From the Rector's desk: 
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. -John Adams
Mr. Adams got the larger vision right, although he thought the date of the adoption of the Resolution of Independence made by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia would prevail. Instead, the date of the declaration of the so-called "Committee of 5" (including principal author Thomas Jefferson), adopted only after two days of intense debate and many changes to the original resolution, took hold in the public mind.
What this group of propertied men meant by independence is extraordinarily limited when looked back upon from our own vantage point. At the time, however, it took remarkable courage to take such a stand against the mother country by a group of colonies. No other colonies of any European nations had ever taken such a step. These men fully understood the might of the British military and were not naïve about the effect of their declaration.
It seems to me that, as we celebrate the birth of our nation once again this year, we would do well to recall that courage. In the broad sweep of human history, our 233 years of history as the United States of America is a brief time indeed - and that includes a long and brutal war among the states which pitted American against American. Thankfully, our vision of who this independence is for has grown and deepened a good deal in that time.
At one level, this country is an experiment in how people from broadly disparate backgrounds may continue to form and re-form as a national community which welcomes all who wish to strive towards a vision of unity founded in diversity rather than an artificial uniformity enforced by a given power structure.
Our faults as a nation are many and obvious - in theological terms, all human beings choose again and again to move away from God's call to live into compassion and care. Yet those I meet who have come here from other lands typically tell me how different this country is from their homelands and how this nation's aspirations inspire them with hope for a better future.
May we have the needed courage in our own time to continue to strive towards our stated goals with renewed commitment. Our choices do make a difference.
Happy 4th (sorry, Mr. Adams!) to one and all!
~ ~ 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 July 12, the Rector will lead a conversation on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.
 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.
Prayers for and from the
Community
Your
clergy pray for members of the parish community, and all whose lives fall
particularly on our hearts, each day and - in particular - at our noonday
gatherings during the week. Please let either of us know if we can include
you in our confidential prayers.
Stephen (sovoysey@stpetersweston.org) and Hall (hkirkham@stpetersweston.org), 781 891 3200.
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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)
Adult Education
EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EFM) offered at Trinity Concord this fall!
Below is an opportunity that many of us at St Peter's have participated in and have found very rewarding. Are you interested in a spiritual journey? Study of Scripture? Read on!
Education for Ministry (http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm) is a 4-year series of directed readings and weekly seminars sponsored by the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. It covers a variety of topics by which participants expand their knowledge of scripture, church history, tradition, and their own spirituality. Participants commit to a one year at a time.
The course is specifically designed for the lay student of religion and spirituality, and through guided reading, reflection, and group interaction, leads participants through a rich spiritual development and understanding of personal beliefs and potential for lay ministry. Each year has a topical concentration, but all share in and discuss learnings and reflections with each other during weekly meetings. The concentrations are as follows:
Year 1: Old Testament
Year 2: New Testament
Year 3: Church history up through the Reformation
Year 4: Church history to today
In addition, participants share in directed Theological Reflections and Common Lessons that are designed to help develop individual and collective spiritual growth and ministry in life.
In the first two years students would read the Old and New Testaments, plus additional course readings supplied by Sewanee Theological Seminary to guide you through the readings. In the last two years, the primary reading is the material from Sewanee, with other references provided for discretionary reading.
The guidance of the mentor and from other participants are as much a part of the process as the readings and reflections themselves. Meetings are a place to openly share faith, questions, insights, concerns, growth, grief, happiness, awe in God and God's ways, and much more.
There is an established EFM group at Trinity Church, Concord that is taking in new members for the Fall of 2009! If you want more information or want to sign up, please contact Karyn Barry (781-894-3664). Operationally, the group meets Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 at Trinity Concord, and the readings take between 2 and 4 hours of additional time each week. There is a small fee to join and purchase the reading material.
For more information, contact Hall Kirkham.
Outreach
B-SAFE Program, St. Martins/St Augustine, July 20-24
This will be our third year of serving as a partner church in the "Bishop's Summer Academic Fun Enrichment Program". This is a larger effort of the Episcopal Diocese to serve over 450 children at 6 sites in the Boston area in a five week summer day camp. The B-SAFE program provides academic enrichment, sports, field trips, good food, community, and a safe place for kids, plus it is one of the largest providers of jobs for older teens, who are trained as counselors for the day camps.
Partner churches provide a week of food (lunch and snack) at one site plus organize and fund a Friday field trip. St. Mart/St Aug will provide a summer home for 65 elementary school students, as well as jobs for 10 counselors. Monday - Thursday we deliver and serve lunch, and Friday we will sponsor a field trip to Lands Sake, the Weston pool, and cook out for the kids.
PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING US A HAND! IT ONLY TAKES A FEW HOURS TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD! You can help in many ways: shop, prepare a lunch or snack (evening or AM), or help deliver the food.
And, if you cannot help that week, we need 2 to 3 volunteers to pick up a week's breakfasts on Thursday, July 30, at the Dedham Costco (10:00 AM) and deliver it to St. Stephen's and St. Aug/St. Martins.
And, if you can't participate, but want to support the program, $$ donations are much appreciated!
Contact
Ron Corley
(rbcorley@bu.edu; 617 512-9610) or Rosanne
Iacono (Rosieni@aol.com) for more information.
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Parish Life
Join us for coffee hour after the 10am service!
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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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