Press Releases
Note: This listing displays current items first.
Updated on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Press release for Saturday, March 6, 2010
ST. PETER’S PARISHIONERS RECEIVE AWARD
Lisa and Doug Eash of St. Peter’s Church, Bennington, have received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for their service, commitment and support given to Exchange Students over the years. The award is an initiative of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation and recognizes individuals, families and groups that have achieved a standard measured by the number of hours of service given over a 12 month period or cumulative hours over a lifetime.
The Eashes have been involved with Exchange Students from around the world for six years. They have been host parents for seven exchange students from 6 different countries. Doug was local coordinator for 19 students from 13 countries. He says, “We started with one student from South Korea and it just grew from there”.
Press release for Saturday, February 27, 2010
Lenten Services continue at St. Peter’s Church in Bennington. Sunday services are at 8 a.m., a traditional said service of Holy Communion with sermon; 10a.m. Holy Communion with sermon, hymns and music sung by the choirs; 5 p.m. Contemporary service including Holy Communion and sermon, and featuring the contemporary musical ensemble. Morning Prayer is held Monday through Friday mornings at 8 a.m. Meditation is held on Mondays at 5:30 p.m.; Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.; and Fridays at 5:30 p.m.
Church School program is offered once a month on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Parish Hall and includes Godly Play methodology of Bible storytelling, home cooked lunch and games. All are welcome.
St. Peter’s is and open and affirming church that respects religious inquire and welcomes all people to the Good News of Christ’s presence and a place at His table. Wheelchair Accessible. Church phone-442-2911; 200 Pleasant St., Bennington. The Rev. Anita Shell-Lambert, Rector.
Press release for Saturday, February 27, 2010
ST. PETER’S ECO-TEAM PLANS YEAR
The Eco-Team at St. Peter’s Church has met to do planning for another year. The team had a wonderful success with St. Peter’s Neighborhood Garden on the grounds of the church last year. The Team met on the 21st to do the planning and are now networking with the Walloomsac Transition Forum Farm to Plate initiative and with the Episcopal Church Province 1 on energy concerns.
Jordan Schell-Lambert captains the team and has announced that on March 14th there will be a seed sharing and on April 18th there will be a seed exchange.
This is a great time to learn what the EcoFolk are all about and to consider joining them. Contact Jordan Schell-Lambert at jslam108@earthlink.net for more information, questions or suggestions.
Press release for Saturday, February 13, 2010
ROBERT LIBBY FROM “FOOD FOR THE POOR” GUEST PREACHER AT ST. PETERS
“My faith is trembled by an earthquake” said the Reverend Bob Libby. But he followed with the rest of the statement—“but it is reinforced by the goodness coming from so many.
“Food for the Poor” is the largest international relief agency in the United States. More than 96% of all donations go directly to programs that help the poor. It is ranked the fourth largest recipient of private support.
Father Bob is Rector Emeritus of St. Christopher’s-by-the-seas Episcopal Church, Key Biscayne, Florida and joined Food for the Poor as a speaker after his retirement.
“Around the Caribbean we’ve done about 40 fishing villages” he says. In these communities, fiberglass motorboats replace native canoes carved from tree trunks. Residents have the tackle, coolers, freezers, generators and global-positioning systems they need to catch and preserve fish they can eat or sell.”
Since the villages went up, residents trained in deep-sea fishing have begun catching up to 400 pounds of commercially valuable species like red snapper in one day. The benefits are apparent in children who have lost the belly bloat and orange-tinged hair caused by protein deficiency. Since the killer quake rocked Haiti, Libby has turned over about $15, 000 collected from parishioners and other groups on Key Biscayne to Food for the Poor.
He will be Guest Preacher at St. Peters on Sunday February 14th talking about his experiences. All are invited to hear of his work in Haiti.
Press release for Saturday, January 30, 2010
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church to hold annual meeting on January 31
The 2010 Annual Meeting of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT, will be held in the Parish Hall on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, following the consolidated 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist liturgy. Parishioners will be called to order by St. Peter’s 26th Rector, the Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert, Senior Warden Barbara Hoar, and Junior Warden Dick Bower.
