This Week's Pete's Epistle

15th May, 2025

"Invite...Support...Encounter"

From the Rector...

From the baptismal covenant of the BCP: “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”

Answer: I will, with God’s help.

Dear Ones,

We will have had 11 Celebrations of Life since January 1st by Memorial Day, and perhaps there will be a pause now on this record number of departures from life in a short time. I am very, very grateful to the many faithful members who have attended, and worked to host others honoring and grieving those they knew and loved. I am proud of how God was present and we were present at all of them.

We live in divided and contentious times. We can't claim to be following Jesus if we aren't about respect, love, forgiveness, peace-making, and not fighting. All these things require honesty and humility on our part, and prayer and relying on God’s help.

When I arrived in early 2019 the community was deeply divided about the display and location of the American flag in our sanctuary. We had a beautiful and deep community discernment about this that tried to include everyone, and a large group took part in the discernment. I was proud of how respectfully people listened to a spectrum of perspectives, and no one of any possible label was part of a monolithic group-think in point of view. In other words, we were Episcopalians.

To avoid politicizing or attempting to undermine the public service of worship that any memorial service or blessing of a wedding in our sanctuary is, the bishop and vestry have concurred unanimously on the following clarifying policy after several months of discerning and waiting to act:

Policy on flags and human remains in the sanctuary during life cycle events

The flags displayed in our sanctuary display values of inclusion and respect important to our members as followers of Jesus. As all earthly institutions and people are imperfect, some of our members have reservations about the display of one or more flags in sacred space. Accordingly, any member with a known and stated reservation or their family on their behalf, in the event of death, may request that all the flags be moved to our chapel altar for the duration of the memorial or wedding service. No one flag will be singled out for removal as this offends our spiritual values and beliefs of a loving God who welcomes all as his beloved children. During all regular public worship [this includes weddings and funerals] these flags are displayed in the sanctuary in locations that are at the discretion of the Rector, who is responsible by canon for the spiritual wellbeing of the parish.

• Human remains are honored in our Christian worship, with the Easter Paschal candle, and placed as is appropriate to the side behind the altar rail, but never in front of the altar, and never with an open casket during worship. We come to worship God and honor the person, not make their remains the focus of Christian worship. At the request of the family, any of the flags in our sanctuary may be placed behind the remains and next to the Paschal candle.

That is our policy. On special days (Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day. Independence Day, LGBTQIA+ Pride Day, etc. ) parishioners may request in advance of the day, to the Rector, that a specific flag(s) be brought up to the altar area. I would prefer to tell people this is going to happen no later than 48 hours prior to the worship service requested. These policies clarify practices we have had in place since 2019 at all services.

According to expectations set by the BCP, people who do not respect every member of our community should not receive communion. Graciously, the BCP also realistically guides us to make amends, peace, and forgive through honest direct communication, with help and prayers if requested. Clergy here trust you to decide, with guidance of the Holy Spirit, whether you can receive communion as the New Testament intends, and we let people make their own mistakes. We trust God to deal with all of us appropriately in the hard tasks of love.

We are all free to diverge theologically in a kind manner from practices of the community and the Episcopal Church. Jesus followers here uphold our policies to be faithful to one another. Public worship and public remarks are not an occasion to grab the baton to send a message of disrespect at odds with our Christian community values.

I am happy to discuss this further as is any member of the vestry, clergy, or staff if you need to.

In Christ’s love,

James

Will You Pray With Me?

Carolyn Beougher, Senior Warden 2025

In the last few weeks we have had a couple extra events added to the life of our Faith Community: World Labyrinth Day-Walk for Peace and the High Tea & Hats Party. As I worked with the different leadership teams planning and implementing these events, one phrase kept resonating during my quiet times: Unity in Community. I’ve pondered what “community” looks like at St. Peter’s and contemplated our “unity”. Is a community spirit evident to our guests or visitors? What unites us all as God’s beloved children in this Faith Community?

