ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 9-17-23

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 16                                                                                               09-17-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                    

77 is not enough!

Welcome. Is there someone you need to forgive? Maybe a family member? Perhaps even yourself? Consider the consequence of not forgiving. How do you relate the Gospel text and the story of Joseph to present tragedies and to your own life? In Christ, day by day the forgiven person becomes a forgiving person, the healed person becomes a healing person, the loved person becomes a loving person. Join us in becoming what God has created, called, and empowered us to be – Christ alive on earth. Violence and vengeance are always a hollow victory and a truly dead end, for individuals and for groups and for nations. Jesus asks us to forgive and forgive and, then, to forgive again. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit, guided by the example of others, supported by a community of faith, and humbled by our own experience of receiving Christ’s forgiveness over and over.

TODAY

9:00AM                      All Saints Choir rehearsal. 

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

             11:20AM WOMEN’S DAY CHOIR rehearsal. Add your voice to the praise!

Our thanks to Charlotte Webb for inviting many musical friends to participate in our worship this morning!

  1. PETER’S CHURCH COUNCIL (9/11): (1) reflected on the blessings of relationships within our congregation – authentic caring, small core pf solid members, longevity of Pastors and of generations that have been involved, new participation and leadership that emerged out of COVID challenges; (2) learned that January – August 2023 Budget Income was $118,920.85 (including good online support and mailed giving!) and Budget Expenses totaled $121,079.47; (3) approved Rhoda Hall use by Oak Lane Wildcats cheerleaders (ages 6 and under!) for practices this season; (4) received Pastors’, Property, and Youth Ministry reports. Pray for your elected servant leaders, pray for your church and pray for the faith, the love, and the work we share!

 “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: $10.00, Received to date since February 26: $2,114.00. Lord, let me steadily walk your path. Help me to give witness to your love through generous giving!      

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”.

ThiS week At st. peTer’s

Tuesday, 6:00PM                   West Oak Lane Wildcats young cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall.

Wednesday, 10:00AM            Diane Hughes (volunteer office administration).

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

Thursday, 6:00PM                 West Oak Lane Wildcats young cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall.

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

Friday, 6:30PM                      Girl Scouts have returned to St. Peter’s. Welcome back!

Saturday, 10AM – 2PM        “Career Lunch & Learn” for ages 12-20 sponsored by our Scholarship Committee. Free breakfast and lunch. Panel of representatives from several industries and careers.

 

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.

Last Sunday’s offering tally (money given in the sanctuary or mailed, but not online giving) also included:

$  50.00 —   ELCA World Hunger Appeal, $1741 received to date in 2023.

$    0.00 –   Lutheran Charities Appeal, $821 received to date in 2023.

$    5.00 –   Mission Offering (Mothers in Charge, Inc., an anti-violence organization), $391 received to date.

[And our January – June Mission Offering, to Covenant House, was $647.20!]

$    0.00 –   Lutheran Disaster Response (Maui Wildfires), $575 received to date.

Fannie Elizabeth Thompson, a member of St. Peter’s for many years who completed her earthly life’s journey on May 3, 2023, has made a bequest to our congregation. We celebrate her love for her Lord and this church!

 

What’s Happening…

September 24…  PENTECOST 17. 10:00AM Hybrid Worship (in person and online). 

September 24…   Synod “Mardi Gras” ELCA Youth Gathering event at United Lutheran Seminary, 6-8PM.

September 30…    YOUTH MINISTRY “Car Wash” for ELCA Youth Gathering.  

October 1…  World Communion Sunday.   10:00AM Hybrid Worship (in person and online).    

         Let all the sinners and saints gather together from all over the face of the earth to celebrate the sacrifice of love by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – his body broken and his blood poured out to give us life.

October 14 -15…   38th Annual Women’s Day at St. Peter’s!

Theme“Breaking the Chains of Silence!”  See Proverbs 31:8-9 and Psalm 107:13-14. 

Selected Color: blue (Please remember this is a suggested clothing color, but not required.)

PRAYER BREAKFAST on Saturday at 10:00AM. (Please sign up if attending.)

WORSHIP & MEAL on Sunday at 10:00AM. 

WOMEN’S DAY Choir is beginning preparation today! 

WOMEN’S DAY Preacher will be announced soon!

A Women’s Day project is collecting items for Lutheran Settlement House: gift cards, diapers, baby formula, non-perishable food items. There is a box for your donations, beginning today.

October 28… YOUTH MINISTRY “Halloween Carnival” for ELCA Youth Gathering.

 

Mission Offerings

Covenant House (January 1 – June 30). Thank you, members and friends, for giving over $647.20 for the first two quarters of 2023! 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. In 2022, Covenant House reached out to 910 young people through its core programs and services. Mothers in Charge, Inc. (July 1 – December 31). Now we are seeking to help support this grassroots Philadelphia community of women who have lost loved ones to violence. They are a violence prevention, education, and intervention-based organization that advocates and supports youth, young adults, families, and communities affected by violence.

 

Lutheran Charities Appeal

Four times a year (January, April, July, October) we promote support of three local social ministry organizations as they serve over 30,000 of our neighbors in need: KenCrest Services; Lutheran Settlement House; and  Gemma Services (which includes Silver Springs/Martin Luther School). Give help and hope!