Christmas Services

12 Step Recovery Service this Sunday

Our next 12 step recovery service is this Sunday, January 20th at 2:00 PM.

The 12 step recovery service combines the 12 steps with a Communion service. (Non-alcoholic wine is used.) It is a chance for mutual support and to work the 11^th step:

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

The service is ecumenical—open to people of any denomination or no denomination. Church of the Holy Communion is an Episcopal Church, where we invite all baptized people to receive Communion.
The service is open—families and friends are welcome to attend. It is not affiliated with AA or NA. People working any recovery program are invited.
Church of the Holy Communion is located at 118 North Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter. For more information contact The Rev. Tom Harries, 507-934-2542, PastorTom@HolyCommunionStPeter.org

Musings triggered by Quarks

There's an old, tongue in cheek idea that I first heard in relation to Dante's Inferno. What if hell as we envision it now, didn't exist until Dante imagined it, at which point, God made it so?

This month's (Nov. 2021) Scientific American contains an article titled "The Inner Life of Quarks: What if the smallest bits of matter actually harbor an undiscovered world of particles?" Chemists and physicists of the early 19th century thought atoms were indivisible, but in the 20th century they were found to be composed of even smaller entities: electrons, neutrons, and protons. Nothing could be smaller that that, could it? But yes. We now know these particles are made of still smaller ones. Most recently physicists thought that the smallest, indivisible particles were quarks and leptons. But now, Dr. Lincoln and others suggest they may be made up of still more miniscule particles.

I don't really believe this is the case, but it makes me smile to think that, just possibly, God is playing with us. Not as in trying to test our faith or anything like that, but as in having fun. What if God is engaged in a creative dance with some of our best and most determined researchers? What if each time they burst open and describe one group of "indivisible" particles, God lays down another one, like another geo-cache waiting to be discovered?

Southwest Mission Area Churches and Lands

Created with flickr slideshow.

Church will offer 12 Step Recovery Service

Church of the Holy Communion invites community members to a 12 step recovery service on the 3^rd Sunday of each month at 2:00 PM, beginning on Sunday, September 16.

The 12 step recovery service combines the 12 steps with a Communion service. (Non-alcoholic wine is used.) It is a chance for mutual support and to work the 11^th step:

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

The service is ecumenical—open to people of any denomination or no denomination. Church of the Holy Communion is an Episcopal Church, where we invite all baptized people to receive Communion.

The service is open—families and friends are welcome to attend. It is not affiliated with AA or NA. People working any recovery program are invited.

Celebration of our Nation

The Celebration of our Nation Service was wonderful!
Thank you Riverblenders, and all the parishioners who helped to make it so.

Celebration of our Nation Service with the Riverblenders

Monday July 2^nd at 7:00 PM

Church of the Holy Communion will offer a joyful service of prayer, patriotic hymns, and songs in celebration of our nation on Monday July 2nd at 7:00 PM. As we begin the observance of the Fourth of July holiday, we invite everyone to give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings bestowed upon our great nation.

We’re delighted to have the Riverblenders celebrating with us again this year. “The Riverblenders Barbershop Chorus provides musical family entertainment for area residents.”

The new Holy Communion Youth Choir made it's debut on Pentecost Sunday.
Thanks guys. You sang beautifully!

Acolytes Commissioned Easter 2012

Why do Holy Week

Why do Holy Week?
When clergy gather, they often talk about how wonderful the worship was when they were in seminary. The services were not actually that much better than in most churches (though it does help having a bunch of people who know the parts and like to sing). The main difference was that people had lived and studied together all week. The community was tighter than we are able to maintain while living the rest of our busy lives. For this one week of the year, though, I think you'll find your experiences of all the services enriched, the more you are able to participate.
The reason people usually give is also valid: To fully appreciate the good news of Easter, it helps to walk with Jesus through the sacrifice that made it possible.

I look forward to worshiping with you this week, and celebrating with you on Easter Morning!

Yours in Christ,
Tom

Holy Week and Easter

Walk with Jesus Relive the momentous events surrounding Jesus’ last days. Palm Sunday Procession The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Dramatic reading of the Passion April 1 at 9:30 am Stations of the Cross – Wednesday at 7:00 pm Jesus carries his cross to Golgotha. Maundy Thursday at 7:00 pm The Last Supper, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. Good Friday Liturgy at 7:00 pm Jesus is crucified. Easter Sunday Celebration Eucharist 9:30 am                                                 Church of the Holy Communion www.holycommunionstpeter.org

Anglican Origens, Wednesday evenings in Lent, 7:00 PM

Where Do We Come From: An Introduction to Anglican Origins with Eric Carlson

February 29:                The English Reformation

March 7:                      The Book of Common Prayer

March 14:                    The King James Bible

March 21:                    English Reformation Preaching

March 28:                    Evensong (using 1559 Prayer Book), with historical introduction

                                    Presider: The Rev. Thomas D. Harries

Eric Carlson Bio

Eric Carlson has taught in the History Department of Gustavus Adolphus College since 1990.  He received his B.A. from UCLA and his PhD from Harvard, and has studied at Cambridge University.   At Gustavus, he teaches a variety of courses on the history of England and of Christianity.  He has published three books and many articles and essays on aspects of the English Reformation.

Job Search Training

Job Search Training 
Wednesday February 8
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Church of the Holy Communion will offer a job search training event on Wednesday,
February 8th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Participants will learn six steps for conducting an effective job search. In today’s competitive market, you need a systematic approach to succeed in finding a good job that fits you well. We can teach you how. You will learn about:

• Attitude
• Assessment
• Networking
• Marketing Materials
• Interviewing
• Follow up

Program and lunch are a gift from the church to anyone looking for a new job.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion is located on Highway 169 (Minnesota Avenue) just north of Broadway in St. Peter, MN.

For more information or to register call Tom Harries at 507-934-2542, ext. 0,
or email PastorTom@HolyCommunionStPeter.org

Happy New Year!

How quickly Christmas is left behind. Last week it was all lights and presents, parties, and love. Now it’s back to the “real world.” Every magazine will have it’s year in review issue, and articles speculating on we can expect in 2012.

In a way that’s appropriate. All the hope and expectation around the birth of Jesus was not really about the birth of a child. The hope and expectation were focused on what that child would accomplish. At the annunciation Gabriele promises Mary, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33) Shortly thereafter Mary visits Elizabeth, the child Elizabeth has conceived leaps in her womb in recognition, and Mary proclaims,

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:49-53)

Jesus grew up. And when he did he fulfilled the words of Mary, Gabriele and the prophets. He challenged the powerful, taught us to receive the love of God and share that love with others. Jesus changed the course of history, bending it in the direction he referred to constantly as “the Kingdom of God.” In the Kingdom of God there would be justice, and peace; kindness and compassion.

But the Kingdom isn’t finished. Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit are still working on it—in part because they want to give you and me a chance to be involved in building it.  The Kingdom, Jesus says, is like a seed growing secretly. It’s like leaven in a loaf of flour. It’s often hidden, but it’s growing. It’s getting ready to burst forth. We who follow Jesus are invited to help with the gardening. Help the Kingdom grow and flourish.

So it’s perfectly fine—required in fact—to move beyond Christmas into the world of ordinary life. But in doing so, let us not leave behind the hope, the joyful expectation that lay behind our Christmas celebrations. That gift is meant to be carried forward. The “real world” does not have to be the way it is. Jesus showed us how to live a different set of values. The kingdom, of justice, compassion and peace has been planted. It’s growing. So let us garden!

Happy New Year!