This is a year-end summary of 2020. The links below lead to the story, usually accompanied by a picture.
We also have a PowerPoint with selections from the links below. – 2020 Events
2. Genesis Christian Ed – Jan. 12- March 22
3. Treasures under St Peter’s, Jan 19
4. Taking God’s light into the world, Jan. 31
6. The Last Sunday before the pandemic, March 8
7. Spiritual resources during the pandemic, March 21
8. First online zoom service March 29
9. Palm Sunday on Zoom April 5
10. Good Friday on Zoom April 10
11. Easter Sunday on Zoom April 12
12. Readings and Prayers, May 3
13. Chris Fisher, Hometown hero, May 17
14. Pentecost People 2011-15 – May 31
15. Down to the River to Pray – June 7
16. The Illustrated Lectionary, June 7
17. Evening Prayer service on the river, July 12
21. Sacred Ground, Aug 13 -Oct. 15
22. Morning Prayer on the River, Aug 30
24. Eucharist on the River -Celebration for Carey Connors – Sept 13
25. Season of Creation, Sept. 2020
26. The Pavilion is born, Sept. 27,2020
27. St Francis Sunday, Oct. 4 – Showing off our Pets
28. ECW continues donations to local, national and international funds, Nov. 19
29. ECM and Thanksgiving Christmas, Nov. 27
30. Village Harvest, Nov., 2020 – Now we are six!
32. Back into St Peter’s – on Film
33. Compline on Zoom, Nov., Dec. 2020
34. The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols
35. It all happened on one afternoon Dec. 9
37. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 – Feast in sound and light
38. Lessons and Carols, Dec. 27 – Music variety
2020 has been a time of dealing with exceptional challenges with the elimination of gathered services after March 8 due to the pandemic. We have chosen to move forward considering alternate ways of conducting church. The theme of restoration from the Old Testament and God doing a new thing in the New Testament was apropos to St. Peter’s in 2020. God is creating, redeeming, sustaining. We learned to be both flexible and adaptable.
Here is what was done:
1. Church moved to Zoom with scattered outside services along the river in the fall. The Zoom services offered additional ways for parishioner to contribute through photographs and discussion. By August, we were conducting Morning Prayer in August outside which led to outside Eucharists.
2. New services (Compline) and educational opportunities (Sacred Ground). The latter considered racism against various group from the 19th century to the present.
3. Ministries were restructured, including the ECW (Episcopal Church Women), ECM (Episcopal Church Men), Village Dinner, and Village Harvest.
4. Within the ministries there were alternate means of connecting – ECW, for example, made cookies for members not able to connect. We used our ample driveway to distribute food for the Village Dinner and Village Harvest food ministry. We also provided messages of assurance in the food with the latter, an idea from one of our parishioners. There were untold phone calls, email and outside visits to preserve the connections.
5. Filming began inside the church in Dec. and was integrated within the online service from Zoom.
By March 29 we had implemented Zoom online. The basic parts of the service – lectionary, sermon, music – could be adapted to Zoom. The major missing and significant component was the Eucharist. Except for a few times in the fall when we held services on the river, the Eucharist was absent during the pandemic in 2020. Still there were new additions such as a period of comments/questions about the sermon not easily conducted in person. Plus people could be miles away from Port Royal and still experience the service. Karen Woodruff (rector 1994-2003) visited a few times.
The zoom service offered enrichments. We could tap resources not available in the normal service such as music from all over the world as well as virtual choirs created by having musicians record their selection at home and assembled. Who could forget Michael Eldridge who sang all parts of a hymn! By May, the services combined these resources plus PowerPoints containing photographs many of which were contributed by parishioners as well as others from the online world. We added original videos during Pentecost and about the Gospel on the River. By December, Catherine was filming the music at St. Peter’s to be integrated into the service. This brought the interior of St. Peter’s back into the services
Existing ministries had to be adapted to the pandemic as well. Most of the 2nd quarter ministries were not held. There was much soul searching on how to continue.
The Village Harvest was revived with all workers wearing masks practicing social distance. We had to give up the market approach and bagged groceries to be delivered. The ministry was able to complete 6 years in November Over the year many clients returned.
Likewise the Village Dinner would be to be restructured. The ECW would prepare the food with masks, socially distanced and would deliver the food outside to cars driving up. A new variation of the drive-in! People who ordered the dinners were also masked. That way people were fed in a safe manner.
