ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 6-2-24
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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PENTECOST 2 06-02-2024
Welcome to worship. Take a moment to sit and rest as we worship in this hour and in this sanctuary or the location where you are. Intentionally offer your burdens to Jesus. Allow him to take those burdens. Maybe you are worried about too much and trying to fix everything by yourself. Maybe you are addicted to the fleeting pleasures and fading treasures of this world, and this trivial pursuit is bringing you no true joy and no lasting value but only leading to frustration and greed. Stop fighting God’s love for you, stop following the well-worn paths that lead to depression, destruction, and death. Member or visitor, baptized or not, surrender to Christ and really live. Here you will find – in the holy gift of this time of Sabbath, in God’s word and God’s meal, in God’s people and God’s Spirit, and in the presence and peace and promises of Jesus – rest for your soul and power for your living. If you make Sunday your STRONG day, then the other days will not be WEAK days. Try it all five Sundays in June.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.
10:00AM + WORSHIP CELEBRATION + (in person and online) 11:30AM All Saints Choir rehearsal.
We are grateful to Pastor Tanysha Mendoza, a member of our St. Peter’s Church family, for the gift of her faith and the blessing of her words in this morning’s Sermon.
The Altar Guild is a volunteer group of our congregation whose ministry is to care for the altar, the color paraments, communion vessels, altar linens, and other items. Some Altar Guild volunteers prepare the sanctuary for worship services each week for an entire month. Some Altar Guild volunteers clean up afterwards, following a schedule of once per month. In the giant religious enterprise of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the earthly life of Jesus, 18,000 Jewish priests and Levites (one of the Twelve Tribes, the one assigned special religious responsibility) worked in assigned shifts throughout each year to serve in and around the Temple. We wouldn’t need that many… but we could use a few more. Contact Armia Dennis or the Pastors to offer your service. Both women and men are invited to serve.
Reaching out with dollars that become loving deeds.
Beyond support of our 2024 Budget ($179,787 is what we envision spending this year to bear Christ’s name, spirit, and mission) are those special opportunities for giving on behalf of others. They include:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs)
$30 last week, $1,188 received to date in 2024.
Lutheran Charities Appeal (assisting three local social ministry organizations – KenCrest Services, Lutheran Settlement House, and Gemma Services – that serve thousands of neighbors with various needs)
$20 last week, $534 received to date in 2024.
Mission Offering (For January – June we have selected Loaves and Fishes, Capetown, South Africa, suggested by Pastor Bob Holum after he visited and interacted there. It is a shelter facility and social ministry that works with homeless people to provide “spiritual, psychological, and material renewal”.)
$60 last week, $710 received to date in 2024, with four more weeks to respond.
Can we top $1,000 US dollars? The current exchange rate is “1 USD = 18.30 South African rand.”
Especially since 2007, the Christian community in Gaza (the oldest Christian community in the world) has faced political hardship, poverty, unemployment, persecution, and military conflict under both Hamas and Israel. The numbers dwindled down to an estimated 800 – 1,000 Christians who were still living in Gaza. Then came this recent violence and the continuing retaliatory revenge response. Some Christians have died, most are suffering, and all are holding onto hope. Pastor Mitri Raheb, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor there and a Palestinian Christian, said that this could be the final push that brings an end to Gaza’s ancient indigenous Christian community. Or could it be trial by fire to bring new beginnings through a small faithful remnant? As in all such situations of suffering and persecution, the future is uncertain. The people are beaten down. But they are not forsaken. Continue to pray.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Wednesday, 9:30AM Senior Ministry “Study and Discussion” in Rhoda Hall. (Please note earlier start.)
Wednesday, 11:00AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON PROGRAM. Find encouragement to end your own codependence!
Friday, 8:00AM Senior Food Box distribution.
Friday, 6:00PM Girl Scouts (final day before summer break for older girls).
Saturday, 9AM – 2PM Girl Scouts (closing program before summer break for younger girls).
Saturday, 9:30AM – 4:30PM Southeastern Pennsylvania “Urban Ministry Resource Days” at Reformation Lutheran. Contact Pastor Gwen for more information.
Saturday, 11:00AM Women’s Ministry “Gathering” (in person and online). Come and share in
sister faith!
What’s Happening…
June 9… PENTECOST 3. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM.
“Urban Ministry Resource Days” at Reformation Lutheran concludes, 3:00PM – 5:30PM.
June 10… CHURCH COUNCIL meeting in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
June 11… Area Girl Scout leaders in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
June 12… Neighborhood “Bingo Night” in Rhoda Hall, 6:00PM, $10.
June 15… ELCA Youth Gathering “Car Wash” with hot dogs, other light refreshments, 9AM – 2PM.
June 16… PENTECOST 4. FATHER’S DAY. Preacher: Pastor David Maddox II.
June 16 – August 9… BEAR CREEK CAMP. Register now for a wonderful week of camp!
June 19… JUNETEENTH (African American historical remembrance).
June 20… SUMMER begins!
June 23… PENTECOST 5. SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY. Preacher: Andrea Wood.
Rental event in Rhoda Hall, 2:00PM.
July 13 – 20… ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Our group is getting ready for the journey in Christ!