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FRIENDLY MESSENGER
May 2006This Month's Contents:
Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed! |
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Pastor Storck reported that four volunteers on four occasions have participated in the Extended Day Program at Stony Brook School. Children and adults are enjoying their time together. ESL organizational meeting will be held the week of May 7th. Members of the Finance Committee are Oretha Duo-Covin, Gina Johnson, Irene Plitz, Bill Shebey and Pastor Storck. Possible sources of income are the sale of the lot next to St. Peter's and grants from the church and from Thrivent. A Gateway Mission Oval Report and Proposal, which was presented at the cluster meeting on April 1st, was distributed.
Christian Education has decided to hold off having a combined Sunday School with Holy Cross. A Bible Study for teenagers will begin in May when Pastor returns from vacation.
Property will work on the lights near the altar and will also lower wattage in the bulb over Gail's desk. Timers will be reset. It was requested that members don't change the timers.
Social Ministry will help with the delivery of Easter lilies. Spring Fling has not been planned yet, but an available date is May 20th. Barbara Hodge will contact a friend as the possible entertainment.
Worship and Music has ordered 53 lilies. Pianos have been tuned and repaired. Many people commented that they liked the group reading of the Gospel.
Pastor's contract was renewed.
Correspondence was received from Rev. Scott Schantzenbach informing us that Synod has identified a pastoral candidate for St. Peter's. Council approved having the candidate come to New Jersey the weekend of May 7th. Art Klatt will follow up with Rev. Schantzenbach with questions about the suggested time line. New members will need to be added to the Call Committee. Copies of the letter will be shared with members of the congregation. Council also approved the date of May 2nd for a meeting with Synod about the Mission Evaluation which was conducted here. This meeting will be open to everyone.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Klatt
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Celebrating the inter-generational bonds between women, May Friendship Day is open to women of all ages and faiths. Sponsored by Church Women United, this annual ecumenical event is an opportunity to worship together as well as to highlight the contribution and gifts of outstanding Christian women in the community.
This year's theme explores the mentoring relationship portrayed in the biblical story of Naomi and Ruth. Written by representatives from Young Church Women United - an initiative engaging younger women in the mission and heritage of CWU - this service seeks to discern true signs of growth that come from deeper connections and relationships between generations.
This service also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fellowship of the Least Coin, a worldwide movement based on the power of prayer and the willingness to set aside just the 'least coin' of a country (a penny in the US) to support initiatives that promote peace and reconciliation in families, work places, and governments. With each woman's preyers and pennies, the efforts of the Fellowship grow, touching the lives of other women throughout the world.
Ev Troy
In June, 2005, our women delivered an additional 100 quilts to Lutheran World Relief center in Maryland. Food items for FISH, the local food bank, are continually collected and delivered. They assist our Lutheran Men in Mission at our Annual Dinner Theater. Thankoffering Sunday is held in November. Many other opportunities for fellowship and service are coming along. As you can see, our women are very active.
To find out how you can join in, and to find out what's happening when, please talk to an active member, watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office (908-754-0530)for further information and/or the name and phone number of the proper contact person. Our Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America look forward to welcoming you!
Work days at the church are also scheduled when a need arises. Each month, the men collect and deliver many bags of food to the local FISH program. Many other opportunities for fellowship and service are coming along.
As with the Women's Group, to find out how you can join in, and to find out what's happening when, please talk to an active member, watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office (908-754-0530) for further information and/or the name and phone number of the proper contact person. Our Lutheran Men in Mission look forward to welcoming you!
EPES (Educacion Popular en Salud) extended its Christian work of training Health Monitors to care for their people. This past January, EPES dedicated another building in Concepcion, Chile, where Health Monitors will be trained to tech local residents cleanliness in caring for their families and to teach them of God's love for them.
St. Peter's appreciates all the support you've shown in supporting our church's mission. The chart for sponsoring a Sunday in memory of loved ones or in honor of someone's birthday or graduation is on the Mission Board by the church office. Please mark your donation for EPES on your envelope.
Ev Troy
Please continue to be a part of this picture by giving generously to our church's World Hunger Appeal."
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, working with our Lutheran Disaster Response partners throughout the Gulf Coast region, is already caring for disaster survivors. Of particular concern are those who were in vulnerable situations even before Katrina struck, including the 28 percent of New Orleans' residents living below the poverty line, those who were homeless, and migrant farm families.
As in past disasters, our church's response to this hurricane will include spiritual and emotional counseling, care for caregivers, hardship grants, volunteer support, and, eventually, home rebuilding. You can find more information, including giving and volunteering opportunities, at www.elca.org/disaster
Your gifts to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, designated for 2005 Hurricane, will ensure that we can accompany disaster survivors at every stage of the relief and rebuilding process. All-100 percent-of your gifts will go to help individuals and communities rebuild their lives following this disaster.
Please pray for those whose lives have been uprooted by the disaster, and for the health and safety of rescuers and caregivers."God is our refuge in the day of disaster." (Jeremiah 17:17).
Give through your local congregation, or send directly to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60696-1764, or call 800-638-3522 to give by credit card. For more information go to www.elca.org/giving. Thank you for your generosity in this time of great need.
