The Olive Trees by Vincent van Gogh, 1889. In the collection of the MoMA
CHURCH LIFE AT SAINT PETER'S
May 14-24, 2015

 

 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

 

Today, May 14 is the 40th day of Easter and celebration of the Ascension of our Lord.  Tonight at 6:00 p.m. Bishop Robert Rimbo will preside at Vespers of the Ascension with special music from Argentina.  Why Argentina? This evening's Vespers takes its shape from Pope Francis' ministry: music from his native Argentina, special concern for the anawim, the poor of God, and the expansive mission of the church's liturgy.  This liturgy will be followed by a presentation on The Great Reformer:  Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope by biographer Austen Ivereigh.  Thanks to Barnes & Noble, hardcover copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing at a reception in the Living Room.

 

The ten days between Ascension Day and Pentecost has traditionally included very specific prayers for those preparing for ordained ministry in the Church.  What has been traditional is a reality for us at Saint Peter's Church;

  • On Monday, May 18, one of our members, Joe Brewer, will receive his Master of Divinity degree when he graduates from Yale Divinity School.
  • On Saturday, May 23, at a mass at 10:30 in the morning, another of our members, Nicholas John Sollom, will be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament by Bishop Robert A. Rimbo.
  • Seminarians Nancy Rakoczy, another member, and Kevin Farrar, our seminary intern, will have completed their academic years.
  • And finally, in the week following Pentecost, our vicar from last year, Carol Schneider, will have her first parish interview for a call in the Upstate New York Synod.

We pray the Holy Spirit will continue to strengthen, guide and bless these who are beloved of our parish community.

 

This Sunday, May 17 is the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the Sunday after the Ascension of our Lord and the 43rd of Easter's Fifty Days.  Today Jesus teaches us how to pray to and work with God to accomplish God's will of holding heaven and earth in a single peace and giving unity to the whole people of God.

 

8:45 a.m.      mass                  I will preside and Vicar Joseph Schattauer Paille will preach

10:00 a.m.   forum               Helen Goodkin:  Sickness and Death in the Hebrew Scriptures

11:00 a.m.   mass                  I will preside and Vicar Joseph Schattauer Paille will preach

12:30 p.m.   brunch              Thanks to our Ushers

 1:30 p.m.    misa                  Pastor Arias will preside and preach

5:00 p.m.     Vespers           I will preside and preach

 

Next Sunday, May 24 is the Day of Pentecost and the 50th day of Easter's Fifty Days.   This day celebrates the greatest gift of Christ's Resurrection: the Holy Spirit through whom God creates faith, builds Christ's Church and empowers God's mission in the world.

 

8:45 a.m.      mass                  Pastor Stahler will preside and preach

10:00 a.m.   forum               Roberto Lara on Dance

11:00 a.m.   mass                  Pastor Nicholas Sollom will preside and Pastor Jared Stahler will preach

12:30 p.m.   brunch              Thanks to Bruce Johnson

 1:30 p.m.    misa                  Pastor Arias will preside and preach

5:00 p.m.     Mass                 Pastor Stahler will preside and preach

 

Our 6:00 P.M. Wednesday MASS AND 7:00 p.m. BIBLE STUDY will go on summer hiatus as of May 27.


 

Looking ahead:

  • NICHOLAS JOHN SOLLOM will be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on Saturday, May 23 at 10:30 A.M. Nicholas has been called as Assistant Pastor at Good Shepherd Church and School, Plainview, NY.
  • DR.THOMAS E. SCHMIDT is retiring after 25 years as Cantor of Saint Peter's Church. A parish-wide celebration takes place Sunday, May 31 beginning with mass at 11:00 A.M. Dr. Schmidt's final Sunday at the organ is June 14.
  • SAINT PETER'S THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEMORIAL VESPERS is Saturday, June 13 at 4:00 P.M. Saint Peter's Choir presents, along with other selections, Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata No. 60  Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (O eternity, you word of thunder) and Cantata No. 106 Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (God's time is the very best). A reception follows the vespers.
  • SAINT PETER'S ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING is on Sunday, June 21 following the 11:00 a.m. mass.  The agenda includes Resolutions to
  1.      Extend the Covenant with Sion for two more years and create a Merger Commission
  2.      Establish a process for review of Partnership Ministries
  3.      Adopt the 2015-2016 Ministry and Property budgets of Saint Peter's Church.

