Last spring, in this space, I told you about Rev. Michael Foss and his book, "Power Surge." I promised: "I will read that book! You will hear me preach!" Well, I have read that book, and you are currently hearing me preach a sermon series based upon it!
For Foss emphasizes that we are called by Jesus not to make church "members," but to make Christian "disciples!" And, intriguingly, he suggests: "that all the power the church will ever need comes from people - people who have learned to live 'in Christ' by living lives of disciplined discipleship."
And Pastor Foss crystallizes this thought by outlining for us "THE MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP" by which we are to measure and pattern our lives. These "MARKS" are the subject of my sermons. Since everyone is not in church each week, let me review what I have shared so far.
We start every Sunday with Michael Foss's energetic premise: "I will strive to be a passionate follower of jesus Christ who..."
A. PRAYS daily - "A discipleship church recognizes the need to teach people to pray. This is not difficult. We have all learned how to talk to each other. We know how to share our needs with people who care about us and can help us, how to give and receive information, how to ask for things, how to express gratitude, how to say we are sorry and ask for forgiveness, how to say what's important to us and...how to speak words of love...to those (and for those)...we love...And we know how to listen to others when they speak in similar ways to us. Prayer is simply doing what we already know how to do, but with God as the one to whom we speak and to whom we listen."
B. WORSHIPS weekly - "worship is the linchpin of a discipleship church...One of the central goals...is establishing a context within which individuals and families experience themselves as 'connected' to the Divine...the wonder, the awesomeness, and the mystery of God truly present in Word and Sacrament, in proclamation and praise, and in music and singing...a sense of divine drama...The atmosphere of worship must be one of shared expectation. God will be encountered here today. Forgiveness and hope will be experienced here today. Love will be known here today..."
C. READS the Bible - The point is simply to get people used to opening the Bible...to create an environment in which turning to the Bible is as natural as reading the daily newspaper.
Simply put, a disciple of Jesus Christ, like you and like me, is to READ the Bible, PRAY daily, and WORSHIP weekly! Join us! "THE MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP" continue...
The September meeting of St. Peter's Congregation Council was held on September 8th. The meeting was opened with devotions based on Ephesians 3:14-21.
Rally Day was a great beginning for our church and church school. We had two new children and they attended both Sunday School and church. These children also attended Vacation Church School in June.
Gary Johnson sent a FAX to the local TV station about Rally Day. He is also looking for some actors and actresses for the Comedy Night Dinner Theater which will be held on November 15th.
October 5th will be a special day as we will have Rev. Scott Schantzenbach, Assistant to the Bishop of our N.J. Synod with responsibility for Stewardship, come and be our speaker to kick off our Stewardship Month. Our Stewardship Commitment Sunday will be October 19th.
Pastor Anderson will be doing the McCutchen Home program in October.
The Men in Mission have been busy fixing things around the church. They also have bought a dehumidifier for the choir room. The new cleaning service, which started in July, has been doing a really great job.
Pastor, in his report, thanked our Worship Leaders who led the service while he was away. He also thanked the VCS volunteers. This was also very successful and a wonderful experience for all who attended.
Our informal alternative worship experience is once again gathering each Sunday morning at 8:30 am. in the sanctuary. This service is accompanied by guitar, is only one half hour in length, and offers Holy Communion every week. Join us if you'd be interested in something different. Worship at 8:30 am if you must be elsewhere later on. Invite your friends. "Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things."
Office Hours
Our church office hours have returned to a full schedule, which is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 am until 1:00 pm.
In Sympathy
We grieve the death on August 10th, of a member of our congregation, Edna Haurand.
We are also saddened by the loss in our wider church family of Melsen Laustsen, who died on September 6th. Melsen was one of the brothers of Henry Laustsen and therefore the brother-in-law of Dot. He had been ill at his home in South Carolina for some time. Also of Elizabeth Vogel who died over the summer.
All things are now made new, This of course we trust in the hope of Christ's resurrection.
Ministry to Persons Without Homes
Our newsletter is going out in the very midst of the week of service. Guests arrived on our doorstep on Sunday, September 14th. As always, we are so very grateful to all of our many volunteers who make the continuation of this significant ministry possible. We remember that one of the "MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP" that Pastor is currently telling us about on Sunday morning is "to serve at and beyond St. Peter's!"
Rally Day
Our full schedule of worship and events resumed on Sunday, September 7th. It was a great day. We were so pleased to welcome guests at both Sunday School and at Church, as well as welcome back our fine choir and all of our Sunday Church School staff and students. The sermon for the day focused on, "Praying Daily." Indeed our prayer is that God bless us through the coming year!
Stewardship
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21.
THis fall we are changing our focus from only being church "members" to becoming Christ's "disciples!" And surely the heart of any disciple is captivated by the cross! So as Christ gives his very life to save ours, how can we be anything but completely passionate about serving such a Lord and giving from what we have in return.
October is Stewardship Month here at St. Peter's. We kick it all off with a very exciting event on Sunday, October 5th. At our 10:30 AM Service Rev. Dr. Scott Schantzenbach, Assistant to the Bishop of our N.J. Synod with responsibility for Stewardship, will be with us to preach. Scott is energetic and enthusiastic and full of faithful commitment, which should inspire us all deeply. Please plan to worship that day and greet our guest!
Also be thinking and praying about your response to your Lord for 2004. The ongoing ministry of St. Peter's needs your honest and generous proportionate support. Remember, one of the "MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP" is that "a passionate follower of Jesus Christ GIVES a tithe (10%) and beyond." Our St. Peter's Commitment Day will be Sunday, October 19th.
Sunday Church School
Our Christian Education program for the year is now in full swing. On Rally day, Superintendent Patrick Salaman gladly welcomed two new students who came to us through our Vacation Church School program. All children are welcome and encouraged to join us as we focus on the scripture lessons for each Sunday.
Our Adult Forum, under the leadership of Pat Johnston, invites and encourages all of us who are just a bit older to continue the never-ending process of Christian Education. Study the Bible. Know Christ. Discuss your faith. Gather in our Nursery Room. Be part of this experience.
Our Sunday Church School program for all ages is held at 9:15 every Sunday morning.
Comedy Night/Dinner Theater
Coming in October - this much anticipated annual event will be held in our Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 15th. Make plans to join us for this wonderful evening of food and fun - meal and mirth. Rehearsals begin for cast members at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 8th.
Women of the ELCA
The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) invite all women to participate in their many activities. Meetings with a specific theme or activity are usually held at the church on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm. Our Katie's Quilters usually meet twice a month on a Wednesday morning at 10:00 and a Friday evening at 7:30. last summer our women delivered 170 quilts and 13 health kits to Lutheran World Relief center in Maryland. Food items for FISH, the local food bank, are continually collected and delivered. They will be assisting our Lutheran Men in Mission at our Annual Dinner Theater on November 15th. Thankoffering Sunday will be November 9th. 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!
Lutheran Men in Mission
Our Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7;30 pm at the Church. All men of the church, young and senior alike, are welcome and encouraged to attend. We need you! If you need a ride, please see or call Ken Troy. LMM sponsored our Annual Picnic, a spring fishing trip, a spring bus trip to the homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Mother's Day refreshments and carnations. They are currently busy working on plans for our Annual Dinner Theater on November 15th. Work days at the church are also scheduled when a need arises. 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!
