This Week at St. Peter’s | 3-19-23
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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FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT 03-19-2023
+ The new sight of Lent +
“Here’s mud in your eye!” Jesus has concern about the health of human bodies and the health of human souls. Thus he will bring sight to a man born blind and also help self-righteous Pharisees sense their inner blindness. Surely we are not blind, are we? We all have our blind spots. But Jesus is the Light of the world. Today our Savior spits love into our eyes and our lives to clear the filth out of our minds and hearts. Jesus does not only help us to see our sin-sick nature and to see our blindness caused by trivial pursuits, rigid convictions, and unloving hearts… he also shines forth in the shadows as our path to salvation. Today there is healing and restoration, liberation and new vision. Make a journey this Lent toward the light and life that Christ offers. The traditional disciplines of Lent down through the ages were the act of giving alms (that is, an offering to help those in need), the act of prayer, and the act of fasting (that is, 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.
Today is the deadline for Easter plant orders… $14 for lily plants, $10 for other plants… give forms + payment to the Pastors.
- PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (3/13/2023): (1) began with a brief orientation of the role of Council; (2) elected Diane Hughes as President, Carol Chatman as Vice President, and Ida Swindle as Secretary; (3) approved Minutes of 2/13/2023 Council Meeting and 2/26/2023 Annual Congregational Meeting; (4) received financial report that January – February 2023 Budget Income was $28,765.33, while Budget Expenses totaled $31,204.26 (deficit of $2,438.93); (5) voted to hire Donald Stimpson as our new Sexton to help maintain our property; (6) elected to support Covenant House (located in Germantown, helps get homeless young adults off the streets, into a job, and transitioned into independent living) for the first two quarters of our Mission Offerings (from January 1 to June 30); (7) received a Pastors’ report and had several other brief discussions. Your 2023 Church Council is Pastor Gwen and Pastor Neil, the three listed above, plus Roland Thompson, Carol Lee, Ben Shipanga, Queen Sutton, Cecil Webb, Monroe Daniel, Veronica Britto, Herbert Crawford, Stephanie Fluellen.
We welcome all who have come to worship!
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 informed you, entertained you, made you aware or strengthened you? Remember and celebrate!]
Monday, 7:00PM Scholarship Committee meeting on Zoom.
Wednesday, 10:00AM Diane Hughes, volunteer office administration?
Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity”.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence!
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.
- 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.
What’s Happening…
March 26… FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
April 2… PalM Sunday / Sunday of the Passion. HOLY WEEK…
April 6… Maundy Thursday. Hybrid Worship in person + online at 7:00PM. “FOOTWASHING,
LORD’S SUPPER, AND STRIPPING THE CHANCEL AREA”.
April 7… Good Friday. Hybrid Worship in person + online at 7:00PM. “7 LAST WORDS”
Continuing a tradition, we are looking for speakers, singers, etc. as we meditate on Christ’s crucifixion.
April 8… Eastern Star training event in Rhoda Hall, 10:00AM.
April 8… Women’s Ministry “Gathering” in person and online, 11:00AM.
April 9… EASTER SUNDAY RESURRECTION. He rose!
Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
May 5, 6… Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly at Franconia Mennonite Church, Telford PA.
May 6 (corrected date)… Mother’s Day “Pop-Up Shop” fundraising event, 1:00 – 5:00PM. Vendors, contact Elaine Jones.
“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 during the 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. 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. Received last week: $287.00.
This week, you will have unexpected opportunities to be faithful, if you are willing. Open your eyes, your ears, your heart, your mind, your lips, your hands.