St. Peter's
Episcopal Church
Milford, Connecticut
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May 29, 2022
The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Ascension Sunday)
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This Week at St. Peter's
8:00 a.m. Holy Communion in the church.
10:00 a.m. Holy Communion with music in the church.
Due to concerns regarding the rise in Covid cases in our community, wearing masks is strongly encouraged.
10:00 a.m. Sunday School Children should go directly to their classroom in the Taft Building. They will rejoin us for Communion.
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Ascension: Letting Go, looking lower, and receiving God in the unexpected. "Why do you stand looking up?" Acts 1:11.
Friends, it's been a dreadful week in our nation as we grieve the slaughter of innocents in our nation, yet again. In my own grief, I've shifted from anger, to weeping, to numbness, and back again. Maybe you have too.
Just last night, I was kept awake by a racing mind, and a heavy sadness that just wouldn't let me go. While it was good to pray among friends at our vigil services on Wednesday, I found myself saying out loud, at 3:00 am..."I could use a friend right now." That prayer was answered as I gathered with our Women's Bible study, which meets on Thursdays at 10:15. We looked at the readings for the Ascension, and I felt glad to connected to a larger story through the scriptures. The story of God.
Maybe you can use a friend right now... I invite you to join us in worship as we seek the safety and solace of being with people of faith, holding onto Christian hope, even with trembling hands. Today is the feast of the Ascension, where Jesus rises to heaven from (Bethany, the same place Lazarus was raised from.) and tells the disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come. Seeing their friend ascend to heaven, faithful that one day he will return, they stared at the clouds until angels asked them...Why do you stand there, looking up?
They headed back to be together and pray. Grappling with the new reality, waiting on the Lord, rather than receiving direct instruction...and in that waiting, they were gifted with the Holy Spirit, and changed the world. I pray that together, even in our grief, we can wait on God together...receiving the Holy Spirit, and fed with the mystical body of Christ.
I pray also that you can find time to rest and recover on this holiday weekend, to dig in the garden, to feed your soul. May you find comfort in the waiting, blessing in the longing for God's mercy, and the endurance to change the world...one loving action at a time.
Yours in Christ,
Matt+
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The Readings for
Sunday, May 29, 2022
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A word from our Interim Parish Administrator David Rivera
I have always felt a call to serve in the church in many different roles from a young age. I have a passion for young adults to be involved in the church; serving, leading and doing the work God calls us to do. I am a member of St. Paul & St. James in New Haven, where I serve as a Liturgical Assistant. I am also a member of the South Central Region Leadership Team. Previously, I worked as Sexton at Grace Episcopal Church in Hartford and Office Assistant at the Episcopal Church at Yale.
Currently, I am a Part Time Customer Service Representative at CT Transit. In my free time I enjoy walking, traveling by train and attending events, festivals, and fairs. I am excited to be joining the staff at St. Peter’s and look forward to meeting everyone. My hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9 AM-2 PM
(203) 874-8562.
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Happy Birthday wishes to Paul Mangels, Angela Rowley, Justin DeGregorio and Linda Gustafson.
Happy Anniversary to Belinda & Anthony Brano and David & Judy Bryson.
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The Rev. Jeffrey Mello Elected as ECCT's XVI Bishop Diocesan
The Rev. Jeffrey Mello, Rector of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookline, Massachusetts, was elected on May 21 as the 16th bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, pending the required consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.
“I am humbled and I am honored that you have chosen me to be your 16th bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut,” said Rev. Mello. “With my whole heart, my whole mind, and my whole body I accept your election and invitation to serve as your next bishop diocesan…I cannot wait to be with you, grow with you, to join you in the work that lays ahead.”
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Bishops Statement on the Uvalde Mass Shooting |
Click here to read the statement from our ECCT Bishops on the Uvalde Mass Shooting.
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Click here to read the statement from The Presiding Bishop and other leaders in the Episcopal Church on the Uvalde Mass Shooting.
