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.

2024 Sun March 24

Village Harvest, March 20, 2024

First quarter review follows:

CLIENTS    
 2024202320222021
Jan9160115116
Feb110779084
Mar90819195
     
Total291218296295
     
POUNDS    
 2024202320222021
Jan 1,110 1,137 1,081 1,147
Feb 1,014 806 1,635 1,304
Mar 1,321 970 1,480 1,891
     
Total 3,445 2,913 4,196 4,342
     
Pounds11.813.414.214.7
Per Client   

The first quarter, 2024 recovered from 2023 levels in both clients and food. 2024 clients levels are comparable to clients in 2022 and 2021 at just 300 for the quarter. 2023 significant descrease could be considered as an aberration. Food is up from 2,913 pounds to 3,445 in 2024. Overall clients are up by 33% and food 18% from first quarter 2023 to the same period in 2024.

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Holy Week – summary of the days

Source

Palm Sunday –

  • Jesus, at the Mount of Olives, sends two disciples to secure a donkey and a colt; makes his “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem; weeps over Jerusalem.
  • Jesus enters the temple area, then returns to Bethany.

Monday –

  • On Monday morning Jesus and the Twelve leave Bethany to return to Jerusalem, and along the way Jesus curses the fig tree.
  • Jesus enters Jerusalem and clears the temple.
  • In the evening Jesus and the Twelve leave Jerusalem (returning to Bethany).

Tuesday –

  • Jesus’ disciples see the withered fig tree on their return to Jerusalem from Bethany.
  • Jesus engages in conflict with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
  • The Disciples marvel at the Temple.
  • Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse (in which he predicts the future) on their return to Bethany from Jerusalem.

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Holy Week Services, 2024

Services online

Sunday, March 24, Palm Sunday, 10:50AM, Liturgy of the Palms, 11AM Eucharist

The St Peter’s congregation commemorates this triumphal entry into Jerusalem by gathering behind the church for the blessing of the palms and then processing to the front of the church, all the while shouting, ”Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” and making a celebratory racket with various noise makers.

The service that follows carries the congregation on a whirlwind trip through the events of Holy Week, a summary of Jesus’ last days before being crucified.  The gospel ends with Jesus having been crucified and placed in a tomb which Pilate’s soldiers seal with a stone. 

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Lectionary, Palm Sunday, Year B

 Lectionary, Palm Sunday

I.Theme –   "Strength is concealed in humility, pain is hidden in triumph, victory, in defeat, life, in death, God, in human form" -Diedrik Nelson

 

"Palm Sunday" – Giotto (1305-06)     "Betrayal & Arrest of Christ" – Fra Angelico (1450)

The lectionary readings are here or individually: 

Old Testament – Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm – Psalm 31:9-16 Page 623, BCP 
Epistle –Philippians 2:5-11 
Gospel – Mark 14:1-15:47 

"Borg and Crossan (The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem) imagine not one but two political processions entering Jerusalem that Friday morning in the spring of AD 30. In a bold parody of imperial politics, king Jesus descended the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem from the east in fulfillment of Zechariah’s ancient prophecy: "Look, your king is coming to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Matthew 21:5 = Zechariah 9:9). From the west, the Roman governor Pilate entered Jerusalem with all the pomp of state power. Pilate’s brigades showcased Rome’s military might, power and glory. Jesus’ triumphal entry, by stark contrast, was an anti-imperial and anti-triumphal "counter-procession" of peasants that proclaimed an alternate and subversive community that for three years he had called "the kingdom of God."

This week has two liturgies – Liturgy of the Palms and Liturgy of the Passon.

"The church is called to reckon with paradox on this week: triumph and rejection, death and rebirth." So writes Melinda Quivik in Working Preacher. The week begins with Jesus triumphant arrival and by the end of the week he is killed.  Next week we trace the path day by day.  God is sacrificed by those he brings life. 

"Strength is concealed in humility, pain is hidden in triumph, victory, in defeat, life, in death, God, in human form" -Diedrik Nelson 

The theme is established by the first lesson. The servant is disciplined by suffering so he may bring strength and refreshment to the oppressed, but there are those who oppose him. Willingly he submits to those who torture and humiliate him. But God is his helper, so he is not disgraced or shamed. God vindicates him, no one can convict him.

