We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Photos

Advent 4 and Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2017

Christmas Eve turned cloudy in the mid-40’s with rain later. We had 51 for the service. Of note within the church were “cherry tree toppers” used as ornaments toward the rear of the church from Fraser Wood Elements in Fredericksburg. Cookie outdid herself with the poinsettia in the windows with nandina and pine. The red candles complemented them well.

Music is part of Christmas. Marilyn brought her harp and Nancy joined in on soprano for one piece. The choir presented “In the Bleak Midwinter” at the offertory. Brad’s prelude was “Unto to us a child is born.” We normally sing “Angels we have heard on High” but it was the postlude this year.

We had numerous visitors. Cherry had her “hugging shirt” and she was busy doing that. Catherine presented Luke 2 reading for memory as well her sermon. We have a selection from it under the videos. The intimacy of St. Peter’s gives everyone a front row seat. The story of William Weaver and the stolen bike brought all into several themes of Christmas in the sermon.

Christmas Play, Dec. 17, 2017

Today was Advent 3 but for St. Peter’s better known as the Christmas Play. This play was different than in the past. It was exclusively performed by children but this time with speaking lines rather than involving the adults with the speaking parts. The play was inserted in the service rather than the service inserted into the play. This year Advent 4 and Christmas Eve are the same day so Advent seems shorter. Thus, the decision to make it an Advent 3 Sunday as much as the play.

The play was written by Catherine around the Gospel reading for this Sunday starting with John the Baptist. It continued with a mixture of the traditions from Luke and Matthew. We had 58 people in the service including 11 children in the play.

Becky Fisher as the director deserves credit for rehearsing the children over several weeks with their lines, organizing the costumes and getting the PA system. The props had to be purchased and blocking had to be done.

Link to the Videos

Link to the Story

Port Royal Christmas Party

The Port Royal Christmas had probably 75 people there, less attended in previous years. Snow was coming down as the party began and predictions for Saturday were anywhere from 1-3 inches. However, the outside tree which was planted many years ago showed the splendor of Christmas and the numbers that were in attendance had more time with Santa.

There were three groups collaborating for this event – Town of Port Royal, Parks and Rec, St. Peter’s Episcopal. St. Peter’s took care of the pizza and Town of Port Royal the sweets.

St. Peter’s also helped with the serving and support. Catherine helped to organize the group and provided fellowship. Johnny Davis and Jim Heimbach served pizza. Nancy and Elizabeth were in the kitchen. Andrea provided the desserts. Families from St. Peter’s who enjoyed the evening included the Davis’ and Dukes.

Link to the story

Removal of the Tablets, April 22, 2016

April 22, Roy Carter and Don Lee did a careful job of removing them from the wall. Cleo Mullins our main contractor recommended them The panels are now at the Richmond Conservation Studio where Cleo Mullins will repair and restore them. What have we learned:

Article on what we learned with the removal

Moravian Love Feast, Dec. 2016

We had 18 to enjoy the Candle Tea at 5pm and then the Love Feast service afterwards.

The Lovefeast began about 5:45pm. The Moravian Church’s celebration of the Lovefeast recalls a special event in the history of this denomination on August 13, 1727. Early Moravians lived in a communal society. The church was facing difficulties. As the members met in the church they experienced spiritual renewal led by the Holy Spirit. Because of this experience they did not wish to end the service. Facing the practical need to eat they decided to continue their worship but to bring food and eat together in the service. This experience known as the renewal of the Moravian church is celebrated annually on the Sunday nearest August 13th.

Complete Article

Golden Hour

The hours 4pm-6pm are what I call the Golden Hours at St. Peter’s. On a sunny December day, the church is magnificent. The face of St. Peter’s is illuminated with a gradually setting sun which produces rich colors and as the sun hits the trees in the distance there are little portals of light that affect the view. The graveyard has elongated shadows. The colors are constantly changing during this time. The peace and solitude are wonderful.

Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2017

“To God the Father, heavenly Light, to Christ, revealed in earthly night, to God the Holy Ghost we raise our equal and unceasing praise.” – From “What star is this, with beams so bright”, verse 5.

We had 15 on January 6, 2017 on a cold winter night with predictions of a light dusting of snow for the next day. The church was drenched in light from the Moravian star, to the vota candles in the windows and to the altar candles. From the Isaiah 60 , “Arise shine for yoru light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

Story is here.

