January Spire

Q&A about St. Peter's property; interim music director appointed; march on MLK Day

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Music in Motion: An Update

By the Rev. Ledlie I. Laughlin

With the announcement last month that Music Director Peter Hopkins and Principal Organist Paula Pugh Romanaux will be leaving St. Peter’s for a new position in Virginia, several steps are underway for a smooth transition.

1) There will be a farewell celebration for Peter and Paula on Sunday, January 18, in the church. All choirs will sing at the 11 a.m. service. Join us immediately after the service for a farewell party.

2) I am very pleased to announce that Mr. Bruce J. Barber, II, has accepted my invitation to serve as full-time Interim Music Director. Since 2004, Mr. Barber has served as the Director of Cathedral Music at St. James Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago. Learn more about Mr. Barber.

3) I have appointed a task force to assist in searching for and selecting a new musician or musicians to lead our worship, choirs, and music ministry in the future. In coordination with the Vestry’s “The Way Forward: Planning St. Peter’s Future,” the Task Force’s first responsibility will be to assess our current music ministry and articulate a future vision and objectives. Your input is essential. Join us for the previously scheduled “Way Forward” discussion on Worship and Music – Sunday, January 11, at 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Learn more about the task force.

The History of St. Peter's Property

As we continue to discern God’s call in our lives and cast a vision for the future ministry of Saint Peter’s, we are considering the resources entrusted to our care. As discussed in our Congregational Conversations last summer and presented at our Fall Parish Gathering in October, the Vestry is assessing the feasibility of constructing a new building.

Below is a link to a Q&A, which explains the history of the property and its ownership, the relationship between the church and school, and the next steps that we are taking in determining the feasibility of constructing a new building. There are also photos and maps showing the property dating back as early as 1858 (the photo below shows the corner of Third and Lombard Streets in 1911). Special thanks to vestry member and real estate attorney Gregory Duffy for compiling the following information.

~ The Rev. Ledlie I. Laughlin, for the Vestry

Click here to read the St. Peter's property Q&A

I hope you will join us at the Annual Parish Meeting after the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, January 25, for another update on this endeavor.

St. Peter's to Support Food Cupboards

By the Rev. Claire Nevin-Field

As you know, we have long talked about ways to expand our impact in addressing hunger in Philadelphia. Christine Neville and I have been exploring potential partnerships with other churches or organizations as well as a mobile food truck. We have a concrete proposal for a mobile food truck and will proceed with this project only if we can bring in enough grant money to fund it.

We have been in conversation with two churches; the Free Church of St. John in Kensington and St. Gabriel’s in Logan/Olney/Feltonville, and also with St. Barnabas’ Mission, an Episcopal Community Services shelter for women and children. Thanks to significant grant money last year and decreased food costs this year, we have about $10,000 that we can use to establish or support partner programs. Bearing that in mind, I am pleased to report that we are ready to go with the Free Church of St. John and with St. Barnabas and are deep in talks with St. Gabriel’s. Read more on the Open Minds blog.

Children and Families at the Epiphany

By the Rev. Claire Nevin-Field

The season of Epiphany begins on January 6 and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. On The Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, we remember the visit of the three kings (Magi, el Dia de los Tres Reyes, la fiesta de Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos) to the Holy Family in Bethlehem. This day brings an end to the Christmas season. It is sometimes called Twelfth Night. In many cultures, this day is a very festive day, even replacing Christmas Day as the major gift-giving day.

One custom associated with Epiphany is called “chalking the door”- it is a way of asking for and symbolizing God’s blessing on our homes for the new year. Here is a brief service you can do at home- all you need is a piece of chalk and a door frame! Read more on the Open Minds blog.

A Day of Action, Resistance and Empowerment

Provided by Barbara Tobin

On Sunday, January 19, POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild) will co-sponsor a massive march with a broad-based coalition of allies to call for racial justice in Philadelphia. The MLK “D.A.R.E” march will start with a rally at 440 N. Broad St at 1:30 p.m. (march begins at 2 p.m.) and end at Independence Hall.

A group from St. Peter's Church will meet at the clothespin statue at 15th and Market Streets at 1:30 p.m. and walk to the rally together.

Click here for more details about the march.

On Sunday December 7, seven parishioners from St. Peter’s Church participated in the “die in” protesting racism at Broad and Pattison Streets organized by POWER. We joined about 200 other witnesses from faith communities all over the city. It was a moving and energizing event.

With encouragement from POWER, City Council unanimously passed labor peace legislation ensuring that airport and hotel workers can organize for better working conditions. This is one of the original principles POWER set out to win in 2012. Now, workers have to fight to receive the wage raise that won in the referendum in the May election.

Interested in getting more involved in POWER? There will be a two-part training session on January 14-15. Learn more here.

What's Going On

Annual Parish Meeting

12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 25
St. Peter's School Auditorium

Everyone is invited to the State of the Parish report from the rector, wardens and vestry. The 2014 and 2015 budgets will be presented, vestry members will be elected, and parishioners will be thanked for extraordinary effort this past year. Lunch is provided.

Farewell Party for Peter and Paula

12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 18

January 18 will be our final Sunday with Music Director Peter Hopkins and Principal Organist Paula Pugh Romanaux before they move to Virginia. The choirs will sing at the 11 a.m. service, and there will be an all-parish party to wish them well afterward.

The Way Forward Meetings

10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11
St. Peter's Parish House

Join us for a conversation about St. Peter's ministries of worship and music. At these meetings, we will ask “what is working well?” and “what do you envision for the future?” The gatherings will be held in the parlor at 313 Pine Street (part of The Way Forward planning process). If you are you planning to attend, please call 215-925-5968 or email Lauri at cielo@stpetersphila.org to let us know.

