St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Gulfport, MS

Keeping close while keeping our distance.  A weekly guide for this journey. Our destination: Big Love BACK By the Sea.

March 8, 2021

Upcoming Services

10:30am

Wednesday Bible Study

12:05pm

Wednesday
Litany of Healing*

6pm

Wednesday Lent Progam *

11am

Thursday Centering Prayer *

8am

Sunday Rite I *

9:30am

Sunday School
Adults & Kids

10:30am

Sunday Rite II *
Children’s Church & Nursery

  Please:
 
– Wear your mask
– Wash your hands  
– Maintain social distancing
 – Please sign -in upon arrival    
 

 Would you like to be a reader ?
 Interested in being an Usher?
 
Contact Susan at
stpetersbythesea@bellsouth.net
 be sure to include your contact info and time and date you can serve.
 

*Watch On Any Device

the Good News

In addition to our in-person worship services increasing to 50% capacity, we are happy to announce the following:

 Wednesday Bible Study is back at 10:30 am

 Sunday School for Adults AND kids is back at 9:30 am (no donuts yet)

 Children’s Church and Nursery Care is back at 10:30 am on Sundays

BCPs are back in the pews !

 To read the latest protocols from the Diocese: https://dioms.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3206677

SPRING FORWARD THIS WEEKEND !!!
That’s right. SPRING is near and you don’t want to be late for church, or is it early? 

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE April 13th from 11AM until 4PM in the parish hall. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make your appointment

Wednesday Bible Study

a story about Mary Magdalene

The Woman Caught in Adultery

53 Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
                       John 7:53-8:11

 

 This week’s discussion returns to St. Peter’s, at 6pm  In-person, on Facebook and through Zoom meetings. 

Lenten Program
“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.”
[BCP Baptismal Covenant]

This week’s topic for Lenten discussion will cover Social Dignity as it relates to Gender.
Check our Facebook page or our website for updates.

Inspiration

Lent is almost at it’s halftime!

We all know each of the 4 candles, and their corresponding Sundays, have special meanings during Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy (the pink candle) and Love.
 Did you know that each Sunday of Lent has a special name ?
 
 Quadragesima Sunday (also known as Invocavit Sunday) is the first Sunday in Lent, occurring after Ash Wednesday.
 The term Quadragesima is derived from the Latin word for “fortieth”, as there are exactly forty days from Quadragesima Sunday until Good Friday. The numeral is more likely an approximation of how many days there are until Easter Sunday, in this case 42. While Quadragesima includes both Sundays and weekdays, the beginning of Lent was later changed to the preceding Wednesday, “Ash Wednesday”, to get in forty weekdays.
 
 Reminiscere Sunday The Second Sunday in Lent takes its name, “Reminiscere” from the first word of the Introit, in Latin, “Remember” from Psalm 25.6.
 
 Oculi Sunday The third Sunday of Lent. From Latin oculi (“eyes”), from the 1st word of the introit of the day’s mass, traditionally a Latin translation of Psalm 25:15  “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”
 
 Laetare Sunday (/liːˈtɛːri/ or /lʌɪˈtɑːri/) is the fourth Sunday in the season of Lent. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration, within the austere period of Lent. This Sunday gets its name from the first few words of the traditional Latin entrance (Introit) for the Mass of the day. “Laetare Jerusalem” (“Rejoice, O Jerusalem”) is Latin from Isaiah 66:10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her;
 rejoice greatly with her,
 all you who mourn over her.
 
 Passion Sunday is the fifth Sunday of Lent, marking the beginning of a two-week period formerly called Passiontide.
 
 Palm Sunday the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the last week of the Christian solemn season of Lent that precedes the arrival of Eastertide.

This coming Sunday we celebrate Laetare, or Rose Sunday.
 
 This Sunday is currently also known as:
 ~ Mothering Sunday,
 ~ Refreshment Sunday,
 ~ mid-Lent Sunday (in French mi-carême) and
 ~ Rose Sunday because the use of rose-colored (rather than violet) vestments permitted on this day.
 
 Historically, the day was also known as “the Sunday of the Five Loaves,” from the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Before the adoption of the modern “common lectionaries”, this narrative was the traditional Gospel reading for this Sunday in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Old Catholic churches.
 
 This Sunday is considered a day of relaxation from normal Lenten rigors; a day of hope with Easter at last within sight.
 The Rose color is a “lighter” shade of Violet.
  Traditionally, weddings (otherwise banned during Lent) could be performed on this day,[7] and servants were released from service for the day to visit their mothers (hence ‘Mothering Sunday’).
 
 As we reach the halfway point in Lent, preparations for Holy Week begin. This Sunday, Laetare! Rejoice ! Remember each of these Sundays is IN Lent, not OF Lent. And, while we dare not utter the “A” word, Sundays are a day of rest, in this case, from the rigors of Lent. Even our appointed Psalm for this Sunday is a call to Rejoice !
 (but don’t say Alle…..)
 
 
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
 and his mercy endures for ever.
 
 2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
 that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
 
 3 He gathered them out of the lands; *
 from the east and from the west,
 from the north and from the south.
 
 17 Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
 they were afflicted because of their sins.
 
 18 They abhorred all manner of food *
 and drew near to death’s door.
 
 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
 and he delivered them from their distress.
 
 20 He sent forth his word and healed them *
 and saved them from the grave.
 
 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
 and the wonders he does for his children.
 
 22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
 and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

 
 So, just like the third candle of Advent, let’s take a breath, show some joy and wear Pink for Rose Sunday !

