FROM THE RECTOR:

                          You may recall, as a child, the small church

you could create with your own hands. Folding your hands,

                                             You may also recall the little story that went with those simple

hand maneuvers. “Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple.

 Open the doors and see all the people. Close the doors and

listen to them pray. Open the doors and they all walk away.”

      
     There is value in such an exercise for both parent and child. The parent is given an opportunity to help the child remember the family’s ties with the church. The parent also helps the child understand something more about prayer, even how our hands can be a part of our prayer. The child certainly benefits from all of this, but there is something more a child can gather from this hands-on experience. There is opportunity for the child to learn that they, too, are a significant part of the church. They are one of the people actively participating when those doors are opened. They are not just spectators (or as some may feel, captives), they are participants. This is so important because it communicates to children that they have a part in what the church is becoming. They are a part of the dynamic identity that is emerging with each new season.

       As much as I value this children’s exercise, there is an aspect of it that may confuse our children with regard to what the church is, and what it is not. You see as we grow older, we come to realize that the church is the people. It is not the physical plant where activities take place. It is not the worship space. It is the people. That’s why on some signboards on the grounds of some churches, you will see a statement like, “St. Peter’s Episcopal Church gathers here.” Ekklesia, the Greek translation and Ecclesia, the Latin carried an original meaning that the church was an assembly of believers, a congregation,  a council, or literally a convocation. Christian theology points to both a particular body of faithful people, and the whole body of the faithful. Our sacramental understanding guides us to think of the church as the Body of Christ, the people being the many members of the body with Christ as the head. All of these images of church make a significant point. The gathering of the faithful is a living, breathing community dynamically responding to God’s blessing and call . . . to show Christ to the world.

      So what about the buildings, the structures where our worship and a good many of our activities take place? How do the buildings and grounds fit into the overall understanding of the church?   In basic terms, these give us a sense of place, a “locus” that provides the resources we need to enhance our ministry. They offer the space necessary to gather the people for worship, for study, for fellowship, for outreach initiatives, and for the common ventures of life that draw the larger community together. (i.e. baptisms, confirmations, weddings, ordinations, funerals, etc.)  The buildings and grounds provide a sacred landscape allowing us the ability to think creatively about all the aspects of our ministry. They, in one way or another, provide signs and symbols that help us remember our part of the Gospel story in this part of the world. They help us remember our history and all that links us with our past. They help us consider our future in a growing community and how we can most effectively participate in shaping our life together. The buildings and grounds are tremendously important resources for conveying our identity to the broader community and for facilitating the ministry initiatives we feel called to offer. We would be tremendously constrained without them, but they, without the lively energy of the people do not equate to the church.

       Someone, in each of our lives, encouraged us to think about God. They pointed us to various communities of faith, equipped to stir our hearts and minds with a longing for the timeless stories of people in relationship with God. They encouraged us to participate actively in building up the church with dynamic ministries that transform lives within and beyond the walls of the buildings and grounds. We, the people, are the church. We, the church, are blessed and challenged to show Christ to a world that, all too often, chooses to reject him. 

     “Here’s the church, it is the people”.   

                     Blessings and peace, Fr. Jim

      FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN:        
     Vestry Stewardship

      In my last two articles for the Rock I mentioned that the
Parish By-Laws and the 2008 Budget were posted on the
Vestry bulletin board in the Parish Hall for everyone to
look at. Although no one has asked me for a copy,
I hope many of you are now somewhat familiar with
these documents that are so important to the operation
of St. Peter’s.

      The By-Laws make provision for a Stewardship Commission which is chaired this year by our Treasurer and Vestry member, Audre Debler. Our Treasurer is not always a Vestry member but a Vestry member, selected by our Rector, will always chair this Commission. Quoting from our By-Laws: “The purpose of the commission is to prepare an annual budget for consideration by the Vestry; to develop a year-round stewardship education program that includes each member’s time, talents and money; to supervise an annual stewardship program; to secure pledges; to sponsor the annual Harvest Dinner; to review the Parish financial statements; and to develop the procedure for the reception and deposit of all offerings.” The Stewardship Commission is the umbrella under which the Finance Committee, Stewardship Education and Every Member Canvas will operate. The Stewardship Commission will have the responsibility for year-round, not once a year, stewardship and coordinating all of our fund raising and finances.