A special vote will be held regarding a proposed amendment to the By-Laws of St. Peter’s Parish which would reduce the number of vestry members from 12 to nine. Elections of delegates for the 2010 Diocesan Convention as well as Deanery delegates will also be held, along with the election of new vestry members. All parishioners are urged to attend the annual meeting. Communicants in good standing are eligible to vote.
At the annual meeting, various reports will be presented for the many programs and ministries of the church, such as Pastoral Care, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Music, Christian Formation, and Missions and Outreach.
Reports from the Treasurer and the Budget Committee will be heard, and decisions will be made regarding the 2010 Parish Budget. Lunch, prepared by members of the Parish under the direction of Colleen Gates, will be served during the meeting.
St. Peter’s is happy to offer the use of its building to non-profits in the community. Currently St. Peter’s is used by RSVP for a bone builders class, for the Court Diversion Program, AA, Baton Twirlers, and other groups. A variety of events and programs are held at St. Peter’s during the year.
Additional information about the services and programs of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church may be found on its website at www.stpetersbenningtonvt.org or by calling the church at 802-442-2911.
Press release for Saturday, January 23, 2010
Special Patronal Festival Services at St. Peter’s Church, January 24
On Sunday, Jan. 24, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT, during both liturgies (8 a.m. and 10 a.m.) the church will honor Peter, the patron saint of St. Peter’s Church, Bennington. At the Solemn Procession at the 10 o’clock service, the congregation will sing Hymn 518. Christ is made the sure foundation. The Gradual Hymn, #661, relates the story of the calling of the fishermen Peter and Andrew “Who cast their nets in Galilee” to be Disciples of Jesus.
At its founding in 1834, the Episcopal Parish in Bennington chose the Apostle Peter as its Patron; therefore, the Parish celebrates the Patronal Festival on the Sunday following January 18 (the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter, Apostle). On the Patronal Festival of St. Peter, the Gospel reading is Matthew 16: 13 – 19, the Gospel account of the Disciple Peter’s acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the “Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” In this same Gospel, Christ names Simon as “Peter,” saying “on this rock I will build my church.” Then he gives Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. In St. Peter’s Church building, there are many reminders of the Patron saint. The stained glass windows at the Pleasant Street end of the nave of the church depict scenes from the life of Peter. Pictures, tapestries, and banners that utilize keys as a symbol of the saint may be seen throughout the church building.
The Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert, Rector, will celebrate the two masses on Jan. 24, assisted by The Rev. Penny Hawkins, Deacon. At the 10 o’clock liturgy, St. Peter’s Choir will sing How Goodly are thy tents by Ouseley as the Offertory anthem, and Ave verum corpus by Edward Elgar as the Communion motet. Randall B. Krum, Organist-Choirmaster, will direct the choir and play organ voluntaries Allegro vivace by Desmond Ratcliffe and Wir danken dir, Gott (Sinfonia) from Cantata BWV 29 by J. S. Bach. All in the community are welcome at the services and activities of St. Peter’s Church. For further information, please consult the church website at www.stpetersbenningtonvt.org or call the church office at 802-442-2911.
Press release for Saturday, January 23, 2010
Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert presents program January 25 on Emerging Environmental Worldview at UU Meeting House
In describing her planned presentation on January 25, the Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert quotes Iza Hussin from a paper entitled “Islam and the Challenge of Interfaith Activism”: “The world is a fragile place. It has always been so. What has changed is that within the hearts of its most powerful citizens, a space has been made from which we may discover our own roles in preserving this world, as well as those of the peoples for whom fragility has always been a way of life.”
In her presentation on Monday, January 25 at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 108 School Street, Bennington, Mother Anita will examine the global environmental crisis that has escalated in the last decade and explore what people can bring to this moral dilemma. Mother Anita will articulate an emerging environmental worldview from both Christian and Buddhist perspectives that support respect for nature, its conservation, and the development of an environmental ethic.
Sponsored by the Bennington Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), this program is a public meeting, open to all who are interested in the topic “How Then Shall We Live? An Interreligious Eco-Justice Model for the Local Community.” The speaker, the Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert, is the 26th Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bennington. She is a native of Lancaster, PA, and holds degrees in music, English literature, and world religions from Brown University, General Seminary, and most recently the Episcopal Divinity School where she wrote her doctoral thesis on the topic of environmental justice.
The community is welcome at this program at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25, at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 108 School Street, Bennington.
