St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Carson City
News and Inspirations

 

775-882-1534     www.stpeterscarsoncity.org   3 14 N. Division St., Carson City, Nevada 
October 5, 2017
In This Issue
Baby Shower
An Oppty for Service
You are Invited
Bazaar Help
EfM Answers
St. Peter's History
Male Spirituality
Lighter Side
Upcoming
 Lectionary Readings
Info Links
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From the Rector


Dear people of St Peter's,
 
      We gathered this past Tuesday in the church building to toll the steeple bell for all those killed in the Las Vegas shooting.  Tina, the niece of a high school friend was shot in the head.  Her recovery is still pending.  Susan, a friend of Bethany & Ehren Miller, was shot & killed.  We mourn their loss, we grieve with their families, we pray for healing in our lives and in our nation, to be relieved of our violent tendencies.  We pray also for the repose of the soul of Stephen Paddock, the shooter.
 
     We gather as the household of the diocese at convention this weekend.  Please hold Bishop Dan and all our clergy & delegates in your prayers.  In addition to regular business, we'll be looking at the election of a new Bishop next year.   
 
      This Sunday at 9:15am, in place of the Inquirer's/ Confirmation class, we will gather on the lawn in front of the church building for the Blessing of the Animals.  The Feast of St Francis was Wednesday October 4th.   
 
      Next Thursday October 12th Marietta & I will be at the provincial seminary, Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, to celebrate an honorary doctorate bestowed upon The Rev Canon Britt Olsen.  She and her husband The Rev Bryon Hanson reside in Seattle. Go Britt!
 
Peace in the brisk days of fall.
Jeff+
 

Gratitude
 
     Many thanks to the members of the Friends of Historic St. Peter's committee who are rolling out a wonderfully energetic effort to gather the stories from our St. Peter's community over the last 50 years.  In this effort, you will be invited to share your stories which will likely be included in a feature on the St. Peter's website. 
      If you have questions, please ask Georgy, Becca, Joy, Sharron, Suzie, Bryan, Sue, Hallie or other person who is wearing the distinctive ribbon on their lapel.  Also, please click here for the questionnaire or look for them in the parish hall because we'd love to see the history of our church family through your eyes too!
 

Update on the Habibi Family -- You Are Invited!
 
  Here's the latest update on the Habibi family:
 
We are joining with the LDS church to throw a Baby Shower for Mrs. Habibi, who is due to deliver this month.  The shower will be held on Saturday, October 14 in our Parish Hall at 12 noon.  Please bring a finger food or drinks for lunch. (In case you are wondering, the Ladies' Crafting and Knitting will be meeting in our Library that morning from 9:30 - 12:00.)  
 
To those of you who have offered to bring a gift for the baby, thank you.  Your generosity is overwhelming,   It is not necessary to bring a gift, though of course, it will be welcome.  The important thing is that we make sure this family knows that they are an important and loved part of this community.
If you have any questions, call me.  775-883-6587
Thank you again for all your support,
Isobel Streenan
 

An Opportunity for Service
Warm-hearted volunteers needed! 
 
     Last year, St. Teresa's, with St. Peter's and several other Carson City churches, conducted a one-month experiment and opened a homeless shelter.  There was an amazing outpouring of support from the community.  The shelter provided a warm, safe place for people without homes to come in from the cold and sleep.
     The fantastic news is that this year, the shelter will be open for the five coldest months, November-March.  Volunteers are needed to staff the shelter for three shifts that run between 8:30pm to 6:30am seven days a week.   We need as many people as possible willing to take as many shifts as they can comfortably fit into their already busy schedules, be it one or twenty.  All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.  Also, in addition to St. Teresa's, several other churches will open their buildings.
     An orientation meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm, Thursday, October 19, 2017, at St. Teresa's .   This meeting will have people to answer your questions and sign you up for a shift if you wish to volunteer.  Also, Gayle Bowers (Vestry member) and Jeannette Miller participated last year and can answer questions.  Additionally, a sign-up list will be circulated at both St. Peter's services.

You Are Invited.....
An Evening with our own Bob Reid 
 
St. Peter's is delighted to host an evening with author Bob Reid on Thursday, October 26, at 7 PM.  Bob will read from and discuss his new book Because It Is So Beautiful: Unraveling the Mystique of the American West, a collection of 19 essays documenting Bob's travels over the past 30 years to exotic and not-so-exotic destinations ranging from northern Alaska to eastern New Mexico.  
     National Book Award finalist Ron Hansen, author of Mariette in Ecstasy
and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,   has characterized the essays as " stirring, witty, gorgeously written paeans to the wilderness. It's a wonderful, must-read collection." Copies of the book will be available for sale, with all profits going to St. Peter's.  Lots more on the book at www.robertleonardreid.com/books.


