Saturday, June 8: at 4:00 p.m. is our 39th annual Memorial Vespers. Read about it HERE .
ALL ONE NOT ALONE
Dear faithful people of Saint Peter’s Church:

In the Gospel for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Christ Jesus, the crucified, raised and ascended to the Father (today is Ascension Day) prays for us and for all who believe “that they may be one.” This is the prayer which several of our Eucharistic Prayers calls “the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest,” and is a fitting introduction to the essential gift and giver of unity, the Holy Spirit, whose work we particularly celebrate next Sunday on the Day of Pentecost. Between this Sunday and Pentecost, two important and unique Saint Peter’s Church events take place.

Friday, June 7 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. is the tenth anniversary of Voices at Saint Peter's, an evening of prose, poetry, and song. This is always a fun evening, but this tenth anniversary promises to be "extra special!"

Saturday, June 8: at 4:00 p.m. is our 39th annual Memorial Vespers, a uniquely Saint Peter’s Church liturgical experience with great music and the prayerful remembrance of our departed loved ones, particularly those who have died over the past year. This year’s major musical presentation is one of the earliest operas, Emilio de' Cavalieri La Rappresentatione di Anima, et di Corpo, an opera in three acts presented in a Vespers setting. A reception in the Living Room follows. 

As we come to the end of our 2019-2019 Program Year, please be aware of the following 10:00 a.m. Fora:

  • June 2: Preserving Ancient Traditions in our Liturgy led by me, focusing on the unique ways ancient liturgical practices are included in our regular liturgies.
  • June 9: Countdown to Saint Peter’s new Sacristy, again led by me as we prepare for imminent construction.
  • June 16: A new Saint Peter’s Organ, led by Cantor Balint Karosi.
  • June 23: Among the Tombs, led by former Senior Pastor Ron Roschke on Saint Luke 8:26-39, the Gospel text fore that Sunday. (Pastor Roschke will be the preacher at the 11:00 a.m. mass this day)

Beginning June 30, we will be on hiatus from our 10:00 a.m. Sunday forums until September 8.

OFFICIAL NOTICE:
Pursuant to Article C10.01 of Saint Peter’s Church Constitution and B10.01. 01 of the bylaws, the Annual Meeting of Saint Peter’s Congregation is scheduled for Sunday, June 16, 2019 immediately following the 11:00 a.m. mass.  Action items on the Agenda include:

  1. Election of one member of Saint Peter’s Church Trust Committee. The Trust Committee has recommended and the Parish Council has nominated Carol Trower for a second 4-year term.
  2. Election of Council Members – please watch for the Nominating Committee’s report
  3. Action on 2019-2020 Operating Budget – please watch for the recommended budget.
On Saturday, June 22 at 4:00 p.m., a Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated and Pastor John S. Damm’s ashes will be inurned in Saint Peter’s Columbarium. Pastor Damm served as our Senior Pastor from 1981-1991 and this mass will be attended by many of the students he mentored while serving at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, and Christ Seminary/SEMINEX from 1966-1981. Among those who will be present at Pastor Damm’s predecessor, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Petrerson (1968-1980) and his successor, the Rev. Ronald Roschke (1992-1996). Thus, half a century of ministry at Saint Peter’s will be represented at this liturgy.

I’ve invited Pastor Roschke to preach at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 23 and he, in turn, has asked to lead the 10:00 a.m. Forum on the Gospel text. All of this makes for a very emotional and historically significant weekend at Saint Peter’s Church.

Peace and Joy —— and Courage!
The Rev. Amandus J. Derr
Senior Pastor
GOOD TO KNOW
  • To help our staff anticipate the number of people intending to join us for the Mass of the Resurrection for the Rev. Dr. John S. Damm on Saturday, June 22, please RSVP HERE.

  • Saint Peter's Parish Council is pleased to commit Saint Peter's to join Central Synagogue in giving a gift to the Midtown Islamic Center, damaged by fire last month. Some 600 people pray here every Friday, and more throughout the week. The Council hopes this one-time special collection can be presented at the close of Ramadan on June 4. Give online, or by check payable to "Saint Peter's Church,” write "Islamic Center" in the memo.

  • The Fiction Book Discussion Group will next meet on Sunday, June 30, after the 11:00 am Mass. There will be no brunch, so we will convene in Pastor Derr’s office as soon as the offering counters have completed their work (estimated 12:45). The book we will discuss is The Sport of Kings by C.E. Morgan. The “read-ahead” book is Rachel Kushner’s The Mars Room. We'll pick a date for that discussion when we meet on June 30. 

  • Director of Member Engagement Sarah Moga is away until Saturday, June 1.
PARISH COUNCIL
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Are you, or someone you know at Saint Peter’s, interested in serving on the Parish Council? Each spring, the Nominating Committee works to secure the names of congregational members interested in serving a three-year term on the Parish Council. The committee then will email a questionnaire to each potential candidate and set a time in late May/early June for interviews. Elections will be held at the Congregational meeting on June 23. Please contact any member of the committee with suggested names, including your own! They are Tracy Christensen; Dennis Frado; Justin List; Marisa Lohse; Catherine Russell; and Carolyn Wagner, chair. 
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