The servant willingly suffers humiliation at the hands of his adversaries. He is not disgraced or put to shame because Yahweh vindicates him and helps him; no one can declare him guilty.

The servant of the Lord is opposed (Isaiah), is obedient to death (Philippians). He is betrayed, tortured and crucified by those who should have listened to him, and is recognized as Son of God by a centurion (Matthew). He will be vindicated (Isaiah), exalted by God (Philippians), and honored by the unexpected (Matthew).

The Passion story in Mark can be broken down in the following scenes:

The Passion story in Mark can be broken down in the following scenes:

1. Mark 14:1-11 extravagant love 
2. Mark 14:12-21 passover preparation 
3. Mark 14:22-25 Jesus’ last supper
4. Mark 14:26-42 agony in the garden 
5. Mark 14:43-52 Jesus’ arrest  
6. Mark 14:53-72 Jesus’ trial, Peter’s denial
7. Mark 15:1-20 Jesus before Pilate 
8. Mark 15:21-32 Jesus crucified 
9. Mark 15:33-41 Jesus’ death  
10. Mark 15:42-47 Jesus’ burial 

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Sunday’s Links, March 24, 2024

Palm Sunday, March 24.

  • 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., March 20, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for Palm Sunday
  • Wed., March 20 – 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., March 20, “The Creeds—a Guide to Deeper Faith”, 7pm. What does the Church have to say about The Holy Catholic Church, Baptism, Resurrection, Eternal Life Zoom link Meeting ID: 833 7014 5820 Passcode: 528834
  • Thurs., March 21, Confirmation Class continues, 7:30pm-8:15pm. Zoom link Meeting ID: 893 1712 7905 Passcode: 505603

  • Sunday, March 24, “God’s Garden”, 10:00am. They will be learning about Holy Week.’
  • Sunday, March 24, 10:45am. Liturgy of the Palms. Meet at the Parish House and process into the Church.
  • Servers, Palm Sunday, March 24, 11am. Liturgy of the Passion.
    Lector: Andrea Pogue
    Acolyte : Arthur Duke
    Chalice Bearer: Andrea Pogue
    Altar Clean up: B.J. Anderson
  • Wed., March 27, Ecumenical Bible Study, Parish House, 10am-12pm  Reading Lectionary for Easter
  • Wed., March 27, Tenebrae service, 7pm
    Lector: Elizabeth Heimbach
  • Thurs., March 28, Maundy Thursday, 7pm
    Lector: Cookie Davis
    Chalice Bearer: Alice Hughes
    Altar Clean up: Jan Saylor
  • Fri., March 29, Good Friday, 7pm
    Lector: Ben Hicks
  • Sun., March 31 Easter Sunday, 11:00am.
  • Servers, Easter Sunday, March 31, 11am
    Lector: Johnny Davis
    Acolyte: Arthur Duke
    Chalice Bearer:Johnny Davis
    Altar Clean up: Andrea Pogue

    • Coming up!

  • Portland Guitar Duo, April 19, 7pm

    1. The concert
    2. Help us advertise

    • Lenten Page

    Quick link to Feb, 2024 Lent Calendar
    Quick link to March, 2024 Lent Calendar

  • March., 2024 newsletter
  • All articles for Sunday, March 24, 2024

    • Recent Articles, March 24

    Palm Sunday, March 24
    Bulletin
    Sermon
    God’s Garden, 10:00-11am
    Photos
    Palm Sunday Introduction
    Lectionary, 11am service
    Visual Lectionary – Vanderbilt
    Commentary
    Setting – “We’re Going up to Jerussalem”
    Curry Sets the Scene
    Feelings and Emotions
    Palm Sunday Scenes
    Meanings, Path and Art of Palm Sunday
    Voices, Palm Sunday

