Blue Christmas Service: Friday, December 23rd, 7 pm

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1 St. Peter s December 2015 December 2016 Cross & Keys Church Address: 45 W. Winter St. Office Address: 15 N. Franklin St. Delaware, OH Fr. Terry Highland, Interim Rector Office Hours: M-TH: 9:30am-12:30pm Wed: 7:00pm-9:00pm (off on Friday) Please call ahead for appointment Parish Administrator Office Hours : M-F 10a-12p Contact stpeters45@frontier.com Blue Christmas Service: Friday, December 23rd, 7 pm A service for all those who are in mourning, who feel grief during this time of year, or who feel alone in the world. You will find comfort here and a message of love and hope. Worship Services: All with Holy Communion Sunday Mornings at 8:00a & 10:30a Website: Stpetersdelaware.org St. Peter s is a prayerful, diverse, and growing community of faith dedicated to helping others know Jesus Christ through word, sacraments and actions.

2 Rector Notes Page 2 Dear Ones, The cold weather of Advent is here. We are focused on getting ready for Christmas and buying presents for those we love, yet Advent is more than that. It is focused on being ready for Christ in our lives. Christ could come any moment. May we take time this Advent and reflect on how we are ready both personally and corporately here at St. Peters. Soon we will be singing Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King. We will see the simple beauty of our Christmas Eve Youth Pageant and the majesty of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Mass. On Christmas Day we will be with family opening presents and watching our children or grandchildren s excitement opening their presents. After Christmas dinner we will settle down to do the mundane task of washing dishes or watching a Christmas movie or football on TV. Christmas is over and sometimes there is a sense of relief and let down. Caught up in all our Christmas activities, we sometimes forget the greatest present of all God s love for us. Over and over in the Old Testament, God redeemed those who followed Him. Ultimately, God redeemed us once and for all by sending His Son to pay for all of our sins and forgiving us, so we may be back in the Family of God. May we sing, Joy to the World we are a fullfledged member of God s family. Blessings, Terry+ New Rector Calling Process Canon Lynn Carter- Edmands met with the Vestry on November 20, 2016 to outline the next steps and give approval for us to move forward. We are now ready for form a Self-Evaluation Committee. The Self-Evaluation Committee is a very important committee. It will help chart the course for the future of St. Peters. They will be looking at where we have been, what worked and what didn t, where we are now, and where we are going in the future. They will suggest to the Vestry a 5 year plan as well as what we need to do now for us to grow and be a spiritual force in Delaware blessing God and our community. The people selected should be a cross section of our church. They will be: Some young in age, some older Some new to the church, some long standing members Some women, some men All members to have God s calling to be on this committee They need to make a time commitment to be available weekly. They will be discussing St. Peter s mission, future purpose, and develop the type of person to lead us into the future. If you are so called, please fill out the attached form and return to our office or send to our Senior Warden Jason Ross (j82ross@yahoo.com ). The Vestry will decide who is on the Self-Evaluation team, and it will be announced in January.

3 Page 3 Recasting Update At the November 4 th - 5th Recasting Team Meeting a number of topics were discussed, the following is a few ideas I would like to share. Quick Easy Wins is one of the steps of this program. To show progress, immediate short term wins, can do in a week, less than $100. We came up with doing a quick signage (then continue work on more permanent signage), remove bushes from front, so signage is more visible and put in solar lights. At this time, a couple signs have been put up at the entrances of the church and solar lights are shining on the large stone St. Peter s Episcopal Church sign in front. For more ideas, see our Ideas and Opportunities list, hanging in Library/ Fellowship room. Another idea is to make a space in rear of church where young children can sit (table/ chairs). Some people do not want to put toddlers in nursery, so we can make a children's zone in the back of the church. We already have the pews in back for adults seating; then a childrens table and chairs can be added to the back with some activities books and some other materials. I am asking if anyone has a table and/or chairs sitting around, not using anymore and would like to donate, it would be appreciated. If you would like to provide table and/or chairs you can bring to church and put in nursery and let me know at jlauren50@aol.com. We also have a 60 day challenge; do what God wants and will bring you joy and nourishes you and show we care about the community. We are going to do a Blue Christmas Service: service of remembrance; lost ones or those who cannot be present. This service will be held on Friday, Dec. 23; further details to come. Welcoming Getting past Welcome - Once you Welcome someone, ask them something about themselves. Use F.O.R.M. F Family: something about themselves or family, O- Occupation, R-Recreation: fun light hearted and M-Me: Reciprocity- someone will ask about you talk about your message. Other Updates In October, a couple tours of St. Peter s church and grounds were given to non-members for their feedback. Milt and Linda each conducted tours. Some of the observations and comments made: (1) Impressed with rooms available downstairs, however, the rooms need to be clear of clutter, and made ready for future use. (2) Where to park/limited parking; (3) Church building is very nice, organize and clean. (4) Exterior grounds of the church are beautiful and reflect the greatness of God. However, the front steps are intimidating. (5) Felt the holiness of the sanctuary. (6) Question: Do we have greeters? One idea on nice days have greeters outside for services and events. Consider being a greeter. Note: We need a group to clear rooms of clutter and make them look ready to use. We conducted Secret Shopper Experience by visiting other churches and Secret Shopper Guest : guest evaluation of our church. These results are being sent to our consultant and will be shared at an upcoming meeting; so we can discuss our member s experiences, as well as comments from visitors. There is also a list of Ideas and Opportunities broken down into Quick Easy and Explore hanging up in the library/fellowship room. This list was created by the people attending the church meetings. Also, at the church meeting (continued on next page)

