful in collating and organizing a large amount of experience, knowledge, and data, they can also be limiting and static. Reading or theorizing about something is not the same as experiencing it.

"David uses the example of reading about how to water-ski versus actually skiing on the water, or reading about how to be a parent versus actually having to make decisions and act as one. The same goes for our understanding of the cross. What if the gospels are not simply records of the cross but inspirations for our own experience of the cross?

"What if the cross is not something we just read or hear about but something we live and do and experience? It’s not just the gospels that tell the story of the cross; the entire Bible offers overarching cross narratives that generally follow a 5 step pattern:

"1. God creates and blesses something in love and sets it free.

"2. Something goes awry.

"3. God isn’t content to let us go off on our own, and God comes after us in love and to make things right again.

"4. God’s creation is not happy about being sought after by God but insists on pretending to be in control.

"5. But God comes anyway. That is lifegiving.

"In this lesson, we can begin to rethink the cross as a powerful story we experience and through which God seeks us out and saves us."

Read more about the course..

Hymn of the Week, March 16, 2014 – "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing was written by the 18th century pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson. Robert Robinson penned the words at age 22 in the year 1757. In the USA, the hymn is usually set to an American folk tune known as Nettleton, composed by printer John Wyeth

The lyrics, which dwell on the theme of divine grace, are based on 1 Samuel 7:12, in which the prophet Samuel raises a stone as a monument, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” The English transliteration of the name Samuel gives to the stone is Ebenezer, meaning Stone of Help.

Frontpage, March 2, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. March , 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (March., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (March 7, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Congregational Meeting Jan 19, 2014
B. The Presentation Feb. 2, 2014
C. Ladies Night Out Feb. 15, 2014

10. Latest Bulletin Mar. 7.and Ash Wed. sermon (Mar. 5, 2014)

Bulletin 03-09-2014

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Ken Pogue’s "Port Royal Tutoring Program" – Tutors needed by end of February

Ken Pogue, our Stewardship chair has proposed a new tutoring program for Port Royal youth from kindergarden to high school. He provided a sign up sheet to request tutors at church.

You can sign up for this program online. Link also has Ken’s original description of the program.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Saints of the Week, March 2-9

March
2	Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, 672
3	John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1788
4	[Paul Cuffee, Witness to the Faith among the Shinnecock, 1812]
5
6	[William W. Mayo, 1911, and Charles Menninger, 1953, and Their Sons, Pioneers in Medicine]
7	Perpetua and Her Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 202
8	[Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, Priest, 1929]
9	Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, c. 394

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Port Royal : Block By Block -Part 12, Block of Cumberland, King, Back, Main

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

The block is four blocks away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Cumberland, King, Back and Main and King. It encompasses lots 62,63,69,70 .

Lot 62

William Lindsay in 1785 was first owner here, succeeded in 1803 by Watts Parker. In 1805 Parker insured two structures on Lot 62: his wooden dwelling 21 feet by 16 feet with wing 14 feet by 12 feet, 2 stories with cellar, for $500; and for $100 his wooden shoemaker’s shop ("curing house"), 18 feet by 14 feet with shed attached 18 feet by 14 feet, 2 stories. Parker re-insured his buildings in 1805 for the same amounts, when the dwelling was occupied by Jacob Tinsley, and Parker had moved into his house on Lot 52; Parker was deceased in 1816. Lot 62 was owned by Nancy Parker & other heirs in 1818 when the property was re-insured for the same amounts and managed by Parker’s sons Stafford H. Parker & James Parker.

In 1849 for $160 Stafford H. Parker & wife Sarah B. Parker of Richmond transferred Lot 62 to James Jackson, being property "commonly known as Parker’s Tan Yard, together with all Tenements thereto." In 1875 George Ware occupied Lot 62, and in 1909 Rose Harris owned the lot. In recent years a mobile-home park occupied Lot 62, operated by William Mueller; after his death the park was closed, and the lot was vacated. In 1981 Herbert B. Posner became owner and opened a mobile-home park here

The 1930’s mentions this as the Lancaster home. However, no reference appears in Fall’s book. It appears the property with a brick path and fence extended into Lot 63

Sunday, March 2, 2014 (full size gallery)

March 5 – 7:00pm, Ash Wednesday

March 9 – 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

March 9- 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

"Spring Forward" before Sunday, March 9

Set your clocks ahead before Church on March 9 or you will miss the entire service

The Lenten Gospel Readings- the Path Ahead

Lent has five Sunday plus Palm Sunday.

Except for Lent 1, all of the Gospel readings come from the Gospel of John, specifically the second part Book of Signs (Jn 1.19-12.50). Palm Sunday has its own readings.

The second Sunday through the fifth has Jesus confronting various characters – a educated Pharisee, a Samaritan Women, a blind man and a man recently deceased. These texts from John are about revelation–the revelation of who Jesus is, the one sent by God, the begotten God, whose offer of life is in his presence and not necessarily delayed until his death.

The key is in the dialogues that the characters try to understand Jesus from their own backgrounds. Is he who he says he is ? How does he challenge Jewis teachings in the past ?

Along the way, it deals with man’s constant temptations and limits vs. Jesus as the source of light and eternal life. Jesus does make himself known in a significant way. It shows the power and glory of Christ and how humans confront it .

Are they going to find themselves within Christ ? Ultimately, how are we finding our way through Christ ? Will we recognize him? Will we witness for him? Will we see him and worship him? Will we come when we hear him call our names? Will we move as these stories show from darkness to light, from insecurity to testimony, from blindness to sight, from death to life? Here are the Sundays:

First Sunday of Lent: The Temptation of Jesus, following upon the account of Jesus’ own baptism, is a vivid reminder that our baptismal life is similar to Christ’s life: we will be subject to trial and temptation.

Second Sunday of Lent: The Story of Nicodemus , the Pharisee never understood the significance of Christ beyond the miracles despite his education. To stand accepted before God requires a conversion of one’s whole being. It requires being born from above, washed new by the Spirit of God.

Third Sunday of Lent: In the story of The Samaritan Woman the gradual enlightenment of the woman by Jesus is a pattern of baptismal grace that steadily purifies and enlightens us.

Fourth Sunday of Lent: The Man Born Blind shows the power of God offered to cure a helpless blind man. God’s power is no less evident in the sacrament of baptism.

Fifth Sunday of Lent: Raising of Lazarus is a powerful reminder that Christ is the "resurrection and the life" and those who believe in him will have eternal life.

Indeed the continual revelation of Jesus becomes a reason why the authorities conclude he is a dangerous man that needs to be dealt with in Holy Week.

Lent Begins March 5

Lent is a 40 day Christian festival beginning Ash Wednesday and concluding on Easter (Sundays are not counted). The 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness was responsible for the number 40 being chosen . It was said by Athanasius in 339 AD to be celebrated the world over.

The word "Lent" comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word lengten, which means "springtime," named so for the time of the year in which it occurs. The five Lenten Sundays are followed by the Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week, when we relive the events of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death.

What we now call Lent was originally a period of fasting and study for catechumens who were to be baptized on the Saturday before Easter. The purpose of this extended fast was to practice self-denial and humility. This was to prepare oneself for receiving God’s grace and forgiveness in baptism, given on Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday.

Lent is:

• A time for looking at the things we do that are wrong or that tempt us, asking God’s and other people’s forgiveness;
• A time for giving up things that keep us from being loving people;
• A time for doing extra things that will help us grow closer to God;
• A time to be more aware of what it means to love as God loves us;
• A time to ask God to help us to be more loving, remembering
that God is always ready to strengthen us.

We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website – Lent at St. Peter’s 2014 which has the events listed. Highlights include:

Introduction to Lent
Our own Lenten Calendar
Ash Wednesday– Wednesday, March 5, 7pm, preceded by the Village Dinner at 5pm
Online Course "Making Sense of the Cross" – David Lose – Wednesday, March 5-12.
Healing Our Image of God – Sat. March 8, 8:30am-12pm at St Mary’s Episcopal with Joanna Catron, curator at Belmont. Art and reflection.
Lent 1 – Great Litany 11am, Sunday, March 9.
Frog and Toad Lenten Study, March 12,19, 26 7pm Parish House
Lenten Quiet Day , ECW at Roslyn, Wednesday April 2, 9:30am-3pm.
Holy Week, April 14-20.

If this is not enough, we have other links to various Lenten resources

Ash Wednesday, March 5 and the beginning of Lent

We began our observation of Jesus’ death and resurrection by preparing for Easter with a season of penitence. Our Ash Wednesday photo gallery is here.

At this service, 28 received ashes on our foreheads in the shape of a cross to remind us of our mortality, and complete dependence on God for our lives. Only through God’s saving grace can be we be in a relationship with God.

