From the Rector......
TRAGEDYIt was startlingly and tragically odd to watch an evening TV news broadcast open with a reporter standing at the intersection of Boston Post Road and Center Street in Weston to report on a tragic murder. The shock of such an event, and as it is unfolding, the extraordinary depth of the tragedy, is the sort of thing we understandably try not to think about. "In the midst of life we are in death," our prayer book text intones at a burial, but it remains a shock to experience it in the moment.
Ironically (and unknowingly), my confirmation class met Sunday evening and I asked the class members how they thought it could be that a God we proclaim to be all-loving and all-powerful permits suffering to occur. Little did I realize how appropriate that question would soon become in our own community. Their thoughts were no more conclusive than that of theologians throughout human history, of course, but it was obvious to me that young people do think very deeply about such things and that they do need to hear what the important adults in their lives think about such things.
One thing we can do is pray - for the victim of such a violent death, for all those whose lives were enriched by her life, and for the family member and perpetrator - all caught up in such a tragic event.
O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant
Eleanor, and grant her an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your
saints; and may your grace which is beyond our understanding surround those who grieve
with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your
goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.May your day be a life-giving and joyful one even in the midst of all things.
-- Stephen
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Worship
 Adult Bible Study, Adult Bible
Study meets each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Bidwell Room.
On March 29, the Rector will lead a conversation on Mark 14:1-15:47.
 Music
Special Service Music - Sunday, March 22, St. Peter's Episcopal Church will host a remarkable
high-school choral group: the United Nations International School Chamber
Ensemble. This ensemble is made up of some two-dozen high-school
students from around the world, who now attend the United Nations International
School in New York City. Their performance will be an integral
part of the worship service on March 22, and will begin shortly before
10 AM. St. Peter's would like to invite all members of the community
to attend this very special event and encourages St. Peter's members
to bring a friend.
Despite the youth of its members, the Chamber Ensemble has won considerable
renown. The choir has previously toured Europe, where it performed in
Stockholm, Hamburg and Berlin. In New York City, the ensemble
has sung at the Harvard Club, the United Nations General Assembly Hall,
and many other locations. The choir studies and performs choral music
of various cultures and styles, from the Renaissance Madrigal through
20th Century Jazz.
The ensemble's appearance at St. Peter's will kick off its spring
concert tour of Massachusetts. In addition to its appearance in
Weston, the Chamber Ensemble will also sing at the French International
School in Cambridge, and the German International School in Boston.
Later, the Chamber Ensemble will perform with the Middlebury College
Choir in New York.
On March
22, the Chamber Ensemble plans to sing selections from Mozart, Ralph
Vaughan Williams, as well as such beloved spirituals as "Amazing Grace,"
and "Ride The Chariot." People who attend the worship service
will have an opportunity visit with members of the Chamber Ensemble
during the informal fellowship that follows the service. St. Peter's
welcomes members of all faiths to attend what promises to be an enjoyable
and inspiring service.
For additional information about either event, please call the church
office at 781 891-3200, or consult the church website, www.stpetersweston.org.
 Bach Cantata BWV 131
with Choir and Collegium (Chamber Orchestra) at St.
Peter's on Sunday March 29,
2009 at the 10:00am service and again at 11:30am.
The
semi-professional choir and Collegium (chamber
orchestra) will give a complete
performance of J. S. Bach's cantata BWV 131:Aus
der Tiefe rufe ich, Herr, zu dir (From the deep, Lord, I Cried to
Thee).
The
cantata is one of Bach's most beautiful and
enduring pieces. It is scored for SATB soloists, chorus and orchestra and sets
Psalm 130
along with part of Psalm 13 and the chorale
Herr
Jesu Christ, du höchstes
Gut. The soloists will be Meredith Kelly,
soprano; Rebecca Saslow,
alto; Evan Biela,
tenor; and Jonathan Cole, bass. The ensemble
will be directed by
Andrew
Shenton who recently took up
the position as Director of Music at St. Peter's.
The cantata will be performed during
the 10:00
AM Holy Communion and then performed
again at 11:30 AM so that people will be
able to hear it both liturgically as part of the Passion Sunday liturgy and then
again in its entirety after
the service. For further details call 781-891-3200 or email
ashenton@stpetersweston.org.
Alternatively, visit our website: www.stpetersweston.org/content.cfm
 Prayer 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.
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Ministries (Church School, Youth Programs, Outreach, Adult Education, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Ushers, Welcome Team, Vestry, Pastoral Care, Hospitality, Stewardship, Communications)
Church School
Focus passage for Sunday March 22: Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
This week children will remain in services until after the sacrament and then will be dismissed to classes. This week's lesson will focus on Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22. In this week's reading we are invited to explore the meaning of gratitude and God's desire to bring mercy and healing no matter what the circumstance. The psalmist recalls God's faithfulness in bringing the people of Israel back from exile and gives witness to God's saving and restoring actions. We too are encouraged to embody the message of God's steadfast and sustaining love.
