Breaking Bread. Our Mission is Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ. The Newsletter of the Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St.

Transcription

1 Breaking Bread Our Mission is Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ The Newsletter of the Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul ~ March 2018 Holy Week Since January, I have been teaching and writing each week on our practice of the worship of God our Liturgy what we do and why we do it. We have explored the basic reasons for worship and looked at the details of the service itself. Later this month, we come to the basis and model for all our worship services: the services of Holy Week and Easter. Holy Week and Easter are the center of the Christian Year. All our Sunday celebrations are miniature feasts of the resurrection of our Lord. Our model of Baptism and the Eucharist comes from the Great Vigil of Easter: the primary celebration of Baptism for those preparing in Lent, and the primary feast of the resurrection. The Great Vigil itself is part of the Triduum or Great Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and The Great Vigil on Saturday night. Are you accustomed to participating in worship on these great three days? I heartily encourage you to come join us. You will find that Easter is not the same without these services. Maundy Thursday remembers with great solemnity Jesus last supper with his disciples, his time in the Garden and his arrest. Some years, this includes washing each other s feet, remembering the Last Supper as John described it. This year, we will not have the foot washing, but we will read from Luke, who remembers Jesus actions with bread and wine that mandates our sacrament of Holy Communion. Good Friday remembers his trial, suffering and crucifixion, and we pray for the church and the world. At the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night, we remember that the darkness does not overcome the light of Christ, and that he is risen indeed! We read several passages of the Old Testament that tell of how God took action to save his people in the past, looking ahead to the fullness of his salvation through Jesus. We baptize candidates if any are presented and we renew our baptismal covenant with God. Then we celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. If you want to learn more about the worship of the church, participate in the sacred drama of Holy Week and the supreme joy of Easter! Yours in Christ, The Rev. Tom Pumphrey 2018 Lenten Program. 2 Lenten/Holy Week/Easter Services. 3 Lent Evensong. 4 Parish Update Meeting. 4 Grief Support Group. 5 Caregiver s Support Group. 5 Youth News. 6 Children s Ministries. 8 On the Inside... Choir Practice. 9 Kids Consignment Sale. 10 Unplug & Connect - Parish Retreat. 10 Cool Girls & 2 Hunger Ministry. 12 Family Promise. 12 Adult Christian Formation. 14 Easter Flowers & Foliage. 16

2 Breaking Bread Lenten Program Lent: The Road to Rejoicing Sundays, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Lent is so much more than a time of sober introspection and self-examination. Lent is a journey, where we go from being lost, to repentance, redemption, amendment of life, and eventually into the joy of Easter. Join us in our Lenten Series as we search through some Gospel stories and discover how God finds and restores us on our journey to Easter. This is an intergenerational event for adults, youth and children. Childcare is available. Individuals, family and friends are welcome. Each night stands alone, so you are welcome to attend as many as you are available. Please join us on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00pm for dinner and programming for all ages. Feb. 18 The Lost Coin & Lost Sheep Feb. 25 The Prodigal Son Mar. 4 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Mar. 11 The Paralytic and His Friends Mar. 18 The Alabaster Jar The Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul The Vestry 1795 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, GA Office Hours: Monday Thursday ~ 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Friday ~ 9 a.m p.m. Phone: (770) Fax: (770) Visit us on the web at After Hours Pastoral Concerns: x8 Rector The Rev. Thomas C. Pumphrey Associate Rector The Rev. Elisa P. Harres Parish Administrator Suzy Bristow Financial Administrator Amy Pillsworth Youth Ministry Matt Martin Children s Ministry Lay Leader Susan Sherrard Director of Music George Chesnut Facilities Manager Bob Marks Vestry Senior Warden JoAnn Gotschall Junior Warden Chuck Matheson Clerk Bryan Selby Treasurer Guy Creveling Recorder Vacant Rachel Buhler Guy Creveling John Hooper Bryan Selby Roger Sherrard Marci Thomas Rich Walker

3 3 Breaking Bread Lenten/Holy Week/Easter Services Stations of the Cross during Lent (beginning 2/20/2018) Tuesdays at 7:00pm Wednesdays at 11:30am Holy Week Palm Sunday Saturday, March 24 5:30pm Holy Eucharist Sunday, March 25 8:00am ** Holy Eucharist 10:30am ** Holy Eucharist Maundy Thursday 7:30pm ** Holy Eucharist Thursday, March 29 & Stripping of the Altar Good Friday, March 30 7:00am Good Friday Liturgy w/communion from reserved sacrament 12:00pm Good Friday Liturgy 7:30pm ** Good Friday Liturgy The Great Vigil of Easter Saturday, March 31 8:30pm ** Baptism & the first Eucharist of Easter (with Incense) Easter Day, Sunday, April 1, :00 am - Holy Eucharist / Choir with Brass ** Coffee hour following service 9:30 am - Children s Easter Egg Hunt - Meet in Creation Chapel 10:30 am - Holy Eucharist / Choir with Brass (with Incense) ** Coffee hour with hors d'oeuvres following service ** Childcare available

