From the Rector......
...while
[Jesus] blessed them, he parted from them (Luke 24:51)
On Thursday, May 21st,
the church calendar observes Ascension Day. Of the traditional
major festivals of the Christian tradition, I think Ascension Day is
at best minimally observed and understood, especially in the western
church. Our scientifically-based view of the universe renders
the image of Jesus "ascending" to return to God an oddity which
is difficult to sort out. Space travel and ongoing research into
the nature of the physical universe makes "up" and "down" into
categories with no useful meaning beyond being an aspect of gravity.
I like Luke's rendering of
the event in the gospel (as well as the rendering of the event in the
beginning of the Book of Acts), because the literal Greek word may be
accurately translated as saying Jesus withdrew
from them. Following Jesus' appearances in his Resurrection
among his friends, the natural human hope would be to somehow return
to the times of Jesus being with them in the flesh and leading them
in proclaiming the good news. The Ascension tells us that a moment
did come when Jesus' earthly task was completed, and the living out
of the ministry of divine compassion became entrusted to us - with all
our strengths and limitations, wisdom and foolishness, grace and fear.
Jesus himself in one sense
departed from the disciples and is apart from the disciples of our own
day - ourselves; and in another sense, the Spirit which gives wholeness
sustains us in all we do and calls us towards what we can begin to become
at any moment in time or place. It isn't about "up" and
"down;" it's about what is "all around" us every day.
-- Stephen
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Worship
This Sunday: It is a privilege to welcome the Rev. Elizabeth (Liz) Steinhauser to the pulpit here at St. Peter's this Sunday. Liz serves as Assistant at St.
Stephen's Church, South End. Her many responsibilities include work
with the St. Stephen's After School Program and the Bishop's Summer
Academic and Fun Enrichment (B-SAFE) Program (St. Peter's week to
provide lunches and other support for B-SAFE is July 20-24 this year;
please save the dates and watch for further details).
Adult Bible Study Adult Bible Study meets each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Bidwell Room.
On May 24, the Rector will lead a conversation on John 15:26-27,
15:4b-15.
 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)
Outreach: There will be a planning meeting for the El Hogar trip to Honduras on Sunday, May 17 after the 10:00 service in the Bidwell room. The dates of the trip are July 25 - Aug. 1. There are spaces available for teens 15 and older and adults. Contact Rosanne Iacono if you have any questions.
Thank you to all who pledged to the Walk for Hunger. David McMullen and
Rosanne Iacono walked the 20 mile route. If you would like to make a
donation, it's not too late, so contact Rosanne Iacono.
Church Shool:
Just as a reminder, Sunday school classes start at 9:45am. Contact Elizabeth Graham is you have any questions.
Youth Programs:
Calling all young folks,5th grade and up!
Sunday May 17th is St Peter's "Youth Sunday" and we want to honor the youth in our parish by inviting all who are interested to be part of the service! Do you want to read a passage of scripture? Present offerings or pass the collection plate? Are you interested in being a greeter or usher? Or even dismissing the congregation at the end? Let Pastor Kirkham know ASAP and he will show you - with great Thanksgiving - EXACTLY what you need to do! Hall Kirkham
The Middle School project at Ruggles Assisted Living Facility continues! 
The group has obtained a grant from St Peter's Outreach Committee to purchase the Wii Game System for the residents at Ruggles!! We will have a party there on Sunday, May 17 to install it and provide a basic orientation, and all Middle Schoolers - those who have participated so far, and those who have not yet been able to - are invited to join us! We will depart from the St Peter's parish hall by 5:30pm in order to be at the facility by 6pm. Come by any time after 4:30pm and we will have something to munch on to carry us through until the party!
Questions, or interested and want to come on May 17th? Contact Pastor Hall Kirkham, Peggy Batchelder, Joan Parrish, or Margaret Randle as soon as you can!
St Peters ROCKS! Weston
Sunday night, May 31st with the next installment of our module on prison ministry. Prisoners are one of the groups - the final group - Jesus asks his followers to attend to, and learning about prisons and those in prison provides a way of seeking and serving Christ in all persons. We'll gather at 5:30pm for something to eat, review what we learned in our last session at the end of March, and watch the pilot episode of "OZ," the HBO television drama about life in a fictional maximum security prison. This is a powerful and disturbing - but very informative - visual insight to the prison system, and we definitely want to leave time to debrief and talk after our viewing! Plan on an 8pm pick-up time at the church. Contact Pastor Kirkham.
Outreach:Jubilee Celebrates Africa
May 16th, 2009 6:30pm
Bishop Thomas Shaw and the Jubilee Committee cordially invite you to join them for an evening of African food, live music, and storytelling
Presented by the Jubilee Committee
of The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Live and Silent Auctions
African Crafts
Cash Bar
St Peter's Episcopal Church
320 Boston Post Rd
Weston, MA 02493
All proceeds to benefit the Jubilee Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts as they continue their work fighting HIV/AIDS in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania
Ticket Levels:
$25 Jubilee Guest;
$50 Jubilee Supporter;
$100 Jubilee Patron;
$250 Jubilee Benefactor;
$500 Jubilee Host
To reserve a place or to donate please contact:
Please send checks to:
The Rev. Maggie Geller, RN (mgeller@diomass.org)
Jubilee Ministry Episcopal Diocese
(617) 482-4826 ext 351 138 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111
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Parish Life
The Drop-In Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, May 13, at 9:30 in the Bidwell Room. We will finish our reading of Madeleine L'Engel's "The Irrational Season" (Chapters 7-11). In the fall Joan Parrish will be leading a series of short story discussions. All are welcome.
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The Week Ahead
Sunday May 17
8:00 A Holy Communion
8:30 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:00 A Adult Bible Study
9:45 A Church School
9:30-11:30 Nursery Care
10:00 A Holy Communion
11:15 A Coffee Hour
11:30 A Junior Choir Rehearsal
11:30 A El Hogar Planning Meeting
4:30 P Middle Schoolers meet to depart for Ruggles @ 5:15
Monday May 18
8:00 P AA
Tuesday May 19
11:00 A Staff Meeting
7:30 P Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday May 20
Thursday May 21
4:00 P Prayer Group
Friday May 22
Church Office Closed
Saturday May 23
6:30 P Jubilee Dinner
Sunday May 24
8:00 A Holy Communion
8:30 A Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:00 A Adult Bible Study
9:45 A Church School
9:30-11:30 Nursery Care
10:00 A Holy Communion
11:30 A Coffee Hour
11:30 A Junior Choir Rehearsal
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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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