Weekly Announcements for the week of 1-18-2026
2nd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY 01-18-2026
It’s personal. The Light of the World is calling out to you to follow. The LAMB OF GOD, who takes away the sin of the world, is out seeking those who will become disciples of the way. To be his disciple is to “walk the walk”, to truly act with courage and compassion and to be willing to put our lives on the line for the sake of the Gospel, for the sake of this world that the Gospel embraces. Jesus asks each of us, “What are you looking for?” And he does more than that – he speaks a dramatic word to our hearts, he invites us into new living that is centered in God and not ourselves, he shines forth with a radical love that transforms our vision and our way, he calls us to risky obedience. COME AND SEE WHO JESUS IS. THEN GO AND TELL OTHERS. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? JUST DON’T DREAM… DO SOMETHING.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.
10:00AM + Epiphany Season Worship + (in person and online)
3:00PM SEPA Synod Martin Luther King Worship at United Lutheran
Seminary, 7301 Germantown Avenue.
THANK YOU, Rev. Dr. Mark Bethala, for preaching the Word of life this morning! May God continue to empower Christ’s love in India and the entire world.
ST. PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (1/12): (1) celebrated that 2025 Budget Income ended up about $2,000 higher than our for expenses for the year (thanks to IRS refund of about $22,000 for “employee retention” during the COVID pandemic); (2) selected March 1 as date for Annual Congregation Meeting and approved a budget proposal of $187,377.21 for consideration; (3) discussed Synod “Vitality Survey” and next steps; 4) discussed several brief topics. Pray for your elected servant leaders, pray for your church, and pray for the faith, the love, and the work we all share.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday… Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Monday, 11AM – 2PM “Free Community Clothing Giveaway” in Rhoda Hall by Lamont Glover and
Mission Pure Heart.
Tuesday, 1-3PM “Free Scam Prevention Workshop” sponsored by State Rep Chris Rabb at Dorothy
Emanuel Recreation Center, 8501 Provident Road. Stay alert and wise, avoid
fraud, know what to do if you or someone else has been targeted.
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, 6:30PM Girl Scouts troops
Saturday, 10:00AM Central Philadelphia Parish Conference meeting on Zoom
Faith in action through grateful giving!
After two Sundays in 2026, love reaching out to others has already occurred:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs);
$110.00 received this year… $1,979.00 received in 2025.
Mission Offering (support for a designated cause… Church Council will soon select the cause);
$5.00 received this year… $1,354.00 received for two causes 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);
$15.00 received this year… $1,059.50 received in 2025.
What’s Happening…
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 15… TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS. Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
Vitality Survey Sunday. Guest Preacher: Rev. Linda Manson, preaching… sharing results in Rhoda Hall during meal after worship.
February 22… FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. BLACK HISTORY during worship.
March 1… Annual Congregational Meeting after worship in the Sanctuary. Adopt our 2026 Budget. Elect Church Council. Receive reports. Give thanks for God’s grace…
in the Sanctuary and online (alternate date March 2
for St. Peter’s journey… for each other and our
shared faith and faithfulness.
Guest Preacher, Rev. Linda Manson
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.
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.
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This week someone will need your patience, your love, or your faith.
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?