The High Tea Party was a wonderful event with multiple ages-children, parents, grandparents- old friends and new friends gathering together. An event that built relationships and creating memories which I believe is the foundation of community. As we wrapped up this joyful afternoon, the sad news that Baby Girl Nyx, Diane Woodyard’s infant granddaughter, had gently passed from our presence into Jesus’s arms for complete healing of her precious earthly body. Diane and her family quietly left to say their goodbyes and mourn their families loss. As Pastor Amy led the closing, the sad news was shared, a collective and very audible gasp was heard as we each, in unity, absorbed this pain as our own shared burden for one, so dear in our community suffered. A passionate prayer was prayed for the young parents, the aunts and the grandma’s that God would meet them mightily in these moments of grief and shock.

Saturday afternoon, Romans 12: 15 came alive at St Peter’s: “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Unity in Community—we built community in our joy, our silliness, sharing delicious food, our God, our church family…..and we experienced unity in shared grief, compassion, empathy and pain as we absorbed God’s sovereignty in ways we can’t understand or in ways we would ever want or seek.

We had unity in our rejoicing that afternoon and became a community in shared sorrow.

To God be the Glory………

Will you Pray with Me?

—comfort and peace for Diane and family

— the others in our Faith Community who are mourning personal loss

—unity, with love, care, and grace, in our community

In His Love with Prayer,

Carolyn

High Tea & Hats

The High Tea & Hats Party on Saturday, May 10, 2025, was a wonderful event and everyone there appeared to have had a marvelous time! There was tea, biscuits (cookies), scones, finger sandwiches, games, prizes and a photo booth for all to enjoy. People came in their fancy tea party attire and beautiful hats or “as they were” with a smile on their face. The sense of community at this fellowship event was evident and could be distinctly felt throughout the room. The committee that hosted the tea party would like to extend a big thank you to all who came to the event and another thank you to those who helped with the cleanup, which was done in record time.

World Labyrinth Day-Walk for Peace

St Peter’s hosted a “World Labyrinth Day- Walk for Peace” Sunday May 4 at 9:00 AM. The weather was delightful with a light cloud cover and gentle breezes as we walked. Pastor Amy lead us in guidance of the meditative practice and Shelley Krispin-Pugsley offered a blessing for our walk. We had approximately thirty people at the short service; twenty of those, church members and community visitors, joined in the walk. We handed out Labyrinth information and a finger labyrinth printed on colorful paper to everyone who came by. Labyrinth stickers were available and we had a “Labyrinth Craft” table with crayons, printouts, yarn and glue. We served coffee, lemonade, homemade cookies - some of which were labyrinth designed! . We had several experience a labyrinth walk for the first time ever and those who use it as a a frequent practice—it was a positive experience for all. We are thankful and fortunate to have a beautiful labyrinth on our campus to encourage peace in our community and in our spirits.

Please join us next year for this event…..or walk the labyrinth anytime for your own inner peace.

Celebration of Life: Mary Beth Lee (Fraleigh)

Please join us Wednesday, May 21^st at 3pm as we celebrate the life of Beth. A reception will follow in Celebration Hall.

Pastor James' Saturday Learning Group

A Saturday 3pm Learning group with Pastor James for May and June:

a gentle introduction to the greatest living Christian thinker: Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Discovering Christianity: A Guide for the Curious.

See here for more information

Children’s Ministry Opportunities

We have recruited a few volunteers but are still building our team! To volunteer to assist in the Sunday morning nursery or children’s classes, or Vacation Bible School in June, please contact Debbie Quick, debra.quick@stpetersaz.org.

Vacation Bible School… I Wonder…VBS 2025...June 16

What makes you wonder? What sparks your curiosity? When you’re curious about who God is, it’s easy to find ways to make your relationship with Jesus grow. That’s why, in this summer’s VBS, we’re going to engage kids’ imaginations! Mornings will be filled with Bible stories, STEM activities, music, crafts, snacks...and more! To register, contact Debbie Quick, pick up a registration form at church, or register through Realm.

