FEBRUARY 2020

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 224 S. Military Highway Norfolk, VA 23502 Phone: 757-466-9392

“Celebrating and Proclaiming our Life in Jesus Christ!”

“THE CALL”

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church St. Peter’s Church was organized

in 1885 and the cornerstone was

dedicated September 5th, 1886.

This structure still stands on Brown

Avenue in Norfolk. The first

worship service at our present site

was in the parish hall on Christmas

Eve, 1959. All existing

construction was completed in

1965.

1st ………... Bishop-elect Susan Haynes Consecration,11AM

2nd ………. Staff meeting, 11:30AM

7th & 8th … Staff/Vestry Retreat at Chanco

10th ……… Ladies Lunch at Bahama Breeze, 12:30PM

16th ……… Vestry meeting, 11:30AM

17th ……… Presidents’ Day, Office & Day School closed

22nd ……... Acolyte Training, 10AM

23rd ……… School Board meeting, 11:30AM

25th ……… Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5-7PM

26th ……… Ash Wednesday, Imposition of Ashes at Noon

and 7:30PM

28th/29th … 128th Annual Council in Williamsburg

PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Men’s Bible Study – Tuesday mornings at 7:30AM. The men are studying the Book of Psalms. Bring your Bible and bring a friend!

The Intercessory Prayer Group Meet Sunday mornings at 9AM in the Diffenbaugh Library. If you are unable to attend any Sunday, you may request the group pray for you or your loved one by writing on a prayer card and placing it in the Prayer Box on the table in the parish hall or in the Narthex. All prayers are kept confidential within the group.

Please keep these people in your prayers

Co-ed Bible Study Group meet Wednesdays in the

Diffenbaugh Library at 7PM. They are studying

Genesis. Bring your Bibles and bring a friend!

Men’s & Women’s Cursillo Group meet

Wednesdays at 6:15pm in the Diffenbaugh Library.

Cursillo Grouping for Women they meet at the

Whitehorne’s home every Monday at 1pm.

THE PRAYER SHAWL GROUP The Prayer Shawl Group meet

on the first Tuesday of the month. They meet next on January 7th at 7PM in the

Diffenbaugh Library. The ladies make prayer shawls, that are given to our sick and

shut in members. Hats and scarves for the homeless, baby hats, and sweaters.

For more information contact Millie Coward at 455-5887.

If you have any yarn at home that you don’t need please consider donating it to the Prayer

Shawl Ministry. Thank you!

June Faye Joan Charlie

BJ Hazel Niko

Lois Sebastian Jess

Audrey Wayne Josephine

Patsi Vickie Penny

Bonnie Rick Joy

Xander & Family John Janet

Johnny & Nancy Debra Tim

Debbie & Kenny Christine Karen

The Benn Family Cheryl Henry

Al & Millie Jessica Lally

Clay & Wanda Daniel Billy

Maurice & Joyce Ruth Peggy E.

Bert & Ann Leslie Libby

Florence & Howard Corey Mary

Nancy & David Fidelma Marie

Jason Scott Kathy

128th ANNUAL DIOCESAN COUNCIL

In Williamsburg,

February 28th/29th, 2020

Please pray for our Delegates…

Bruce Comfort and Vel Shreve

and our Alternates…

Nancy Comfort and Charlie Pfeifer

FEBRUARY LADIES LUNCH

This month, the group will meet for lunch Monday,

February 10th, at 12:30PM.

They meet at Bahama Breeze in the Pembroke area

of Virginia Beach

Please sign the list in the parish hall if you plan on

attending or call Millie Coward at 455-5887.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

The youth have had a very eventful couple of months. We have seen our numbers

grow from an average of 3-4 on Sunday mornings in November and December, to

an average of 6 in January. We have seen visitors come in and some of our youth

return which has helped make our group a joyful experience.

