The Day of Pentecost

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THE DAY OF PENTECOST

May 31, 2020 – 8:00 A.M.

Our weekly Sunday worship service will be available

beginning at 8:00 a.m. each Sunday, at www.stpetersepiscopal.org

or via our Facebook page, facebook.com/specstl.

Words of Welcome

Today we are delighted to welcome our Bishop-elect, the Reverend Deon Johnson, into our virtual midst.

When this visitation was scheduled we were imagining welcoming our new Bishop in-person and engaging in a

Confirmation Service with our Confirmation Class. But our need to care for one another by physically isolating

ourselves took precedence and we have had to change the way we are gathering. Regardless of the modality of

our meeting we are delighted to welcome Bishop-elect Deon into our midst and look forward to sharing worship

and the forum with him today.

Pentecost, the Fiftieth Day of Easter: I Don’t Want to Go Back to Normal!

I don’t want to go back to normal, if normal means I live in the city with the highest murder rate in the country.

I don’t want to go back to normal, if normal means 1 in 5 children will go to bed tonight hungry.

I don’t want to go back to normal, if normal means I have to live in a world of increasing hate speech and violence.

I don’t want to go back to normal when normal means…

Easter broke the mold of normal. New-Life in Christ is never normal; it is always an invitation to transformation,

and to becoming a servant of transformation in our society—for Christ’s sake.

Pentecost marks the formal conclusion of our Eastertide series “Fifty Days of Easter,” which also coincides with

our re-entry into the world in the midst of a pandemic that has not gone away and where normal is not going to

work to solve it.

The eleventh chapter of Genesis tells the story of the Tower of Babel and the people’s languages becoming

confused and people are unable to communicate. This confused speech is our normal, and when people aren’t

heard they simply speak louder, completely unaware that their yelling will ensure that no one will listen. Yelling

louder is becoming our new normal.

The Jesus story, his birth, death, resurrection, ascension, is the story of a different language. When the Ascended

Lord poured out his Spirit on Pentecost, people spoke in different languages and yet were understood. What

people heard was the voice of God. This needs to become our new normal.

God’s first language is silence. God’s second language is the universal language of love. These are the two

languages we first need to learn if we are to understand God and one another. Our new normal needs to be one of

listening and receiving rather than yelling and not being heard.

Rob+

Come let us pause and worship and listen to the One who pours out the Spirit of Love on all creation.

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THE WORD OF GOD

The Service begins on page 355 of The Book of Common Prayer.

Introit Spiritus Domini Plainsong, Mode 8

The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world, alleluia: and that which contained all things hath knowledge of

the voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee

before him.

Hymn 225: Hail thee, festival day!” Salve festa dies

Opening Sentences

Celebrant: Alleluia. We have not been left orphaned.

The Lord has poured out the Spirit on all peoples of the earth. Alleluia!

Let us pray.

The Collect for Purity

Celebrant: Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid:

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly

love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.

People: Amen.

Gloria in excelsis (Hymnal S 278) William Mathias (1934–1992)

All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Celebrant: The Risen Lord is with us.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the

promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of

the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and

reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

The Lessons

Lector: A Reading from The Book of The Acts of the Apostles. (2: 1-21)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there

came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided

tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled

with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there

were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd

gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we

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hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia,

Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging

to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages

we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one

another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter,

standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in

Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose,

for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the

last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your

daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall

prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and

smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s

great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

Lector: Thanks be to God for this holy word.

Psalm 104: 25-35, 37

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works!

in wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea

with its living things too many to number,

creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,

and there is that Leviathan,

which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you

to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it;

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified;

you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;

may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles;

he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him;

I will rejoice in the Lord.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Hallelujah!

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All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Lector: A Reading from The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians. (12: 3b -13)

No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same

Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is

the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for

the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance

of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing

by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of

spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated

by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the

body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is

with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free —

and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Lector: Thanks be to God for this holy word.

Alleluia Emitte Spiritum Plainsong, Mode 6

Choir: O send forth thy Spirit and they shall be made: and thou shalt renew the face

of the earth.

Choir: Come, Holy Ghost, and fill the hearts of thy faithful people, and kindle them

in the fire of thy love.

– Psalm 104:30

Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. (20: 19-23)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples

had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with

you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they

saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the

sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Priest: Praise to you our living Gospel, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Sermon: Bishop-elect Johnson

To allow for your personal reflection, a time of silence will be kept following the sermon.

