Upon This Rock Blog | stpetersglenside

Rector's Note: A Story in an Airstream Trailer-8.22.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Aug 223 min read

Rector's Note: A Story in an Airstream Trailer-8.22.24

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of women, the diocese recently invited local women clergy to record their stories of...

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Rector's Note: Shining Like the Sun-8.15.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Aug 153 min read

Rector's Note: Shining Like the Sun-8.15.24

Even though the program year has taken the summer off, weekdays and evenings at St. Peter’s have been really busy. The calendar is...

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Rector’s Note: Sipping and Dipping-8.8.24

Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Aug 84 min read

Rector’s Note: Sipping and Dipping-8.8.24

On Sunday Aug. 18 St. Peter’s will be adding the practice of intinction, or dipping the communion bread into the wine chalice, as an...

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The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Jul 254 min read

Rector’s Note: Running Ahead-7.25.24

“You’re running ahead of the church!” my mom said to me in one of the more painful conversations we had about my leaving Catholicism to...

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Rector’s Note: Rest for the Soul-7.18.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Jul 183 min read

Rector’s Note: Rest for the Soul-7.18.24

Last week, as part of my time away, I spent four days on retreat at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York. (You can hear about some...

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Rector's Note: Following the Way of Love into the next nine years-6.27.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Jun 275 min read

Rector's Note: Following the Way of Love into the next nine years-6.27.24

At our General Convention this week our Episcopal Church leaders and delegates – bishops, priests and lay – chose the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe,...

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Rector’s Note: Thoughts on the 81st General Convention-6.20.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Jun 204 min read

Rector’s Note: Thoughts on the 81st General Convention-6.20.24

This Sunday marks the opening of the Episcopal Church’s 81st General Convention—the meeting of the Episcopal Church’s full governing...

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Kristina Marchuk to Serve as Parish Nurse as part of Pastoral Care Team

Submitted by Kristina Marchuk

Jun 202 min read

Kristina Marchuk to Serve as Parish Nurse as part of Pastoral Care Team

In her role as parish nurse, Kristina will serve as the primary responder during worship services and parish events, and will also...

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Shirley Smith Named One of ECW's Triennial 2024 Distinguished Women

Submitted by Mary Rivera

Jun 201 min read

Shirley Smith Named One of ECW's Triennial 2024 Distinguished Women

St. Peter's is honored to announce Shirley Smith as the 2024 ECW Distinguished Woman for the Pennsylvania Diocese. We will take some time...

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Rector's Notes: How God makes ministry-6.13.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Jun 133 min read

Rector's Notes: How God makes ministry-6.13.24

One way to understand what God is calling us to do is to stop and pay attention to the gifts and needs that are presenting themselves....

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Insights from Our Bell Choir and Folk Group Directors - A Q&A Session

Answers Submitted by Linda Toia and Kathy Flaherty

Jun 64 min read

Insights from Our Bell Choir and Folk Group Directors - A Q&A Session

Kathy Flaherty, Bell Choir Director, and Linda Toia, Folk Group Director, share and answer questions about their work at St. Peter's and...

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Rector’s Note: The icons of what brought me here-6.6.24

Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Jun 63 min read

Rector’s Note: The icons of what brought me here-6.6.24

After two years, I’m just about finished moving into my office. Boxes that held some of my most precious things have finally been...

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Rector’s Note: Creating a parish human-energy budget-5.30.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

May 303 min read

Rector’s Note: Creating a parish human-energy budget-5.30.24

In a conversation with Rector’s Warden Dave Mosteller yesterday, Dave wondered aloud if a parish should have a human energy budget as...

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Rector's Note: Wishing the best of our Postulant for Holy Orders-5.23.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

May 234 min read

Rector's Note: Wishing the best of our Postulant for Holy Orders-5.23.24

Amidst all the bustle of our big Pentecost service last Sunday, Bob Smith, postulant for Holy Orders to the Diaconate, completed his...

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Rector’s Note: Meeting immediate needs and addressing root causes-5.16.24

Rev. Barbara Ballenger

May 163 min read

Rector’s Note: Meeting immediate needs and addressing root causes-5.16.24

One of the roles of the parish rector is to make sure that alms are distributed to people in need in the parish and the community. I...

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Rev. Barbara Ballenger

May 23 min read

Rector’s Note: The Power of Pin-5.2.24

Lately, the joint has been jumping. Have you noticed that our pews are getting a little fuller? That folks are bringing friends to church...

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Rector’s Note: Opening our Doors to the Spirit this Pentecost-4.25.24

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Apr 253 min read

Rector’s Note: Opening our Doors to the Spirit this Pentecost-4.25.24

This Pentecost we’re going to find out what the full capacity of St. Peter’s is. What is our capacity for people in the worship space?...

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Rector’s Note: The Reason for the Hope I Have -- 4.18.24

Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Apr 176 min read

Rector’s Note: The Reason for the Hope I Have -- 4.18.24

he following is an address that I shared yesterday at an interfaith luncheon, sponsored by the Women of Keneseth Israel.

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Rector’s Note: A Memorable Bread Day- 4.11.24

Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Apr 112 min read

Rector’s Note: A Memorable Bread Day- 4.11.24

This past weekend some of our youngest members learned how awesome Communion is on our first ever Bread Day. Five families gathered in...

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A letter from the Bishop Gutiérrez on Presiding Bishop Process and Election

The Rt. Reverend Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

Apr 42 min read

A letter from the Bishop Gutiérrez on Presiding Bishop Process and Election

My siblings in Christ – I have been serving in the Diocese of Pennsylvania for the past eight years, and journeying with you has been my...

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