Lent 1, March 5, 2017

This week was the end of Epiphany and the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent began with a bang with a intense storm that knocked out electricity in the area for several hours. So you can say God’s power was felt in the storm and we realized our own tenuous nature, a theme of Lent! Like Jesus we were tested.

Both our events went on normally. The Village Dinner ended Epiphany with Andrea’s fish, rice, mullins and pie. We then had 20 at the Ash Wednesday service. Despite cooler snap this week, the spring flowers continued in the not spring weather.

The story is here.

A Spring Afternoon at St. Peter’s – March 30, 2017

St. Peter’s, both inside and out, comes alive on a late sunny spring afternoon with pictures taken by Catherine. These 9 photos spotlight the inside of the church, especially the new altarpiece in that light. A year ago it was under renovation.

July 4, 2017 at St. Peter’s

The Port Royal 4th of July celebration was back at St. Peter’s. Last year it was abruptly moved here due to weather.

Numerous members of the church participated this year – Cookie Davis as President of Historic Port Royal spoke; Mike Newman, Town crier, read the Declaration of Independence; Ken, Johnny and Ed selling hot dogs and melons; Sylvia Sellers and Elizabeth Heimbach pushing libraries in the town; Nancy Long, Marilyn Newman (harpist) and Tom Guthrie presenting the hymn sing and organ concert after lunch; and John Gilliland of the militias who brought the Declaration to be read.

The keynote speaker at noon was James Madison, the President. His cousin of the same name was the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Virginia so his presence was especially welcome.

Season of Creation, Sept. 3, 2017

We started the Season of Creation Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, five weeks in the middle of Pentecost that focuses on our relation to God and the environment. The Season of Creation is an optional liturgy in the Episcopal Church. We had different readings readings and a different Eucharistic prayer – “We Give Thanks”. It highlights the role of God as Creator and Jesus dwelling in nature as one of us to bring us abundant life. There were five Sundays in the season. The link to the Sunday is here.

It made it real with Hurricane Harvey devastating Houston, Texas, the 4th largest city in the US. We are collecting funds for its relief. As part of that, an anonymous donor has pledged to match the first $1,000 of donations. Thus we plan to send Episcopal Relief a check for $2,000 in the minimum.

Now we are 3! The Village Harvest, Nov. 15, 2017

We celebrated our 3 year anniversary of our food ministry, the Village Harvest in a big way by serving 191 people on Nov. 15. What a birthday! This is a new monthly record and up from 170 the month before. This provides even more focus on building financial support, particularly on #Giving Tuesday. We gave out all 1,600+ pounds of food including chicken, peanut butter, tuna. potatoes squash, cabbage and cereal. canned vegetables and grapes.

Through Nov, 2017 after 3 years we have served 4,187 people, 33,934 pounds of food. That’s 8 pounds a person or market value of $48 each month a client comes. FREE!

Link to the article is here.

The “Best” of Vacation Bible School 2017, June 23, 2017

Thanks to Becky Fisher for conceiving the idea of using Harry Potter with VBS , for the extensive amount of work in gathering materials and other tasks to make it work at St. Peter’s. Of course, she was the lead teacher also! Thanks to Catherine for handling the music, borrowing the labyrinth and other details and to all the helpers for lunch and other needs.

And most of all for the Class of 2017 – the largest number of children served (17) in several years over a longer period of time. The full story is here.

Transfiguration Sunday, August 6, 2017

Transfiguration Sunday. Rarely Transfiguration is on a Sunday. Another beautiful, relatively mild Sunday for August. The butterflies were out in mass. This Sunday we welcomed Jeffri Harre as preacher. Jeffri is the Director of Hospitality at Virginia Theological Seminary and friend of Catherine’s. He is currently working on an MA in Christian Education and is also a spiritual director in Northern Virginia.

Jeffrey talked about Jesus’ prayer habits. He often went alone to pray in the mountains or with his disciples. Rarely is he delivered from unease. In former passages he prays and then feeds the 5,000. On Maundy Thursday he prays and is arrested.

Prayer grounds us and allows us to discern our own ministry. Prayer strengthens us for the tensions of the world that we are bound to experience. But be careful what you pray for. You may be transfigured which is a change of form to a more spiritual state.

The full story is here