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.

St. Francis, Oct. 4

A Pet Blessing for St. Francis day, Oct. 4 

The blessing -“Our pets have already blessed us. On St Francis Day, we get to bless our pets.” St Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1182 to 1226, had a great love for animals and the environment. He understood the earth and everything in it as God’s good creation and believed that we are brothers and sisters with everything in creation. So on this day, we remember St Francis and thank God for the gift of our pets.

When you have a moment with your pet, offer this blessing written by Bishop Mark S. Sisk:

Live without fear. Your Creator loves you, made you holy, and has always protected you. May we follow the good road together, and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.


“Who was St. Francis? ” – a link collection

Brief biography

St. Francis movie on Youtube

“Brother Sun, Sister Moon”- trailer

Director Franco Zeffirelli’s “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” focuses on the early years of Francis of Assisi in this 1972 film.

Poem by Jan Richardson from the “Painted Prayerbook”

Addressing myths about St. Francis

St. Francis preaching to the birds

Paintings by Giotto on St. Francis

Rhonda Mawhood Lee: “Go a little crazy on St. Francis Day”, a sermon preached at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Durham, N.C

“It’s appropriate to go a little crazy on St. Francis Day, because during his own lifetime, many people thought Francesco Bernardone was insane.” 

Five Principles of Stewardship

Here are some thoughts on giving and stewardship from From The Evangelist, Newsletter-letter of St. Mark’s Cathedral Shreveport, Louisiana, Nov. 2021

  • God owns everything. Everything means everything. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it (Ps. 24:1) The Genesis creation record makes it clear that God is the sovereign Creator who owns and reigns over the earth. It is also clear that God appointed man to manage this creation (Gen. 2:15).

  • The people of God are God’s management company. If you are a Christian, remember that being part of God’s household gives you responsibilities to work for the house of God. You enter into a contract with God that requires you to be a steward of your part of his creation. It is a further obligation that although you are free to make your own choices, the choices you make must give God glory.

  • Stewardship is responsibility with accountability. God did not create a people to be servants but to be relatives, sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth (Is. 43:6). He receives little glory from having slaves; he receives tremendous glory from people who willingly serve him as a manifestation of their relationship to him. God wants to know if you truly love him, and he intends to test that love by seeing how you respond to the temptation of money.

  • Stewardship demands a commitment to others. It is a response to God’s goodness to you. Stewardship is not doing something for God with your money, but doing something for others with his money. You act on God’s behalf and in his name. The apostle Paul described himself as a slave to everyone (1 Car. 9:19) and always seeking the good of them. (1 Car. 10:24, 33). Further he told us to look not only to our own interest, but also the interests of others (Phil. 2:4). Your attitude, Paul wrote, should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Phil. 2:5-7). Stewardship is both an expression of your love for God and the realization of that love in your relationships to others.

  • Stewardship has eternal consequences. Underlying most of Jesus’ instruction is the assumption that your life on earth will prepare you for your future in heaven. Paul explained to the Philippian believers, I am [not] looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your [future, heavenly] account (Phil. 4:17). Stewardship builds heavenly treasure by transferring wealth from your bank account to your heavenly account. Because God is eternal, he operates in an eternal time frame. Likewise, the actions of God’s stewards will have eternal consequences

Sunday Links for Pentecost 17, Oct. 2, 2022

Youth Group reorganizes around music, Sept 25.

Oct. 2, 11:00am – Holy Eucharist
Season of Creation 5, Sept 1 – Oct. 4

  • Holy Eucharist, Sun. Oct. 2 Zoom link Sept. 11 Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
  • Lectionary for Oct. 2, 2022, Pentecost 17
  • Bulletin, Oct. 2, 2022
  • Gospel on the River, Oct. 2, 3pm,
  • Morning Meditation , Mon, Oct. 3, 6:30am Zoom link Meeting ID: 879 8071 6417 Passcode: 790929
  • Climate Change conclusion— “Carbon offsets”, Oct. 3, 7pm Zoom link Meeting ID: 878 1530 9573 Passcode: 276113
  • Ecumenical Bible Study, Wed., Oct. 5, 10am-12pm. Reading lectionary of Oct. 2
  • Sacred Ground group, Thurs., Oct 6, 7pm Zoom link Meeting ID: 869 0445 9075 Passcode: 715981
  • October, 2022 newsletter
  • All articles for Oct. 2, 2022

  • St. Peter’s Art Gallery

     St. Peter’s Art (full size gallery)

    God, the master artist, is always creating anew throughout the year, and the beauty of God’s earth is apparent everywhere on the grounds of St Peter’s.  The church itself, which has been lovingly maintained since its opening in 1836, is a stately addition to the earlier colonial buildings in Port Royal. 

