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, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do. We welcome all people to our church.
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
The expansive Rappahannock River behind St. Peter’s
Feb. 13 – 11:00am, Morning Prayer, Zoom only – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
Feb. 13 – 7:00pm, Compline on Zoom – Join here at 6:30pm for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID: 878 7167 9302 Passcode: 729195
Feb. 14 – 6:30am – Be Still Meditation group in a 20 minute time of prayer Meeting ID: 879 8071 6417
Passcode: 790929
Feb. 15 – 7:00pm – Preparing Your Legacy With Leigh Frackelton, Jr., Estate Planning. Meeting ID: 821 8558 7210 Passcode: 957811
Bible Study 10am-12pm on Wed. Feb.
Feb. 16 – 3pm-5pm, Village Harvest
If you would like to volunteer, please email Andrea or call (540) 847-9002. Pack bags for distribution 1-3PM Deliver food to client’s cars 3-5PM.
This week – Luke’s Beatitudes
There are two Beatitudes in the Bible, Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23 which is in the lectionary for Feb. 17. Both are similar in that they contain a guide for the conduct of the disciples on this earth. Of these shared beatitudes, Luke has written the equivalent of Matthew’s first, fourth, second and ninth beatitudes, in that order.
Similarities. Here is a beatitudes comparison using a table of the two accounts
1 Poor –. Matthew “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and Luke “Blessed are you who are poor.” They will inherit the Kingdome of Heaven (Matthew) or God (Luke” Luke’s account contains some woes – “But woe to you who are rich,for you have received your consolation.”
2 Hungry – Matthew “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and Luke “Blessed are you who are hungry”. In both cases you will be filled. The rejoinder from Luke – “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry
3 Hate/Persecution – Matthew “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” And Luke “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.” In both cases your reward is in heaven. Luke’s “woe” – Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
Read more..A Powerpoint look at the Beatitudes
Preparing Your Legacy concludes this week, Feb 15, 7pm
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 7PM Estate Planning
Leigh Frackelton, Jr., Attorney
Leigh’s law practice focuses exclusively in the areas of wills, trusts, estate administration and taxation. Leigh graduated in 1974 from Washington and Lee University where he majored in History. He earned his law degree in 1977 from T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond and then went on to William and Mary where he earned a Master of Law in Taxation in 1978. He passed the Virginia CPA exam in 1989. After finishing his formal education in 1978, Leigh began the practice of law in Fredericksburg. From 1986 until 2021, Leigh taught full time at the University of Mary Washington and is currently a Professor Emeritus in the College of Business. He currently practices law at Parrish, Snead, Franklin, Simpson, PLC in Fredericksburg, VA.
Bless a nurse at Mary Washington Hospital – contribute to the Blessing Cart
The chaplains at MWH have created a “blessing cart” for the nurses. They are collecting individually wrapped treats–energy bars, candy, mini-muffins, etc., and bottled Gatorade and water.
The collection ends on Sunday, Feb. 13
The Sacred Ground Scholarship.A scholarship fund has been established which will help minority students pay for education after high school. Contribute by donating to St Peter’s and put “Sacred Ground Scholarship” on the memo line
Celebrating the lives of Absalom Jones and Abraham Lincoln this week
Absalom Jones died this week in 1818 not only the first trained black minister in any denomination but the first black minister ordained into the Episcopal Church and the first to create a Black religious organization in Philadelphia. More information is here
Abraham Lincoln was born this week, 210 years ago. What was his relationship to the Episcopal Church ? No he wasn’t a member but attended St. John’s Episcopal during his years in Washington, just across from the White House. He also made time with Bishop Whipple, first Episcopal Bishop in Minn. 300 Indians has been sentenced to death in the Dakota Indian Wards. Lincoln made the decision to reduce the number to 38. Was it related to Bishop Whipple’s influence ? The historian of the event writes “it is difficult to imagine that Whipple’s visit did not count in the president’s decision.” Read the entire story on “Lincoln’s Bishop”
Lectionary, Feb. 20, 2022, 7th Sunday after the Epiphany
I. Theme – Love Your Enemy
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Psalm – Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42
Epistle – 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50
Gospel – Luke 6:27-38
The main idea this week is that of loving your enemy. The Joseph story gives a wonderful example of how Joseph was able to forgive his brothers, despite all they had done to him so many years before. Telling that story afresh and tying it up to Jesus’ words could be very powerful. The Psalm is a salutary reminder that evil is temporary and death is the great leveler. We need to get our attitude right if we are not going to be embittered or cynical.
That begins with God and when we reaffirm our trust in God then we can dare to engage in the adventure of faith both by living right and loving our enemies. It may have been a journey such as the Psalmist describes that took Joseph on a journey from hate to love.
The teaching of Jesus in Luke gives some concrete examples that we can
easily understand but that makes them also harder to run away from.
Read the Book of Exodus during Epiphany
The second book of the Bible, Exodus recounts the journey of the Israelites from slavery to freedom. We hear the great stories of Moses, from his discovery by Pharoah’s daughter on the bank of the river to the burning bush to his presentation of the Ten Commandments. Along the way, we encounter God’s covenant and explore the grand theme of redemption.
This year, we have a bonus time of scripture engagement: the Good Book Club will dive into the first twenty chapters of Exodus from Epiphany, January 6, to Shrove Tuesday, March 1. For those who want to keep reading, we’ll offer a daily reading guide and an overview of the second half of Exodus. That reading period will conclude on Easter.
Bishop Curry has written, “You can’t read the Book of Exodus without being stirred by the theme of the liberation of people. ”
Links
1. Get Involved
2. The Readings
4. Exodus articles from Covenant
Make a Gift Today! 2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 4. Server Schedule Feb., 2022 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Feb, 2022) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Feb. 13, 2021 11:00am), and Sermon (Feb. 13, 2022) 10. Recent Services: The third Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 23, The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 30, The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 6, |
Block Print by Mike Newman
Projects
3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
Knowing that not everyone prays at the same pace, you have control over the pace of the retreat. After each screen, a Continue button will appear. Click it when you are ready to move on. If you are new to online prayer, the basic timing of the screens will guide you through the experience.
Daily meditations in words and music.
Your daily prayer online, since 1999
“We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance.”
Saints of the Week, Feb. 13- Feb. 20, 2022
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13
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Absalom Jones, Priest, 1818 |
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14
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Cyril & Methodius, Missionaries, 869, 885 |
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15
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Thomas Bray, Priest and Missionary, 1730 |
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16
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Charles Todd Quintard, Bishop, 1898 |
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17
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Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda & Martyr, 1977 |
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18
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Martin Luther, 1546 |
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19
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[Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, & Lucy Yi Zhenmei], Catechists and Martyrs, 1856, 1858,& 1862 |
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20
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[Frederick Douglass], Social Reformer, 1895 |