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St. Peter's News
Rooted in Love, Growing through God's Grace, Reaching Out to All
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You can view our complete calendar here for all scheduled events and activities. | |
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Saturday, February 22
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Diaconal Ordination at 10 a.m. at St. John's Church at Diocesan Center. See details below.
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Trivia Night at 7 p.m. in the parish hall. See details below.
Sunday, February 23
- Holy Eucharist/Come 4th Sunday at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary.
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Tuesday, February 25
- Rooted Tree at 4:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
- Listening Circle I at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Wednesday, February 26
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Healing service and Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel.
Thursday, February 27
- Rooted Tree at 4:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
- Choir Practice at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.
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Gratitude for the Parish's Response to the Recent Fire | |
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We are extremely grateful to those who responded to the fire, including one of our acolytes, Jerry Moore, who is a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Glenside Fire Company.
We give thanks to the parishioners and staff who helped ensure the safety of our community. Read more about how parishioners responded in Rev. Barb's current Rector's Note.
For more updates, please visit Abington Township's website.
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Bob Smith Will be Joining us beginning March 2 as our New Deacon
Bob Smith, who interned with us last year, has been assigned to St. Peter's as a deacon starting March 2.
Read Rev. Barb's Rector's Note to learn more about diaconal ministry and Bob's role at St. Peter's.
The Bishop will ordain Bob and five others to the Sacred Order of Deacons this Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. John's Church at Diocesan Center. A reception will follow the service.
Use the button below to read Bob's bio.
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Trivia Night: Saturday, February 22
Enjoy a night of teamwork and educated guessing on multiple categories, from music to sports, on Saturday, February 22 at 7 p.m. Pick a theme and dress the part! Sign your team up to win amazing prizes. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Alcohol is limited to beer and wine.
The costs are $20 per person or $150 per table. Pay at the door. Proceeds will go toward growing our church ministries.
If you have any questions, please email the event organizer, Tim Voit, at tvoit@thomastonmills.com.
Use the button below to register your team.
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Souper Sunday Now Held on Come 4th Sunday
Our Souper Sunday soups, which were typically available during fellowship on the third Sunday of each month, will now be available on the fourth Sunday of each month, following our Come 4th Sunday service. Soups will be available this Sunday for a free-will donation.
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Celebrating Black History Month | |
Explore the many ways to celebrate Black History Month during February, from Absalom Jones celebrations to social justice trainings and book recommendations from the Diocese's Anti-Racism Commission. Check the newsletter for weekly black history resources. | |
Join the Diocesan Anti-Racism Commission's Weekly Book Group | |
In addition to serving as our new Accounting Warden, Ernie Dixon is treasurer of the the Diocesan Anti-Racism Commission (ARC), and he also facilitates ARC's weekly book group.
The group meets Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. The zoom link can be found here. The group is currently reading Race Rules by Fatimah Gilliam.
If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Ernie at 215-816-1252 (call or text) or via email at marzelldixon@me.com.
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ARC Statement: 'We Need Racial Justice and Repair Now More Than Ever'
"Now more than ever racial justice and repair is essential to the work (of justice), especially as it intersects with the safety of LGBTQIA people, of women, of immigrants and people without documents, of people marginalized by poverty, illness and social abuses, and of the earth as it undergoes ever expanding climate catastrophe. The Gospel calls us to stand with those among us who are hit first and worst by threats to their human dignity now more than ever."
Read the full statement by the Diocesan Anti-Racism Commission using the button below.
If you'd like to get involved in anti-racism work, please contact the Rev. Barb Ballenger, who is co-chair of ARC, (stpeter654rector@gmail.com).
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Watch Rev. Barb's Sermon on Absalom Jones from this past Sunday. | |
Reflecting on the legacy of the Blessed Absalom Jones this past Sunday, Rev. Barb encouraged us to remember the difficult times throughout history and to use them as a driving force in which we do God's work.
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, we invite all to support the hope-filled, life-impacting work of historically Black institutions of higher education through donations to the Absalom Jones Fund.
Contribution envelopes will be available at the church entrances on Sundays for the rest of the month. Make checks payable to St. Peter's with "Absalom Jones donation" written on the memo line.
Use the button below to donate now, or bring a donation to church on Sunday.
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Upcoming Sunday Adult Forums | |
Health Care Check-In
this Sunday, February 23
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The pastoral care team is offering a health-check forum on February 23, following morning service.
Have your blood pressure screened and and medications assessed by certified health professionals.
This forum will include:
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Free Blood Pressure Screenings: Bring your home cuff and compare it with our manual cuff to ensure accuracy.
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Brown Bag Medication Check: Bring all your medications, including over-the-counter and supplements, so we can review them with you for safety and effectiveness.
Why it's important:
Ensure accurate blood pressure readings and check for potential medication interactions.
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“Before I Die” Forum on Sunday, March 2
In the second of her two-part forum on end of life planning, Deborah Way will lead a discussion on the global work of artist Candy Chang, while discussing the start of an art installation of our own.
About the artist:
Candy Chang experienced the loss of a loved one and created public interactive art as part of her healing process, asking participants to reflect on what they hope to do before they die.