Special events such as Shred-It carried on with safe practices – masks, social distancing and holding it outside.
By the end of 2020, the church has continued its vital ministries plus added alternate means of presentation which will be invaluable as the church gradually reopens.
Events are in chronological order
We had 12 hearty souls for the 7pm Epiphany service.The English word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “appearing” or “revealing.” Epiphany focuses on God’s self-revelation in Christ, the gradual unveiling of Christ’s identity. Epiphany celebrates the twelfth day of Christmas, the coming of the Magi to give homage to God’s Beloved Child. The sermon dealt with the role of Jesus coming among the people as King and our allegiance.
2. A Study of Genesis – Jan. 12- March 22
Catherine combined PowerPoints with the Genesis readings to teach it during the Christian Ed hour on Sundays in Epiphany. 11 sessions are available below though it was not completed in part due to the pandemic.
From the newsletter. “Covenant and blessing are themes that run throughout Genesis. God continues to desire to be in covenant with us, and to bless us. Studying the book of Genesis on Sunday mornings during the Season after the Epiphany will help us to see how God is carrying out the work of covenant and blessing even now, among us”
Session Links:
1. Jan 12
2. Jan 19
3. Jan 26
4. Feb 2
5. Feb 9
6. Feb 23
8. March 1
9. March 8
10. March 15
11. March 22
3. Treasures under St. Peter’s
Dave and Arthur Duke made a presentation of some of their metal detecting finds at St. Peter’s as part of the Parish Meeting, Jan. 19, 2020. Link
4. Taking God’s Light into the World, Epiphany, Jan. 31 In December, as part of sharing the Light, the Vestry sends money to various organizations. St Jude’s Hospital cares for children with cancer. Funds sent to CERV which helps with emergency financial needs of people at Caroline County. Link
The Souper Bowl collection on Feb. 2, 2020 raised $130 for the Village Harvest and collected 50 cans for Caroline Social Services. This was less than the previous two years $210(2019), $175(2018) but slightly over $125 in 2017.
The Souper Bowl program in conjunction with the NBF focuses attention on the issues of hunger and poverty in our community and throughout the world. 149 million will tune into the big game but there are 50 million facing hunger.
6. The Last Sunday March 8 before the church closed due to the Pandemic by March 15
A mild and sunny Sunday with the river fogged in with the colder earth from the morning interacting with warmer air. This was the first week with the flowers out – daffodils, cherries, and other blossoms. The Campbell Magnolia was out at St. Peter’s. Little did we know it would be our last service in the church in 2020.
Catherine presented “A blended family” at 10am with the family of Jacob and the 7 sons who will be part of the 12 tribes of Israel and his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and two concubines, Zilpah and Bilhah,
Deacon Carey led the children’s sermon and preached the sermon on Nicodemus. The children received a plant to track how plants in a dark bag with a hole will grow to the light.
7. Spiritual resources during the pandemic, March 21
We put this out within a week after the church closing. We moved service to Zoom. It was a modified Morning Prayer that originally emphasize photos to illustrate the prayers. Eventually we would move past this to offer music (Brad’s recording) or from You tube. We moved the service to 10 and encouraged parishioner to access the National Cathedral service at 11am.
8. First online zoom service, March 29 .
The church building closed on March 15 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Village Harvest on Wed. March 18 was drive through. Those who are helping to pack the bags for the distribution should be prepared to start distributing food at 2PM so that people can come and go without a wait.
Sunday March 29 was our first online church at 10am, one hour before that of the National Cathedral. We had 24 people online through Zoom. People could converse with one another before the service and there was a period of comments/questions about the sermon. Thus some real benefits from this platform!
Catherine also used the screen sharing feature to show photos of St. Peter’s in the spring and display the lectionary readings for the readers. We conducted our mid-week ecumenical Bible study earlier in the week. Some documents used on Sunday
a Powerpoint on the Passion story, a music video from Mary and Denise and pictures of branches and flowers showing new growth at the beginning of spring which were submitted by parishioners.
This year in 2020 Good Friday had mixed clouds and sun but was very cool in the low 50’s and windy. Due to the pandemic the service was online through Zoom. We had 27 online
Readings were divided – Cookie the Old Testament, Marilyn the New Testament and Cookie and Johnny altered verses for the Psalm 22 readings. Carey Connors read the Gospel from John .
