Parish Post, Jan., 2011

Parish Post, Jan., 2011

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Parish Post, January 2011   

The Season of Epiphany

In January, we enter the season of Epiphany full of the joys that we have experienced during the Christmas season as we have received the gift of the Word made flesh, God with us here and now as an incarnate human being in our midst. 

Epiphany is the season of light, the season in which we see who God is through the life and actions of Jesus himself.  God is loose among us, bringing light and life into the world.  Our task during Epiphany is to seek this Jesus as the wise men did, to walk in his light, and to do our parts to carry God’s light and joy into our dark and weary world. 

Epiphany is also the season in which we remember not only the baptism of Jesus, but we also recall our own baptisms, and renew our baptismal covenants.  The baptismal covenant reminds us of who we are as the Body of Christ. 

We are blessed by one another.

Christianity is all about community.  The baptismal covenant reminds us that we at St Peter’s are the community of people that God has gathered together in this place to share learning and wisdom, fellowship, the joy and privilege of worship and the blessing of praying together for and with one another, not only for ourselves, but for the church universal and for all of the world.

Our St Peter’s  community, as is every Christian community, is unique—a particular collection of people that God has brought together  to help one another to resist evil, and to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ.

Our particular task is to seek and serve Christ in one another, loving one another as we love ourselves.  If we can manage to seek and serve God in one another within this Christian community, we will be able to help one another to carry God’s light and joy into the world.

We want others to be able to look at us and see God’s light spilling out!  We want others to know that we are Christians by our love and care for one another, love and care that pour out of St Peter’s into the world as we “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”

So in this season of Epiphany we will travel together, walking in the light of God, intentionally doing all in our power to support one another in our lives in Christ, with God’s help. 

Congregational Meeting and Vestry Elections

Our congregational meeting and vestry elections will occur in January.   The congregational meeting gives us a chance to reflect on how we at St Peter’s have carried out God’s work in the world in the past year.

Vestry elections provide an opportunity for two people to be elected to serve God and St Peter’s as Vestry members for the next three years.  Please remember that Vestry service is only one of the many ways in which God calls us to serve, and that God is calling every one of us carry God’s light into the world in a variety of ways, whether we end up serving on the Vestry or whether we serve God through the church through some other particular ministry.   

People who want to serve as Vestry members should consider the following responsibilities of Vestry members for 2011.  Please contact Catherine Hicks if you have any questions about the following expectations of Vestry members. 

First of all, plan to attend each monthly Vestry meeting, and come prepared for the meeting by having read any material sent out ahead of time.

Second, Vestry members will be taking the Meyers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator.  This instrument helps people understand how they perceive the world around them and make decisions.  Groups who understand and appreciate one another’s personality types are able to work together effectively because they have understanding and compassion for one another’s similarities and differences.  This test has been used ever since World War II, when it was first developed.  It is the world’s most widely used personality assessment.  

Third, we will have a planning retreat, which will be held on a convenient date early in the new Vestry year.   At this retreat we will discuss how we can best work together in light of the Meyers-Briggs results.  We will also spend some time looking at 2011 and planning ahead, considering how we can work together to make this year one in which we have many opportunities as a Vestry to help our church to work together effectively as a community. 

Fourth, please remember that Vestry members set an example for the rest of our community by participating on a regular basis in worship, meetings, and programs and events that occur at St Peter’s throughout the year.  In addition, Vestry members set an example by consistently supporting the work of God in the world through financial support to St Peter’s. 

Fifth, Vestry members should be familiar with the Canons of the Diocese of Virginia.  Copies of the Canon will be provided to each Vestry member, and each elected member of the Vestry will subscribe to the following declaration.  “I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do yield my hearty assent and approbation to the doctrines, worship and discipline of The Episcopal Church; and I promise that I will faithfully execute the office of Vestry member of St Peter’s Church in Region I in Port Royal, according to my best knowledge and skill.”

The Tuesday Night Book Group will resume on Tuesday, January 11^th, at 7PM.  The book group meets every other Tuesday night in the Parish House.   We are planning to finish reading our current book, The Good and Beautiful God:  Falling in Love with The God Jesus Knows  this month and then we will be choosing a new book to read. Please come join us! For more information, please contact Catherine Hicks.

The  Ecumenical Midweek Bible Study, which meets every Wednesday from 10AM until noon,  resumes on Wednesday, January 5^th in the Parish House.   We are currently studying the Gospel  according to Matthew.  In our lectionary calendar, we are in Year A, and so most of our gospel readings during this church year will be from the Gospel according to Matthew.    This in-depth study of the gospel helps us to understand how this gospel is shaped by the prophesies and writings from the Old Testament.   Come join our lively discussions! 