    The altarpiece[1]  that graces the wall above the altar was done by an anonymous artist and installed at St Peter’s in 1853.  The people of St Peter’s had this piece restored in 2016 by Cleo Mullins and her team at the Richmond Conservation Studio.  Russell Bernabo, a gilt expert, restored the gold framing. The celestial blues and golds of the altarpiece once more glow and add beauty to our space.  

    But did you know that   St Peter’s has many works of art hidden in plain sight?  Find some time to take a tour of the St Peter’s art gallery, featuring several local artists.   Follow this handy guide.

    The Altar Door Cross [2].  Woodworker Helmut Linne on Berg designed and constructed the wooden cross on the door behind the altar. Helmut has also created two processional crosses for St Peter’s—the blue one for young acolytes to carry [3], and the red Lenten cross that we use throughout the Season of Lent [4]. In addition, Helmut created our Holy Week cross which makes an appearance at the Good Friday service [5].  A large Easter cross, festooned with ribbons and bells, can be found in Catherine’s study in the Parish House and is often on the St Peter’s porch on Easter Sunday [6].   Helmut also made a smaller free standing cross with a candle holder out of wood that he salvaged from the river.  This cross is also in Catherine’s study[7].    

    In the Sacristy.  This area features the work of four artists:  Mary Peterman, Mike Newman, Helmut Linne von Berg, and Elizabeth S. Fall. 

    The Trinity [8]—hanging over the printer is a watercolor of three lambs, by Mary Peterman.  The lamb is an important symbol in Christian art.  In the first chapter of the Gospel according to John, John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.  This watercolor is from the collection of Catherine Hicks.

    Mary Peterman has also created a set of watercolors for The Stations of the Cross, which will be on view during the season of Lent.   

    The Four Gospels—Hanging vertically, one above another, are four paintings on cardboard shields done by Elizabeth  (Beth) Stamboughon Fall.  She and The Rev. Ralph Fall were married on June 30, 1942.  They spent most of their married life in Port Royal and raised their two children there.  Elizabeth’s art studio was in the small building that we currently use as the nursery.    She died Dec. 26, 1983, and is buried at Vauters Church.

    These paintings depict a lion [9], an ox [10], a man [11] and an eagle [12], the four living creatures that appear in the Book of Revelation. By the first century, Irenaeus, an early church father, had already connected these living creatures to the four gospels. These creatures appear in the famous art of the Book of Kells in connection with the gospels.   The man represents Matthew, the lion represents Mark, the ox represents Luke, and the eagle represents John. 

    Painting of  the Tablet Pinnacle [13]—On the counter is a framed oil painting on Belgium linen by Mike Newman of the design that appears on the top of each tablet pinnacle in the church.  The painting is done in the same rich blue and gold as the tablets.  Helmut Linne von Berg made the frame from wood that is over 100 years old.  Helmut salvaged the wood from a piano in Susan Linne von Berg’s family.   

    In The Parish House.  The Parish House features work by Elizabeth Fall, Ben Hicks, Mike Newman, Sydney King, Pete Butzner, Kristen Malcolm Berry, and Sue Moore.  

    In the hallway.  Sycamore Tree [14]–Enter the door closest to the kitchen.  Hanging on the wall facing the door is an oil painting done by Elizabeth Fall of the magnificent sycamore tree behind the church, with the setting sun behind it.  This painting is from the collection of Genevieve Davis and hung in her home for many years. 

