Last Sunday (Epiphany 2, Jan. 18, 2015)
January 25- 9:00am, Holy Eucharist, Rite I, Epiphany 3
January 25- 10:00am, Godly Play (preschool through 2nd grade)
January 25- 11:00am, Morning Prayer Rite II, Epiphany 3
This Sunday at St. Peter’s – Servers, Readings
Diocesan, Annual Council, Jan. 22-24, 2015, Richmond
FULL DETAILS
Visit the council site more infomation
Please note the Rev. Charles Sydnor who has preached at St. Peter’s and helped when Catherine was a deacon in 2010 will be honored by a courtesy resolution (CR -2) that will be presented.
Bishop Johnston “Your leadership and enthusiasm for the work of the Stewardship of Creation Committee and the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee have been vital to these ministries. I have greatly admired the way you have brought your passion and poise to these areas of our common life. Thank you for serving the diocese so faithfully and so well”; and
Whereas, the Free Lance-Star did state in its editorial of January 16, 2003: “With Father Sydnor at its helm, St. George’s has done good for itself by doing good to others. Its retiring rector, who comes from a long line of Sunday-school teachers, has presented a 30-year lesson profitable to every church, and to every person, who will listen.”
Ending – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan 18-25, 2015
Theme for 2015:
Jesus said to her: "Give me to drink"
(John 4:7)
At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this special experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul.
The theme for the week of prayer in 2015 comes from the gospel of John: "Jesus said to her: ‘Give me to drink’". It was proposed by a group of Brazilian Christians called together by the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC). The biblical gesture of offering water to whomever arrives, as a way of welcoming and sharing, is something that is repeated in all regions of Brazil. The proposed study and meditation on the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at the well is to help people and communities to realize the dialogical dimension of the project of Jesus, which we call the Kingdom of God
Also this weekend: "Creating Common Good" Jan 22-24, Trinity Church, NY
This conference focuses on economic inequality. From the conference materials : "Our society is increasingly made up of have and have-nots, and this consistently widening gap represents a condition decried by the prophets, forcefully addressed by Jesus, and singled out by a number of contemporary voices in economics and public policy as a serious but correctable obstacle to human thriving. Many of us worry that we are complicit in a system that perpetuates economic inequality, and we feel uncomfortable and tense because this complicity goes against our deeply held Christian values about social justice."
"As Christians, we care deeply about social justice and know that the church can create change. But on a practical level, how do we take on the pervasive, overwhelming issue of economic inequality? This year’s Trinity Institute (TI2015) speakers have real-world experience making change happen. They will provide you with hopeful, practical tools you can use in your community to make a positive economic impact."
Speakers will include the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, authors Cornel West, Barbara Ehrenreich Juliet Schor and Robert Reich.
Much of the conference will be available on demand online within 2 hours after the conclusion of each event. The viewing schedule is here
UTO Grant application submitted by St. Peter’s is a winner with the Diocese
With the help of Cookie and Eunice and others, Catherine submitted a grant application to the Diocese for a $15,000 United Thank Offering (UTO) grant for the renovation of the Parish House kitchen this week. The grant would provide new cabinets, countertops and new appliances ( two refrigerators, dishwasher and ice maker) to further our outreach ministries.
"In recognizing the Five Marks of Mission, especially ‘to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation’, the United Thank Offering is seeking to address the current culture of violence by supporting the mission of peace as expressed in the Gospel. The Gospel of Love proclaimed by Jesus Christ is the focus for the United Thank Offering Grants during the 2014-2015 period."
After going head to head with 3 other applications, the committee selected St. Peter’s application for consideration by the national church. The Diocese UTO committee selects one application to forward to the national office of The Episcopal Church. Note this does not mean that the grant will be funded. We have moved to a higher level of competition. Still, it is a great honor.
The application’s rationale will be fine tuned with the Diocese and then sent. At that time we will publish the final grant.
The latest chapter in our food ministry provided 385 pounds of sphaghetti and other pasta, sauce, kleenix, onions, and oranges this past Wednesday. 21 bags of food were distributed feeding over 60 people in the community.
We had helpers beyond the ECW and the youth to broaden the support. Thanks to all.
