The
Good News
Upcoming
Ascension Day is Thursday May 13th

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Church
capacity has been raised to
75%
We look forward to seeing you at one of our services
soon !
Regular Weekly Schedule
10:30 am Wednesday Bible Study
12:05 pm Wednesday In-person and LIVE Streaming Litany of Healing*
8:00 am Sunday Rite I In-person and LIVE Streaming Service*
9:30 am Inquirers' Class
Kids' Sunday School
10:30 am Sunday Rite II In-Person and LIVE Streaming Service*
10:30 am Sunday Children's Church
Please:
- Wear your mask
- Maintain social
distancing.
Services marked with *
will continue to be streamed LIVE on Facebook and on our website
To read the latest protocols from the Diocese:
https://dioms.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3206677
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.
May 9 - May 15
Birthdays
11th - Kylie Hood
11th - Jim Joest
13th - Alicia Scarborough
14th - Colette Weber
Anniversaries
12th - Richard & Susan Pagano
11th - Ben & Emile Lee
May 16 - May 22
Birthdays
16th - Linda Koury
22nd - Tom Poirier
22nd - Alden Williams
22nd - Grant Williams
Anniversaries
17th - William & Casey Funderburk
20th - Billy & Deanie Wood
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:



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We
have readings for each day this week
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 Seventh
Sunday of Easter
The Collect
O God,
the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus
Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do
not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit
to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our
Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
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ATTENTION HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATES
CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021
The ECW
would like to honor our High School Graduates from
the Class of 2021 and Class of 2020 as well. Due to
the “shut down” last Spring we were unable to honor
the graduates of 2020, so we would like to include
them as well as we recognize this year’s graduates.
If you know a High School Senior from either of
these classes, please let us know as soon as
possible as we plan to honor them in June.
Please contact the office on or before Sunday, May
23, 2021 either by phone (228-863-2611) or email (stpetersbythesea@bellsouth.net)
with the graduate’s name and year.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Sunday,
May 23rd at 9:30am
This is the celebration day of
Pentecost so
everyone wear
RED!
We'll conduct the business of our parish and elect
new Vestry
AND,
as we conclude Eastertide,
get a GREAT GROUP photo
Depending upon the Bishop's recommendations we will
be meeting in the church sanctuary. OR, we may be
able to have a good ole fashion Pot Luck between the
services
VESTRY ELECTIONS
We
will be electing a new Senior Warden, a Junior
Warden and 3 new vestry members. Contact a member of our nominating committee
if you would like to add someone to our ballot.
Please,
before nominating, be sure the candidate is willing
and able
to serve.
If you
are a candidate, please submit a short bio to be
included in next week's Traveling Mercies
NomCom: Mellody Jenkins, Gail Hendrickson, Tim
Barrineau,
or send to Susan in the office |
INQUIRERS' CLASS CONTINUES
Sundays @ 9:30am
You've got questions.
We have answers !

Week 6 will focus on Hymnody,
the singing or the composition of hymns or sacred songs. Our
own choir master and organist, JT Anglin will lead the
discussion of our use of music in worship.
Inquirers' Class will last
several weeks. Anyone 15 and older wanting to be confirmed,
re-affirmed or wanting to learn more about our church is
invited to attend.
Once the classes conclude, we extend an
invitation to Bishop Seage to visit and perform the
confirmations and more. Looks like things are returning to a
new normal in 2021
GETTING BACK TOGETHER
The ECW
will meet at Noon on June 8. We will be making plans
for the remainder of 2021. All ladies of the church
are invited to bring a brown bag lunch and join us
in the Parish Hall.
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Inquirers' Class
Week 5
Inside the Good Book and its role in
building the Book integral to our worship.
There's an
unfounded stereotype that "Episcopalians
don't read the Bible".
The fact is, almost half of our Worship
Services are composed of The Liturgy
of the Word, the Word
being, the Word of God, or, reading from the
Bible.
We are what is called a Lectionary Centered
Church. The Lectionary is a "prescription"
for what we read and is divided into
three years...
"Concerning the
Lectionary
The Lectionary for Sundays is arranged
in a three-year cycle, in which Year A
always begins on the First Sunday of
Advent in years evenly divisible by
three. (For example, 1977 divided by 3
is 659 with no remainder. Year A,
therefore, begins on Advent Sunday of
that year.) The Psalms and Lessons
appointed for the Sundays and for other
major Holy Days are intended for use at
all public services on such days, except
when the same congregation attends two
or more services."
~BCP p.888
Beginning
on page 889, the appointed readings are
listed. Presently, we are on page 906. The
appointed readings can also be found here:
Lectionary Page .net. The online page is
a valuable resource for all types of
readings including the Lesser Feast days and
more.
And, after three years, we have read almost
read the entire Bible.
Our
readings follow a certain order:
- An Old
Testament reading
- A
Psalm
- The
Epistle
- The
Gospel reading
These
readings are preceded by a Collect
specifically appointed for the day and
followed by the Sermon. There should be no
less than 2 readings and one must be a
Gospel reading. You may have noticed we have
recently omitted the Epistle readings to
shorten our services while under Covid
protocols. |

