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Keys Archive: If you missed an earlier Keys newsletter and would like to see it, please
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Sunday, December 14
8:00 A Holy Communion
9:00 A Adult Bible Study
9:00 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:30-11:30 Nursery Care
10:00 A Holy Communion
10:45 A Church School
11:15 A Coffee Hour
11:30 A Junior Choir Rehearsal
2:00 P Youth to Black Nativity
Monday, December 15
8:00 P AA
Tuesday, December 16
11:00 A Staff Meeting
Wednesday, December 17
6:30 P Women's Potluck Supper
Thursday, December 18
Friday, December 19
Saturday, December 20
10:00 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
10:00 A Pageant Rehearsal
Sunday, December 21
8:00 A Holy Communion
9:00 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:30-11:30 Nursery Care
10:00 A Pageant/Holy Communion
11:15 A Soup and Sandwiches
11:30 A Junior Choir Rehearsal
4:00 P Lessons and Carols at Campion Center
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Website, Keys Notes and QuickLinks
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Nominations:
In keeping with the theme of the upcoming week, it is almost "election" time at St. Peter's. While we do not elect our parish leadership like this week's event, the parish does vote for a single slate of leadership to begin after our Annual Meeting in late January. The Nominating Committee will soon begin considering future leadership. Years ago, I was asked to volunteer for a minor task for St. Peter's. Over extended and too busy was my response. The leader that called thanked me graciously and empathized with being overextended, and then asked, and I quote," but it's time for you to step up to the plate for the parish." Is it time for you to step up to the "St. Peter's plate"? Can you offer your time to serve on the vestry or become a committee co- chair?
Speaking for myself, I have received far more than I have given to our parish over the years. I hope everyone will prayerfully consider this possibility, and then contact your wardens or any member of the Nominations Committee with the good news of your contribution to the future of St. Peter's.
Janice Corley and Marshall Bartlett- Wardens for St. Peter's
Nominations Committee:
Ned Rossiter
Marion Packs
Marshall Bartlett
Janice Corley
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From the Rector's Desk:A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Some years ago, I was touring the the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, famed for its extraordinary stained glass windows dating back as far as the 13th century. I had seen many pictures of the famed rose windows, but in person, they were absolutely extraordinary. At the time, a cleaning project was underway, revealing the full colors of many of the windows. As I recall, one set of many smaller, square windows could be seen high up on one of the cathedral's immense walls. As I wondered why these small windows were in a place where their detail could not be seen, the guide was answering my unasked question. Apparently, there had once been a balcony from which the windows could be seen up close. In the generations before the printing press and before general education, the windows were essentially the Sunday School class diagrams for generations of Christians. Each window rendered a biblical story in pictures and the catechist would use the window's image to get the meaning of the story across. In our time, with probably too much "in print," we sometimes lose sight of the value of imagery to tell a story. Which is why I so much enjoy one of the few remaining ways of telling the story of the Nativity visually - the Christmas Pageant. No, the usual Christmas Pageant does not compare in artistry to those remarkable windows in Chartres Cathedral; but the concept is the same. By acting out the story and telling the story in images as well as words, we help our young people to see their own experiences as connected to this ancient story of God's love revealed in a single life. I hope you will join us at the 10:00 AM service on Sunday, December 21 to support our young people as they "teach" themselves - and us - the great truth of God's compassion one again this Christmas season.
-- Stephen
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Announcements
Adult Bible Study, which meets each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Bidwell Room, will resume on January 4, 2009. The Rector will lead a conversation on Mrk 1:4-11.
Today, St. Peter's Middle Schoolers are going to see Langston Hughes' Black Nativity, and will share a simple supper afterwards to discuss the play and plans for the coming year.
Women's Potluck Supper - This Wednesday, 6:30 at the Rectory. Bring a salad, casserole, or dessert and join in lively conversation and great food!
Next Sunday the Nativity Pageant will be presented at the 10 a.m. service. There is a rehearsal at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Christmas Music and Flower envelopes are available in the Pews for you to use if you wish to make a memorial donation toward Christmas flowers and/or special Christmas music. Please fill out the envelopes and put them in the offering plate or send them to the church office no later than this Tuesday, December 16.
