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 17.                                                           09-15-2024                                                               

So many people today, here in the United States, seem to be out of control with what they say and how they say it. We create our own alternative realities. We insist that we ought to be completely free to think, speak, and act in any way that we please. We so easily mock, criticize, condemn, and threaten the lives of others who aren’t “in sync” with what we think or want. There is little patience, little humility, little respect, little listening, little intentional conversing. There is much shouting, cursing, division, and destruction. Perhaps our former President, and present aged Candidate, who seemed to enjoy the personal attention he got for saying whatever he wanted – regardless of truth and without concern for the hurt or the hate that might be generated – didn’t help the situation at all. But he alone does not account for our current situation.

Our words, offered face to face or in social media, have the power to destroy. Today’s Second Reading uses various images to illustrate how damaging and hurtful the way we speak to and about others can be. Not only are we challenged by James to control our speech, but what we say and how we say it are to reflect our faith. The wrong word in the wrong place can spark a raging forest fire between and among many people. On the other hand, the right word at the right time can bring a little heaven into someone’s hell… can bring peace or comfort or joy or hope or love. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and insight into your own life and the lives of others, that you may discern when to speak, when to listen, and always how to love as Christ loves you by doing less cursing of others and more blessing. 

 

TODAY

9:00AM   All Saints Choir warm-up for worship.

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

 11:30AM                      All Saints Choir rehearsal.

905. PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (09/09): (1) approved Minutes of two previous meetings; (2) learned that January – August Budget Income was $112,905.38 and January – August Budget Expenses were $121,730.27, creating a deficit of $8,825; (3) elected to withdraw $20,000 from our Thrivent Investment money market account and transfer to our checking account (Last time we did this was in 2013); (4) received a report from the Pastors and Property notes on tasks accomplished or in process; (5) discussed possible grant  application projects to Synod’s “Forward Together in Faith” opportunity; (6) discussed several other items.  Pray for your elected servant leaders, pray for your church, and pray for the faith, the love, and the work we all share.

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM ?

    ThiS week At st. peTer’s

Tuesday, 8:00AM         Renewal by Andersen replacing the two widows in our narthex area (private donor).

Wednesday, 10:30AM        Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity” in Rhoda Hall.

Thursday, 7:00PM     WOMEN’S DAY CHOIR rehearsal. Add your voice to the praise!

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

Friday, 6:30PM         Girl Scouts return to meet at St. Peter’s.

Rev. Clesha Staten: “The First Housewives” Storytelling Concert, Friday, 7PM, $20, at Resurrection Center, 3301 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE  19802. Support our St. Peter’s member!

Juanita Williams: “Misunderstood” Play, Saturday, 2PM, $25, at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock Street, Philadelphia, 19127. Support our St. Peter’s member!

The spirit of caring, the ministry of sharing.

Beyond support of our 2024 Budget ($179,787 is what we envision spending this year) are various special opportunities for giving on behalf of others. They include:

    ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs)

$10 last week, $2,068 received to date in 2024. God’s love is on the loose!

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)

$966.50 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.)  $223 received to date, ends December 31.

What’s Happening…

September 22…   PENTECOST 18. 10:00AM worship in person and online.

September 28…  Rental event in Rhoda Hall, 2:00PM.

October 5…  “Spaghetti Fundraiser” for Steven’s Wings Global Youth Adventures… 2PM, $20 …

contact Trudi Wright. A short program will introduce “learning the joys and the how of travel” .

 October 12-13… 39th Annual Women’s Day! “God’s Love Conquers All”

Prayer Breakfast with a short skit on Saturday… Worship Celebration and Meal on Sunday, 10AM. .

Wear red, orange! Invite family, friends, and strangers! 

THE NEXT ELECTION IS COMING SOON!

Don’t allow “hate politics” to have its way, no matter which side it is coming from. Don’t support racism, greed, gender inequality, child neglect and abuse, injustice, environmental destruction, outright lying about the truth, or anything else that isn’t good for the common humanity of all people, for the common good of all people. Take up YOUR CROSS and follow Jesus in servant-love! 

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

Welcome to this place, this people, and this time of worship and fellowship. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is good news, worth hearing and seeing and believing. And you can become part of that good news by becoming a living, breathing testimony of God’s love. There is no better life than life in Christ!