4 Breaking Bread 4 Lenten Evensong - Please join us! Sunday, March 11 4:00 p.m. A Change in our Worship this Lent On some Sundays, including the first Sunday in Lent, we sometimes omit the birthday and anniversary prayers, and the second prayer for the nation (the one with the hymn verse). These two elements are not part of the Prayer Book liturgy, but were added in year s past at St. Peter & St. Paul. This year, we will omit the second prayer for the nation in Lent. Primarily, this festive and rousing prayer feels out of place in Lent, a season where we do not even say Alleluia to God. We will still pray for the nation in the prayers of the people as we always do. The Rector, Tom Pumphrey, is teaching about worship in his Sunday School class and weekly s, including a review of this and other elements of our worship. If you have questions about this decision, please come to the class or contact Tom personally (tpumphrey@peterandpaul.org). Parish Update Meeting March 4, 2018 Parish Hall 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Come hear the exciting news of what s happening at St. Peter & St. Paul and what we have planned for the coming months.

5 5 Breaking Bread Grief Support Group Help and encouragement after the death of a loved one. GriefShare is a special weekly seminar and support group designed to help you rebuild your life. We know it hurts, and we want to help. Mondays 10:00am - 12:00pm January 29 - May 7, 2018 The Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul Creation Chapel 1795 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta Contact Elisa Harres at eharres@peterandpaul.org or Caregiver's Support Group Meets on the Second Thursday of each month from 12:00-1:00pm downstairs in Room 1. We hope you will join us!

6 Breaking Bread 6 by Matt Martin, Youth Minister Youth Highlights - March 2018 Youth Culture Corner: A monthly column inviting adults to engage with Jesus in Youth Culture. I Bewailing During Lent No, this is not a reference to Moby Dick from AP-LIT class. This is a reference to the Book of Common Prayer and our Prayer of Confession in Rite 1. Our switch to Rite 1 for Worship during Lent can seem confusing and disorienting at first, but then a line will strike you and make you think more deeply about things. This Sunday, with a recent school shooting in mind, I was struck by this line from our prayer of confession: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness. These are words we don t use very often. The liturgy of the ancient church comes to us with much grace and wisdom, because the saints who have gone before us also had their fair share of hardship and grief. To bewail means to express great regret, disappointment or bitterness over something. With the recent news of school shootings, teen suicides and overdoses, I feel like bewailing. For many of us there is the rush to avoid our grief and push for quick fixes from policies, politicians, or programs. But I have little hope in quick fixes or human solutions to our problems, because these are spiritual problems rooted deeply in us and our culture. There comes a point that in order for an alcoholic to begin the road to recovery that one must realize that she does not have an alcohol problem, rather, she is the problem. In our day and age, we do not have an opioid problem, a gun problem, a mental health problem, a sexual harassment problem, or even a sin problem. We are the problem. We are so lost, so broken, so confused that we don t know up from down or left from right. Sin has so warped and twisted our hearts and minds that we are not able to love God and love our neighbor as we ought. This is why the Gospel is good news. Jesus came, not just to relieve our guilt, but to transform us. Jesus life, death, and resurrection has power to set us free from the power of sin and death. If it was in our power to change ourselves and deal with our own sin, then why did Jesus need to suffer and die? Jesus says, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).

7 7 Breaking Bread Youth News Continued... This Lenten season, I invite you to weep, mourn, and bewail the sins of our culture that rob our young people s lives, their hopes, and their dreams. And I invite you to ask God to heal our souls and fill our young people with life to the fullest. March Happenings It s time to celebrate our 5 youth who will be confirmed on March 18 th! Please pray for them and congratulate them on this important decision to follow Jesus. Here are a ton of opportunities for youth to dive deeper in relationship with God and each other. Sunday School meets 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. every Sunday morning during the school year. Youth gather in a fun small group environment to get to know each other and talk about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Sunday Night Youth Group has joined the Lenten Program. Times for youth group have been adjusted so we can participate in the Lenten program. Come for a fun night of games, food, and small group discussion on questions about life, faith and God from 5 to 7 p.m. Youth Choir rehearses each week under the direction of George Chesnut in a fun, supportive environment. The youth choir participates in worship through special anthems and joins the adult choir on major holy days. Contact George for details gchesnut@peterandpaul.org. Thank You so much for your support of the Red & White Dinner, Silent Auction and Raffle. Together we raised over $11,500 for Youth Missions and Trips! It was a wonderful night thanks to all the many volunteers, contributions and attendees. Thank you for supporting God s work in the lives of East Cobb youth.

