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.

Trinitarian Apple Pie

The Apple pie as a symbol of the Trinity.

From a sermon on Trinity Sunday, 2011
 

"This pie is Trinitarian for several reasons. First of all, it has three parts. It has a crust, it has a filling, and it has a topping. Second, each of the three parts has three ingredients.

"The crust is made of flour with a little salt thrown in, some shortening, and some ice water. The filling contains apples, sugar, and cinnamon. The topping is made of a trinity of flour, butter and sugar.

"When all of these ingredients are subjected to the heat of the oven over a period of time, they merge together into one delicious pie, which would not be complete if any of the ingredients were lacking.

"This apple pie is a great symbol for God as Trinity. In order to understand most fully who God is, we Christians know God as the transcendent God, so mysterious that we will never ever know God fully in this life. We know God as Jesus, who lived and died as one of us—not some far off distant deity, but God who experienced the joys and sorrows of being human. We know God as that voice that whispers to us, bringing us inspiration, understanding, and guidance. The ways in which we know God are incomplete until we embrace all of these ways of knowing God, knowing that even then God remains a mystery. This pie would be incomplete without its three parts."


Trinitarian Apple Pie Recipe

New Picnic Tables

4 new picnic tables to replace the rotting, wooden tables were blessed during Pentecost and used for the first time during the picnic. They were easier to enter without climbing over the boards.

From the bulletin on May 28, 2023 – “Thank you, Ken and Andrea Pogue, and Larry Saylor for picking up our new picnic tables, and to Ken for assembling them. Thank you for those who donated the money for these new tables. We will bless the tables today at the picnic.”

Little Falls Bluegrass Band at Pentecost – A Treat

We were entertained during our Pentecost picnic by the Little Falls Bluegrass Band from Stafford. The gentlemen have played bluegrass music for many years in many bands, including this one. They comprise all ages – the banjo player celebrated his 18th birthday on Pentecost. They have played for weddings, social and church services. They are tight both in music and friendship – and it shows! Their acapella numbers were especially wonderful.

Several attend Community Baptist Church in Stafford. (They attended an early service there to get to St. Peter’s for our picnic). Their pastor also came.

Keith, the bass player, has a side grass-cutting business and has cut Catherine and Ben’s rental property in Fredericksburg for many years. He was our contact.

Videos, Pentecost, May 28, 2023

Larry Saylor, guitar – Prelude

Hymn of praise- Glory to You – John Rutter

Gospel and Sermon – the Rev Catherine Hicks

Affirmation of Faith

Prayers of the People

Larry Saylor, guitar – Offertory

Holy Communion

Blessing and Extinguishing of the Paschal Candle

Sweet, Sweet, Spirit

The one with the “Tongues of Fire”!