Daughters of the King

The Daughters of the King will be holding their monthly meeting on Saturday, May 17, 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the Daughters, and what they do, you are welcome to attend. The meeting starts at 9:30 am in the Sanctuary for prayer before moving over to Celebration Hall. If you'd like additional information, please contact the Chapter President, Mary Lynn Geiger, at marylynn@webreflections.org or Chapter Secretary Martie Polk, at martie.polkmp@gmail.com

Young Adults Group

There will be a Young Adults Group Saturday May 31 at 6:00 pm. All Young Adults are welcome to attend. Bring a snack to share if you can.

Donations Requested ~ RePete Boutique

Clean out your kitchen drawers and your closets. The thrift store needs you!

St. Peter's Solar Project

A huge thanks to everyone who has contributed to this project. We have taken out a loan to fund the project in the short term, and still are in need of additional donations to fully fund the project. If you would like to donate to help pay off this loan quickly, please do so. Simply indicate “SOLAR” on your check or select the solar energy account online using your Realm access.

Donate one solar panel... $1,600

Donate a half panel.............$800

Donate a quarter panel .......$400

Donate one-eighth panel ....$200

Contact: outreach@stpetersaz.org

Community Outreach Ministry Advisory Panel (COMAP)

Facilitator: Carolyn Beougher

Volunteer Coordinator: Martie Polk

Welcome to the “Renewed”

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

COLUMBARIUM

Uyen and Rich Crabb and John Bradley partially renewed St. Peter’s Columbarium to its original pristine state in time to commemorate Memorial Day 2025.

We, and St. Peter’s pastors and deacons, were prayer servants during Marylyn Bradley’s last month as she transitioned from the physical to the spiritual world. Marylyn loved our church and revered veterans.

Uyen, an experienced floral gardener, led design, plant choice and planting. Rich did the digging and trash removal. John restored the drip irrigation system, painted walls inside and out and restored decorative gravel.

This was a labor of respect and love for those who have passed

and for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church that provides this

sacred place of remembrance.

TeleCare Ministry

This ministry is a phone call of love to touch base with the various households in our Faith Community. We need a few more caring folks who can make 10-12 calls during a 2-week period asking two questions: How are you? And How can we pray for you? We look for a twice a year commitment of less than 60 minutes each. Training is provided. We’re hoping to launch 2025 TeleCare in the coming months.

Contact: outreach@stpetersaz.org

Family Promise

Family Promise, a ministry to support families who are facing instability and currently unhoused, will be on our campus June 1-8, 2025. We will need help with evening meals, grocery items and room set up/tear down. There are many ways to help and serve to stand in the gap for these families, most of whom are single parents with very young children.

Ministry Lead: Araceli Burr

Contact: outreach@stpetersaz.org

City of Goodyear’s Juneteeth Celebration

St Peter’s will once again host a table at the City of Goodyear’s Juneteeth Celebration at the Goodyear Recreation Center on Thursday, June 19, 2025 between the hours of 5pm and 9 pm. We are looking for volunteers to help with setting up, working at our information table and clean up at the end of the evening. St. Peter’s hosted an information table in 2024 and passed out St. Peter’s swag. Everyone had a wonderful time. If you are interested in volunteering please contact outreach@stpetersaz.org

Sunday Morning Hospitality

Please continue to join us in Celebration Hall for coffee, treats, and fellowship after the Sunday morning services.

The 9:00 meditation service has moved outdoors since the mornings have cooled down! .

It's time again! Men's Group this Saturday

Men’s Group is this Saturday in Celebration Hall beginning at 7:30AM. Please join us for breakfast and fellowship.

May 23: Veteran’s Ministry

June 1-8: Family Promise

June 16-20: Vacation Bible School

June 19: Juneteenth Celebration

June 27: Veteran’s Ministry

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

This week we pray for Church of the Epiphany, Flagstaff

We also pray for our companion Diocese: The Diocese of Western Mexico, Bishop Ricardo Gomez Osnaya.

Read the weekly email newsletter for the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona here. This newsletter includes reflections from The Rt. Rev. Bishop Jennifer Reddall, news, events, and updates throughout the diocese.