The youth will be making Valentine cards for the “$ Kids” organization as well as

going to work in the “Good Mojo” thrift store. If you have anything you would like

to get rid of before your spring cleaning, please bring it to church and place in

the box in the Youth Room.

We would like to thank Jason Nowland and Linsey Shreve for allowing us to

show our talents during the Christmas season (monologues and pageant). The

youth will be cleaning up the church grounds, getting rid of trash and debris

once the ground is no longer wet. As always if there is anything you need from

the youth, please let me or my great partner, Carolyn King, know.

Please place your spare change in the jar on the table in the parish

hall. All donations are used to help the homeless in Norfolk.

Thank you!

Please encourage your children/grandchildren or neighborhood kids to come to

church and join our Youth Group! We always need more kids and we have a

great time!

We thank everyone in church for supporting us and for their generosity with

donations. Thank you all!

LENT & EASTER AT A GLANCE

February 25th………… Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

February 26th………… Ash Wednesday, Imposition of Ashes at Noon & 7:30PM

March 4,11,18,25…… Wednesdays in Lent Supper 6PM, Worship 7PM, Study 7:30PM

April 1…………………… Last Wednesday in Lent

April 5…………………… Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week

April 9…………………… Maundy Thursday, Seder and Tenebrae All Night Prayer Vigil, 8PM—8AM

April 10………………… Good Friday, Worship at Noon, Way of the Cross at 7PM

April 12………………… Easter, Worship at 8 and 10AM, Flowering of the Cross, Egg Hunt at Noon

ST. PETER’S CHURCH STAFF

Bishop The Rt. Rev. Jay Magness

Rector The Rev. John M. Eidam

Secretary Vel Shreve

Organist Elizabeth Miller

Treasurer Carolyn King

Sexton Kevin Bates

Happy Birthday

Join us for Birthday and Anniversary Blessings on the 1st Sunday of the month

VESTRY MEMBERS

Sr. Warden: Bruce Comfort (‘22)

Jr. Warden: Linsey Shreve (’20)

Jim Jimeno (‘19) James Benn (’22)

Robert Olliges (’20) Nancy Comfort (’22)

Charlie Pfeifer (’20) Charlotte Corbett (’22

Howard Belote (’21) Ana Nowland (’22)

Susan Sigler (‘21) Jason Nowland (‘22)

FEBRUARY 2020

The deadline for articles for the

March issue of The Call is:

February 15th, 2020

Send articles to :

vel@stpeters-norfolk.org

or call the church office at 466-9392

Ed Klaus 2nd

Andy Midgette 3rd

Andy Diffenbaugh 14th

Matthew Shreve 14th

Carolyn King 15th

Allison Truxell 16th

Ashley Williams 18th

Jodi McGinty 21st

Lauren DeLoatche 22nd

Yvonne Authement 23rd

Steve Kakol 23rd

A REMINDER… St. Peter’s Youth

Group is collecting spare change to help support the homeless in Norfolk. Please use the jar on the information table in the par-ish hall to make your donations.

ALTAR FLOWERS If you would like

to give altar flowers any Sunday through

the year, sign the flower chart in the

vestibule, beside the Sunday you wish to

give.

The flowers are $60, or $30

when two people give on the

same Sunday.

CONSECRATION OF THE 11th BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

Bishop-Elect Susan Haynes will be Consecrated Saturday, February 1st ,2020, at Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Hwy. in Williamsburg. The Most Rev. Michael Curry will preside. A reception will follow.

A carpool will leave the church parking lot at 8:30AM. Please call the church office if you will be car pooling 466-9392 or sign the list in the parish hall.

SUPPORT OUR VETERANS The Veteran’s Administration in Hampton is accepting the

following items for the veterans: Toiletries, clothing, candy, games, etc. Please bring your

donations to church and Bill Weissner will deliver them to the hospital. Toiletries are

needed the most. Donated items may be placed in the container in the parish hall. Thank you!

