Baptized:  Hayden Silko Bolitho on June 12

Received:  Ana Marie Bayne on June 20 (See our photo gallery.)

The Search Committee was reassured to find little disagreement that our parish is a warm and friendly one, spiritually strong, and one where people feel needed.  Not unexpectedly, nearly all of those who completed the survey also feel that the parish is important to them.  Almost four out of five would describe us as a united parish--a real tribute to the people of St. Peter's and our leadership.

It seems we still want to be a "kid-friendly" church.  There is nearly unanimous agreement in the importance of children and youth participating in worship.  And there was one specific request in the comments section for a revival of craft afternoons, the theater group, and the kids' fair.  Most of us, though, feel that the needs of young people are being met.

It's very evident that Holy Eucharist will always be the central focus of our worship together.  It's what all but a few told us they want and need, and, from the survey, we're gathering that most of you (three out of four) would prefer it in the "high church" style and with traditional music.  It was telling that the only two questions that elicited a high number of "strongly disagree" responses were "I prefer a low church style of worship" and "I prefer more contemporary music in church".

It was gratifying that so many of you added your own insights in the space we left for comments, the section that we could have titled The New Rector Wish List.  "Spiritually centered" and "Christ driven" expressed the feelings of many, as well a "faithful", a "believer in our Lord Jesus Christ and the whole of The Bible", and a "Child of God".

There were others who would agree that he or she should be "intellectually sound in church history and biblical reference" and "emotionally powerful in his teaching".

"Relatively young and energetic" came up frequently, but one parishioner cautioned that he or she should not be "too overpowering".

There were requests, expressed by several, for "one who can work together with the congregation, a rector who is not a 'control' person", and "he needs to be willing to pitch in where needed and not be aloof to the day-to-day work of the parish", and "supplements the efforts of the vestry and other members".  The helpful qualities you mentioned included "good-hearted", "very open", "friendly, thoughtful, and simply spoken".

Many of us would consider ourselves to be middle-of-the-roaders, and, like one parishioner, hope for a rector who is "not an extremist, can handle the polar ends of what many want/try to introduce into church, balanced between evangelical/conservative/liberal styles".  Another parishioner wrote, "It would be nice to have a woman rector."

As we think about what St. Peter's needs, we can't help but remember the rectors we have already known.  As one parishioner put it, "I would like the worship style and administrative skills of Don Matthews with the preaching talent of Philip Wainwright."

Where is he or she?

Workers from St. Peter's spent the day painting windowsills and downspouts, hanging window blinds, doing light carpentry, and otherwise pitching in to get the house ready to be occupied.  Tim Schruben, St. Peter's Buildings and Grounds chairperson, mixed and poured concrete to repair the steps outside the basement door.  Chuck Whittaker and Armando Signore showcased their home improvement skills by drilling through the basement wall to install a dryer vent.  Chuck also removed a nest of birds that had taken up residence in the wall alongside the kitchen exhaust vent.

St. Peter's will donate $1,100 toward supplies purchased to repair the house, much of which was raised by the YAC Sunday School class (grades 11 and 12).

The prospective homeowner, an immigrant from Somalia, worked alongside St. Peter's volunteers.  He and his family hope to be able to move in by late summer or early fall.

Special thanks to the following parishioners who worked on the project:  Dave and Diane Buterbaugh, Joe and Sam Karas, Josh Lane, Bill Sauer, Tim Schruben, Armando Signore, Sam and Dorothy Sinderson, and Chuck and Hayley Whittaker,

The Parish Survey can be downloaded and printed by clicking the link above.  Completed surveys can either be mailed back to the church or placed in the search committee mailbox in the church office.  All surveys should be returned by June 27th.  The Search Committee thanks you for your input and participation.

fileadmin/members/Parish_Survey.pdf

The survey will be distributed at both the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services on June 13 and 20.  If you are unable to attend one of those services, you may request that a survey be mailed to you by calling Katie Schruben at 412-884-6458.  Also watch for the survey to be available for download here at stpetersbrentwood.org.

The Search Committee asks that all surveys be completed and returned by June 27.

Thank you in advance for your input!

The committee has begun collecting information to include in an updated parish profile.  Their next meeting will be held on May 6.

• Colette Burghardt
• Gail Critchfield
• Peg Gump
• Brent Hansen
• Joe Karas
• Jerry Karashin
• Rob Meyers
• Jim Scheder
• Kate Schruben
• By Williams

Please share with them your hopes for our new rector, and keep them in your prayers.

A sign-up sheet for each of the items is on the bulletin board across from the church's office.  The cost of each item is on the sign-up sheet.

The page will be updated each week and include the announcements printed in the upcoming Sunday's service leaflet, as well as weather cancellations and other useful and timely information.