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Dear Beloveds in Christ,

For whatever table you gather at this week of Thanksgiving, I would like to invite you into this beautiful blessing of thankfulness, excerpted from Kate Bowler’s, “For around the Table”:

So blessed are we, sharing a meal today.

May we recognize God’s goodness

in the thoughtful preparation,

in the delivering,

in the eating together,

savoring something that tastes like love.

May our time around the table be a gift.

May we be present to one another

engaging all our senses

as an act of thankful worship

to the nourishment that’s before us

with the people we love. Or are trying to.

God, bless the hands that prepared this,

those with us now,

and the ones we wish were.

Bless us, oh God.

in all of our eating and cooking and gathering and sharing,

our jokes, talking-with-our-mouths full,

and elbows on the table,

may we taste and see the love that multiplies.

Amen.

In the peace of Christ,

Kate+

A Prayer for Priest-In-Charge Discernment

May the search for clergy be guided by wisdom, discernment, and divine inspiration. May those involved in the process find strength and clarity in their decisions, seeking leaders who embody compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to the spiritual well-being of the community. May their efforts be blessed with success in discovering individuals dedicated to serving with humility and love.

Did you know you can give to St. Peter's securely through our online giving site? Make your pledge, give one-time or designate a special gift to one of our ministries.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Sunday, November 26th - Christmas Tree Lighting (Dinner at 5PM and Carols at 6PM with Tree Lighting to follow)
• Wednesday, November 29th, 6PM - Women's Pot Luck
• Friday, December 1st - Deadline for Christmas Toy Drive
• Sunday, December 3rd, 11:30AM - Newcomers Brunch
• Sunday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Services at 3PM and 5PM (no morning services)
• Sunday, December 31st - Lessons and Carols

Emily Out of the Office

Emily will be out of the office starting Tuesday the 21st to visit family for Thanksgiving. For pastoral concerns or other matters while Emily is away,

please contact Kate+ at revkateb@stpetersweston.org or 360-379-9803

New Bell and Intercom System!

St. Peter's now has a bell and intercom/camera system at the side door of the church. If you wish to stop by the church during office hours, please use the new bell system and Emily will buzz you in!

St. Peter's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting!

All are welcome to join in the festivities and joy of the season at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting! Please share in our tradition of gathering for an evening of celebration and fellowship with carol music and candlelit singing.  

The Christmas Tree Lighting is on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 26th. We will come together for a community dinner in the Parish Hall at 5:00PM. Following dinner, carols and singing will begin outside in the front circle of the church at 6:00PM, concluding with the tree lighting. 

Additionally, this year people are invited to bring a new unwrapped toy donation for ages newborn to 12 years old to benefit Latinos en Acción de Waltham.

First Sunday Newcomers' Brunch

December 3rd at 11:30AM

Please come for a potluck brunch after the 10AM service and meet some of our newcomers! If you would like to bring something to share, please let Lynn Maruskin (dlmaruskin@gmail.com) or Cheryl Murphy (cherlmurphy@aol.com) know. We will also be giving out kits for all kids to make their own Advent wreaths.

Exciting News from Beacon Montessori School!

Dear St. Peter's Church Community,

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of Beacon Montessori School, located on the ground floor of St. Peter's. Here, young minds aged 2.9 to 6 years are welcomed into an enriching and transformative educational environment. As cherished members of the St. Peter's family, we extend a warm invitation to explore our Montessori approach, rooted in fostering independence, cooperation, and creativity.

Join us for our Open House on November 19th, 2023 at 2:30 pm, and discover firsthand the unique and inspiring Montessori experience we offer. Beyond traditional education, we are dedicated to instilling a profound understanding of peace and interconnectedness. Our multicultural community celebrates diversity, cherishing each child's unique qualities.

Be a part of Beacon Montessori School, where every child's potential is unlocked, and education becomes a lifelong journey of discovery.

Join us for our Open House on November 19th, 2023 at 2:30 pm

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE:

• 2:30 - 2:45 PM: Check-in / Enjoy Coffee
• 2:45 - 3:15 PM: School Tour
• 3:15 - 3:45 PM: Child-Parent Chess Workshop
• 3:45 PM: Closing

Thank you,

Inna Esterkina, Ed.S.

Head of School

2024 Stewardship Campaign

A couple weeks ago, the Stewardship Committee mailed and emailed information about St. Peter’s 2024 Stewardship Campaign. We are grateful for all those who have already responded with a pledge!  To view the email, please click HERE

Pledge cards are available in the Narthex and church office or by entering a pledge via Realm HERE

Please reach out to committee members, John Jacobs, Mike Iacono, Scott Westvold, and Tom Keery if you have any questions!

