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.

2023 Sun Oct 1

From the Gospel, Parable of the Two Sons- “Words are not enough”

From this article in “Journey with Jesus” Words are not enough

Key part:

“What Jesus opposed through the story of the father and the two sons was all forms of religion that stop at empty words. All forms of piety that don’t move us into the world of concrete action on behalf of justice, mercy, equality, love, and compassion. All forms of Christianity that flicker to life on Sunday morning, but then fade out between Monday and Saturday.

“We are invited to be like the first son. We are invited to be like the tax collectors and the prostitutes. But we cannot do this if we keep our faith lives tethered to abstractions. If we live a Christianity of the mind without also living one of the flesh. After all, it is with our bodies that we experience pain, anger, terror, and joy. It’s my chest that hurts when I mourn. It’s my face that burns when I’m angry. It’s my whole body that warms with pleasure when I’m happy. Our faith is meant to be embodied. To be incarnate. To be organic. To be active. In the realm of God, words — even the most beautiful words — are not enough.”

Sunday Links, Oct. 1, Pentecost 18, Season of Creation V

  • 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. Oct. 1, 2023, 10:30, God’s Garden — A gathering of children ages 5-9. Sunday School activities and fun, led by Elizabeth Heimbach, Jan Saylor in the Parish House
  • Sun. Oct. 1 2023, 11am Church service – Eucharist Live or YouTube St. Peter’s Page
  • Serving
    Lector: Cookie Davis
    Chalice Bearer: Andrea Pogue
    Altar Cleanup: Jan Saylor
    • Lectionary link for Oct. 1, 18th Sunday after Pentecost
  • Coffee House, Sun., Oct 1 12pm, Parish House
  • Ecumenical Bible Study, Wed., Oct 4 10am-12pm, Parish House Reading Lectionary for Oct 8, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
  • Remembering St. Francis Wed., Oct 4

    St. Francis links

  • All articles for Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
  • Oct. newsletter

    • Recent Articles, Sun. Oct. 1, 2023 

    Pentecost 18, Oct. 1, 2023
    Lectionary for Pentecost 18
    Commentary Oct. 1
    Vanderbilt visual commentary
    Stewardship Commentary
    World Communion Sunday
    ECW Donation & Planning meeting

    Season of Creation ends Oct. 4
    Season of Creation retrospective
    Visual Eucharistic Prayer
    5 areas of the Environment in the Season of Creation
    Part 5 – Deforestation
    Prayers ending the Season

    Remembering St. Francis…
    All About St. Francis, Oct. 4
    “God’s Garden makes pet blessings
    St. Francis in the Christmas Play in 2015
    Richard Rohr on St. Francis

    Mission and Outreach
    Village Harvest Review Sept 30
    Donations for Maui
    Jamaican mission school distribution, Aug. 26, 2023
    Sept., 2023 newsletter

    Lectionary Pentecost 18, Proper 21, Year A, Oct 1, 2023

    I.Theme –   Look carefully at the vineyard you are cultivating!

     "Vineyards with view of Auvers" – Van Gogh (1890)

    The lectionary readings are here or individually:

    Old Testament – Isaiah 5:1-7
    Psalm – Psalm 80:7-14 Page 703, BCP
    Epistle –Philippians 3:4b-14
    Gospel – Matthew 21:33-46

    The main motif in 3 of the 4 readings is about the vineyard which beginning in the Old Testament refers to Israel and by the Gospel to those tending it. Corruption is evident in Israel in the 8th Century BC and in 30AD with Christ. In Christ time the vineyard represents all places where we have been called by God to produce the fruits of the kingdom.  The real villains move from Israel as a country to specific groups cited by Matthew.

