St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Lent Begins
March 1 - 7, 2009
In This Issue
Worship
Ministries
Parish Life
Calendar
Key Links
Pool

Hall Kirkham, Ned Rossiter and helpers making stacks of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, launching the Lenten season!
From the Rector......

LENT

Sunday, March 1 is the first Sunday of Lent.  In ancient times, those seeking to become Christians were prepared for baptism during Lent, culminating in the Easter Vigil service and baptisms as the sun was rising on Easter morning.  In our own day, it is a season which encourages all of us to reflect on the spiritual journey of life - where we have come from, where we find ourselves today, and where we want to grow and deepen.

The Sunday service reflects this season in several ways:
     *The Gloria which is sung during the rest of the year is replaced with The Kyrie ("Lord, have
       mercy")
     *Both the Hebrew Scripture Lesson and the New Testament Lesson are utilized
     *A plainsong setting of the Psalm is included, involving both choir and Congregation
     *The Easter cry of "Alleluia" is metaphorically "buried" during Lent, to return at the first
       celebration of the Eucharist at Easter
These changes are meant to encourage a scripture-centered, meditative service consistent
with the themes of self-reflection and meditation.

There are also two special musical services this Lent.  On March 22, a United Nations youth choral ensemble will be the guest choir at the 10:00 service.  On March 29, a Bach Cantata will be utilized as appropriate during the service, as well as in its entirety following the coffee hour. 

Please note that church school young people will be departing from the service following
the Children's Message on March 1 and 15.  They will be departing from the service following the receiving of communion together with their families on March 8 and 22.

Finally, March 29 will be a special activity Sunday beginning with a Children's Communion service downstairs at 10:00.  Nursery / pre-school care is provided throughout the service on all dates.
I hope you will want to take advantage of this season of the church year, and especially those special musical events (described in detail elsewhere in the Newsletter, and on the website -  www.stpetersweston.org).

-- Stephen

Worship

Pool

Adult Bible Study, meets each Sunday at 9:00 a.m.  in the Bidwell Room. On March 1, the Rector will lead a conversation on John 2:13-22.

Music
The Music Committee will meet this Sunday, March 1 at 11:30 in the Rector's office.

"Borrow a harpsichord?
"The adult choir will sing Bach's Cantata BWV 131 with orchestra during the service on March 29 (Passion Sunday). Does anyone in the parish have  knowledge of  harpsichord that we could borrow for our Music Director Andrew Shenton to play for this occasion? Please contact Andrew or John Bulbook know.


chardinPrayer Group
The Prayer Group meets in the Bidwell Room on Thursday afternoons at 4:00 pm and lasts about one hour.  We read aloud the Order for Evening Prayer, Compline, or a Service for Worship in the Evening, and have 10-15 minutes of quiet reflection.  Anyone who would like to join us is welcome. Call the Office for more information.


Ministries (Church School, Youth Programs, Outreach, Adult Education, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Ushers, Welcome Team, Vestry, Pastoral Care, Hospitality, Stewardship, Communications)

Church School
As we enter into Lent, this week the Sunday school lesson will focus on Psalm 25:1-10.  There is in most of us a longing to slow down and spend time reflecting on life's journey: where have we come from, where God seems to be leading us. This season, and the focus scripture for this week both offer such an opportunity. The themes in Psalm 25 invite us to enter Lent trusting that God will lead our journey in paths of steadfast love and faithfulness.

Beth Graham

Outreach:  Meeting, this Sunday, March 1after the 10:00am service on the third floor.
The topics to be discussed will include a Habitat for Humanity project, a Lenten food drive for local food pantries and the planning for the B-SAFE program this summer. Everyone is invited to attend.  Contact Roseanne Iocono with questions!

Outreach:  LENTEN FOOD DRIVE
During Lent St. Peter's will gather food to restock Grandma's Panty at Christ Church, Waltham, and the food pantry at the Weston Council On Aging.  Both places have experienced an increase in use in the last five months and will greatly appreciate our help.  Baskets for the collection will be in the Undercroft and Narthex.   
 
