This Week at St. Peter’s | 5-28-23
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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DAY OF PENTECOST!
05-28-2023
Welcome! Pentecost is a birthday party for the Church. Every birthday party includes some wonderful birthday surprises. The Church’s birthday surprise on that first Pentecost was that – even though Jesus had died, been raised, and then gone up to heaven – his disciples were not left alone. The Holy Spirit, the very power of God, was with them, giving them the power to be the Body of Christ in the world! What was true for them on the day that the Church was born is also true for us on the Church’s 2,023rd birthday. As the Church still alive today, we pray that the Holy Spirit would lend fire to our words and strength to our witness. We have a call. Let’s not ignore it. We have an opportunity. Let’s not miss it. This is our day. This is our time. Let’s be and become the Church here, now, all over, and on purpose!
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.
10:00AM + PENTECOST DAY WORSHIP + (in person and online)
11:20AM Cake and ice cream downstairs!
3:00PM Synod ELCA Youth Gathering Zoom meeting.
“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 designate such extra giving as “Trudi’s Challenge”. But it will blend with other general giving toward our 2023 Budget needs. Total since February 26: $1,552.00. Lord, let me steadily walk your path. Help me to give witness to your love through generous giving!
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday… MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY. Remember those who have served our country in
times of war and in times of peace. All gave some, and some gave all.
Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity” in Rhoda Hall.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence!
Friday, 8:00AM Senior Food Box distribution ministry.
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.
Saturday, Noon – 3:00PM Scholarship Committee “Po’ Folks Dinner and Designer Bag Bingo”. $10.
Lord, show me your way, teach me to love, and give me the courage.
This Saturday. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, one of our neighbors at Broad & Chelten, is having a flea market and dinner sale, 10AM – 4PM.
May is MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS Month. Look at our nation. Look at your family and friends. And look in a mirror. Clearly many more individuals are struggling with emotional and mental health issues, be it on the heels of the pandemic, or in the midst of the impact of social media on our youth, or the continued vicious political divisions, or substance use disorders, or growing abandonment of religion for “nothing in particular”. Let’s continue to become aware, to reach out, to check in, to talk and listen, to pray, and to work together to restore identity, to renew purpose and meaning, and to recover hope and the joy of living. It is estimated that 1 in 5 U.S. young adults and adults experience mental illness each year, and less than half receive treatment.
Never keep the story of God’s love a secret from others.
What’s Happening…
June 4… HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM. Pastor Bob Holum will be our preacher.
June 5… Property Committee meeting.
June 7… Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.
June 10… Elaine Jones invites you to her 84th birthday celebration at Radisson Hotel, Trevose (for the cost of
the meal). Contact her.
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
open… please don’t delay! Often our kids will choose Session 8 (August 6-11 this year).
June 12… CHURCH COUNCIL meeting, 7:00PM.
June 17… Memorial service celebrating the life and faith of Fannie Thompson, in the Sanctuary, 1:00PM.
June 18… PENTECOST 3. JUNETEENTH, FATHER’S DAY. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM.
June 25… SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY. Guest preacher.
July 11… Scholarship Committee “Bus Trip to Sight and Sound” in Lancaster. Contact Jerona Rice.
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 our selected Mission for January 1 – June 30: Covenant House of Philadelphia provides shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and other services to homeless and runaway youth in and around our city to help them get off the streets, into a job, and transitioned into independent living. Those using the offering envelopes will find a “Mission Offering” envelope for May 21 in their box of envelopes; others will need to designate what they are giving. We have designated “Mission Offerings” in the past to Covenant House: $1,520.00 in 2014; $448.00 in 2018; $605.00 in 2019; $602.16 in 2021; and $748.60 in 2022. To date in 2023, we have received $257.00. There have also been some other ways that we have given support over the years (for example, Thrivent Action Projects). Pastor David Maddox II continues to be part of the staff that helps to offer help and hope and healing to those who are searching, struggling, and suffering.