Save the Date: Ground of your own Choosing: Winning Strategies for Finding & Creating Work. A workshop with Beverly Ryle - January 31 9am-11:30am in the Parish Hall. Further info: Carolyn Ellis, 781-899-5880 or Bill Symonds, 781-899- 7697 or the Church Office.
Christmas Pageant
Our annual Christmas Pageant is part of the 10:00 AM Sunday service on December 21st, offering a wonderful opportunity for
our young people to engage in the nativity story. The rehearsal
is on Saturday, December 20th at 10:00 AM, and all church school
students are welcome and encouraged to take part. For further
information, contact Beth Graham, Church School Coordinator,
at ElizabethLGraham@gmail.com or call the parish office.
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FLOWER GUILD - Christmas Flowers
Flower Envelopes are in the Pews!
If you would like to make a memorial donation for Christmas flowers, please
send your check (payable to St. Peter's Church with "Christmas flowers"
noted in the memo line) with the names of those you remember to the Parish Office NO LATER than December 16. Questions? Mercer Riis in the Parish Office 781 891-3200 or Carolyn Ellis 781-899-5880. Thank you for your gift.
Flower Chart for 2009 is posted in the church foyer; please sign up to give flowers next year.
Please join us to decorate the church for Christmas Eve. Note this year we are working Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2 - 4 PM and our traditional time, Wed., Dec. 24, 9 - 11 AM. Please let me know if and when you plan to attend. Carolyn Ellis at cellis@stpetersweston.org.
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Middle Schoolers
of St Peters Church!!
Black
Nativity, 3:30pm Sunday,
December 14th,
the holiday musical by Langston
Hughes... Presented by the National Center of Afro-American Artists.
 Based on the Gospel
of St. Luke, combined with the poetry of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston
Hughes, Black Nativity is a celebration that tells the original story
of the Nativity in scripture, verse, music and dance.
A joyous company of
160 singers, actors, dancers and musicians delivers its powerful message
of joy, hope, victory and liberation.
Boston's production is the longest running performance of this song-play
in the world. The December 1st opening marks its 39th consecutive season
of 12 exhilarating performances.
This season's performances are dedicated to the memory of John Andrew
Ross (1940-2006) for his 36 years of service as Musical Director of
Black Nativity.
"If you've
never seen the gospel-infused 'Black Nativity,' clear your calendar
for a performance...The chorus has children as young as five performing
alongside parents and grandparents, and many of the singers debuted
in the production decades earlier as infants in the role of baby Jesus."
Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company
We will
gather at St Peter's at 2:00pm, drive downtown to catch the 3:30pm
show, and then have time for discussion and dinner. Our hope
is to have folks ready for pick-up at the Parish Hall by 8:00pm afterward.
Questions?
Contact
The Reverend
Hall Kirkham (hkirkham@stpetersweston.org)
Beth Graham,
Church School Director (elizabethlgraham@gmail.com)
Margaret Randle
(bestillmlr@comcast.net)
Peggy Batchelder
(rdbatchelder@comcast.net)
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Ground of Your Own Choosing: Winning Strategies for Finding & Creating Work
 SAVE the DATE! January 31, 2009
A Workshop with Beverly Ryle, author of an acclaimed new book based on her more than 25 years of experience as a leading career counselor and coach.
January 31, 2009, Saturday, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM, St. Peter's Parish Hall.
This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is rethinking their plans because of a job loss, or sharp drop in the value of their investments. Open to the parish and the community. Mark your calendars and invite your friends.
For info or to reserve your place, contact the Parish Office 781-891-3200; Bill Symonds, 781-899-7697; or Carolyn Ellis, 781-899-5880
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Advent Quiet Morning
"Only God can say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be."
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
How, in this all too frantic season, can we learn to still the mind and quiet the body as we journey toward the Incarnation?
Join us for a morning of quiet and prayerful reflection as we explore together ways in which we can open more deeply to the presence of Christ who holds and grounds us in the 'already/not yet' Kingdom of God.
We hope you will contact one of us if you are interested in joining our group of up to twelve.
Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 9-12:30 (note new ending time!)
