ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 10-08-23

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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PENTECOST 19                                                                          10-08-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

It is a sad song, of love gone wrong, of love turned sour and rejected. It is a sad song of ancient Israel’s failure to remain God’s people, the nation’s decision to reject God and to “go wild” with bloodshed instead of justice and with wailing instead of righteousness. It is also a sad song of the religious authorities of Jesus’ day playing the part of the wicked and greedy tenants who would reject God’s will and murder God’s Son. And, finally, it is a sad song about our own sinful rebellion and shameful conspiracy against Christ. What you and I deserve for grabbing Jesus, throwing him out of our life, helping to kill him, and trying to live without him is punishment and death. So why is Christ – crucified, buried, and now risen – offering us his presence, his peace, his power, and his promise, if it isn’t to forgive, strengthen, and empower us with grace? To the mystery of his undeserved suffering Jesus brings the deeper mystery of unmerited love for us. Be changed like St. Paul and treasure this gift of knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord above everything else (because everything else is just “skubula”, human excrement, a pile of dung, rubbish). Be like St. Paul and look forward, press on in faithful living and fervent loving towards the prize of God’s heavenly call in Jesus.   

TODAY

9:00AM                      All Saints Choir rehearsal. 

       10:00AM       + PENTECOST SEASON WORSHIP + (in person and online)

             11:20AM WOMEN’S DAY CHOIR rehearsal. Add your voice to the praise!

 “Trudi’s Challenge”

At our 92nd ANNUAL MEETING OF ST. PETER’S (February 26), Trudi Wright suggested that 70 people giving an extra $143.00 in regular giving during calendar year 2023 would add about $10,000 to our Budget Income, taking care of our anticipated $7,322 deficit and creating a small surplus for 2023. Pastors Gwen and Neil liked that idea. If you would like to join in that quest, please designate such extra giving as “Trudi’s Challenge”. But it will blend with other general giving toward our 2023 Budget needs. Received last week: $32.00. Received to date since February 26: $2,178.00. We will probably not meet the “Challenge” goal in these last three months of 2023, but each extra gift helps make a difference! Lord, let me steadily walk your path. Help me to give witness to your love through generous giving! 

The weather forecast was not very promising, so we cancelled yesterday’s YOUTH MINISTRY “Car Wash” (and hot dogs too!) to raise funds for the  ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans next summer. We apologize if you drove your car through dust and dirt all last week, purchased or leased a car to get it washed, or dreamed of eating a grilled hot dog or two in anticipation. Now our Youth are planning for a “Halloween Carnival” on October 28.     Support our youth as they raise funds!

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

Monday, 7:00PM   CHURCH COUNCIL meeting in Rhoda Hall.

Tuesday, 6:00PM   Oak Lane Wildcats young cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall.

Tuesday, 7:00PM   Area Girl Scout leaders meeting in classroom and hallway.

Wednesday, 10:00AM   Diane Hughes (volunteer office administration).

Wednesday, 10:00AM Senior Ministry “Study and Discussion” in Rhoda Hall.

Wednesday, 11:00AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.

Wednesday, TBA WOMEN’S DAY CHOIR rehearsal.

Thursday, 6:00PM   Oak Lane Wildcats young cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall.

Thursday, 7:30PM                    AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence!

Friday, 6:30PM   Girl Scouts have returned to St. Peter’s. Welcome back!

Saturday, Sunday     38th Annual Women’s Day at St. Peter’s (October 14-15)

      Theme:  “Breaking the Chains of Silence!”  See Proverbs 31:8-9 and Psalm 107:13-14. 

Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, 10:00AM (also online) with meal in Rhoda Hall.

Worship in Sanctuary on Sunday, 10:00AM (also online), with meal in Rhoda Hall.

      Selected Color: blue (Please remember this is a suggested clothing color, but not required.)

      WOMEN’S DAY Preacher will be Dr. Obioma Martin. She is endowed with a doctorate in           Philosophy and is certified in trauma. She is a published author and a TEDx speaker. She is the founder of an organization committed to aiding battered women with children and teen parents. She is an ordained evangelist and a certified biological counselor. Dr. Martin stands as a beacon of hope and transformation.

       Women’s Day Choir and St. Peter’s Praise Dancers.

       Women’s Day Offering (This is a special gift received each Women’s Day in celebration and

support of God’s grace active in our lives and world. Use a “Women’s Day envelope” or

designate your payment in some other way.

Women’s Day 2022 was the first in-person “big event” (special worship and a meal) we had

since the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were pleased to have about 85 persons in the

sanctuary, plus 25 present online. This year we are again hopeful that those who are

located near us and do not have major health concerns or limitations might be physically

able and make the decision to join us.

Giving in 2023.

Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through  bit/ly/stpetersgiving and set up one time donation or recurring weekly gift to selected categories…or text to Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution.

Last Sunday’s offering tally (money given in the sanctuary or mailed, but not online giving) also included:

$  10.00 —   ELCA World Hunger Appeal, $2091 received to date in 2023.

$  10.00 –   Lutheran Charities Appeal, $831 received to date in 2023.

The 3 Lutheran-related local social ministry organizations that we support serve over 30,000

of our neighbors in need: KenCrest Services; Lutheran Settlement House; and Gemma

   Services (which includes Silver Springs/Martin Luther School).

$    0.00 –   Mission Offering

We have selected Mothers in Charge, Inc. a Philadelphia anti-violence organization), for our July – December giving. We have received $391 to date.

Our January – June Mission Offering was Covenant House of Philadelphia, servicing

homeless and runaway youth. We received and sent $647.20.

$    0.00 –   Lutheran Disaster Response (Maui Wildfires), $575 received to date.