Worship.

Blessing of the Animals, October 2. To commemorate the October 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Friar, 1226, St. Peter’s will offer a liturgy for Blessing of Animals in the Churchyard on Sunday, October 2 at 5:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to bring animals of all sorts to receive a special blessing.

Learn.

Children’s Formation and Nursery Care Registration. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd takes place Sunday during the program year at 9:45 a.m. in the atria. Contact Anna Hurdle (ahurdle@st-peters.org) for more information. Register for the current year: st-peters.org/catechesis-registration.

Youth Formation. Journey to Adulthood classes take place at 9:45 a.m. in the Youth Suite (basement). Email Lyn Holt (lholt@st-peters.org), Director of Youth Ministry, for more information and to register for classes and other youth events and activities.

The Adult Forum, Sundays 9:45 a.m. in the Community Room. Join us for these engaging discussions, deepening our faith and learning how we can live that faith in the wider world.

Episcopal 101, beginning September 18. Between September 18 and October 9, the Adult Forum will focus on basics of the Episcopal/Anglican faith, culminating with the bishop’s visit on Sunday, October 23. Contact Father Jacob Pierce (jpierce@st-peters.org) or Mother Amanda Stephenson (astephenson@st-peters.org).

Sunday Party of Readers, beginning September 18, alternating Sundays 2:00 p.m. on Zoom, “Monsters and Neighbors.” We will be discussing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Volume I. Contact Deje McGavran (dhmcgavran@gmail.com). Zoom link: st-peters.org/bookclub-sunday.

Monday Night Bible Study, Mondays 6:30 p.m. on Zoom, The Gospel of Luke. Contact Ruth Woodend (rbwoodend@gmail.com) to register or for more information.

Education for Ministry (EfM), Mondays 7:15 p.m. on Zoom. Education for Ministry (for EfM) is one of the most effective and substantive Christian education and formation programs of the Church. Contact Father Murdock Smith (frmurdocksmith@gmail.com).

20s30s Book Study, First Tuesday of the Month 7:00 p.m., reading Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. Contact Mother Amanda (astephenson@st-peters.org).

Wednesday Afternoon Book Group, Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. on Zoom, reading The Church Cracked Open by Stephanie Spellers. Contact Ruth Woodend (rbwoodend@gmail.com) to register or for more information.

Wednesday Night Bible Study, Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. on Zoom, studying Women of the Bible. Contact Mother Amanda (astephenson@st-peters.org). Zoom link: st-peters.org/biblestudy-wednesday.

Safe Church Training. Do you volunteer with youth, children or adults, serve on the Vestry, or hold other ministry leadership positions at St. Peter’s? We will hold an in-person Safe Church Training on Wednesday, September 21 from 6:30–8:00 p.m. in the Youth Suite (basement). This training is valid for three years after the training date. Alternatively online training will be available through the Diocese very soon. Contact Lyn Holt, Director of Youth Ministry, (lholt@st-peters.org, 704-763-3564) to sign up or for questions.

Engage.

20s30s Upcoming Events. September 17: Festival in the Park @ Freedom Park, 11:00 a.m.; October 2: First Sunday Brunch, 12:15 p.m.; October 4: Book Study, Inspired by Rachel Held Evans, 7:00 p.m. Amelie’s Bakery in Noda; October 8: 20s30s & Senior Class Potluck Lunch, 12:00 p.m., Parish Hall. Contact Mother Amanda for more details about these events (astephenson@st-peters.org).

A celebration for the Right Reverend Anne Hodges-Copple, Saturday, September 17, 2:00–4:00 p.m. Learn more and RSVP for the event at St. Mark’s, Huntersville (www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-for-bishop-anne-hodges-copple-tickets-407531426467).

The next Senior Class luncheon is Tuesday, September 20 at 11:30 a.m. Open to those 55+ (no need to “join”), the group will meet at Leroy Fox, 705 S. Sharon Amity Road (note the new location). Contact Sue Martin (suewmartin123@gmail.com).

Save the date: Shrimp & Suds is October 1. Make your reservation for our popular fellowship for adult parishioners and friends: Shrimp & Suds on the Parish House rooftop, Saturday, October 1, 6:00–9:00 p.m. This event features a delicious Low Country shrimp boil, cooked by Harris Holt and his team of seasoned cooks. Email Lyn Holt (lholt@st-peters.org) to make your reservation or to make any dietary requirements known. Cost is $45 per person, benefiting our Youth pilgrimage.

Save the Date: Parish Retreat March 3–5, 2023. Next spring we will head to Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, N.C. for our Parish Retreat. More details and registration information will come out in the upcoming months, but for now, mark your calendars.

Prepare ye the way to Vote! In the upcoming Sundays prior to the voter registration deadline of October 14, Social Justice Team members will be available in the Gallery to help parishioners check their voter registration status and update or register to vote as needed. If you have moved since the last election or will turn eighteen by the election you should check your registration status. (You can also check your status at: www.youcanvote.org/lookup.)Early voting begins October 20 and continues through November 5.

St. Peter’s honored by Episcopal Relief and Development. In 2021, Episcopal Relief & Development made a commitment to celebrate congregations for their compassionate responses to suffering in the world. Episcopal Relief & Development’s tagline is “working together for lasting change” and this would not be possible without the powerful agents-of-change that are church partners. St. Peter’s is honored to be one of four congregations in the Episcopal Church honored as “hope partner” by Episcopal Relief and Development.

Save the Date.

September 21: Safe Church Training
September 24: Michaelmas Celebration/Children & Families
September 25: Evensong
October 1: Shrimp and Suds
October 2: Blessing of the Animals
October 8: Youth Fellowship Event: Scarowinds
October 22: Aaron Goen Organ Recital
October 23: Bishop’s Visitation and Confirmation
October 29: Rite 13 Class All Hallows’ Eve Lock-in
October 29: All Hallows’ Eve Party/Children & Families
November 5: Diocesan Acolyte Festival, St. Paul’s, Winston-Salem