I was out driving along Route 22. The sky looked tempestuous! Up ahead the demarcation line of weather was clear; a shrouded fogginess, a swirling, the cars on either side of the highway entering into or emerging from with headlamps on. I anticipated!
"Stir up your power, O Lord, and come," we pray. Then, there I was in the very midst of the snow falling gently on the windshield of my Jeep. And maybe Christmas, for us, this year will be white! Yet, driving through the sudden storm cloud, I soon came out the other side, back into the sunlight. And I thought of the prophet's words: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;" the light of the star that came to rest over the place where the Messiah was born, the light emanating from the face of the Holy Child, the light of flickering candles, the light of all our hopes and dreams, the light of God's Grace "lavished upon us," the "Light of the World!"
So at our 10:30 AM Worship Service on the Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 21st, our young people will once again act out the beautiful MANGER PAGEANT which has become a treasured tradition of our congregation. As always we will become characters in the holy scene ourselves as we circle around the manger to receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then, join us for the extraordinary experience of worship at St. Peter's on CHRISTMAS EVE! And invite a friend:
7:30 P.M.
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CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION SERVICE (featuring the singing of familiar carols during Holy Communion, and the wonderful music of our BELL CHOIR!)
11:00 P.M.
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CANDLELIGHT CAROL SERVICE (Our outstanding ADULT CHOIR sings; while a reading of the CHRISTMAS STORY is interspersed by the singing of the appropriate carols!)
Following the Christmas Season, as we move into EPIPHANY, look up ahead for a SERMON SERIES based on the writings of one of our old friends, MAX LUCADO!
For now, please put St. Peter's on your Christmas gift list. If at all possible, be significantly generous in your CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING ENVELOPE!
So, in anticipation of such a "Great Light," this space becomes my CHRISTMAS CARD to all of you: "May your celebrations of Christ's birth be blessed!"
The December meeting of St. Peter's Congregation Council was held on December 8th at 7:30 pm. The meeting was opened with devotions based on Luke 3:3-6.
Our traditional Candlelight Services will be held at 7:30 and 11:00 pm on Christmas Eve. The Manger Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 21st, at the 10:30 am Service. In the afternoon the trees will be trimmed at 4:30 and caroling will be at 5:00 pm.
Committee Chairpersons will need to have their annual reports ready by January 2nd deadline.
The McCutchen Home programs are scheduled up to June. We are happy to report that Charlene Rollins, our new member, will be on the Altar Guild.
The Property Committee reported that new electrical outlets were installed in the Council Room. Many thanks to Ken Troy and Tim Turanick for their labor and time.
A Nominating Committee was appointed to seek candidates to fill vacancies on the Congregation Council for 2004. Hearing all committee reports, the meeting was closed with the Lord's Prayer.
Sunday, December 21st is the Fourth Sunday in Advent. That afternoon at 4:30 we will gather in the chancel to decorate our CHRISTMAS TREES with the lovely white Chrismons, or Christ Monograms, that help point our attention to the Christ child. At 5 p.m. we will go CAROLING to our shut-in members and friends. Plan to be with us for these wonderful traditions!
Ministry to Persons Without Homes
Our guests will next arrive on Sunday, January 4th. As always, we will need volunteers to help in all the important areas of this ministry: early evening and overnight hosts, kitchen crew, food donors and drivers. Watch for the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board near the kitchen.
Adult Forum
Lively and important discussion continues relating to the day's scripture lessons each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Nursery Room. Join our study group leader, Pat Johnston, and others of your friends. Take advantage of this opportunity to both share and learn.
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 assisted our Lutheran Men in Mission at our Annual Dinner Theater on November 22nd. Thankoffering Sunday was held on 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 organized and cooked for our Annual Dinner Theater which took place on November 22nd. 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!
Comedy Night/Dinner Theater
About 90 persons from both our congregation and community gathered in our Fellowship Hall on Saturday evening, November 22nd, to enjoy a delicious Spaghetti Dinner and an uproarious program of comedy skits.
"The meatballs were especially good this year!" "I can't stop laughing!" "We enjoyed the evening so much!" These were among the comments that echoed through the hall that night and, in fact, for a few days to come!
Many thanks to our Lutheran Men in Mission, our Women of the ELCA, our Cooks, our Cast, our Crew, and most especially, our Author and creative Director, Gary Johnson.
Annual Meeting
Our annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25th, immediately after the church service. All committee chairpersons and organization leaders need to be preparing annual reports to be included in the Bulletin of Annual Reports for the meeting. These reports are due in the church office no later than Wednesday, January 2nd. Your promptness will be greatly appreciated.
If you have any pertinent issue to bring before the congregation, resolutions will be accepted in writing by the Vice President of Council, Orvie Hoffman, on or before January 21st, 2004. These items of business will be handled on the meeting agenda under "Other Business and Comments."
Offering Envelopes
Your 2004 OFFERING ENVELOPES are available for you on a table in the narthex here at church. Please pick up yours and those of family, friends and neighbors, which you can help deliver. Thanks a lot.
ELCA World Hunger
A few days ago we received a package from the Lutheran Youth Organization of our NJ Synod. This package contained a handwritten letter and a folded brown shopping bag. It was a reminder from our young people that shopping bags contain groceries and that there are 800 million people in our world who don't have enough food to eat each day.
All year long throughout the ELCA a special YOUTH CHALLENGE has been underway. The goal - to receive more than one million dollars in new giving for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Our own St. Peter's kids have filled little banks with dimes and quarters and each month when the newsletter arrives we all have the opportunity to respond.
Isn't the Christmas Season the perfect time? As so many gifts are shared between us, to remember to provide a life-giving gift by contributing an extra and special way to the World Hunger Appeal seems more appropriate. In a figurative way, let's fill the shopping bag that our kids have sent us.
Quote: "In a world characterized by violence, injustice, poverty and neglect, EPES has been a wonderful example of how churches can offer an answer by equipping and strengthening communities to free themselves from these evils and find their way into a fuller and more abundant life for all." by Dr. Konrad Raiser, Secretary General, World Council of Churches in a letter to EPES on its 20th Anniversary in 2002.
EPES training methods and materials have received international recognition for innovation and effectiveness. How proud we at St. Peter's are being a part of sponsoring this wonderful organization. There are many Sundays available in 2004 for honoring a loved one's birthday or anniversary or remembering a deceased loved one. The new chart for 2004 is hanging on the Mission bulletin board by the office.
