1 of 168

by Alice Sanderson, Family Ministries Program Coordinator

There are 168 hours in a week. Though some weeks it may feel like more!  Breaking this down, we spend 56 hours (about two and a half days) sleeping which leaves us with 112 hours (about four and a half days) for everything else. How do we best use the time we have been given? If only one or two of those hours are spent physically in the church, the rest of the time is going to be influenced by teachers, coaches, grandparents, parents, friends, and, of course, the culture.  

Amy Stewart and Ellen LaBarre are working to make every minute in Children’s Chapel and Sunday School count. David Marten and Tayla Calhoun are striving to make sure the time our youth are spending in Sunday School and Engage Groups are impacting their lives for Jesus. The rest of the week falls on us as parents, grandparents, godparents, and mentors to make sure everyone who crosses our path is being led to faith in Christ. Ultimately, a walk with Christ is what is most important when our time runs out so let’s make the work we do now lay a rock-solid foundation. 

In Deuteronomy 6:5-6, God makes it clear how He intends discipleship to work, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." His command was for parents to disciple their children at home then and this command has not changed.  

However, some parents are unable to be the spiritual teachers of their children. We see examples in scripture where God used others to disciple and teach His truths. The Bible tells us that Esther was raised by her cousin, Mordecai, after the death of her parents (Esther 2:5-11). Timothy’s father was not a believer, but his mother and grandmother were, and they brought Timothy up in their faith. Later Paul took him under his wing and called him his “true child in the faith” and “beloved child” (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2). These are just a few examples of Christians called to “raise” others in the faith as spiritual daughters and sons. We are still called to do this today. 

As parents and spiritual parents to the precious young people in our care, we need to make our time count for Christ. How are we living out our Christian lives in front of those we are spiritually responsible for? Imagine the impact we could make if we commit to model a life of prayer and scripture reading at home and to raise each other up by actively taking part in the life of the church. I always tell parents that more is caught than taught and it is the same with those we are spiritually parenting as well. Our lives should reflect the life of Christ in our church, our workplace, our schools, and especially in our homes so that Jesus is caught from what we do and not just what we say. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP!  As our Children, Youth and Family Ministries begin the new school year, please consider assisting our leaders and teachers in Children’s Chapel, Sunday School, Engage Groups, and Wednesday Night Play & Pray. You can also get involved in the GRANDparents of St. Peter’s and Mom to Mom Ministries. Email Alice (Alice@StPetersFL.com), Amy (AmyS@StPetersFL.com) or David (David@StPetersFL.com) to see how you can be a part of these exciting ministries.

The Acolyte Program

By Dr. Cal Melton, Acolyte Master

Dear St. Peter’s,

To my church: My family is still celebrating the blessing of having my dad confirmed here at St. Peter’s last weekend. The Holy Spirit working in our Church brought my family here. You probably cannot even imagine how He is working in you to influence your parents and your children!

To my acolytes: It is truly an honor to serve you as head of the acolyte program here at St. Peter's. I enjoy every one of you, and I want to take this opportunity to share some direction within our acolyte program. I am excited to let everyone know that the staff, clergy, and I are on the same page about our program and youth as a whole.  We all believe the more you play a part in the service the better. We will be looking for new ways for you to serve as well as re-instituting some of our previous traditions. We will be building an acolyte page within the website construct and launching an acolyte channel for training and recruitment.  Most importantly, I would like to recognize your achievements not only in the acolyte program, but also in your life outside the program. Not because you need recognition but because it is important for your church family to know what is going on in all aspects of your growth.

To the acolyte parents: We know the acolyte program can attract new members to the church. This program can and will influence the growth of acolyte programs in our diocese and the entire ACNA. We are always looking to welcome new youth into the program. Parents, please share the message with your peers and have your children share their experience as well. There are many ways to support our program and our acolytes. 

To find out more, please contact me at (850) 570-0208 or drcalmelton@gmail.com.

In Christ,

Cal Melton 

TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS: YOUTH MISSIONS WEEK 2021 IS HERE!

By The Rev'd William Krizner, Canon for Missions & Evangelism

As a contagious spirit of missions and evangelism continues to sweep through our Cathedral, many of our middle school and high school youth have been deeply energized to go and share the Gospel with the world outside the walls of our building.  In fact, a group of more than twenty St. Peter’s middle and high school kids took part in praying and sharing invitations for Avodah Day with friends throughout the neighborhood near Riley Elementary School last weekend.  Many of the youth then shared in the work at Good Samaritan Outreach the next day – gardening, operating a yard sale, and sharing in laughter and encouragement with those in the community.

