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St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Keynotes June 2020 

Growing up in Eastern North Carolina my whole life, I did not know what to think of moving to the Mountain in Sewanee, TN. Not only was I moving to a new environment, but I was moving to a different part of the country where while I knew of a few people, I had no deep relationships with anyone there. Despite this, Sewanee is where I felt genuinely called to pursue my seminary education. Sitting atop the Cumberland Plateau, the campus is modeled off of Oxford England with the gothic architecture, surrounded however by vast amounts of forest and nearly untouched nature.  

 

 Within these woodlands about a ten‐minute walk from the School of Theology, lies the house I stayed at during the school year. The house had become to be known as the Workman house and was a community living house for seminarians. Community housing meaning that it houses five seminarians at a time. My housemates were Deacon Dave from Washington State doing one year in seminary for ordination to the priesthood. William and Gray, who are both now ordained as Transitional Deacons from Flordia, as well as Brandon, who just a few days ago was ordained to the Transitional Deaconate. To say we all got along is an understatement. I honestly cannot think of one argument or fight we had in the house that was not sports‐related. All four of the guys I lived with I will forever owe a great debt to. They were a constant source of support and always willing to listen.  

 

Dave and I being the new members of the house, had much to learn and adjust to with the rigors of the seminary. This included not just the academics but as well the aspect of living in an intentional community. This included newfound respect for the Daily Office, as well as a new, more "High Church" way of worship. This new style of worship was difficult to adjust to as I had become accustomed to the way St. Peter's has done it my entire life. While it was a change, it became one I was glad to have experience. It not only enriched my worship life but helped me find practices which have greatly bolstered my personal faith. One such method is a prayer bracelet, which is a series of knots in which each one you touch you pray the "Jesus Prayer". Wearing it is a constant reminder to go to our God in prayer while the Jesus Prayer helps keep me humbled and focused on Christ and His work to bring me and 

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Help us keep in touch with you! 

Please make sure and contact the church office if you have moved, changed 

your phone number or have a new email address. 

Send updated information to jennifer@saintpetersnc.org or call 946‐8151.  

each of us into His community.  

Seminary, as one could guess, is one of great academic rigors. I took classes from Old Testament to New, as well as Church History and Foundation of Christian Spirituality and many more. Each class and each professor bestowed upon me and my classmates' knowledge which helps prepare us not only for our hopeful vocations in the future but also helps shape us within the intentional faith we live out each day.  

 

COVID‐19's disruption to everyone's lifestyle did not skip over the Mountain at Sewanee. As we switched to online classes, we had to say early goodbyes to many people, some of which are seniors which we can only pray to see them again. We had to watch seniors have their long‐awaited ordinations delayed and see their graduation ceremony postponed. We all had to balance our classwork with the worries we all had for our loved ones at risk to the virus. Throughout all this, the community's faith stayed strong as we found new ways to support our brothers and sisters in Christ. We spent extra time checking each other to make sure the stresses of finals and papers had not become too much. This all was a model for how living a Christ‐like life can look.  

 

All that occurred at seminary is too much to type in these few pages. I hope to be able to speak and see you all soon and would love to share my experiences on the Mountain with you. I am overjoyed to be home for the summer and back with my St. Peter's family. I wish to end this correspondence speaking to the tumultuous times we live in now with everything going on in our world and communities. As Father Jim Reed once said and I paraphrase, the message of the Gospels does not change. Christ came for us, Christ died for us, and Christ eternally loves us, and this is needed more today than yesterday. Christ is our eternal hope, which shall never disappoint us, so let us not forget His teachings in the Gospel of Matthew in which our Redeemer said " And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Let us keep the Faith and be the people in which we live to the ideal Christ set us to strive for.  

                  Yours in Christ,  

                  Whit Stroud  

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Saint Peter’s Clergy & Staff  

The Reverend Jim Horton, Priest 

252‐802‐0216 

horton.james64@gmail.com  

The Reverend Deacon Katherine Mitchell 617‐721‐6614 katherine@saintpetersnc.org  

The Rev. Fred Clarkson, Priest Spanish Congregation 

252‐940‐1623 

fclarkson@diocese‐eastcarolina.org 

 

Doug Cutler    Organist/Choirmaster   

Vincent Holliday   Sexton   

Lex Mann    Treasurer  

Jennifer Spivey    Parish Administrator  Susie Taylor    Day School Director    

 

