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How delightful to be driving through Weston and see the sign announcing our December 1st, Christmas Tree Lighting! Even though the days are becoming shorter and shorter, the excitement is building at St. Peter's for the Advent and Christmas season. Bobby and I have been having conversations about Advent music and everyone can expect from the opening notes for St. Peter's to sound the tones our hearts have come to look for this time of year. There will be something for all ages and I'm sure that I won't be the only one to discover something new this year.

Paul+

St. Peter’s Community Prayers

We pray for the people on

our parish prayer list:

~

Maryann, Valerie, Joan, Walter, Helen, Harry, Adam, Sarah, Margo, and Meredith

Mark Your Calendars!

• Sunday, December 1st - Annual Christmas Tree Lighting (Dinner at 5PM and Carols at 6PM with Tree Lighting to follow)

• Sunday, December 8th - First Sunday Breakfast at 9AM

• Friday, December 13th - The Copley Singers Christmas at 7:30PM in the Sanctuary (free admission!)

• Tuesday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Family Pageant at 3PM; Christmas Eve Service with Prelude and Carols at 5PM

Important Note!



There will not be a Women's Pot Luck gathering during the months of November and December. We hope you join us in the new year!

Memorial Service for David Bradley

A funeral service will be held at St. Peter's for longtime member David "Chip" Bradley on Saturday, December 7th at 11am, followed by a reception. Anyone wishing to send the family cards may send them to the church office.



St. Peter's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

Next Sunday, December 1st!

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.  

We will come together for a community dinner in the Parish Hall at 5PM. Following dinner, carols and singing will begin outside in the front circle of the church at 6PM, concluding with the tree lighting.

Copley Singers’ Christmas at St. Peter’s



The first of what could become an annual event at St. Peter’s, we have the Copley Singers’ Christmas on Friday, December 13th at 7:30PM. We are grateful to our generous donors who have made it possible for us to offer this event for free and to open our beautiful church to all. Please invite your friends, neighbors, and especially anyone you know who may be looking for a church home. (Click on the video above for more information). For local news coverage of this event in the OWL, click here.

Time to Pledge: 2025 Stewardship Campaign

Planning discussions for 2025 have already begun at St. Peter’s! With our new Rector, we are entering a new era for our church, and we invite you to lift up your hearts in prayer and ask: “How can I contribute to the flourishing of this church and community?” What you choose to pledge will largely shape what is possible at St. Peter’s next year. Together, with hearts lifted to God, we can make a difference in our church, our community, and the world. Further information and links to enter your pledge can be found on the stewardship page of our website.

A reminder that neither Rev. Paul nor any of the lay leaders of this church will ever text or email you directly asking you for money or donations. There is a rise in phishing scams where someone posts from a phone number or email that appears to be from clergy or lay leaders and attempts to steal money from parishioners or others on our mailing list, usually requesting the purchase of gift cards. When you think you've received a suspicious communication, please report it to your service provider and contact Rev. Paul, Emily in the office, or Mike Iacono directly.

Sign Up to be a Worship Leader/Lay Assistant

Updates to Prayers of the People

If you would like to include a family member or loved one on the prayer list, please contact Emily at office@stpetersweston.org

or call the office at 781-891-3200

Sunday Flower Donations!

If you wish to make a flower donation in memory or in celebration, please sign up your name on the flower calendar in the Narthex of the church. You may either donate by placing your donation in the collection plate or go to the St. Peter’s website to donate online.  The Donate button is located in the top right corner of the homepage or you can use this LINK.  In the drop-down menu, select “Flower Donation.” 

Please contact Helen Stock (helenstock2@gmail.com) as to the type of flower arrangements you prefer and contact Emily (office@stpetersweston.org) as to the wording you would like to appear in the bulletin.

St. Peter’s YouTube Page Revived



St. Peter’s created a YouTube page during the pandemic that was well used during that time, but not at all after that. It is now revived and you can expect to see short edifying videos of all kinds there appearing periodically. For example, some of Rev. Paul’s sermons at St. Peter’s are now there to be seen or re-seen. To find the YouTube page, just click on the YouTube button at the upper right corner of the church’s main webpage or at the bottom of this weekly email. You can also subscribe to be notified of new content. 

Thanksgiving Dinner Donation Thank You!

Thank you to all who contributed to this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner Drive. We raised enough money to buy Market Basket gift cards for 115 WATCH families so that they too can prepare a holiday meal. I am so grateful for the generous support of our congregation and the wider Weston community. Thank you and have a happy Thanksgiving!

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 at St. Peter’s Church (320 Boston Post Road, Weston) Mon 8am-2:30pm, Weds 8am-2:30pm, or Fri 8am-4pm. Parishioners/visitors can also leave presents in the Narthex during Sunday worship.  

Please see the separate e-announcement for gift ideas:

If you prefer a monetary donation, here are the following options. Funds will be delivered to the organization by one of our Outreach Committee members:

1. Through St. Peter's online payment platform, Realm (Note: Please be sure to select "Christmas Toy Drive" under the Fund column, the second prompt after the amount) https://onrealm.org/StPetersEpiscop42312/-/form/give/now
2. By check made out to "Latinos en Acción de Waltham, Inc." with "Christmas Toy Drive" written in the memo line. You can mail the check to: Latinos en Acción de Waltham, Inc., 6 Eddy Street, Waltham, MA 02453

Deadline is Sunday, December 8th

Questions? Contact Anne Ruggles at asruggles@gmail.com

Thank you for your consideration and wishing you and your family a healthy and happy Christmas season!

Afghan Ministry Update

Joyful Reunion--In August of 2021, as the Taliban advanced towards Kabul, Ziauddin Zahid a helicopter pilot flew one last mission. He and a number of other pilots who have also resettled in Manchester, NH had to fly their helicopters to Pakistan to keep them out of the hands of the Taliban. Kabul fell so quickly that he was not able to return home and Z has spent an agonizing three years separated from his wife and seven children. The family was targeted because of Ziauddin’s affiliation with US forces and has moved from safe house to safe house to avoid the Taliban’s retaliation. Z shared a small apartment with a few other men and sent home as much as possible every month from his modest salary as a custodian in an elementary school in Bedford, NH, to support his family. When Z first arrived like so many others, he thought his family would soon follow but months passed and months turned to years until finally on Wednesday they arrived in Manchester. Volunteers have been scrambling to find an apartment and found one on Tuesday. The scrambling continues as we clean and furnish for Friday move in. They’re exhausted physically and emotionally and are staying in a hotel for two nights until the apartment is ready. Needless to say, the reunion was joyful for everyone involved and gives hope to the other Manchester men in similar situations that they will be reunited with their families soon. A lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving for the Zahid family. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday surrounded by your families.

Do You Have a Pastoral Need?

For pastoral support or emergencies or for any other church matter, please call the Rev. Paul at the office (781-891-3200). We encourage you to let him know if you are in the hospital or have some other need that calls for pastoral support.

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.

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

www.stpetersweston.org