Pentecost, May 19, 11am, Day of Pentecost, Bishop Visitation, Confirmation and Reception
Lector: Johnny Davis
Acolyte: Arthur Duke
Chalice Bearer: Andrea Pogue
Altar Clean up: Everyone
Coming up!
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Port Royal, VA
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.
Pentecost, May 19, 11am, Day of Pentecost, Bishop Visitation, Confirmation and Reception
Coming up!
Day of Pentecost, May 19, an important feast
Sermon
Bishop Final Pentecost Prayer
Photos
Videos
Bulletin
Lectionary, May 19, 11am service
Confirmation and Reception
Commentary
“Good morning! Happy birthday, happy birthday church, happy birthday church!
“This is the birthday of the Christian church. Today, the day of the Pentecost, this day and not before this day could the followers of Jesus be called Christians
“Easter is the holiest day of the year right? I know we think it’s Christmas but it’s not. It is Easter. The second holiest day of the year is today.
“Pentecost is the last day of the great 50 days of Easter, then Christmas is after that. (Maybe it’s third holiest at least that’s what the church has been teaching for more than 2,000 years )
“Today is a day of celebrating the ongoing presence of God in the community who follow Jesus.
“Go forth to be makers of Peace, not just those who pray for it, be of good courage, strengthen the weak, lift up the lonely, help those who are afflicted in any way, always strive to be urgent for justice for others which is not about reward and punishment but justice in God’s eyes which is about restoration and mercy, hold fast to that which is the whole truth that comes without spin or agenda and may make you uncomfortable.
“Do not return evil for the evil done to you but rather rejoice for God’s holy spirit is at work in you to do God’s loving and forgiving work and the blessing of God Almighty the Eternal Majesty, the Incarnate Word and the everbody Spirit be with you and remain with you on this holy, holy day and forever more” Amen
01 Prelude – “Let the Whole Creation Cry”
Video from the Choir loft
02 Opening Hymn – “Hail thee, festival day!”
From the Congregation
03 Readings
1. “The Church – a Power House ” – Diocese of Atlanta
“What is the church? The answer is right there in the story of Pentecost! God intends for the church- the people and where we gather- to be a Power-House! In the Power-House people are released to worship in spirit and truth: to heal, create, forgive, fend off selfishness and conquer fears. God’s intervening power turned a traditional religious observance into a spirit-filled gathering by recentering the community on “God’s deeds of power.” The power was in the promise God gave to Joel long ago, that God’s spirit would birth dreams and visions for the young and old and rewrite all the limiting ways we relate to one another. Is where you go to church a Power-House?”
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Below are some of the foods and workers on Tuesday, May 14 unboxing, sorting and bagging the distribution. Thanks to Cookie and Johnny for obtaining the food from the Healthy Harvest Food Bank as well as working with the food, assisted by Elizabeth, Andrea, Lin, Dave, and Catherine and Ben.
May was an explosion in both food provided and clients receiving! (A nice 188th birthday present for St. Peter’s, consecrated on this day in 1836.)The weather was drizzly but thankfully that didn’t affect the turnout. May featured the largest number of clients, 119 since Nov. 2020 when it was 135. (A year ago the number was 93). Elizabeth reports that “The 119 includes the people Catherine and Jan and Lin pick up for. This may have been more than usual, and we also seemed to have more people from Essex and from Port Royal itself than before.”
The pounds available in May was 1,400 the largest since Dec. 2022 at 1,468 (A year ago in May, 2023 1,143)
Year to date we have served 487 people compared to 415 last year representing a 17.3% increase. The client total also exceeds both 2022, 447 and 2021, 465. However, it would be under the pre-pandemic years of 2019, 593, and 2018, 501 (with one month cancelled). Still, it represents an important improvement over the last few years.
1 There were many “moving parts” during this service which remarkably moved together and created a memorable service. The only concern was the weather with the outdoor concert and reception. The weather held! The reception was divided up between the kitchen for people to get their food and to converse with the bishop with tables outside for people to enjoy the music.
2. Some parts of the service were the culmination of months of activity. Initially they moved at a slower pace but today they were up to speed. The three to be confirmed spent two months on Thursday nights to understand confirmation and to decide if they really wanted to go through with it. At the end they contributed to the process of organizing the procession. The choir spent months learning the prelude “Let the Whole Creation Cry”.
3. Those who were part of the reception had to be organized to decide who was bringing what. The choir had to prepare as well the “Tongues of Fire” on the last hymn. The “Little Falls Bluegrass band” had to be booked and coordinated when they were to appear. Cookie had to prepare the altar and outside flowers.
4. The Bishop has been in this position for 22 years. Going to a new church means going through a check list. And of course a special sermon for both Pentecost and the presentation. The presentation involving two churches had to be worked out. The priests involved have much to do leading up to the service. We made time for the Bishop an hour before the service for her to talk to the confirmands. One unique feature during the service was her conversing individually with each which made the process more meaningful to all at the end.
5. The bishop also contributed to her choir with her sonorous voice. She also gave an impromptu talk prior to the reception in the Parish House about General Convention coming up in June.
6. And then there was Pentecost. 50 days since Easter. As the Bishop says the second most important Sunday of the year (behind Easter). We had to make sure to extinguish the Paschal candle for the last time. “Hail Thee, Festival Day” is sung almost every Pentecost. It is a difficult hymn the way it is organized and requires practice. But there is nothing better for Pentecost!
6. It was both an enjoyable and meaningful day. 9 people between two churches, St Peter’s and St Paul’s, king George were confirmed or received.