    Check out the bathroom!  On the wall opposite the bathroom door is a large photo — Summer on the Rappahannock [15] by Ben Hicks.  The frame, donated by Nancy and Alex Long, gives the appearance of a window looking out on the river, adding spaciousness to this area.  And on the back wall is The Duck [16], also by Elizabeth Fall and from the collection of Genevieve Davis. 

    In the Dining Room over the keyboardChurch, by Mike Newman, is a watercolor of a small colonial style church [17]

    St Peter’s Stained Glass [18]—This oil painting, also by Mike Newman, was purchased anonymously and given to St Peter’s.  The money raised went toward the outreach work of the church. 

    Front Hallway—Features the many priests who have served at St Peter’s through the years .[19] [20].  In addition, on the wall with the photos of the bishops who are currently serving in the Diocese of Virginia, is a small reproduction of the portrait of William Channing Moore [21], the bishop who consecrated St Peter’s on May 15, 1836.  The original portrait belongs to Virginia Theological Seminary and hung in Scott Hall for many years. 

    The Front Room.  Portrait of The Rev. Jonathan Boucher [22] (artist unknown)   Read more about him at https://www.churchsp.org/boucher/ 

    St Peter’s Church[23].    This small oil painting by Elizabeth Fall, and also from the collection of Genevieve Davis, was restored by the Richmond Conservation Studio in 2016. 

    Upstairs in Catherine’s study—

    In addition to Helmut Linne von Berg’s Easter cross, several other works of art are in Catherine’s study, all from her collection.

    The Crown of Thorns [24]–Hanging over the prayer desk on the wall opposite the door is a small reproduction of a painting done by Betsy Meehan, an accomplished artist and musician.  Betsy painted this portrait of Jesus crowned with thorns as she was dying from myeloma. 

    Paris Skyline [25]—Hanging over the mantel is a woodcut by Pete Butzner, an artist from Fredericksburg.

    Gathering Kindling [26]Sydney King, local Caroline artist, did this drawing in charcoal and pastel chalks and based it on a 16th century drawing. 

    Greek Icon[27]—This icon, done in colored pencil and brought from Greece, is from the estate of Cotchy Pappendrou.  This icon was a gift from Ben to Catherine for the Parish House study.

    For as often as you eat this bread [28]—Kristen Malcolm Perry’s art is drawn from the images of the New Testament.  Each image includes the verse on which it is based, written in Greek.  Various indigenous art forms influence Perry’s work. 

    Gloria deum Christus Natus Est [29]—this woodcut, by Sue Moore, one of the Winston-Salem Printmakers, is an artistic interpretation of the incarnation of Jesus.  The Greek word for fish is “ichthys.” As early as the first century, Christians made an acrostic from this word: Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter, i.e. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. This print is on the shelf next to the door. 

    Sea of Galilee [30]—Catherine bought this photo in Jerusalem. 

    World Communion Sunday, Oct. 2

    Oct. 2 is "World Communion Sunday"

    What is World Communion Sunday? Churches this Sunday all over the world celebrate oneness in Christ in the midst of the world ever more in need of peacemaking and the universal and inclusive nature of the church. The tradition originated in the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in 1933, was adopted throughout the US Presbyterian Church in 1936, and subsequently spread to other denominations. The Episcopal Church also remembers students serving abroad, particularly the Young Adult Service Corp in the Episcopal Church.

     

    Poem for World Communion Sunday 

    THE TABLE WITH NO EDGES by Andrew King

    We will sit down where feet tire from the journey.
        We will sit down where grief bends the back.  

    We will sit down under roofs wrecked by artillery.
        We will sit down where cries sound from cracked walls.  

    We will sit down where heat beats like hammers.
       We will sit down where flesh shivers in cold.  

    We will sit down where bread bakes on thin charcoal.
       We will sit down where there is no grain in baked fields.  

    We will sit down with those who dwell in ashes.
       We will sit down in shadow and in light.  

    We will sit down, making friends out of strangers.
       We will sit down, our cup filled with new wine.  

    We will sit down and let love flow like language.We will sit together at the table with no edges.
       We will sit to share one loaf, in Christ’s name, in one world.  