Sunday morning Adult Ed resumes on January 9^th  at 10 AM in the Parish House.  We will be studying the first twelve chapters of the prophet Isaiah, known as First Isaiah.   So, what’s a 8^th BC prophet have to do with people living in the 21^st century?  Plenty!  The prophet Isaiah wrote in a time of foreign intrigue and unrest.  The book deals with basic religious issues- issues of idolatry, the problem of trying to follow the direction of God and to seek the benefits of a righteous way of life in spite of the fact that our actions deviate from God’s teaching.   During the lectionary cycle of Year A we hear readings from Isaiah as the Old Testament readings for the next several weeks in our Sunday morning worship.    Outside of the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah, Isaiah is the most quoted of all of the remaining books of the Hebrew Bible, so join us beginning Jan 9 for an exploration of this important latter prophet.

A Note of Thanks from Catherine

I am so grateful to all of you for your support of my ordination into the Sacred Order of Priests on Saturday, December 11, 2010.  I was richly blessed to have so many of you attend the ordination service, taking time out of your busy schedules to make the journey to Richmond.  Those of us who were there felt the prayers of those who could not attend but took time to pray that day at the time of the ordination.  I would like to thank Elizabeth Heimbach for serving as one of my presenters at the ordination and Terri Harrison who carried our beautiful banner in the procession.    I am also very grateful that members of St Peter’s, especially Cookie Davis and Cindy Fields, along with members of  St George’s,  prepared  a  wonderful reception after the ordination on Saturday. I also deeply appreciated the reception that the Vestry of St Peter’s provided on Sunday following my first service as a priest.  The stole and the pectoral cross that you all gave me are beautiful and I am looking forward to wearing both the stole and the cross often as I carry out my calling as a priest.  I am so blessed to be with you all at St Peter’s, and I’m looking forward to all that we are going to do to serve God as a community in our time together.   I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to serve in your midst. 

Peace and love to you all,   Catherine

A  New Year !!

 

These past weeks we have been celebrating the birth of Jesus, God’s greatest gift to us. He sent His Son to be with us, to heal us, to teach us, and to die and be resurrected for us so that we can have eternal life. This gift is overwhelming! As stewards of the Good News of this gift, we share it through example and teaching.

The dictionary says that a steward is completely, but temporarily, responsible for valuables belonging to someone else. A Christian Steward is completely, but temporarily, responsible for God’s Gifts. The sharing and giving back of some of His gifts can only be voluntary. It is up to you how you will share with others your gifts from God. One way is to share some of

your time, talent and treasures with St. Peter’s and the church’s outreach programs.

While we are welcoming in the new year we frequently give some thought to making New Year’s resolutions. As your Stewardship Chairman permit me to suggest the following. “Resolve to be a Steward of the Good News and of God’s other gifts, especially the gifts of time,talent and treasures.”   

Reminder of Tax Rules for Charitable Deductions

For a tax deduction for any cash donation to a charity IRS requires identification of the charity, the date of the contribution, and the amount. For donations under $250 written records in the form of a cancelled check, or bank statement, or a written communication (a receipt or letter) from the charity is required. For donations over $250 the written record must be a written communication from the charity.

As in the past, if your total contribution for the year is greater than $250, a tax receipt letter from the church will be sent stating the total amount contributed as well as providing information on contributions of $250 or more. If you would like a receipt for contributions under $250 please advise the Treasurer.

Please note that the tax receipt letter does not include loose offerings, contributions to ECW, UTO and non-cash gifts and if you would like a receipt you must request a receipt in advance.

Thank You,

Clarence Kunstmann

Treasurer

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR ST. JUDES

Joan reminds us to bring old cards for St. Judes.  She will mail them off. 

Leave on back pew!

2011 Village Dinners begin on January 5^th  

Menu:  Baked Spaghetti, tossed salad and Lemon Lush      Yum! Yum! 

2011 Altar Duty Schedule

January:  Vivian and Joan

February:  Cindy and Betty 

March:  Marilyn  and Susa

2011 Coffee Hour 

January:  the Longs at Home

February:  Mary Ann Betchy, Barbara Wisdom, Catherine Hicks

March:  Joan Poland, Barbara Segar, Virginia Bowen

Happy New Year 2011

In the new year,

Take time to be quiet; It is the opportunity to seek God

Take time to be aware; It is the opportunity to help others.

Take time to love and be loved; It is God’s greatest gift.

Take time to laugh; It is the music of the soul.

Take time to dream; It is what the future is made of.

Take time to pray; It is the greatest power on earth.       Anonymous