This service offered a way in which we can come together to consider our ongoing need for God’s salvation in our lives, both individually and as a community. The sermon was about this path using the concept of longing – "We are those bulbs, seeds, cocoons. In this season of Lent, we long to grow and to become the unique and beautiful creatures that God longs for each of us to be. "

For more information on Ash Wednesday see this link

Making Sense of the Cross – Lenten online study

This Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2014 ChurchNext is sponsoring a free course Making Sense of the Cross, a series that invites online learners to “listen in” on an open conversation about the cross. Click here to learn more and register for free.

From March 5–12, the Rev. Dr. David Lose, professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, will teach The Big Class, a program of ChurchNext. The course will expand on the popular Making Sense of the Cross, a six-session, small-group course published by Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis.

Dr. Lose will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class. Participants can take the class anytime during the week at churchnext.tv. The course will take 45 minutes to complete and need not be taken in one sitting. No special software is required.

Throughout Making Sense of the Cross, readers are encouraged to think about and experience the cross and its meaning for their lives. “The Cross has been as life-giving as it has been mysterious,” said Chris Yaw, founder of ChurchNext, a producer of online learning experiences. “However, David possesses that rare gift of theological insight and communication prowess that will makes this course incredibly helpful to anyone looking to gain deeper insight into Jesus’ death and resurrection.”

Precourse handout – March 4 – Takeaways from Part 1

Read more about the course..

"Healing Our Image of God", March 8, 2014 8:30am to noon, St. Mary’s Colonial Beach

The Creation of Adam – Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo, 1511-12)

Lenten Quiet Morning at St Mary’s in Colonial Beach—“Healing Our Image of God,” led by Joanna Catron, Curator at Belmont on March 8, 8:30am to noon.

We will reflect on how God has been portrayed in art over the centuries and have our own thoughts have been shaped.

In Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God Dennis Linn writes. "In every aspect of our lives, we become like the God we adore..We find that a key to personal and social healing is healing our image of God."

Hymn of the Week, March 9, 2014 – "God of Grace and God of Glory"

“God of Grace and God of Glory.” Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) , a Baptist minister, wrote this hymn in 1930 for the dedication of the Riverside Church in New York City. This church was funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (His brother, Raymond Fosdick, was essentially in charge of philanthropy for Rockefeller).

Time Magazine wrote in 1930 about this church: “Hence on a vast scale he has built all the accessories of a community church—gymnasium, assembly room for theatricals, dining rooms, etc. … In ten stories of the 22-story belltower are classrooms for the religious and social training of the young.” It was first sung at the opening service, October 5, 1930, and at the dedication on February 8, 1931. The tune, ‘Cum Rhondda’ was composed by John Hughes.

Frontpage, February 23, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. March., 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (March., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (March 1, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Congregational Meeting Jan 19, 2014
B. The Presentation Feb. 2, 2014
C. Ladies Night Out Feb. 15, 2014

11. Latest Bulletin (March 2, 11am.and Sermon (Feb. 23, 2014)

Bulletin 03-02-2014

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Ken Pogue’s "Port Royal Tutoring Program" – Tutors needed by end of February

Ken Pogue, our Stewardship chair has proposed a new tutoring program for Port Royal youth from kindergarden to high school. He provided a sign up sheet to request tutors at church. Deadline is end of February, 2014.

You can sign up for this program online. Link also has Ken’s original description of the program.

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Saints of the Week, Feb. 23-March 2

23	Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr of Smyrna, 156
24	Saint Matthias the Apostle
25	[John Roberts, Priest, 1949]
26	[Emily Malbone Morgan, Prophetic Witness, 1937]
27	George Herbert, Priest, 1633
28	[Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, 1964, and Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, 1904, Educators]
29	[John Cassian, Abbot at Marseilles, 433]

March
	1	David, Bishop of Menevia, Wales, c. 544
	2	Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, 672

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Port Royal : Block By Block – Part 11, Block of Cumberland, Market, Back and King

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

The block is four blocks away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Cumberland, Market, Back and King. It encompasses lots 61,60,67,68 .

Lot 60

First owner of Lots 60, 61, 67, 68 was John Mercer (1704-1768), immigrant from Dublin, Ireland, who settled at Marlborough, Stafford County. Mercer married Catherine Mason and had four children, of whom the eldest was George Mercer (born 1733) who acquired Lots 60-61 from his father’s estate and owned them in 1787-1813.

William Powers, formerly of King & Queen County, purchased Lots 60-61 from George Mercer’s estate (1817); in 1835 Powers sold Lots 60, 61, 67, 68 to Mark Boulware III (1780-1846) & wife Lucy (Dickinson) Boulware (1781-1852) who had eight children.

Muscoe Boulware, unmarried, became a physician and practiced medicine in town before the Civil War.

In 1840 Dr. Muscoe Boulware owned Lots 60, 61, 67, 68 which he sold in 1851 to George Fitzhugh & wife Mary M. Fitzhugh. When Fitzhugh transferred the four lots in 1851 to Butler B. Sacray, Lots 60-61 were occupied by "a small house or cabin, leased out for the present year." In 1860-1866 the four lots were owned by the Estate of Butler B. Sacray .

Champe B. Thornton owned Lots 60, 61, 67, 68 in 1875, and for $80 sold the "Sacre lot" in 1908 to John T. Thornton.

Lot 60 was divided in 1909, Thornton retaining the upper half at the corner of Cumberland & Market Sts.; the lower half on Market St. was owned by Charles W. Jefferson. There was an 1/8 the old Butler Sacre that has seen a variety of owners since 1949.

At the time of Fall’s book (2983) there were two houses occupying Lot 60: on the inner half on Market St. a frame dwelling built & formerly owned by Arthur V. Jefferson, acquired in 1938 and occupied by the family of the late Embria Byrd & wife Daisy (Puree) Byrd, and unoccupied (1982). In 1975 the Byrds erected and occupied (1982) the adjoining brick dwelling, corner of Market & Cumberland Sts.

Sunday, February 23, 2014 (full size gallery)

March 2 – No Godly Play this week (Amy is away)

March 2- 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, (Last Epiphany, "The Transfiguration")

March 2- 12:00pm, Coffee Hour

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

World Mission Sunday, March 2

From the Episcopal Church : "World Mission Sunday is observed each year on the Last Sunday After the Epiphany. On World Mission Sunday, the church comes together to focus on the global impact of the Baptismal Covenant’s call to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305), and to raise our awareness of the many ways in which the Episcopal Church participates in God’s mission around the world.

"God calls us to go out into the world and be with our brothers and sisters, whether they are halfway around the world or halfway down the block. Today we remember and give thanks for those in our church who are building, strengthening and deepening relationships throughout the Anglican Communion by serving as missionaries of the Episcopal Church. They are in Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Tanzania, Hong Kong, South Korea and many places in between. They listen and learn. They teach and preach. They work in offices, classrooms and on sustainable farms. Through their presence, they connect one part of God’s world to another part of God’s world.

"Many Episcopal missionaries maintain blogs here and here to share stories and pictures from their ministries. You can also watch some videos.

Region One has supported Ashley Cameron in the Philippines beginning in April, 2013:

"My name is Ashley Cameron and I’m a volunteer with the Episcopal Young Adult Service Corps. Starting in August 2013, I will be living in the Northern Philippines and working with the Episcopal Development Foundation of St. Mark, based in Santiago City. I am helping manage funds of the development program to ensure they are loaned out in poverty-alleviation ventures and that funds are made available when participating communities submit proposals for new projects."

Recent Post -"This week is seemingly normal and low-key compared to last week and the upcoming weeks. It’s like the calm before the storm. We were supposed to have a scheduled brown-out from 8am to 6pm today but it never occurred. We’ll see tomorrow if it was rescheduled. In the meantime, I love …" Read More

Lectionary, March 2, Last Epiphany

I.Theme – The Promise : God’s Glory and its revelation in the Transfiguration

"Transfiguration (detail) " – Raphael (1516-1520)

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2 Page 586, BCP

Psalm 99 Page 728, BCP

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

God’s glory is explored in two mountain top scenes inthe Old Testament and Gospel stories. The example of the transfiguration is itself transformed into hope for a future king and that God’s purpose will prevail. The promise.

The psalms talk about kingship and particularly the ideal future king. There is praise of God as King who has helped people in need, given them just laws and punished and forgiven them where appropriate

1st Peter, the New Testament reading, looks and forward to Christ coming again in all his glory. The emphasis is on the future – Here the transfiguration becomes a sign of hope for the future that God’s purpose will prevail and be fulfilled… through God’s goodness in Christ.

The Gospel story is an appropriate conclusion to Epiphany. We began this season with Jesus Baptism and conclude with the Transfiguration. In both cases, God ("voice") proclaims "This is my Son, the Beloved…". In both points the heavens and the earth intersect. As he has just predicted his own suffering and death (Mt 17:21-23), now God previews his post-resurrection glory. Also, Matthew 16:28 had just reported Jesus’ role as judge to come, who would judge all according to their performance, a theme also in the context of the baptism in Matthew

This story is reccounted in not only Matthew but also in Mark and Luke. Only Matthew includes "in whom I am well-pleased," which exactly repeats the words at Jesus’ baptism (3:17). This connection wouldn’t have been made by the disciples, since they weren’t present at the baptism, but it is a connection the readers to make. Why is God pleased with Jesus? At his baptism, it may come from Jesus desire "to fulfill all righteousness" (3:15). At the transfiguration, the "righteousness" is more clearly defined by Jesus’ first passion prediction. Doing what God requires (righteousness) is more important than Jesus’ own life.