Catherine had a powerpoint to supplement key parts of the service. The sermon on the tree of glory is here
We had over 40 in our Easter zoom service. Here are some links of the resources that were used:
1. Bulletin
2. Powerpoint and videos
3. Easter Gifts.
4. Sermon
5. Lectionary discussion
12. Readings and Prayers, May 3 .
During the Easter Season we began posting the service in terms of “Readings and Prayers which started on May 3 and continued through Sept 20.
This was reduced as services began outside with Morning Prayer on the river, Aug. 30 and then some Eucharist services in the late summer and fall.
13. Chris Fisher, hometown hero, May 17
“I really do believe that service and volunteerism is an important part of character,” he said. “And I’ve tried to do what he recommended.” Fisher lives that credo. He works long shifts treating COVID-19 patients at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center and provides volunteer care for fellow church members. He also instructs advance members of his Boy Scout troop in Tappahannock—something he does virtually these days.
14. Pentecost over the years 2011-2015
Pentecost on May 31 marks the fulfillment of Christ’s promised presence through the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit re-energized the Apostles who were lonely and afraid after Jesus left them. It was a reminder Jesus would always be with them and emboldened them with a strength beyond themselves.
Small numbers can do wonderful things to continue the work of bringing the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. These are some our small numbers who did the work of the church 2011-2015 with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
The music is “Hail Thee Festival Day”, often sung from Easter to Pentecost. Words from the 6th century, music by Ralph Vaughan Williams from the 20th
15. Down to the River to Pray – June 5. Trinity Sunday
Celebrating Gospel on the River as well as the river.
16. The Illustrated Lectionary, June 7
The Trinity which we celebrate this week on Trinity Sunday, is one of the great examples to counter the tendency of some Christians to see God as apathetic, a-historical, and unchanging in contrast to the passionate, evolving, and transitory world of time and space. It was one of the last doctrines to be defined by the church.
God is constantly doing something new, and God is constantly being revealed to us in new ways. God is still speaking through the acts of creation, which Wisdom (which also has at times been interpreted as the Holy Spirit in the New Testament) is part.
The key to the Trinity is not worrying about understanding it fully but to see what God is doing – Creating, Redeeming, Sustaining – remembering the promise at the end of Matthew – God’s promise in Christ to be with us and for us always, to help us believe that promise, and to encourage us to live in the confidence it grants.
17. Evening Prayer Service on the river, July 12
This was our first gathered service since the pandemic began in March. This was an outside service as others would be in to Nov. We had 25.
The sower. Today’s readings remind us of the surety with which God’s salvation will come. Te prophet Isaiah describes how God’s word powerfully accomplishes what God wants. Paul reminds the Romans that God’s Spirit is alive and at work in us. In the gospel, Jesus describes his ministry through the parable of the seeds and their various responses.
The service ended with 15 ears of corn distributed to each person from Johnny, demonstrating the abundance of the sower.
A Tree Fund has been established to cover the cost of maintaining our trees and shrubs. Consider donating to this fund in honor or in memory of someone. We hope to have some work done soon by Bartlett Tree Experts to correct some problems that have developed recently.
Wow! Last year we earned the last tally for this event in 8 years at $390. We exceed that by almost 90% to $735! Tax returns, accounting records, expired documents – it all was disposed of safely, securely and fast by shredding!
Thanks to Andrea Pogue’s work over 9 years. The funds go to St. Peter’s outreach ministries. It covers several months of the Village Harvest food distribution so it is given back to the community.
It has been gone 4 months during Covid-19 but it is back in August on the second Wed (Aug. 12) in a slightly different form which continued for the rest of the year:
1. Meals will be take-out only (no dining inside).
2. One person will be the runner to take meals to the cars.
3. The runner will also carry a pot that patrons can place their payment in.
4. Food preparers/kitchen help/runner will wear gloves and face masks.
21. Sacred Ground Aug 13 – Oct 15
Catherine led Sacred Ground over 2 months, 10 sessions with up to 20 people.
Sacred Ground, a film-based dialogue series on race and faith, is part of Becoming Beloved Community, the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society.
The Sacred Ground series:
-is built around powerful documentary films and readings.
-focuses on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian American histories as they –intersect with European American histories.
