Today we heard the parable Jesus told about the Good Samaritan. In response to a question from a man who wondered who his neighbor was, Jesus told a story.|We entered into the parable by hearing it and then acting it out, several times. Everyone got a chance to be different characters in the story, and the children were very creative as they acted out this drama.|We shared a snack, made beautiful goblets to share with one another and found a secret message (just as the parables have secret messages for us all) by painting, and our game today was a form of tag. The person who got tagged got bandaged, and then the bandaged person tagged someone else and bandaged that person. This game helps us to remember to be good neighbors and to care for those among us who need our help.
Youth
July 28, 2014 Vacation Bible School – Day 1
Our theme this year is Welcome! Give and Receive Gods Great Love.Today we heard the story about Abraham and Sarah welcoming three strangers and offering them hospitality. Abraham offered the strangers a place to rest, some water, some food, and he offered to wash their feet. Sarah and Abraham fixed the three visitors a delicious meal. And then the strangers had a surprise for them! They told Abraham that Sarah was going to have a baby, although she was far too old. And so Sarah laughed and said Is anything too wonderful for God!
Godly Play, Sept 8, 2013
Godly Play teaches children the art of using Christian language – parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action – helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of Gods presence in their lives. When Christian language is learned by the Godly Play approach, it is learned as a means to know God and to make meaning of our lives. This approach is quite different from the traditional model in which the teacher tells the children what they need to know. Godly Play is not about things that are that simple
Vacation Bible School – Day 3, August 14, 2013
We had several surprises from on the third night of Vacation Bible School. A new family, friends of the Wisdoms, came – they had a 5 year old child. The Rev. Amy P. Turner came along with Catherine from Fredericksburg to meet the children. She will be the children’s coordinator using the Godly Play curriculum in September. We also had some of the Long family to show up. A big surprise was the low humidity and plentiful sun in the middle of August! Wow! The younger children learned about friendship through friends that helped Paul (Aninias at Paul’s conversion, escape through a basket in Damascus) and then attached their names on a purple roller to a Biblical saying. They indicated how they sacrificed for their siblings. The older children continued with the travels of Paul. The adults completed their study of Galatians in chapter five. The younger children then had a crafts activity making colorful firecrackers
Vacation Bible School – Day 2, August 13, 2013
Vacation Bible school continued in night #2 . The organization under Becky is superb. Elizabeth provided the meal – two varieties of macaroni, “aggressive”oatmeal cookies plus barbecue, slaw and pototo salad from night #1. It was amazing to see the Apostle Paul taught on three levels. Barbara led the younger children talking about Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus , Becky the older children (Paul’s travels) and Catherine the adults (chapters 2-5 of Galatians, Paul’s justification by faith). While the children provide the spirit for the evening, the adults should be saluted for making it all happen. In addition, we have received a letter from Michael thanking St. Peter’s for funds donated to his school for the playground fund.
Vacation Bible School – Day 1, August 12, 2013
Vacation Bible School got off to a good start with 10 children and several adult leaders. Thanks to Elizabeth, Cookie, Eunice, Marion, Barbara, Kelly, Catherine and Becky for their help to make it a success. Becky was the grand coordinator. While the evening was hot no one seemed to mind. While the children gobbled down sandwiches, the adults had barbecue, slaw, potato salad and a wonderful lemon dessert Cookie made. Children were divided into two classes – one around play and games and the other around Paul. The Adults began their own study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
Newsletter, April, 2024
Click here to view in a new window.
2023 Highlights at St. Peter’s
This is a topical summary. We have another page that is a chronological listing of 2023 events with table of contents with links to the events.
The highlights can be grouped as follows:
A. New ministry
God’s Garden
Chancellors Village
Advent Worskhop
B. New expressions in ministry
Stewardship tree
Lent -Stations of the Cross in the graveyard and more services
C. Expanded and revised ministries
Mission trip to Jamaica
Anniversary Village Harvest Food Ministry
Sacred Ground revised
ECM (Episcopal Church Men) end of year expanded donations and use of an art auction.
Community – Prayer service, Outside Christmas pageant, Work with community organizations
Key parishioner volunteering
ECW (Episcopal Church Women) projects
D. Music provided new delights
Easter, the summer and Christmas
Blue grass concert
E. Losses connected with two historic trees and two heating systems.
1. New ministry – God’s Garden
A new ministry debuted Sept 17, 2023. God’s Garden for 5 to 9 year olds began with 4 children and two experienced teachers, Elizabeth Heimbach, the originator of the class and Jan Saylor.