    Stewardship FAQ

    Frequently asked questions about Stewardship at St. Peter’s

    What is stewardship? Stewardship is an expression of gratitude and thankfulness for the blessings of life that come from God. It is love shared and love returned. A life lived in gratitude is a life lived in love

    Why does St. Peter’s call stewardship a spiritual practice? Any spiritual practice is based on faith – faith that the act repeated regularly will increase our awareness of the presence of God and will gradually remove from our lives walls we erect that block God’s grace. Spiritual practices include worship, prayer, silence and meditation, contemplation, reading scripture, and giving. Giving (financial stewardship, in our focus here) has numerous spiritual benefits. Here are just three: First, stewardship reduces our attachment to things material. We learn that by giving away something we “have” really does not diminish us at all. Our needs continue to be met by God. Second, giving chips away at our belief in the concept of “mine” and “yours”. Giving helps us better experience truth that we are indeed one in spirit. And finally, in some mysterious way, our willingness to give determines our willingness to receive. No doubt all of us know someone who would never give anything to someone else and, in turn, would never accept a gift. We must be willing to give in order to be open to receiving. And God is giving to us every moment of the day. Our willingness to give enhances our ability to accept God’s gifts.

    Is my stewardship defined only by the money I give to the church? Absolutely not. Time and service given to others is a critical component of stewardship. Our church can’t function without these gifts of time and service.

    Why is making a pledge important? Pledges have two purposes. One is between you and God.  Pledging yourself to any spiritual practice increases the likelihood you will actually do it. In the fall each year we ask you to commit to the practice of giving. We’re most concerned with your commitment to this practice, and less concerned with how much you give.   For many of us, a pledge to give money to the church is a way that we say thanks to God and practice our faith.

    Second, the vestry does its best to operate the church on a sound financial basis, and having a good handle of how much people plan to give in the coming year enhances the vestry’s ability to plan responsibly.   

    What percent of the church’s annual budget is supported by pledges? About 83%. The rest of the operating budget is supported by cash offerings and donations,. It’s simple – our programs depend on pledge support.

    What happens if I make a pledge and find I cannot fulfill it? Your pledge is not a contract. It is a spiritual commitment. You need to inform the treasurer if you cannot meet or to need to adjust your pledge so that we can make adjustments to operations as needed.

    How much should I give? Am I expected to tithe? If you asked ten different members of the church this question you would likely get ten different answers. We encourage you to give a gift that is meaningful. For someone like Bill and Melinda Gates, who could likely live an extravagant lifestyle on 1% of their income, a tithe of 10% of their income may or may not be meaningful. To the contrary, a single parent with several children in college who has a budget down to the last dollar, a pledge of one-tenth of one-percent may be meaningful. To quote the lyrics from the song “One” by U2 (which started as a Christian rock band), “We’re one, but we’re not the same, we get to carry each other, carry each other”. If we can all give a gift that is meaningful to us, we will be able to reach our goals.

    Practicing Generosity in an Age of Anxiety

    From Penny Nash at St. Stephens, Richmond.

    “We live in anxious times. I receive daily invitations to worry. I am susceptible to anxiety, both free-floating and specific. Loved ones traveling, Ebola, terrorists, my children, the economy. Discord among friends. And money. Especially money.

    “Over the years, I have tried to practice generosity as a response to anxiety.

    “This only works if I first can remember how generous God is to us-and to me. I remember our stories: how God provided manna in the wilderness; how Jesus made gallons upon gallons of wine at Cana; how the disciples/fishermen caught so many fish their nets nearly broke; how many people Jesus fed on the mountain and how many he healed in every town and city; how the oil and flour never gave out for the widow of Zarephath; how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

    “If I truly believe in God’s generosity, then perhaps I can let go of my anxiety and try to be generous myself. But this has to happen not only in my head but also in my actions. And that’s where we get to the part about money.

    “A wise mentor told me that when he starts feeling anxious about money, that means he needs to write a check. He needs to give money away so that it will not have control over him, feed his anxiety, and make him grasping and hard-hearted. He needs to give money away so that he will realize he is fine, he has what he needs, he can trust God. His kids will still be able to go to college even if he gives generously to God’s mission on earth through the church.

    “God is good. We have more than enough. So in the face of anxiety, be generous. I’ve tried it. And it works.”