top of page
Search
Rector’s Note: Creating a parish human-energy budget-5.30.24
In a conversation with Rector’s Warden Dave Mosteller yesterday, Dave wondered aloud if a parish should have a human energy budget as...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
May 30, 20243 min read
Rector's Note: Wishing the best of our Postulant for Holy Orders-5.23.24
Amidst all the bustle of our big Pentecost service last Sunday, Bob Smith, postulant for Holy Orders to the Diaconate, completed his...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
May 23, 20244 min read
Rector’s Note: Meeting immediate needs and addressing root causes-5.16.24
One of the roles of the parish rector is to make sure that alms are distributed to people in need in the parish and the community. I...
Rev. Barbara Ballenger
May 16, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: The Power of Pin-5.2.24
Lately, the joint has been jumping. Have you noticed that our pews are getting a little fuller? That folks are bringing friends to church...
Rev. Barbara Ballenger
May 2, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: Opening our Doors to the Spirit this Pentecost-4.25.24
This Pentecost we’re going to find out what the full capacity of St. Peter’s is. What is our capacity for people in the worship space?...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Apr 25, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: The Reason for the Hope I Have -- 4.18.24
he following is an address that I shared yesterday at an interfaith luncheon, sponsored by the Women of Keneseth Israel.
Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Apr 17, 20246 min read
Rector’s Note: A Memorable Bread Day- 4.11.24
This past weekend some of our youngest members learned how awesome Communion is on our first ever Bread Day. Five families gathered in...
Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Apr 11, 20242 min read
A letter from the Bishop Gutiérrez on Presiding Bishop Process and Election
My siblings in Christ – I have been serving in the Diocese of Pennsylvania for the past eight years, and journeying with you has been my...
A Message from the Office of the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church
Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Siblings in the Lord, I greet you in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving Savior, Jesus...
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry Presiding Bishop
Mar 28, 20242 min read
Reimagining Our Space: Beginning the Conversation of Current and Future Space Usage at St. Peter's
The community at St. Peter’s Church continues to change as we share our gifts of inclusive welcome, caring connection, and inspired...
Submitted by Mark Evans
Mar 28, 20242 min read
Rector's Note: The Balm of Wednesday Eucharist-3.28.24
Wednesday morning worship at St. Peter’s is like a little island of faith and community right in the middle of my week. It takes place at...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Mar 28, 20243 min read
Rector's Note: Marking Holy Week Together and Individually-3.21.24
During Holy Week next week our community marks several occasions to tell the story of Jesus’ last days together, as one body. We engage...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Mar 21, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: Lessons from the Scroll-3.14.24
At Eucharist on Wednesday, we talked about the overwhelming prospect of knowing about and responding to tragedies that are unfolding a...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Mar 14, 20244 min read
Rector's Note: Games that Change the World-3.7.24
Last night my husband and I were over at our neighbors’ house to play board games. Both we and they love to collect and play interesting...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Mar 7, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: The silence that shouts-2.29.24
There is the silence that hides, and then there is the silence that shouts. The silence that hides keeps its concerns to itself as it...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Feb 29, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: You are the Church 24/7-2.22.24
This week one of my priest colleagues gave you all a nice compliment. He said that when he and his parish administrator visited our web...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Feb 22, 20243 min read
Stephanie Gill's Q&A on Grief coaching
Stephanie is a grief coach serving Montgomery County and the surrounding area, as well as the larger virtual community. She's a certified...
Submitted by Stephanie Gill
Feb 15, 20246 min read
Rector's Note: Remember that You are Dust-2.15.24
The Ash Wednesday dust has settled. The smudged cross has rubbed off. Lent has begun with no sign remaining to show that we are making...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Feb 15, 20243 min read
Rector’s Note: Anticipating Ashes-2.8.24
Next week, Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday fall on the same date – Feb. 14. Is there any way to make these two feast days work...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Feb 8, 20242 min read
Rector’s Note: The Spiritual Invitation of Black History Month-2.1.24
I got my bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1988 from Kent State University, which was less than an hour from where I grew up in Akron,...
The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
Feb 1, 20243 min read
bottom of page