In the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John witness Jesus’ clothes and garment shining like the sun. An argument can be made that this is also Peter’s transformation. David Lose writes "On the mountain Peter’s transformation begins…" “Peter’s transfiguration begins — when he fails, falls, and is lifted up again and realizes that above and beyond everything else, he is called to listen to Jesus." That is much like us.

Read more from the lectionary

Raphael’s Transfiguration – story of a painting

Raphael (1483-1520) was a master painter of the Renaissance. Raphael considered the Transfiguration to be his greatest masterpiece though he died before he could finish it at age 37. A student finished it.

In his final delirium he asked to see his painting for the last time. His friends brought it to him, and placed it on the bed in which he died on Good Friday, 1520.

Giorgio Vasari, the sixteenth century Italian painter, writer, historian said of the painting that is was “…the most famous, the most beautiful and most divine…”

Cardinal Giulio de’Medici (who later became Pope Clement VII), commissioned Raphael to paint Transfiguration for the city of Narbonne, in France. The painting was kept personally by the Pope after Raphael’s untimely death, until he donated it to the church of San Pietro in Rome.

The painting is now housed in the Vatican Museum and is large – 15 feet, 1.5 inches by 9 feet, 1.5 inches. Raphael preferred painting on canvas, but this painting was done with oil paints on wood as chosen mediums.

The "Transfiguration" was ahead of its time, just as Raphael’s death came too soon. The dramatic tension within these figures, and the liberal use of light to dark was characteristic of the next age – the Baroque.

On the most obvious level, the painting can be interpreted as the split between the flaws of men, depicted in the lower half, and the redemptive power of Christ, in the upper half of the painting.

Two scenes from the Gospel of Matthew are depicted in Raphael’s Transfiguration. One the transfiguration itself, Christ reaching to the heavens symbolic of a future resurrected stage and an epileptic boy falling to the ground in a seizure, lies there as if dead and then ‘rises’ up again.

The only link between the two parts of the picture is made by the epileptic boy, who is the only person in the lower half of the picture whose face is turned to the transfigured Christ in the upper part of the painting

• At the top, it is Mathew 17:1-9. Christ has climbed Mount Tabor with the Apostles, and there he is transfigured—appearing in his glorified body, flanked by Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets).

We see the transfigured Christ floating aloft, bathed in a blue/white aura of light and clouds. To his left and right are the figures of the prophets, Moses and Elijah. White and blue colors are used symbolically to signify spiritual colors.

Read more about this painting

Lent Begins March 5

Lent is:

We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website – Lent at St. Peter’s 2014 which has the events listed. Highlights include:

Introduction to Lent
Our own Lenten Calendar
Ash Wednesday– Wednesday, March 5, 7pm, preceded by the Village Dinner at 5pm
Online Course "Making Sense of the Cross" – David Lose – Wednesday, March 5-12.
Healing Our Image of God – Sat. March 8, 8:30am-12pm at St Mary’s Episcopal with Joanna Catron, curator at Belmont. Art and reflection.
Lent 1 – Great Litany 11am, Sunday, March 9.
Frog and Toad Lenten Study, March 12,19, 26 7pm Parish House
Lenten Quiet Day , ECW at Roslyn, Wednesday April 2, 9:30am-3pm.
Holy Week, April 14-20.

If this is not enough, we have other links to various Lenten resources

Ash Wednesday, March 5 and the beginning of Lent

This year we will not have the traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. Instead, on Wednesday, March 5, the beginning of Lent, the Village Dinner will occur at 5pm followed by the Ash Wednesday service, 7pm with the imposition of ashes and Eucharist.

We begin our observation of Jesus’ death and resurrection by preparing for Easter with a season of penitence. At this service, we receive ashes on our foreheads in the shape of a cross to remind us of our mortality, and complete dependence on God for our lives. Only through God’s saving grace can be we be in a relationship with God. This service offers a way in which we can come together to consider our ongoing need for God’s salvation in our lives, both individually and as a community.

For more information on Ash Wednesday see this link

Making Sense of the Cross – Lenten online study

Dr. Lose will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class. Participants can take the class anytime during the week at churchnext.tv. The course will take 45 minutes to an hour to complete and need not be taken in one sitting. No special software is required.

Dr Lose will take us through the following areas:

• A Man Hanging on a Tree
• Why Four Gospels?
• Matthew and the Cross
• Mark and the Cross
• Luke and the Cross
• John and the Cross

Read more about the course..

"Healing Our Image of God", March 8, 2014 8:30am to noon, St. Mary’s Colonial Beach

The Creation of Adam – Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo, 1511-12)

Lenten Quiet Morning at St Mary’s in Colonial Beach—“Healing Our Image of God,” led by Joanna Catron, Curator at Belmont on March 8, 8:30am to noon.

We will reflect on how God has been portrayed in art over the centuries and have our own thoughts have been shaped.

Preview of Frog and Toad come to St. Peter’s, Wed. March 12, 7pm

Frog and Toad come visiting during Lent on three successive Wednesday evenings (March 12, 19, 26) at 7pm that are guaranteed to be entertaining and enlightening. Frog and Toad are the main characters in a series of easy-reader children’s books, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel during the 1970’s.

Frog is taller, with a green shade, and is more friendly and relaxed than Toad; Toad is shorter and stout, with a brown shade and also the more serious and uptight of the duo.

Read more "Frog and Toad"..

Frontpage, February 16, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. Feb., 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Feb., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (Feb. 19, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Thrill of Hope 12/17
B. Christmas Play 12/22
C. Christmas Eve 12/24

11. Latest Bulletin (Feb. 23 11am Latest Bulletin (Feb. 23 9am .and Sermon (Feb. 16, 2014)

Bulletin 02-23-2014 11am

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Hornes Promotion –

10% back to St. Peter’s until Feb. 28, 2014. Click on the logo for the coupon to print.

Feb 15, 2014

Projects

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Port Royal : Block By Block – Part 10, Block of Middle Frederick, Cumberland, Market

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

The block is three blocks away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Middle, Frederick, Cumberland and Market. It encompasses lots 45,44,51,52 .

Lot 45

Ownership goes back to 1779. In 1913 Howell Jeter and wife Martha held title and at the time of Fall’s book and in 1982 daughter Ruth Jeter Cadden. Cadden motor court was erected by her and an Easter1965 open house was held with Rev. Fall offering the prayer.

Saints of the Week, Feb. 16-22

February
16	[Charles Todd Quintard, Bishop of Tennessee, 1898]
17	Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda & Martyr, 1977
18	Martin Luther, 1546
19
20	[Frederick Douglass, Prophetic Witness, 1895]
21	[John Henry Newman, Priest and Theologian, 1890]
22	[Eric Liddell, Missionary to China, 1945]

Sunday, February 16, 2014 (full size gallery)

February 23- 9:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

February 23- 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

February 23- 11:00am, Morning Prayer, Rite II

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

"Ladies Night Out", Feb. 15 – the 2014 version

What a night! Food, Fellowship and Jeopardy! There is more "Ladies Night Out" here, including a photogallery.

Ken Pogue’s "Port Royal Tutoring Program" – Tutors needed by end of February

You can sign up for this program online. Link also has Ken’s original description of the program.

Catherine’s John Hines’ sermon at Virginia Theological

A year ago when Catherine won the John Hines award, there was a requirement to preach at Virginia Theological which she did on Feb. 11, 2014 at the noon service. Unfortunately, they had forgotten she was scheduled that day and were not prepared for honoring her afterwards!

Read the entire sermon here. which was based on the following scriptures – I Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 , Ps 84, Mark 7:1-13

Read more about the sermon…

Lectionary, Feb. 23, Epiphany 7

I.Theme – There are no limits to your love of your neighbor or to the poor. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, they, and everything else, belong to you (the community), and you to Christ.

"Love of Neighbor " – Hermano Leon

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18

Psalm 119:33-40

1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23

1 Matthew 5:38-48

This week is a continuation of last week when the challenge was: 1. You shall not commit murder. 2. You shall not commit adultery 3. You shall not divorce 4. You shall not bear false witness. These four and the two above are the Six Antitheses or contrasts. Jesus makes six quotations or paraphrases of commands of Moses in the Bible, and then he says, “But I say” and makes a similar but stronger statement.

We take up 5 and 6. Leviticus and Matthew both talk of dealing with the poor and your neighbor. This is a week of "higher righteousness." We are really challenged this week.