8 Breaking Bread 8 WELCOME TO VBS HERO CENTRAL Location St. Peter and St. Paul Please join us June for a fantastic Vacation Bible School. We will meet from 9:30 am 12:00 pm. At VBS Hero Central, students will: discover their strength in God explore God s mission for their lives encounter epic adventures alongside biblical heroes realize qualities that make them truly heroes in God Any questions contact Susan Sherrard at swsherrard@comcast.net

9 9 Breaking Bread Children s Choir Eligibility begins at about 2 nd grade, or about the time beginning reading skills are acquired. The age range runs up through about 5 th or 6 th grade, depending on skills acquired, maturity, and vocal ability (and, for boys, whether or not the voice has begun to change). Practices are held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:15 pm in the choir room. (This may change to a full hour from 5:30 to 6:30 pm beginning fall 2018.) Youth Choir Eligibility runs from about 6 th or 7 th grade (dependent on skills, maturity, and vocal ability) through high school. Practices are held on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:15 pm in the choir room. (This may change to a full hour from 6:15 to 7:15 pm beginning fall 2018.) Adult Chancel Choir Eligibility begins at college age. (Sometimes high school students of exceptional maturity and advanced skill may be considered.) Practices are held on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the choir room.

10 Breaking Bread 10 SPSP Kids Consignment Sale Spring/Summer 2018 We had a store with 5,500 items valued at $22,000 Helped approximately 325 families buy and sell children clothes and items Donations of 860 items valued at $2,550 to charities supporting Cool Girls, Family Promise, NA and AA Gave 100 service hours to National Honor Society, ROTC and Boy Scouts Volunteer hours of 190 to support this ministry Save the Date! Unplug and Connect at the Parish Retreat, May 4-6 at Rock Eagle Center, Eatonton, GA Come enjoy rest, fun and fellowship with parishioners of all ages from St. Peter & St. Paul. Enjoy lake-front accommodations, relax by a campfire, hike trails, fish or boat on the lake. Rock Eagle 4-H Center is only an hour and a half away, and features 1500 acres of forested land, a 110 acre lake, and excellent accommodations. We will have supervised activities for children and youth, free time, and organized activities for adults to unplug from our daily routine, and connect with God and each other. Read more about Rock Eagle Center at To make a reservation or for more information, please contact Tom Gotschall at tjgotschall@comcast.net.

11 11 Breaking Bread COOL GIRLS 2018 Cool Girls is a non-profit organization unique to Atlanta which started in 1989 in the East Meadows housing community. Today, this program is present in 9 Title 1 middle and elementary schools and has over 350 participants in grades 2 through 8. Cool Girls is devoted to the self-empowerment of young girls instilling leadership, confidence, and self-respect. The goal of this program is to give each Cool Girl the tools needed to break the cycle of poverty, teen pregnancy, and low self-esteem. St. Peter and St. Paul has been supporting Cool Girls for over 25 years. 200 girls that have earned the privilege to come our event must attend weekly meetings given by the Cool Girls organization. The Cool Girls committee at our church plans and prepares a full day of fun for all Cool Girls. The objective is to reward these young ladies for their hard work and effort throughout their previous school year and to get them excited and motivated for the upcoming school year. For 2018, the big event is Saturday, July 28th from 9 am to 3 pm. The Cool Girls committee plans many fun activities that include hip-hop dancing, face painting, playing bingo, decorating a binder or pencil box, eating a lunch from Chick-fil-A, and shopping at 10 different stations in our Back to School Boutique. Sounds cool, right? Please join us and find out first-hand all that goes on during this great event. Our 1 st planning meeting and dinner is Monday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Garden Room. We encourage girls in Middle and High School to join us in the planning process because they have a unique perspective on what s hip and what s not for young girls. In addition, these young volunteers will receive service hours, if needed, which is cool, too. As you do your spring cleaning, please keep in mind some of the items that could be donated towards the 10 stations for the boutique. All of the Cool Girls will be shopping for: Pajamas - gently used and in all sizes (age appropriate) Personal care items - brushes, hair accessories and products, lotions, make-up and bath products Purses- all sizes for girls Jewelry- new and used for girls Hair Accessories - hats, gloves, scarves (warm scarves and fashion scarves) Room Décor items- small decorative items such as picture frames, jewelry holders, pillows, or wall plaques Fun school supplies cute folders, small calculators, locker items, etc. Books - youth and young adult books. Stuffed Animals any kind and any size Please put your donations in the Outreach closet in the blue bin marked Cool Girls. Thank you. Any questions, please contact Cheryl Leagan at cherylcoolgirls@att.net or Beth Bilton at thebiltons@bellsouth.net.

