This Week at St. Peter’s | 1-22-23
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
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3rd Sunday after Epiphany 01-22-2023
Welcome to St. Peter’s Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow him. In Jesus the Kingdom of God has come near. ONCE A PERSON MEETS JESUS ON THE ROAD OF LIFE, THAT PERSON IS CHANGED. If professional fishermen are courageous enough to risk his summons – immediately leaving family and livelihood in the background – dare we who say we believe in Christ just act like no light has dawned upon us, no word has been addressed to us? NOTHING ELSE MATTERS MORE THAN THAT YOU SEE, ACCEPT, AND BEAR THE LIGHT OF JERSUS CHRIST! Are you right now “twinkling”, or perhaps even “glowing”, in the dark shadows of human life? If not, why not?
SHARE HIS LIGHT. 🕆 BEAR HIS WORD. 🕆 DARE HIS WILL.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.
10:00AM + EPIPHANY SEASON WORSHIP +
11:15AM All Saints Choir rehearsal.
Join our family, share God’s love.
Welcome to worship. We invite you to share in our new life together, which is being shaped by the good news of Jesus Christ crucified and now risen among us. Several persons have recently expressed an interest in being baptized or in affirming the faith into which they have already been baptized… and in either case becoming a member of our St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church family. Please speak to our Pastors if the Holy Spirit is leading you into this place and into this people.
Worship in 2022
Zoom Worship averages from January2, 2022 to June 12, 2022 (before we re-opened the Sanctuary):
58 Zoom households per Sunday
Hybrid Worship averages from June 19, 2022 to December 18, 2022 (after we re-opened the Sanctuary):
38 “in person” per Sunday and 27 Zoom households per Sunday
Christmas Eve hybrid worship on December 24 was 59 “in person”, 17 Zoom households.
Christmas Day on December 25, Zoom only, was 33 households online.
New Year’s Day on January 1, 2023, hybrid worship, was 41 “in person” and 25 Zoom households.
Best “in person” Sunday since we re-opened the Sanctuary was our Annual Women’s Day, October 9, 2022, with guest preacher, special worship, and a meal: 83 “in person” (and also 24 Zoom households).
Many congregations are still trying to recognize and adjust to what some have called “the new normal”. It is certain that COVID and other illnesses continue to hover around and threaten, so some persons are cautiously staying home for necessary health reasons. Some persons have probably become quite comfortable with the ease of staying home for worship most or all Sundays. And some people are simply leaving organized Christian religion altogether.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Wednesday, 10:00AM Diane Hughes, volunteer office administration.
Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activities”.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence!
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.
Saturday, 10:30AM Girl Scouts.
What’s Happening…
January 29… FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. Hybrid Worship in person + online at 10:00AM.
Who are the blessed ones of God? Micah, Paul, and Jesus all surprise with their answers!
February… BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Discover. Celebrate. Commit to a brighter future.
You are invited to wear Afrocentric clothing or appropriately messaged shirts this month.
February 5… FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. Hybrid Worship in person + online at 10:00AM.
Jesus encourages us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
NEW MEMBERS TO BE RECEIVED!
Pastor Jack Saarela “book launch” event at St. Peter’s, 2:00PM. He has written The Long and Stony Road about his experiences as a Lutheran pastor. A meal and fellowship will be shared after Worship and before the “book launch”.
February 11… Eastern Star training event in Rhoda Hall, 10:00AM.
February 11… Girl Scouts, 10:30AM.
February 11… Women’s Ministry “Gathering”, 11:00AM.
February 12… SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. Hybrid worship in person + online at 10:00AM.
Turn a cheek, give away the cloak, go the second mile, help a beggar and borrower, and top it off with loving your enemy. Is Jesus serious about this?
February 19… TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD. Hybrid worship in person + online at 10:00AM.
February 22… FIRST DAY OF LENT (Ash Wednesday). Repent. Renew.
February 26… FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. St. Peter’s ANNUAL MEETING.
Giving in 2023.
In January you are invited to give an offering to the Lutheran Charities Appeal, which supports the work of 3 local Lutheran social ministry organizations: KenCrest Services; Lutheran Settlement House; and Gemma Services (which includes the former Silver Springs – Martin Luther School). These three agencies serve over 30,000 persons of various needs each year. In 2022 we gave $1,285.70. At the start of 2023 we have received $50.00. We seek to collect an offering for this each quarter of the year in January, April, July, and October. Read about them online… give help and hope to others.
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”.