There are so many people and some much good to give thanks for in these waning days of this program year.  Please join me as together we rejoice in all of these gifts and give thanks to God for them, for one another and for God's gift of the ministry we share in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Prayer of the Day for this coming Sunday says all of this best:

O God, form the minds of your faithful people into your one will.  Makes us love what you command and desire you what you promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is found, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen

 

 

The Sunday assistants sheets for the entire summer are now available on the Intersection.

 

Peace and Joy,

 

Amandus J. Derr

Senior Pastor


 

PS:  It looks like work on the Sion Center will begin on Monday, June 1!!!

 

Your Faithful Giving

Giving Together 2015 enables and supports the mission of Saint Peter's through two funds.



If you pledge and/or give to Saint Peter's, or if you are a member who has not pledged or given to Saint Peter's, you received a printed first-quarter statement of your stewardship giving by mail this past week.

 

Didn't receive one? Contact Jennifer at [email protected].

 

Here's a summary of what God is enabling us to give in 2015:

 

 

GIVING TOGETHER 2015


 

Goal

 

Pledged

Giving 

Non-pledged

Giving

Anticipated

Total

MINISTRY FUND

441,000

339,200

115,000*

454,200

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY FUND

110,000

47,100

n /a

47,100

 

* based on historical data

 

Participate in or increase your commitment to Giving Together 2015.

Click "GIVE NOW" at www.saintpeters.org to set up a new gift, or to manage already-scheduled giving, select "mySaintPetersLogin" from "CONNECT".

 

Need help? Contact Jennifer at [email protected].

 
The 50 Days of Easter aren't over yet - 
Give Now to the Easter Flower Fund

The Easter Flower Fund covers all 50 days of Easter until Pentecost Sunday.  Give now to keep our church space looking beautiful this Easter season.

Make your gift to the Easter Flower Fund in memory, in honor, or in celebration of someone or a life milestone.  Gifts can be made online or by using an Easter Flower Fund envelope. To see the list of those who have already given to the fund, visit the Intersection.


 

A second printed list will appear for Pentecost - give by May 19 for your name to be included.

 

Update from the Parish Council 
 

The Parish Council approved three new policies at its April 28 meeting: Rehearsal, Space Use, and Digital Media. Those policies, in the form of PDF documents, are available for download by clicking here should you want to read and/or save them. Printed copies can be requested by contacting the church office.

 

Art in the Galleries
Newcomers: Join Us!

You're invited to a welcome dinner on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m.  Bring friends and/or family members and enjoy a night of great food and even better conversation with us!

 

Please RSVP online by May 31 at www.saintpeters.org/events

 

New members will be received to the congregation on Sunday, June 21.

Voices at Saint Peter's: Coming Soon!
Subscribe to our new adult education podcast

 

Our new adult education podcast, "54th and Text," is up and running. Each episode is about ten minutes long and looks at one area from our Wednesday Study. This week's podcast focuses on the historicity of the book of Exodus. You can subscribe using iTunes or your iPhone by clicking here. New episodes will sync to your device automatically. If you don't use iTunes or an iPhone, you can still listen to new episodes here

Walk the Saint Peter's Labyrinth

Saturday, May 23, 2015        

11 AM - 3 PM

Come, reflect, walk           

All are welcome

 

 Pentecost - the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 

Church of St. Stephen/ Our Lady of the Scapular

151 East 28th Street **

New York, NY 10016

**Wheelchair accessible entrance on East 29th Street**

Finger labyrinths will be available for those not wishing to walk


Member Birthdays This Week

May 

 

17              Diana Friedline

19              Hedwig Rosinke, Gil Aimbez

20              Raja Burrows

21              Dale Goncher

22              Stephen Menchini

23              Norman Cohen, Heather Ednie

Breakfast Program
This week, we served 218 guests at our breakfast program. 

 

2,429 guests has been served so far in 2015. 

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. 

 

619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street in New York City