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The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Celebrant: Let us join in recommitting ourselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

People: I do.

Celebrant: Do you believe in God the Father?

People: I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Celebrant: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

People: I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin,

repent and return to the Lord?

People: I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

People: I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

People: I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity

of every human being?

People: I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant: May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by

water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal

life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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Prayers of the People

The intercessor will pause at the … so you may offer your prayers.

Intercessor: Alleluia! Almighty God, anchored in the hope of your Risen Christ, and filled with the Holy

Spirit let us pray for the common good of the whole human family…

We pray for your church O Lord, a temporal expression of your love in the world. We pray for

Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, our presiding Bishop; the Standing Committee and

Deon, our Bishop-elect; for the people of St. Thomas Deaf Episcopal Church, and Emily, their

Vicar; for Rob, Kelly, and Joseph, our clergy; for our staff and the people of St. Peter’s.

People: Empower with your Spirit Lord, all people of the church gathered from every race and

nation to be your love in the world.

Intercessor: We pray for the leaders of the world, that in the midst of the pandemic they can set aside their

earthly grasping for power and collectively seek the common good and health of every human

being.

People: Empower them with your Spirit Lord, to pursue peace and healing for all.

Intercessor: We pray for all who are still bound in tombs of fear, oppression, hopelessness and the threat of

death, that the peace of the risen Christ will give them hope, and we pray that the global

community will be empowered to rise up against injustice in all its forms.

People: Empower us all with your Spirit Lord, to be servants of your justice.

Intercessor: We pray for the first responders, health care workers who are putting their lives on the line to

care for people who are ill, and for people in service industries who also risk their lives so we

can eat and have our needs met.

People: Empower them with your Spirit Lord, to keep them safe and wise.

Intercessor: We pray for ourselves and our fellow citizens, that we may see clearly our mutual

interdependence and need to care for one another beyond personal self-interest if we are to truly

move beyond the pandemic.

People: Empower us with your Spirit Lord, to work collaboratively to bring health to our

communities.

Intercessor: We pray for people on our hearts today especially Brooke Erwin, Bryan Miller, Linda Morotz,

Greyson Schnoebelen, Carl Schuldt, and Julie Stephenson, and for their family members who

worry.

People: Empower them with your Spirit Lord, to know your healing presence in the midst of their

suffering.

Intercessor: We pray for people who have died and gone before us into the fullness of your presence,

especially for Nate Olk…

(A moment of silence will be kept for you to add the names of loved ones silently or aloud.)

And we pray for their families and friends who grieve;

People: Empower all who grieve by your Spirit Lord, to entrust their loved ones and themselves

into your eternal care.

Celebrant: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles that you would not leave them orphaned and sent

forth your Holy Spirit to teach them all truth. Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church,

and give to us by the power of your Holy Spirit the love, joy, peace and wisdom of that heavenly

City, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.

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Exchanging the Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

People: And also with you.

We invite you to take a moment and extend the peace of God to members of your household

and then to people in the world whom you love and struggle to love.

Announcements

Please Stay Connected Please continue to check our website www.stpetersepiscopal.org and News from the Rock for our virtual

programing and updates on our work as a church in the world when our doors are closed but our hearts

remain open. Each Sunday we will also be hosting a live Children’s Chapel on Zoom at 10:15 a.m.

followed by a live adult forum on Zoom at 10:30 a.m. Please check your email updates and News from the

Rock for the Zoom access information.

Special Offering for Food Security Grants In honor of Bishop-Elect Deon’s visitation this morning we are taking up a special offering for the Food

Security grants which are helping feed people who have no food security and are often hungry during this

time of pandemic. You can use your cell phones to text SPECSTL to 73256 and follow the prompts.

Financial Giving We are very grateful to our parishioners and friends who are financially supporting St. Peter’s right now

in these historic times. It is important that we stay connected to one another during this time, and that we

continue to give as we are able to ensure that the operation of our church continues through virtual

worship, formation, and fellowship. If you are not already giving, please consider making St. Peter’s your

giving priority. Gifts and pledge payments can be made via:

- Online giving at www.stpetersepiscopal.org/give .

- Text giving – Simply text SPECSTL to 73256 and follow the prompts.

- Online banking through your financial institution.

- Mail addressed to Peter’s Episcopal Church, 110 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63124.

THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

Celebrant: I appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Audio/Visual Anthem: “Come, Holy Ghost, Heal and Inspire” sounds and images from the St. Peter’s Choir

composition by David Sinden (b. 1982)

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,

and lighten with celestial fire.

