St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Worship Services Schedule
Sundays at 10 a.m.
This is The Season of Epiphany

Epiphany 2010

Contemporary Language Rite II

  • January 31
  • February 7
  • February 14

Lent 2010

Traditional Language Rite I

  • February 21
  • February 28
  • March 7
  • March 14
  • March 21
  • Palm Sunday - March 28

Easter 2010

Contemporary Language Rite II

  • Easter Sunday - April 4

Weekday Services

Wednesday at 9 a.m.

  • Morning Prayer

Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

  • Holy Eucharist
  • Potluck Dinner Following the Thursday Evening Service at 6 p.m.

Do you need to reach someone at our offices?

  • You can reach us at:
  • Phone: (716) 326-2064
  • Fax: (716) 326-2019
  • St. Peter's Episcopal Church
  • 12 Elm Street
  • Westfield, NY 14787-1441

Pastor Sandra's Office Hours

  • Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Thursdays 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Sundays 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Church Office Hours

  • Office hours are:
  • Mondays through Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Direct office line
  • (716) 326-2027

Traditional and Contemporary

We use "Traditional" and "Contemporary: to indicate the language of the order of service or "Rite". "Rite I" is the Traditional language of "Thee" and "Thou;" and the Contemporary "Rite II" service uses modern English language.

"Said" and "Sung" Services

A "Said" service is one without music; a "Sung" or "Festival" service is one with hymns and liturgical music, and often parts of the liturgy are sung by the congregation and celebrant.

This Week at St. Peter’s

Sun. Choir Rehearsal 9:15 am
Worship 10 am
Wed. Morning Prayer 9 am
Bible Study 3 pm
Weight Watchers 5 pm
AA Meeting 8 pm
Thurs. Holy Eucharist 5:30 pm
Potluck 6 pm
Social Hour 7 pm

"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott

Welcome to St. Peter's

Today is Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Week of Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Timely & Pertinent Information . . .

  • Eucharistic Ministers Training Scheduled
  • Community Kitchen Soup Supper
  • A heartfelt THANK YOU to Bishop Michael for coming to our parish and leading our service of rededication of our Bell Tower
  • Coffee Hour hosts are needed. We all love to gather after the service and visit with coffee and and a snack. Here's how you can keep this outreach going. Please sing up in Bailey Hall.
  • Service of Morning Prayer every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
  • The Dioceses of Western NY has begun the process of searching for our 11th Bishop. Here is the web site setup by the Dioceses for the search process. Here is the announcement published by the Dioceses.
  • Seasonal Vocabulary: Epiphany
  • Click here to read St. Peter's Mission Statement

The Rites

Rite I is traditionally a more penitential Rite. If you look at the instructions on page 334 of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), just after the Sanctus and just before the Eucharistic Prayer, you will see it says "The people kneel or stand". Kneeling is preferred for this Rite.

However, as Rite II is a more praiseful Rite, the instructions change at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer (BCP page 362) to "The people stand or kneel". Standing during this Eucharistic prayer is preferred.

That said, neither stance is incorrect for either Rite. So, if you have always knelt during the Eucharistic Prayer, and would be uncomfortable standing, please continue kneeling. If you are willing to change, during Rite II, please stand for this prayer. This is the traditional stance for praise.

the Dove of Peace

The Sermon for December 13, 2009 - Luke 3:7-18

My goodness! John is a little testy this morning, isn’t he? And those vipers! Pretty scary!

I hope, with all that drama and exhorting, you didn’t miss the ending of the gospel reading: "So with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people." That was good news? Well, yes, it was. "One is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Don’t get so worried about the winnowing fork and the fire that you miss the point: farmers winnow the grain to get rid of the chaff, yes, but the most important reason is to save the wheat.

And this is the good news: if we repent, if we return to God, we will be saved even through the winnowing. We can be God’s good wheat, God’s good fruit.

Those people in the desert heard this and they implored: "What do we have to do?" John answers in different ways for different groups of people. For those who have much, he says, share . . . [ More ]

Yours In Christ,

Pastor Sandra Signature Clergy Cross

TO OUR VISITORS

We welcome you to our worship and to our parish life. Please know that whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey in faith there is a place for you here at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

All persons are invited to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. If you prefer not to receive communion, we invite you to come to the altar rail, cross your arms on your chest and receive the blessing of God. If you are unfamiliar with the Episcopal worship service, ask someone for help, or merely relax and enjoy the beauty and power of the service by observing what goes on. Come again . . . soon and often.

Please join us in Bailey Hall immediately following the service for food, fellowship and fun.

HOMEBOUND OR JUST UNABLE TO ATTEND SERVICE?

If you were not able to join us this Sunday for Church, you can watch the service on Time Warner Cable - Westfield Channel 21 on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. (thank you Tom). You can read this week's service bulletin here or use it to follow along with the service on Public Access. If you, or someone you know, is unable to come to church and would like a clergy visit, please let the church office know and the office will schedule a clergy visit and bring communion if you desire.