The Bible in 100+ Words

The original came from Mary Matthews.  I have added some in italicized print

God created.
Eve wondered.
Cain slew.
Noah arked.
Babel blundered.
Willfulness grew.

Sarah laughed.
Jacob schemed.
Joseph ruled.

Princess dreamed.
Bush talked,
Moses balked.
Pharaoh plagued.
People walked.
Sea divided.
Miriam danced.
Wisdom guided.
Promise landed.

Othniel, ideal —
Deborah outplayed.
Jephthah distrusted.
Samson betrayed.

Saul freaked,
David screwed.
Solomon lavished.
Manasseh crude.

Huldah prophesied.
Jeremiah warned.
Persians tromped,
Chosen scorned.

Esther rescued.
Judith defended.
Daniel lionized.
Freedom lamented.
Exiles returned,
Remnant resentful.
Temple rebuilt.
Prophets judgmental.

Mary believed.
God walked,
Love talked,
Compassion forgave,
Wisdom nourished.

12 called

Healings began

Parables told

Prophets proclaimed

Establishment feared.
Anger crucified,
Hope died.

Love rose,
Spirit flamed,

Saul raged

Jesus intervened

Ananias touched

Paul changed

Word spread,
God remains.

Centering Prayer

A Time to Pray: A Morning Workshop on Centering Prayer
Saturday, December 10  ~ 9 AM to Noon
Memorial Room

What is centering prayer?

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him. (from Contemplative Outreach)

Come join us and learn about this method of prayer.

Please RSVP to Rev. Kurt!

Confirmation

Confirmation Classes have begun for youth (10th grade & above).


The purpose of Confirmation is to prepare candidates for Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church, or Reaffirmation of their Baptismal Faith. In each, it is a journey that leads to a "renewal of faith."

Adults who are new to St. Peter's Church and wish to be prepared for Confirmation and/or Reception into the Episcopal Church are encouraged to participate. For yet others who are already confirmed or received, there may be a desire to reexamine their faith journey and "refresh" their commitment to Jesus Christ. Adults who are interested should speak to Rev. Kurt.

The Book of Common Prayer describes the Sacrament of Confirmation as: "...the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop."

Come join us!

Recommended online resources for studying the Bible

There is a nice article on on-line resources for studying the Bible over at the Episcopal Cafe.

Follow this link.

or go directly to the source
here.

(Also look in the comments section for additional resources.)

Centering Prayer

Come join us for a morning of exploration into a type of contemplative prayer that will ground your soul with God.

Coming in December.  Stay tuned!

In Centering Prayer … little by little, we enter into prayer without intentionality except to consent
… and consent becomes surrender … and surrender becomes total receptivity
… and, as the process continues, total receptivity becomes effortless, peaceful.
… It is free and has nothing to attain, to get, or desire …
So, no thinking, no reflection, no desire, no words, no thing … just receptivity and consent.

Thomas Keating, ‘Centering Prayer’ segment, Heartfulness: Transformation in Christ

The goal of contemplative life is unitive seeing: not so much "union with God" understood as wanting God to the exclusion of all else, but rather, gradually coming to realize that really, there is nothing that is not (in) God. God is the dots and the spaces between the dots; nothing can fall out of God, and all is tenderly and joyously held.

Cynthia Bourgeault, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, p 158

Fall Study: American Religions

Come join us!

Wednesdays this Fall – 10:30 AM & 7:30 PM

October 5: Christian Science
October 12: Mormons
October 19: Jehovah’s Witnesses
October 26: Adventists
November 2: Shakers
November 9: Scientology & Pentecostals

Primary Texts:

“America: Religion & Religions” by Catherine L. Albanese (1992)
“American Scriptures: An Anthology of Sacred Writings” ed. By Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp (2010)
Websites from the religions themselves



Secondary Texts:

“Dictionary of the Christian Church” (3rd Ed.) ed. By FL Cross & EA Livingstone (1997)
Chronological & Background Charts of Church History” by Robert C. Walton (1986)
Wikipedia

Fall Study: American Religions

As we did with our interfaith study; we will look at American religions and examine their similarities and differences to us.

Study will begin near the end of September. Stay tuned!

We will cover:

• Mormons
• Shakers
• Adventists
• Christian Scientists
• Jehovah's Witnesses

One text we will be using: "American Scriptures: An Anthology of Sacred Writings"

Come join us!