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

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER                                                                                                                                                      04-23-2023

Welcome to worship. Modern disciples, this is also our story. That dusty, lonely “road to Emmaus” is a familiar road to each of us. Thank God that the living Christ meets us in our daily lives, meets us in our sadness and despair, meets us at the edge of broken hearts and shattered dreams and crushed faith, meets us this Sunday with spoken word, with broken bread and poured wine, with the shared fellowship of one another. Somehow our eyes are dried and opened, somehow our spirits are soothed and lifted, somehow our hearts burn within us. And it’s enough to get us back on our feet, back on the way of “go to tell”, eagerly sharing the good news of God’s love with others.

TODAY

9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.

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

11:20AM All Saints Choir rehearsal. 

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”.

“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 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: $35.00. Total since February 26: $1,342.00. Lord, let me steadily walk your path. Help me to give witness to your love through generous giving!

EARTH DAY was yesterday. We ought to be thankful that we still have the Earth today. It’s obvious that we all have to do better and care more. Treat it as the precious gift and the vital resource that it is.

Help conserve, heal, and protect our environment by both simple acts and major lifestyle changes. 

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

ThiS week At st. peTer’s

Tuesday, 2:00PM Funeral for Shelia Vitruk at Ivy Hill Cemetery Chapel (viewing begins 1:00PM).

Wednesday, 10:00AM Senior Ministry “Bible Study”. 

Wednesday, 10:30AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.

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

Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts. 

Saturday, 9AM – 2PM Girl Scouts (two activities). 

What’s Happening…            

April 30…  4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER. Jesus is the door, the way, the

gate to some real living now and always! Step on through… 

             Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.

May 1…   Property Committee meeting, 7:00PM.

May 5, 6… Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly at Franconia Mennonite Church in Telford PA.

May 6… Bear Creek Camp “Work/Play Day, Open House”, 9AM – 3PM, Wilkes Barre, PA. Free! Pre-register! 

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

May 8…   CHURCH COUNCIL meeting, 7:00PM.

May 14…  6th SUNDAY OF EASTER. Mother’s Day.    

May 20… Girl Scout event in Rhoda Hall, 10:30AM – 12:30PM.

May 21…  7th SUNDAY OF EASTER. Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.

Eastern Star “Thanksgiving Service and Meal”, 3:00PM, relocated to a Harrisburg location.

May 28… DAY OF PENTECOST! A Spirit explosion of joy and power!

Hybrid worship at 10:00AM followed by shared FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, and FUN!

Pastor Clesha Staten will be our preacher. 

June 11…  BEAR CREEK CAMP SUNDAY. Come and meet some of the staff. Plan to attend a 

week of Christian camp (completed grades 1-12) in the Pocono Mountains. Registration is

          now open! Often our kids will choose Session 8 (August 6-11 this year).

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… or give online 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. You are also invited to give to these other financial extensions of our love beyond St. Peter’s:

1. Lutheran Charities Appeal (which supports KenCrest, Lutheran Settlement House, and 

     Gemma/Silver Springs – Martin Luther School, three local social ministry organizations, as 

      they serve over 30,000 of our neighbors with various needs.). Received in 2023: $275.

1. our selected  Mission for January 1 – June 30 of Covenant House, Philadelphia (which helps get

      homeless young adults off the streets, into a job, and transitioned into independent living).

Received in 2023: $80

1. ELCA World Hunger Offering (which helps address the needs of an estimated 842 million people

in our world – all neighbors to us – who do not have enough food). Received in 2023: $661. 

(Ever since COVID first hit, these three special offerings have suffered… folks have perhaps forgotten them.)