Conversion of St. Paul, Jan 25 – in art and words
On January 25 we remember how Saul (or Paul) of Tarsus, formerly a persecutor of the early Christian Church, was led by God’s grace to become one of its chief spokesmen. Here are two art works that depict the event :
“The Conversion on the Way to "The Conversion of St. Paul"
Damascus” Caravaggio 1601 Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767
"and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. " Acts 9: 3-5
The Italian painter Caravaggio painted the one on the left in 1601 for the Cerasi Chapel of the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in Rome. The painting depicts the moment recounted in Chapter 9 of Acts of the Apostles when Saul, soon to be the apostle Paul, fell on the road to Damascus.
Caravaggio is close to the Bible. The horse is there and, to hold him, a groom, but the drama is internalized within the mind of Saul. There is no heavenly apparition. He lies on the ground stunned, his eyes closed as if dazzled by the light.
Caravaggio’s style featured a dark background with usually one point of breaking light. Paul is flung off of his horse and is seen on his back on the ground. Although Paul reflects the most light out of all the characters, the attention is given to him in a strange way. Because Paul is on the ground, he is much smaller than the horse, which is also at the center of the painting but he is pictured closer to the viewer.
The second painting constrast with Caravaggio in the use of color and light. This one has some of the most vibrant colors. Heaven’s light is shown coming dynamically from left to right. The painting is like the key frame in a movie on the conversion. At the time Lepicie was a professor at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris
Read more about Paul’s conversion…
Forward Movement, Feb-April, 2015
This is a notification that that Lenten issue for Feb., March and April, one of the most popular issues of this magazine, is now available on the back pew. The church subscribes to this publication for the parishioners.
Even those familiar with the publication may not be aware of the background of this organization. From their website: "Forward Movement, a ministry of the Episcopal Church, grew out of the determination of the General Convention in 1934 to counter a period of anxiety, distrust, and decline in the Episcopal Church with a "forward movement" charged to "reinvigorate the life of the church and to rehabilitate its general, diocesan, and parochial work…Since 1935, we have produced pamphlets, booklets, and books on topics such as prayer, liturgy, pastoral concerns, evangelism, stewardship, church history, and introductions to Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church."
On St. Peter’s frontpage on the left sidebar we also have a link to the daily "Day by Day reading they provide. A real treasure!
A Real Souper Bowl, Feb 1, 2015
"Souper Bowl of Caring" is an annual fundraising drive organized in partnership with the NFL. It focuses attention on the issues of hunger and poverty in our community and throughout the world. 140 million will tune into the big game but there are 50 million facing hungry.
It began 25 years ago with a simple prayer : “Lord as we enjoy the Super Bowl, help us to be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.” Souper Bowl evolved into a separate non-profit. During "Souper Bowl of Caring 2014", schools, faith-based organizations and service clubs throughout the United States raised over $10 million that was donated to local charities. Here is their video describing the movement.
St. Peter’s will participate this year, one of over 14,000 groups. We began in 2012. The money and food we collect stays local and benefits Caroline County since the proceeds will go to our Village Harvest Food ministry.
How did we do last year ?
We can exceed $200 and 70 food items in 2015. Please start now and collect food and/or save your dollars to contribute.
On Sunday Feb 1, 2015, please make a separate donation at the offertory (with “Souperbowl” in the memo line) or bring in some food for this worthy cause. For our February Village Harvest distribution, we’re collecting ingredients for chili, so please bring cans of kidney beans, or other type of beans, (you can also bring dried beans) and cans of tomatoes—diced, crushed.
The youth will also be collecting dollars in our pail outside at the conclusion of the service.
The benefits go beyond what you contribute. For every $1 donated, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank estimates we are able to distribute 4 meals to those in need.
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Candlemas, Monday evening, Feb 2, 7pm
“Today is a day of purification, renewal, and hope.”
Bring a candle on Monday night to be blessed in mass as we celebrate the festive Candlemas. We are inviting St. Asaph’s to this service.
Here is last year’s service
The Presentation of our Lord commemorates when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem where he was greeted by Simeon and Anna. By the Law every first born male was to be consecrated to the Lord.” This happened 40 days after his birth at Christmas.
It is a feast day though it does not often fall on a Sunday. Candlemas occurs at a period between the December solstice and the March equinox, so many people traditionally marked that time of the year as winter’s “halfway point” while waiting for the spring.
Candlemas is actually a very old feast, celebrated by both the churches of the East and the West, and in some places it is on this day that the creche is finally removed from the church. The passage from the words in this scripture are often part of Compline
According to some sources, Christians began Candlemas in Jerusalem as early as the fourth century and the lighting of candles began in the fifth century. The feast was observed on February 2 in regions where Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25. It is also Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada on February 2.