-invites the exploration of how people of color suffer from racism, and how white people consciously and unconsciously perpetuate racist thinking and systems, creating a deeply unequal and mutually broken society for all.
is framed as a spiritual journey and grounded in the Christian faith.
We found it an eye opening series that caused to question our practices around race.
22. Morning Prayer on the River, Aug 30
We had 20 at Morning Prayer on a sunny but cooler Sunday as we move toward the end of summer. This was our first Morning Prayer on the river after an Evening Prayer a month earlier
After the church closed after March 8, the predominant way of holding church was through Zoom. We were able to meet outdoors sporadically but depended on the weather as well as COVID-19 levels. There was not only Zoom services but Zoom Bible Study as well as the ECW Tea in November
It was not without issues. One Sunday had to be postponed until 7pm due to outages. Some had difficulty getting connected during other Sundays. Some just were not attracted to the medium.
One advantage is that people on vacation or traveling could connect. Geography was not a limiting factor. It allowed for informal worship.
One feature added using Zoom services was a discussion of the sermon which would be difficult inside the church .
During Advent, filming began in the church for use on Zoom. Nancy and Helmut sang, Brad played the organ and the younger members lit the Advent candle.
24. Eucharist on the River – Celebration for Carey Connors, Sept 13
There were several celebrations this week. We began Communion after a lapse of 6 months due to Covid (the last one on March 8). It was very different. Communion was distributed in one kind only—the bread. The wafers were in cups. People lined up to take a cup and then consume it raising your mask. Still, it was a sign of a restoration of the key ceremony in the church.
The second was a celebration of Carey Connor’s ordination a priest in Richmond yesterday at St. Paul’s on Sept. 12.
This is fourth year we have used this optional lectionary which begins Sept 1 and ends at St. Francis Day, Oct. 4. Usually Pentecost is the longest season from Pentecost Sunday until Advent. The Season of Creation focuses God’s relationship with all creation and with our relationship with creation (and with God through creation). It highlights our role in understanding and addressing address the ecological problems we face today as a part of God’s creation.
6 keys to the Season of Creation
26. The Pavilion is born Sept 27. though it was a gradual process through 2020.
A. Feb 5. Lifting the Nursery Roof
B. Aug 26 The Pavilion gets its roof.
C. Sept 27 A PowerPoint of the Pavilion
27. St Francis Sunday, Oct. 4 – Showing off our Pets.
We couldn’t have an actual blessing of the pets in honor of St. Francis we could still bless them through pictures
28. ECW continues donations to local, national and international funds, Nov 19 .
The ECW (“Episcopal Church Women”) hosts the monthly Village Dinners for the Port Royal community, an outreach project to feed the community and take the profits earned and distribute them to a variety of charities.
This year was a challenge. 3 months were cancelled at the beginning of Covid as people could no longer congregate in our Parish house to eat.
During that time the ECW developed a procedure to reopen. They would prepare the food with masks, socially distanced and would deliver the food outside to cars driving up. People who ordered the dinners were also masked. That way people were fed in a safe manner.
Here is a list of its donations which totaled $2,000
29. ECM and Thanksgiving Christmas, Nov. 27.
Each year the Episcopal Church Men (ECM) help St Peter’s provide support to those in need during the holidays. The men coordinate with the Caroline County Department of Social Services to provide families in the area with Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas gifts.
This year instead of delivering food to residences they distributed specific grocery limited gift cards due to the ongoing pandemic.
The ECM (Episcopal Church Men) made the following contributions to the Department of Social Services in support of families in the Port Royal jurisdiction:
• Thanksgiving Dinner/Groceries ($400) – $40 per family for ten (10) families.
• Christmas Children Gifts ($800) – $200 per family for four (4) families.
Thanks to Ken Pogue and Johnny Davis for organizing this project. The total of $1,200 was more than double last year’s $510 and covered more families. Stupendous!
30. Village Harvest Nov. 2020 – Now we are six! .
It has grown in numbers. In 3 years from 2015-2018, clients served rose 734 in Jan., to Oct. 2015 to a high of 1,494 in 2017 from Jan – to Oct. It has scaled back to 1,122 in 2019. During 2018, we stopped calling to remind people of the harvest. Our core group now is about 100 people per month, the ones who are benefiting constantly each month. This year in 2020 we were closed 3 months, April through June during the Pandemic and still managed 707 people.
