1 The Mainsail St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church November, 2016 “If anyone ever tells you a small parish can’t make things happen, just take a look at what was accomplished by the Parishioners of St. Simon Peter on October 15,” said Mother Mollie. The pictures pretty much say it all: Crafts, children having a grand time, food, tickets for the Talent Show, sales of White Elephant items, but most of all and best of all was the coming together and working together in community. Good Job, St. Simon Peter Parishioners. You made it happen!! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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The Mainsail
St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church November, 2016
“If anyone ever tells you a small parish can’t make things happen, just take a look at what was accomplished by the Parishioners of St. Simon Peter on October 15,” said Mother Mollie. The pictures pretty much say it all: Crafts, children having a grand time, food, tickets for the Talent Show, sales of White Elephant items, but most of all and best of all was the coming together and working together in community. Good Job, St. Simon Peter Parishioners. You made it happen!!
There will be no book until January. For the next few weeks the “conversations” will be about various subjects of interest, i.e., “The use of icons.” Plan to join in, no preparation is required, just your attendance. ***********************************************************************************
Bishop Kee Sloan will make his annual visit to St. Simon Peter
on Sunday, November 20. (This is a different date than was previously scheduled.) This is also the date for Confirmation and the baptism of Harris Virginia Moreland.
It would be a good thing to fill the pews for the Bishop’s visit and in celebration of the Confirmands and Harris’s baptism.
Do You Know of a Special Need The St. Simon Peter Foundation Should Consider? The St. Simon Peter Foundation will meet at the end of November to make the final distributions for 2016. So far this year, using funds from the Foundation, St. Simon Peter has given gifts to Foothills Day Camp, the Christian Love Pantry, Habitat for Humanity, Bethany House at Camp McDowell, and two gifts to Episcopal Relief and Development (for Gulf coast Flooding and Haiti Hurricane Relief). Because of the large need for disaster relief, we have given most of our available outreach funds for the year, but we will still consider a few more requests. If you would like to request funding for a specific need, please send the request IN WRITING (email will do) to Mother Mollie or [email protected] BEFORE NOVEMBER 15. There is no form, but the letter should tell us how much is needed, when it is needed, and how the money will be used. Requests are only accepted from members of St. Simon Peter And please remember to include the St. Simon Peter Foundation ibn your estate planning. A brochure is available in the church office with information about the opportunity t leave your legacy.
November 18 – 5:30 p.m. - $35.00 Not only will you go home with a beautiful
‘original’ painting for your home, but families in the Pell City Community will go home with food. The end result of all the fun, the food and the learning experience ultimately supplies funds for The Christian Love Pantry to continue its amazing work of providing food for many families in St. Clair County. Painting for the Pantry is an ongoing ministry of St. Simon Peter. Come and join the fun.
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Welcome – Episcopal Women of the Church
Welcome to the Diocese of Alabama Episcopal Church Women (ECW). All Episcopal women are automatically members of the ECW. We are women of all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, our common denominator is our love of God and the desire to do His work.
Who we are: The Church Chicks!: We are re-branding the ECW, and we need your energy
and ideas to give the “old girls club” a makeover. It won’t happen without you. Please bring your concerns, needs, and ideas to your ECW parish president, or contact your Convocation Coordinator, Debbie Cearley.
The life of Episcopal Church Women begins in the local congregation, and continues at the diocesan, provincial and national levels. Each has its own unique characteristics which enable the mission and ministry of women. Episcopal Church Women are an integral part of the Episcopal Church USA which consists of nine provinces and is a part of the world wide Anglican Communion.
Scholarships & Grants: The ECW supports and funds several ministries, including providing funds to
assist seminarians from the Diocese of Alabama purchase their books, and the annual United Thank Offering
(UTO). In addition, over the last decade or more, the ECW has awarded over $100,000 in college scholarships
to students in the Diocese of Alabama.
ECW Prayer: Almighty God, bless we pray, our working mission and ministry in the world and
make us so thankful for the precious gift to your beloved Son, that we may pray fervently, labor diligently and give liberally to make known throughout the world the redeeming love of our Savior. Amen.
Andrea Peacock, President
ECW News: Several women from St. Simon Peter attended the ECW Convocation at the Episcopal
Church of the Messiah in Heflin on Saturday, October 29. Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Father
John Bagby followed by a talk given by Andrea Peacock, Diocese ECW President. Andrea shared
ideas and goals the ECW is working on. She also announced that the next Fall Convocation would
be held on October 6 and 7 at Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston. She stressed it will take all the
Cheaha Convocation ECW to make this event successful.
Following a wonderful buffet of salads (provided by the attendees), Ellen Mayer led the group in a
hymn fest. Debbie Cearley gave a brief history about who wrote the music and the text for each
hymn.
A gift of $l00 was given to the Heflin Love Pantry in appreciation of Episcopal Church of the Messiah
So, how did the service of Lessons and Carols get started?
(Taken from The Book of Occasional Services) – Many years ago, Archbishop Edward Benson, when at Truro Cathedral in England, instituted this beautiful service based on the medieval vigil service. It was modified at a later date by the Very Reverend E. M. Milner-White, at that time Dean of King’s college Chapel, Cambridge, England. Since then, it has been sung annually in King’s College Chapel on Christmas Eve. The service consists of a procession, bidding prayer with the Lord’s Prayer, Invitatory, nine lessons (fewer may be used) with the appropriate carols and hymns, closing prayer, a benediction and hymn. Traditionally, the lessons are read in a defined order: a chorister first, followed by members of the community holding various positions and ending with the rector or bishop. This method does not need to be observed, but the last lesson should be read by the rector or bishop. The service may take place on Christmas Eve or anytime during the 12 days of Christmas. In some places, it is held on the afternoon of Advent IV. The time of the service varies from place to place. Generally, the later afternoon seems most popular. For some parishes it is the main service of the day while others use it as the Liturgy of the Word at the Holy Eucharist.
St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church – Service of Lessons and Carols – December 11 – 4:00 p.m.
November Calendar November 5 Dinner Theatre/Talent Show November 6 All Saints Day November 9 Episco Chicks meet at Vicki Yaeger’s November 13 Pledge In-Gathering Day November 18 Painting for the Pantry November 20 Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation Baptism – Harris Virginia Morland November 23-26 Office Closed (Thanksgiving) Note: Regularly Scheduled Weekly Activities Are: Tuesday: Cursillo – 10:30 a.m. EFM – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Holy Eucharist – 10:00 a.m. Needlework Guild – 11:00 a.m. Chair Yoga – Noon Thursday: Choir Practice Last Sunday of Month: Cursillo – 6:00 p.m.
On the Horizon December 4 First Sunday of Advent – Parish Annual Meeting December 11 Lessons and Carols (Reception to follow service)
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Did You Know? If you missed or would enjoy hearing one of Mother Mollie’s sermon again, they
are available on the St. Simon Peter website. You can access them from your PC, IPad, or smart phone. Share this information with your friends and family.
stsimonpeter.org Worship - Sermons
St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church “Our Mission as the Body of Christ” To know our faith…. To live in truth and love….. To serve the needs of all people.
O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But, do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering –
Our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble.
When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.
(Found in the clothing of a dead child at Ravensbruck concentration camp.)