Candles are blessed on this day (hence the name “Candlemas”). It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them – so it was the Festival Day (or ‘mass’) of the Candles. Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was ‘in the dark’.
Pieces of these candles are considered of great efficacy in sickness, or otherwise. When a person is dying, a piece is put in his hand lighted, and thus he passes away in the belief that it may light him to Paradise.
Field trip, Feb. 9 – Exploring Mary through Art
On Monday, February 9th, we will take a field trip to the National Museum of Women in the Arts to see the exhibit, “Picturing Mary.” This exhibit of more than sixty works of images of the Virgin Mary, focuses on different aspects of Mary’s identity and her relationship to our Christian faith. Susan Tilt, professional artist, will lead our group through the exhibit. This is a wonderful opportunity not to be missed.
We will tour the exhibit and eat lunch either in the museum café or in a local restaurant. Admission to the museum is $10 for those under 65, $8 for students and those over 65. Youth 18 and under are free.
Please let Catherine know (540) 809-7489 or by email if you are interested in this fantastic/once in a lifetime opportunity. We have 6 people that have signed up. Please respond by Feb. 1 if you want to go and add your name to the list.
You can find more information about the exhibit at the museum website. We also have our own article here which appeared in an earlier email
Epiphany 3, Year B Lectionary Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015
I.Theme – Discipleship and change
"Christ Calling the Apostles Peter and Andrew" -Duccio, di Buoninsegna, d. 1319
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm – Psalm 62:6-14 Page 669, BCP
Epistle –1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Gospel – Mark 1:14-20
By Bruce Epperly – Process and Faith
"Today’s lectionary readings highlight change – divine and human. Many “orthodox” people see God as impassible – any possibility of change taints divine purity and holiness. What makes God is the absolute discontinuity between God and us: we wither and perish but God endures, always complete in knowledge and power. Before the earth was created, God determined everything without our consultation. Even our turning from evil – or refusal to follow God’s path – is somehow known in advance and since God’s knowledge is always active, determined in advance. Any change on God’s part, such “orthodoxy” maintains, would put in doubt God’s fidelity. But, such changeless visions of God are bought at a price – God is aloof from our world, insensitive to our pain, and – much worse – the likely source of the evils we experience.
"Jonah no doubt expected hell-fire and brimstone to rain down on Nineveh. He preached doom and gloom as the natural – or divinely ordained – consequence of their wickedness. I suspect Jonah believed that humans don’t change – once evil always evil, once corrupt always corrupt. Although the scripture telescopes this ancient story, the only words from Jonah’s mouth are “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Repentance and moral reformation aren’t even part of his message. But, the people change their ways, perhaps hoping to avert disaster. Regardless of their motivation, they are saved. As the story goes, because they change, “God changed God’s mind” and the city was spared.
"Two key theological points emerge. First, this passage describes the vision of a changing God, who not only calls but also responds. In the dance of relationship, when we change, God also changes. God is not bound by God’s past eternal or temporal decisions. God is free to act creatively in relationship to our creativity. Second, this vision begs the question: does God choose to destroy cities and nations, or is there a dynamic synergy of acts and consequences which leads to certain results to which even God must respond? The philosopher Alfred North Whitehead takes the latter viewpoint: God’s aim or vision for each moment is the “best for that impasse.”
"Always contextual, God’s movements in our lives respect our autonomy. Just as unbelief in Jesus’ hometown limits his healing power – he could no great work, but some small acts of transformation – our thoughts and actions shape and may limit the extent of God’s work in the world. Sometimes the best God can do in certain situations is to attempt to place boundaries on pain and evil-doing, rather than achieving something of great beauty. God never gives up – in relationship to Nineveh or us – but must respond creatively to our actions.
"The Psalm invites us to contemplate God’s faithfulness and loving power. When we pause amid the storm and stress of life, we will see a pattern of divine fidelity. The affairs of life are seen for what they are – temporary in light of God’s enduring love. This perspective enables us to be active in the world without becoming overly attached to the results of our actions. This enables us to be committed to justice without polarizing and to seek transformation without succumbing to the culture wars.
"The passage from I Corinthians highlights the perpetual perishing character of life. All flesh is grass. Only God endures. Accordingly, we must take our commitments seriously but not urgently. The key to a spiritually centered life is to affirm our current commitments, yet experience freedom in relationship to them. Relationships change and grow, mourning passes, possessions fade away, and rejoicing turns to sorrow. There is something Taoist about Paul’s words. When we experience the flow of life without clinging to what eventually passes, we experience the peace that passes all understanding.