Place: Bidwell Room
Co-facilitators:
Sarah Rossiter, lay spiritual director, and retreat leader (sarahrossiter42@yahoo.com)
The Reverend Hall Kirkham, associate rector at St. Peter's Church (hkirkham@stpetersweston.org)
St Peter's Middle Schoolers will be heading to Boston on Sunday afternoon, December 14th, to see Langston Hughes' "Black Nativity" and to share fellowship over supper afterwards! We will meet here at the church at 2pm and leave for the drive downtown by 2:30pm. The play runs 3:30pm - 5:00pm, we will have dinner and conversation back at the church, and be ready for parent pickup by 8:00pm. Any last minute questions? Contact:
Peggy Batchelder (rdbatchelder@comcast.net)
Margaret Randle (bestillmlr@comcast.net)
Beth Gibson, Church School Coordinator (elizabethlgibson@google.com)
The Reverened Hall Kirkham (hkirkham@stpetersweston.org)
St Peter's Rocks! Weston will be participating in Ecclesia Ministries' CityReach program during the weekend of January 23rd - 24th. We will travel to the Cathedral Church of St Paul in Boston for an overnight there beginning at 7pm on Friday, and return Saturday afternoon after spending our time with people who are homeless and learning about their life on the streets. Questions or want to learn more? Contact: The Reverened Hall Kirkham (hkirkham@stpetersweston.org)
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Musical Notes
 On December 14th, Kristen Dirmeier will play an arrangement for French horn by Kenneth Bell of the beloved Advent hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel." She will also direct the Junior Choir in a contemporary piece by Christopher Tambling. The offertory anthem will be a mystical setting of "Watchman, tell us of the night" (text in our hymnal, No. 640) by the noted Boston composer Alan Hovhaness. It includes an extended bass solo to be sung by Jonathan Cole. During communion, the choir will sing a setting by F. A. Gevaert of an 18th-century French noël, whose first stanza in translation is as follows:
Blessed they who here were dwelling When the Christ Child came to earth,
And with infinite compassion, Took on Him that lowly birth.
Why could I not see Him too, Like those favor'd sons of men?
Why is He not with us now? Or was I not living then?
Dieterich Buxtehude's splendid Praeludium in G minor for organ (WV 149) will close the service.
On Christmas Eve at 10:00 pm, the service will open with half an hour of music from George Frideric Handel's Messiah, accompanied by the Copley Chamber Players. Besides our own Meredeth Kelly and Jonathan Cole, the soloists will be Catherine Hedberg, well known in the Boston area as soloist with the Cantata Singers, Musicians of the Old Post Road, and other organizations; and Kathleen Flynn, recently arrived in Boston from New York City, who has performed widely in locations such as Lincoln Center Theater, Juilliard Opera Theater, Alice Tully Hall, and with New York State Baroque.
Beverly Scheibert
Interim Music Director
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St. Peter's is My Home
Stewardship campaign, 2008
As I sorted through the mail last week, the letters asking for money overwhelmed me. The requests were from groups offering food, shelter, healing, and justice to "the least of these" as Christ called them. The need is never ending. It seems to be getting worse as more letters fill my mailbox. Do you feel this way too? Did your St. Peter's stewardship brochure get lost among the others?
With the so many worthy causes, why give of our limited treasure to the solid, ever present church down the road? Giving to the church doesn't have the same warm-fuzzy feeling of really helping people.
Our church does really help people - people just like you. No one is too full, too warm or too healthy not to need a spiritual home. Just before Thanksgiving, over 80 parishioners of all ages gathered for dinner. While the teens discussed the reality of poverty and the work of Ecclesia ministries, the kids played board games and the adults shared stories. The stories told of our lives that week, the past month, or several years ago. There was much laughter and a general feeling of gratitude for those around us. The burdens we carried seemed a little lighter that night. The stories and the people who shared them are the foundations of this church home; a part of God's spiritual food and shelter.
We are not just another charity, although our church does support charities near and far. St. Peter's is a home for our souls, a place to nurture our spirits so that we may go into the world in peace to love and serve the Lord.
St. Peter's may be your weekly home, occasional home, seasonal home or holiday home. If this is your church home and you haven't already made a financial commitment please do so now. Let's keep St. Peter's that solid, ever present church down the road, a spiritual home for us all.
May the Peace of the Lord be with you, Marty Rodgers, 2009 Stewardship Chair
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