    Holy Week
    Holy Week introduction
    Summary of the days
    Why was Jesus killed?
    Holy Week services
    Holy Week Day by Day
    Tenebrae, March 27
    Maundy Thursday, March 28
    Good Friday, March 29
    Good Friday is essential
    Easter Voices, Year B
    Easter Year B
    Easter Commentary

    Ministries
    Portland Guitar Duo at St. Peter’s
    Help us advertise the concert!
    Past Concerts at St. Peter’s


    Village Harvest, March, 2024
    Village Harvest, Feb., 2024


    Creed Class, March 20 – Conclusion
    Creeds class, March 13 – Holy Spirit
    Creeds class, March 6 – Jesus
    Creeds class, Feb. 28- God
    Creeds class, Feb. 21
    Lenten Study – The Creeds


    God’s Garden- “Resurrection Eggs”
    God’s Garden – Holy Week
    God’s Garden – “Let the Children come to me”
    God’s Garden – Making pretzels
    God’s Garden- Learning the Lord’s Prayer
    God’s Garden – The Alleluia Banner, Part 2
    The Alleluia Banner, Part 1


    Discretionary Fund donations Feb. 11


    Sacred Ground, Jan., 2024
    Sacred Ground, Feb., 2024

    Palm Sunday, the Setting: “We are Going Up to Jerusalem”

    From Killing Jesus – Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard 

    It is Sunday, April 2, A.D. 30. Pontius Pilate has just returned to Jerusalem and taken up residence in Herod the Great’s palace. Herod Antipas, the tetrarch, arrives in the city and stays just a block away, at the Hasmonean Palace. At the same time, Caiaphas prepares for the biggest festival of the year at his palace home in the Upper City.

    Passover week is now about to begin.

    The purification process is vital to properly celebrating Passover. It creates a physical and emotional state of mind that prepares a worshipper to embrace God’s holiness—thus the need to arrive in Jerusalem almost a week before the holy day

    Anticipating the smell of roast lamb that will hang over Jerusalem as the Passover feasts are being cooked in ovens, the pilgrims count their money, worrying about how they will pay for that feast and the inevitable taxes they will incur in the city. Despite their sore feet and aching legs from walking mile after rugged mile through the wilderness, the travelers feel themselves transformed by the magnetic pull of Jerusalem. Their thoughts are no longer set on their farms back home and the barley crop that must be harvested immediately upon their return, but on holiness and purity

    “We are going up to Jerusalem,” Jesus tells his disciples as they prepare to depart for the Passover…  

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    Portland Guitar, April 19 concert

    They will be performing music written for two guitars at St. Peter’s, Friday, April 19 at 7pm as part of our annual concert series. (Reception 6:15pm in the Parish House.)

    The concert is free but donations gratefully accepted for future concerts, held yearly since 2013. This is our 10th concert.

    The Portland Guitar Duo are James Manuele and Foti Lycouridis and have been playing together since 1999.

    Foti shared some of the details of the concert – “This time we will do a program of 19th century music on copies of period instruments. It will be mostly transcriptions of piano music of the period along with a few duets and solos written for guitar/guitars. We will also talk about the guitar history of that particular time. As performers and researchers we are very interested in music of other media that we can play on guitar, and piano music of that period has a very rich repertoire to draw from.”

    Born in California, James Manuele began playing the guitar at age eleven. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Mansfield University, where he also studied voice and viola. Later, he earned his Masters of Music in Guitar Performance at Portland State University and has taught in colleges -Clark College in Vancouver and at Concordia in Portland.

    Foti Lycouridis was born in Egypt of Greek parents. In 1981, he started his music education at the University of Portland. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance and a Master’s in Music Theory. He also can perform on a 10-string guitar and Baroque lute.

    A. Here is a 3 minute summary of the Duo:
    B. Live
    1. Part 1 of a set for the Portland Community Media.
    2. Part 2 of a set for the Portland Community Media.
    3. “Miller’s Dance” by Manuel de Falla
    4. At Oregon State University. “Spanish Dance no. 2 ‘Oriental'” by E. Granados”
    5. “The Caprice” by Isaac Albeniz

    Portland Guitar Duo – Web site