St. Peter's Episcopal & St. Ben's serving together!

Last year, Bishop Franklin (of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York), and Bishop Malone released a Pastoral Letter encouraging members from both Dioceses to work together in addressing problems of poverty, discrimination, and other societal ills. Two parishes took that letter to heart.

Deacon Bill Hynes of St. Benedict’s and Deacon Tom Tripp of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church met during that awful 2014-15 Buffalo winter, and started a dialogue.



Maura MacDonald with
one of our Chinese Guests!

Both parishes mainly serve the Eggertsville-Snyder-Tonawanda areas directly northeast of the city. After several joint meetings between the deacons and lay people of the two parishes, it was decided to birth the collaboration with a Pre-Thanksgiving meal for ESL students that met regularly in the St. Peter’s building. Diana Leiker, an Episcopal Postulant [Diaconal Candidate], put the program together, after hosting two prior St. Peters’ dinners for the students during the summer months. This was part of her social ministry project for the Episcopal Diaconal Formation Program.


The joint dinner was held on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and was hosted by members of St. Peter’s vestry, plus those of the Outreach & Community Life team. St. Benedict’s had 18 people in attendance, led by their Salt & Light Group, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Deacon Hynes, and Father Robert Mock. St. Peter’s was represented by the parishioners mentioned above, several youth, and the presence of the Rev. Ann Markle, Deacon Tom, and Postulant Diana Leiker.  Several ESL students and their instructor rounded out the estimated 40 attendees.

The dinner began with thanksgiving blessings in several faith traditions that led into the traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. The ESL students spoke to the gathering about their own versions of ‘Thanksgiving” in their cultures. Everyone was invited to participate in their own personal art project, and a musical sing-a-long of traditional American songs closed out the evening.
The evening was filled with much of cross- informational talk between the laity of the parishes, plenty of interaction with the ESL students, and of course- plenty to eat.


Postulant Diana Leiker

We hope that this event was the beginning of a meaningful collaboration between Christian congregations to further welcome strangers to our shores, while working with refugee agencies such as Vive La Casa, Journey’s End and Catholic Charities.

The clergy of the two churches also decided to plan and hold a joint Vespers Service in January to further solidify our future efforts.  It will take place at St. Peter's January 24th at 6pm.  All are welcome.

[taken, with minor additions, from http://episcopalwny.org/early-thanksgiving-party?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+episcopalwny%2Fnews+%28Episcopal+Western+New+York+News%29]



Seminarian Peter Bassey



A welcoming gift for ESL families

 

 

Black Friday -"Don't be that guy!"

A meaningful Black Friday?   Sure, why not??

Just because you are looking for a great deal on Black Friday doesn't mean you have to become one of THEM!

You know who I mean - those shallow, frenzied buyers so wrapped up in themselves that they are oblivious to everyone else. Don't be that guy! But really, does anyone think of themselves as "that guy?"

We just sort of end up that way if we're not careful about our Black Friday behavior.

So here are some practical suggestions for a fun, meaningful and holy Black Friday:

1. Be healthy - eat a good breakfast before heading out and stop for lunch too. A hungry, tired shopper makes for a mean person by noon!  Your body and your soul are one; each affects the other!

2. Be realistic - no, you don't need to get everything on Black Friday.  Be mentally prepared for sell outs and disappointments. Don't ruin your day (and everyone else's) with a nasty attitude because things didn't go your way.

3. Be concerned - don't walk by people as if they are invisible.  Say this blessing silently when you walk by a fellow shopper: "peace be with you!"  or "God bring peace to your life!"  Say an extra prayer of thanks for those who have to work on Black Friday, especially for cashiers!.

4. Be centered - you are so much more important than the stuff you buy!  You are already a gift to all the people in your life. Thank God he made you. Thankful people are centered people.

5. Be holy - see all those people???   Each is unique.  Each is a gift from God.  Each is your brother or sister.  Treat them that way. As Pope Francis recently wrote: "The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus." Jesus is with you, even on Black Friday!  Remember that and holiness is yours to share!

Help us help the Homeless on Thanksgiving!

For the past couple of years, St. Benedict's has supported Little Portion Friary by serving breakfast to their guests on Thanksgiving morning.

Parishioners generously donated their time and/or prepared breakfast items to help make Thanksgiving that much more special for those less fortunate. Denise Levy spearheaded this effort for many years and, as many of you know, Denise and her family have relocated to Dallas.