4 Page 4 (recasting continued) held on Monday, Nov 14 th a spreadsheet with ideas was given out to attendees (More copies are available on the table in the back of the church). A few people have stepped forward to do some of the items on the list. Such as: John Brinkerhoff has agreed to do St. Peter s PR; he has contacted the Gazette and our church now has a listing in the paper. Nichole Moats is taking care of the nursery and working on a children s corner in back of church. Linda Heid is having shirts printed and looking into a First Friday table with Main Street Delaware. There are a number of easy quick things that need to be done, consider doing one. Form a team to have an event or activity at the church, which will involve our church community as well as the surrounding community. If you hear of someone or a group looking for a place to hold a meeting, suggest St. Peter s, we have a number of rooms in the undercroft. Joyce Laurence FALL LEAF CLEAN UP: December 4th after the 10:30 service (around 12-1) there will be a major effort to collect and dispose of all leaves that are down. Those who have hand blowers, rakes and scoop shovels, please bring them! Wear your working clothes. We will have a landscaper here (his cost will be donated) with his trailer to haul the leaves away. Thank you in advance for your support in this work endeavor!

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6 Page 6 ANDREWS HOUSE Second Friday Meals December 9th, 6-7pm Third Thursday Meals December 15th, 5-6pm Third Monday Meals December 19th, 5:30-6:30pm Legal Advice Clinic Third Tuesday of each month December 20th, Registration 5-6pm Mobile Food Market 1st and 3rd Monday of every month 11:30a-12:30pm. at Highpoint Nazarene Church, 795 Pollock Rd, Delaware Comes and Goes, Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt April 29: A Spool of Blue Thread, Anne Tyler May 27: Ripper, Isabel Allende December Birthdays 4 Marilyn Bentley 5 Joe Chornyak 5 Jackie Burns 8 Matthew Howard 9 Grace Hammett 10 Oliver Moats 18 Jesse Ross 20 Steve Jefferis 23 Lily Smith 29 Ted Heiskell 30 Alberta Vickers Have we missed your birthday? Please be sure to contact the office to let us know! Bread Schedule December - Mel Colegrove Last Saturday Book Club Join us to review a favorite book or for the entire schedule. We meet at 10:30 on the last Saturday of the month at the Parish House. December--No meeting January 28: The Aviator's Wife, Melanie Benjamin February 25: The Edge of the Orchard, Tracy Chevalier March 25: The Rainbow 2016 Vestry Members Jason Ross, Sr. Warden Barbara Walter, Jr. Warden Jim Hinton, Stewardship Paul Sabine, Finance Milt Wyman, Evangelism Brenda Venzke, Hospitality Joyce Laurence, Parish Life People in Need This month, we will be collecting cereal, instant oatmeal (packages), and soup (any kind). Christmas 2016 We will be having the following services at Christmas: Christmas Eve: 4:30 PM our Christmas Eve children s pageant and family choral Eucharist service 9:00 PM Our Christmas Eve service with music Christmas Day: 9:00 AM Christmas Day service

7 St. Peter s Parish Office 15 N Franklin St Delaware, OH December 2016 Cross & Keys Newsletter