What was notable in 2020 was the foods distributed. The people served was 14 less on average but food was 7% higher and 83 pounds over 2019. The average pounds received per person was 13.84 above 11.59 for 2019. The value at $6 a pound was $83 compared to $70 in 2019. 4 years earlier it was $54 so the value has steadily increased over time for the Village Harvest.
A month earlier in Oct. we distributed words of assurance. A creative and enterprising parishioner associated the food we distributed in October with certain words which could be considered “words of assurance.” They were written in the food bundles that people received. How do we live our lives in this time of pandemic?
We raised $945 for the Village Harvest which will cover 5 months of expenses. This compares with 2019 when we raised $497.25.
Thanks to all who contributed as well as those who help with the Village Harvest and those who take advantage of it.
32. Back into the Church – on film, Dec. 6.
Last week was the first video filmed ahead of time for the service. This week featured another filming with Brad, Helmut and Nancy. In addition, Tucker lit the two candles for Advent.
1. “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” with Helmut on violin and Brad on organ
2. “O come, O come, Emmanuel (verses 3 and 4)”- Helmut and Nancy on vocals and Brad on the organ
3. “Comfort, comfort ye my people” with Nancy on vocals
4. “Prepare the way, O Zion” with Nancy on vocals
5. “Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding” – Nancy and Helmut on vocals
33. Compline on Zoom, Nov, Dec. 2020
.
Compline began as a weekly service in November but was celebrated earlier or the solstice in June
Every Sunday night at 7PM, a brief service of Compline took place on Zoom, along with a time of prayer and meditation as we pray the old year out.
Beginning on Sunday, November 29, the first Sunday of Advent, the compline service included prayers for the lighting of the Advent wreath that you can easily make yourself and have in your home for Advent. This wreath can be as simple as just four candles on a plate with a little greenery tucked around, or something more elaborate if you have the time and desire to get more creative.
As Catherine wrote, “I commend these evening services to you as a way of praying through the close of the year, bringing your sorrows and disappointments and also joys to God in prayer, and then in December, using these evening times of prayer as active waiting on the Lord for the new life that will be reborn in us in the Word made Flesh, Jesus, our Lord and Savior.”
34. Advent Course – the Twelve Days of Christmas, Dec. 2020 Carols.
A carol a day online course is here
Each day features an introduction, background of the carol, the actual verses (and some alternates) and versions which are chosen Youtube links online.
35. It all happened on one afternoon Dec. 9 .
During the afternoon of Wed. Dec. 9, 2020, the church was humming:
1. The ECW was making cookies for many members they had not seen for months during the Pandemic.
2. The Village Dinner was being prepared for over 40. A wonderful lemon chicken and vegetables to match for the Port Royal community.
3. Catherine was in the church filming the music for Sunday, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20
4. The afternoon sun was the fourth event which unlike the others couldn’t be planned. What a wonderful addition to the day!
We provided postage stamps, notebook paper, self sealing envelopes and school supplies to the people being detained at the Caroline Detention Facility in Caroline County. Chaplain Schoars (left) was elated to receive the St Peter’s donation in December.
St. Peters also donated food for the staff table at Mary Washington Hospital (right). Staff members at the hospital can take food they need from this table. This pantry has been particularly helpful to staff during the coronavirus.
37. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 – Feast in sound and light .
Christmas is all about music to celebrate Jesus birth. We had plenty of it on Dec. 24 at our Christmas Eve service from violin and vocal on “What Child is this”, guitar and vocal on “Away in a Manger, “Silent Night” with the first verse sung in the original German, Vocal duet on “Joy to the World” with beautiful light on the cross behind the table, vocal solo on the 16th century Personant Hodi (“On This Day”) and then combined singing on the traditional anthems “O Come All Yet Faithful”, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”.
It is about words- Luke’s stirring Christmas story which Catherine said for memory.
We also celebrate the light of Jesus by lighting all the Advent candles in front of and all behind the altar including candles in the baptism font. Words and music in the bulletin celebrated it
38. Lessons and Carols, Dec. 27 – Music variety
This year’s service was unlike the others year -1. Use of the Message translation for the readings 2. Variety of music forms – not only organ/piano but acoustic guitar in particular. 3. Use of videos exploring black spirituals, a carol that goes back to the Huron Indians as well as traditional English hymns from cathedrals.