FOOD DRIVE WISH LIST
Small sized items
o    Low salt canned green beans
o    Canned beets and corn
o    Snack-pack sized canned fruits (peaches, pears, mixed)
o    Applesauce
o    Canned tuna, turkey, chicken, salmon
o    Low salt peanut butter
o    Low salt jelly
o    Small boxes of dry cereal
o    Boxes of individual packets of fortified hot cereals (Cream of Wheat, Instant Oatmeal)
o    Packets or small jars of instant coffee (regular & decaf)
o    Powdered milk packages, hot chocolate packets
o    Wrapped tea bags, Lipton tea bags (regular & decaf)
o    Unsalted Saltines or other crackers
o    Small packages of cookies
o    Small juice bottles, cans, and boxes
o    Baked beans
o    Granola bars
o    Rice, Raman noodles,  Pasta
o    Jiffy mix

Middle School Youth Group:  This Sunday, March 1!!  MIDDLE SCHOOLERS and PARENTS OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS! Late this afternoon, we will travel to the Ruggles Assisted Living facility to give a presentation about who we are, what a Nintendo Wii is, and demonstrate how it works!! Our plan is to gather here at St Peter's at 4:30pm for dinner, depart for Ruggles by 5:30 and be back and ready for pickup by 8pm.

This is the next step in a project that promises so many things: an area of interest for the middle school folks (they are the Wii experts); a wonderful gift of activity and challenge for elders; fellowship and relationship building between these two communities and a chance for everyone involved to learn something new!

Questions, or interested and want to come on March 1st? Contact Hall Kirkham, Peggy Batchelder, Joan Parrish, or Margaret Randle as soon as you can!
PARENTS:  INTERESTED IN HOW ST PETERS CAN MINISTER TO ITS TEENS?  Amy Cook from the Diocese of Massachusetts will be here after the 10am service in the Bidwell Room on March 15 to talk with our Youth Ministry Team about issues surrounding youth ministry and some of her observations about how teens perceive church and faith.  She will also help us understand a bit more about the J2A curriculum introduced at our last meeting.  If you are a PARENT, NON-PARENT ADULT or a TEEN you are invited, so let Hall Kirkham know if you would like to join us!

 Hall Kirkham

PoolFlower Guild Annual Meeting, Sunday, March 1 at 11:30 AM in the Bidwell Room

We'll have a light lunch followed by our meeting. Slide show from the National Cathedral Flower Arranging Seminar during lunch.
Please let me know if you plan to attend.

Carolyn Ellis 781-899-5880

Parish Life
The Lenten Drop-In Discussion Group, Wednesdays, March 4, 18 and April 18, 9:30 - 11:00am.  "Encountering God, A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banares" by Diana Eck. 

Diana Eck is the Harvard Divinity School professor who was the speaker at the Weston Wayland Interfaith Action Group 20th Anniversary celebration last fall which many St. Peter's people
attended. The book describes various aspects of the world's religions and how they parallel aspects of Christianity. She covers Hinduism, Buddhism and other eastern religions as well as the
Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. She is head of the Pluralism Project at Harvard which studies the many religions that are present in this country today. We will read chapters 1-3 for March 4th, chapters 4-6 for March 18, and chapters 7 and 8 for April 1st. All are invited to participate whether or not you have done all the reading. But you will get more out of it if you have at least started the book! Books are available through Dragon Books.

Any questions? Call Polly Dickson, Pat Jensen or Shannon Hartmann

Book Discussion Group: Ground of Your Own Choosing: Winning Strategies for Finding & Creating Work, Wednesday, March 4, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Follow-up to Beverly Ryle's workshop at St. Peter's on January 31 and based on her book, the group meetings will continue the workshop exercises and use a study guide provided by Beverly Ryle for group discussion. Meetings are open to workshop participants and St. Peter's parishioners. Carolyn Ellis and Bill Symonds are the group facilitators. If you would like more information or plan to attend, contact the Parish Office 781-891-3200 or Carolyn Ellis.

World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 6, at 12 noon, St. Julia Parish Center, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston

The women of Papua New Guinea (PNG) invite us to come with them to the Land of the Unexpected; to come together with the confidence that In Christ There Are Many Members, Yet One Body. The women of PNG ask us to unite as one in Christ as we join with them in celebrating a unity where love is genuine, where good overcomes evil, and where we are of one heart and soul. Join with members of local churches from many denominations and Christians around the world as we pray together, read this inspirational Service together and learn about life in Papua New Guinea.  Everyone is welcome. Bagels, dessert and coffee will be provided.