GOD BLESS OUR SERVICE MEN

AND WOMEN “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you

can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

Joey Bucky Jarod

David Bob Mario

Kyle Mike Allan

Christopher Jennifer Frank

Jared Courtney Jonathan

Chloe Michael Aaron

All types of clothing is needed at the Veteran’s Hospital Please donate your gently used clothing to the VET’s.

Bring them to church and place them in the container provided in the parish hall. Thank you!

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

Our Day School is still collecting Box Tops for Education until they expire. You will be able to

use your cell phone now when collecting box tops by using the app on your phone. Thank

you for your continued support.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER

Tuesday, February 25th from 5-7PM

ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES, SAUSAGE & AP-

PLES!

Adult tickets $7

Children $4

Children under 4 Free

**********************************************************************************

St. Peter’s Children’s Ministry February 2020

Matthew 5:13-20 (Salt and Light) Do you like pickles? Part of what makes a pickle

taste so good is salt. You may also like a little salt

sprinkled on your breakfast eggs or on popcorn. Salt

brings out the flavors of food like no other ingredient

can.

Salt is also important to our health. We need it so that

our bodies will keep the right balance of water in our

tissues. It helps our heart beat correctly and is

necessary for our nerves to send messages to and

from our brain. Salt even helps our muscles function

properly so that we don’t get leg cramps. There is salt

in every cell in our body!

Salt is inexpensive and is something we don’t think

much about, but it is very important and is something

everyone must have. Years ago, in certain parts of the

world, where salt was scarce, it was as valuable as

gold.

Now think about this: Jesus said, “You are the salt of

the earth”. How exciting to think that we can bring

out the flavors of life. When we accept God’s love it

is as if His Love is in every cell of our body! We

share that love with others because it is something

every one needs. “You are the salt of the earth.” You

are important and much more valuable than gold.

****************************

Dates to Remember

❖ Feb 2nd – Epiphany 4 - Birthday Blessings at

10:00 am service

Luke 2:22-40 (The Presentation)

❖ Feb 9th – Epiphany 5

Matthew 5:13-20 (Salt and Light)

❖ Feb 16th – Epiphany 6

Matthew 5:21-37 (Murder)

❖ Feb 23th – The Last Sunday After Epiphany

Matthew 17:1-9 (The Transfiguration)

Why do we give chocolates on Valentine’s Day?

• Some say that chocolate increases energy levels

and a person’s desire. Scientists say that eating

chocolates releases endorphins. Endorphins are

receptors in your brain that can trigger a positive

and happy feeling.

• The first box of chocolates for made for

Valentine’s Day was made by Richard Cadbury in

the 1800’s. This helped start the tradition of

giving chocolate for Valentine’s Day.

• Chocolate comes from the theobroma cacao

tree. Theobroma comes from the Greek word

meaning “food of the gods”.

• Chocolate is the most popular gift for Valentine’s

Day. It is estimated that over 1 billion dollars is

spent on chocolates and candies for Valentine’s

Day.

• Millions of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are

bought every year for Valentine’s Day.

****************************

Corny Jokes What do you call a pig that does Karate?

A pork chop

Why did the bike fall over?

It was two tired

What lights up a soccer stadium?

A soccer match

Why don’t they play poker in the jungle?

Toom any cheetahs! How many tickles does it take to make an octopus

laugh?

Ten-tickles

St. Peter’s Children’s Ministry February 2020

February 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

8AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

9AM Intercessory Prayer

10AM Holy Eucharist Rite II

Children’s Chapel

Christian Ed.