Vestry Organization  

Swanson Graves‐Senior Warden 

Richard Andrews‐Junior Warden 

Laura Bliley‐Pastoral Care 

Michael Behar‐Stewardship 

Ken Hadley‐Clerk 

Rachael Miller‐Education 

Carol Nash‐Rector Search Liaison 

Catherine Pfeiffer‐Outreach 

Katherine Tate‐Parish Life 

 

 

OurFinancialAssistanceCommitteeacceptsrequestsfromthoseinneedofassistancewithutilitiesandrenteachMonday.DonationstotheRector’sDiscretionaryFundsupporttheseneedsandarealwayswelcome.CheckscanbemadepayabletoSt.Peter’swith“DiscretionaryFund”inthememoline.Youcanalsodonateonlineviathewebsiteatwww.saintpetersnc.org.**Note:theFinancialAssistanceCommitteehascontinuedtohelpthoseinneedduringthistimewiththeexceptionofEasterMonday.Theyarestillworking!

Office Hours   Mon‐Thurs 8am‐12:30pm & 1pm‐3pm, Fri 8am‐12pm

Notethatchurchof icehoursvaryrightnow,butyoumayalwaysleaveamessage(252‐946‐8151)anditwillbereturnedassoonaspossible.

Giving to Saint Peter’s has never been easier! *Automatic Credit/Debit Card Payments *Gifts of Securities *If you are over 70 1/2, consider directing all or a portion of your RMD from your IRA to the church. Please check with your tax advisor to see if you would benefit from using any of these options. *Also, to make pledge payments or to give for any reason, you can do so from our website via the online giving link at www.saintpetersnc.org. *Mail your payment to PO Box 985, Washington, NC 27889 If you need assistance with any of these options, email or call Jennifer Spivey at the church office. (946‐8151, jennifer@saintpetersnc.org)  

 

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Please Pray For:

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life

and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or

pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer.

 

Please Pray  for:   David Barillaro‐friend of Kathie Kriss, Maria Bonitez‐friend of Ann Peters,  Jay Bradbury‐friend of Jane Taylor, Charlotte Grace Buckner‐granddaughter of Bruce & JJ Jarvah, Tom Bulla–son‐in‐law of Dr.  Josh & Carol Tayloe, Matthew Burns‐friend of Kathie Kriss, Bob Byrum–member, Charles Cantwell‐friend of the Marles, Betty Cochran‐member, Patricia Coffie‐daughter of  Terry  Young,  Carol  Federowicz‐aunt  of  Sharon  Yakubowski,  Camden  Green–friend  of  Janet Bradbury, Roxanne Holloman & Family‐member, Sharon  Johnston‐member,  Jay Marle‐member, Helen  Nicholson–sister‐in‐law  of  Katherine  Mitchell,  Verna  Perry‐friend  of  Saint  Peter’s,  Ann Peters–member, Zoph Potts‐friend of the Archies, Charlotte Reynolds‐friend of Jean Sterling, Acra Samuels‐daughter of Hodges & Marsha Hackney, Amy Sasnett‐sister‐in‐law of Bonita Arvizu, Mary Satchell‐friend of Ed & Pam Hodges, Mark Shippy–friend of  John Thompson, Raymond Spencer–friend of Pam & Ed Hodges, David  Steenbergen &  Family‐nephew  of Bill & Betty Cochran, Rick Stevens‐friend  of  Roy  &  Cathy Whichard,  Linda  Strader‐mother  of  Stacey  Lynch, Gary  Strang–member, Frances Tankard‐cousin of Katherine Mitchell, Phillip & Jane Taylor‐members, Carolyn Thomas‐member,  Heather  Van  Staalduinen  –friend  of  Ed  &  Pam  Hodges,  Barbara Winfield‐member, Margaret Ann Woolard‐friend of Betty Cochran. 

Our condolences are extended to:

Scott & Stephanie Harris and Family on the recent death of his mother.

Give  rest,  O  Christ,  to your servant  with  your  saints,  where sorrow  and  pain are  no  more,    

neither  sighing, but  life   Everlasting.  

 

Visit www.diocese‐eastcarolina.org 

or https://episcopalchurch.org for information and links to useful websites. 

