This Week at St. Peter’s | 3-12-23

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 IN LENT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           03-12-2023

+   The thirst of Lent   +

In today’s Gospel reading the Samaritan woman asks Jesus for water, an image of our thirst for God. Jesus offers her living water, a sign of God’s grace flowing from the waters of baptism. Life on earth as we know it requires water. How is Jesus like water? What are the things that are necessary in your life? During Lent, remember your baptism and – if you haven’t been baptized – consider Christ’s offer to you of new life. Make a journey of growing in your faith and faithfulness. The traditional disciplines of Lent down through the ages were the act of giving alms (making an offering to help those in need), the act of prayer (devoting more time to listen to and to share with God) and the act of fasting (abstaining from eating for a set period of time, skipping a meal, not eating a food we like, etc.). During the 40 days of Lent, GIVE to realign yourself with others, PRAY to realign yourself with self, and FAST to realign yourself with self. Sundays are not included in the 40-day Lenten period. Each Sunday is a re-enactment of the resurrection!

TODAY

9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.

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

11:20AM All Saints Choir rehearsal.

 

HOLY BAPTISM. Today the living God reaches out with tender mercy and saving love to embrace    HeavenCynaá, Krysten, and A’mara in the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Water is poured, a cross is planted, and a new person comes into being by the grace of God. No one is ever born a Christian… each of us must be re-born. Let us welcome and celebrate these three children as our sisters and our brother in Christ!

Daylight Savings Time switched the hours on us overnight. Did you remember to switch with it?

 

                                                       “Trudi’s Challenge”

During our 92nd ANNUAL MEETING OF ST. PETER’S (February 26), Trudi Wright suggested that 70 people giving an extra $143.00 in regular giving for 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 and are stepping up to the challenge. If you would like to join in that quest, please try to designate such extra giving as “Trudi’s Challenge”. But it will blend with other general giving toward our 2023 Budget needs.

 

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”.

4 Important questions during Lent:

  • Do you believe that God loves you?
  • Do you believe that you are a sinner?
  • Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins?
  • Will you now trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord?

Join in our new life together which is being shaped by the good news

of Jesus Christ crucified and now risen among us! Speak to our Pastors

about Holy Baptism, affirming your Baptism vows, or joining St. Peter’s.

ThiS week At st. peTer’s

This month… Women’s History Month. 

[This year’s National Women’s History Alliance theme is “Celebrating Women Who

Tell Our Stories” Who are some of the authors, songwriters, playwrights, performers,

      and grandmothers who have kept you informed, entertained you, made you aware, or

      strengthened you? Let us remember and recognize them this month!]

Monday, 7:00PM Church Council meeting. Let’s seek to gather together “in person”.

Tuesday, 7:00PM Area Girl Scout leaders in Rhoda Hall,

Wednesday, 10:00AM Diane Hughes, volunteer office administration?

Wednesday, 10:00AM Senior Ministry. Ben Shipanga will share his freedom journey from apartheid.

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

Thursday, 12:30PM              “Thrivent Action Team” online program

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

Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.

Saturday, 10AM – 1PM Girl Scouts activity in Rhoda Hall.

Saturday, 4PM – 8PM Rental event in Rhoda Hall.

The funeral for Walter Keith Brown (a former member of St. Peter’s and parent to now-grown Ashley, (Walter) Andrew, and Blair) is 11AM on Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Crestmont.

Thrivent Financial will be holding a “Thrivent Action Team” webinar 12:30-1:00PM on Thursday. Contact Pastor Gwen to find out how to connect and register.

What’s Happening…          

March 19…  FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT. Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.

       Deadline for Easter plant orders… $14 for lily plants, $10 for other plants… give forms + payment to the Pastors.

April 2…   PalM Sunday / Sunday of the Passion. HOLY WEEK…

April 6…   Maundy Thursday. Hybrid Worship in person + online at 7:00PM

April 7…   Good Friday.  Hybrid Worship in person + online at 7:00PM.   “7 LAST WORDS”

April 9…   EASTER SUNDAY RESURRECTION.   He rose!

May 6 (corrected date)… Mother’s Day “Pop-Up Shop” fundraising event, 1:00 – 5:00PM. Vendors contact Elaine Jones.

A heart that is open to God is a heart that is open to change and a new life. May we each live fully in the time and place where God has called us.