"The Gospel reading describes Jesus’ inaugural message. “The realm of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.” Divine intimacy challenges us to change. In changing our ways, we open the door to hearing the good news. We believe ourselves into transformed actions and we act our way into transformed beliefs. The good news is that you can be changed – as Paul asserts in Romans 12:2, “be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
"Mark began his gospel with "the good news of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God," and now we hear Jesus’ version of just what that Good News is. The first disciples abandon their jobs and homes, their security to follow him.
"In the Epiphany season of divine revealing, we challenged to ask: Where do we need to be transformed? What changes do we and our institutions need to make to be faithful to God? We can change and in our changing, we are responding to God and enable God to do new and innovating things in our lives and the world."
Read more about the Lectionary…
How do we follow Jesus ? (Mark 1:14-20)
by David Lose, president of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
"So perhaps Mark’s message to those reading back in the first century – as well as to those of us following along in the twenty-first – was more about following Jesus in general than it was about any following him only by leaving everything to proclaim the coming kingdom of God. Except that we can never follow “in general.”
"We follow him in particular and distinct ways that may or may not be like the first disciples. And that, I think, is the point. Perhaps we follow by becoming a teacher. Perhaps we follow by volunteering at the senior center. Perhaps we follow by looking out for those in our schools who always seem on the outside and invite them in. Perhaps we follow by doing a job we lonbsp;ve as best we can to help others. Perhaps we follow by doing a job we hate but contributes to supporting our family and helping others. Perhaps we follow by being generous with our wealth and with our time. Perhaps we follow by listening to those around us and responding with encouragement and care. Perhaps we follow by caring for an aging parent, or special needs child, or someone else who needs our care. Perhaps we follow by….
Discovering New Worlds: Mark 1:14
By Lawrence
Here in v14 is the Man and his Message – his Gospel. This is a summary statement of Jesus’ message: “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Good News!”
We have already been given strong hints that the Kingdom of God is something that is going to cause huge ructions. This is a message of confrontation between the powers of Imperial Rome and the religious authority of the Temple and its leaders. This isn’t a message that will be received with the enthusiasm that Nineveh showed! The message of the Kingdom will set Jesus and those who respond on a collision course with those who will oppose it. It is the beginning of a life and death struggle.
This is not a message to be assimilated quietly and easily. To “repent and believe” requires a fundamental reorientation and the embracing of a whole new set of values and norms. It will change forever the way in which those who respond – the disciples – will view the world and live in it. It is a call to take up the Struggle against the Strong Man and all the powers that hold the world and its people captive – demons, sickness, hatred, discrimination, political and religious authorities.
Mark’s Gospel, Movie Connection – "Monuments Men"
"Just as Jesus gathers and sends his disciples on a mission, so are a group of soldiers sent out in the fine war film Monuments Men, this time not to destroy but to save art treasures before the Nazis can destroy them." Ed McNulty, Visual Parables.
Instead of 12 disciples there are 8 men but they are given the mission to save and preserve, not souls but priceless pieces of art during World War II that the Nazis are likely to destroy. Like the Gospel of Mark there is a sense of urgency and of course for both the disciples and these soldiers face real danger.
Old Testament – Free Speech, Big Fish, and Calls from God (Jonah 3: 1-5, 10)
From ON Scripture – Odyssey Netork
by Rev. Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman
The Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris last week was an act of absolute evil. The fact that people sitting down for a simple editorial meeting at their work site could be killed due to hate is disturbing beyond words. It is a tragedy for all involved – for those killed, for the family and friends of those killed inside of the Charlie Hebdo headquarters, for the officer killed on the street outside, and for those involved in the hostage situations as the perpetrators were tracked down. It is also a tragedy for Muslims, Christians, Jews and others who often find themselves being impacted by radical fringe elements who often do not represent the basic tenants of their faith or beliefs.
It can be so hard to watch these violent terrorist events unfold around the world. And we often try to explain them way too quickly. In this instance, some immediately blamed all Muslims for the attacks. Others immediately chastised the editorial decisions of Charlie Hebdo and the cartoons this satirical magazine has published of the Prophet Mohammed. Still others protest that this is a “simple” free speech situation. They say that the cartoons posted by Charlie Hebdo were satire but harmless and that the attackers were trying to silence them.
But free speech is an interesting and complicated thing. The question is often about the limits of free speech.