ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 12-17-23
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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Third Sunday of Advent 12-17-2023
REJOICE!
Welcome. Sometimes we fear that God is not in our midst and that the enemies of good
and God are winning. We fear that nothing we are or do matters. We are suffering, struggling,
and sinning – and aware of each. But God has delivered us, is delivering us, and will deliver us.
The season of Advent reminds us how much we long for God, how much God longs for us. And
God’s love for us is greater than our sins, failings, and fears. The gift of Jesus Christ to the world
is the ultimate proof of God’s amazing grace.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.
10:00AM + ADVENT WORSHIP + (in person and online)
11:20AM All Saints Choir rehearsal.
Traveling to New Orleans.
Our YOUTH continue to raise funds for the ELCA Youth Gathering 2024, next July. Order a freshly-baked cheesecake (choice of three flavors) for $20 each or frozen cookie dough (choice of two flavors) for $12 each dozen. Order online at https://bit.ly/stpetersyouth or call Chef Katrina at 267-577-2288. Deadline is today. Pick up is here at St. Peter’s on December 24, 11AM – 1PM or 5 – 7 PM.
Yesterday we thanked God for the life and faith of our St. Peter’s church member Donna Jones, who completed her earthly journey on November 14. Donna joined St. Peter’s on February 18, 2007. Victory through Christ!
- PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (12/11): (1) approved minutes of 11/13 Council meeting; (2) learned that January – November 2023 Budget Income was $155,517.70 and Budget Expenses totaled $161,130.85 (some of this deficit due to the “overlap” cost of switching commercial insurance to a less expensive company); (3) received Pastors’ report, Youth Gathering update; (4) discussed M.L.K. “Day of Service” plans and Annual Meeting preparation. Pray for your elected servant leaders, pray for your church, and pray for the faith, the love, and the work we share. We are looking for Church Council candidates to serve.
Giving in 2024 (beginning January 7)
The individual boxes of offering envelopes (52 weeks, additional Church Year opportunities, plus other opportunities to serve Christ both at and beyond St. Peter’s) are now available. If you don’t see your box or want to receive a box, please contact Pastor Neil, Pastor Gwen, or Diane Hughes.
Giving in 2023 (three Sundays to go!)
Perhaps you missed some Sundays in church, and it “helped you” miss some offerings. Perhaps you intended to mail your offering or give online but distance “made you” forget. Or maybe earlier in the year you thought God wasn’t really blessing you and giving you enough so you purposely “paused” in your giving. Sometimes we each miss the mark of discipleship in one way or another. It’s not too late for heartstrings to be touched… to offer your gratitude and your generosity to God… to put your faith into action at and through St. Peter’s… to give a missing offering or an extra offering or to remember to pay for a rental event that used our facilities and utilities in the past year. Those present in the Sanctuary can put their offering response to Christ’s love in the offering plate. 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.
Some giving statistics:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal, $2,301 received to date in 2023.
Lutheran Charities Appeal, $1,173 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 GemmaServices (which includes Silver Springs /Martin Luther School).
Mission Offering
For July – December we selected Mothers in Charge, Inc., a Philadelphia anti-violence organization. We have received $698.00 to date. (January – June Mission Offering was Covenant House of Philadelphia, servicing homeless and runaway youth. We received and have sent $647.20.]
Lutheran Disaster Response (Maui Wildfires, Palestine etc.), $575 received to date.
“Trudi’s Challenge” is a year-long goal of 70 persons committed to extra giving in the amount of $143 per person, (That amount would have been $10,010) with $2,438 received to date in 2023. “Trudie’s Raffle” was a raffle of a $147 package of beef products, $1,600 was received this month.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 7:00PM Scholarship Committee meeting (on Zoom).
Tuesday, 6:00PM Oak Lane Wildcats young cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall?
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.
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, 9:00AM Decorate the sanctuary for Christmas.
What’s Happening…
December 24… FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM.
Pastor Clesha Staten will be our preacher this Sunday.
December 24… CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP. Candles, carols, communion, and Christ!
Hybrid Worship at 7:00PM. A CHRISTMAS EVE DRAMA will be the message.
December 31… FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS. College and Career Student Sunday.
Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM. Our preacher will be Minister Tiese Giles of St. Mark’s Lutheran.
January 1… NEW YEAR’S DAY. A new time to live into fresh opportunities for faith!
This week someone will need your patience, your love, or your faith.