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Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry led in prayer live on social media Tuesday evening in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. He shared a prayer adapted from Bishops United Against Gun Violence, as well as prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. |
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Parish Picnic Sunday June 12 |
June 12-Parish Picnic and Celebration of our Music ministries. The picnic will take place on June 12. On that day, we will thank our volunteers and outgoing staff.
This day will be our last day with the Choir for the 2021-22 program year.
We will also celebrate Fred Backhaus and Kathleen Blixt as we wish them a wonderful retirement.
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The vestry held it's monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 17. You can view the minutes here or by clicking the photo to the right.
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DONATIONS FOR ALTAR FLOWERS
We are preparing to resume receiving donations for Altar flowers. Donations may be made as a memorial or a thank offering at any time for a specific Sunday. There will be forms for such donations in the back of the church, which can be mailed to the church office, put in the collection plate or given to an usher. A minimum of $35 is suggested, and a preferred date may be chosen for any Sunday, beginning this week.
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The Crisis in Ukraine and how to Help
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut has put together resources for prayer and action as we respond to the invasion of Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis
it is causing.
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The new May-July 2022 issue of
Forward Day by Day has arrived!
Copies may be found in the rear of the church. For those who are unable to join us for in-person services at this time, copies may be requested by clicking here.
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Important Dates for your Calendar.
June 5, The Feast of Pentecost, and celebration of our Children and Youth Ministries. Wear Red!
June 12-Parish Picnic and Celebration of our Music ministries. The picnic will take place on June 12. On that day, we will thank our volunteers and outgoing staff.
This day will be our last day with the Choir for the 2021-22 program year.
We will also celebrate Fred Backhaus and Kathleen Blixt as we wish them a wonderful retirement.
To contribute a gratitude offering for Fred and Kathleen,
Donate Here. There is an option to contribute in the drop-down menu of our online giving site.
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Your prayers are requested this week for
Mike, Rich, Richard, Tommy, Paul, Karen D, Marty & Karen M, Mary, Katrina, Nancy, Marcy, Jeff, Grace, Helen, Violet and Paul, Jen, Carol, Frances, Charissa, Arian, Farrah, Kevin, Rea, Debby, Janice, Nora, Pam, Elaine, Dick W, Sophie, Corrine, Matt, Jim, Emma, Ronald, Rick, David, Paul, Gail and Marlene, John, Susan, Nancy, Gabriel, Dorothy, Doug and Corliss, Claire and her family, Kate, Carolyn, Martin, Richard, Bob and Connie, and Alice.
+ Pray for those who have died, especially Shauna Devlin and those who have died by gun violence committed by racist and nationalist individuals in California, Buffalo and Texas.
We pray for and for all those who are bereaved, and the courage to make change where we can.
+ Pray for those who are frightened, anxious, or lonely.
+ Pray for continued wisdom and discernment in our leaders in government and the church alike that we may renounce the evil powers of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.
+ Pray for peace, especially in Ukraine.
+Pray for the unemployed and underemployed; for all who suffer from addictions; for all who suffer chronic illness, and for all caregivers;
+ Pray for support and strength for health care workers, first responders, hospice chaplains, palliative care teams, funeral directors, and all who attend to end-of-life care.
+ Pray for all communities impacted by climate change and continued severe weather events.
+ Pray for all who will be persecuted for their faith, and for all refugees seeking safety. Pray for discernment as we seek to welcome them in Milford.
+ Pray for renewal in our church, that the Holy Spirit might bless us with the endurance to run the race before us, and to do so with joy.
+ Pray for our Bishop Elect The Rev. Jeffrey Mello. We give thanks for the Bishop Transition Committee nominees Glenna Huber, Kate Moorehead, Tanya Wallace and Whitney Altopp, the people of ECCT, and the clergy and lay delegates of convention.
+In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer this week, we pray for The Church of South India (United) and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for St. John’s, Niantic; Zion, North Branford; St. John's, North Haven.
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