Becoming the Beloved Community
While I find it hard to believe that we are this close to Lent, I also am reminded that in every day of the Church year, we are afforded the opportunity to glorify God in thought, word, and deed. Epiphany is about Christ, who revealed his glory upon the holy mountain. Lent is about centering on and nourishing that Light within our own being to be and spread that Light with our lives.

This Sunday

View our program guide, Life at St. Peter's, for more information.

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion* in the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer (Rite I), including sermon, organ music, and hymns.

8:30 a.m. "Holy Chow,"  breakfast in the Community Room. Cost is $4 per person; $15 household maximum.

9:30 a.m. Christian Formation for all ages, locations display on signage throughout the Parish House.

10:45 a.m. Holy Communion* in the contemporary language of the Book of Common Prayer (Rite II), including sermon, choral and organ music, and hymns.

5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong with Holy Eucharist. The Men of the St. Peter's Choir and the Reverend Jacob E. Pierce lead this service of sung evening prayers. Just after Evensong, a brief service of Holy Eucharist takes place.

Ash Wednesday, March 1

Imposition of Ashes with Holy Eucharist, 7:00 a.m., Noon, 7:00 p.m.
Ashes-to-Go Sidewalk Ministry, 8:00-8:45 a.m., 11:00-11:45 a.m., 1:00-1:45 p.m. 

*Nursery Care - 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Infants and toddlers, ages 0-3 are welcome in St. Peter's professionally staffed nursery. The nursery area is accessible from the Church by walking through the Chapel, and proceeding up the steps to the left.
News

Life at St. Peter's Winter-Spring 2017 Worship, Programs, and Events Calendar. This key parish life resource of offerings through Summer 2017 is now available online and available for pick-up in all public spaces at St. Peter's. Mark your calendar for any and all of what's in store!

Weekday Morning Prayer and Tuesday Noon Eucharist. Monday-Friday, 8:00-8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer in the Chapel of the Saints is a beautiful offering for the start of the day. On Tuesdays at Noon, we offer a 30-minute celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Chapel. All are invited and encouraged to bring guests to any and all of these weekday offerings. 

Sunday Formation for Youth and Children, weekly. Journey to Adulthood (J2A) youth, ages 13-18, meet in the Youth Suite (basement level, Parish House). For more information,  email Director of Youth Formation, Lyn Holt. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd children, ages 2-12, meet on first floor in the Toddler Atrium and Levels 1-3 Atria (classrooms). 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Parish House. For more information,  email Director of Children's Formation, Anna Hurdle.

Sunday Formation for Adults, February 19, 9:30-10:30 a.m.  The Parish Hall Forum (second floor, Parish House) will feature "Spiritual Discernment: Where God is in our daily lives," hosted by parishioner/spiritual director Jim Dudley and the Parish Clergy. This is the second of a two-week series. The discussion will continue with discerning God in our lives, and explore how our prayer life can help us with discernment. Looking ahead to March 5, the Parish Hall Forum will explore "Reconciliation: The Mission of the Church" led by the Reverend Ollie V. Rencher.

Sunday Evenings at St. Peter's: Evensong and TaizĂ©All are invited to experience alternative contemplative ways to begin the week: worship on most Sundays at 5:00 p.m. On most second and fourth Sundays, Choral Evensong and Holy Eucharist is offered. On every third Sunday, a meditative TaizĂ© Holy Eucharist is offered, which includes music for piano. Our next Evensong will be February 26, led by the Reverend Jacob E. Pierce and The Men of the St. Peter's Choir, which will include the Reverend Ollie V. Rencher. The Winter-Spring 2017 schedule for Sunday Evenings at St. Peter's is available by clicking here.

Visual Changes in Our Sacred Space during Lent. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, the 40-day covering of certain religious symbols, including images and processional crosses is part of what is called the "Lenten Array" at St. Peter's. Medieval symbols depicted in the dossal veil, which now covers the mosaic at the altar, are a rooster (crowed after Peter's third denial of Jesus) and what appears to be the combination of a lance (used to pierce the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross) and a reed (was placed in Jesus' hand as a royal scepter in mockery). On either side of Jesus are two of the women who followed him from Galilee to Calvary and at the foot of the cross is the image of Jesus as Lamb of God.
 
Annual Shrove Tuesday Festival and Volunteers, February 28. On the eve of Ash Wednesday, the parish family is invited to gather for a Shrove Tuesday Festival on Tuesday, February 28, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Prepare now for an evening of live music and food, including pancakes, The Rector's Gumbo, fresh fruit, King Cake and other desserts, including many child-friendly options. Tickets are $6 for youth and adults, $4 for children, up to a $25 household maximum.  RSVP online . A variety of volunteers are essential to another successful event. To learn more and serve, click here  or contact Vestry Coordinator for Fellowship, Paige Ghareeb ( paigeghareeb@mac.com , 704-947-8986).

Pub Theology, Thursday, March 2. Join parish clergy and friends for a relaxed time of holy conversation beyond the walls of St. Peter's at our second such fellowship for 2017. On Thursday, March 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at a location soon to be announced, the topic will be "Observing A Holy Lent: Practices and Rituals," led by The Reverend Keith C. Lane, Assisting Priest. If you are curious about ancient and new practices to make a Holy Lent in your life, this casual, drop-in gathering is for you and a guest.
 
Sabbatical Send-off for The Rector, Sunday, March 5. The parish community will send off the Reverend Ollie V. Rencher, Rector for his 3-month sabbatical made possible by a 2017 Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program grant awarded to St. Peter's. Entitled "Reconciliation, Music, and Rest for the Soul," ours was one of 146 grants awarded to a variety of congregations throughout the nation . All are invited to attend either of the morning liturgies and the send-off fellowship opportunity during Coffee Hour before his March 6 - May 31 sabbatical period. Our Associate Rector, the Reverend Jacob E. Pierce, and Assisting Priest, the Reverend Keith C. Lane will welcome a host of visiting clergy during this season. For a Sabbatical Overview and Clergy Schedule, click here.

Seeking Kanuga Planning Committee Members. Our annual Parish Retreat at Kanuga is scheduled for September 15-17, 2017 and we need help! We would like to have a kickoff meeting in the next few weeks to begin the planning process and are seeking people who would like to be a part of the following Kanuga Planning Teams: Registration, Communication / Marketing, Evening Programs (Friday and Saturday), Formation Program (Saturday Morning), Saturday Afternoon Activities, Children / Youth Program, Childcare, Scholarships (Fundraiser), and Budget. Please contact Vestry members Cooper Morrison (cooper.morrison@beauxwright.com,704-540-2384) or Paige Ghareeb (paigeghareeb@mac.com, 704-947-8986 (home), 704-608-8759 (cell)) if you would be willing to serve. 

More News
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Mark Your Calendars

March 5 : Sabbatical Send-Off for the Rector, 8:00 and 10:45 a.m. Liturgies and 12:15 p.m. Coffee Hour.
Saturday, March 18: " Papa Pietro's" Italian Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction Youth Pilgrimage Fundraiser, 6:00 p.m. RSVP Now.
Sunday, March 26:  At 12:30 p.m., the St. Peter's Choir will host a Gourmet Gospel Brunch Fundraiser  for their August 2017 pilgrimage to England where our choristers will serve as choir in residence at St. Alban's Cathedral.  Tickets are on sale now, www.st-peters.org/rsvp.  Food will be catered by St. Peter's Choir Provisions and entertainment will include the choir, guest gospel artists and you, the audience!
St. Peter's Episcopal Church | 704-332-7746 | Email | Website