St. Peter s.net Historic St. Peter s Episcopal Church + 1010 Broad Street + Altavista VA 24517 www.stpeteraltavista.dioswva.org Facebook page St. Peter s Episcopal Church in Altavista VA Volume 2 + Issue # 1 February 2012 2012 Annual Council Looks to Future There were several highlights at this year s 93rd Annual Council for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. 1. The report and passage, in part, of the Resolution 8 Sustainability Study that will result in further discernment as to streamline the work of the Diocese and its relationship with its parishes. 2. The resignation of our Bishop, The Rt Rev F Neff Powell when a successor is named. (Resignation is by canon the appropriate term although Bishop Powell is retiring.) 3. The Election of the Search Committee and an outline of the process that plans to install a new Bishop by June of 2013. 4. Fine workshops designed for all members of our churches to attend at no cost that included study of Resolution 8 (mentioned above) Hispanic Ministries workshop, Small Church Workshop, and several others. 5. Most of all, the wonderful fellowship among Episcopalians of all ages, gathered to pack 176,000 meals for the Sudan. 6. The presence of Bishops Andudu, Sudan, and Bishop Gerard Mpango of Tanzania. Emma and Mollie Green were among 200 Youth@ Council who participated in the packing along with 200 adults. St. Peter s welcomes visiting Bradford Bishop and wife The Rt Rev Nick Baines, Diocese of Bradford England at St. Peter s 1
Rector s Corner Anglicans/Episcopal ians Work and Play January seemed to have come and gone in a flash! Between our wonderful visits by our own Bishop and Dorothy and the guests of the diocese, Bishop Nick Baines and his wife Linda, we have been truly blessed! How very special it was to meet people and those they represent for whom we pray each Sunday. Our time together was lively, productive and prayerful. Thank you, Bishop Powell, for allowing us to be part of the larger church. Thank you, Bishop Baines, for preaching on Jonah. Thank you, Dorothy, for your beautiful music. And, thank you, Linda, for your grace-filled presence with us. This year s annual council also brought with it a sense of the Anglican Communion which was indeed felt as we gathered on Saturday evening to pack food to be shipped to the Sudan. For those of us from St. Peter s: Jo Kelley, Aubrey Rosser, Jane, Emma and Mollie Green, our parish participation in this project could be seen and felt and became part of who we are in the wider world. You, dear members, were also part of that wider world! Our vestry committed to $500 for this project (with a goal of $35,000). You raised $775! And, with God s help, the goal of $35,000 was reached. The intention was to pack 143,000 meals that evening and 176,000 meals were packed. Thank you once again for your generosity! And thank you for your ongoing love of God through outreach that is so dear to your hearts. Thank you for your help with Backpacks (food for local children) and Stop Hunger Now (food for children of the Sudan), and for ongoing support for Fannie s House. Blessings abound! Karen+ Senior Warden s Message One benefit for me of attending Council, was realizing we are not alone in our parish life. I had great visits with people, over breakfast, during breaks even in elevators who were interested in our successes and challenges, and anxious to share their own. A larger exchange occurred at the Small Churches workshop, with the Revs. Becky Crites (Glasgow) and Jonathan Harris (Buchanan). They serve on the Diocese Small Church Committee, charged to identify help for smaller parishes. We learned that, of the 56 SW VA Diocesan parishes, thirty report Sunday attendance of 30 or fewer. Thirty-four of the 56 have annual budgets well under $100,000, and the minimum funding standards for full-time clergy is $74,000 per year. Indeed, we are not alone! Thankfully, we were also provided ideas and resources for growth, mission and fundraising, which I m anxious to share more with you. This Small Church work will continue, and we can take an active role in it. I am inspired to think that we can, with God s help, not only meet our own parish needs, but help to solve issues common among smaller parishes all for the greater good. As our Vestry works hard this year, we look forward to good communication with all members of St. Peter s. Our annual meeting was a start, and I thank you for another good exchange at coffee hour As beneficial as the information sharing is at Council, it s important that we all share at St. Peter s, as we address parish needs, what our ministry should include, and how we can grow our membership and resources. Peace and Love, Jo 2
