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 24                                                                                                                                11-12-2023

One of two things is surely bound to happen.

The Lord Jesus will return in your lifetime to judge the world.

Or you will die – complete your life’s journey on earth – and go to meet Jesus.

Either way, you have an appointment sometime in the future.

And no one knows the day nor the hour.

In this parable Jesus told, the real problem is not falling asleep. We all do sometime.

The problem is running out of oil. If you don’t have oil, you don’t have fire.

If you don’t have oil, you don’t have light.

Do you have the fire, my sister? Are you shining your light, my brother?

Are you living wisely or are you living foolishly?

We want to be ready when the trumpet sounds, when the saints go marching in.

Don’t wait until the midnight hour to try to get ready, because your life might end at 11:55!

TODAY

9:00AM                      All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.  

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

11:20AM All Saints Choir rehearsal. Add your voice to the praise!

 

 “Trudi’s Raffle”

She’s eager to spark growth in our giving at and through St. Peter’s! In addition to the “Trudi’s Challenge” campaign (extra $143 in regular giving during calendar year 2023 – $2,372.00 has been received to date), Trudi Wright is sponsoring a raffle of beef strip steaks and other beef cuts (bundle value is $147.00) for a $20 ticket price. December 3 is the scheduled drawing. Support St. Peter’s by contacting her. Here’s the beef!

 

Join our family, share God’s love.

We welcome all who have come to worship Christ. There are so many ordinary and extraordinary ways to offer ourselves as God’s instruments of love. Every day is a fresh call to try to walk and talk and think and act holy with a genuine heart, a courageous faith, an enduring hope. Come and try with us! It’s real life! Speak to our Pastors about Holy Baptism, membership in the Church, and faithful discipleship.

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”.

CHRISTMAS EVE DRAMA. We are seeking to prepare a “play” as part of our celebration at the 7:00PM Candlelight Service on Sunday, December 24. We envision having children and youth as the participants. Do you have interest in helping us plan and prepare? Come to Wednesday’s meeting. Speak to Pastor Gwen if you have questions.

 

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.

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

Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity” in Rhoda Hall.

Wednesday, 6:15PM   CHRISTMAS EVE DRAMA planning meeting.

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.

Saturday, 1 – 2 PM                 CHRISTMAS EVE DRAMA preparation?

What’s Happening…

November 16…   Annual Covenant House of Philadelphia “Sleepout” fundraising event. Consider donating money to their work with a sponsorship. Check out Sleepout.org.  

November 19…  PENTECOST 25.  10:00AM Hybrid Worship (in person and online).

Birthday party event in Rhoda Hall after worship.

Christ Lutheran Church, 30th & Diamond, is sponsoring the Drexel U Mass Choir at 3:00PM, free will

offering.

November 23…   DAY OF THANKSGIVING. Give thanks, live thanks, share love.

November 26…   CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM.

We lift up the ultimate victory of Christ over death, sin, the devil, every evil and injustice!

December 3… FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT.  A new Church Year begins! Faith continues!

December 10…  SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT.  Deadline for Christmas poinsettia plant orders ($10). Give forms and payment to Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen.

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:

$          0 —   ELCA World Hunger Appeal, $2,131 received to date in 2023.

$     5.00 –   Lutheran Charities Appeal, $1,138 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).

$   50.00 –   Mission Offering

We have selected Mothers in Charge, Inc. a Philadelphia anti-violence organization), for our July – December giving. We have received $467 to date.

[And our January – June Mission Offering was Covenant House of Philadelphia, servicing

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

$          0 –   Lutheran Disaster Response (Maui Wildfires, etc.), $575 received to date.