Dear faithful people of Saint Peter’s Church:
The hopeful, joyous, wondrous, festive twenty-three days of and 4 Sundays in Advent begins on Sunday, December 2 and the days ahead are filed with liturgies and other events which brighter these otherwise dismal days. Beginning with the lighting of the first candle on our Advent wreath at this Sunday’s liturgies and continuing through 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Vespers, caroling, cookie-baking and a myriad of great musical presentations, the days ahead are meant to “stir up our hearts” with joy. Beginning this Sunday, our liturgies will be shaped by the Gospel according to Luke. Below is a brief snapshot of what the next several weeks will bring:
December 2, the First Sunday in Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come…
- 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. liturgies begin with the Advent Invitation and Procession praying the Great Litany.
- 10:00 a.m. Forum is a presentation by James Beaudreau and Mieke Vandersall on our new website. It will be held in the Living Room!
- 12:15 p.m. Sunday School includes the presentation of Advent calendars to our children as they prepare to sing carols at Wartburg on December 22.
- 6:00 p.m. Jazz Vespers begins the four- Sunday residency of the phenomenal, Grammy-nominated Sarah Caswell String Quartet with dance by Saint Peter’s Dance in Jazz. This Sunday Sara is joined by pianist Jen Allen & saxophonist Kris Allen.
December 9, the Second Sunday in Advent:
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare…
This Sunday is also the forty-first anniversary of the Consecration of Saint Peter’s Church.
At the 11:00 a.m. Mass
- José Javier Mata Posada, a young adult refugee from Honduras whose legal guardians are Roberto Lara and Christopher Vergara, will be baptized by full immersion.
- Saint Peter’s Bach Collegium Orchestra and Choir will present J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 36 “Sing joyfully upward to the exalted stars” with Contemporary Ballet incorporating Scandinavian and Mexican dance traditions. This cantata is based on ELW hymn 263 “Savior of the nations, come.”
- At the 10:00 a.m. Forum, Imam Shaykh Dr. Ibrahim (95 years old!) and Imam Muhammad Hattim will present “How my faith helps me get through these days,” part 3 or a four-part series.
Tuesday, December 11:
- Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Mass at 6:00 p.m. and processions with dance throughout the evening — a fantastic celebration!
Saturday, December 15:
- Cookie baking! Again this year, the Cookie Bake team of Eric Stenshoel, Kit Kreilick and Janet Ziff will be coordinating baking and decorating Christmas cookies the day before our Hanging of the Greens celebration on Sunday Dec. 16. We’ll start cutting and baking at 10:00 a.m. and expect to finish by 3:30 p.m., and you are welcome to join us for as much or as little time as you can!
December 16, the Third Sunday in Advent:
Lord, hear our prayers and come to us…
This day includes Hanging of the Greens, a festive meal, church decorating and wrapping gifts for our homeless friends.
- At the 11:00 a.m. Mass: New choral works by young, emerging composers.
- At the 10:00 a.m. Forum, Rabbi Rachel Ain of Sutton Place Synagogue will present the final part of the series, “How my faith helps me get through these days.”
TBA: Christmas Caroling on 53rd Street.
December 23, the Fourth Sunday in Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord,…take away hindrance…
The “O” antiphons, ELW hymn 257 “O come, O come, Emmanuel” is always sung at these liturgies.
- Catherine Russell will be the featured performer at Jazz Vespers at 6:00 p.m.
GOOD TO KNOW
Monday, December 24, EVE OF CHRISTMASS
- 5:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS VESPERS AND CAROLS
- 7:30 p.m. MISA
- New time 10:00 p.m. SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS
Tuesday, December 25, CHRISTMASS
Sunday, December 30, First Sunday after Christmas
- 11:00 a.m. CHRISTMAS CAROL MASS
Sunday, January 6, 2019 EPIPHANY
- 11:00 a.m. MASS/MISA EN ESPAÑOL
- This is the principal celebration of Christ’s Nativity in the Latinx community and Sión leads this liturgy.
There are also many other concerts at Saint Peter’s by city-wide choirs during these three weeks. Check each week’s calendars for information.
This is my penultimate Advent with you, the faithful people of Saint Peter’s Church. Please join me in these joyful celebrations!
Peace and Courage!