    The Isaiah reading is one of the oldest parables in the Bible. This song of the vineyard is a parable and a prophetic attack on corrupt Israel. It begins as a love song, singing of a deep love that is giving and caring, moves on to convey disillusionment, and then to express anger and a withdrawal of love and care. The coming destruction (verses 5-6) results from the people’s failure to do what God "expected," and more literally and poignantly, what God "hoped for" (verses 2, 4, 7).  God doesn’t destroy the vineyard directly. Instead, what he described was simply the removal of his care and protection of the vineyard, the careful work done earlier.

    Read more

    ECW Planning and Donation meeting, Sept. 25, 2023

    The September meeting of the St. Peter’s ECW was held at the Heimbachs’ house because tree work at the church made parking limited. There were about 11 in attendance. Typically the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) at St. Peter’s give half of their earnings away by the 4th quarter of each year for outreach.

    After everyone enjoyed tea and snacks, we welcomed our new member, Jean Devitt. Then, Elizabeth reported that the ECW account currently totaled $2280.89, and the group agreed to donate $100 to CERVE, (the Caroline Emergency Relief through Volunteer Efforts), $250 to Catherine’s Discretionary Fund, $500 to Village Harvest, and $500 to Social Services for their Christmas program. Since an anonymous member had given an additional $70, the ECW account will have $1000 after these donations are made.

    Nancy Long has agreed to do some research to find out about the cost of repairing the brass altar vases which were a gift to St. Peter’s from the ECW, while Alice said that she would try to find out the possible value of the large bas-relief currently stored upstairs in the rectory.  

    The group also discussed plans for the coming months including a visit to Chancellor’s Village, and a tour of the Potowomack Center. In addition, we talked about providing refreshments for the Epiphany and Presentation Services when the St. Peter’s Choir will join the choir of St. Asaph’s. We also agreed to prepare dinner for the Episcopalian students at Mary Washington, and, perhaps, to supply snacks for them during exam week in early December.

    Finally, several people had ideas for events for which we could sell tickets to raise money. Jan suggested a Mother’s Day brunch, Catherine suggested a croquet match, and several people talked about the possibility of an event like a concert that could include a barbecue.

    Season of Creation 2023 – a retrospective

    The image shows the challenges and work to improve the environment in the darker areas with the light areas, the work we are doing now and a promise for the future.

    We did fewer projects and concentrated on the beauty of creation and the need for renewal.  The Season of Creation was present in these areas:

    1. Five Sundays readings in the Season of Creation and highlighted a specific environmental area which we covered weekly.- Earth, water, energy, food (waste), deforestation. Link
    1. We began a new Christian Ed for Children ages 5-9 and they covered water

    2. The services during the month had the following different sections

    Read more

    Concluding the Season of Creation – Prayers for the Earth

    Based on the Fifth Mark of Mission


    To Strive

    God, creator of the universe,
    Fill us with your love for the creation,
    for the natural world around us,
    for the earth from which we come
    and to which we will return.    
    Awake in us energy to work for your world; 
    let us never fall into complacency, ignorance,
    or being overwhelmed by the task before us.
    Help us to restore, remake, renew. Amen 

    Read more

    Village Harvest at the end of the third quarter, Sept, 2023

    The 3rd quarter Harvest trends, 2023 were consistent with the 2nd quarter (April-June) in people served but well above in food provided.  This brought the pounds per person ratio down.

    September is the end of the 3rd quarter.  During the 3rd quarter (July through Sept) we served the same number of clients – 262 as the second quarter (April-June). It was above both 2022 and 2021  3rd quarter and 2nd – 251 and 257, respectively.

    Food provided at 3,654 pounds was much higher in the third quarter 2023 than the second,   3,457.  3,654 in 2023 for the 3rd quarter was higher than 2022 3,258 and 2021 3,312, respectively as well.

    The year-to-date for 2023 remains below 2022 and 2021. This was due to the low numbers of clients in the first quarter 2023. We served 218 in the first quarter 2023 compared to 296 in 2022 and 295 in 2021.  Second and third quarter were much better so the analysis favors an interim approach.

    Read more