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December 11-21, 2014
News & Notes
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Dear Faithful People of Saint Peter's:
TODAY with the People of Sion, Bishop Robert A. Rimbo and New York's Latino community, we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe - Nuestra Seņora de Guadalupe with mass at 9:00 p.m. and processions from around the city arriving at Saint Peter's throughout the evening.
The MASS OF THE RESURRECTION for Thora Joan Rusch will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2014. A reception in the Narthex will follow the mass and inurnment.
At Saint Peter's, we take the Third Sunday in Advent at its Word and rejoice! Hanging of the Greens is celebrated all day!
Assembled around the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, we celebrate this intersection.
- 8:45 a.m. Mass: Pastor Stahler will preside and preach
- 10:00 a.m. Forum: The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Linman: Growing in Holy Conversations: A Unifying Witness
- 11:00 a.m. Mass: I will preside and Pastor Stahler will preach
- 12:30 p.m. HANGING OF THE GREENS - Brunch by Congregational Life Committee. NO SUNDAY SCHOOL until January 11, 2015
- 1:30 p.m. Misa: Fabian Arias presiding and preaching
- 3:00 p.m. Cena: Members of Sion
- 5:00 p.m. Vespers: Vicar Joseph Schattauer-Paille presiding and I will preach
This Wednesday at 6:00p.m. Advent Evening Prayer is sung in the chapel.
Among the great gifts of Advent are the saints commemorated during these days. Their stories may be particularly helpful as we navigate these coming festive (and darkening) days. This week is particularly rich:
Saturday, December 13: Lucy, martyr, died 304
Lucy was a young Christian of Sicily who was martyred during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. Apparently she had decided to devote her life to God and her possessions to the poor. Beyond that, however, little is known for certain about Lucy. However, her celebration became particularly important in Sweden and Norway, perhaps because the feast of Lucia (the name means "light") originally fell on the shortest day of the year. A tradition arose of a girl in the household, wearing a crown of candles, bringing saffron rolls to her family early in the morning on the day of Lucia.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
John of the Cross, renewer of the church, died 1591
John was a member of the Carmelite monastic order, and worked to reform it. His writings reflect a deep interest in mystical thought and meditation.
Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Advent
- 8:45 a.m. Mass: I will preside and Vicar Joseph Schattauer-Paille will preach
- 10:00 a.m. Forum: The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Linman: Growing in Holy Conversations: A Unifying Witness
- 11:00 a.m. Mass: I will preside and
- Vicar Joseph Schattauer-Paille will preach
- 12:30 p.m. Brunch: Thanks to Kit Kreilick and Friends
- 1:30 p.m. Misa: Fabian Arias presiding and preaching
- 3:00 p.m. Cena: Members of Sion
- 5:00 p.m. Vespers: Candidate Nicholas Sollom will preside and Pastor Jared Stahler will preach
The January liturgical assistants sign-up sheet is now available on the Intersection.
Peace and Joy,
Amandus J. Derr
Senior Pastor
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OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: TONIGHT!
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This icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe is prominent in our Sanctuary in these weeks as we celebrate Nuestra Seņora de Guadalupe TONIGHT with many in New York's Latino community. Festive processions from all over this city will converge at Saint Peter's through the night. Bishop Robert A. Rimbo will preside at tonight's 9:00 p.m. mass. The people of Sion Luterana Iglesia host these delightful festivities. Here with Sion, we offer special prayers for refugees and immigrants on this day, which makes this a very timely commemoration for all who once were immigrants in "the new world" we call America. I urge your attendance and I promise: you will be inspired and delighted!
-Pastor Amandus J. Derr |
ADVENT DEVOTIONS | 
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and The Episcopal Church have written a series of weekly Advent devotions for members of the four denominations.
In addition to Eaton, devotions were contributed by the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate, Anglican Church in Canada; and the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church.
In his introduction to the devotions, the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, director for ELCA ecumenical and inter-religious relations, said the church leaders have met over the past five years "to share with one another, provide worship observances for the 10th Anniversary of Full Communion agreements, to advocate for creation and the environment and to call members to prayer for situations of war and turmoil. At their most recent meeting, the leaders agreed to provide Advent devotions for the four churches."