And all of this excitement has led us to offer the first ever St. Peter’s Youth Missions Week that will be held June 14—18. It will be a week full of fun, fellowship, and evangelism-centered work.  Each of the first four days will begin at noon with a lunch that is being prepared by women from the Daughters of the Holy Cross and the Mary & Martha Guild.  We will then travel out to work at ministry partners such as Good Samaritan Chapel, A Women’s Pregnancy Center, and Chelsea House.  At each, our young men and women will engage in people-centered outreach including offering a Vacation Bible School, building chicken coops and flower planter boxes with community members, and sharing in prayer and fellowship with those in physical and spiritual need.  The team will then travel back to St. Peter’s each afternoon for special catered dinners and dynamic presentations from ministry leaders on topics such as human trafficking, life, and evangelism before departing at 6:30 each night.  The week will then end with a fun-filled pool party at the Cooksey’s home on Friday to celebrate God’s great work that will be done throughout the week.  

As the Canon for Missions & Evangelism, there are few things that encourage my soul more than seeing our young people out on an adventure with God.  Over the years, I have watched so many youth come alive in Christ during trips, camps, and other mission-centered outings to Nicaragua, Belize, Gretna, and throughout our own community.  I am now so very excited to see what the Lord will do during this Youth Missions Week with our young people at St. Peter's.  These times together in mission are truly transformative and we believe this special time will be a catalyst for even more work together in the months and years to come.

Please register your 6th to 12th grade son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, or any other youth in your life today by stopping by the table outside this morning or email Fr. Bill at BKrizner@StPetersFL.com.  You do not want them to miss out on this special time of youth ministry together!

What is Confirmation?

by The Rev'd Christopher Jones, St. Peter's Priest Associate

My students in last Fall’s confirmation class will be able to tell you, but for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, confirmation is the laying on of the bishop’s hands with prayer for strengthening by the Holy Spirit, following a period of catechetical formation. In confirmation, I make a mature confession of faith, publicly renewing the vows and promises made at my Baptism (Question #137). It is in confirmation where the bishop prays that the Lord would further empower, by the Holy Ghost, the believer to grow in His charity, grace, mercy, and wisdom. This is no small event. It marks a deeper level of discipleship and devotion to the Lord. 

I recently picked up my puppy from the kennel where he had stayed while I went out of town. He was excited to see me, of course, and played in the pen while the kennel owner and I chatted for a bit. When it was time to go and I called him over to me, he did a strange thing – he looked at the kennel owner, then back to me, and froze. She assured me that it was very common for puppies to do this because the kennel was her domain and she was the alpha there… not me. My puppy was confused about who to listen to – needless to say, we still have some work to do! 

Life is filled with voices (some good and others, not so much) calling out to you, sometimes for your help, other times for your attention, and at other times to garner your loyalty. As a good buddy of mine says to his daughters, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” You are a Christian empowered by the Holy Ghost to love Jesus and call others to love Him; and at your baptism, you were marked as Christ’s own forever. In the midst of all the chaos and noise, listen to His voice – delight yourselves in Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37).

Confirmands, I pray that you all have been blessed by me as much as you all have been a blessing to me. Our time together was truly a bright spot in the middle of an… interesting… year. I am so excited to see what the Lord will do in, and through, all of you! The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Now, empowered further by the Holy Ghost, go forth into the world to bear witness to Christ in your lives; care for the poor, strangers, widows, and orphans; share the transforming love of Jesus to those whom the Lord places you in the midst of; and, according to your gifts, serve Christ in the world and in the Church! Amen!

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. –Matthew 5: 16

The Rev’d Christopher Jones

The Transition from Youth to Young Adult

by The Rev'd David Marten, Youth & Young Adult Minister

During this graduation season, we are all entering into a season of change. Over the past few years, you parents have been working up to this point. You’ve slowly been teaching your child proper boundaries with technology, how to drive themselves, and how to be in charge of their own schedules. Maybe even how to do their own laundry! Now the last vestige of control is coming to an end. No longer will you be able to say, “So long as you live under my roof…” The way you and your child interact is going to be much different.

Because of this new change, you’ll have to define new rules for interacting. Some examples might include: 

• an expiration date for living at the house

• agreement that you won’t give unsolicited advice

• unconditional love does not mean unconditional financial support

• a monthly phone call from your child to prove they're still alive

• health insurance and phone bills

This is a lot to take in.  Even as prepared as you are, it still seems like everything is changing.

Okay, that feeling of anxiety, that’s normal. 

There’s one more thing that changes, how you pray for your child. And oftentimes, prayer becomes more frequent once your child leaves home. It seems that while your child is in high school, prayer is a secondary thought. After all, there’s a solution to every problem and you’ve probably got an idea where to begin. Now, however, your child might not even ask you for advice. You might only get to watch from the sidelines. Hopefully you fully realize what you already knew; that constant, iterative prayer is the best thing you can do for your child.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

–Philippians 4: 4–6