In keeping the tradition alive, Fred & Mimi Fadel have generously volunteered to coordinate the breakfast and to serve on Thanksgiving morning. If you are interested in helping to serve, please contact Fred at fadelfm@aol.com

If you are interested in providing breakfast items, we can sure use them! 

Here's the basic list of breakfast items we'd like to provide. If you're interested in sending something not listed, please email me and/or Fred & Mimi. We would like to stay away from too many sugary baked goods as Little Portion receives many donated doughnuts and sweets. 


 

I've listed 4 egg items or egg bakes. If you're interested in providing one of them but don't have a recipe, I have an easy one I'd be glad to share.

General info: There are approximately 8 women and 18 men plus some volunteers on the premises. They eat in separate dining rooms so we try to divide the items among the two dining rooms accordingly. Breakfast is served at 9:00 am.

Fred & Mimi will meet folks in the Westfield parking lot at 8:15 Thanksgiving morning. People providing the hot items should bring them hot. The Fadels will leave for Little Portion by 8:30, get there, set up and serve. The guests are responsible for cleaning.

Breakfast items needed:

Eggs/Egg Bake:

Eggs/Egg Bake:

Eggs/Egg Bake:

Eggs/Egg Bake:

Bagels – dozen:

Bagels – dozen:

Bagels – dozen:

Cream cheese – 3 bricks:

Orange juice – 2 gallons:

Orange juice – 2 gallons:

Potatoes:Potatoes:

Whole fruit:

Please email me back and let me know what you’re interested in providing for the breakfast. If I’ve left anything out, please don’t hesitate to contact me. mattandag@mac.com

Thank you,
Agnes Smith

Thanksgiving Breakfast for the needy

Can you help?  Denise Levy is once again coordinating a Thanksgiving breakfast for the homeless at Little Portion Friary.  Here is her letter...

Hello,

I've already heard from a few people interested in providing breakfast items and/or service at Little Portion Friary on Thanksgiving morning. Here's the basic list of breakfast items I'd like to provide. If you're interested in sending something not listed, please email me. I would like to stay away from too many sugary baked goods as I've seen tons of donated doughnuts and sweets in their freezers each time I've been there.

I've listed 4 egg items or egg bakes. If you're interested in providing one of them but don't have a recipe, I have an easy one I'd be glad to share.

General info: There are usually approximately 8 women and 17 men. They eat in separate dining rooms so we try to divide the items among the two dining rooms accordingly. Breakfast is between 8:00 and 8:30.

We meet in the Westfield parking lot at 7:30am. People providing the hot items should bring them hot. We leave for Little Portions by 7:45, get there, set up and serve. The guests are responsible for clean up so we usually leave by 9:00/9:30am.

Breakfast items:

• Eggs/Egg Bake:
• Eggs/Egg Bake:
• Eggs/Egg Bake:
• Eggs/Egg Bake:
• Bagels – dozen:
• Bagels – dozen:
• Bagels – dozen:
• Cream cheese – 3 bricks:
• Orange juice – 2 gallons:
• Orange juice – 2 gallons:
• Potatoes:
• Potatoes:
• Whole fruit:

Email me back and let me know what you’re interested in providing for the breakfast. If I’ve left anything out, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thank you,

Denise  dmlevy@verizon.net

Feeding the Hungry - THANKSGIVING DAY

Families, members of Generations of Faith & St. Vincent de Paul, gather in the St. Benedict's Parking lot at 7:30 AM to receive donations of breakfast food to take down to Little Portion Friary, a homeless shelter on Main Street.  Dozens of people baked, purchased food, or volunteered to serve a delicious meal to Christ in the distressing disguise of the poor.  Special thanks to Denise Levy and her family for coordinating this wonderful activity which embodies the spirit of this day.

Daniel 3:52-90 Praise the LORD!

52 "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

55 Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.

57 Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

59 You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

60 All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

61 All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

64 Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

65 All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

67 [Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

71 Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

73 Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

74 Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

76 Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

77 You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

79 You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

80 All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

81 All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

82 You sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

83 O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

86 Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

87 Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

88 Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. For he has delivered us from the nether world, and saved us from the power of death; He has freed us from the raging flame and delivered us from the fire.

89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

90 Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord; praise him and give him thanks, because his mercy endures forever."
*****
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