During
Eastertide, instead of reading from the Old
Testament, our readings come from the Acts
of the Apostles, the first book after the
Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Each week's
readings have a thematic connection that can
continue for several weeks. Examples of
these "tracks" include readings from Exodus
and the Bread of Life discourse.
Simply put,
the Bible is a collection of family stories
we share before "dinner", Holy Eucharist.
Our Old
Testament reading is the beginning of the
"lesson". The Psalms connect things using a
rhythmic, poetic form. (Psalms cover all
sorts of themes). The Epistles, or
"letters", give us more information on
Jesus' instructions for us. The Epistles,
most by Paul, are attributed to the Apostles
and reflect different tones depending upon
the group being addressed.
We conclude
our Liturgy with a reading from the Gospel.
Everyone stands and, in some circumstances,
there is a procession with our big Gold Book
held in reverence. Some make the gesture of
three crosses over the forehead, the mouth
and heart signifying "God be in our minds,
on our lips and in our hearts".
The reading is concluded with, "The Word of
the Lord!". It's what He said; Jesus,
as He is best remembered. |
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Inspiration
Ascension Day
Forty
days after the Resurrection, Jesus’ body
ascended to Heaven. He was clear with his
disciples that even though he was leaving,
the work that he had begun was not over.
Like Christmas, Easter and All Saints Day
are principal feast days, so is the Feast of
the Ascension.
While it seems the story of Jesus
might be
ending, it was just the beginning. And, as
He left his disciples there, He knew the
Holy Spirit would soon be upon them. That
day being celebrated as Pentecost.
Jesus left, but He left us empowered to do
the work of God, feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, visit the prisoner, welcome the
stranger and to share the Good News. |
Readings
for the Feast Day of the Ascension
Collect
Almighty
God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus
Christ ascended far above all heavens that
he might fill all things: Mercifully give us
faith to perceive that, according to his
promise, he abides with his Church on earth,
even to the end of the ages; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory
everlasting. Amen.
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For the Kids !
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St.
Peter’s Ornaments are back !
Commissioned in 2009, and the 4th in a series
of Downtown Gulfport Landmarks, these cast pewter ornaments are the
original work of artist Maurice Milleur.
Measuring approximately 2 3/4″ tall.
These make great gifts for Easter, Mother’s or Father’s Day and help
support our ECW.
Ornaments are $20/each and may be purchased by contacting any ECW member
or the church office.
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
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Bible Study
Easter 6 (B) – May 9, 2021
Acts
10:44-48
This lesson from Acts concludes the story of Peter and Cornelius.
Cornelius, a devout centurion living in Caesarea, was bidden by God
to find Peter in Joppa. He sends people to find Peter and return.
Peter was residing with Simon the tanner. It was in this house that
Peter had the dream challenging his views of what foods were clean.
Directed by God to go with Cornelius’ people to Caesarea, Peter
discovers that God has been acting in and through this surprising
person, a Gentile centurion. Peter begins to preach about how he is
learning that all people fearing and following God are acceptable to
God, and testifies to the good news of Jesus, his life, death, and
resurrection.
It is while he is speaking that the Holy Spirit shows up, as we hear
today, poured out even on the Gentiles in the crowd. Peter realizes
that baptism cannot be withheld from them, for the Holy Spirit had
already been received. This is a story of two lives that cross
unexpectedly by the guidance and call of God. It results in quite a
surprising conclusion for all those involved.
read more...
Easter 7 (B) – May 16, 2021
RCL: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Where violence seeks to end life, God seeks to bring new life. The
invitation in this Easter season is to pay attention to the little
buds of new life all around us. They are there, if only we take the
time to notice. In this passage, new communities are forming.
Communities of love who seek to follow the life and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. In this community formation, it is important for there
to be people present who were actual witnesses to Jesus’
resurrection. This reminds us that we are part of a great cloud of
witnesses who have lived into this story over many years and over
many generations. Mothers telling their sons. Grandparents telling
their grandchildren. We get to join in that story and that
legacy. Thanks be to God.
- What does it mean to bear witness to the resurrection of
Jesus Christ today?
- What does it mean to cultivate resurrection hope while also
acknowledging the reality of grief? Can both be true?
read more...
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