July 6, 2009

To: St. Peter’s Parish Family

From: Fr. Eric Dudley

Concerning: Our new Anglican Province and our new building

As we are all running from place to place this summer, I want to make sure we’re staying up to date with the life of the Church. Let me quickly hold before you two important items:

A. Establishment of a new Province: As you know I was in Texas last week with our Junior Warden, Dewitt Miller, attending the First General ssembly of the Anglican Church in North America. This was an historic event, establishing as a reality the Province we’ve been praying for over the last four years! This means that St. Peter’s is no longer under the Province of Uganda, but now in our own Province in North America (the US combined with Canada). We will continue to be in an on-going missional relationship with our friends in Uganda, and forever grateful for their support of us during this transition (Bp. Nzerebende will be with us this fall, giving us the opportunity to thank him personally). But now we have our own Archbishop, Robert Duncan (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), and will soon have our own local bishop. On August 29th our Diocese-in-formation will meet together in Dowling Park to ratify our constitution and canons (thus establishing us as a diocese), and elect a bishop. So far, three names have been submitted as potential candidates for bishop: Jim Hobby (Trinity Church, Thomasville), Neil Lebhar (Redeemer Church, Jacksonville), and Jim Hampson (St. Peter’s). These are exciting possibilities, and I hope you’ll pray for God’s will and guidance. The Vestry has selected six delegates from St. Peter’s who will accompany our priests for this first convention. Once a bishop is elected, he will have to be confirmed by the House of Bishops (all the bishops who are currently a part of this new Province, like Bishop Guernsey), and then consecrated as a bishop probably some time early next year.

B. The New Building: At this moment we have just over 5.5 million dollars pledged to the new church building. Only 63 parish families have not yet pledged (out of a total of 440 parish families). The Vestry and Building Committee feel that the strength of this commitment is great enough for us to begin to step forward. While the goal is still 8 million, we believe that we can at least begin to flesh out our plans and to put in place those pieces of site development that are affordable at this juncture. As we begin to do preliminary work over the next ten months, we will continue to try to raise the additional money that is needed. We will also consider what things we might need to cut out of the design to accommodate the budgeted dollars we have. We will keep the congregation informed of these decisions all along the way. The sooner cash flows into the Building Fund, the sooner we are able to begin to lay a foundation for this new church. If at any time you are able to increase your pledge, or give additional monies from an unforeseen bonus, it would greatly help our effort. We are very excited about the future, and enormously grateful for the support this congregation has put forth. Please pray for the leadership of our parish as we work together to make the best decisions we can for our future.

 

    St. Peter's Anglican Church
    Tallahassee, Florida

    St. Peter’s Anglican Church is a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion and is a founding church in the Anglican Church in North America. St. Peter’s was begun on October 9, 2005, when a group of Episcopalians chose to follow God’s lead to separate from the Episcopal Church in America because of its severely diminished respect for the role of Holy Scripture in the life of the Church, and its deeply compromised witness to the Gospel.

    While we are not biblical literalists or fundamentalists, we are Christians in the classical tradition of Anglicanism, taking seriously both the authority of Holy Scripture, and the uniqueness of the person of Christ. We are, therefore, a new Church in a very old tradition. It is the call of St. Peter’s to seek with love and humility to witness to the hope and joy found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    We have two services of worship in traditional form, and a third service, true to the Prayer Book but more contemporary in style. We place a high priority on Bible study, youth, children’s, and college and young adult ministries, and mission. The people who have formed this church have been so clear in their convictions that they have been willing to uproot their families, sacrifice their comforts, and risk for the sake of the Gospel of our Lord.

    Our current location, while wonderful in many ways, is temporary. We have already secured land on Thomasville Road north of Interstate 10 and are planning buildings for the future. Being a new church, our doors are wide open to all who love God, take seriously the truth of His Word, and enjoy the rich tradition of classical Anglicanism. We are a warm and welcoming parish and would love to have you visit.

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Prayer for the Building of St. Peter's Anglican Church

Almighty God and Father,

The Heavens cannot contain you, yet you are pleased to dwell in our midst. Accept our desire to build for you a dwelling place to the honor of your Name and for the benefit of your people.

We have journeyed into this wilderness to build our future on the solid rock of the Gospel of Christ. We depend fully on your guidance, inspiration, and grace in building a church that will be a symbol of your Presence, a vessel of your Truth, and a witness to your Love from generation to generation.

Bless our efforts, O Lord! Through them, may those who have ears to hear know the good News of Jesus Christ our Savior. We offer this prayer to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother, Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-19)
Jesus said, "Take courage. Don't be afraid." Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:27,29)

Current Location: 901 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32303, (850) 701-0664, fax: (850) 701-0669 (Directions)
Future Location: 4784 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Florida 32309 (Directions)
Website: www.saint-peters.net | email: info@saint-peters.net