Thou the anointing Spirit art,

who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. – Latin, 9th cent.; tr. John Cosin (1594–1672);

paraphrase of Veni Creator Spiritus

As we gather with all the saints, past, present and future at this altar

we remember the people who are ill and pray for their recovery.

We remember especially the people in the medical profession,

doctors, nurses, technicians, emergency workers, and others

who are putting their lives on the line to care for those who are sick.

We offer our worship to the glory of God with gratitude for their courage and service

and with our prayers for their safety.

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The Great Thanksgiving: Adapted from Eucharistic Prayer A p. 361

Celebrant: The Lord is present with us.

We lift our hearts to the Lord and give God thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father

Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. In fulfillment of his true promise, the Holy Spirit came down on

this day from heaven, lighting upon the disciples, to teach them and to lead them into all truth;

uniting peoples of many tongues in the confession of one faith, and giving to your Church the

power to serve you as a royal priesthood, and to preach the Gospel to all nations.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company

of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus and Benedictus Mass in E, Jeffrey Smith

Celebrant: Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen

into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and

eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God

and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to

your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and

when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat:

This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said,

“Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

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Celebrant: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and

thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you ourselves, our souls

and bodies as a living sacrifice.

Sanctify us by your Holy Spirit to faithfully serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the

last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of

the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer p. 364

Celebrant: And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

People: Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Fraction Anthem (Hymnal S 155) Gerald Near (b. 1942)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Spiritual Communion

Celebrant: Remember O people of God, who Jesus was, and is, and will be forevermore.

Behold in him his Body and Blood, broken and shed for us all.

Let us feed on him in our hearts, by faith with thanksgiving.

While we are unable to physically partake of the sacrament,

we invite you to make your communion by praying the following prayer,

adapted from the prayer of St. Alphonsus de Liguori:

All: Beloved Jesus,

We believe that you are truly present in the sacrament of the altar.

We long for you in our souls,

to know that we are in you and that you are in us.

Though physically isolated from your altar

and the sacrament of your Body and Blood,

We receive you into our hearts and the depths of our being.

United with you, help us know

that our lives are hid with you O Christ in the heart of God. Amen.

A moment of silence is kept.

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A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Celebrant: Let us pray.

People: Eternal God, Creator of all, we give you thanks and praise that when we were still far off

you met us in your son and brought us home.

Living and dying he declared your love and forgiveness, which you confirmed in raising

him from the dead.

In pouring out your Holy Spirit upon us you have united us in you with one voice, your voice

of love.

Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit with your joy and peace in our hearts, to love

and be your Gospel in the world. Amen.

Pentecost Blessing

Celebrant: Alleluia, The Holy Spirit has anointed us:

People: To share good news with the poor, alleluia!

Celebrant: Alleluia, The Holy Spirit has anointed us:

People: To set at liberty those who are oppressed, alleluia!

Celebrant: Alleluia, The Holy Spirit has anointed us:

People: To proclaims God’s acceptance in the world, alleluia!

Celebrant: And the fire and power of God’s Spirit, be amongst you, and within with you and all those whom

you love and struggle to love, now and forever. Amen.

The Dismissal

Celebrant: I send you forth, forgiven, healed, and renewed;

In the goodness of God our Creator!

In the courage of Christ our Redeemer,

In the radiance of the Holy Spirit our Life,

And in the company of the angels, archangels, and all the saints,

To spread God’s joy, Alleluia, alleluia!.

People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Hymn 504: “Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire” Veni Creator Spiritus

MUSIC NOTES: At the anthem is a new electronic composition: “Come, Holy Ghost, Heal and Inspire.” The

generative material was from Hymn 504: “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire” (also heard sung as hymn at the

end of today’s service video), and from a portion of the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus. Members of the

choir provided recordings of themselves singing portions of the hymn and images suggested by the hymn text. These

are the images seen during the anthem. Choir members also provided recordings of sounds of the natural world from

their daily lives: various birds, frogs, and a woodpecker drumming on a metal transformer.

The anthem opens with these sounds of the natural world, recalling that the Holy Spirit was the force behind

Creation. From this emerges the hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost”. Shortly into the hymn, we hear a portion of the genetic

sequence of the novel coronavirus, specifically the “spike” protein which was mapped in February, 2020. This

protein is responsible for the virus’s ability to bind itself to human cells. The four different nitrogenous bases of

DNA (A, T, G, C) are mapped to the pentatonic scale. The 3,803-pitch sequence of the spike protein is thus heard

in its entirety to four distinct pitches. It provides a rapid ostinato that underpins the acoustic recordings.