Through installations, videos and paintings generated from thousands of handwritten confessions from the public, her work uncovers layers of the human condition and explores the nature of language, embodiment, and ritual.
| Chang's work is free to the public via Creative Commons. The Before I Die installations have been featured in public spaces around the world, from Lousania to Dubai. | |
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner and Talent Show
Tuesday, March 4
Prepare for Lent during our annual pancake dinner and talent show on Tuesday, March 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MC Dave Mosteller will bring his list of dad jokes, and Helen Collins will guide our pancake making in an evening that celebrates the surprising gifts and talents of our parishioners.
Use the button below to sign up to participate in the talent show, or volunteer to be a pancake flipper or program helper.
Suggested donations are: $10.00/adult, $5.00/children, or $20.00/family and are collected at the door. Proceeds will benefit parish programming.
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Planning a Holy Lent
2025 Lenten Programing
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Learning
"I Give Up" Forum: Sunday, March 2
Rev. Barb will lead a discussion the art of surrender, looking at the Lenten Practices of fasting and abstinence.
Montgomery Deanery Lenten Series: Prayer Practices and Spirituality From March 10-April 7
Join us on Monday evenings during Lent for "Prayer Practices and Spirituality," a special series exploring different ways to deepen your prayer life. Each evening begins with a simple meal of soup and bread at 6:30 PM, followed by an interactive session from 7:00–8:00 PM at All Hallows, 262 Bent Road, Wyncote. Each week, a different leader will guide us through a unique prayer practice. Come for one evening or join us for the whole series! All are welcome. No registration is required.
See the speaker schedule below.
- March 10 – Imaginative Prayer - The Rev. Mary McCullough (retired)
- March 17 –The Rev. Chris Exley (All Hallows)
- March 14 – Centering Prayer – The Rev. Eric Bond (St. John’s Huntingdon Valley)
- March 31 – Icon Collage - The Rev. Emily Given (The Church of the Messiah Gwynedd)
- April 7 – Lectio Divina - The Rev. Madeline (St. Anne’s Abington)
Episcopal 101 Classes this Lenten Season
If you are interested in learning more about the Episcopal church or being received or confirmed as a member, please contact Rev. Barb at Stpeter654rector@gmail.com. Classes will take place on four Wednesday evenings via Zoom during Lent.
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Prayer and Worship
Ash Wednesday Services: March 5
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9:30 a.m. Service- A simple Eucharist and distribution of ashes in the church. This replaces our weekly Eucharist and healing service in the chapel.
Ashes All Day
- If you can't make it to a scheduled liturgy, stop in to receive an anointing with ashes from Rev. Barb between noon and 3 p.m. Inquire in the parish office.
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7 p.m. Service – A Choral Eucharist with distribution of ashes in the church.
Lenten Taizé Service: March 26
This beautiful candlelight service of Taizé chant and prayer invites all to enter the simple rhythms of the Lenten season on Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m.
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Lent Schedule at St. Peter's
Use the button below to view the full Lenten schedule on the St. Peter's website.
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2025 Lenten Resources from
the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church has provided a number of resources to help enrich your spiritual growth this Lenten season. These resources include Holy Week explanation videos, reading materials and book clubs, and many more ways that journey you though lent into Easter.
Use the button below to learn more.
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Thank you for your Mitten Tree Donations!
The Community Partnership Committee thanks all who donated mittens, scarves and hats during this year's Mitten Tree collection to benefit area children in need of warm winter clothing.
This year the donations were accepted by Cassandra of Visiting Nurse Association Community Services. The items will be distributed to those who visit their clinic.
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Cassandra holding some of the 2025 Mitten Tree donations. | |
Partner Organization One House at a Time (OHAAT) Hiring full-time and Part-time Staff
OHAAT, the organization that runs the Beds for Kids project, is hiring a full-time operations and volunteer coordinator, and a part-time per diem delivery truck driver. Information, including job descriptions and how to apply, can be found on the OHAAT website at https://www.ohaat.org/current-vacancies.
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Carol's Cei's Spotlight Anthem will take a break this week, as we enjoy the sounds of St. Peter's Folk Group this Sunday. | |
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Donate to the Food Pantry
This Winter
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Thank you to all who so faithfully donate to our food cupboard. Your contributions are very much appreciated.
During the cold winter months, we are in great need of soup, mac & cheese, spaghetti-Os, protein such as stew, chicken, tuna Spam, and always peanut butter and jelly.
Because of your generosity, we currently have a surplus of vegetables.
Our neighbors with food insecurities appreciate your donations.
Thank you for your support,
Audrey Kipphut and Rick DeKalb.
Learn more about this ministry here.
Use the button below to download the shopping list.
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Save the Date
Charlie Zahm at St. Peter's: Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m.
Charlie Zahm, known for his traditional Irish and Scottish Celtic music, will perform with Tad Marks on the fiddle at St. Peter's this spring. We might even see our own Rev. Barb join in with Charlie and Tad, who knows? As the concert gets closer, we will be asking for help with selling tickets at the door, welcoming people, setting up/cleaning up and providing refreshments. All concert proceeds will go to the support parish programs.
Learn more about Charlie Zahm here. Special thanks to Dave Kipphut for helping St. Peter's secure a spot on Charlie's busy schedule.
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