      St. Peter’s has been blessed with individuals in the congregation who have strong backgrounds in business management, finance, accounting, insurance and the other professional skills and experience it will take to make the Stewardship Commission effective. In addition to Audre Debler; Joey Gill, Anne Dobbins, Tommy Gardner, Butch Adams, Les Moor, S.E. Kelly and Mike Patton will serve on this commission. Beginning this month this commission will organize themselves to undertake the mandate they have been given by the Vestry through the By-Laws.

     These are the mechanics of how Vestry Stewardship will operate. With the Lord’s help our Stewardship Commission will transition us this year from a deficit budget, which impedes all of our ministries, to one next year where St. Peter’s can go forward to do the work we are called to do. To keep you abreast of the progress of this important cmmission I will ask them to report to the congregation in each month’s Rock. The 2009 Budget prepared by the Stewardship Commission will be submitted to the Vestry for review and approval before being presented to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting.

      As always, please talk to me if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.

      Respectfully submitted, Larry Heidt, Sr. Warden

From The Director

Of Music Ministries

       A special “Thank You” to our Chancel Choir for helping lead our celebration of  the life of Fr. Jack Wyatt. You are truly wonderful.

     I want to share some information about Meredith Carter, our guitarist. Meredith has led the music for our Vacation Bible School for many summers. We are so thrilled that she is now providing that beautiful guitar music you hear on Sunday mornings. She is really enjoying the chance to play guitar again after several years of not playing very much.

     Meredith is a graduate of Southwestern University with a degree in Elementary Education. She has taught for 33 years, the last 14 as the music teacher at Fulton Elementary School.

     Her husband Terry is a beekeeper by trade and her son Andrew is a senior at UT Austin. They just moved into a new house on 22 acres with dogs, chickens and goats and soon will add cattle. Their goal in their new home is to eventually produce all of their own food.

     Welcome back, Meredith!

             In His Service, Angela Rivera  

                          The Community of Hope

    Many thanks to Fr. Friedel for re-commissioning us on Sunday, April 6.  It was a good thing for us to be reminded of our commitment.  Joan Chittister, on speaking of the Rule of Benedict, comments that “spirituality is not just a matter of joining the closest religious community or parish committee or faith-sharing group.  Spirituality is that depth of soul that changes our lives and focuses our efforts and leads us to see the world differently than we ever did before”.

   The Community of Hope has a very specific reason for Circle of Care Meetings.  That reason is to provide continuity to the Community.  We are a community of dedicated lay pastoral care givers, and part of our mission is to preserve that community which we have carefully established.  In April, our Circle of Care meeting was delightful to me, because it served that purpose.  Those of us that gathered had a quiet but joyous visiting time with each other.  We had tasty cookies, coffee and lots of conversation about our care receivers and ourselves.  This is what the meetings are for.  We are also making plans for a new Community of Hope Course in the fall.  Please stay tuned for news of our plans.

    Our next Circle of Care gathering will be on Wednesday, May 7 at 3:00PM.
     -- Pam Heidt

Community of Hope Prayer List
      We ask that you keep the following persons in your prayers:  Carol Allen, Landon Alexander, Dottie Bowen, Nat Gonzalez, Jean Herring, Dorothy Hooker, Joan Lee, Reba Lomax,  Carole Ann McKitrick, Wanetta Moors, Anna Nix,  Marvin Northrup, Jane Ross, Audrey Steffens, Rose and Onis Taylor, Woody Woodard, and Florence Wyatt.

     To pray with the Prayer Circle or to request prayer for yourself or your family, call or email Barbara Patton at 790-7775 or bpatton@dbstech.com

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
412 North Live Oak
Rockport, Texas 78382
361-729-2649

A Parish of the Diocese of West Texas