ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 8-13-23

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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PENTECOST 11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            08-13-2023

Faith is not mere intellectual assent or a “warm fuzzy feeling” only when things are going well. It is the risk of surrender, the courage of trust, and the commitment of obedience. It is peace in adversity, strength in trial, inner calm in the midst of an outer storm, looking forward rather than back and looking up instead of down. You might be holed up in a cave like Elijah – feeling disillusioned, worn out, alone, and very afraid. You might be scrambling for life like Peter in swirling seas – sinking, wearied, desperate, and in great fear. The truth is that – if you are alive – then your life and every life will face any number of challenges along life’s path, storms both literal and figurative, all kinds of crashing waves and opposing winds and furious circumstances that will lead you to whimper or cry out that ancient, simple prayer, “Lord, save me.” But there is another truth. TAKE HEART, DO NOT BE AFRAID. JESUS IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU! A strong, outstretched arm tenderly reaches to steady us through it all.

Someone once wrote that faith is something we learn only through trials. In those deep and seemingly impossible waters that threaten to swallow us up, we might be surprised to find that we are not only staying afloat but even walking above the turbulent waves. Be encouraged.  

 

TODAY

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

Thank you, Pastor John Gottschall, for this morning’s sermon!

 

 Our All Saints Choir is on a brief break

Today we are grateful to Ida Swindle and Stephanie Fluellen for song selections and also for some of our former “8:30AM Choir” singers. The songs of God’s people touch our souls, fuel our faith, and unite us together! 

“Trudi’s Challenge”

At 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. Received last Sunday: $12.00. Total since February 26: $2,094.00. Lord, let me steadily walk your path. Help me to give witness to your love through generous giving!

BEAR CREEK CAMP, Session #8. They’re back! On Friday our children returned with their dirty clothes, their lively stories, and their valuable faith experiences and new memories. Let us pray that each child, in the midst of that week away, was transformed by Christ’s love. And let us give thanks for the opportunity and the blessing! Through the “Philly Connect” relationship, we have been able to have children attend a week of overnight camp at a greatly reduced cost… the true cost is $675.

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Join our family, share God’s love, and grow in discipleship.

ThiS week At st. peTer’s

Wednesday, 10:00AM Senior Ministry “Study and Discussion” in Rhoda Hall.

Wednesday, 11:00AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.

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

Saturday, 1:00PM YOUTH MINISTRY planning meeting for the national Lutheran Youth

Gathering, preceded by the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event

(Grades 8-12) in New Orleans, July 13-20, 2024. And new for this

gathering is the Young Adult Gathering (Ages 18-35) in New Orleans.

Interested? Want to find out more? Want to help plan and prepare? Have

some fundraising ideas or skills? Come to the meeting!

 

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”.

What’s Happening…

August 20…   PENTECOST 12. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM (in person and online).  

August 25…  YOUTH MINISTRY MOVIE NIGHT at 7:00PM.

August 27…   PENTECOST 13. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM (in person and online). 

September 10…   Grandparents Sunday.

September 10…   “Youth Revival” at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3:00PM.

October 8…   38th Annual Women’s Day.

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… contribute online through  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 through St. Peter’s to: ELCA World Hunger Appeal (direct aid and development throughout the world, our nation, and our local communities… $1,531 has been received in 2023);

Lutheran Charities Appeal (support of three local social ministry organizations that serve over 30,000 neighbors in need… $796 has been received in 2923);

Mission for July 1 – December 31 (Mothers in Charge, Inc., a grassroots Philadelphia community of women who have lost loved ones to violence and who seek to advocate for violence prevention and to give support to youth, young adults, families, and communities affected by violence… $60 received to date). Our January 1 – June 30 Mission was Covenant House of Philadelphia… $647.20 was received.

 

Lord, show me your way, teach me to love, and give me the courage.