March 7th – 13th
Birthdays
7th – Gene Meeks
7th – Laura Moorefield
7th – William Wood
8th – Caroline Feeney
8th – Henry Sawyer
9th – Mason Bell
9th – Tracy Williams
10th – David Glass
10th – John Weber
13th – Kim Bush
Anniversaries
9th – Derrick & Kerry Hudson
11th – Carl & Paige Rackley
March 14th – 20th
Birthdays
15th – Katherine Thames
15th – Susan Prendergast
16th – JonMarc Van Zutphen
20th – Susan Dobson Rojas

email stpetersbythesea@bellsouth.net
to subscribe to our newsletter


Donations and Offerings for 2021 can be made on our website or by mailing your check to the church


NEEDED:
plastic grocery bags
Drop off at the church office

 

Support our local non-profits:
Gulf Coast Community Ministries

The Lessons Appointed for Use on The Third Sunday of Lent

 The Collect
 Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Did you know we have readings for each day in Lent ?
Find them here: lectionarypage.net/
And, the Lesser Feast Days and Fast for each day may be found here: Lesser Feast Days and Fasts

The Lessons Appointed for Use on The Fourth Sunday of Lent

 The Collect
 
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 

From the Episcopal church website:

Way of Love Practices

Turn        Learn        Pray        Worship        Bless        Go Rest

Explore the Way of Love: PRAY
Our day to day lives can be hurried and busy. We have so many things to do and so little time to do them. With devices and media asking for our time, so much to do and hear and say – it can make us feel overwhelmed and isolated. It can make our relationships challenging, as we struggle to connect. The practice of the Way of Love, following in the footsteps of Jesus, tells us that God wants to break through the noise and busy-ness of the world and be able to have a relationship with us – with you. Not as a distant god in a far-off sky, or as a theory or an ideal or a metaphor, but a presence, dwelling with us, here and now. And the way to make that connection is to Pray. As the Psalmist tells us: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Jesus taught us that it is nourishing and strengthening to intentionally take time to pray. The daily practice of making time and space to speak with God, to listen to God, or to simply be with God, clears a pathway for God to enter our lives.
read more…

Explore the Way of Love: WORSHIP
Throughout the Scriptures, the people of God are called to worship.
As the Psalmist writes, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we
are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.” Just as God wants to enter into our lives and meet us where we are,
so God desires for us to enter into God’s space together and be present there.
read more…

Explore the Way of Love – Bulletin Insert Series

View the entire Way of Love in Lent Curriculum here:
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/life-transformed-the-way-of-love-in-lent/


For the Kids !

Abraham and Lot preschool Bible lesson. Learn about Godly choices. Games, Crafts, Activities, songs, lesson, worksheets and more.

This week’s lesson comes from Genesis 13:2-18. It is the account of Abraham and Lot separating and going different ways. The key lessons this passage teaches us, and our children are:

Our choices have consequences.
God honors when we put others first.
God’s ways are more important than how things physically look.
We need to be careful who we get close to.

May be an image of text that says 'Lent III The Parable of Leaven'
From the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi

All about Lent — the 40 days before Easter

Lenten Activities For Children
 



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Being Episcopalian

The Mississippi Episcopal Diocese

The Episcopal Church

National Cathedral

Episcopal Cafe

 

Check out our neighboring
Coast Churches

St. Mark’s Gulfport

Trinity Pass Christian

Christ Church Bay St. Louis

St. Patrick’s Long Beach

St. Thomas Diamondhead

Church of the Redeemer Biloxi

St. John’s Ocean Springs

First United Methodist Church

 

Bible Study

Lent 3 (B) – March 7, 2021

RCL: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22

Exodus 20:1-17

Moses and the Israelites have finally reached Mount Sinai. They’ve escaped their bondage in Egypt, and now God will lay out the expectations for their covenantal relationship. But before handing down the Decalogue, or the laws as the Israelites would understand them to be, God begins by reminding the people of all that God has done for them and consequently of God’s power and mercy. It is important that God, not Moses, delivers this message because God is inviting the people into a new relationship and way of being with God. While Moses has done a sufficient job leading the people, God’s choice to speak directly to them reminds them of God’s immense power and ensures them that God’s presence extends beyond their miraculous exodus and into their continual relationship. Additionally, the Decalogue balances the commandments of a right relationship with God with commandments that encourage a right relationship with neighbor. God is not merely concerned with how they treat their Lord but also how they care for one another.

  • Where have you been reminded of God’s continuing power and presence in your life this week?
  • As Christians, our lives too have been altered by God’s mercy and these commandments. How have these commandments affected your relationship with God and your neighbor?

read more…


Bible Study

Lent 4 (B) – March 14, 2021

RCL: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

Numbers 21:4-9
The wilderness accounts of the Exodus are filled with honest narratives of the Israelites complaining to Moses because they are wandering around, discontent, scared, or even worried they have made the wrong decision. In this story, it seems the Israelites are a bit hangry! Despite being saved from a life in captivity, they are unhappy with the quantity and quality of their food and want to make sure not only Moses, but God knows this as well. God’s response may seem unlikely—God sends snakes that kill—but the response reminds the Israelites that God has not abandoned them. Instead, they must trust in God to ensure they live. The Israelites realize their error and God reverses the punishment by using the same animal, now as a statue, to bring life out of death for the Israelites.

As humans, we may become restless and even become complainers or blamers. Have you ever complained to or blamed God? How did it feel?
Where is your wilderness?

read more…


“O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: preserve those who travel; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Contact Us
email: stpetersbythesea@bellsouth.net          phone: 228.863.2611       address: 1909 15th Street  Gulfport, Ms 39501
See much more: stpetersbytheseagulfport.com


getting social

Join us each Wednesday, in-person or on-line

Join us each Sunday, in-person or on-line

Kids and Teens join us each Sunday Afternoon for EYC