Weekly Announcements for the 2nd Week of Christmas

SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS 01-04-2026
Lord, keep us in faith that we may shine like light and offer new life in good times and hard times.

Gifted, grateful, good, generous, and glorious in our giving! 

Today we start again to respond to both God’s trust in us and our desire to reach out to others with
God’s love. In 2025 this is the record of Sunday morning in the Sanctuary (but not online gifts in these
figures):
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs);
$1,979.00 received in 2025.
Lutheran Charities Appeal (assisting three local social ministry organizations – KenCrest Services,
Lutheran Settlement House, and Gemma Services – that serve thousands of neighbors with various needs); $1,059.50 received in 2025.
Mission Offering (For July – December we have selected Lutheran Settlement House, one of our Lutheran Charities, for additional support; $514.00 received.. Our January 1 – June 30 Mission Offering was Steven’s Wings Global Youth Adventures. We received $840.00.)
Lutheran World Relief (responding to various tragedies and disasters and emergency needs); $50 received to date in 2025.
Bishop’s Fund (for emergencies and special needs in our Synod); $345 received to date.
Vision and Mission Ministries ($500 was contributed by Pastors N & G to support ministry development in a rural poverty area in India being assisted by the Rev. Dr. Mark Bethala, an 86 years old Lutheran pastor who grew up in India and is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Olney.)

“God’s Global Barnyard” was a “Sunday School” project we also did last year in support of ELCA Good Gifts We collected $50 to date in 2025. You might still help purchase goats ($50 per goat, $300 a herd), chicks ($10), a rooster ($15) a piglet ($30), a cow ($500), or fish farm ($250) or even honeybees ($20). What we choose will be delivered to a place in the world where people are trying to get out of hunger and poverty.

This Week at St. Peter’s

Tuesday… EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD. Matthew 2:1-12. Shine, Jesus, shine!
Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity” in Rhoda Hall. Join the fellowship!
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON STEP GROUP. Find and share support to overcome codependence!
Friday, 8:30AM Senior Food Box distribution.
Friday, afternoon Possible small wedding in the Sanctuary? (LaTisha and Andre)
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts troops.
Saturday, 11:00AM WOMEN’S MINISTRY, in person or online. Another year of walking together!

What’s Happening…

January 11… BAPTISM OF OUR LORD. On this Sunday we remember Jesus’ baptism and “get wet” celebrating our own! If you will not be here in the Sanctuary, have a small bowl of water ready next Sunday to splash yourself! 10AM worship in person or online.
January 11… ST. PETER’S VITALITY SURVEY ends! Please help us reflect and plan as a congregation with a “30 questions” survey on paper or online.
January 12… CHURCH COUNCIL meeting on Zoom, 7:00PM.
January 13… Area Girl Scout leaders meeting in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
January 14… Senior Ministry “Sister Talk” Study and Discussion, 9:30AM. Men are also invited.
January 14… Whole Foods fresh produce distribution in Rhoda Hall to the community.
January 18… 2nd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Worship in person and online at 10:00AM. Guest preacher will be Rev. Dr. Mark Bethala, who grew up in India and is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Olney.
January 18 – January 25… Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The late, great African American theologian and writer, Howard Thurman, wrote this brief reflection entitled “The Work of Christmas”, which says:
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers and sisters,
To make music with the heart. (Howard Thurman)