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Sunday, January 29

Holy Eucharist, 8:30 a.m., Church
Formation for All Ages, 9:45 a.m. (Adult Forum in the Lobby)
Choral Holy Eucharist, 11:00 a.m., Church and Livestream
Coffee Hour, 12:15 p.m., Lobby

Water Intrusion Update. Thank you for bearing with us as we continue to address the damage to our basement following a water main burst on 7th Street. Repairs to the elevator began this week and we are hoping that it resumes service very soon. While the elevator is offline, we are actively working on additional accommodations. Until the elevator repairs are complete, St. Peter’s Café (breakfast) has been suspended. The Adult Forum will take place in the Parish House Lobby at 9:45 a.m. each Sunday.

St. Peter’s Café On Hiatus. While the elevator is being repaired from the recent water damage, the Community Room and main kitchen are no longer accessible to those who struggle with mobility. In the meantime, coffee and doughnuts will be served in the Lobby from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. in addition to Coffee Hour after the 11:00 a.m. service.

Fulfilling your pledge by automatic payment. Thank you to everyone who uses your credit card or a bank draft to contribute monthly to our life and ministries. Please remember to check that your approval is still valid, as payments will stop on the date you set when you first create the automatic feature. This is especially important as we begin a new calendar year. Questions, contact Allison Elrod (aelrod@st-peters.org, 704-749-6156).

Learn about this week’s and coming weeks’ activities at St. Peter’s. If you want more detailed information.

Hospitality

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. — Hebrews 13:2

Hospitality is a special and important ministry in the Christian Church and especially at St. Peter’s.

We are charged, biblically and often, to use our gifts of hospitality. Hospitality is described as a sacred duty. We are to treat strangers and friends alike. Hospitality is a significant part of Abraham’s story in Genesis. In the New Testament, Jesus showed hospitality and received it regularly. He shared meals with sinners, tax collectors, friends, and family, and provided wine for all gathered at a wedding in Cana where he was a welcomed guest. Providing and accepting hospitality was not just about sharing a meal, Jesus was teaching us that he was identifying with others and making them a part of the community.

Romans 12:13 reminds us to contribute to the needs of the saints; and extend hospitality to strangers. And, in Hebrews 12:2 we’re reminded not to neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hospitality makes everyone, strangers and friends alike feel welcome. It creates community and is a wonderful way to practice evangelism through action, as St. Francis advocates: “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.”

I want to invite you to join St. Peter’s ministry of hospitality. There are a variety of ways to share your gifts: we need a few more people to join our once-a-month cooking teams for Holy Chow when we are able to return to offering breakfast in the Community Room on Sunday mornings, and we would love to have a second person join one of our monthly Coffee Hour teams. I would be glad to answer questions about what these ministries entail.

We also have an opportunity for your help with our Shrove Tuesday celebration on February 21. We are recruiting sous-chefs to assist with prepping and making gumbo with our head chef, Adam Santalla, as well as folks to help with serving and clean up during and after the event itself. We also need folks to provide king cakes. If you aren’t able to assist with the preparations and serving on Shrove Tuesday, be like Jesus and come receive the hospitality offered in his name and share in the joy of our community. Often, just your presence and offering a ear to listen and an open heart to love, provides more hospitality than you know.

Please let me know if you would like to practice using your gifts of the spirit in offering hospitality to friends, parishioners, and strangers alike, thereby entertaining angels unawares. Email me at harrisholt3@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Harris Holt