The coronavirus ostinato gradually increases until it comes to the fore at the work’s conclusion. This virus ostinato

ends alone and abruptly after having been “infused” with a hymn to the Holy Spirit. One of the traditional

“sevenfold” gifts of the Holy Spirit is unction, or healing. The presentation of the sound of the virus with the

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“infusion” of the hymn is offered as a prayer for healing, joining with the constant prayers from across the globe in

the face of the current pandemic.

The Introit is sung by Samantha Arten, soprano. • The Alleluia is sung by Arianna Aerie, soprano. • The opening

hymn is from the Day of Pentecost in 2016; the final hymn, the Day of Pentecost in 2017. • The music heard after

the Spiritual Communion is the hymn tune ‘Ladue,’ composed by Stephen Buzard for St. Peter’s 150th anniversary.

This hymn was commissioned for and premiered at a hymn festival celebrating the parish’s 150th anniversary. Its

first use on a Sunday morning, heard here, was the Day of Pentecost, 2019. • The Gloria and the Sanctus were sung

on the Second Sunday of Easter, 2018. • The Fraction Anthem was sung on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost,

2019. • OneLicense reprint and podcasting license A-722743. For all other copyright holders, permission requested.

_____________________________________

PRAYER LIST

For Parishioners: Brooke Erwin, Ned Lemkemeier, Bryan Miller, Linda Morotz and Carl Schuldt.

For Family and Friends: Fran Kempton, Greyson Schnoebelen and Julie Stephenson.

For the Men and Women of the Armed Forces: Zach Greata and Matt Robinson.

For the Faithful Departed: Nate Olk.

For those Committed to Our Ongoing Prayers: Michelle Arthur, Donna Brookman, Arlene Burnham, Chris

Canepa, Elizabeth Clarke, Devon Corbett, Kathryn Dewein, Lucy Dolan, Greg Evans, Carol Fisher, Samantha

Forsko, Karen Goddard, Patty Hecker, Clayton Hicks, Laney Johnson, Susan Kerkering, Madelyn Lane, Ann

McDonald, Bill McMahon, Elizabeth Mendoza, Cheryl Meyer, Steven Minton, Signe Myles, Louisa Rix, Jeffrey

Rixleben, Sarah Roberts, Rory Sabbah, Kathy Sheehan, Gerald Spencer, Wayne Spohr, Jane St. John, Julie

Stephenson, Rebecca Tyler, Meg Walters, Scott Weaver, Rolla Wetzel, Dick Williams and Joey Wilson.

TODAY…

WELCOME, BISHOP-ELECT JOHNSON! – Today, on this Day of Pentecost, we are excited to celebrate

God’s gift of the Holy Spirit with our Bishop-elect, the Rev. Deon Johnson, who is making his first visitation to

St. Peter’s this morning. Join Bishop-elect Deon for worship on youtube, beginning at 8:00 a.m. We hope children

of all ages will warmly welcome him to Children’s Chapel at 10:15 on Zoom. Finally, come to Coffee with the

Bishop-elect at 10:30 via Zoom, where he will be ready to answer your questions, and may have a few to ask us

in return. For those unable to connect by the internet you can call in by telephone. The link to join is in Friday’s

News from The Rock.

RE-ENTRY PLANS – When we closed the church we said we would review the decision at the end of May.

With the proposed relaxation of the “Stay at Home” orders, we are continuing to review and prepare for our re-

entry. Based on conversation with many parishioners at last Sunday’s forum, our vestry and staff and watching

the St. Louis county’s new infection rates continuing to be high, (they jumped from 34 to 62 in the last 24 hours)

it seems very unwise to re-open, especially for public worship, in the first two weeks of June. So we will continue

our current practice at least until June 14. We are continuing to explore our options and will continue to offer

services and programming online and via Zoom. When we eventually re-open we anticipate continuing to offer

our Sunday worship online as we gradually introduce small in person worship services that satisfies the physical

distancing requirements. —Rob Voyle, Interim Rector

STAY CONNECTED – Please “Follow Us” and “Like Us” on our social media pages!

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/specstl

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/specstl/

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ZOOM LINKS – To ensure that our virtual time together remains a sacred and welcoming space, Zoom links are

not available on our website. Find details on how to join Zoom sessions in News from the Rock online newsletter

which is emailed each week. Don’t miss an opportunity to join us! If you are not signed up for the newsletter, visit

our website homepage. Scroll down to “Get Weekly News” and sign up!

