This Week at St. Peter’s

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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       Third Sunday of Advent                                                            12 – 04 – 2022                                                                                                                                                                                                            

REJOICE!

John the Baptist – who had been so passionate in preparing others – sat in the shadows of prison and had second thoughts about Jesus. Do you? John wondered about Jesus, questioned if he was the Messiah. Do you? Many have gotten confused or have tired of the waiting, have turned and walked away. Will you? For many, Jesus socializes with the wrong crowd, touches the wrong people, doesn’t show enough earthly power and prestige and political savvy, lacks possessions, loves beyond reason, and asks us to do the same. How about you? Where healing and hope are found, there we find the presence of the Lord. A change is in the air, and the Promised One who came before is coming again. See it… experience it… share it with others. MIGHTY GOD, my soul rejoices at the great things you have done today!

                                   TODAY

9:00AM            All Saints Choir rehearsal.

10:00AM           + ADVENT WORSHIP +

11:30AM           CHRISTMAS CHOIR rehearsal. Add your voice to the joyful rhythms of

proclaiming Christ’s birth!

 

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA PLANTS. The deadline is today. To sponsor a plant in memory or in honor of someone or something, please submit an order form and payment – this year’s plants will cost $9.00 each – to Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen.

We are grateful for this morning’s Sermon offered by Mrs. Linda Crawford! It is especially a blessing for both Pastor Gwen and Pastor Neil as Neil continues to cough his way through the Advent Season. (Medically, he has endured an adenovirus, yet another of those respiratory ailments that is floating around.)

 

LET GOD’S LOVE MAKE YOU NEW!

We invite you to join in our new life together which is being shaped by the good news of Jesus Christ crucified and now risen among us. Perhaps you sense that the Holy Spirit is leading you to a greater response of faith and faithfulness. Please speak to our Pastors about Holy Baptism, Church membership, and the servant life of discipleship. Why wait too long and risk too late to become a NEW YOU?

A heart that is open to God is a heart that is open to change and a new life.

THANK YOU to all who helped plan, advertise, and participate in yesterday’s “Pop-Up Shop and Flea Market” fundraising events to benefit our Building Fund. These two events and the previous “Thanksgiving Pies” event add to monthly Building Fund offerings to help us repair and improve the property that God has blessed us with to undertake Christ’s work.

ThiS week At st. peTer’s

Monday, 7:00PM CHURCH COUNCIL meeting on Zoom.

Tuesday, 7:00PM Area Girl Scout leaders meeting in Rhoda Hall

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

Wednesday, 10:30AM           Senior Ministry “Games and Social Day”.

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

Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scouts.

Saturday, 9:00AM Decorate the sanctuary for Christmas.

Saturday, 9:00AM Girl Scouts “Investiture Service” in Rhoda Hall,

Saturday, 2:00PM Rental event in Rhoda Hall.

 

What’s Happening…

December 18…   FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Hybrid Worship at 10:00AM.

Pastor Clesha Staten preaching.

December 21…   WINTER officially begins.

December 21…   Senior Ministry “Bible Study”, 10:00AM.

December 21…   Whole Foods fresh produce distribution, 10:30AM.

December 24…  CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP. Hybrid Worship at 7:00PM. Celebrate JESUS with

singing carols, glowing candles, empowering communion, and joy and hope!  

December 25…  CHRISTMAS DAY. ZOOM Worship at 10:00AM. Worship the BEST GIFT ever!

January 1…  FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS. Continue the MIRACLE AND MYSTERY OF JESUS

into the new year!

                                                       Giving.

Beyond regular and responsible support of Christ’s work that happens at and through St. Peter’s, there are additional ways to give gratefully and to share generously: (1) World Hunger offerings that go to our national E.L.C.A. denomination World Hunger Appeal and help relieve local, national, and international suffering through direct aid, development, and advocacy; (2) Lutheran Charities Appeal offerings that support three Philadelphia metro area social ministry organizations: KenCrest Services, Lutheran Settlement House, and Gemma Services, together serving over 30,000 of our neighbors with varied needs each year; (3) Mission offerings that, in 2022, will be split between two causes: No More Secrets which addresses inadequate access to menstrual sanitary products and hygiene education in Philadelphia… and Covenant House in the Germantown neighborhood which helps get homeless young adults off the streets, into a job, and transitioned into independent living. Please designate the purpose of any of your monetary gifts.

 

FAITH is possible in the most difficult of circumstances. 

LOVE is the true call no matter what the world says.