The New Testament appropriates Leviticus 19:18 in a variety of contexts. ‘Love your neighbor’ is a central injunction for all followers of Jesus. So who is our neighbor ? This may be answered best by Luke 10:29-37 the story of the Good Samaritan.

We struggle with the idea of creating just economy in dealing with the disadvantage. One that is equiable. It is tough. Matthew raises the bar. "Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you."

We can nod our head at all of this. But do we really believe that we have a God who not only makes "the sun to rise on the evil and on the good," (Matthew 5:45) but also enables the good to love and to pray for the evil? Can we "be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect"? (Matthew 5:48)

Read more from the lectionary

Forum on "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", Feb. 24, 7:30pm

Live webcast , nationalcathedral.org

Washington National Cathedral and the Aspen Institute co-sponsor a public forum exploring the ongoing significance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” reflecting upon how far we have come as a nation since Dr. King’s letter, and how much remains to be done.

The conversation will between Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, law professor Stephen L. Carter, and civil rights leader Julian Bond—joined by Cathedral Dean Gary Hall and moderated by author Walter Isaacson.

King’s Birmingham Campaign began on April 3, 1963, with coordinated marches and sit-ins against racism and racial segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. The non-violent campaign was coordinated by Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

On April 10, a blanket injunction was issued against "parading, demonstrating, boycotting, trespassing and picketing". Leaders of the campaign announced they would disobey the ruling. On Good Friday, April 12, King was roughly arrested with others. The day of his arrest, eight Birmingham clergy members wrote a criticism of the campaign that was published in the Birmingham News, calling its direct action strategy “unwise and untimely."

King’s Letter has been called one of the most significant works of the Civil Right movement. You can read it here and was addressed to the eight clergymen that opposed his action.

The Church Awakens, Black History Month

Links

1. Black history month – video

2. Episcopal exhibit on Black History

3. State of Racisim, a forum in 2013

Annual Council, Part 3 – The Shrine Mont experience

It was difficult to go through Annual Council and not hear about the "Shout Out from the Mountain Campaign", the name for the renovation of Shrine Mont Camps. It is more than that – to provide two funds – one for scholarships for future campers and another for capital improvements. The main goal is $2MM with a "stretch" goal of $2.5MM.

There were 700 campers in the summer of 2013 with 80 college students as counselors.

At Council, three of the counselors spoke of their experiences (audio below) and we heard from the two co-chairs of the capital campaign, Barbara McMurry, Rev. Andrew Merrow. The cochairs emphasized that the feasibility study was positive -5,000 quesionaires, 24% responded and 98% of those said to move forward.

There was the Shrine Mont booth with Kirk Gibson Then there were two presentations:

1. Shout It from the Mountain: From the Counselors (.mp3 audio)

2. Shout It from the Mountain: From the Campaign Chairs (.mp3 audio)

Finally at the Regional Presidents meeting, Bishop Ted went over the campaign.

Read more about Annual Council…

Frontpage, February 9, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. Feb., 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Feb., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (Feb. 15, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Thrill of Hope 12/17
B. Christmas Play 12/22
C. Christmas Eve 12/24

11. Latest Bulletin (Feb. 16 11am.and Sermon (Feb. 9, 2014)

Bulletin 02-16-2014

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Hornes Promotion –

10% back to St. Peter’s until Feb. 28, 2014. Click on the logo for the coupon to print.

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Saints of the Week, Feb. 9-15

February
9
10
11	[Frances Jane (Fanny) Van Alstyne Crosby, Hymnwriter, 1915]
12	[Charles Freer Andrews, Priest and “Friend of the Poor” in India, 1940]
13	Absalom Jones, Priest, 1818
14	Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop, Missionaries to the Slavs, 869, 885
15	Thomas Bray, Priest and Missionary, 1730

Port Royal : Block By Block – Part 9, Block of Middle, Market, Cumberland and King

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

The block is three blocks away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Middle, Market, Cumberland and King. It encompasses lots 47, 46, 53 and 54.

The original plat of 1744 designated Lots 46,47,53,54 to be reserved as a square for “For Public Civic Use.” In some cases it has not been, especially on Lot 47.

There have been carnivals, auctions, carnivals and other civic events such as 2013’s Charter Day scheduled there . Many different structures have appeared including schools, two houses, Town hall, post office, water towers and Volunteer Fire department. Currently the medical office from Lot 17 is there, the library building and volunteer fire department and the tower. The tower needs replacing but the town has had inadequate funds to do

Lot 46

Lot 46 has never had a structure

Sunday, February 9, 2014 (full size gallery)

February 16- 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

February 16- 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

"Ladies Night Out", Feb. 15 – the 2014 version

What a night! Food, Fellowship and Jeopardy! There is more "Ladies Night Out" here, including a photogallery.

Two examples of leadership at St. Peter’s, Feb. 9th

1. Johnny Davis described his work with "Hunters for the Hungry." This is coordinated through Essex Baptist. Hunters store the deer in a truck with Champlain. The Baptists pick it up and deliver to the butcher who prepares it and returns it to the Baptists which later distribute it. St. Peter’s provides a donation for the work and Johnny delivered 550 pounds to Caroline Social Services which took a freezer and 1/3.

2. Ken Pogue, our Stewardship chair has proposed a new tutoring program for Port Royal youth from kindergarden to high school. He provided a sign up sheet to request tutors. Deadline is end of the month. It is not just about the learning but for students about professionalism and workplace skills, community and family life skills, motivation (spiritual and secular) and career resources/opportunities. The program will evolve with the students and tutors and will be depend on the commitment of both.

You can sign up for this program online.

Day of Prayer for South Sudan on February 16

Presiding Bishop Schori wrote :

"The world is increasingly concerned over the rampant violence in South Sudan,” the Presiding Bishop said. “The recent increase in armed conflict, murder, and mayhem has been fomented in part by inaccurate reports of tribal partisanship. The new nation needs peace, in order that all its people might thrive. The Episcopal Church of Sudan is partnering with others on the ground in that work of peace-building. The Sudanese communities within our own Episcopal Church have been important and effective leaders in this work. I ask your prayers for peace, as well as your awareness and involvement in the lives of our brothers and sisters across the globe. The Prince of Peace serves the whole world. As his disciples, may we do no less!”

Over 600,000 people have been displaced in the recent fighting, including the two women on the left. The current crisis reflects underlying tensions and mistrust among South Sudanese leaders and ethnic groups that date back to Sudan’s civil war (1983-2005), and before.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori has noted that The Episcopal Church now has a number of Sudanese congregations and communities of faith as a result of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who immigrated to the United States as refugees beginning in 2001.

What can we do ? Give to the ERD’s South Sudan Fund"

The Sudanese Development and Relief Agency (SUDRA), the humanitarian wing of the Episcopal Church in South Sudan & Sudan (ECSSS), is supplying food, water and medical care to people displaced by the conflict currently enveloping the world’s newest nation. Episcopal Relief & Development is providing technical assistance and financial support to SUDRA, and serving as the key liaison for a group of Anglican Communion organizations supporting the relief and recovery work.

Remembering Black History Month

Links

1. Black history month – video

2. Episcopal exhibit on Black History

3. State of Racisim, a forum in 2013

Region One are the 19 Episcopal churches from Colonial Beach in the east to Madison in the west.

We welcomed the Very Rev. Dr. Marian Windel as the new dean of Region One. Marian has been the priest at Church of the Incarnation in Mineral for 7 years. She is active on the Diocesan level, serving on a variety of committees.

The region meeting concentrated on three topics – reactions to Annual Council, What’s Happening in Region One and planning for 2014. We were joined by our two youth delegates to Council, Hannah Cannon from St. George’s and Mike Hamilton from Trinity Episcopal.

Hannah was onstage during Council serving as one of the Girls Group from St. George’s which has a radio show and has worked with African issues. She liked seeing the church from the inside at Council and shared her story coming back to the church in middle school. She appreciated adults who could explain possibilities of how youth can serve in the church and serve as mentors for teens in the process of confirmation and beyond. She stressed the importance of social media in working with youth – for example tweeting during the onstage show. It’s a way to building community to those both presenting and those hearing it.

Mike read the scriptures in the first reading at St. Paul’s during the afternoon service and worked with the resolutions. He noted the role of Trinity’s rector Kent Rahm in providing a background to Council. Mike praised the bulletin board at Trinity that is helpful in providing opportunities on how to get involved.

We turned to evaluate the Annual Council experience. Many felt energized by the Council’s “story” format. But several brought up the cost of council and the scheduling of the resolutions close to the end.

More about Region One…

Hymn of the Week — "Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven", Feb. 16

"Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven" was written by two 19th century Englishmen. Most notably, this hymn was sung at the wedding of the future Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, in Westminster Abbey, London, 1947.

The music was composed by John Goss who composed mostly church music. He was organist at St. Paul’s from 1838 onward in London. Queen Victoria knighted him in 1872. In 1876, Cambridge University awarded him a Doctor of Music degree. He also held the post of Professor of Harmony at the Royal Academy of Music for almost half a century.

