The St Peters mission team shown here—Ken Pogue, Johnny and Cookie Davis, Laura Carey, Jan Saylor and not pictured, Andrea Pogue and Catherine Hicks, along with members of Andrea’s family, spent Friday unpacking supplies and getting the bookbags stuffed and ready for the distribution. This photograph was taken in one of the classrooms for the older children.
Photos
Lessons and Carols, Dec. 30, 2018
Lessons and Carols is traditionally presented on the Sunday after Christmas. Where the Christmas lessons are specific on the birth of Jesus, Lessons and Carols puts the event in perspective covering the earlier Old Testament as well as the New Testament events leading up to Christ’s birth.
The service, first held after World War I in 1918, was planned by Eric Milner-White, who at the age of thirty-four had just been appointed Dean of King’s College. His experience as an army chaplain had convinced him that the Church of England needed more imaginative worship.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2018
This year there was expanded music before the service. We had Marilyn and a student playing the harp, Mary Peterman and Denise Gregory on flute and piano, the Choir, the Choir and violin (Helmut), the Choir and flute and in the gallery Thom Guthrie was a second organist. Selections of these works are the videos page.
Christmas Play, 2018
Advent 4 is traditionally the Christmas Play. Here is a review of the past plays. It is kept fresh with each play written for that year though you can expect to see the usual characters – angels, shepherds and sheep. There seems to be a part for everyone which makes this play unique. The bulletin is here. We had 58 in attendance on a beautiful sunny Sunday, with moderate temperatures, for a change.
This year the play is not inserted in a separate service but was almost the entire service. We did light the 4th Advent candle and drew the winner of 3 water colors with the proceeds going to the Heifer Project. (The paintings were graciously donated by Mary Peterman). $200 was raised.
The Diverse Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018
A diverse Sunday – A remembrance at the end of World War I, a baptism, the beginning of the Heifer Project. And a beautiful fall day with a bite in the air and leaves crunching under your feet. We had 49 on hand for this Sunday.
We tolled our Meneely Bell bell and sang “God of our Fathers” at the beginning of the service as the war ended at 11am, on Nov 1918 exactly a 100 years earlier. The belfry was restored in 2010.
The sermon was unique. “And today is all about being all in. So, with the help of your imaginations, I want to check in with several people who are all in.” During the sermon Catherine used props and dressed as the widow of Zarephath, scribes 2,000 year ago, the Widows Mite, her grandfather William Delbridge a veteran of World War I, and Don West founder of the Heifer Project.
Evening Eucharist for Children, Oct. 28, 2018
We had 23 in the Service at 4:30pm that was entitled an Evening Eucharist for children. It was both a service and snack supper. The service blended in Halloween themes and All Saints occurring this week. The children were dressed in costumes ranging from a princess, a pineapple, Dr. Who and even a skunk! The messages were All Saints.
The service began in the front of the church talking about All Saints, who are the saints and then taking candles in jars to some of the graves. Then the service resumed in the church with a youth acolyte. The youth also read the Prayers of the People.
The scriptures were well known – Psalm 23 and Matthew’s Gospel of Jesus walking on the water.
After communion and the final prayers, there was a snack supper. Major help was provided by Elizabeth Heimbach (mouse cookies, macaroni), Brad (cakes), Eunice (pumpkins) and Catherine (jello treats, salad). Becky provided a game of scooping up marshmallows that was a hit!
Late fall afternoon at St. Peter’s, Oct. 17, 2018
The best time to view St. Peter’s is late afternoon on a clear day. This is apparent when we have evening services during Holy Week and at other times. The golden hour is from about 4pm to 7pm.
Fall adds an additional dimension with vibrant sunshine, changing colors and a spirited wind. By 5pm the front of the church is glowing. Catherine took these pictures during the Village Harvest distribution Oct 17, 2018. What is stunning is that the windows were reflecting the change of seasons. The great sycamore was in fine form with a deep color of green.
Inside the church the light swirls and moves across the chancel, highlighting the door cross and/or altarpiece.
Season of Creation 2018 – A Look Back
The Season of Creation year B encompassed all 5 Sundays in September, 2018 and through St. Francis Day, Oct. 4
Key ideas
1. The Season of Creation as with last year focuses on God the Creator. God Creates the world God’s sustains the earth, promotes renewal for the entire creation, gives us the ability to take action where needed in the world.
2. The final creation was not at the beginning of Genesis and left as it was. The world is in constant creation.
3. As the Pope has said many times, “We are the guardians of Creation” and “everything is connected.” We must be the stewards of our earth and be on guard for its exploitation.
4. When we choose to live in God’s new creation, we grow, and contribute to the good of the world around us, loving one another.
5. The Season of creation is about images and symbols to depict creation and our roles through scripture and the sermon. We used the sower, miracles, butterflies seeds, gardens, and mandalas to convey the meaning this year.
St. Francis- Blessing of the Pets, 2018
Under clear, but warm skies for an early October Thursday, Catherine blessed six dogs – Max, Opie, Bo, Rosie, Charlie, Koda, and one kitten–Cricket. It was a heated contest but Max and his owner came out with the $25 Pet Smart gift certificate. Elizabeth Heimbach’s mouse treats were delicious as usual and Catherine added “munchies” for all. Including Catherine there were 17 people.
Gospel on the River, Sept. 29, 2018
The location has varied over the years but the format is similar – singing favorite gospel hymns on various instruments with food either before or after. It has always been sometime in September just before the fall coolness arrives.
This year 17 participated with Jim Heimbach on the piano and Helmut on the violin with some vocals from Nancy. It has been in the church, besides the Parish House, in Portobago Bay but this year was the first time in a private home, the Heimbach home.
The history of the event is here and it goes back to 2007. As Helmut describes, “From our residence, we see the river front improvement here at Portobago. The Lord has created this beautiful spot for us. So, why not thank him and praise him right there in the midst of his beautiful creation.”
Village Harvest, Aug. 15, 2018
After reaching a high number served of 153 in April and dropping in May to 112, we have been steadily increasing the numbers served over the last quarter. June fed 100, July 119 and this month in August rose to 140. We have served 860 people this year which is below 2017 (1,039) but above 2016 (763). See the entire article
Village Harvest, July 18, 2018
The weather was temperate with temperatures in the mid 80’s under brilliant sunshine. We had a variety of help transporting and organizing the food including visiting priest Luis Garcia and his family from the Dominican Republic. He is our celebrant this Sunday
1,490 pounds of food were distributed which included a wide variety – 588 pounds of fresh produce, 463 pound of grocery items, 322 pounds of meat and 40 pounds of bakery items. While a significant number, it is under average this year’s average of 1,617 pounds. Still it is 121% greater than the same period a year ago. Parishioners are contributing school supplies this month and next.
Food went to 119 families, the largest number since April. The average food received was 12.52 pounds of food with a value of $75
Thanks to Andrea Pogue for the photos.