Parish Summit Meeting

Sunday, March 4th at 11:00 am.

A luncheon and childcare will be provided.

Do you have any interest in the future of St. Peter's?

Join us!

Do you want to know the results of the survey?

Join us!

We will break out into smaller groups of interest and respond to the parish survey data, identifying  top themes to help map out the future of St. Peter's.

I am excited about doing this work with you, and would be very grateful if you could make every effort to attend this Summit.  The future depends on you!

Grace and Peace,

Stephanie+

Introduction to the Lenten Series:  

Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 11:30 am in the Living Room

The Lenten Series will meet on Tuesdays at 12:30 pm beginning February 28th through March 27th. Bring your brown bag lunch.

This year we are going to explore a classic in Christian fiction; Flannery O'Connor's 1952 novel. Amazon describes this book in this way:

"Wise Blood, Flannery O'Connor's astonishing and haunting first novel, is a classic of twentieth-century literature. It is the story of Hazel Motes, a twenty-two-year-old caught in an unending struggle against his innate, desperate faith. He falls under the spell of a "blind" street preacher named Asa Hawks and his degenerate fifteen-year-old daughter, Lily Sabbath. In an ironic, malicious gesture of his own non-faith, and to prove himself a greater cynic than Hawks, Hazel Motes founds The Church Without Christ, but is still thwarted in his efforts to lose God. He meets Enoch Emery, a young man with "wise blood," who leads him to a mummified holy child, and whose crazy maneuvers are a manifestation of Hazel's existential struggles. This tale of redemption, retribution, false prophets, blindness, blindings, and wisdom gives us one of the most consuming characters in modern fiction."

There is a signup sheet to order books ($10) at the back of the church/chapel or you can contact Ronald at the parish office.

On Sunday, February 19, 2012, the music ministry is presenting Cantata No. 51 "Jauchzett Gott in allen Landen" (Praise God in All Lands) by Johann Sebastian Bach. This work was originally scheduled for October 30, 2011 but was postponed due to the early snowstorm.  

This cantata is one of four J.S. Bach wrote for a solo voice. Bach's solo cantatas are, in some sense, his only true cantatas, as the term comes from the Italian genre originally devoted to one or two voices. In any case, they offer a more contemplative, informal approach to Bach's religious music. The instrumental accompaniment and voice are in greater dialogue and the vocal part is more operatic in nature. When he wrote these four cantatas he was giving himself a working sabbatical for about six months. The work was composed in 1730 while he was organist/cantor at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. The text has no relevance to the scriptures of the Last Sunday After Epiphany, but a celebratory rejoicing prior to the solemnity of Lent. The four movements will be incorporated into Morning Prayer which will be celebrated this day.

Musicians:   Maria Alu, soprano; Mike Bassett, trumpet; Alexandra Jenkins, violin; Jen Schuchman, violin; Nancy Connell, cello; John Pivarnik, harpsichord              

The musicians today are members of or affiliated with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey under the direction of Maestro Robert Butts.

Got Rhythm? Have we got an opportunity for you!

St. Peter's Music Ministry would like to form an inter-generational hand-bell choir. Rehearsal details are yet to be determined. Ringing in a hand-bell choir works well as a stand-alone music course for anyone wishing to improve their musical skills ... a valuable asset to students and adults who are studying other instruments, especially piano. Ringing also reinforces and strengthens the student's ability to read music and also improves one's sense of rhythm. Bells are a powerful tool to add excitement, color, beauty, mystery, and meaning to a worship service.

A basic understanding of reading treble or bass clef is a prerequisite for the group. From personal experience, ringing is a lot of fun and a great opportunity for community. Please contact John Pivarnik for more information. You may reach him by phone at  973-377-9068 or feel free to send him an email.

All adults who are interested in becoming Confirmed or Received into the Episcopal Church are invited to speak to Stephanie or Ronald.  There will be a Confirmation potluck supper on Saturday, March 3rd at 6pm.

Hungry, cold & grumpy? 

Try Goulash and Beer!

OpShop Volunteers have been busy since last week's big sale days! Unsold winter clothing was wrapped up and is on its way to benefit local charities. 

Thanks to your generous donations, Spring Clothing for men, ladies, children and juniors is now on display!

Come by and browse the racks, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Every week "new-to-the-shop" homegoods, jewelry, books, and art are for sale.

The OpShop appreciates donations throughout the year. Donations may be placed in the blue bins on the steps of St. Peter's Church office at any time, or brought to the Opshop on Thursday and Saturday.

 
The OpShop is currently in need of boys clothing size 3T - 10, jewelry, vintage items, home goods, men's spring jackets and blazers. 

Sale items this week include a fire place rack, a children's rocking horse, a file cabinet, and table linens, & much more!

OpShop Calendar Notes:

OpShop Hours: Thursday & Saturday, 10am to 2pm
Consignment Hours: First & third Thursdays 10am to 1pm 

On Sunday, February 26th, The OpShop will host coffee hour in the Opshop. Please come downstairs to visit and enjoy a yummy treat.

The OpShop will be closed for the Easter holiday and spring break from April 2 - 7, 2012.  

 

Please put these upcoming dates on your calendar so you can join us for Girls Night Out!

• February 29 
• March 28 (* please note corrected date!) 
• April 25 
• May 30 
• June 27 

All services are welcome to participate in this ministry, and all sundays are available except Christmas and Easter. The cost of the memorial or thanksgiving is $50.

If you would like to dedicate flowers, please contact Sharon Ellis by email or telephone (973-226-1005). There are also flower sign-up charts will be in the back of the church and chapel and at coffee hour. 

Coffee hour hosts are needed for the upcoming weeks. Want to help, but unsure of what to do or how much to bring? Check out this document!  

Sign-up sheets are in the Upper Room, or you may contact Elizabeth Boggier directly by phone at 973-228-5607 or send her an email. 

The Second Annual Multi-Faith Lecture Series will feature Tony Compolo, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University.  

Lectures will take place at local churches from March 16 through the 18th, and will include a March 17th event at St. Peter's titled "The Future of Organized Religion in America."

Stay tuned for more details as the dates approach!

It's that time of year again, when our church family will usher in the summertime with the annualSt. Peter's Street Fair. This year's fair will be held on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9. 

Did you know that 2011 marked the 80th anniversary since the first fair took place at St. Peter's?It is a wonderful event that your family and the entire West Essex community enjoy.The Street Fair is also one of our church's biggest and best fundraisers.

Over 100 volunteers are needed to run the Street Fair each year.Make your plans now to get involved and help.You can volunteer to help set-up, run a booth, prepare and serve food or work behind the scenes to make the whole event run smoothly.

Donations of used books  and old china for the China Smash booth would be greatlyappreciated. Please start saving today! (no textbooks, thank you!)

Please contact us by phone or email if you would like to get involved (and we know you do!) or to donate any items: 

Lisa Beland (973-686-0737) 

Pam Au (973-403-929)