CHILDREN’S CHAPEL – Join us online at 10:15 on Sunday mornings for our beloved Sunday morning

Children’s Chapel! You can find instructions for joining us via Zoom in Friday’s News from the Rock. We can’t

wait to see you!

THIS WEEK…

MORNING PRAYER – Brew a cup of tea or coffee, and let’s pray each morning with and for one another, the

community and the world. Join via Zoom at 8:00 each morning, Monday through Friday. The link is provided in

Friday’s News from the Rock.

WOMAN’S GUILD – Join us this Tuesday for great conversation via Zoom at 2:00 p.m. The link is provided in

your weekly Guild email. Set aside some time for a bit of laughter and to catch up with one another!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT HOME! – Even though we won’t be gathering in person for VBS, we are

looking forward to our St. Peter’s children joining us online for VBS Zoom Meetings this week, June 1-5, 9:00

to 10:00 a.m. We’ll be learning about Jesus’ Parables and enjoying special guest artists that include the St. Louis

Zoo, Mad Science, Jackie King’s Alpaca Farm, Directed Art with Nancy Grimes, and the Reptile Guy. It will be

a new type of program for our VBS Campers to build their faith in fun and meaningful ways! The Zoom link will

be emailed to registered participants.

SUMMER CHILLIN’ — Grab your favorite beverage and join us in the St. Peter’s Chill Lounge, our new virtual

gathering space for fellowship! Starting June 10, the Chill Lounge will be open on Wednesday in June,

beginning at 7:00 p.m. Invite a friend, relax in your comfy chair, and enjoy an hour of casual conversation and

FUN with St. Peter’s friends. You never know who will make an appearance! You can find instructions for joining

us via Zoom in Friday’s News from the Rock.

SHARE THE PEACE! – Would you consider serving in our online Sunday worship service by responding to

the clergy’s offering of the Peace on video? We would love to see more parishioners sharing in our virtual worship

together, and what better way than by sharing the Peace of the Lord! If you have the means to record yourself

and/or members of your family sharing the Peace and would like to participate in the adventure of online worship,

please email the Rev. Kelly Carlson at kcarlson@stpetersepiscopal.org.

FRIDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY – While St. Peter’s campus is closed, Friday Bible Study will be

happening via Zoom. If you would like to join the 7:00 a.m. conversation, please email

kcarlson@stpetersepiscopal.org by Thursday evening, and Kelly will send you the link.

GREAT OPPORTUNITY – After seven years of serving as Director of Christian Education, Ann Babington

will be retiring this summer. While it may be hard to imagine our children’s ministries without the amazing Mrs.

Babington at the helm, if you love children and seek a spiritually rewarding part-time position, we hope you can

picture yourself in this job! If you are interested in obtaining a job description and much more information, please

contact Rob Voyle at robv@stpetersepiscopal.org or Ann at annbabington@gmail.com. And stay tuned for

information about a celebration of Ann’s joyful ministry among us!

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ST. PETER’S CARES – Need a ride, a meal or a prayer? St. Peter’s has a ministry that can help – that’s St.

Peter’s Cares! Leave a voicemail or email (314-993-2306, ext. 125 or shepherd@stpetersepiscopal.org) and a

Shepherd will contact you within 24 hours.

SEARCH COMMITTEE – The Search Committee needs your help! We want to connect with parishioners to

hear your stories, answer questions, and listen to your hopes for the future of St. Peter’s Church. Your participation

is so important as we continue to move forward through our search process. Thank you!

Search Committee Members:

Chris Knight, Chair cdkranch31@gmail.com; John Bradley bradleykroll@yahoo.com;

Mokie Carmichael mokiegeorge@hotmail.com; Laurie Haffenreffer jhaff12@gmail.com;

Hedy Lee hedwig.lee@gmail.com; Sally Lemkemeier lemkemeier@aol.com;

Danny Orthwein danny@theorthweins.com; Charlie Peters charlie.peters79@gmail.com;

Susan Schettler snschet@yahoo.com; The Rev. Susie Skinner, Chaplain scskinner@charter.net;

Rachel Sokolich rachelsokolich@gmail.com; DeWayne Trainer dewayne.trainer@gmail.com.

Immediately following this service on Sunday morning beginning at 10:15, join Children’s Chapel

and Coffee with the Rector, live via Zoom. The link may be found in your Friday News from the Rock enews.

Remember that though our buildings are closed, our hearts are open!

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