12 Breaking Bread 12 Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you fee him for a lifetime The 5 & 2 Ministry supports local hunger ministries in many ways. One of the ways we do this is to hold two food drives a year to benefit the M.U.S.T. Ministries food pantry right here in Cobb County. M.U.S.T helps people to get back on their feet by providing the necessary tools to do it. The current Lenten food drive occurs from Wednesday, February 18 th through March 11 th. Items you can bring in March to support M.U.S.T. are as follows: Week 3: March 4 th Side Dishes: Canned Green Peas, Dry Beans, Canned Fruit/ Veggies, Baked Beans, Flavored Rice, Flavored Pasta Week 4: March 11 th Other Items: Canned Sweet Potatoes, Box Potatoes, Rice/ Gravy, Macaroni & Cheese, Bread Mix, Pie/Cake Mix, Flour, Baby Food, Baby Formula. Even after the drive is over, we welcome all food donations for M.U.S.T. and those will be picked up regularly all year round. You can also support 5 & 2 after any service by purchasing Kroger or Publix gift cards at face value in denominations of $25, $50, $100 and $200 at our table in the narthex (on Saturdays) or outside the Parish Hall (on Sundays). 3% of all Publix purchases and 4% of all Kroger purchases go directly to one of several hunger ministries in our community. While you are there, ask how you can get your Kroger Plus Rewards card to help by designating St. Peter and St. Paul to receive Kroger donations through your card account at no extra cost to you! For additional information or if you are interested in joining us, please contact Rich Walker at rhwjr214@yahoo.com or via phone or text at s/30s: Join the Conversation! - March 11 We meet the 2nd Sunday of every month at Keegan's, 4401 Shallowford Road near Johnson Ferry and Shallowford, after the 10:30 service. You can meet us at the restaurant at noon or meet us at the parish hall entrance immediately following the 10:30 service. Please RSVP to Leigh Mickalonis at leighmickalonis@gmail.com to ensure we have enough seating. If you haven't RSVP, join us anyway! We can always make room for more!

13 13 Breaking Bread St. Peter and St. Paul is again providing temporary shelter for several homeless families involved with Family Promise in There are opportunities for Dinner/Evening Hosting, Overnight Hosting, as well as helping to provide dinner each of the nights during the week we host. Sign ups will be available on our Sign up Genius web site. All who wish to become part of the Family Promise ministry and have not attended training please register at If you have any questions regarding this training or the ministry please contact Peter Williams at or Tom Gotschall at Please join us on the 1st Wednesday of each month (March 7) at 11:30 a.m. for a Holy Eucharist with Anointing for Healing.

14 Breaking Bread 14 Adult Christian Formation Offerings at St. Peter & St. Paul Winter/Spring 2018 Our mission is Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ. One of the ways we accomplish this is through adult Christian formation, the lifelong process of growing in our relationship with God, self, others, and all creation. We grow in prayer, scripture, service, and Christian fellowship, integrating our relationship with God into our daily lives. Group contact information is below. Start dates and meeting times of other groups are noted below. SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERINGS- 9:15 to 10:15 The Whys of Worship Led by: The Rev. Tom Pumphrey Location: Parish Hall Come learn why we worship God the way we do in this series that will continue each Sunday through Lent. Why do we cross ourselves or stand or kneel? What goes into our prayers each week? Why do we celebrate communion each week? Come learn answers to these and other questions about our worship services and deepen your faith as you do. Women s Sunday School Class Facilitators: Kristi Story, Stacy Ferris, JoAnn Gotschall, Cathy Schuman Location: Room 7 We are completing our study of Philippians. Growing Christian Families Sunday School Class Facilitators: Mike and Kim Nancarrow Location: Room 6 A discussion based on the book and video series Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World. Max Lucado leads readers to reflect on Philippians 4:4-8 which contains an antidote to anxiety that will help to develop a mindset of resilience. We will discuss practical ways to manage anxiety in ourselves and our children. There is no need to purchase the book. Lectionary Bible Study Facilitator: Jim Woodruff, John Patton, Jay Pongonis Location: Room 5 Heroes of the Bible will be discussed on March 11, 18 & 25. Each week, one hero will be presented by the facilitator with some background material and some bible verses that are pertinent to the hero and background material. Heros that might be included are Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Elijah, Peter, Paul, John, Ruth, Ester. It is always amazing to see how God takes ordinary people and helps them accomplish extraordinary feats. OPPORTUNTIES FOR STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP DURING THE WEEK Tuesday Men s Lunch Bible/Book Study (Books for Biblical Christians) Facilitators: Tom Mimms and Justin Streeter (meets year-round) Time: 11:30 am- 12:30 am Location: McAlister s Deli (corner of Holcomb Bridge and Old Alabama Road in Roswell) BBC is a men s group that meets weekly for lunch, prayer and discussion. The group is studying True Spirituality: Becoming a Romans 12 Christian by Chip Ingram. The book gives us a biblical, practical, relevant pathway to achieving spiritual maturity. Tuesday Evening Adult Bible Study Facilitator: Amy Stillwell Time: 7pm 8pm Location: Room 8 Come join us as we explore the Gospel of John in a relaxed informal discussion. Bring your Bible and all adults are welcome! We meet every Tuesday evening at 7 to 8 PM in Room 7. Contact Amy Stillwell for more information, amystillwell55@gmail.com or