Only Five Weeks Away!!!!!
St. Peter's Parish Holiday Bazaar: November 11th 
 
    It's now time to turn in your non-perishable creations and donations for our Bazaar.  We will tag them and price them and sort them into our "departments."  To turn them in, please put them on the magenta bench in the church office.  Please leave a note on it saying something like, "For Bazaar, from your name."

An EASY WAY TO HELP would be for you to look through your jewelry box to find your good quality costume jewelry that no longer gives you joy.  Please donate it to us for our Jewelry counter at the Bazaar.  It is a very popular part of our event.

Thank you for your creativity, generosity and energy that makes our Bazaar a success!  Any questions, please contact the Rev. Kim at revkim@stpeterscarsoncity.org.
 

Join Fellow Seekers for a Meaningful Journey 
Are You Interested in Deeper Study?
 
On Tuesday, October 17th at 6:30 pm, there will be a question and answer session for anyone interested in learning about EfM -Education for Ministry. This gathering will be held in the church library and is open to all parishioners. Don't be fooled by the name, we each have a ministry.

If you have any further questions now, please call Louise Hogen at 883-7224.
 

Bits and Pieces of St. Peter's History

Henry M. Yerington, one of the founding members of St. Peter's, was one of the most active and supportive parishioners between 1863 and 1918.  His first wife Susan died in 1873.  In 1874, the children in the Sunday school's Infant Class presented a large Bible to the church in memory of their beloved teacher, Susan Yerington.

---- The Friends of Historic St. Peter's


Writing as a Spiritual Practice
The Heart of Our Story.... Learning who we are and why we are here
 
Writing can be a powerful and transformative spiritual practice -- through which we can cultivate an expansive mind, open heart, authentic relationships, liberated creativity and a freer soul.  This space is going to give examples of PROMPTS that are intended to give you a launching pad for some writing.  Please approach this as a spiritual practice and invite the Holy into your writing time.  Here are some suggestions to begin with:
 
HOW:  If you'd like to engage in a bit of self-discovery,
consider setting a timer for 15 minutes and  begin with one of the PROMPTs below (or other topic that calls to you).  Then just write whatever comes to mind until the buzzer goes off.  (Don't edit it, don't correct your spelling or worry about punctuation.  This is NOT that kind of writing.  The only person who's going to look at it when you are done, is you.  And if you want to keep going, reset the timer for additional time.)   Later, feel free to dive into the other PROMPT if it begins to call to you.  

PROMPTS for this time:

There was a mass shooting in Las Vegas this week and I ___________________.

Seeing the colors on the leaves change reminds me  ___________________.
 

Practicing the Presence of Spirit--
Even on a Busy Day
  graphic of seeing with love
Seed Thought:
Our speech stems directly from our thoughts, and in addition to right action and right speech, a maturing spirituality cultivates awareness of right thinking.  When we catch ourselves thinking belittling, judging, cynical or snide thoughts, we are on the way to surrendering old habits of mind and planting the seeds of kind, encouraging thinking.  Noticing our thought is the powerful first step.  Awareness of our thought habits and the intention to change them is an important aspect of cultivating kindness.  
 
Prayer/Practice:   Take a few letting-go breaths and place your awareness on your heart.  Invoke the presence of the Holy Spirit and ask for help in observing your thoughts today so that you can develop the virtue of right thinking.  When you catch yourself thinking uncharitable thoughts, mentally resolve to stop giving those thoughts energy, and in their place send out more kind, encouraging thoughts.  At the least, bless the object of your concern and ask God to have his perfect way on the issue. 

[Adapted from p. 265, of Pocketful of Miracles, by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.]   

