ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 12-15-24

December 15, 2024 Announcements, Community

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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Third Sunday of Advent 12-15-2024

Joy.

TODAY

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

10:00AM + Advent Worship + (in person and online)

11:30AM Scholarship Committee meeting.

PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (12/9): (1) approved Minutes of 11-11-2024 meeting; (2) learned that January – November Budget Income was $155,705.46 and Budget Expenses were $166,076.54 [The deficit for this year is $10,371.08, with December not yet completed or counted.]; (3) received Pastors’ Report and Property Notes (Sanctuary TV replaced for $565, painting of eight windows almost completed for $2,500); (4) selected February 23 for Annual Congregational Meeting (alternate date March 2); (5) noted that 2025 will be St. Peter’s 95th Anniversary – How might we celebrate? Pray for your elected servant leaders, pray for your church, and pray for the faith, love, and work we all share.

If you were in the crowd listening to John the Baptizer, do you think you would feel more comforted or more challenged? How might John instruct you, this St. Peter’s congregation, and all those on this earth who bear the name of Jesus to prepare the way for God’s reign? Lord, help me to think and do what is right!

Faith in action through grateful giving!

Beyond support of our 2024 Budget ($179,787 is what we envisioned spending this year) are various special opportunities for giving on behalf of others. They include:

ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs). $30 last week, $2,698 received to date in 2024. Your spirit of love is on the shine!

Lutheran Charities Appeal (assisting three local social ministry organizations – KenCrest Services, Lutheran Settlement House, and Gemma Services – that serve thousands of neighbors with various needs). $0 last week, $1,213.50 received to date in 2024. We also provided two “Thanksgiving baskets” to Gemma

Services through our children, youth, and a few volunteers!

Mission Offering (For July – December we selected a local ministry, the Sisters of Saint Joseph Refugee Housing Project, introduced to us by our member Andrea Wood. Their work includes transitional housing for refugee resettlement, family support services, and a distribution center with needed household items and furniture. This Mission Offering, other monetary gifts, new and gently used items (they have a “wish list”, see the Pastors) and volunteer opportunities are all ways to respond to refugees in need with genuine love.) $10 last week, $510 received to date. Your love is on the shine! (And our January – June Mission Offering provided about $1,400 for Loaves and Fishes, Capetown, South Africa.)

“God’s Global Barnyard” is a “Sunday School” Christmas project that supports the ELCA Good Gifts. We have collected $175 to date, which can be converted to: goats ($50 per goat, $300 for a herd) or chicks ($10) a rooster ($15) or piglet ($30) or cow ($500) or fish farm ($250) or even honeybees ($20). What we choose will be delivered to a place in the world where people are trying to get out of hunger and poverty. You can contribute through Diana and Timyk Hillsman or in the offering plate. (Designate as “Good Gifts” or “Farm”)

Seamen’s Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey sponsors a seafarers ditty bag gift program each year that provides some holiday goodies to over 2,500 hard workers that won’t get to be home. With aid from a “Thrivent Action Project”, Brenda Draper is receiving contributions. Yet another way to offer love!