Weekly Announcements for January 11, 2026
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD 01-11-2026
Last Sunday, Stephanie Fluellen sang a beautiful song that she wrote, entitled “Purpose”. Life on this earth can have its challenges and confusions. But many have found meaning and direction for their lives, discovered their purpose, through the Christian faith. This morning, as we renew our Baptism promises, may you always remember your identity as God’s baptized child… may you never forget your mission as God’s anointed servant… and may you never stop trusting in God’s power to enable you in those difficult times of life. If you are not yet baptized, you might consider getting wet with God’s love in Christ Jesus. Speak to our Pastors.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.
10:00AM + Epiphany Season Worship + (in person and online)
11:30AM All Saints Choir rehearsal.
January 11… ST. PETER’S VITALITY SURVEY ends today! Please help us reflect and plan as a congregation with a “30 questions” survey on paper or online.
Faith in action through grateful giving!
After last week’s “first Sunday of the year” worship, love reaching out to others has already occurred:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs);
$10.00 received last week… $1,979.00 received in 2025.
Mission Offering (support for a designated cause… Church Council will select tomorrow);
$5.00 received last week… $1,354.00 received for two causes in 2025.
Beyond support of our 2026 Budget (last year’s Budget was $186,576.00… and this year’s will probably be similar) are opportunities to respond to both God’s trust in us and our desire to reach out to provide hope and help.
MAKE AMERICA (and the world) HUMAN AGAIN.
LOVE, NOT HATE. PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE.
MERCY, NOT GREED. JUSTICE, NOT ABUSE.
HUMILITY, NOT ARROGANCE. GOD’S TRUTH, NOT LIES. THE WAY OF JESUS, NOT JUST “MY WAY”.
Thank you. Pastors Gwen and Neil are so grateful for: all participants in the Advent and Christmas Seasons at St. Peter’s; your cards, prayers, money, and Christmas greetings extended to us during the holidays; the ways that each of you are finding, and trying, to personally live out the good news of God’s love in Christ Jesus by how you talk, how you walk, how you serve, and how you shine a light in a shadowy world.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 7:00PM CHURCH COUNCIL meeting on Zoom.
Tuesday, 7:00PM Area Girl Scout leaders meeting in Rhoda Hall.
Wednesday, 9:30AM Senior Ministry “Sister Talk” Study and Discussion. Men are also invited.
Wednesday, 11:00AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution in Rhoda Hall to the community.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON STEP GROUP. Find and share support to overcome codependence!
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts troops.
This week someone will need your patience, your love, or your faith.
What’s Happening…
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… Martin Luther King Worship sponsored by the Synod at United Lutheran Seminary, 7301 Germantown Avenue, at 3PM. Speakers: Rev. Jennifer Thompkins, Dr. William Hayes. Music:
Pastor James Scott + JC Choir.
January 18 – January 25… Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Add your heart and words and spirit!
January 25… 3rd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
January 29… “Just Us Narratives: A Night of Centering Multiracial Voices Across the ELCA” Join online
through ELCA.org/NDORH from 7PM – 9PM Eastern time. This National Day of Racial Healing is
to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and to encourage actions that build a more just and
inclusive church and society.
Month of February… BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Discover. Celebrate. Commit to the future.
You are invited to wear Afrocentric clothing or appropriately messaged shirts this month.
February 18… ASH WEDNESDAY, FIRST DAY OF LENT. Repent and Renew!
June 4… Our Scholarship Committee is sponsoring a bus trip (leaving at 7:45AM from the church) to Sight and Sound Theatres in Lancaster, PA to see “JOSHUA” live on stage. Lunch will be provided at
Shady Maples, an eating adventure that many have experienced. It’s all a fundraising event that St. Peter’s has sponsored in the past; and other churches and organizations have also sponsored these trips.
It has always been an enjoyable trip. Our Scholarship Committee is asking for $175 per person. Please
contact Carol Chatman or Jerona Rice to submit your name and a deposit.
ISAIAH 42:1-7. The servant mentioned in verse 1 is someone chosen and empowered by God to bring God’s justice to the nations. When these verses were first written, the servant represented either a single prophet or the entire nation of Israel who was called to exercise God’s rule in all the world. Christians often see Jesus as the ultimate fulfiller of this servant role. The servant will act nonviolently, quietly, and with perseverance until God’s justice is implemented throughout the world. The servant will faithfully represent God and reveal God’s spirit; be a covenant to the people and a light to the nations; help bring recovery of sight to the blind and release to the imprisoned. Those words “blind” and “prison” imply a great variety of situations where people are in need of liberation. How does the church of Jesus Christ help fulfill this mission? And note that the servant “will not cry out or lift up his voice” against his opponents and oppressors. Why has the Christian church so often used or condoned political or military violence instead of following the nonviolent example of the servant and of Jesus? Do believers in Jesus have new ways of thinking, speaking, and acting?