Episcopal Church

St.

Sitka, Alaska
 (St. Peter's Calendar of Events)
News and Happenings

The Keys newsletter: April 2008

Staff and Contact Information

St. Peter's Disaster Plan

St. Peter's extends a warm welcome to you!

What will you find here?

Located in the busy downtown area of Sitka, the sanctuary of St. Peter's by-the-Sea is open 24-hours a day for visitors and people seeking a moment of peace in their workday world. Unlike so many churches that are finding it necessary to lock their doors during non-worship service hours, St. Peter's has made it their policy to welcome all people at any time.

ST. PETER'S WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE

SUNDAYS

8am Holy Eucharist (without music)

9:15am Holy Eucharist: Family Service

11:00am Holy Eucharist (with music)

1pm Service at Sitka's Pioneer Home

WEDNESDAYS

5:30pm Holy Eucharist (Rite 1)

SAINTS DAYS

12:05pm Service

In addition to encouraging and supporting members in their day to day ministries and service at home, in their daily vocations, and through numerous community organizations...

St. Peter's by-the Sea offers opportunities for:

One of the unusual features about St. Peter's is often pointed out to visitors and tourists. When they look up at the beautiful stained glass window near the ceiling, alert folks notice that at its center is a Star of David. We like to tell the tale like this:

At the time the church was built, acquiring building materials was a great logistical feat. Bishop Rowe and the congregation wished to include a rose window in the construction of St. Peter's sanctuary. They placed an order for a window with Christian symbols from a supplier of church windows, somewhere in the Eastern portion of the United States. The window was to fit in a certain diameter opening. After the order was sent, construction continued on the church.
A round opening was provided for the rose window, and everyone waited. After many months of anticipation, the window arrived and was uncrated, probably with great fanfare and excitement. Once the center of the rose was revealed, it was discovered that instead of the Christian symbol that was ordered for the focal point of the design, there appeared the six pointed Star of David. Much debate followed and we can only guess at how that discussion took place. One consideration must have been that the window was the right diameter and it would take a long time to replace it. The final result was that the Star of David rose window was installed and graces our sanctuary today. For close to 100 years, this Star has reminded the worshippers of St. Peter's of the beginnings of our Christian faith.

Another unusual thing about our historic church is that the first Bishop of Alaska--Bishop Rowe--is buried here, in the front lawn. His first wife, Dora, and one of their sons is also here. Having built the stone wall around the church, much of the church itself, and the historic See House behind the church, his final resting place is only a few steps away from Crescent Harbor where he gazed from his office window for so many years.

To see some photos of Bishop Rowe, click on archival materials.

The home that Bishop Rowe built still stands today and houses the church offices, the parish hall and an apartment. The See House has been undergoing restoration for the past two years. Inside, there is a fully remodeled licensed commercial kitchen.

Outside the See House has been restored to its former beauty. Some painting still needs to be done and a bit of touch up around the windows, but it is very close to completion.


The See House "Before" (circa 1999)
The See House "After" (2005)
On the landing between floors in the See House is this beautiful window. As you walk up the creaky, slightly tilted stairway to view this window, you can feel the legacy of the many feet that have preceded you over the span of almost 100 years.


Fr. Paul Mather School

Easter egg hunting 2007

Julie Abbott-Jones Ordinations 2008

Commissioning/Installation of Alaska's First Verger: Michael McConnell

Nancy Rickett's History of St. Peter's
Nancy Ricketts needs a cup of tea after visiting with many Sitkans who came to her book signing Sunday, April 22, 2007.
Anyone interested in this history may contact members of St. Peter's ECW.

If you would like to learn more about the Episcopal Church, visit:

Home Page of the National Episcopal Church

and The Official Web Page of the Diocese of Alaska.

Our Southeast Deanery has an on-line Newsletter. Read the Southeast Seafarer's latest news!

Visit this site if you would like to learn more about Sitka, Alaska, home of St. Peter's.

We hope you will visit us when you are in Sitka!
St. Peter's neighborhood

Our address is:
611 Lincoln Street, Sitka Alaska 99835
Phone: (907) 747-3977 Fax: 323-395-5423
E-mail: St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Our Rector is Fr. Dave Elsensohn
e-mail him at david@stpeters-sitka.us

 Our Assistant Priest is
Fr. Gordon Blue
e-mail him at gkblue@gmail.com
Fr. Gordon Blue		 Deacon
Rev. Ann Parsons
e-mail her at arp@gci.net

Dn. Ann Parsons

Deacon
Rev. Kathryn Snelling
e-mail her at kathryn@thesnellings.com

Dn. Kathryn Snelling

Deacon
Rev. Julie Abbott-Jones
e-mail her at
j.abbott-jones@att.net

Rev. Julie Abbott-Jones

AFTER HOURS NUMBERS: Fr. Dave (907) 738-9999; Fr. Gordon (206)-979-0850
Church office hours: Tuesday - Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm

St. Peter's Vestry:
Tom Reinholdt, Matt Turner, Junior Wardens; Brian Massey, Senior Warden; Matt Turner, Fred Reeder, Glenda Rice, Ira Snelling, Gary Paxton, Betsy Johnson, John Fulton, and Debbie Paxton, Treasurer.

Hope to see you soon! God Bless!

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