ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 7-28-24
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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07-28-2024
Hunger
is everywhere, as close as our street, the house next door, our congregation, our family, even our own belly. And it’s a worldwide issue. That has gotten worse in recent years due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate extremes and weather shocks, wars and other conflicts, economic downturns, and continued inequality and injustice. An estimated one in 9 to 10 people One in nine people go to bed hungry every night. What can we do to help them? This morning we remember that Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed thousands of people. Because we are not the poorest of the poor and because we bear the name and spirit and mission of Jesus, the Gospel call to each of us is to personally do something on behalf of the hungry. May you be stirred to gracious living and generous giving!
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.
10:00AM + PENTECOST SEASON WORSHIP + (in person and online)
Reaching out with dollars that become loving deeds.
Beyond support of our 2024 Budget ($179,787 is what we envision spending this year… and our income after 6 months trails our expenses by about $8,000) 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)
$100 last week, $1,688 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)
$120 last week, $861.50 received to date in 2024.
Mission Offering (For July – December we have selected a local ministry, the Sisters of Saint Joseph Refugee Housing Project, introduced to us by our young adult member Andrea Wood. Their work includes transitional housing for refugee resettlement, family support services, and a distribution center with needed household items and furniture. This Mission Offering, other monetary gifts, new and gently used items (they have a “wish list”, see the Pastors) and volunteer opportunities are all ways to respond to refugees in need with genuine love.) A new project… $0 received to date. Our January – June Mission Offering collected about $1,400 for Loaves and Fishes, Cape Town, South Africa.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 7:00PM Scholarship Committee meeting on Zoom.
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 ministry. Please check with Frances Maddox Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts trip preparation (Some are traveling to London, some to Mexico!)
Don’t love others as others love you.
Love others as Jesus Christ loves you.
What’s Happening…
June 16 – August 9… BEAR CREEK CAMP. Register now for a wonderful week of camp!
The cost of a week of overnight camp this season is as little as $75. Contact Pastor Gwen if you have questions.
August 4… PENTECOST 11. 10:00AM in person and online.
August 9… WORSHIP at United Lutheran Seminary celebrating the ministry of Patricia A. Davenport as a Church staff person, a pastor, and Bishop of our Synod, 5:00PM. As she retires, let us give thanks for her many years of servant leadership!
August 10… FREE all-you-can-eat BBQ and FELLOWSHIP at United Lutheran Seminary celebrating the ministry of Bishop Patricia Davenport, 12 noon – 3:00PM. Contact the Synod to see if you can still RSVP.
August 11… Bishop Pat’s RETIREMENT DINNER GALA at Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Line Avenue, 4:00 –
8:00PM. $125 per person. Contact the Synod… registration may be closed.
99 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” (Nelson Mandela)
Once again it’s the political time of attacks between the “radical left” and the “repressive right”, and there is much envy, hate, anger, division, and conflict… there are many lies, threats, false promises, and bizarre behaviors in order to win. Don’t fall down in the midst of all the negativity. May you feel humanly connected to the 8 billion other people on this earth… may you grow in love, interdependence, and compassion… in politics, may you carefully consider character and integrity, listen and decide wisely, act responsibly, and cast your vote prayerfully. Are you registered to vote?
THE SEASON OF PENTECOST… Let the Church embody Christ’s Spirit!