Goss composed the melody entitled LAUDA ANIMA (Latin for the opening words of Psalm 103) for this text in 1868. He also contributed his original harmonizations, intended to interpret the different stanzas.

Henry F. Lyte wrote the words for this piece originally as Spirit of the Psalms, 1834. Lyte was a priest and excellent flute player. He is known for his ministry educating children and seamen for whom other schooling was virtually impossible while in Brixham, a fishing village. Each year Lyte organized an Annual Treat for the 800-1000 Sunday school children, which included a short religious service followed by tea and sports in the field. Lyte was also able to identify with his parish of fishermen, visiting them at their homes and on board their ships in harbor, supplying every vessel with a Bible, and compiling songs and a manual of devotions for use at sea.

You can hear this hymn sung in St. Paul’s in London where Goss was organist.

Lectionary, Feb. 16, Epiphany 6

I.Theme – The joy and blessings of obedience Also, is the idea of building a new community through new behaviors (culminating in Matt 5: 37)

"Hands across the Divide" – Maurice Harron. A metal sculpture in Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Since the 17th century, Londonderry has had two cultural traditions: Catholic and Protestant, Irish and Ulster Scots. During the Troubles, this became a big problem. The city became best known for tragedies like Bloody Sunday, and so most tourists stayed away. Yet since the start of the peace process, Londonderry has been transformed. It’s rediscovered its rightful role as a cultural destination, and its dual heritage has become an asset, rather than a source of strife. The image is included in relationship to the Corinthians reading.

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

1A. Old Testament 1 Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20

1B. Old Testament 2 Deuteronomy 30:15-20

2. Psalm– Psalm 119:1-8 Page 763, BCP

3. Epistle – 1 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

4. Gospel – Matthew 5:21-37

The Old Testament and Gospel readings are linked around the older community in Deuteronomy (The setting is the plains of Moab, as the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land) and the new community in Matthew (Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount). How do we get along in community ? The focus is the calling and teaching of disciples of Jesus. (Paul in Corinthians is centered on a related idea – being or becoming healthy as the body of Christ.)

Deuteronomy

In the four verses immediately preceding 30:15–20, Moses assures the people that the commandments of the LORD are neither too hard nor too remote.

Just prior to our text, Moses announces wonderful blessings for an obedient Israel and blood-curdling curses for an apostate Israel (chapter 28). These benedictions and maledictions are followed by a prediction of eventual exile (29:18–29) and return (30:1–10) .

Having assured the people that what God commands they can do, Moses launches into his final call for a decision.

The choice is stark. "If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today…then you shall live and become numerous
But if your heart turns away and you do not hear… I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess." Moses use of the word "today" is the hope for a new beginning.

Like Matthew there is the emphasis on the creation of a new community. There is the need for a break with the past. However, in the following chapter, it becomes very clear that both Moses and God know that the people will fail miserably.

Psalm

The first section of the ‘long Psalm’ is an acrostic based on alpeh, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Like the other 21 sections of the Psalm, it consists of eight double lines. The longest acrostic Psalm, it is therefore constructed with great skill, which no translation can really convey. The choice of vocabulary is also rich, expressing different terms for what we very flatly call ‘law’. Although the Jewish celebration of ‘rejoicing in the law (simchat torah) was a later development in Judaism, the psalm expresses similar sentiments. As a Psalm extolling the torah, it has similarities to Psalms 1 and 19:7-11. These eight verses are a suitable general introduction to the rest of the Psalm.

1 Corinthians 3: 1-9

Following on from the situation reported to him by ‘Chloe’s people’ (1:11), after a passage dealing with ‘the message of the cross (1:18-2:16), Paul returns to the theme of factions in the church at Corinth. The intervening section emphasizes the cross as God’s wisdom. This stands in sharp contrast to the rivalry exhibited by the groups in the church. The metaphor of ‘growth’ is developed both in the imagery of the ‘child’, and also of the ‘field’. Paul’s favorite dichotomy of flesh and spirit is also brought to the fore. Nevertheless, the Corinthian believers are still Paul’s ‘brothers and sisters’, and fellow workers. Despite their shortcomings, although he does reprimand them he does not disown them. The fact that only Paul and Apollos are mentioned here (and not Cephas nor Christ, as in 1:12) probably reflects the history of the congregation’s founding and leadership by these two apostles. Paul might have taken some of the glory for this, but he refuses to do so.

Matthew 5: 21-37

The first four of the six ‘antitheses’ of the Sermon on the Mount are included in this reading (the final two are in next week’s reading). The quotations from ‘those of ancient times’ include aspects of both torah and tradition (halakah). The time-honored description of this section as ‘antitheses’ may be misleading, for although in part Jesus cuts across the interpretation of the law, he does not contradict or discard torah itself. Jesus’ own interpretation intensifies and internalises the force of the commands.

Jesus also broadens the impact of torah/halakah, i.e. murder becomes an issue of anger and unforgiveness; adultery is broadened to include lust and stumbling-blocks in general; divorce and adultery are linked; and the making of vows is illustrated by specific examples and by the simplicity of Jesus’ teaching.

The explanatory expansion of these commands by Jesus may also be understood as the root cause of the specific sin, eg anger or unforgiveness in the heart can lead to physical murder.

Annual Council Inspiration, Part 2 -Jordan Casson, Dir. Youth Ministry, St. Paul’s, Ivy

“Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” (Luke 13:10-17)

In the spring of 2012, I visited the 2000-year-old ruin of the Synagogue at Capernaum; it was there that Luke’s narrative about Jesus and the unnamed woman took on a deeper meaning for me. In previous readings of this text, I had categorized it as just another healing story. However, as I walked through this synagogue, which architecturally segregated men, woman, and children, I realized that there was more to this text. Jewish women who lived in the Greco-Roman world could not worship with men. And so our friend in the text finds herself in an unfamiliar space. In order for her to reach Jesus, she must defy the social and cultural norms of the day. She must do what no other woman would dare do: she must move out of her comfort zone, she must stretch, because it is only in her willingness and actions to stretch, that her spirit is renewed and her life is changed forever.

As I reflect more seriously on her physical movement to Christ, and engage critically her fear, courage, compassion, and conviction to follow Jesus, I think of a “mission trip” I took last weekend when I accompanied our youth to our nation’s capitol, a trip to work with and learn from the homeless there. I am reminded of how our young people were literally stretched, when they offered their services to clean what they thought was a park that homeless people occupied for sleep, only to enter a piece of land that over the past twenty years has been used as a land fill by residents of Washington. As we pulled mattress, TV’s, bowling balls, carpets, and toilets out of the ground, the boys in my group gave their entire bodies to pulling and removing old and worn tires filled with water and grime. By the time we left this location later in the day, we had removed over seventy discarded tires from this place.

Read more from this meditation

Frontpage, February 2, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. Feb., 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Feb., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (Feb. 7, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Thrill of Hope 12/17
B. Christmas Play 12/22
C. Christmas Eve 12/24

10. Latest Bulletin (Feb. 9 11am.and Sermon (Feb. 2, 2014)

Bulletin 02-09-2014 11am

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Hornes Promotion –

10% back to St. Peter’s until Feb. 28, 2014. Click on the logo for the coupon to print.

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Port Royal : Block By Block – Part 8, Block of Middle, King, Cumberland and Main

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930. See here for the background.

The block is three blocks away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Middle, King, Cumberland and Main. It encompasses lots 48, 55, 56 and 49.

Lot 48

The home on the property is known as theTennant House. Dr. John Tennant III( 1770-1816) was not only the first owner but acquired the entire block. He married Anna McCay Campbell and they had six children. He was described as "an eminent physician of Port Royal." The home was built around 1760. The structure is 1 1/2 stories with two rooms on the second level.

One of his children was Dr. George Washinton Tennant who inherited the property. His heirs sold lots 48 and 56 for $500 to Francis Fitzhugh in 1847, a merchant who in turn had 6 children. There was a long list of successor owners. In 1965, Mrs. Estelle (Purce) Dorsey of Washington DC restored the home.

The maps shows the home with "Stevens". John F. T. Stephens, a tailor actually owned part of Lot 56 in 1839

The back of the home today is open as is appeared in the 1930’s. On the map in the center is a prominent "Father Abraham" Apple Tree and is said to originate in Danzig, Germandy. Today there is a cover of trees on King street.

Read more about this lot…

Saints of the Week, Feb. 2-9

February
	1	Brigid (Bride), 523
	2	The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple
	3	[The Dorchester Chaplains: Lieutenant George Fox, Lieutenant Alexander D. Goode, Lieutenant Clark V. Poling and Lieutenant John P. Washington, 1943]
	4	Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary to Denmark and Sweden, 865 (new date)
	5	[Roger Williams, 1683, and Anne Hutchinson, 1643, Prophetic Witnesses]
	6	The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 (new date)
	7	Cornelius the Centurion (new date)
	8
	9

Sunday, February 2, 2014 (full size gallery)

February 9- 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

February 9- 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

Hymn of the Week – Feb. 9, 2014 – "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"

"This will be our sequence hymn. "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” was written in the sweltering hot summer of 1966 by Kathleen Thomerson, an Episcopalian organist. Kathleen had moved to St. Louis, Missouri in the fall of 1965.

