Today we are pleased to welcome the Right Reverend Laura Ahrens, Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of CT.   Please join her for coffee and conversation after both services.

Trinity Wall Street’s “Trinity Institute” annual theological conference will be held Jan. 21-23, 2016, in NYC and at partner sites across the country. The title is, “Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations on Racial Justice,” and speakers include Nicolas Kristof, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry among others. In ECCT, St. John’s in Waterbury, St. John’s in Vernon, St. Mark’s in Mystic, Trinity in Hartford, and The Commons in Meriden will each serve as a registered local site and webcast the full conference. Online registration available.  A flyer is available at the back of the church. More information on the ECCT website: www.episcopalct.org

What’s Happening at St. Peter’s

Women’s Club – The next Women’s Club meeting will be held on Monday, January 18th at 7:00 pm at Mary Latour’s new home!  Her new address is 7 Hunters Ridge, Columbia, CT.  You can call her at telephone: 860-228-2154, cell phone: 860-208-4029.  We always have a good time, so please join us!

Calling All Youth!  Judi Babin and Lynn Hassouna have begun a new series of discussions for youth to be held on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. in Father Perry’s office. Any young person in grades 7 through 12 is welcome to join them. These discussions will continue to be held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. More events are being planned including a Confirmation Class starting in January.

Confirmation Classes to begin in January!  Father Perry will be scheduling Confirmation classes for any interested youth or adults beginning in early January. This provides a wonderful opportunity for anyone wishing to join the Episcopal Church, any youth (9th grade or older) wanting to become adult members of the congregation or anyone interested in engaging in conversation about the meaning of our Episcopal traditions or how our faith enriches our lives. Please contact the parish office or speak to Father Perry if you have questions or are interested in “signing up!”

Sewing Machine for sale – A pre-owned sewing machine with advanced capabilities regarding embroidery stitching is for sale in Phelps Hall. Anyone interested in examining it or purchasing it may see it on Sunday or call the office.  It may be purchased for a donation (the amount to be determined by the purchaser) to Father Perry’s “Rector’s Discretionary Fund.”  Any questions regarding the machine’s history may be addressed to Stephanie Wheeler.

**************

Trip to the Holy Land with Bishop Ahrens

The Rt. Rev. Dr.  Laura Ahrens and the Rev. Dr. Lisa Hahnerman will be leading a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in April (10th-22nd). There is a flyer at the back of the church. More information is on the ECCT website: www.episcopalct.org/news-and-events/lay-leadership-events/a-pilgrimage-to-our-holy-land; or you may call the St. Peter’s office.

**************

Outreach

Let’s Continue to Keep Connecticut’s Children Warm!

Thank you all who have supported Samantha Sullivan’s efforts to collect warm clothing for children in need. Over 350 items, contributed by St. Peter’s parishioners, were donated last week to Covenant to Care for Children and immediately distributed to children in the Hartford area.

The drive was so successful that Samantha will continue collecting clothes for a while longer. A box is in the narthex of the church for the collection of clothing: gently used and new coats and warm clothes sizes newborn to children’s size 12. Call Kim at 860-202-8449 if you have any questions.

The Windham Region No-Freeze Hospitality Center

The weather has turned very cold! Can you imagine sleeping by the river in Willimantic?

Cold, wet, unsafe? Many of the Windham area’s homeless live in makeshift camps along the Willimantic River all year long. The Windham Region No-Freeze Hospitality center seeks to provide a warm shelter for those in the community who are homeless and over the age of 18 from November 15th through April of each year. No one is turned away. We provide food, clothing, hygiene among other services. Donations to keep the center going are always welcome. If you are able to donate items to help please drop them off at our office:

75 Bridge Street, (First unit in the plaza) Willimantic, CT 06226 (Monday through Thursday from 1-4 pm)

Items that the shelter is in need of:

  • Non-InstantCoffee, Sweetener, Non-Dairy Creamer, Hot Chocolate
  • Paper products, Toilet paper, paper towels, napkins.
  • Vinyl or plastic Pillow case covers
  • Coffee cups (small size, disposable)
  • Plastic utensils (spoons/forks)
  • Socks (white preference)
  • Men’s boxer shorts all sizes
  • Women’s briefs – all sizes
  • Razor blades
  • Shaving Cream
  • Toothbrushes
  • Deodorant
  • Women’s hygiene products (pads, tampons)
  • Plastic soap saver boxes
  • Sweatpants/shirts(med/large/Xtra/
  • XXtralrg
  • Laundry detergent (powder)
  • Floor and bathroom cleaner
  • Office supplies – Call to see the needs
  • Gift Cards to Stop & Shop, BJ’s Walmart, Staples and Home Depot of any value

A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Monday, February 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Please consider giving this gift of life. 3 people benefit from each single donation.  It takes only about an hour and is painless.  Please help those who are desperately in need of a blood transfusion.  Call for an appointment: 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go on-line to www.redcrossblood.org . Walk-ins are always welcome.