15 15 Breaking Bread OPPORTUNTIES FOR STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP DURING THE WEEK Tuesday Evening Education for Ministry (EfM) EFM Mentor: Bernadette Watts ( ) Time: 7 pm -10 pm Location: Room 1 - Involves significant reading and class preparation EfM is a program of study developed by the School of Theology of the University of the South that involves study, theological reflection and worship. The course of study lasts 4 years, covering four subjects, respectively: Old Testament, New Testament, church history and modern theologians. While it is a four-year program, individuals commit for only one year at a time. Contact Bernadette Watts for information. Enrollment forms are available at Golden Girls Bible Study Facilitators: Connie Kerdasha and Caroline Woodruff Time: Tuesday mornings - 10:30 am 11:30am Location: Garden Room Please bring your Bible for a study session with participation from the group. Wild Women of Wednesday Bible Study Facilitators: Elisa Harres, Amy Stillwell, Bernadette Watts Time: 10 am 11:15 Location: Garden Room Expect to participate in interesting, thought provoking conversations on some of the most beloved stories and images in the Bible. This group is studying the Gospel of John. All women are welcome! Thursday Men s Study Group Facilitator: Victor Meijers, John Patton, John Bareham Time: 7:00 am- 8:00 am Location: Room 1 The Men s Thursday Study Group is studying the Book of Romans using a study guide from The Good Book series. Brotherhood of St. Andrew Current directors: Chuck Matheson, John Patton, Justin Streeter, and Jim Woodruff Time: 7 am- 8:30 am Location: Garden Room All men are invited to meet with us every other Saturday, for breakfast, fellowship and Bible study of the Sunday Gospel reading. Daughters of the King Current directors: Amy Stillwell, Marci Thomas Time: 11 am- 1 pm Saturdays on a monthly basis Location: Garden Room All Women are welcome to join The Daughters of the King as they begin a new study at 11 AM in Room 1. A light lunch will be served. We will be studying and discussing Fire of the Word, Meeting God on Holy Ground by Chris Webb. You can order a copy from Amazon. Come join us as we examine how the Spirit of God inhabits the Bible and how we can transform our lives with the astounding power of God s Word. Continuing the Conversation: a Group for People in their 20s & 30s Facilitator: Leigh Mickalonis Time: Second Sunday of every month after the 10:30 service This group meets at Keegan s at the intersection of Johnson Ferry and Shallowford Road for brunch and fellowship. All 20 s and 30 s are welcome; single, married, with or without children. Come join the conversation.

16 Breaking Bread Breaking Bread March 2018 Breaking Bread 16 Easter Flowers and Foliage Offering Flowers and decorations for our Easter services are made possible by your generous donations. These offerings are in memory of a loved one, or in thanksgiving for all the blessings of loved ones. Each offering is $20.00 and will be published in the Easter services. Please attach your check to this form and submit to Suzy Bristow in the church office NO LATER THAN Monday, March 19, 2018 or Suzy at sbristow@peterandpaul.org with your desired wording. (PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY) Given by: In Memory of: And/or In Thanksgiving for: Alcoholics Anonymous - 8:00 p.m. Fridays Garden Room - Open Meeting Narcotics Anonymous - 7:00 p.m. Thursdays Choir Room - Open Meeting