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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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Thursday, January 2
- Choir Practice at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.
- Rooted Tree Rehearsal at 4:30 p.m.
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Souls Shot installation. See times below.
Sunday, January 5
- Holy Eucharist/The Feast of Epiphany at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary.
- Ungreening the church following morning worship.
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Souls Shot Exhibition. See details below.
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Tuesday, January 7
- LIFT: Reading and Reflections group at 10a.m. in the Good Shepherd Room.
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Souls Shot Exhibition. See details below.
Wednesday, January 8
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Healing service and Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel.
- St. Peter's Purlers at 11 a.m. in the library.
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Souls Shot Community Event. See details below.
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The Souls Shot Exhibition is Officially Open.
Rev. Barb to lead tour this Sunday
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- The Souls Shot exhibition is now open to tour in the church. This Sunday, Jan. 5, Rev. Barb will lead Adult Forum participants on a tour of the gallery and discussion after worship.
The Souls Shot art exhibition will run for the entire month of January in St. Peter's sanctuary. The exhibition will feature portraits of Philadelphia-area residents who have lost their lives to gun violence. The portraits, created by local artists, use a variety of media, aiming to create sacred space to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence and to advocate for effective gun control legislation and practices.
Gallery catalogues are available to purchase for $30. Visit the Souls Shot website or church office to purchase a book.
Exhibit Dates and Times
The exhibit will run from January 2-31 in the sanctuary. Hours are:
- Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. -5 p.m.
- Saturday & Sundays- 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
- For a tours outside of regular hours, please contact the church office at 215-887-1765 to make an appointment.
Events to Attend:
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Community Program & Tour, Wed. Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
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Taizé Prayer Service, Wed. Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
If you'd like to volunteer please contact Rev. Barb at stpeter654rector@gmail.com or the church office at stpeter654@gmail.com.
Read Rev. Barb's Rector's Note or use the button below to learn more about the Souls Shot Portrait Project at St. Peter's.
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Angel Piano Gifts due this Sunday, January 5
Three Kings Celebration date Changed to January 12
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Angel Piano recipients receiving their gifts during Three Kings Day 2023. | |
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Angel Piano gifts can be dropped off at the church office this week. On Sunday, Jan 5, gifts can be placed in the blue box outside the worship space. This is the final day of the collection.
Everyone is invited to see the Three Kings distribute the gift bags to the children on January 12, 2025, at Christ Church and St Ambrose, 3554 N. 6th St. Philadelphia, PA 19140. Services start at noon.
Following the service the Three Kings will give the gifts to the children. A large traditional Spanish lunch will be followed by a mariachi band and dance.
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Please collect your Christmas cards!
The Christmas Card Exchange box and tray is across from the St. Philip’s Chapel right outside the sanctuary.
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2025 Vestry and Annual Meeting | |
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The congregation will elect up to four new Vestry members at the parish Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 26. The positions are for three-year terms. A one-year term to fill the position of Meredith Flaherty will also be up for a vote.
In January, Vestry members Jeanné Hannum, Amy Michener-Wall, John Olson and Karen Sayer will complete their Vestry terms.
During this stewardship season as you pray and discern what gifts of time and talent you have to offer St. Peter’s in the coming year, please consider whether you feel called to serve on the Vestry. Please contact any of the Vestry members listed above or Rev. Barb if you have questions or are interested in serving.
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Annual Report available Jan. 10
Annual Meeting: Sunday, Jan. 26
The Parish Annual Meeting will follow the morning service on Jan. 26. Parishioners will vote on next year's Vestry nominees and review the annual report, as well as enjoy a luncheon organized by our kitchen coordinators.
The Annual Report features the agenda, the list of nominees, the financial report for 2024 and annual reports on parish ministries. Links to the electronic version will be emailed to parishioners Jan. 10.
Nominee updates, including bios and pictures, can also be found on the church website starting next week.
Read Rev. Barb's 12/7/23 Rector's note for some background on the meeting.
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The Rev. Emily Richards to be Interred in Memorial Courtyard Saturday, January 18 |
To mark the first anniversary of the death of the Rev. Canon Emily Barr Richards, St. Peter's beloved previous rector, the Richards family will inter some of Emily's ashes in St. Peter's Memorial Courtyard, preceded by a Eucharist in celebration of her life on Saturday, January 18 at 11 a.m.
