ThiS week At st. peTer’s | 9-22-24
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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PENTECOST 18. 09-22-2024
We sure could use a little of James in the fabric of our relationships! James says that we allow our own wants and whims to lead us into all sorts of negative attitudes and actions that affect others. He speaks of having “bitter envy and selfish ambition”, being “boastful and false to the truth”, having “disorder and wickedness”, showing “partiality or hypocrisy”. He observes “you want something… and murder”… “you covet something… and engage in conflicts and disputes”. James submits that there is a war inside of us that causes the troubles among us.
Our need is for self-control. James wants us to humble ourselves and submit to God and to try to obey God’s intent for how we think, speak, and act towards each other. He believes that, when we draw closer to God, we experience peace, joy, comfort, love, and hope. He believes that, when we draw closer to God, we show God-given wisdom, God-given gentleness, God-given humility, God-given mercy, God-given righteousness, God-given peace as we interact with others.
There are two kinds of wisdom. Are you “wise in the ways of the world”, which James says is “earthly, unspiritual, devilish”? Or does your wisdom come from above?
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.
HOLY BAPTISM. Today the living God reaches out with tender mercy and saving love to embrace Tyrone Jenkins in the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Water is poured, a cross is planted, and a new person comes into being by the grace of God. No one is ever born a Christian… each of us must be re-born. Let us welcome and celebrate and lift up in prayer our brother in Christ!
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)
$195 last week, $2,263 received to date in 2024. Your spirit of love is on the shine!
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.)
$40 last week, $263 received to date. Your spirit of love is on the shine!
Join our family, share God’s love, and grow in discipleship.
Narthex is the churchly name for the small enclosed entrance area traditionally found at the west end of a church opposite the main altar. Here at St. Peter’s, we sometimes call that the “back of the church”. This past Tuesday our narthex windows were replaced (funded through a private donor) by Renewal by Andersen. This autumn we are hoping to scrape, caulk, prime, and paint 4 other cathedral windows and 1 third floor window before they all fall apart and need replacement. We are grateful for past “Window Fund” activities that will enable the repairs and painting! And let us pray that our new windows will renew vision and awareness “in and out” between our congregation and our neighborhood.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Wednesday, 9:30AM Senior Ministry “Study and Discussion” in Rhoda Hall.
Wednesday, 10:30AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution.
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.
Saturday, 2 – 5PM Rental event in Rhoda Hall.
Saturday, 12:00 noon – 6PM: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (in nearby Glenside) Annual Oktoberfest to raise funds in support of Lutheran Disaster Response in Eastern Pennsylvania. Great food, beer, entertainment, pony rides, face painting, obstacle course.
What’s Happening…
September 29… PENTECOST 19. 10:00AM worship in person and online.
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 (“God Is on the Way!”) on Saturday…
Worship Celebration and Meal on Sunday, 10AM.
Romans 8:37-39 / 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 / Philippians 2:1-11 .
Guest Preacher: Minister Zola Lamback.
Women’s Day Special Offering – Funda to be used to complete renovation of Knapp Chapel.
Wear red, orange! Invite family, friends, and strangers!
October 15… “World Food Day” celebrating 50 years of ELCA World Hunger Appeal, 7:00PM Zoom Webinar.
For 50 years we have joined together as Lutherans to address the root causes of hunger and poverty around the world and in our nation. There was great progress, but once again we face a startling increase due to rising costs, global conflict, climate change, and the lingering impact of COVID-19.
October 19… Memorial Service celebrating the life and faith of Joan Elizabeth Dezoice, member of St. Peter’s.
THE NEXT ELECTION IS COMING SOON AND VERY SOON!
Why would Trump-Vance eagerly spread false stories about Haitian immigrants eating neighbors’ pets in Springfield, Ohio? 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 and welfare of all people. Are you registered to vote? Are you committing to vote?