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FRIENDLY MESSENGER
October 2008This Month's Contents:
Beloved people of St. Peter's- |
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The meeting began with prayer and a reading from Romans 14.
Pastor reported on a busy and fruitful summer, with gratitude for those involved with the outreach at the NP Street Fair and our Rally Day. She also talked about the challenges that we are facing and proposed that we enter into a time of discernment to listen to where God is leading us.
Christian Education: There are 4 students in Sunday School and 2 youths beginning Confirmation (which will take place with St. Stephen’s again.) Also, Pastor is doing a monthly Sunday School with Junior High and High School youth.
Property: Window on the lawn side of the office was repaired, and they are looking at the repair of the Mercer Street doors, and continuing to move forward with the downstairs alarm system.
Social Ministry is looking into collecting needed items for holiday gifts for Seafarers International House.
The Memorial Gifts of communion ware and the garden bench were ordered.
Thanks were made to all who made our Rally Day Picnic such a success.
Pastor reported that Janice Allen came by to talk about the possibility of using some rooms in our building as preschool classrooms. The state is providing funding to expand preschool from half day to full day, and the town is in need of classroom space. the town would provide administration for the school and improvements on the building while we would receive a fee for their building use. The council had questions about this, and will continue the conversation.
In gratitude for all that Julia Sabella has given so generously to us (computer, hymnals, Bibles, sewing machines), we will host an Appreciation Fellowship Time for her in October in conjunction with our Stewardship Campaign.
We also want to have a joint fellowship event with Iglesia Wesleyana, perhaps a covered dish dinner. Pastor will talk with Pastor Haydee about some possibilities.
In response to the continued challenges of dwindling financial resources and declining average worship attendance, it was decided to call together a Task Force to lead the congregation in discernment and beginning to think creatively about options for the future, and to listen to God’s guidance. Anyone interested in becoming a member of this task force should talk to Pastor Sara or Council President, Pat Klatt. Also, members of our Call Committee are being contacted to see if they want to be a part of this group. There will be regular, ongoing meetings and town hall meetings as well, and updates posted in the Friendly Messenger.
As we begin this process, we do so trusting that God will continue to lead us, as God has led this congregation for many decades.
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September 14, 21, and 28: a 3 week series on the book Novena in the Time of War.
October 12, 19, and 26: a 3 week series on Christians and the public life, focusing on (1) faith and politics, Lutheran perspectives, (2) our role as Christians in the public sphere, and (3) what issues are central to us as Lutherans.
November 9, 16, 23, and 30: a 4 week series on the Bible: Book of faith, in which we will explore (1) the Book of Faith Initiative, (2) how Lutherans read the Bible, (3) four different approaches to Bible study, and (4) learning while doing: a Bible study.
(Note: We will not meet the first Sunday of each month.)
St. Peter’s Stewardship Campaign will take place throughout October, and will culminate in our Pledge Sunday on October 26th.
On the Sundays in October, we are continuing the tradition of the past few years and invite members of St. Peter’s to give a “Temple Talk” about the ways that God has blessed them and how that leads to lives of faithful generosity and stewardship. Each of us has stories of God’s work in our lives, and this is an opportunity for us to be inspired, challenged and filled with the good news that God continues to bless God’s people. We are also looking for people who would be willing to write their stories for the Friendly Messenger. Please see pastor Sara or Joan Hassard if you are interested in doing a “Temple Talk” or writing an article.
“But who am I, and who are my people, tat they should give as generously as this? Everything comes from You and we have given only what comes from Your hand.” 1 Chronicles 29:14
Joan Hassard, Stewardship Chair
The CROP Walk raises money for the poor and hungry around the world and also for the hungry locally. If you are interested in joining her for this great community event, please see Pastor Sara.
God works in amazing ways through the generous and humble service of faithful people. In our newsletter each month we are going to share gratitude for the people who have done so much for our congregation in the past month. The purpose of this is for us to give praise to God for the many gifts and generous work of our community. If there is something or someone you want to thank and give praise to God for, please let the office know and we can include them here...
We thank God for:
All the folks who helped out updating the nursery, in particular, Oretha Duo-Covin, Judy Ziccardi, Ken Troy, Odessa Lemley, Barbara Hodge, Barbara Shebey, Barbara Henriksen, Dave Wilson, and Karen Rink,
Leigh Rink, Tony Pasquarello, and Ken Troy for fixing the broken window by the office,
Pat Shebey for straightening up the narthex,
Barbara Shebey and others for keeping the atrium so beautiful,
Ken Troy and the Pasquarello’s for delivering, and for all who donated food for the FISH program,
All who have given so generously to the Vision Appeal,
For all who participated in the outreach at the North Plainfield Street Fair: Pat Klatt, Walt Blenderman, the Rinks, the Pasquarello’s, the Henriksen’s, the Grant’s, and all the rest, too,
Pastor Sara and Clark for delivering the latest batch of our Katie’s Quilters beautiful handiwork to the Lutheran World Relief Distribution Center in new Windsor, Maryland, over the summer,
Irene Plitz, Linda Nietman, Pat Johnston, Pat Klatt and Amelia Blenderman who led worship, and all who helped out while Pastor Sara was away,
Tony and Dominique Pasquarello for cutting up and seeing to the disposal of the large tree branch on our property.
