Christ Healing the Mother of Simon Peter's Wife
by John Bridges, 1839
CHURCH LIFE AT SAINT PETER'S
February 5-15, 2015

Here is how we'll pray this Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 8, 2015:

 

Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint.  Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

 

And, because the Gospel is one of the stories in Saint Mark's Gospel in which Jesus heals many,   Rites for healing will be included in every liturgy of this day.

  •  8:45 a.m.      Mass                   I will preside/Vicar Joseph Shattauer-Paille will preach
  • 10:00 a.m.     Forum                Dr. Eric Stewart presents New Music at Saint Peter's
  • 11:00 a.m.      Mass                  I will preside/ Vicar Joseph Shattauer-Paille will preach
  • 12:30 p.m.      Brunch              Thanks to Kit Kreilick & Friends
  •                           Sunday School
  •  1:30 p.m.        Misa                 Pastor Arias will preside and preach
  •  3:00 p.m.        Cena                     
  •  5:00 p.m.         Vespers           Seminarian Kevin Farrar will preside and I will preach                                                                                                                     

Since Christmas, the liturgy at Saint Peter's has been particularly festive.  Over the past six weeks we have celebrated the Epiphany and the Baptism of our Lord, Saint Peter and Paul and, last Sunday, the Presentation of our Lord in a bilingual liturgy at which our Bishop presided at the confirmation of 30 confirmands as over 300 members of Saint Peter's and Sion rejoiced.  February 8 is a Sunday in ordinary time; the only "green" Sunday since mid-November; the only "green" Sunday until mid-June.  In the liturgical dialogue at the font last Sunday, we acknowledged that

Here we turn from Christ's birth in a manger to Christ's passion and death on a cross.

As Lent draws near, we trust the mysteries of Easter.   

 

Lent is drawing near - Ash Wednesday is February 18 - yet there is one more particularly festive Sunday yet before us before Lent begins.

 

Next Sunday is the last Sunday after the Epiphany and celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord and, while very Sunday is a celebration of Christ's resurrection, the readings, Gospel and themes of the Transfiguration are clear reflections of the Light that is Jesus Christ.  At the 11:00 a.m. mass this Sunday, our choir will sing a mass by Wolfgang Amadeus (not Amandus!) Mozart.  Funding for this mass is provided through the Philip Lange Memorial Fund.

 

  • 8:45 a.m.             Mass            Pastor Stahler will preside and preach
  • 10:00 a.m.           Forum          Sion, Saint Peter's and Mary, Mother of God- I will lead this discussion
  • 11:00 a.m.           Mass              I will preside/ Pastor Stahler will preach
  • 12:30 p.m.           Brunch            Thanks to Kit Kreilick & Friends
  •                                 Sunday School
  •  1:30 p.m.            Misa                  Pastor Arias will preside and preach
  •  3:00 p.m.            Cena                     
  • 5:00 p.m.             Vespers             Vicar Joseph Schattauer-Paille will preside and I will preach 

After publicly affirming their faith, the following young people were confirmed by Bishop Robert A. Rimbo at the 11:00 a.m. bi-lingual Mass for the Presentation of our Lord, February 1, 2015:  Ityael Agripino,  Jinell Dulanro, Lucas Godinez,Octavio Godinez,Evelin Gonzalez, Valdimir L�pez, Michelle Rocha Gutierrez,Alexis Rodriguez Mendez, Lisette Rodriguez Mendez, Jose Eduardo Cuenca Mendez, Jose Carlos Miranda Mendez , Maria Mendez,  Stacey Morales,  Rosie Morales, Desi Morales, Sidney Morales, Michael Penuela,Jennifer Rocha, Joselyn Rocha, Michele  Rocha,Marilyn Ruiz, Gisselle Ruiz, Brayan Salazar,  Juan Tacuri, Justin K Vargas and  Michael Zhagui.   
 
