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, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

For the Fourth Sunday in Lent: Simnel Cake

The cake is an English tradition for the fourth Sunday in Lent, known as Mothering Sunday. One scripture that is use

Galatians 4:26 “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Stories

1 a tradition of visiting one’s mother after this particular service. Expecting their families, mothers would bake this cake to serve with tea.

2 Serving girls on estates and in households were allowed this Sunday off to visit their mothers.

3 A family would travel to its ‘Mother Church,’ or parish they were originally from, on this Sunday.

These cakes became popular over time for that occasion midway through Lent, which was a good time to break the fasting a little. Much like the third Sunday of Advent, ‘Stir Up Sunday,’ with its baking tradition.

“Simnel” is from the Latin ‘similis,’ as in similar or same, as the cakes were originally made with equal parts of flour and sugar.

Recipe is here

Below is simpler one.


Ingredients
  1 ½ Cups butter 4  Cups flour 8 eggs 1 teaspoon salt   4  Cups sugar 2/3 Cup grated lemon & orange peel 2  Cups currants 8 oz. (or more) almond paste
Mixing & Baking Directions
 Cream butter and sugar until smooth.  Add eggs singly, beating after each one  Sift and add flour and salt.  Dust peel and currants with flour and add to batter.

Read more

Sunday’s Links, March 3, 2024

Third Sunday in Lent

  • Web site
  • YouTube St. Peter’s Page for viewing services
  • Facebook St. Peter’s Page
  • Location – 823 Water Street, P. O. Box 399, Port Royal, Virginia 22535
  • Wed., Feb. 28, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for the Third Sunday in Lent
  • Wed., Feb. 28, “The Creeds—a Guide to Deeper Faith”, 7pm. This week – God in the Creeds Zoom link Meeting ID: 833 7014 5820 Passcode: 528834
  • Thurs., Feb. 29, Sacred Ground, 7pm. Zoom link Meeting ID: 828 0444 2092, Passcode: 181934
  • Sun., March 3, “God’s Garden”, 10:00am.
  • Servers, Third Sunday in Lent, Eucharist, March 3, 11am
    Lector: Ben Hicks
    Acolyte: Chester Duke
    Bread and Wine :
    Chalice Bearer: Andrea Pogue
    Altar Cleanup: Jan Saylor
  • Wed., March 6, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
  • Wed., March 6, “The Creeds—a Guide to Deeper Faith”, 7pm. This week, Jesus in the Creeds Zoom link Meeting ID: 833 7014 5820 Passcode: 528834
  • Thurs., March 7, Confirmation Class begins, 7:30pm-8:15pm. Zoom link Meeting ID: 893 1712 7905 Passcode: 505603
  • Coming up!

  • Holy Week Workshop, March 24, 2:30pm The following donated items needed by March 17: egg cartons (12 egg size), terra cotta 2 1/2″ pots, and 6″ terra cotta drip trays (used is fine), and any leftover potting soil you might like to share. Place items on the back pew. Thank you!!
  • Lenten Page

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    First Sunday in Lent

  • Web site
  • YouTube St. Peter’s Page for viewing services
  • Facebook St. Peter’s Page
  • Location – 823 Water Street, P. O. Box 399, Port Royal, Virginia 22535
  • Wed., Feb. 21, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for the Second Sunday in Lent
  • Wed., Feb. 21 – Village Harvest, 3pm-5pm All help is welcome for this vital St Peter’s ministry.
  • Wed., Feb. 21, “The Creeds—a Guide to Deeper Faith”, 7pm . How they came to be, what they mean to the Church, and how they may help us grow in faith as Christians.”Zoom link Meeting ID: 833 7014 5820 Passcode: 528834
  • Sun., Feb. 25, “God’s Garden”, 10:00am. They will be talking about prayer and making pretzels.
  • Servers, Second Sunday in Lent, Eucharist, Feb. 25, 11am
    Lector: Elizabeth Heimbach
    Chalice Bearer: Johnny Davis
    Altar Cleanup: Elizabeth Heimbach
  • Mon., Feb. 26, Bingo night at the Port Royal Firehall 6pm-7:30pm. Bring your snacks by Sun., Feb. 25
  • Wed., Feb. 28, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for the Third Sunday in Lent
  • Sun., Feb. 29, Sacred Ground, 7pm ZOOM.

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  • Web site
  • YouTube St. Peter’s Page for viewing services
  • Facebook St. Peter’s Page
  • Location – 823 Water Street, P. O. Box 399, Port Royal, Virginia 22535
  • Sun., Feb. 18, “God’s Garden”, 10:00am. Learning the Lord’s Prayer.
  • Servers, First Sunday in Lent, Eucharist, Feb. 18, 11am
    Lector: Johnny Davis
    Chalice Bearer: Alice Hughes
    Altar Cleanup: BJ Anderson
  • Coming up

  • Sun., Feb. 18 – Funeral, Susan Linne von Berg, 2pm, Parish House
  • Wed., Feb. 21 – Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for Second Sunday in Lent
  • Wed., Feb. 21 – Village Harvest, 3pm-5pm All help is welcome for this vital St Peter’s ministry. Time of food pick up and unloading of food to be announced for earlier in the week and help will be needed
  • Wed., Feb. 21 – Lenten Study, The Creeds, A Guide to Deeper Faith, 7pm”
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  • Web site
  • YouTube St. Peter’s Page for viewing services
  • Facebook St. Peter’s Page
  • Location – 823 Water Street, P. O. Box 399, Port Royal, Virginia 22535
  • Coming up

  • Tues., Feb. 13 – Chancellor’s Village Eucharist, 1pm
  • Tues., Feb. 13 – Shrove Tues. Pancake Supper (5pm-6:30pm)
  • Wed., Feb. 14, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for First Sunday in Lent
  • Wed., Feb. 14 – Ash Wed. service, 7pm
  • Thurs., Feb. 15 – Vestry, 2pm, Parish House
  • Suns., Feb. 18 – Funeral, Susan Linne von Berg, 2pm, Parish House
  • Lenten Page

    Quick link to Feb, 2024 Lent Calendar
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  • Feb., 2024 newsletter
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    Lent begins Feb. 14 (Ash Wednesday)
    The Prelude – Shrove Tuesday pancake supper
    Lent Basics
    3 key points about Ash Wed
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  • Web site
  • YouTube St. Peter’s Page for viewing services
  • Facebook St. Peter’s Page
  • Location – 823 Water Street, P. O. Box 399, Port Royal, Virginia 22535
  • Wed., Jan 31, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
  • Fri, Feb 2, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
  • Sun., Feb. 4, “God’s Garden, 10:15am
  • Servers, Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Eucharist, Feb. 4, 11am
    Lector: Andrea Pogue
    Chalice Bearer: Johnny Davis
    Altar Cleanup: Jan Saylor
  • Sun., Feb 4, 12pm, Coffee Hour

  • Wed., Feb. 7, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for the Last Sunday in Epiphany
  • Coming up

  • Sun., Feb 11 – Souper Bowl of Caring to benefit the Village Harvest. Bring a can of food and a valentine card.
  • Tues., Feb 13 – Shrove Tues. Pancake Supper (5pm-6:30pm)
  • Wed., Feb 14 – Ash Wed. service, 7pm
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