One of the first activities was to “God’s Garden” which explored what it meant to be a saint, today (Oct. 1, 2023) for St. Francis Day on Oct. 4. As an example they told the story of St. Francis taming the Wolf of Gubbio. Then, they made Pet blessings with treats to give out in church to make pets happy on St. Francis Day, Oct. 4.
2. Expanded ministry in Jamaica
Even before the mission began, we hosted Annette Steele, principal of Victoria Primary School who enjoyed a full day at St. Peter’s on Sun, Aug. 13. She addressed the church at announcements about our joint mission to help the students in her elementary school get ready for school in Sept, both in 2021 and 2023. She explained how much it meant to the students and her community.
After the service, she enjoyed St. Peter’s hospitality at a luncheon and met our parishioners and guests.
The group of 3 on the mission team distributed our donations in Jamaica on Aug. 26
We not only brought the usual school supplies but added 6 tablets. Separately, 7 used computers were donated to a school that had never had a computer.
There were different ways of distributing the items. There were contests for tablets and food baskets won by answering questions. Certificates given out based on merit overall and in areas like math. A number of students won $1,000 Jamaican dollars for math competency. Teachers were not forgotten – 2 footballs were given out to the coach!
3. Village Harvest ended its 9th year and began its 10th year in August, 2023 and ended the year serving the most people since 2019.
For the year, we recovered from a slow 1st quarter, 2023 and ended the year serving 1,063 people compared to 1,051 in 2022. It was the best yearly total since 2019.
Unfortunately, the same trend overall wasn’t present with food. Food increased from 2021 to 2022 (14,303 to 15,302 pounds) but dipped to 13,859 pounds in 2023. The first quarter was the problem. We had 2,913 pounds in that quarter compared over 4,000 for 2022 and 2021.
As a result, pounds provided per individual dropped from 14.56 in 2022 to 13.04. In 2021, it was in the same range at 14.32. Overall, pounds per individual are substantially higher since 2019 than in earlier periods.
The 2023 collection on Giving Tuesday, Nov 28 of $1,205 was the highest Giving Tuesday figure since 2019 and provides over 5 months of support for purchasing food for 2024
4. Sacred Ground revised their scholarship program
Representatives from Sacred Ground met with Jessica Thompson, Executive Director of the Germanna Educational Foundation, for lunch at Castiglias in Fredericksburg on Oct. 10, 2023. The goal was to determine how we could move forward with a new focus on our scholarships for students.
Sacred Ground voted unanimously by email in early December to fund the recommendation forwarded by Jessica Thompson at Germanna for scholarships for students entering the trades. Each student is “in financial need and from underserved populations.” The $2,700 would be split equally to pay for their training.
Each student owes approximately $1,500 for the classes to complete the training. We will pay for the additional expense for each student through additional scholarship funds
They also toured Patawomeck Village in November. The goal of the visit was to understand their history and culture as well as our role
Earlier, the Sacred Ground group had the pleasure of meeting with Alanna Gray (beside Catherine), and her mother and grandmother (opposite Alanna) at Cuppa Cheer in February
Music filled the Air, Sun Dec. 17
As part of the sermon on Advent 3, Dec. 17, 2023, Catherine explored the role of music and sang a number of Christmas pieces important in her faith life. You might call this the “singing sermon.”
The music theme carried forward to the offertory. During the offertory we had 5 of our youth entertain us on trumpet, French horn, piano, ukelele and vocals
From the sermon Dec. 17, 2023
“In the Living Compass publication, Living Well through Advent, Scott Stoner talks about the music of Christmas. He says that “music is a thin place for many, where the distance between themselves and God is narrowed. It has long been said that music is the language of the soul and that those who sing, pray twice.”
“So in this year’s last week of Advent, let the music of Christmas become the language of your soul, your own prayer. Let this music bring you closer to God. ”
“As you pray, let the music of Christmas bring you back into that unbroken circle of love with those who are here, and those who have gone on to glory.
“May the light shining in us, bring light into the darkness and witness to God’s glory.”
Links:
Video
Written Sermon
St. Peter’s Chrismas Play, a 25 year tradition
St. Peter’s Christmas play has been different from the typical Children’s Church play. It will be held on 2nd Advent this year, Dec. 3, 2022
First it has involved parishioners of all ages and not just children. Second it takes up most of the Sunday service. Lastly the play is written fresh every year. No repeats. The tradition began in the 1990’s under the Rev. Karen Woodruff when there were many children in the parish.
Here is a collection of Christmas pageants from 2010.
This year St Nicholas will visit the 11AM service and the St Peter’s youth will take the lead in playing holiday music for the congregation.