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Dear Friends-

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus talks about Humility. As I was preparing for my sermon, I came across a great quote by C.S. Lewis on the subject. He said,

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” 

Except, as I found when I researched where Lewis said this, I found that he didn’t actually say it! The quote comes from Rick Warrren’s a purpose driven life. 

It’s a nice quote, even helpful, but what Lewis actually said on Humility is even better! I share it with you here;

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 3, Chapter 8, “The Great Sin,”

See you Sunday! 

George

Thanksgiving Dinner Donations Appeal 2022

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are mindful of our good fortune and consider ways to help others. Once again, St. Peter’s Church is assisting families and individuals in Waltham who could use some extra support. Unfortunately, food insecurity is rising and the continued increase in both the cost and the demand for food means that many, including children, are hungry. 

We would like your help. In partnership with WATCH (Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing, and Housing), we will donate $75 Hannaford Supermarket gift cards to deserving Waltham families so that they can plan and enjoy their holiday meals.

Please join the St. Peter’s Thanksgiving drive and help spread joy! We encourage you to consider donating the equivalent of two or more “$75 Thanksgiving Dinner” gift cards, but welcome donations of any amount.

1 Dinner $75, 2 dinners $150, 3 Dinners $225, 4 Dinners $300, 5 dinners $375, etc.

Thanksgiving Dinner Donation is easy with several payment options:

1) Through St. Peter’s online payment platform, Realm: https://onrealm.org/StPetersEpiscop42312/-/give/now

NOTE: Please be sure to select “Thanksgiving Dinners” under the Fund column (second prompt after the amount) 

2) By texting “StPetersWeston” to 73256 to get a link to the Realm site, as above.

3) By check made out to St. Peter’s with “Thanksgiving Dinner” written in the memo line, and mailing the check to: St. Peter’s Church, 320 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493 

This year’s deadline for Thanksgiving Dinner donation submissions is Friday, November 11^th. All gifts towards Thanksgiving Dinners are tax deductible and will be included in St Peter’s Parishioner’s year-end reporting.

To help as many families as possible, please share this appeal letter (see printable attachment) with your friends and neighbors. In the past, some families have even distributed the “neighbor appeal” in their neighbors’ mailboxes to involve their children and to teach them about the spirit of giving. Emailing or texting the letter to friends and family works too!

Questions? Contact Anne Ruggles (asruggles@gmail.com).  

Thank you for your consideration and wishing you and your family, a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving season.

Anti-Racism Book Club:

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

“Horse isn’t just an animal story—it’s a moving narrative about race and art.”

— TIME

As we continue the Christian work of anti-racism, join us in reading Horse by Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks. Members and non-members are welcome!

Brooks traces the story and the legacy of one horse from Kentucky in 1850, through New York City in 1954, to Washington, DC in 2018, shedding light on the roles of slavery and racism at large throughout, and working to preserve the "the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success."

"Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred, Lexington, who became America’s greatest stud sire, Horse is a gripping, multi-layered reckoning with the legacy of enslavement and racism in America."

We will gather on Tuesday, October 25th at 7PM.  Hope to see you there!

Please contact Rachel Schachter at rachelmarieschachter@gmail.com or Mike Iacono at iaconomv@gmail.com with any questions

September Update from Strategic Planning Committee

Dear Parishioners, please use the link HERE to view the blast email sent out on Thursday, Sept. 22nd for the full details of this month's update from the Strategic Planning Committee.

We joined Instagram! 

Follow us at @stpetersepiscopal_weston

If you are interested in adding to our profile, please send any pictures and/or announcements to Emily at office@stpetersweston.org

Afghan Ministry Update

Thank you all so much for your ongoing support. With winter coming and energy costs soaring, we are assisting in winterizing the apartments. To that end we are looking for insulated curtains, heavy fabric for making curtains, old towels and thick fabric that will be used to make door and window stoppers, plastic wrap and tape for windows, hot water bottles, power strips and warm blankets. We recently started a sewing circle with the Afghan Mom’s and any sewing materials, fabric, pillows and Joanne Fabric gift cards would be put to good use. We are also in need of warm winter clothing. Between the 10 families there are 30 children from infant through High School. Used jackets, hats, gloves, boots, shoes, slippers, school clothes and warm pj's in good shape would all be appreciated. 

Unfortunately we are postponing our Afghan get together which was planned for after services on Sunday, November 6th. Transportation remains a challenge in trying to round up 35+ people in Manchester and getting them on a school bus which isn’t safe for the young children in car seats and boosters. Anyway we are committed to having a cultural exchange, we just need more time to figure out the logistics. We hope to reschedule for January. If you’re willing to do a RT pickup or drop off from Manchester please let Hansi or Karen know. We are also investigating the cost of a coach bus which would be safer for the children.

Thank you, 

Karen & Hansi

St. Stephen's Youth Programs Virtual Partner Gathering

With B-SAFE behind us and B-READY up and running for the fall we're excited to see you again! We will be hosting a Virtual Partner Gathering on Monday, October 24th from 5-5:45 PM on ZOOM. This will be a chance for all of you to meet Chris, hear about his vision for SSYP, and ask him questions. Members of our Development Team and Program Team will be on the call as well to answer questions you have about partnerships with SSYP.

Please CLICK HERE TO RSVP if you are interested in attending. We will send out a reminder (with the zoom link) to everyone who has RSVP'd on the day of the event.

The link to join the Zoom meeting is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83949461443 

If you have any questions or issues with the RSVP link, please email: Tyler@ssypboston.org 

If there is someone else at your church that you think would benefit from attending, or would like to know about this event and future partnership opportunities, please pass their email along to me so I can add them to my list!

Thanks, 

Tyler 

Join State Senator Mike Barrett for a

Conversation about Climate Legislation

On Saturday, October 29, starting at 10am, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bedford (100 Pine Hill Road) will be hosting State Senator Mike Barrett for a community conversation about two pieces of major climate legislation that have recently been signed into law in Massachusetts. These new laws set an aggressive road map for the next generation of climate policy in our commonwealth, focusing on carbon reduction, alternative energy, and forward-thinking adaptations. Senator Barrett co-chairs the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, and has been instrumental in working on these bills. Senator Barrett will also speak about how our Massachusetts laws relate to recently passed federal climate legislation, and invites us to reflect together on how emissions reduction and climate change mitigation can be done in just and equitable ways across our whole state. 

This conversation is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served, and so we request that those planning to attend register at:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044DACAC2BA0FA7-senator. 

For more information, please contact green@stpaulsbedford.org.

Though many of St. Peter's parishioners have returned to worshiping and receiving Holy Communion in person inside our church building, we know it is not yet safe for all of us to do so. We will continue to live-stream our services so that we may include as many as possible in our offerings of praise and thanksgiving to God.

If it is not yet safe for you to worship with us in person, and you would like to receive Holy Communion and/or a share a time of prayer at your home, please contact the Parish Office.

If you would like to schedule a time during the week for private prayer in the church, please contact the church office.

St. Peter's is committed to continuing to make our worship space safe and welcoming to all. We hope to have you back with us in person as soon as doing so is the right choice for you.

Do You Have a Pastoral Need?

For pastoral support or emergencies or for any other church matter, please call the church office number (781-891-3200) and press 2 or email George. We encourage you to let us know if you are in the hospital or have some other need that calls for pastoral support.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church | 320 Boston Post Road | Weston, MA 02493

www.stpetersweston.org