11:30AM Staff Meeting

Ladies Lunch

at Bahama Breeze

in the Pembroke

area of Va Beach

12:30PM

PRESIDENT’S DAY

Office and Day

School closed

SHROVE

TUESDASY PANCAKE

SUPPER 5-7PM

Cursillo Grouping

6:15PM

Co-Ed Bible Study

7PM

Cursillo Grouping

6:15PM

Co-Ed Bible Study

7PM

Cursillo Grouping

6:15PM

Co-Ed Bible Study

7PM

ASH WEDNESDAY

Imposition of Ashes

at Noon and

7:30PM

STAFF/VESTRY RETREAT AT CHANCO

128th ANNUAL COUNCIL in WILLIAMSBURG

ACOLYTE

TRAINING

BISHOP’s

CONSECRATION

in Williamsburg

11AM

8AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

9AM Intercessory Prayer

10AM Holy Eucharist Rite II

Children’s Chapel

Christian Ed.

8AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

9AM Intercessory Prayer

10AM Holy Eucharist Rite II

Children’s Chapel

Christian Ed.

11:30AM Vestry Meeting

8AM Holy Eucharist Rite I

9AM Intercessory Prayer

10AM Holy Eucharist Rite II

Children’s Chapel

Christian Ed.

Men’s Bible

Study 7:30am

AA meeting

8pm

Men’s Bible

Study 7:30am

AA meeting

8pm

Men’s Bible

Study 7:30am

AA meeting

8pm

ASSIGNMENTS Feb 2 —4th Sunday after Epiphany

Acolytes Corrin King, Bronwyn Shreve

Ushers Jim Jimeno, Vicky Martin

Lector at 8AM Tony Antonik

LEM at 8AM Debbie Whitehorne

Lector at 10AM Laura Kallestad

LEMS at 10AM Kimberly Truxell, Charlie Pfeifer

Altar Guild Duty Bonnie Rennick, Millie Coward

Nursery Attendants Wendy Glaeser, Yvonne Authement

Feb 23 –Last Sunday after Epiphany

Acolytes Christine Truxell, Judy Eller

Ushers Vicky Martin. Larry Shreve

Lector/LEM at 8AM James Benn

Lector at 10AM Jeffrey Pfeifer

LEMS at 10AM Charlie Pfeifer, Kimberly Truxell

Altar Guild Duty Dot Pierce, Nancy Comfort

Nursery Attendants Wendy Glaeser, Debbie Whitehorne

Feb 9—5th Sunday after Epiphany

Acolytes Olivia McGinty, Gabi McGinty

Ushers Susan Sigler, Coach Sigler

Lector at 8AM Vivien Valentine

LEM at 8AM Bob Vanderslice

Lector at 10AM Susan Sigler

LEMS at 10AM Bruce Comfort, Nancy Comfort

Altar Guild Duty Jessica Trochanowski, Vel Shreve

Nursery Attendants Debbie Whitehorne, Amanda Keller

Feb 16—6th Sunday after Epiphany

Acolytes Nancy Comfort, Magdalena Kress

Ushers Steve Kakol. Sean McGinty

Lector/LEM at 8AM Bruce Comfort

Lector at 10AM Judy Eller

LEMS at 10AM Bonnie Rennick, Jason Nowland

Altar Guild Duty Judy Eller, Bobbi Bowery

Nursery Attendants Yvonne Authement, Wendy Glaeser

Feb 26 –Ash Wednesday

Acolytes Nancy Comfort, Bruce Comfort

Ushers Larry Shreve, Susan Sigler

Lector/LEM at Noon Bob Vanderslice

Lector at 7:30PM Janet Chauncey

LEMS at 7:30PM Bruce Comfort, Nancy Comfort

Altar Guild Duty Millie Coward, Vel Shreve

FROM THE RECTOR Vestry Highlights: At their January 12th meeting, the Vestry:

* Approved the December, 2019 Financial Report which included-

In December, our income was $2,766 more than budgeted. In December, our expenses were $6,068 more than budgeted. We finished the year 2019 at $15,825 under budget

* Welcomed new Vestry Members- James Benn, Bruce & Nancy Comfort, Charlotte Cor-bett, and Jason & Ana Nowland

+ Elected to one year terms:

Senior Warden- Bruce Comfort Junior Warden- Linsey Shreve Treasurer- Carolyn King Register- Peggy Pfeifer

+ Made Commission Assignments for 2020

+ Reviewed Parish Contact Lists for 2020

+ Discussed upcoming Staff and Vestry Retreat (Feb. 7-8, 2020 at Chanco.)