"The following summer, her mother came from Houston, Texas, to visit. Because an airline strike cancelled her mother’s travel plans and a heat wave was making St. Louis unbearable. Thomerson decided to drive her mother back to Houston.

"This hymn came to her as she anticipated visiting her ‘brothers and sisters in Christ at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Houston.’ It was written as a scriptural meditation and prayer. It was inspired by many Bible verses, including Genesis 1:17; Isaiah 60:19; Psalm 75:16; Psalm 139:12; Ephesians 3:17; 5:8; Galatians 4:6; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 2 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:5-7; and Revelation 21:23

Kathleen Thomerson, is currently Organist and Music Director at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas.

You can hear the hymn here. A lovely performance by adults and children

Live webcast from the National Cathdral! Feb 9, 4:00pm

If you have never heard a choral evensong at a cathedral, it is an event not to be missed! You can enjoy in the comfort of your home at the National Cathedral’s home page this Sunday, Feb. 9 4pm

The Combined Choirs of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal School Association offer the introit and anthem. Nearly 300 students gather at the Cathedral to sing Choral Evensong. Hear choirs from 7 schools!

The service of Choral Evensong is sung today by the Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls. Pieces include Randall Thompson’s Alleluia and William Walton’s Jubilate Deo

Souperbowl collection update

On Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, we collected 70 food items and $200 to go to Caroline Social Services and Glory Outreach. Thanks to all!

Annual Council, 2014 – "Awaken My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve", Day 2

Part 1 of Annual Council is here

Saturday was definitely a mixed bag. I had the Regional Presidents breakfast meeting at 7:30am with Bishop Ted Gulick which met before the main session got underway. We set our retreat date. Where ? Shrine Mont, of course , June 13-14! I find these meeting useful in seeing what the other regions are doing as well as working for common needs. For instance, Region 2 and 4 split the cost of our two Region 1 delegates with theirs for housing at Council. Region 5 has a delegates manual they are willing to share.

He talked about the quiet phase of the Shrine Mont Camps capital campaign. It will be a flatter campaign with fewer larger gifts and more small gifts. They have received two six figure pledges ($250K, $100K). He encourage us all to pledge first before we asked others. The Regional Presidents provide a number of ideas that we can test in our region.

Holly Hanback a recently ordained Deacon provided the meditation on "setting the table."

“We set the table” in church using gold and find linens but in homeless shelters it may be plastic plates and paper cups. How long has it been that those in shelters been touched with loving kindness. We need to look and say “I see you, I am glad to see you." We see the eye of Jesus looking back. We are struck with whom we should be.

"We give all we are, all we have. We are the hands and feet of Christ in the world. It forms the basis for love." She has had to deal “we can’t , we don’t, we don’t do it this way. “

She has served with the Good Shepherd Alliance as a substitute house monitor and coordinated volunteer crews for various projects and fellowship gatherings. Holly also served with the County Emergency Homeless Shelter run by the Volunteers of America, coordinating crews for making and sharing meals and life skills projects, and is currently developing a Bible study for the emergency and drop-in shelter folks.

The next part of the day was the interactive session using polleverywhere.com and introduced by Pat Wingo. The program captures input from cell phones to a series of questions and then can display the results in a real-time graph. It is the easiest way to measure the answers to a number of questions in a large group. Here are the questions they tested. The slides (in the link) provide the answers.

Lectionary, Feb. 9, Epiphany 5

I.Theme – How should we act in relationship to others? Actions speak louder than words.

The Sermon of the Mount Part 2 – "Salt and Light". Stained glass is entitled "Light for Others" and from St. Mary’s church, Melton Mowbray, England

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

1. Old Testament- Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12)

2. Psalm- Psalm 112:1-9, (10) Page 755, BCP

3. Epistle – 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16)

4. Gospel – Matthew 5:13-20

Isaiah -In today’s verses, God redefines the role of fasting and looks at our role with each other. An expression of humility, fasting offers the people an opportunity to do for others what God has already done for them. We need to make a difference for those who live with oppression or poverty or bereavement. The way to serve God is not in pious proclamation but in subversive affirmation.

The Psalmist also affirms that the blessed are those whose everyday actions in sharing their riches proclaims their faith and honours the God whom they serve.

Paul in Corinthians asks his listeners to consider his actions, actions rooted in the ancient wisdom of God, a wisdom that he demonstrated before naming. It was important that the folk to whom Paul ministered saw the power of God’s Spirit in Paul’s life before he proclaimed that Spirit.

Jesus after his initial preaching on the Sermon on the Mount exhorts his followers to consider the impact of their everyday living as people of faith on the communities they inhabit and in which they are called to serve and witness.

Following on from the Beatitudes, this further teaching of Jesus seems to root his teaching in a context with which the religious authorities of the day would more easily identify and which it would not be as easy for them to distance themselves.

Here we see Jesus, not abolishing the ancient laws that had become a burden for many people but giving them a makeover so that ordinary people could grasp the essence of love that underpins all of God’s law and teaching.

Ladies Night Out, Feb. 15, 6pm

2014 is the 11th anniversary of this yearly favorite developed by Tom Mahoney.

Besides the food brought in, we have had a variety of entertainment -a murder mystery (2013), two newly wed games (2011,2012)

Here are pictures from 2011 , 2012 , and 2013

As Bill Wick writes " This is the eleventh consecutive year the Men have sponsored this event, and we have raise over $6,000 for the Vestry to use addressing various church needs." It gets underway at 6pm on Feb. 15.

As usual the Men will be cooking for the Ladies. In the food department, men can fix and bring appetizers, meat course, vegetables, salads and address dessert. Give Bill or Fred Pannell a call and let them know whether you are coming and if so what you are bringing. They are requesting you bring a bottle of wine or other drink of your choice as well as any serving utensils you require.

The requested donation is $50 per couple and the ECM is requesting it in advance so they don’t need to collect at the door. Deadline is Feb. 10

The entertainment is a game of "Jeopardy" between the men and women, a game show originally created by Merv Griffin and which graced the air waves from 1964-1975.

Frontpage, January 26, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. Feb., 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Feb., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (Feb. 1, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Thrill of Hope 12/17
B. Christmas Play 12/22
C. Christmas Eve 12/24

10. Latest Bulletin (Feb. 2 11am.and Sermon (Jan 26, 2014)

Bulletin 02-02-2014 11am

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Hornes Promotion –

10% back to St. Peter’s until Feb. 28, 2014. Click on the logo for the coupon to print.

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Daily "Day by Day"

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Ladies Night Out, Feb. 15, 6pm

Men, get your food reservations in!

The requested donation is $50 per couple and the ECM is requesting it in advance so they don’t need to collect at the door.

The entertainment is a game of "Jeopardy" between the men and women, a game show originally created by Merv Griffin and which graced the air waves from 1964-1975.

Port Royal : Block By Block – Part 7, Block of Water, King, Caroline, Main

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930.

See here for the background. Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

The block is one block away from St. Peter’s. It is bordered by Water, King, Caroline and Main. It encompasses lots 20, 27, 28 and 21.

Lot 20

Lot 20 is both the site of the Gray/Thornton home and the remains of the Port Royal Town Hall and Lyceum.

Ralph Fall in 1981 noted the former had not be occupied for 25 years and "in such as ruinous condition as no longer to be salvaged." It became the parking lot for Memorial Baptist.

The home had been erected about 1796 by William Gray, the elder brother to John Gray (lot 12).

Gray married Lucy Miller of Port Royal and had 3 children. Features of the property included a smokehouse, frame kitchen and an a "Negro House" 12 foot square – all were long gone by 1930 and not noted on the map. The family owned the property until 1853 through his son William. William was a merchant on or close to Lot 27 and was postmaster from 1817-1853 the longest term of any postmaster. There was a tailor shop on the property for 6 years.

The Thornton/Powers/Holloway families owned the property from 1870 onward. The property was noted by at least 4 mulberry trees in the rear and side.

The 1930’s map identifies the house as the "Page" house. This refers to Carter Braxton Page (1829-1881). Page served as a teacher in George Fitzhugh’s academy located in the Lyceum on one part of this lot, and trustee in Port Royal in the 1860’s. Fall does not indicate his years of ownership but it would have been between 1853 and 1870. He was connected to the Gray family. In November, 1867, he married Evelina, daughter of William Gray, Jr.

At the end of Lot 20 on the 1930’s map is the Masonic Hall with two mulberries in the rear.