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 "You are never more like Jesus than when you pray for others." (Max Lucado) We have a dedicated prayer team at Saint Peters. If you want to be "one that prays for others," please join our team.  If you are in need of prayer for yourself or for someone else, you can call Laura Bliley at 252‐495‐3008 and know that prayer will begin in "real time."  All of these requests are confidential and we are on call 24/7.   It works like this: a. We receive a prayer request from someone in our church to my number. b. A text message is sent to the team with the request. c. The team members respond back that they have received the request and that they will be praying. d. If the requesting person provides follow‐up that they would like to share with the team, I will provide that. We all know that prayer can have powerful results and to pray for others provides growth in Him.  

The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Inc. (AMEXCAN) is organizing a long sleeve shirt drive from June 1, 2020 until July 31, 2020. We are collecting donations of gently used long sleeve shirts, hats, caps, and gloves. All donations will be given to farmworkers in rural Eastern North Carolina.

Last summer, AMEXCAN hosted a similar drive and had a successful outcome. Thanks to the generous donations of the ENC community, we were able to collect hundreds of shirts and distribute them to ten different sites. During the hot summer, farmworkers work long hours in direct sunlight and endure the harmful rays of the sun. Additionally, through their work they

are exposed to harsh chemicals and are susceptible to injury. Now more than ever, let’s support our farmworkers!

AMEXCAN has two designated locations in Greenville to make donations. The first is inside La Tropicana Supermarket (1204 Memorial Dr. Greenville, NC 27834) where there will be a box. Our second location is at Joy Soup Kitchen (700 Albemarle St. Greenville, NC 27834) and requires scheduling a drop off by contacting (252)367-9708 or (252) 624-6631.

Hope Line Available for NC Senior Adults from NC Baptist Aging Ministry The NCBAM HOPE LINE (866.578.4673) is available daily, 9:00am – 9:00pm to receive calls from NC senior adults who are experiencing isolation and loneliness—because of social distancing efforts or for any other reason. The Hope Line now also offers outbound calls. The service is free and can be requested by calling 877.506.2226 or by emailing ncbam@bchfamily.org. A link will be sent to sign up for the “friendly call” service. Call recipients must be 65 or older and live in North Carolina. Requests can be made by individuals themselves or by a family member or caregiver. NCBAM team members and volunteers trained in evidence-based health coach techniques focus on listening and allowing callers to have a safe space to express themselves.

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Congratulations! Griffin Cline, University of Kentucky, B. A. in Communications Son of Sam & Renee Murray Finley Griffin, University of Alabama, Magna Cum Laude Granddaughter of Marcia Griffin Megan Huettmann, Northside High School Daughter of Susan Pendergrass   

Jeremiah Liles Johnson , East Carolina University, Engineering Son of Mary Parker Liles  

Mia Pagnani, Washington High School Plans to attend Wake Forest University Daughter of Jim & Anne Pagnani Erin Margaret Palmer, Communications High School, Wall, NJ Granddaughter of Mary & Ray Dennis Grace Paszt, Washington High School Plans to attend NC State University Daughter of E.J. & Sarah Paszt John Croom Sueiro Rodman (Jack), University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Master of Public Health Son of John D. and Janet S. Rodman Austin Hodges Samuels, Lone Peak High School, Big Sky, Montana Grandson of Hodges & Marsha Hackney Christopher Chase Samuels, Montana State University, B.S. in Business & Entrepreneurship Grandson of Hodges & Marsha Hackney Frederick Hugh Sanders, Montana State University, B.S. in Cell Biology and Neuroscience Grandson of Hodges & Marsha Hackney Alyssa Tankard, Washington High School Daughter of Alston & Lisa Tankard (Continued on next page) 

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Hackney Scott Tulloss, NC State University, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Grandson of Hodges & Marsha Hackney Sarah Vick, University of Maryland, Masters in Communications Daughter of Jerry Vick Austin Williams, Washington High School Son of Heather & Ray Williams

Las siguiente personas se van a graduar este año y estos s on sus planes para el futuro.

Kimberly Mendoza se graduará esta primavera e irá a UNCG en el otoño. Plans to attend UNCG Alejandra Madera Costich irá a ECU para estudiar Trabajo Social. Plans to attend East Carolina University Edgar Serrano esta empeñado en estudiar administración de empresas. Plans to study Business Management

Congratulations to the following EFM Graduates: Mary Ellen Adams

The Rev. Sarah Saxe

  If you have a graduate to announce: High School, College or Advanced degrees, please share the information with the church office. (jennifer@saintpetersnc.org or 946‐8151)  

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