This Week at St. Peter’s | 4-30-23
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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4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER 04-30-2023
Welcome to worship. The Fourth Sunday of Easter each year is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The image of Christ as shepherd might seem outdated in times and places where sheep and shepherds are not that common. Yet we modern folks continue to be attracted to these images and the Biblical passages that lift them up. Don’t we all long for guidance, protection, and strength in a world filled with much chaos and confusion, with dangerous situations and dangerous people? Don’t we all need a GOOD Shepherd to lead us, to give us life, to assure us of love that does not abandon us? And might we then become “junior shepherds” to others in order to protect and guide, to rescue and heal, to feed and to assure?
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.
10:00AM + EASTER SEASON WORSHIP + (in person and online)
11:20AM All Saints Choir rehearsal.
“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: $1,377.00. Lord, let me steadily walk your path. Help me to give witness to your love through generous giving!
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:
- 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: $362.
- 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: $85.
- 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: $761.
(Ever since COVID first hit, these three special offerings have suffered… folks have perhaps forgotten them.)
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 7:00PM Property Committee (in person).
Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity” in Rhoda Hall.
Thursday… +NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. Pray for God’s mercy and guidance,
peace and justice, our shared humility and humanity, the many
needs and challenges, the opportunities set before us to serve.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence!
Friday, 8:00AM Senior Food Box distribution ministry.
Friday, 2PM – 6:15PM Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly in Telford, PA.
St. Peter’s will be represented by Riana Mathis, Carol Lee, Roland
Thompson, Pastors Gwen & Neil.
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.
Saturday, 8AM – 4:30PM Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Assembly in Telford, PA.
Saturday, 9AM – 3PM Bear Creek Camp “Work/Play Day, Open House” near Wilkes Barre, PA.
The event is free, including a meal, but you must pre-register.
Saturday, 10AM – Noon Summer Day Camp registration.
Saturday, 1PM – 5:00PM Mother’s Day “Pop-Up Shop” fundraising event. Vendors, contact Elaine Jones.
Join our family, share God’s love.
Ask yourself these four questions: (1) Do you believe that God loves you? (2) Do you believe that you are a sinner? (3) Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins? (4) Will you now trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and follow him as your Lord? Make this Easter Season your own personal resurrection victory. Jesus is the door, the way, the gate to some real living now and always! Step on through…
What’s Happening…
May 7… 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER. Jesus is the Way, the Truth,
the Life. So ask. Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
May 8… CHURCH COUNCIL meeting, 7:00PM.
May 9… Area Girl Scout leaders in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
May 13… Eastern Star training event in Rhoda Hall, 10:00AM.
May 14… 6th SUNDAY OF EASTER. Mother’s Day.
May 20… Girl Scout event in Rhoda Hall, 10:30AM – 12:30PM.
May 20… Cliveden-Wister Al-Anon Anniversary in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
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 3… Scholarship Committee “Po’ Folks Dinner and Designer Bag Bingo”.
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).
July 11… Scholarship Committee “Bus Trip to Sight and Sound” in Lancaster. Contact Jerona Rice.
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”.
Lord, keep us in faith that we may have and offer life.