November Spire

We Need a Little Advent; Lights of Christmas Show; Alternative Giving; Lessons & Carols

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At 10 a.m. this Thursday, all are welcome to join the Rev. Claire Nevin-Field at St. Peter’s Church for a 20-minute service of Thanksgiving Morning Prayer.

We Need a Little Advent

One of those (to me) annoying “Christmas” songs we hear on the radio a lot this time of year is “We all need a little Christmas, right this very minute.” To which I want to respond, what we all need is a little Advent. Not because I am channeling my inner Scrooge and am anti-Christmas, far from it. But because what we desperately need before we can greet the coming of the Christ into the world, into our hearts and lives, is a time of reflection and preparation. A time of waiting, examining our lives as individuals and our common life together, and making room within us for God to be born again.

The roots of Advent, as Gayle Boss writes in All Creation Waits, run deep under the Christian church. They are found in the earth and its seasons. In the northern hemisphere, Advent happened after the harvest had been brought in and after the people have heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that their labor had paid off and they had food for the winter. Feast! Was their cry. And yet, and yet, the days were getting shorter and shorter. Darkness seemed to settle in and the warmth of the sun faded from the land. They became anxious, their bodies asking whether the sun and warmth would return. They were reminded how little of life was in their control.

And so, in Advent, we are reminded in our readings in church how little we control, we are reminded that, at some time unknown, the ebb and flow of life will end. And in the middle of this season of darkness, when it would be so easy to feel hopeless, the church raises its voice and sings “O Come O Come Emmanuel”. The church proclaims the One who came, comes now, and is coming. We proclaim the One who is with us in darkness and in death, the One who is new beginning, who is light and life. The One who is God’s response to a world of suffering, the One who is God’s justice, love, and mercy, enfleshed and loose in the world.

My Advent prayer for you is a season of holy reflection, of sure and certain hope in the darkness. And may each of you, having prepared yourself as a home for the Christ child, greet the light of Christ’s dawning with deep abiding joy.

Peace,
Claire+

Lights of Christmas

5-7 p.m. December 18 through 31

This December, St. Peter's Church will host an outdoor light show called "Lights of Christmas" in the churchyard at the corner of Third and Pine Streets. The free 10-minute show, open to the public, will play each evening from December 18 through December 31. The show will begin at 5 p.m. and will run every 15 minutes through 7 p.m.

We will have a blessing of the lights at the premiere show on Sunday, December 18. The blessing will happen at 4:45 p.m., and the show will begin at 5.

The centerpiece of the show is a telling of the nativity story by parishioner Jen Childs, along with a 6-foot-tall multi-color LED-lit nativity. More than 2,000 LED lights, including 12-foot-tall Christmas trees topped with stars, will twinkle synchronized to “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Joy to the World,” and other familiar carols recorded on the St. Peter’s Church’s E.M. Skinner organ.

We hope that this show will introduce more families, neighbors, and passers-by to St. Peter's Church during the Advent and Christmas seasons, and in the new year.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

4 p.m. Sunday, December 11

Begin your Advent journey and preparation for Christmas by inviting family and friends to attend a Festival of Lessons and Carols at Saint Peter's Church on Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m.! The service includes lessons and prayers focusing on the history of our salvation, beginning with the creation story and concluding with an announcement of Christ's coming birth. Music sung by Saint Peter's Choir of Boys, Girls and Adults and the congregation alternates with corresponding lessons in the candlelit space of Saint Peter's Church.

Mobile Food Cupboard

St. Peter's new mobile Food Cupboard made its first deliveries on October 29 and November 19. If you'd like to volunteer to help with the next delivery from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, December 17 (or future deliveries January 21 & 28 and February 4, 18 & 25), please contact Kat Dunne, our Food Cupboard manager, at foodcupboard@stpetersphila.org. We are partnering with St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in North Philadelphia) and St. Simon the Cyrenian in Point Breeze.

Alternative Giving Starts Sunday

St. Peter's Alternative Giving program kicks off on Sunday, November 27 and continues through Sunday, December 18. After the 11 a.m. service, you will be able to support one of St. Peter's outreach ministries by purchasing a gift in honor of a loved one.

Rather than give Aunt Bertha a sweater, give her a donation to the St. Peter's Food Cupboard or a contribution to our choir outreach activities. You will receive a beautiful card to send to your loved one letting them know what has been given in their name. Starting on Sunday, December 4, you can also pick up the book "St. Peter's Church: Faith in Action for 250 Years" for a $20 suggested donation to the St. Peter's History Committee. Look for the table at coffee hour after the 11 a.m. services.

Giving Thanks for Your Support of St. Peter's Church

Once again, the parishioners of St. Peter's Church have been generous during our Giving in Gratitude stewardship campaign. Of those parishioners who have pledged thus far:

53% have increased their pledge
Average amount is up 11%
7% of pledges are new

If you have sent in your pledge, THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

If you haven’t, please take this opportunity to make your pledge now. Just click here for our online pledge card. Or, if you have misplaced the pledge card we sent in the mail, then please call Kate at 215-925-5968 and she will send you another card.

History Insights: Osage Orange Connections

This article was submitted by Libby Browne, of St. Peter's History Committee

Along the southeast side of the churchyard there stand four Osage orange trees with an intriguing history and connections to Nicholas Biddle, one of the most historic Americans buried in our yard, very near these trees.