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Graham, Sarah Ardila or Teresa Swanson
Flower Guild
We invite you to join us to decorate the church for Easter on Saturday morning, April 11, 9:00 - 11:00 AM. And we welcome your donations in memory of loved ones for Easter. Flower envelopes are in the pews or you may leave your donation in the Parish Office. Any questions? Please contact Carolyn Ellis!
St Peters Rocks! Weston: will meet March 29 to begin our second module in our Matthew 25 journey, this time looking at those who are in prison and the system that places them there. Brad  Brockmann, an attorney from Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services and an EDS graduate, will meet with us to talk about the system of imprisonment as a form of punishment in the US and its impact on inmates, those who are released and their communities, as well as the ethical implications on the society that supports it. This module will include, as our other module, a film component and practical, real-world application at later dates. Questions, or can you attend? Let me know! Hall Kirkham
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Parish Life
Women's Potluck Dinner - Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 at the Rectory. Women of St. Peter's are encouraged to come. Please bring a salad, casserole, or dessert and join in on lively conversation and great food! No need to RSVP!
Summer Mission, Pilgrimage and Learning
This week we devote our sermon time at the 10 o'clock service to a review of three summer opportunities for Middle and High School parishioners, as well as their families, that range in location, format and familiarity!
El Hogar in Honduras is familiar to most of us, and Nicky Packs will offer some reflections on his experience there as we gear up to send another group this summer.
Charlene Vincent - a seminary classmate of Pastor Kirkham's - will describe a pilgrimage opportunity to Hopiland in Arizona and perhaps a combination pilgrimage/Habitat-for-Humanity opportunity for the following summer in Arizona.
Pastor Voysey will provide information on summer programs offered by Heifer International Learning Centers in both Massachusetts and Arkansas that address global hunger and living conditions. Each will be available - with information to take home - after the 10 o'clock service at coffee hour.
Lenten Food Drive to restock Grandma's Pantry, Christ Church, Waltham and the food pantry at Weston Council on Aging. A list of items and collection baskets are in the Narthex and the Parish Hall.
Easter Flower and Music envelopes are available in the pews for you to use if you wish to make a memorial donation toward Easter flowers and/or special Easter music. Please fill out the envelopes and put them in the offering plate, or send them to the church office no later than Tuesday, April 7th.
The Weston PTO Parent Education Committee and the Weston Health and Wellness Project are pleased to present a series of dynamic speakers to help Weston parents support their children:
"The Parents' Delicate Balance: Holding On and Letting Go"
Presented by Dr. Rob Evans, Psychologist, author and lecturer
Monday, March 30th 9:00 am to 10:30am in the Country School Cafetorium
Of particular interest to grades Pre-K - 5
"Adolescent Psychology-The Parent Version"
Presented by Joani Geltman, LICSW
Thursday, April 2nd 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Amy Potter Center
Of particular interest to grades 4 - 9
"Talking with teens about alcohol: What's really in that water bottle?"
Presented by Dr. Henry Abraham, Psychiatrist, author and lecturer
Monday, April 13th 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the High School Auditorium
Of particular interest to grades 6 - 12
Dr. Robert Evans is the Executive Director of Human Relation Services (HRS), a private, non-profit community mental health service agency. He is a clinical and organizational psychologist who has served at HRS since 1974. His presentations are known for their lively wit and plain talk. Dr. Evans' research interests have focused on the challenge of leading change in schools and on changes in the family and in the home-school relationship. www.robevans.org
Joani Geltman has worked with teens and parents for over 30 years, as a clinician, and consultant to schools and agencies. She is also an educator, teaching at Lesley University and Curry College. She has presented this seminar "Adolescent Psychology-The Parent Version" to over 50 middle and high schools. Her "infotainment" presentation style using humor, storytelling, and sending home parents with a "goody bag" of helpful techniques make this a valuable evening for parents.
www.joanigeltman.com
Dr. Henry Abraham, has been Director of the Substance Abuse Program at Tufts New England Medical Center, clinical professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, and chief of Clinical Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services at the hospital affiliated with Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Abraham shared in the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with Physicians for Social Responsibility and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Dr. Abraham will discuss the environmental factors that lead to experimentation, use, and abuse of substances by teens, as well as review specific actions that parents can take to combat these exterior influences.
www.drabraham.com
SPONSORED BY the Weston Parent Education Committee formerly known as "SPARK"
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
Sunday March 22
8:00 A Holy Communion
8:30 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:00 A Adult Bible Study
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
Monday March 23
8:00 P AA
Tuesday March 24
11:00 A Staff Meeting
Wednesday March 25
6:30 P Women's Potluck Dinner
Thursday March 26
4:00 P Prayer Group
Friday March 27
Saturday March 28
10:00 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
Sunday March 29
8:00 A Holy Communion
8:30 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:00 A Adult Bible Study
9:30-11:30 Nursery Care
10:00 A Holy Communion
10:00 A Children's Special Activities
11:30 A Coffee Hour
11:30 A Junior Choir Rehearsal
5:30 P St. Peter's Rocks! Weston
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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: Sarah Ardila; Teresa Swanson; 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
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