The Son of Man by Rene Magritte, 1964.
CHURCH LIFE AT SAINT PETER'S
November 26-December 6, 2015

For fifteen years on the Monday evening before the combined Thanksgiving dinner of all the Lenox Hill-related senior centers, I've been the designated pray-er.  Below is the prayer I prayed this year which you should feel free to adapt for your own Thanksgiving prayers.
 

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam
 
ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Amein
Blessed are you, O LORD our God, ruler of the universe.  You bring forth bread from the earth.
 
On this Thanksgiving, we remember who we are and how we became who we are; and we give thanks for those who have made us and those who enable us to be a free and diverse Nation and a creative and inclusive city.  We thank you for the gift of human dignity;  Freedom of speech and expression; Freedom to worship in our own way; Freedom from want; Freedom from fear; which are the bedrock of human dignity and the source of our American values.
 
Help us to cherish and preserve our freedoms and values and close our ears to those who would subvert them.
 
Accept our thanks for those serving in harm's way throughout the world and in this city, whose life and work preserve these freedoms.
 
Hear us as we pray for those who are alone and feel forgotten; and for the homeless, hungry and poor of our community.  Help us to see their needs and meet them with compassion.
 
We thank you for ____________________________ and all who are serving us tonight.
 
You have given us a free Nation.  You have endowed us with many blessings and given us great responsibilities.  Bless our land and all our people.  Give us responsive and responsible government.  Keep us all in your way of justice and truth.  Help us never to succumb to fear.
 

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam
 
ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Amein
Blessed are you, O LORD our God, ruler of the universe.  You bring forth bread from the earth. Amen
 
 
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  We pray this every day in Advent and each Sunday, beginning with November 29, God responds to us by being present for us.  Beginning this Sunday, the year ahead is shaped by the Gospel according to Saint Luke - the most song-filled Gospel - in which God is always experienced as the one who lifts us up.   Happy Advent!
 
November 29,  The First Sunday in Advent
Today Jesus reminds us of the consistency of God's Promise:
 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
 
Readings:  Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Saint Luke 21:25-36
Prelude:    Wachet auf,ruft uns die Stimme  BWV 645, J.S. Bach
Postlude:  Nun Komm den Heiden Heiland                BWV 661, J.S. Bach
Anthems:
                Soprano Aria and Chorale from BWV 61, J.S. Bach
                E'en so Lord Jesus, quickly come, Paul Manz
Hymns:
                Entrance                435         The Great Litany
                Of the Day             436         Wake, awake       
                Communion          263         Savior of the nations, come
                Sending                  246         Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding   
 
  •  8:45 a.m.                  mass                   I will preside and preach
  • 10:00 a.m.                 Forum                No Forum
  • 11:00 a.m.                 mass                   Pastor Stahler will preside and  I will preach
  • 12:30 p.m.                 brunch               Thanks to Adam Stone and James Pfister
  • 1:30 p.m.                   misa                    Pastor Arias presides and preaches
  • 5:00 p.m.                   vespers              Seminarian John Keogh will preside & Pastor Stahler will preach 
 
December 6, The Second Sunday in Advent  (38th Anniversary of the Consecration of Saint Peter's Church)
Today we rejoice that in the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high breaks upon us."
 
Readings:  Malachi 3:1-4:  Saint Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Saint Luke 3:1-6
Music at 11:00 a.m.
  • Prelude from Suite Op. 5    Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
  • Postlude Improvisation on "Comfort, comfort"   Bálint Karosi
  • Anthems
                The King Shall Come (choir)    Setting by Timothy Shaw
"Every Valley" from Messiah (tenor soloist)    G. F. Handel (1685-1759)
  • Hymns
 Entrance               239         Hark the Glad Sound
 Of the day            264         Prepare the royal highway
 Communion         249         On Jordan's Banks
 Sending                 256         Comfort, comfort now my people   
 
  •  8:45 a.m.                  mass                   Pastor Stahler will preside and preach
  • 10:00 a.m.                 Forum                Brother Eugenio De Lorenzo
  • 11:00 a.m.                 mass                   I will preside and  Pastor Stahler will preach
  • 12:30 p.m.                 brunch               ?
  • 1:30 p.m.                   misa                    Pastor Arias presides and preaches
  • 5:00 p.m.                   vespers              Seminarian John Keogh will preside & Pastor Eschen will preach 
 
The sign-up sheets for liturgical assistants for Sundays in December and for Christmas liturgies is now online.

Peace and Joy,
 
Amandus J. Derr
Senior Pastor
Welcome to our new cantor
On Sunday, November 22, we welcomed our new Cantor Bálint Karosi, an award-winning Hungarian composer, concert organist, and recording artist. 
 
Prior to this appointment, he had served as Minister of Music at the First Lutheran Church of Boston for eight years, where he founded and directed the acclaimed "Boston Bach Birthday," a daylong celebration of the composer's birthday, co-sponsored by the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and other art organizations in Boston. The festival gained significant media attention under his management, including live broadcasts on WGBH Classical New England, and featured many world-renowned performers. He also established First Lutheran's own Bach Vespers, a series of cantata performances in a worship setting on period instruments, and co-founded Antico Moderno, an ensemble dedicated to commission and perform new works for period players. (Antico Moderno's New York debut is scheduled at Saint Peter's in May 2016.)
 
Bálint has completed the academic portion of his doctoral studies in composition at Yale University. He holds a Master's degree and an Artist Diploma from the Oberlin Conservatory, two Master's degrees from the Liszt Academy in Budapest (in clarinet and organ performance), and two Prix de Virtuosités from the Conservatoire Supérieur de Genève in Switzerland. He has taught at Yale University, Boston University, the University of Massachusetts Boston and the Oberlin Conservatory. He regularly gives masterclasses and concerts in the United States and in Europe, and is under concert management with Penny Lorenz.
 
Websites:
The Christmas Decorating Fund is now open
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 online. 

 Give here.
God "equips the saints for the work of ministry"
You enable Saint Peter's Mission and Ministry. 
How are you giving together?

Thanks! Maintaining your 2015 giving in 2016

Yes! Increasing your giving or giving for the first time in 2016
Congregational Life
Sunday, December 6
at 1:15pm
Permanent Art at Saint Peter's: Suzanne Bohning will hold a talk about the Christmas crèche that sits at the baptismal font every holiday season. Come to the Narthex to hear about the history of this piece and how it came to be part of our Christmas experience.
Sunday, December 13 at 12:30pm
Hanging of the Greens: Join us after mass. Enjoy a delicious holiday meal, live music, gift wrapping, tree decorating and an afternoon of fellowship while preparing our church for Christmas. Please bring some holiday cookies or treats to share.
Sunday, December 20 at 1:15pm
Fiction Book Group:
Join us in a discussion of My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante. All are welcome to the 3rd floor link!
Friday,
January 8, from 7-9pm
Voices at Saint Peter's: Save the date! Come to the Living Room for an evening of poetry, prose and music.  Contact Wayne Britton if you would like to participate.
Member Birthdays This Week
30          Robert Hinson, Jonathan Linman, Bianca Jackson
1            Mariah Jackson, Andrew Duran
2            Elaine Pascu
4            Eric Stewart
5            Rob Kuhlenschmidt 
Breakfast Program
This past Monday night we served 121 guests.
 
6,578 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