This holiday season St. Peter’s Church is partnering with Latinos en Acción de Waltham Inc. to provide new toys for children ranging in age from newborns to 12-year-olds. Latinos en Acción de Waltham Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to the support, development, and advancement of the Latin American community in the city of Waltham. 

If you purchase toys, please drop off the unwrapped gifts at St. Peter’s Church (320 Boston Post Road, Weston) Mon-Thurs 9am-2pm and Fri 9am-1pm. Parishioners/visitors can also leave presents in the Narthex during Sunday worship.  

If you prefer a monetary donation, please send a check payable to “Latinos en Acción de Waltham Inc.”, 6 Eddy Street, Waltham, MA 02453.

Deadline is Friday, December 1st

Questions? Please contact Anne Ruggles at asruggles@gmail.com

Thank you to all who contributed to the Thanksgiving dinner drive to benefit WATCH CDC families. Because of your and the wider community’s generosity, we were able to donate 90 Market Basket gift cards valued at $75. Please know how grateful these families are to receive this gift so that they can have food on Thanksgiving.

Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!

Afghan Ministry Update

In January, St. Peter’s in collaboration with Trinity Concord and Grace Church Manchester started Sewing Seeds for Hope, a business for Afghan women to sew products to sell and support their families. Seed funding for this project was provided by Episcopal Province 1 (New England) under a grant program Coming Together for Hope and Healing, aimed to support collaborative projects among parishes in the Province. 

We started with 4 volunteers and a few products: pillows, cosmetic bags, aprons, scrunchies, jewelry pouches and baby blankets. This list has expanded to include glasses cases, burp cloths, potholders, napkins, placemats, tote bags, a baby swing, baby quilts and a mason jar sewing kit. The pilot project included 3 women: Rabia, Beduna and Zahra in Manchester. Two volunteers visit the women about twice a month to distribute fabric and supplies and work on new items. These sessions are great fun for all of us, full of laughter, learning, problem solving, drinking chai and playing with the kids, as well as distributing payment for items sold abnd reviewing quality. We meet at the house of the woman with the youngest children and sew sitting on the floor, with one hand guiding the fabric and the other hand pressing the sewing machine foot. We discuss the projects together and help each other with problem solving. These women never learned how to use a ruler, so they make measurements using their hands. It is a great opportunity to socialize and also to learn English, math and other new skills.  In the summer, we added 2 more women: Mujahida and Amina and hold similar sewing sessions with them in Lowell. Our volunteer list has also expanded: to 10 people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Fabric and sewing materials are collected through donation drives in Massachusetts and New Hampshire churches and mosques – the latest was conducted by St. Paul in Natick. Originally stored at St. Peter’s we now sort and store fabrics and products at several homes. 

The business is a success! As we have grown, we developed a name (Sewing Seeds for Hope), tagline (empowering Afghan women one stitch at a time) and logo (incorporating the colors of the Republic of Afghanistan, red, green and black), promotional materials, website (www.sewingseedsforhope.com) and a facebook page, with the help of a graphic designer, Sylvia Haber (www.perpetuart.com) and a tech-savvy volunteer. We have also retained accounting support, a business license in the state of New Hampshire, and a bank account. Since inception, we have held 21 sales in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, including church and mosque coffee hours and craft fairs. We have placed product in one arts & crafts store and one retail outlet and have obtained several commissions to produce specialty items, including 100 bags for a high school reunion. We have 12 additional sales venues lined up through 12/23, To date, sales proceeds have totaled more than $11,000. Each artisan is paid the proceeds from the sale of the items she made.

We recently received a second grant from Episcopal Province 1 to sustain the business, including accounting support, developing a web-based sales platform and adding additional artisans. Thank you to Province 1 and to all of you at St. Peter’s for your support of Sewing Seeds for Hope! Please contact Karen (kdm55@verizon.net) or Hansi (hansidean@aol.com) if you are interested in coming to meet the women or to help with sales events. 

Rev. Kate Bast is available for St. Peter's parishioners' pastoral care needs during her time as the Bridge Priest with St. Peter's. She can provide prayer or talk with you about your spiritual concerns around your life transitions, illness, or other life challenges; she is a certified Spiritual Director and Chaplain and is experienced in assisting people with their spiritual needs. She can also provide home communion if you are not able to come to church or Anointing for the Sick.

Contact Kate+ to arrange a time convenient for you via her cell: 360-379-9803 or email: revkateb@stpetersweston.org 

Do You Have a Pastoral Need?

For pastoral support or emergencies or for any other church matter, please call the Rev. Kate Bast at 360-379-9803. We encourage you to let her 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