Press release for Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, December 20th:Christmas Pageant at St. Peter’s Church
This Sunday, December 20, is the traditional Christmas Pageant at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St., Bennington, at 10 a.m. There will be children in the pageant whose parents, and even grandparents, participated in years past. Angels, shepherds, pages for the 3 kings, candle-bearers, and the Holy Family - all presenting the age-old nativity story with costumes and music. Come experience the wonder! Information: 802-442-2911.
Press release for Saturday, December 12, 2009
Christmas and Late Advent Services posted for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Christmas Services will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT, beginning with Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 5 p.m. with the Holy Eucharist (Rite 2) with the Children and Youth Choir leading the musical offerings.
The traditional Christmas Eve Midnight Mass will begin at 10:30 p.m with carols for choir and congregation followed by the Holy Eucharist (Rite 2). On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the Holy Eucharist (Rite 1) will be celebrated at 9 a.m. with organ and congregational carols. The Rev. Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert, Rector, will be celebrant at all Christmas services. The Rev, Penny Hawkins, Deacon, will assist. Music is under the direction of St. Peter’s Organist/Choirmaster Randall Krum.
The annual Christmas Pageant will take place on Sunday, Dec. 20 (Advent 4) at 10 AM in the church. The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Dec, 20
On Dec. 13, Advent 3, the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 8 a.m. (Rite 1), 10 a.m. (Rite 2), and 5 p.m. (Contemporary). The Feast of Lights (Epiphany) Pageant will take place on January 10.
Press release for Saturday, December 12, 2009
St. Peter’s Christmas Tea to be held Saturday, December 12
The community is cordially invited to St. Peter’s Church Christmas Tea, to be held this year on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 3:00 to 5:30 PM, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT. Tickets are $6.00 and may be purchased at the door or reserved through the church office, 802-442-2911.
A tradition for more than 50 years, the Christmas Tea has become St. Peter’s Christmas gift to the community, providing a way to welcome in the joy of the Christmas season. The Church’s Parish Hall is transformed into a beautiful and inviting candlelit setting, resplendent with gleaming silver, sparkling crystal, the scent of pine wreaths and trees, and with the buffet Tea table full of delicious cookies, tea sandwiches, holiday goodies, and much more. The traditions of the season will be found in decorations, the bows of the wreaths, table centerpieces, and trees. Tea Chairperson Vickie Cutler and co-chair Debby Dutcher along with all the members of the Tea committee invite everyone in the community to begin their holiday celebration at St. Peter’s Christmas Tea.
In addition to the Tea Room, St. Peter’s Christmas Shop will be open in the Guild Room with crafts and homemade goodies for purchase. Highlights in the Christmas Shop this year are Christmas tree ornaments, hand-knitted and crocheted hats and mittens, hand-crafted dolls and stuffed animals, hand made cards and notes, and goodies such as home made fudge, snack mix, various breads, and candies, all ready to give as gifts. St. Peter’s Cookbook Keys to the Kitchen, Heritage Edition and Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, the music of St. Peter’s on CD will also be available for sale.
While waiting for their tables in the Tea Room, guests may be seated in the church to enjoy Christmas carols and other music played by organist Randall Krum or they may browse in the Christmas Shop. As their tables become available, guests will be escorted to the Tea Room by Tea committee members.
Further information is available through the church website www.stpetersbenningtonvt.org or by calling St. Peter’s Church office at 802-442-2911.
Press release for Saturday, December 5, 2009
St. Petersburg Russian Men’s Ensemble to present concert December 9
The St. Petersburg Russian Men’s Ensemble return to Bennington to present a concert at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 at 7:30 PM.
Kirill Sokolov, Alexander Gogol, Evgeny Vischnevsky, and Vadim Smantser, the four singers who make up the St. Petersburg Russian Men’s Ensemble, are all skilled musicians who bring extensive training and experience to the presentation of a repertoire that encompasses various periods and styles, including ancient Russian chants, Western European choral music, and works by contemporary composers. Since one of the goals of the ensemble is to popularize Russian music, their program includes Russian folk songs, secular compositions, sacred works, and arrangements of popular melodies. A freewill offering is requested. All in the community are cordially invited. St. Peter’s Church is wheelchair accessible. Information: 802-442-2911. www.stpetersbenningtonvt.org