The St. Peter's community is invited to participate in this morning of loving and joyful remembrance. Rev. Emily, who had been serving as the priest in charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh, died on Jan. 16, 2024 after a battle with cancer. Please continue to pray for the Richards family as they prepare for the anniversary of her passing.
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Walk in Love Stewardship 2025 Updates | |
Thanks to all who have turned in their pledge cards since Ingathering Sunday. If you haven't done so already, take some time to fill out a physical or digital pledge card.
Since Ingathering Sunday, we've received 65 pledges totaling $168,795 in annual contributions.
The annual Stewardship Campaign invites you to prayerfully consider your financial giving for 2025. Visit the Way of Love Campaign 2025 web page for updates on giving, watch Time and Talent showcase videos, watch parishioner reflections, and access the lyrics to the Walk in Love theme song.
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Anthem Spotlight
Sussex Carol
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It’s the 2nd day of 2025 and our thoughts continue to review the happenings of 2024 as we look forward to the coming year. Many thanks to all who were so kind as to share Christmas cards and greetings with me. May everyone at St. Peter’s have a 2025 filled with wonderful blessings from above.
As we began 2024, the Liturgical Calendar seemed to side-track us a bit regarding the Epiphany. It was over before the first Sunday in January occurred. This year, however, we have plenty of time to acknowledge this event which is tied to the birth of Jesus. As you look at musical repertoire, there is a myriad of choices referencing angels and shepherds. Not so for Mary, the mother of Jesus, Joseph, and least of all, the Wise Men bearing gifts. Considering that, I have chosen a little known and rarely sung Carol to close the Christmas Season. It is the Sussex Carol, a Traditional English Carol arranged by Sir David Willcocks. The lyrics tell the story of the good news and why it should bring joy to the hearts of all. We learn that the birth of the Messiah has set all free from sin and brought our souls out of darkness and into light.
Musically, most of this piece is arranged in a very swaying rhythm; however, at the last verse, Sir Wilcocks becomes quite creative and turns that swaying 6 into a more standard 2. Perhaps it is his way of illustrating the smooth flight of the angels who came first; and the walking pace of 2 beats representing the march of the shepherds as they came down from the hills to the manger. We can’t be sure, but we can imagine.
The original language includes the word ‘men’ in several instances as it was used as the collective description of ‘all’. Since we are now in 2025, I have taken the liberty to modify the text for our choir and changed the word to ALL. I hope you will approve!
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Donate to the Food Pantry this Advent Season | |
Thank you to all who so faithfully donate to our food cupboard. Your contributions are very much appreciated.
We have seen the need for food increase in the past months. Our shelves are often almost bare, and there is little in our stock closet to fill them. If you haven’t been a regular donor, please consider our neighbors with food insecurities. The holidays are especially tough on some.
The Sundays after Christmas are a perfect time to acknowledge all that God has given you by giving to others.
We are in great need of soup and proteins (tuna, chicken, stew, Spam)
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
Next Lunch Club Gathering, Wednesday, Jan. 15:
On January 15, Dr. Lorraine from the Montgomery Office of Public Health and Human Services will join us after lunch to discuss adult vaccines.
Blood Drive: Saturday, February 8
The annual Red Cross Blood Drive will return to St. Peter's on Feb. 8. Our 2024 blood drive scheduled 68 donors. Sixty were able to attend, and 16 of them were first time blood donors. We were able to collect 56 pints of blood, which helped more than 160 people. Schedule your appointment today!
Peeps Retreat: Saturday, February 8
The St. Peter's Peeps, which is open to all who identify as female, is hosting its annual retreat at Cranaleith Spiritual Center in Northeast Philly, facilitated by the Rev. Mary McCullough. More details to come. For more information, please contact Anne Gibson at irishmom68@comcast.net.
Bob Smith's Ordination: Saturday, February 22
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, will ordain Bob Smith to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St. John's Church at Diocesan Center. Bob is our former diaconal intern. The service will follow with a reception.
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