+ Reviewed an estimate submitted for installation of a new roof on church building

Rector’s Prayer List- Please join me in praying for:

+ Our new Diocesan Bishop- The Rt. Rev. Susan Haynes

+ Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry

+ A successful Staff and Vestry Retreat (Feb. 7-8)

+ A successful Diocesan Council weekend (Feb.28-29

+ A Happy and Healthy New Year 2020 for all!

+ The work of our 2020 Vestry Members.

+ The people and clergy of our neighborhood churches.

+ Our friends at St. James Holiness Church.

+ The leaders of our nation, our state, and our local governments.

Answered Prayers- Please join me in giving thanks to God for:

+ Our new Diocesan Bishop- The Rt. Rev. Susan Haynes

+ The ministry of our Interim Bishop- The Rt. Rev. Jay Magness

+ My incredibly talented Church Staff!

+ Our Drama Ministry members who presented Advent monologues

+ Our wonderful Christmas Pageant presented on Advent IV.

+ Our Beautiful Christmas Eve services.

+ Our wonderful Epiphany Sunday celebration!

+ A very successful New Year’s Eve service.

RECTOR’S LETTER THE YEAR OF CHANGE

(Note: the following is a portion of the report given by me on January 5th at the Annual Parish Meeting. I’m reprinting it here for the benefit of those who may have missed that meeting.)

There is an old adage that says the only two guarantees in life are death and taxes. I would readily add a third thing that is guaranteed in this life- change. If I were to label the coming year 2020 as the year of anything, it would be “The Year of Change.”

Of course, in any given year we all experience changes in our personal and/or family lives- the birth of children, marriage, health issues, job changes, moving into a new home, retirement, death, etc. All of these changes are inevitable and have the potential to impact our lives in significant ways- both in posi-tive ways and negative. And so how we deal with the changes we experience is very important. Some-one once said, “Living a balanced life is largely contingent upon how successfully we handle the transi-tions (the changes) in our lives.”

Some big changes are coming our way at St. Peter’s this coming year. As many of you know by now, I will be retiring from full time ministry in early July. This is due in part to the Episcopal Church’s policy of mandatory retirement at age 72 (that’s me in July) and health issues that impact my ability to func-tion as well as I’d like. My retirement will mean new temporary clergy leadership for St. Peter’s start-ing in July and St. Peter’s entering into a transition process that will be led by the diocese and, in time, result in the calling of a new rector. How significantly the different ministries of our church will be im-pacted is impossible to know at this time. But one thing is certain- all of you will have a part to play during this time of transition, whether it be as simple as filling out a questionnaire, or more challenging as in taking an active part in some ministry of the church. Lay leadership will be most important during this time of transition and introspection.

There are, I know, lots of questions and, for now, I have very few answers. The Rev. Roy Hoffman, from our Diocesan staff, will be attending this year’s Staff and Vestry Retreat in February to share the process for calling a new rector with the Staff and Vestry members.

He will also explain the new diocesan policies just released concerning retired rectors and the limits of their involvement with the churches from which they retired. Things should become a bit clearer after the retreat. If you have any questions for me in the meantime, please contact me, but be ready for the answer, “I don’t know, yet.”

My dear friends, remember one important truth…GOD IS IN CHARGE AND ALL WILL BE WELL!

(Upon hearing of her election as the next bishop of our diocese, The Rev. Susan Haynes promised to immerse herself in prayer and the Scriptures as both she and our diocese began a process of transition. That’s excellent advice! I have begun to do that. I hope you will, too.)

Peace and love,

John+