Diocesan Spring Learning Event with Brian McLaren, Saturday, March 7, 2009 - 9:30am- 3:00pm at the George Sherman Union, Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Ave., Boston

Brian McLaren, author of Everything Must Change and The Secret Message of Jesus, will be the featured speaker at the diocesan spring learning event on Saturday, March 7 at Boston University.  McLaren is a noted international speaker and a leading voice in the emergent church movement, listed by Time as one of America's 25 most influential evangelicals. By special invitation of the archbishop of Canterbury, he addressed the assembled bishops at the most recent Lambeth Conference on the gifts of Anglicanism to meet the challenge of evangelism in the world today.

Advance registration is required.  You can register at the diocesan web site: Diocese of Massachusetts

The 2009 pledge envelopes are now available and can be picked up in the Narthex. If you do not find yours, and want a set, please write your name on the sheet provided.

The Week Ahead
Adult Bible Study meets each Sunday at 9:00 a.m.  in the Bidwell Room. On March 8, the Rector will lead a conversation on John 2:13-22.

Outreach Committee Meeting Sunday on the Third Floor at 11:30. All who are interested in this important ministry are invited to attend.

Flower Guild Annual Meeting - Sunday at 11:30 in the Bidwell Room. If you are interested in joining the Guild, please speak with Carolyn Ellis. 

The Music Committee will meet Sunday in the Rector's office following the 10 am service.

Sunday, March 1
	8:00  A	Holy Communion
	8:30  A	Adult Choir Rehearsal
	9:00  A	Adult Bible Study
	9:30-11:30A	Nursery Care
	10:00A	Holy Communion
	10:15A	Church School
	11:15A	Coffee Hour
	11:30A	Junior Choir Rehearsal
	11:30A	Music Committee Meeting
	11:30A	Outreach Committee Meeting
	11:30A	Flower Guild Annual Meeting
	4:30  P	Middle School meet in Parish Hall
	5:30  P	Middle School to Ruggles Street
Monday, March 2
	8:00  P	AA
Tuesday, March 3
	11:00 A	Staff Meeting
Wednesday, March 4
	7:30  P	Book Discussion Group
Thursday, March 5
	4:00  P	Prayer Group
Friday, March 6
	12:00N	World Day of Prayer at St. Julia
Sunday, March 8
	8:00  A	Holy Communion
	8:30  A	Adult Choir Rehearsal
	9:00  A	Adult Bible Study
	9:30-11:30A	Nursery Care
	10:00 A	Holy Communion
	10:45 A	Church School
	11:30 A	Coffee Hour
                       11:30 A	 Junior Choir Rehearsal

Who Does What At St. Peter's Church
320 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493  |  www.stpetersweston.org | 781-891-3200

(Click on any name that is underlined to send an email.)
Rector: Stephen Voysey (891-3200)
Assistant Rector: Hall Kirkham (891-3200)
Parish Secretary: Mercer Riis, (891-3200)
Acolytes: Stephen Voysey (891-3200)
Church School: Peggy Batchelder, (781-736-0280); Beth Graham (891-3200)
Choirs: Adult Choir:Andrew Shenton, (891-3200); Junior Choir: Kristen Dirmeier
Coffee Hour: Lynn Maruskin (899- 6290)
Communications: Communications Team
Finance Chris Phaneuf (891-3200)
Flowers: Carolyn Ellis (899-5880)
Keys Newsletter: John Marchiony, Meg Pierce & Keith Ward
Lay Liturgical Ministries: Bill Symonds
Men's Group: John Bulbrook, John Marchiony Rob Rodgers
Music: Andrew Shenton, (891-3200)
Newcomers: Michelle King, Suzie Reeves
Outreach: Ron Corley; Rosanne Iacono (891-3236)
Lay Pastoral Care: Flora Booth (899 -2006) and Mary Pughe (894-5961)
Property: Carolyn Ellis (899-5880)
Stewardship: Marty Rodgers
Ushers:Ushers: Ed Vydra (894-7131)
Web Site: John Bulbrook
Youth: Hall Kirkham

Members of the Vestry:
Janice Corley (891-3236), Senior Warden; Marshall Bartlett, Junior Warden; Chris Phaneuf, Treasurer; Richard Batchelder, Clerk; Members: Carolyn Ellis, John Jacobs, Tom Keery, Ann Lombard, Marty Rodgers, Anne Ruggles, Keith Ward