Gathering Manna by workshop of Friedrich Brunner, 1497.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters Collection.
CHURCH LIFE AT SAINT PETER'S
July 30-August 9, 2015

 

I want to begin by saying THANK YOU to Emil Hottenroth!  Emil has been -- and intends to continue --volunteering nearly every weekday at Saint Peter's in these weeks before he's off to begin his college career at Purdue University in Indiana. He's a great organizer!  This week, he's been cleaning out, organizing and inventorying the inner sacristy.

 

AND for the last several months, Fran Reed has been doing much of the same tasks one day every week.  Please keep Fran in your prayers as she continues to deal with some health issues.

 

Audrey Gensel, wife of the late Pastor John Gensel, will celebrate her 92nd  Birthday on August 7.  She's doing great but would probably really appreciate a birthday greeting.  Her address is PO Box 91, Muncy, PA  17756.

 

This Sunday, August 2 is the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost.  As Christ feeds us, he satisfies all our hungers.

 

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

11:00 a.m.   mass              I will preside and Pastor Stahler will preach

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

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

 

Next Sunday, August 9 is the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost.  Jesus continues to feed us and, while feeding us, to teach us about the fullness of life nourished in Christ.

 

8:45 a.m.      mass            I will preside and preach

11:00 a.m.   mass             Pastor Stahler will preside and I will preach

 1:30 p.m.    misa             I will preside and Juan Carlose Ruiz will assist and preach

 5:00 p.m.    Vespers       Vicar Joseph Schattauer-Paille will preside and preach

 

WHERE ARE THEY?

Sam Hutcheson left for the West Coast on Wednesday and is currently helping his daughter Holly settle in Portland, Oregon. He will be back on Monday.

Kathy Burt is on vacation this week.

Pastor Fabian Arias leaves for vacation in Argentina on Monday, August 3 through Tuesday, August 25, 2015.

I will be in Houston, Texas from Monday, August 3 through Thursday, August 6.

Vicar Joseph Schattauer-Paille will return from his vacation on Monday, August 3.

 

LOOKING AHEAD:

Joseph Schattauer-Paille, our first full time vicar in 50 years, will complete his internship year among us on Sunday, August 16, 2015, the Day of Mary, Mother of God.  Joseph will preach at 8:45 and 11:00 and we will bid him farewell and Godspeed at the close of 11:00 a.m. mass. Joe will be going to Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota to complete requirements for ordination. To contribute to a farewell financial gift, click the link here.

 

The Senior Center at Saint Peter's will have its final Saturday program on August 29.  Beginning August 31, the Senior Center will be open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will no longer be open on Saturdays.  On September 1, 2015 our Senior Center will begin its 15th year at Saint Peter's.

 

My greatest frustration this past month has been the continuing delays we've suffered as we've tried to begin construction delays on our long-awaited Sion Center.  While our architects, contractors, project manager and staff have produced their work in a timely fashion and the contractor is ready to start, work has been delayed due to "approvals and sign-offs" by various city agencies.  Needless to say, this project will not be completed in September.  However, as of this writing -- and things can still change -- all approvals have been received and construction start-up meeting is scheduled for Monday morning, August 3, 2015.  Please join me in praying that we will finally be able to begin this project next week.

Completing the Sion Center and moving the Senior Center away from Saturdays will free up our Sanctuary and Living Room space for other church and community uses and needed maintenance.  

Carole and I will be flying to Texas on Monday to see our son Mandy and daughter-in-law Ariana's newly built home and to assist them in caring for our grandaughter while both have to work.  Carole will remain in Houston through August 12.  I'll be back next Thursday.

 

HELP NEEDED! FREE DINNER OFFERED!

Saint Peter's will be hosting the ELCA's Mission Interpreters Coordinating Conference on Saturday, August 29, and YOU are invited to dinner and conversation that evening.  The Mission Interpreter Ministry helps congregations understand God's work performed together in our congregations, the community and beyond, and the attending coordinators would like to hear the stories of God's missions at Saint Peter's.

There are 15 seats open for dinner (free).  Please email or call Jennifer Eberhart (212-935-2200, ex. 104) before August 3 if you would like to attend.  (We are also looking for a volunteer or two to assist at the conference during the day.)

 

 

  Peace and Joy,

 

Amandus J. Derr

Senior Pastor

Quiet Day at Saint Peter's: August 8
Join the ELCA in conversation August 6
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The hard but undeniable fact of deeply embedded racism in American society has come to the fore in painful ways this past year through high-profile occurrences of racial discrimination, hatred and violence - including racially motivated killings. As Lutheran Christians, what should be our response and witness? As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, how are we called to confront the sin of racism?

We need to talk and we need to listen, but we also need to act. As one important step in this process, I invite you to join me and William B. Horne II, an ELCA lay leader and member of the ELCA Church Council, for a live webcast conversation on the complexity and implications of racism on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. (CDT).

Through our church's social statement - "Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture" - the ELCA collectively has expressed its calling to confront racism and advocate for justice and fairness for all people. You can read this social statement here. In addition, I have made several public statements on behalf of the church recently on this subject. Those statements are available here.

God's intention for all humanity is that we see the intrinsic worth, dignity and value of all people. Racism undermines the promise of community and fractures authentic relationships with one another. As Christians, though, we live in the conviction that the church has been gathered together in the joyful freedom of the reign of God announced by and embodied in Jesus. That reign has not come in its fullness, but the message of God's "yes" to the world breaks down all dividing walls as we live into that promise.

I urge you to deepen your involvement in and commitment to this important work to which we all are called. I believe our live webcast on this topic on Aug. 6 is one useful way for us to pursue this together, and I hope you will view and take part in it.

You may read more about this webcast at www.ELCA.org/webcast, where a link to the live webcast will be embedded. A live stream also will be available at www.Facebook.com/Lutherans. Twitter hashtag is #ELCAConfrontRacism. If you would like to submit a question to be considered during the live webcast, please send it to [email protected] and provide your name and your congregation's name, city and state.

Join me for this important conversation.

Your Sister in Christ,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Member Birthdays This Week

August

 

2                Carmen Pi�eda

3                Craig Stacey, Bonnie Minger, Curt Dill

4                Beverly Trapp

6                Douglas Norseth, Casey Santos, Willa Kayne

7                Audrey Gensel, Dorothy Reid

8                Lawrence McGowan, Cristina Reyes, Colin Cavanagh

Breakfast Program
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.

We'll resume publishing this accounting in September. 

 

619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street in New York City