A Love Letter from the Divine.....
good_morning.jpg 

     You dread the future.  You dare not dream for fear of disappointment.  Your days are a march to be gotten through.  You do not speak to me of your pain.  First of all, come to me.  I have been waiting to speak to you.  I want your future to be with me.  I will protect you from what you dread.  Slowly and gently, I will help you to dream again.  Admit to me your sorrows and disappointments.  I am infinite compassion.  I can feel your pain and help you to heal it.  Even your unspoken griefs are known to me.  Allow me to take action on your behalf.  Let me dream your dreams.
     I am your defender.  With me you can be small.  I am big enough to act on your behalf.  I am big enough to comfort you.  In each day's journey, I can help you to find good.  With my help, you will be able to focus on the positive.  I see beauty everywhere, and it is my pleasure to share with you my vision.  On a country road I see butterflies landing on the clover.  In the city I see geraniums and petunias spilling their beauty from a window box.  On a lonely lane I salute the farmer as he passes in his pickup truck.  On a crowded street I smile and meet the eyes of a stranger.  Learn to see as I do.  Borrow my eyes and my heart.
     I am an expansive energy.  I fill your heart with the joy of connection.  Come first to me.  All else follows.

[This is an excerpt from Answered Prayers, Love Letters from the Divine, by Julia Cameron, p. 151.]
 

A Moment of Zen


Male Spirituality --- Encouraging an Inner Life 
mens rites of passage 
This is a series of articles aimed specifically for the Men of St. Peter's.  The material is taken from the written works of Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who is renowned for his retreats and lectures on male spirituality.  This is not intended to be a "daily devotional."  It is meant to be more confrontational.  It is truthful and brave; and invites you to be the same.   
 
Transformation                                    
    
     All human transformation takes place inside liminal space.  The Latin word limen means "threshold."  Liminality is an inner state and sometimes an outer situation in which people can begin to think and act in genuinely new ways.  It is the state of being betwixt and between, of having left one room but not having entered the next room yet.  You are poised at a new starting gate, although you usually do not know it.  In fact, you are normally upset and out of balance for a while.
     Liminal space occurs only when our comfort zone has collapsed.  This includes any hiatus between stages in life: separation or divorce, job change, illness, loss, death, failure of any kind.  It is graced time during which we are not certain of our next move, when we're not in control, when something genuinely new can happen.  If God wants to get to you, which God always does, the chances are best during any liminal time.  Otherwise, you remain on continuous cruise control.    
                                 
---What has been my experience of living in liminal space ?
      
  [Adapted from p. 224 of On the Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations for Men,
 by Fr. Richard Rohr]
 
 On the Lighter Side

(Thanks to Isobel for sharing this cartoon with us!)
 

Ongoing Fellowship Activities

Please Join Us (in the Parish Hall unless* otherwise indicated) 1st Monday at 5:30pm--
 
Every Wednesday from 6 to 8pm -- Circles of Support Community           *(meets in the parish hall and the Rectory, next door to the church)

1st and 3rd Thursdays at 5:30pm -- Caregivers' Exchange Group
      (information and fellowship for anyone who's a caregiver)

1st Saturday from Noon to 5:00pm -- Wine Walk
             (our sanctuary and parish hall are open for hospitality) 

2nd Wednesday from 11:00am to noon -- St. Peter's Ladies' Group                                      (all St. Peter's women are cordially invited)

2nd Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00pm -- Mary~Martha Guild   
                    (all St. Peter's women are cordially invited)

2nd Saturday from 8:00 to 9:30am -- Men's Breakfast
            (all St. Peter's men are cordially invited)

2nd Saturday from 9:30am to 1:00pm -- Ladies' Crafting Day 
            (all St. Peter's ladies are cordially invited; bring something to work on or join in a group project.  Bring a sack lunch if you like!)
(We take December and January off.)

2nd Saturday at 9:30am -- Prayer Shawl Knitters 
      (Meet with the Lady Crafters in the Parish Hall; for info contact Pat F-P or Karen L-F)  
4th Friday from 5:45 to 8:30pm --  Sophia's Salon Reading Group
       *(meets at a private residence, for info contact the Rev. Kim)


St. P's Gratitude Garden: The first frost and freeze has come. Our contact is Gayle Bowers. 


Schedule of Worship Services
Watercolor painting of St.P's altar by pat f-p
St. Peter's Altar ~~ by Pat Frederick-Perona

Sundays    

8 am:  Holy Communion: Rite II  
10 am: Contemporary Worship Service and Sunday School with Godly Play (in the Rectory).             
Wednesdays
10 am: Healing Service and Holy Communion

We at St. Peter's are a lively spiritual fellowship blessed with the rich heritage of community involvement.  We are open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly.  We hope you find us to be intellectually and spiritually stimulating.  

The Rev. Kim Morgan, Associate Priest and E-news Editor