In 1803, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the Louisiana Territory which had recently been purchased from soon-to-be Emperor Napoleon I of France. Here was this vast tract of land which virtually doubled the size of the young United States, and we knew very little about it. Read more>>

Announcements

Welcome Recent Visitors:

Jennifer & Julia Dodd; Becky Kauffman; Caroline Slingluff; Eric & Bonnie Wyatt; Siddesh R. Jaadhav; Acacia Pappas; Kristen Foote; Sara Gladney; Lynn McCormick

Annual Christmas Gift Drive

This season we will be collecting Target gift cards ($25 suggested amount) and gender-neutral warm weather gear for middle school children (hats, gloves, and scarves) to support the Episcopal Community Services Gift Drive. ECS is also looking for a used, good condition violin for a child. Please drop off gifts at the church through December 11.

Christmas Memorials

Remember loved ones and offer special thanks by making a donation to the Music program at Christmas. You can drop a check in the alms basin on Sunday or put in the mail to 313 Pine.

Welcomed on October 16:

Carmen Carrozza; James Cottone & Acacia Pappas; Danielle DeFassio; Kat Christian McGhee; Christina Miller; Allison Phillips

Congratulations:

Lindsay Krieg & Jared Cram who were married October 22.

Thank You:

Vincent DiPentino for finding the van for the Food Cupboard.
The summertime gate lockers who allow us to keep the churchyard open later for all to enjoy. They are: Jeff Berry, Sue Dudkin, Gaylord Holder, Melissa Lewis, David Richards, Thomas Ippolito, Leslie & Peter Ross.
Peggy Hatch & Leslie Ross for decorating the church for the Season of Creation
Christy Santos for hosting the October Supper & Scripture
Ray Mohr, Dale McClendon, Cecilia Wagner & Dan Hart for planning and helping with the parish lunch on October 23.
Paul & Jill Minick for cleaning out the bier shed and taking away the hazardous materials
Pat Fusco and Nancy Fago for baking the Communion bread
Kat and Stephen Dunne for hosting the brunch for young families.
Michelle and Tim Julet for hosting the reception following the Phantom of the Opera screening.

What's Going On

Volunteers Needed at Hunger Relief Center

Our food bank’s sorting and packing takes place at their Hunger Relief Center in South Philadelphia. Hundreds of volunteers are needed each week to sort and pack supplemental and emergency food items. On Tuesday, December 6 from 6-8:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Food Cupboard has committed to 10 volunteers and all are welcome to sign up and join us. Please click here to sign up and for more information.

Blue Christmas Service

7 p.m. Wednesday, December 21

While shop windows and TV commercials relentlessly proclaim that everyone is joyful during the holiday season, for many of us, that is not the case. In fact, this time of year can be particularly difficult for those who are grieving, struggling, or suffering. The world is telling us that we should be happy, that everyone else is happy, and yet we are not feeling it.

So, on the shortest day of the year, December 21 at 7 pm, St. Peter’s will have a Blue Christmas service. This is a simple service of prayer and reflection, a time to acknowledge our sadness and pain, to remember those we love who have died, and to offer it all to our great sign of hope, the Holy Child of Bethlehem.

Via (Formerly known as the Forties and Fifties Group)

The name "Via" was chosen as the new name of our group because of its translation as "the way," which inspired images of a road or a shared path. Recognizing that faith-based friendships are powerful and life enriching, it symbolizes the journey that we are traveling together. Our next gathering is December 18 at the Twisted Tail, 509 S. 2nd Street. We will meet at 12:45. Planning on joining us? Please let Maryann Younger know at younger@stpetersphila.org so that we have a count for the restaurant.

A few spots left for Advent House Church

This Advent, you're invited to experience church in a fresh, intimate setting---in the homes of St. Peter's parishioners and clergy.

There is one space left for the House Church on Wednesday, November 30. Click here to register.

There are two spots still available for the House Church on Wednesday, December 14. Click here to register.

Children's Christmas Pageant

The Children's Christmas Pageant will be held during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, December 18 (taking the place of the sermon). All children are invited to participate!

If your child is interested in having a speaking part in the pageant, please contact Rev. Sean at lanigan@stpetersphila.org. We are also looking for children to dress as Mary, Joseph, and Wise People. These are not speaking roles but do involve special costumes.

Save the Date!

Please help send the choir to London in August. Silent movie and silent auction on Saturday February 11. Details to follow.

Upcoming Events

Thanksgiving Morning Prayer
10 a.m. Thursday, November 24

Sunday@10: Praying with Thanksgiving
10 a.m. Sunday, November 27

On Being
12:15 p.m. Sunday, November 27

House Church Gathering
6:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 30

Sunday@10: Open Forum with Bishop Gutierrez
10 a.m. Sunday, December 4

St. Peter's Youth Group
12:30 p.m. Sunday, December 4

TNT Brews & Beliefs
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 6

House Church Gathering
6:15 p.m. Wednesday, December 7

Sunday@10: Advent Bible Study
10 a.m. Sunday, December 11

Social Justice Team Meeting
12:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11

Festival of Lessons and Carols
4 p.m. Sunday, December 11

Sages Gathering
12:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 14

House Church Gathering
6:15 p.m. Wednesday, December 14

Sunday@10: Exploring Advent Themes in Literature and Poetry
10 a.m. Sunday, December 18

Via (Forties & Fifties Group)
12:45 p.m. Sunday, December 18

Lights of Christmas Premiere
4:45 p.m. Sunday, December 18

Click here to view our full calendar.

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St. Peter's is a church on a mission: To embody the love of God as Christ's heart, mind, and hands.

Copyright © 2016 St. Peter's Church, All rights reserved.

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