Bishop s transitioning As our diocese moves from one Bishop to another, there is much to be done. In addition to the Search Committee, the Standing Committee has invited members of congregations to participate by volunteering to assist. The Transition committee will work alongside the Search Committee. Membership of this Committee will consist of 10 to 12 people appointed by the Standing Committee to include support of the incumbent bishop and diocesan staff, presentation of nominees (the walk about the diocese ), support of the bishop-elect and family, consecration of the new bishop and retirement celebrations. If you are interested in submitting your name, please contact your rector for the form so that we can make the Standing Committee aware of your interest. Convocation Update Lenten Quiet Day @ St. John s Bedford Getting in Touch with One s Own Spirituality Saturday, March 3, from 9:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. to include lunch at no charge. Guest presenter is The Rev. Dr. Glenn Bush, who is the author of Filling our Empty Nets, Portraits of the Divine Presence, and Journey to the Final Cast. Call 540 586-9582 for reservations. Prayer in Hard Times @ St. Paul s in Lynchburg The Rev. Barbara Crafton will be present on Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for this Lenten opportunity. Registration fee is $20. For further information contact St. Paul s, 434 8457301. B. Crafton is the author of Geranium Farm, an almost daily email blog. Worship@Lane Memorial! On Sunday, March 11, St. Peter s will close its doors in order to worship with our brothers and sisters at Lane Memorial UMC. This special service, following the theme of Make us one with Christ highlights the intentionality of the United Methodists and Episcopalians to move toward full communion with one another (as we are with the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America and the Moravian communities). Parish Nursing Introducing Hospice Hospice is there, at no cost, for persons who have a life expectancy of six months or less. Funding can be picked up by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and/or Hospice itself in indigent cases. Hospice provides medical assessment, registered nurses (who make weekly visitations), certified nursing assistants (who provide daily living services), chaplains, social workers, music therapy and volunteers. To be part of the Hospice service, one needs a physician s referral. Hospice House has 3 beds (located on the road of the Church of the Covenant, located off Boonsboro Road. The highest priority of use is for those with no support system or family. Hospice House, when bed is available, provides care for those families seeking respite for a few days. Hospice also provides care for the family for a year following the death providing services, and a bereavement group. Georgia Stromer is our Parish Nurse. 3
Clip and save Classifieds Help Wanted Frannie s House is seeking volunteers to provide transportation (40 hours of training needed for this.) Also, the outdoor lamppost needs painting. (Contact Angela Davis, adavisywca@yahoo.com) Donations requested Ongoing need at Frannie s House can always use coupons and bus tokens for its residents. If you are interested in donating, please leave in rector s box in the office at church. Other needs include the painting of the outdoor lamppost, gift cards to Walmart, Vista Foods or Food Lion, cleaning supplies and paper products including toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. (Contact Angela Davis, adavisywca@yahoo.com) Food goods for DAWN Please consider donating canned goods and other items for our Dollar A Week for our Neighbors! This is an outreach program through the Altavista Area Ministerial Association. St. Peter s.net Please send your news items to Rev Karen Joy Kelly, Editor karenjoykelly@verizon.net (434)237-7158 www.stpeteraltavista.dioswva.org Facebook: St. Peter s Episcopal Church in Altavista VA Lent and Easter Schedule AAMA/Second Helping Prayer and Luncheon Series Weekly beginning on Ash Wednesday. St. Peter s is serving lunch on Ash Wed. Ash Wednesday Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 22. Weekly Lenten Spiritual Journey: Praying for Peace in Jerusalem Tuesdays, beginning at 12:30 p.m. with Soup Luncheon at Rector s home in Lynchburg. This journey will consist of a pictorial journey with Jesus based on rector s recent pilgrimage to Israel. This is a joint study with members of All Saints Episcopal Fellowship. Please let rector know if you are interested in attending: karenjoykelly@verizon.net. Palm Sunday Procession of the Palms and Morning Prayer Sunday, April 1, 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist and traditional stripping of Altar 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5 Good Friday Stations of the Cross 7 p.m., Friday, April 6 Easter Sunday Holy Eucharist and Easter Brunch with Egg Hunt for Children 10 a.m. 4
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper! Tuesday, February 21 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available For the Frannie s House Valentine s Day Dinner Dance $25 per person Tuesday, February 14 Altavista Country Club Beginning at 6 p.m. Please Contact: Linda Williams at (434) 369-0088 or lljwilliams@comcast.net. Historic St. Peter s Episcopal Church Raffle to be held! $5.00 per adult Children 12 and under eat free!!!! Did you know Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers have been around since the 15th Century. There is an Anglican tradition to go to your priest for confession and be shriven (repentance & forgiveness) before Lent begins. Pancake races are thought to have begun in 1445. A woman had lost track of the time on Shrove Tuesday, and was busy cooking pancakes in her kitchen. Suddenly she heard the church bell ringing to call the faithful to church for confession. The woman raced out of her house and ran all the way to church; still holding her frying pan and wearing her apron. This celebration is followed by the 40 days of fasting for Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday. 5