In her devotion for the first week of Advent, Eaton writes, "Advent is an odd season. It isn't culturally accessible. It doesn't lend itself to retail. There are no made-for-TV movies telling heartwarming stories about the great and terrible day of the Lord. It is an unsettled season that holds in tension the now and the not yet, longing and hope, judgment and redemption."
The Advent devotions are available at http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Advent_Devotions.pdf.
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YOUR FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP | |
Stewardship Ministry and Property Fund envelopes are now ready - pick yours up this Sunday!
Here's how 59 members and friends of Saint Peter's plan on Giving Together in 2015
| 2015 MINISTRY FUND |
| | Commitments received to date | 298,648 | | Goal | 441,000 |
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| | 2015 PROPERTY FUND |
| | Commitments received to date | 41,047 | | Goal | 110,000 |
...or return the pledge cards you received
To date, 84 individuals and families have made commitments to Giving Together 2015. There are 42 2014 pledgers who have not yet made a commitment to Giving Together 2015. Join the joy and make your pledge today! |
STEWARDSHIP | |
Your Faithful Stewardship enables and supports the mission and ministry of Saint Peter's Church. Here's a recent snapshot of your giving:
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Jan - Nov 2014
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Nov 2014
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Stewardship Expectation
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$373,873
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$41,115
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Actual Stewardship Giving
| $404,250
| $37,750
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To give online click "Give Now" at www.saintpeters.org.
You can also use your stewardship envelopes to give regularly.
Need help? Call Jennifer Eberhart at the church office.
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CHRISTMAS DECORATING FUND |  The Christmas Decorating Fund supports the new Advent Wreath by Faye Armon-Troncoso and the trees, flowers and wreaths hung the third Sunday in Advent through Epiphany.
Give via the envelope available in the Narthex kiosk or by this link. Don't forget to join in the decorating this Sunday! |
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COMMUNITY AND FELLOWSHIP
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Sunday, December 14 after 12:30 p.m.
Hanging of the Greens Party
Live jazz, great food, gift wrapping, fellowship and decorating of the church. Please bring Christmas cookies to share.
Friday, December 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Caroling on the Plaza
Share holiday carols with commuters going in and out of the subway plaza. No singing experience necessary, and don't forget to wear warm clothing! Fellowship and hot chocolate afterwards.
Sunday, January 11 at 1:15 p.m.
Fiction Book Discussion: In Falling Snow by Nary-Rose MacColl
Meet in the 3rd floor link. All are welcome!
Friday, January 23 at 7 p.m.
Voices at Saint Peter's
Save the date!
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EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT
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Upcoming Sunday Fora
December 14: Pastor Jonathan Linman: Growing in Holy Conversations: A Unifying Witness
December 21: Pastor Jonathan Linman: Growing in Holy Conversations: A Unifying Witness
December 28: NO FORUM
20s & 30s Fora Series
January 4 - Tim Blaquiere, Member Development Committee: Saint Peter's Digital Footprint
January 11 - Nicoline Strom-Jensen, Chair Art & Architecture Review Committee: Liturgical Art at Saint Peter's
January 18 - Craig Kahler, Parish Treasurer: Space Use at Saint Peter's
January 25 - Karytza Vergara, New Member: Art Therapy and the Church
February 1 - Eric Stewart, Composer-in-Residence: New Music at Saint Peter's
February 8 - Roberto Lara, Director of Dance at Saint Peter's: Dance at Saint Peter's
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MEMBER BIRTHDAYS |
December 15 Amanda Cheatham, Edward Moran, Josephine Livoti, Mark Haviland, Maria Concepcion Garcia
17 David Johnson
18 Francoise Muhongerwa
19 Monte Peterson, Kimberly Kaiser-Rachidi, Sydney Sharkey
20 Kathryn Hanson, Mark Stevens
21 Walter Moscoso, James Spielman
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BREAKFAST PROGRAM |
On the basis of current attendees, we expect to provide Breakfast for about 8,000 people in 2014. The number of those in need continues to rise each year. Many of these are underserved veterans of our Mideast wars. We regularly run out of food. Donations to Saint Peter's Church, memo "Breakfast Program" are sorely needed.
These past two Tuesdays, 260 guests were served at our Breakfast Program.
7, 351 guests have been served thus far in 2014.
7,955 guests were served in 2013.
7,643 people were served in 2012.
To serve on Tuesday mornings just show up between 6:45 and 7:15. For more details speak with Pastor Derr and he'll connect you with one of our members who regularly serves.
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