Upcoming Events

Book Group
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 6

TNT Brews & Beliefs
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 7

The Way Forward Meetings: Worship and Music
10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11

Faith Matters
10 a.m. Sunday, January 11

On Being
12:15 p.m. Sunday, January 11

St. Peter's Round Table
12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11

Youth Group
12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11

Knitting Group
5 p.m. Tuesday, January 13

Training on Faith, Race and Power
6-9 p.m. January 14-15

Faith Matters
10 a.m. Sunday, January 18

Farewell Party for Peter and Paula
12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 18

A Day of Action, Resistance and Empowerment
1:30 p.m. Monday, January 19

Sages
12:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 21

Faith Matters
10 a.m. Sunday, January 25

Annual Parish Meeting
12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 25

Click here to view all the events in the month of January

Announcements

Foundations of Discipleship

The Saint Peter’s community invites everyone to grow in a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Our journey in discipleship is the way to discern our gifts and put our faith into practice. Foundations of Discipleship is an opportunity to reflect upon where we are in this journey with Christ and with one another. During eight sessions together we will read Scripture, prepare a spiritual autobiography, and discuss our own experience. What’s more, we’ll build a small group of twelve or so people who grow together in trust.

Click here to learn more about the Foundations of Discipleship. Space is limited; to participate, you must sign up; contact Ledlie.

Survey of St. Peter's Archives

St. Peter's Church recently welcomed two archivists from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to survey and assess our archival collection. The archivists will create a summary finding aid for the church, which will be posted in an online and publicly accessible database developed by the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL). The visiting archivists said our church archives are wonderfully cared for and organized--thanks to the hard work of Nancy Fago, Cynthia Eiseman and Marsha Rogers.

You can read a blog post about their visit here.

Baptism Dates

Holy Baptism will be celebrated on January 11, April 19 and May 24. Contact Ledlie or Claire if you seek to be baptized.

Rites of Initiation

Adults and teens who seek to be Baptized, Confirmed, become Episcopalian (i.e., be “Received” from another Christian denomination), or Reaffirm Baptismal Vows will have an opportunity to do so when the bishop visits on April 19. Foundations of Discipleship and Episcopal Way each serve as preparation; contact Ledlie or Claire.

Wednesday Evening Meditation~ Now Followed by Conversation

If you are seeking some inner stillness and peace, join us for silent meditation at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Guidance provided. On the first Wednesday of each month, our silent prayer is followed by a time of open conversation. Meditation will be held in Ledlie’s office at St. Peter’s House, 313 Pine Street. Contact Ledlie for more information.

A Weekend of Silence at a Monastery

Experience the power of silent prayer during the coming season of Lent. Join Ledlie and others March 6-8 at beautiful Holy Cross Monastery, located three and a half hours from Philadelphia on the banks of the Hudson River. We will carpool or rent a van. Cost: $240 plus travel; “scholarships” available. Learn more here.

Thank You:

Anne Eiswerth for help with Christmas mailing
Nancy Fago for helping with the appraisal of St. Peter's property
Tim Bulat for overseeing the appraisal of St. Peter's property
Gail & Henry Hauptfuhrer, Mark Randall, Wendy Newlon, Jay Newlin, Laura Lane, and Leslie Ross for greening the church
Doug Schaller and Janet Plosser for hosting the reception following Lessons and Carols.
Danny Alvarado for being the crucifer at Lessons and Carols
Janine Utell, Jill Minick, Sadie Nevin, Cordelia Biddle, Connie Moore, Jen Childs, and Jonathan Miller for reading at Lessons and Carols
Jen Childs and Scott Greer for stepping up and taking over the direction of the children's pageant on Christmas Eve
Joe Schaller for celebrating on Christmas Eve
Walt Peters for sharing his faith story
Wendy Newlon for helping to organize the neighborhood Christmas caroling
Dick Ullman for celebrating and preaching Christmas Day and December 28
Judith Lewis for teaching church school. Caroline West, Ashley Tobin, Erica Nelson, Lisa DiCicco, Lisa Hardy, and Elisabeth Blum for assisting with Church School in the fall
The many, many parishioners who have made a financial pledge for 2015

Welcome Recent Visitors:

Patty Bebee-Wilson and Scott Wilson; Dominic DiTullio; Joe McAffrey; Nora Johnson with Isaiah; Jon Simmons and Rachel Washburn; Matthew Kay; Shaun Latshaw; Richard and Lisa Woolbert with Richard and Megan; Seane Donaghue

Birthdays:

Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays in January:
1 - Hildegard Kent
3 - Kitty Holder
7 - Parker Betten
8 - David Richards
10 - Sarah Blizzard
12 - Barbara Elliott
13 - Elizabeth DiPentino
16 - Eric DeBaun
19 - Katy Schatz
19 - Sophia McClendon
19 - Griffin Gardner-Kratz
19 - Peter Benjamin Duffy
20 - Silas Grasse
22 - Nell Hornsby
23 - Bill Brady
23 - Nancy Fago
23 - Conrad Nelson
26 - Analise Di Cicco
27 - Fred Shindle
27 - Max Julyan
28 - Ejner Jensen

Did we miss your birthday? Email Kate Randall to add your birthday to the list.

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St. Peter's is a church on a mission: To know the transforming power of God's love and to make God's love known to others.

Copyright © 2015 St. Peter's Church, All rights reserved.

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