ThiS week At st. peTer’s

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 25 11-19-2023

The Christian journey demands our whole life. You are called to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind… and you are called to love your neighbor as yourself. There is a joy that comes from taking faith seriously, a joy in serving God. God expects you to use your gifts, not to hoard them, not to hide them, not to misuse them. A life that either regards God as irrelevant and powerless or that regards God as too demanding and condemning will always be a life that is too small, too constricted, and focused only upon the rewards that can be measured by worldly standards. Such a life, in turn, may be judged as so wicked and lazy and worthless that it will lead to darkness, tears, and broken teeth in the end. But a life lived with a sense of abandon and risk for the sake of Christ leads to rewards beyond worldly measure. To be honest, some of us will not take that risk of faith or that discipline of faithfulness very long or very far. Before it is too late, how will you spend your God-given life? You have been called to do “kingdom business”. Share Christ’s love and do God’s work in your particular circumstances of life. And one day we will hear, “WELL DONE, GOOD AND TRUSTWORTHY SERVANT! ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER.”

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!

1:00PM Rental event in Rhoda Hall.

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

Choir, free will offering.

Join our family, share God’s love.

PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (11/13): (1) approved minutes of 10/09 Council meeting; (2) learned that January – October 2023 Budget Income was $145,482.26 and Budget Expenses totaled $150,479.89 (some of this deficit due to the “overlap” cost of switching commercial insurance to a less expensive company); (3) received Property notes (recent minor roofing repairs of $1,075.00; upcoming repair of broken stairway door frame into Rhoda Hall; weather and process delay until spring for replacing two windows in the “narthex” area of the church and additional glazing and painting of other windows); (4) received Pastors’ report, Christmas Eve plans, and M.L.K. “Day of Service” plans; (5) elected to not host a New Year’s Eve potluck and worship this season; (6) eagerly agreed to meet on Zoom during the dark, cold, snowy winter. Pray for your elected servant leaders, pray for your church and pray for the faith, the love, and the work we share!

PEACE + REST + ETERNAL LIFE

Our sister in Christ and congregation member Donna Jones died this past week, and we look beyond the grave and our sorrow to the resurrection promise. Let us celebrate another life of faith and lift up in our prayers and hold in our hearts those family and friends who grieve.

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

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

Thursday… DAY OF THANKSGIVING. Give thanks, live thanks, share love.

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?

“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 – $2,387.00 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!

CHRISTMAS EVE DRAMA. We are seeking to prepare a “play” (entitled “Living Word”, written by Joe Davis) as part of our celebration at the 7:00PM Candlelight Service on Sunday, December 24. We envision having children, youth, and adults as the participants. Do you have interest in helping us plan and prepare? Come to Wednesday’s meeting. Speak to Pastor Gwen or Juanita Williams.

What’s Happening…

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:

$ 20.00 — ELCA World Hunger Appeal, $2,151 received to date in 2023.

$ 25.00 – Lutheran Charities Appeal, $1,163 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).

$ 15.00 – Mission Offering

We have selected Mothers in Charge, Inc. a Philadelphia anti-violence organization), for our July – December giving. We have received $482 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, Palestine etc.), $575 received to date.

Lord, keep us in faith that we may have and offer life.