Sunday, January 26, 2014 (full size gallery)

February 2- 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

February 2- 11:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite II . Celebration of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Candlemas

Please bring a candle to the 11am service on Feb. 2 for Candlemas. (more information below). Also we will be collecting food and money for the Souperbowl

February 2- 12:00pm, Coffee Hour

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

Annual Council, 2014 shakes it up! Day 1

In his state of the Diocese Bishop Shannon posed a question “We have new ways of doing church and being church. It can be scary. Are we willing to take the risks?” Apparently the planners were ready for this was a far different event than in the past. I think they succeeded. It was a great showcase of ministry in action that would not be recognized otherwise. In his wrap-up he challenged us to take a couple of examples to our churches, those that moved us. He said if we felt that way it would be an example of the Holy Spirit in action

It was a change in both format and message. There were no long speeches and more short excerpts of examples of how we can stretch every nerve. That was music and more use of technology in the use powerpoints, prezi and an innovative poll program on Saturday.

Bishop Shannon address used to be one address for 30+ minutes . Instead he posed some challenges and then sat down with the other Bishops for a conversation moderated by Ed Jones. Then there was an extended segment by Buck Blanchard and mission followed by a wrap up by the Bishop Shannon.

Shannon wrote that we need to see what is going on in the Diocese and see our aspirations to see what are called be like.

He was optimistic of the life and ministry in Va . We are now experiencing renewal and today the staff will show examples with examples spanning the Diocese. We are becoming be more engaging and intentional about church. He referred back to the theme “Awake My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve.” We must look to our neighbors in business, politics, other churches – they may be just on the other part of town. We must welcome the stranger, in some cases in jail and host visitors. We must be willing to look for news relationships and partnership around the globe. He provided an example of a new one in South Africa.

More about Annual Council, Day 1 with a photo gallery…

Pictures from the Diocese of Virginia

Annual Council Inspiration Page

Besides the different means of content (speech, small group discussion, slides, video, survey) at Annual Council, 2014, the content was outstanding. Here are 3 examples posted by the Diocese of meditations and sermons.

Bishop Susan Goff Rev. Gary Jones Rev. Karin McPhail

FINAL REGISTRATION! for that Crazy Christian class, Jan 27

From January 27 through February 3, 2014 the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, will teach The Big Class, a program of ChurchNext. All you need is an internet connection – and it is a free class. It takes only 45 minutes and you can start it for say 20 minutes on one day and come back to the remainder on another day.

The bishop is one of the most dynamic preachers in the church today.

The course will expand on Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus published by Church Publishing Inc. The book is based on “We Need Some Crazy Christians,” a widely acclaimed sermon the bishop preached at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in July 2012.

Here is the video of the sermon Michael Curry’s Crazy Christian sermon – video

Here is the printed sermon Michael Curry’s Crazy Christian sermon – text

"We need some Christians who are as crazy as the Lord. Crazy enough to love like Jesus, to give like Jesus, to forgive like Jesus, to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God— like Jesus. Crazy enough to dare to change the world from the nightmare it often is into something close to the dream that God dreams for it. And for those who would follow him, those who would be his disciples, those who would live as and be the people of the Way? It might come as a shock, but they are called to craziness.” —from Bishop Curry’s “Crazy Christians” address

So what is a Crazy Christian? This video provides a start. See the Bishop in action!

Bishop Curry will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class. Participants can take the course anytime during the week at www.churchnext.tv.

"Garrison Keilor once said going to church makes someone a Christian about as much as sitting in a garage makes someone a Chevrolet. Bishop Michael Curry, of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina has a heart for reawakening believers to the tremendous gift and challenge of giving our all to follow Jesus. His term for this kind of person is a Crazy Christian.

"In this 45 minute class, Bishop Curry will tell us:

What Is a Crazy Christian?
Why Being a Crazy Christian is Easy – and Hard
Habits of a Crazy Christian
Giving Yourself Permission

This course is ideal for those who are looking to be encouraged and challenged in their Christian faith.

Feb 2 – Candles and Food

1. Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Candlemas

“Today is a day of purification, renewal, and hope.”

Bring a candle on Sunday to be blessed in mass as we celebrate the festive Candlemas.

The Presentation of our Lord commemorates when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem where he was greeted by Simeon and Anna. By the Law every first born male was to be consecrated to the Lord.” This happened 40 days after his birth at Christmas.

It is a feast day though it does not often fall on a Sunday. Candlemas occurs at a period between the December solstice and the March equinox, so many people traditionally marked that time of the year as winter’s “halfway point” while waiting for the spring.

Candlemas is actually a very old feast, celebrated by both the churches of the East and the West, and in some places it is on this day that the creche is finally removed from the church. The passage from The words in this scripture are often part of Compline

According to some sources, Christians began Candlemas in Jerusalem as early as the fourth century and the lighting of candles began in the fifth century. Other sources say that Candlemas was observed by blessing candles since the 11th century. An early writing dating back to around 380 CE mentioned that a feast of the Presentation occurred in a church in Jerusalem. It was observed on February 14. The feast was observed on February 2 in regions where Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25. It is also Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada on February 2.

Candles are blessed on this day (hence the name “Candlemas”). It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them – so it was the Festival Day (or ‘mass’) of the Candles. Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was ‘in the dark’.

Pieces of these candles are considered of great efficacy in sickness, or otherwise. When a person is dying, a piece is put in his hand lighted, and thus he passes away in the belief that it may light him to Paradise.

Read more about Candlemas…

2. A Real Souper Bowl, Feb 2, 2014

"Souper Bowl of Caring" is an annual fundraising drive organized in partnership with the NFL. It focuses attention on the issues of hunger and poverty in our community and throughout the world. It began over 20 years ago with a simple prayer : “Lord as we enjoy the Super Bowl, help us to be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.” During "Souper Bowl of Caring 2012", schools, faith-based organizations and service clubs throughout the United States raised over $9.9 million that was donated to local charities.

St. Peter’s will participate this year, one of over 14,000 groups. The money we collect be distributed to to Glory Outreach which serves Caroline County. (Food will go to Social Service) . Our record to date -In 2012, we collected $286 and 50 food items. Let’s see if we can top that!

On Sunday Feb 2, 2014, please make a separate donation at the offertory (with “Souperbowl” in the memo line) or bring in some food for this worthy cause. The youth will also be collecting dollars in our pail at the conclusion of the service. For every $1 donated, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, for example, is able to distribute 4 meals to those in need.

Food Facts in our Area

2010 figures

- The Fredericksburg Food Bank and its agencies serve more than 17,000 individuals that are at-risk of hunger – half of those are senior citizens and children
- More than 40 in 100 client households are experiencing very low food security—or hunger—a 33 percent increase in the number of households compared to four years ago. It’s not just the homeless but the working poor. 48% of households include at least one employed adult.
- An estimated 3,000 people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank
- 53% of clients report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel.

Lectionary Epiphany 4 – The Presentation in Temple"

I.Theme – The Temple as the place of God’s revelation

"Presentation of Jesus in the Temple" (detail) – Rembrandt (1631)

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

1. Old Testament – Malachi 3:1-4

2. Psalm- Psalm 84 OR Psalm 24:7-10

3. Epistle – Hebrews 2:14-18

4. Gospel – Luke 2:22-40

The readings focus on the Temple as the place of God’s revelation. When Jesus is brought to the Temple, he becomes the living revelation of God.

Luke 2:22-40. Luke shows Mary and Joseph observing the requirements of the Torah by presenting their firstborn to the Lord and then ransoming him back. Within this scene, Luke paints a meeting between Jesus and two representatives of Israel: Simeon, who is “righteous and devout,” and Anna, a “prophetess.” (Luke frequently presents women in leadership positions where his audience would normally expect a man.)

Malachi 3:1-4. In Jewish thought, the Temple was God’s footstool on earth, the point at which the divine touched creation. In apocalyptic thought, it was the place where the final judgment would take place. That is Malachi’s vision: God will appear seated in the Temple, “refining and purifying,” so that the people might offer pure sacrifice.

Psalm 24. This song was sung by pilgrims as they reached the Temple. Standing outside, they called on the gates to lift up. From inside the Temple, voices sang back a question of faith: "Who is the king of glory?" The answer, given in faith, allowed access to the Temple.

Hebrews 2:14-18. An excerpt from an extended reflection on why Jesus had to be human—he had to be one of the “children” in need of redemption that he might “expiate the sins of the people.”

Story of a painting- Rembrandt’s "Presentation of Jesus in the Temple"

Rembrandt returned to this subject, "Presentation of Jesus in the Temple" at least 5 times from 1627 to 1654, two paintings, three etchings.

The subject is the biblical story of Simeon. Jesus was still an infant when Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to be presented to God. There they were approached by Simeon, a devout old man who recognised the child as the Saviour and praised him to God.

The most famous of these works was in 1631 when he was about 25 and still living in Leiden. Later that year he moved to Amsterdam. This painting is the high point of Rembrandt’s Leiden years: it represents the sum total of his artistic abilities at that

Most of his paintings are in very dark tones out of which his figures seem to appear to the foreground. Rembrandt was the master of dark and light and most of his pictures are made in this style of struggle between dark and light, night and day, sorrow and joy.