 

Looking ahead:

The Mass of the Resurrection in thanksgiving for Dr. Birgitta Peterson will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Saint Peter's Church.  A reception with opportunities for reflections on her life and legacy will follow in the Living Room.

 

A series of special Wednesday liturgies and educational opportunities will be announced shortly.  These include:

Ash Wednesday Liturgies all day on February 18, 2015

Wednesday evening Lenten Vespers followed by light supper and presentations on From Conflict to Communion, the latest Lutheran-Roman Catholic document, from February 25 - March 18, 2015

Tenebrae with the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, March 25, 2015

Easter Vespers, (70th anniversary of Bonheoffer's martyrdom) light supper and presentation by Dr. Charles Marsh, author of Stranger Glory, the latest biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, April 8, 2015

Yom HaShoah (70th anniversary of the liberations of Nazi death camps) with Central Synagogue at Saint Peter's Church, 6:00 p.m. on April 15, 2015.

 

I close with the next-to-the last words of last Sunday's liturgy; words that are appropriate for us every day.

 

Here we stand at the waters of baptism.

Marked with the sign of the cross,

                we share in Christ's death

and the promise of resurrection.

 

Peace and Joy,

 

Amandus J. Derr

Senior Pastor

 

Congratulations confirmands!

The following were confirmed by Bishop Robert A. Rimbo at our 11:00 a.m. bi-lingual mass for the Presentation of our Lord (Candlemas) on February 1, 2015:


Ityael Agripino,  Jinell Dulanro,
Lucas Godinez, Octavio Godinez, Evelin Gonzalez, Valdimir L�pez, Michelle Rocha Gutierrez, Alexis Rodriguez Mendez, Lisette Rodriguez Mendez,  Jose Eduardo Cuenca Mendez, Jose Carlos Miranda Mendez , Maria Mendez,  Stacey Morales,  Rosie Morales,  Desi Morales, Sidney Morales, Michael Penuela, Jennifer Rocha, Joselyn Rocha,  Michele  Rocha, Marilyn Ruiz, Gisselle Ruiz, Brayan Salazar,  Juan Tacuri, Justin K Vargas and  Michael Zhagui
Good Friday Presenters Needed

This is an open invitation to anyone who would like to perform in this years Good Friday presentation.  We will be staging "The Passion According To Saint John." We are casting for 12 presenters (MEMORIZATION REQUIRED) and 5 to 6 chorus members (NO MEMORIZATION NEEDED)  Rehearsals will commence on Sunday February 22nd and continue through Sunday March 29th, culminating in the performance on Good Friday, April 3rd at 7 p.m.

 

If you are interested in being a presenter or a chorus member, or have any questions, please email Wayne Britton at [email protected].

MNYS Voting Members Needed

Anyone interested in serving as a Saint Peter's Church voting member at the Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly on May 29 and 30 at Tarrytown, please contact Eric Stenshoel or email Jennifer Eberhart ([email protected]).  The Parish Council will choose our voting members at its February 24 meeting.

Community and Fellowship
All are welcome to participate in the following events:

Sunday, February 22 at 1:30pm

Movie Viewing and Discussion:

Design Is One: Lella and Massimo Vignelli

Sunday, March 1 at 1:15pm

Fiction Book Discussion: 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

 

Newcomers: Welcome!

We are receiving new members on Transfiguration Sunday, February 15. If you are interested in being received into the congregation, please contact Jennifer Eberhart in the church office.

 

All newcomers are invited to a welcome dinner on Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m.  Bring friends and/or family members and enjoy and fun night with great food and conversation!  Please RSVP online by Sunday, February 22 . Current members of Saint Peter's interested in welcoming newcomers are encouraged to participate as well.

 

Art in the Narthex
Member Birthdays This Week

8                  Hector Ribone, Marcos Arjona

10                Michael Chiume

12                Susan Gargiulo

13                Rene Chapman, Geronimo Desumala, Sofia Velez-Roman

Breakfast Program

This past Tuesday, we served 119 guests at our breakfast program.

 

8,198 guests were served 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.