This Week at St. Peter | 12-4-22
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138
Church Office: 215-424-5122 Fax: 215-424-7841
e-mail address: stpetersinfo@yahoo.com
Revs. Gwendolyn Johnson-Bond & Neil A. Bond, Co-Pastors
🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆 🕆
Second Sunday of Advent 12 – 04 – 2022 !2
PREPARE!
As wild as the lonely desert wilderness he appears in, John the Baptist calls for repentance so that God’s Kingdom will come. Repentance is a bold turnaround in our orientation to life, to values, to relationships, to God. Without God in our lives, our lives are barren, lost, and without hope. But when God comes into our lives, we are born anew. The invitation to turn to God is right in front of you. But the decision is yours. And Christ is coming soon. Don’t wait too long. Don’t let your life be detoured or reach a dead end. Prepare the way of the Lord inside the wilderness of yourself. Join the highway construction mode! What needs to be straightened out and levelled down, raised up and smoothed out for King Jesus to arrive in our hearts and in our deeds. Jesus is coming! Believe it… receive it… help get others ready!
TODAY
9:00AM Choir rehearsal.
10:00AM + ADVENT WORSHIP +
1:00PM CHRISTMAS CHOIR rehearsal. Add your voice to the joyful rhythms of
proclaiming Christ’s birth!
3:00PM Worship honoring Rev. Jehu Jones (who established the first African
American Lutheran congregation in 1834), held at Christ Lutheran Church, 7420 Walnut Street, Upper Darby.
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA PLANTS. The deadline is next Sunday. To sponsor a plant in memory or in honor of someone or something, please submit an order form and payment – this year’s plants will cost $9.00 each – by December 11 to Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen.
It’s CHRIST’S Church, but it’s OUR financial responsibility!
It’s never too soon to be faithful, but one day it will be too late! The Lord is patient with us… but faithful Christians should never delay in being responsible givers, should never make excuses or pretend to be doing their best. Those who say, “I know the Lord understands my situation…” perhaps haven’t asked the Lord or listened for his answer. Faithful disciples are called and challenged by Jesus to become faithful givers – grateful, obedient, responsible, and generous. Some people look, act, talk, and pretend “holy”… but they fall far from the true heart and will of God. It’s because they won’t really trust and obey God enough to allow their finances to be affected.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 7:00PM Property Committee meeting on Zoom,
Wednesday, 10:00AM Diane Hughes, volunteer office administration.
Wednesday, 10:00AM Senior Ministry “Bible Study”. Note the time change.
Wednesday, 10:30AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence.
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.
Saturday, 10:00AM Eastern Star training event.
Saturday, 1:00 – 5:00PM “Pop-Up Shop and Flea Market” fundraising events. These will benefit our
Building Fund. To secure a space or to get more information, contact.
Elaine Jones. Stop by. Pass the word. Hot and cold foods, craft items,
cosmetics, and other gift worthy, useful items!
The funeral celebrating the life and faith of the Rev. Dr. Richard N. Stewart (retired professor of communication and church administration at the Lutheran theological Seminary in Philadelphia, a wonderful African American pastor who served faithfully) will be held tomorrow at 11:00AM at Christ Lutheran, Upper Darby. The address is on the first bulletin announcement page about the Rev. Jehu Jones.
What’s Happening… . .
December 11… THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM.
Deadline for poinsettia plant orders.
December 12… Church Council meeting on Zoom, 7:00PM.
December 13… Area Girl Scout leaders meeting in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
December 17… Decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. 9:00AM.
December 17… Girl Scouts “Investiture Service” in Rhoda Hall, 9:00AM.
December 17… Rental event in Rhoda Hall, 2:00PM.
December 18… FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Pastor Clesha Staten preaching.
December 24… CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP. Hybrid Worship at 7:00PM. Celebrate JESUS!
December 25… CHRISTMAS DAY. ZOOM Worship at 10:00AM. Worship the BEST GIFT ever!
Giving.
Beyond regular and responsible support of Christ’s work that happens at and through St. Peter’s, there are additional ways to give gratefully and to share generously: (1) World Hunger offerings that go to our national E.L.C.A. denomination World Hunger Appeal and help relieve local, national, and international suffering through direct aid, development, and advocacy; (2) Lutheran Charities Appeal offerings that support three Philadelphia metro area social ministry organizations: KenCrest Services, Lutheran Settlement House, and Gemma Services, together serving over 30,000 of our neighbors with varied needs each year; (3) Mission offerings that, in 2022, will be split between two causes: No More Secrets which addresses inadequate access to menstrual sanitary products and hygiene education in Philadelphia… and Covenant House in the Germantown neighborhood which helps get homeless young adults off the streets, into a job, and transitioned into independent living. Please designate the purpose of any of your monetary gifts.
FAITH is possible in the most difficult of circumstances.
LOVE is the true call no matter what the world says.