The key to the picture is how carefully and delicate the figures are painted, even those in the darkest part of the painting. The beautiful contrast, between the light on the central group and the soft dimness of the remoter parts of the cathedral, illustrates a style of work for which Rembrandt was very famous.

Our eyes are drawn to the very emotional Simeon, eyes aglow. As with the priest, his figures are often elongated in this period. The pictures is framed by the two figures behind Mary and Joseph in dark contrasting with Mary’s blue and Simeon’s shimmering robe.

Read more about the painting…

Frontpage January 19, 2014

Top links

1. Newcomers – Welcome Page

2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Priest-in-Charge

3. St. Peter’s News

4. Jan., 2014 Server Schedule

5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Jan., 2014)

6. Calendar

7. Parish Ministries

8. What’s new on the website (Jan 24, 2014)

9. Latest Photo Galleries
A. Thrill of Hope 12/17
B. Christmas Play 12/22
C. Christmas Eve 12/24

10. Latest Bulletin (Jan. 26 9am) Latest Bulletin (Jan. 26 11am) & Sermon (Jan 19, 2014)

Bulletin 01-26-2014 11am

Subscribe to St. Peter’s weekly email

Pick up some gifts, donate to the church

Hornes Promotion –

10% back to St. Peter’s until Feb. 28, 2014. Click on the logo for the coupon to print.

Mike Newmans Block print of St. Peter's Christmas

Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.

Read the Bible in a year or a part of it:

1. Links to the readings.

2. Printed copy in PDF

Prayer requests – Add a name to the prayer list here.

Port Royal : Block By Block – Part 6, Block of Water, Frederick, Caroline and Market

This is part of a series examining Port Royal "block by block" based on a map owned by Jim Patton from 1930.

See here for the background. Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

The block is just across the street from St. Peter’s , catty-corner. It is bordered by Water, Frederick, Caroline and Market. It encompasses lots 17, 16, 24 and 23.

The four lots were first owned by one family the deBruins who purchase 23 and the other adjoining lots in 1932. Dr. Rogers Harris owned them all in 1977 and the Stehl family in 1979. Relatives continue to own the property today

Lot 17

This lot was originally owned by Joseph Timberlake, his wife Mary and 3 children in 1787. There was a dwelling for several years. However, it is better known as the property where 3 physicians had their office.

After a succession of owners Dr. James Gravatt built the doctor’s office in about 1851 that on this lot. (It now has been moved to public lots after a restoration). There was a waiting room and consulting room for the physician. The building was described in 1970 as a "finely-proportioned Roman Doric portico with Chinese lattice ballustrade."

Gravatt’s son, Charles Urquhart Gravatt used the lot as his medical office in 1909 and after. In 1924, Dr. Rogers Harris rented it as an office when he owned in 1977.

The 1930’s map shows the office and down on Water Street a stable. Substantial trees surrounded it on the Market Street shown in the 1922-1936 Market Street Photo.

Sunday, January 19, 2014 (full size gallery)

January 26- 9:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I

January 26- 10:50am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)

January 26- 11:00am, Morning Prayer, Rite II

Calendar

This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings

Prayer at the Annual meeting

Some many of you enjoyed this poem that I wanted to post it in a prominent place. It’s is a wonderful thought to begin a new year .

"Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

"Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

"Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love."

Sir Francis Drake -1577 written as he departed to the west coast of South America.

The ship is the Golden Hind which sailed around the world.

The Parish meeting review is with the "last Sunday review". Annual meeting reports are here.

Annual Diocesan Council, Jan. 23-25, Richmond

The council page at the Diocese.

From the Virginia Episcopalian

"What happens when 800 clergy and lay leaders from across the Diocese of Virginia gather for two days and two nights of business, fellowship and conversation? Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming Annual Council meeting.

THEMATICALLY SPEAKING

Attendees will gather under the theme, “Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve.” In choosing this hymn for a theme, “We embrace an opportunity for us all to take a fresh look at our shared ministries, and to breathe new life into the mission we do together,” said Bishop Johnston.

THE STATE OF THE DIOCESE

The Friday morning session of Council will feature a new format full of stories, photos and song aimed at inspiring attendees to stretch outside of our comfort zones, explore new ministries and engage with our communities in creative ways.

ENGAGE AND INTERACT

We’ll also include plenty of time for fellowship and conversation.

New this year will be the chance to participate in a real-time, interactive electronic survey to share your thoughts and feedback on our work together in the Episcopal Church.

Visit the council site more info, plus links to registration materials

Lectionary for the 3rd Week of Epiphany

I.Theme – Call to service with a call for unity

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew" – Duccio de Buoninsegna (1308-1311)

The lectionary readings are here or individually:

1. Isaiah 9:1-4- Isaiah

2. Psalm- Psalm 27:1, 5-13 Page 617

3. Epistle – 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

4. Gospel – Matthew 4:12-23

Isaiah provides the foretelling of Christ even at a time of defect.

The Gospel answers the question of the character of this ministry and what got it started. Note, last week we had John’s version of the calling of the first disciples – this week is Matthew in the calling of Andrew and Peter.

John the Baptist’s death was the spark that caused the ministry to begin. It was necessary to emphasize in this beginning that Jesus’ ministry is aligned with God’s purpose as it is revealed in the Scriptures.

When the news comes to him about John’s arrest, he makes a different choice, by withdrawing to Galilee, where he calls his first disciples, preaches the Sermon on the Mount, begins his ministry of healing, and teaches what it means to be the Messiah who is "God with us."

Unlike the Gospel of John, Matthew does not identify Jesus as the light of the world. Nonetheless, the prophecy from Isaiah makes clear that Jesus’ return to Galilee will be the occasion for those who sit in darkness to see "a great light" (Matthew 4:16-17). No doubt Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing is the basis for that light.

Jesus calls people as they are, from where they are, being who they are. At the same time, however, as the gospel narrative proceeds, readers learn that it is the followers of Jesus who bear his light in the world by their own (collective) way of life. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the people, "You (plural) are the light of the world,. . . Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus’ proclamation that the realm (kingdom) of heaven has come near is the first flicker of a light that will grow and burn among his followers until they are able to "proclaim

Those first disciples, for their part, might have preferred to keep their jobs, to remain with their families, to stay with the life that they knew. When they see Jesus and hear his words to them, they make a different choice, however; they take a risk, step out in faith, leave behind that which is comfortable and secure. They choose to follow Jesus.

Paul 25 years after Christ wants the message of Christ to come through despite division in Corinth. Christ name was synonomous with the Church. There was some fragmentation. The Corinthians were putting certain leaders into a place that really belonged only to God. In that sense they were becoming ‘cult figures’. Jesus role needs to be restored.

Read more about the lectionary

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan 18-25, 2014

Has Christ Been Divided?(cf. 1 Corinthians 1:13) Jan 18-25

The 2014 theme for the week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been selected. For the coming year the theme finds its origins in 1 Corinthians 1:1-17. The traditional period in the northern hemisphere for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is 18-25 January. Those dates were proposed in 1908 by Paul Wattson to cover the original days of the feasts of the Chair of St. Peter (January 18) and the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25) , and therefore have a symbolic significance.

The initial work on the theme for this year’s week of prayer material was prepared by a group of representatives from different parts of Canada, brought together at the invitation of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.

Being faithful to Christ’s desire for the unity of his disciples, has led to this year’s theme which focuses on Saint Paul’s provocative question in 1 Corinthians:“Has Christ Been Divided?” We continue to be divided by doctrine, polity, and practice, and to maintain our own religious identity, yet our pilgrimage towards unity continues under God’s guidance.

More information on the theme chosen.

Here is a link for 8 days of prayer during this week

The National Cathedral will be broadcasting online a choral evensong Jan 22 at 5:30pm featuring the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys in celebration of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Cathedral staff, the Bishop of Washington will welcome leaders and clergy from the many denominations. The choir is superb!

That "Crazy Christian class" begins Jan 27 – Register NOW!

Here is the video of the sermon Michael Curry’s Crazy Christian sermon – video

Here is the printed sermon Michael Curry’s Crazy Christian sermon – text

What is a Crazy Christian? This video provides a start

Bishop Curry will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class. Participants can take the course anytime during the week at www.churchnext.tv. The bishop is one of the most dynamic speakers in the church today.

"In this 45 minute class, Bishop Curry will tell us:

What Is a Crazy Christian?
Why Being a Crazy Christian is Easy – and Hard
Habits of a Crazy Christian
Giving Yourself Permission

This course is ideal for those who are looking to be encouraged and challenged in their Christian faith.

A Real Souper Bowl, Feb 2, 2014

On Sunday Feb 2, 2014, please make a separate donation at the offertory (with “Souperbowl” in the memo line) or bring in some food for this worthy cause. The youth will also be collecting dollars in our pail at the conclusion of the service. For every $1 donated, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, for example, is able to distribute 4 meals to those in need.