We give thanks to God for you, and for your willingness to share your many gifts!
The next time you shop, remember to buy a couple of extra cans for our food table in the narthex.
Thank you,
Ken Troy
Monetary donations are gratefully accepted, which go mainly toward the purchase of filler material.
We can always use helpers. Please see any Katie’s quilter. Who are our quilters? Here is the list: Lynn Blenderman, Pia Grant, Barbara Henriksen, Chris Zehrfuhs, Clara Jencik, Barbara Shebey, Ann Kircher, Odessa Lemley, Mary Ann Schwarz, and Judy Ziccardi. We are most fortunate to also have the talents of Ginger Smellie from Trinity Reformed Church and Betty Garguile from Dunellan Presbyterian. You do not need sewing experience, as our helpers fulfill lots of different jobs, from cutting squares, sorting them into patterns, sewing squares into tops, sewing backs, assembling tops, backs and fillers into quilts, and tying the quilts together with embroidery thread knots.
You will discover that the experience is not only rewarding, but also a lot of fun, too. And the quilts that are produced are just beautiful! These are wonderful things that will brighten up the life of an individual a world away, while also providing some much needed warmth, comfort, and protection from the elements. Why not talk to a member of Katie's Quilters today?
While it is true that we host the annual Palm Sunday Breakfast and the lenten Soup Fellowship, as well as sponsor fellowship once a month, we also actively support many other worthwhile causes. Some of these are financial, such as our contributions to Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Social Services, Lutheran Association of Missionary Pilots (LAMP) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia. We also collect food for FISH, and labels for the Rock Point Navajo Lutheran Mission School.
Among the labels we collect are the following:
Campbell soups and beans
Franco-American pasta and gravy products
Mrs. Paul’s frozen seafood products
Pepperidge Farm products
Prego spaghetti sauce
Swanson frozen foods
V8 products
General Mills “Box Tops for Education”
You can all help us by saving these labels and putting them in the kitchen or handing them to a WELCA member.
So bottom-line, please help us help others by saving the above. And please join us at our meetings so that we can contribute even more to our community.
Irene Plitz
President, WELCA
In June, 2007, our women delivered an additional 85 quilts to Lutheran World Relief center in Maryland. Food items for FISH, the local food bank, are continually collected and delivered. 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!
Upon returning to the U.S., Karen founded AHA to help continue the support of EPES in Chile. At this time, EPES needs our support, as the declining U.S. dollar is having a devastating effect on organizations like EPES that receive much of their funding in U.S. dollars. The dollar is barely worth 450 Chilean pesos today, compared with 650 pesos 2 years ago.
There are Sundays available on the EPES chart, across from Pastor's office, for you to honor a loved one's memory, or someone's birthday. All of your donation of $20 goes directly to EPES in chile. Please remember to mark your envelope clearly for EPES.
Evelyn Troy, C.M.I.
ELCA World Hunger Appeal “In 2004, our church’s World Hunger Appeal celebrated its 30th anniversary - 30 years of bringing help and hope to people in need.” These are the words addressed to us in a letter from Mark S. Hanson, presiding Bishop of the ELCA. He goes on to say, “In this anniversary year, our church will be celebrating the work of the Appeal...Through your giving, you have been part of this mosaic of hope that comes through merging relief, sustainable development, advocacy, and education. Your gifts are part of a picture - of a church that is responding faithfully and effectively to its Lord’s command to feed those who are hungry and to seek justice for those who are oppressed.”
Please continue to be a part of this picture by giving generously to our church’s World Hunger Appeal.
Gifts can be given through St. Peter’s, or sent directly to ELCA World Hunger Appeal, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764.
One simple way to read these texts is to ask yourself the following questions:
1. What does this piece of scripture tell me about God?
2. What is God up to in this text?
3. What does this text call me (or us) to do or to be?
These are some of the questions I pray and ponder as I prepare for my sermons each week, and perhaps as you begin to ask them with me. We can grow in deeper conversation and connection with God and God's mission in the world. And you might even have a deeper experience of worship on Sunday morning.
Week before October 5, 21st Sunday after Pentecost:
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:7-15 (14, 15)
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
Week before October 12, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost:
Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23 (5)
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14
Week before October 19, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost:
Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9 [10-13] (7)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
Week before October 26, Reformation Sunday:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46 (7)
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
