Weekly Announcements for the week of March 22, 2026
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT 03-22-2026
+ The resurrection of Lent +
Ezekiel, the prophet of the Lord, stood in the middle of a pile of dead bones bleached by the sun and scraped by the vultures and told them not to give up hope. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome: “But if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit…” And Jesus stood outside the tomb of a friend, long dead for four days, and called for the stinking, rotting, wrapped-up corpse to hop on out of there. Can the dead live again? Can life’s dead situations and our hopelessly dried up lives be salvaged? Ezekiel and Paul and Lazarus and Jesus all answer YES! What do you say? We die many ways before our final breath. And each time we feel dry and brittle in valleys of despair… or lifeless and decaying in shadowy tombs of death… the breath of God fills us, the word of God assures us, the Son of God offers us resurrection and life. This Lent may you be restored to the land of the living and find hope in the life to come.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.
10:00AM + LENTEN SEASON WORSHIP + (in person and online)
11:30AM CONFIRMATION CLASS for Christian youth becoming Christian adults.
Month of March… Women’s History Month. Discover. Celebrate. Commit to the future.
March 22, today, is the United Nations sponsored “World Water Day” (first held in 1993). This year’s theme is “WATER AND GENDER”. Women and girls suffer a disproportionate burden of the water and sanitation responsibilities, yet they don’t get to share in decision-making, leadership, or opportunity. Despite progress over the last decade, 1 in 4 human beings in this world still do not have access to safe drinking water and 3.4 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services. We should celebrate global efforts and progress to change the accessibility, quality, and availability of water, sanitation, and hygiene. We should also pray and advocate for fair and just distribution in places and situations where water is misused strictly as a profit maker or even abused as a political weapon. We should also reflect on and pray about our own personal and community measures of conservation and environmental care.
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”.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Wednesday, 9:30AM Senior Ministry “Sister Talk” Study and Discussion. Men are also invited.
Wednesday, 10:30AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution in Rhoda Hall to the community.
Wednesday, 6:30 – 7PM Online international Prayers related to Women’s History.
Wednesday, 7:00 – 8PM Online Lenten Study with Pastor Clesha Staten.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON STEP GROUP. Find and share support to overcome codependence!
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scout troops.
Saturday, 1:00PM Rental event in Rhoda Hall.
God’s great grace attitude of gratitude generosity!
Beyond support of our 2026 Budget are opportunities for giving on behalf of others. They include:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs).
We received $281 last Sunday and $1,191 to date. Your love is showing!
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).
We received $5 last Sunday and $230 to date. Dry bones are coming to life!
Mission Offering (For January 1 – June 30 it is Sisters of St. Joseph Refugee Housing Project. We sent them $579.65 in 2024.) We have received $213 to date.
“God’s Global Barnyard” is an ELCA development project to fight poverty. We have received $20 to date.
What’s Happening…
March 29… PALM PROCESSION / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION. Worship in person and online at 10:00AM. Jesus cheered and exulted, then rejected and executed.
April 2… MAUNDY THURSDAY OF HOLY WEEK.
Worship in person and online at 7:00PM. Washed feet and broken bread.
April 3… Sanctuary funeral rental at 9:00AM followed by meal in Rhoda Hall.
April 3… GOOD FRIDAY OF HOLY WEEK.
Worship in person and online at 7:00PM. Seven Last Words of Jesus.
April 5… RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD / EASTER DAY.
Worship in person and online at 7:00PM. Empty tomb and risen Lord!
Please speak to our Pastors about Holy Baptism, affirming your Baptism vows, or
joining our St. Peter’s congregation. Get life. Love Christ. Serve Christ. Live, love,
and serve others like Christ did.
May 25… DAY OF PENTECOST: Worship + Picnic at Fort Washington Park.
The State Park is already booked for this date. We plan to be here at St. Peter’s to celebrate.
June 4… Scholarship Committee bus trip to Sight and Sound Theatres in Lancaster, PA to see “JOSHUA”. Lunch at Shady Maples. Our Scholarship Committee is asking for $175 per person. Contact Carol
Chatman or Jerona Rice to submit your name and a deposit.