Here we are, again, just about to embark on the journey through Lent. Rooted in God’s abiding love, we enter this time to follow Jesus to the cross and to the life which is found there. We are invited to deepen the practices of our faith, through acts of prayer, fasting, and works of love.
Lent may be a time of abstaining from things, being mindful of God and God’s sacrificial love for us, or refraining from those things which separate us from God and one another. It can also be a time to add something new in deepening our relationship with God and with our neighbor.
This year, I invite each of us to add one thing: daily praying the Lord’s Prayer. Perhaps it can be in those moments before your coffee is cool enough to drink. Perhaps just before bed or as part of your existing daily devotions. However it works for you, take a moment in your day to slowly and intentionally pray the Lord’s Prayer.
In addition to being woven into our daily lives, this prayer that Jesus taught us will be the topic of the Adult Forum throughout Lent. It will also be a theme in my sermons and will be prayed, as always, in our worship. We will continue to pray it at the close of our meetings. It is one of the few things that many of us know by heart, and its words have great power in shaping our lives and our ministry. In response to our prayers, God works in our church and world. And through and in our praying, God works in our hearts and lives.
In daily praying a common prayer, I believe a few things will happen. The first thing is that it will create a space for each of us to connect with God. We can stop and let the power of God’s presence (with us even in our non-prayerful moments) to wash over us.
Also, we are connected to one another, sharing in our common hope for God’s will to be made known for us and for the world. I trust, too, that God will give us ears to hear and eyes to see God at work in our lives and world, and will help lead us to more closely follow. Through this prayer, God draws us closer to God and to one another, and to God’s mission in the world.
Given the realities facing St. Peter’s in these days, I believe that this prayer speaks to us with particular power and hope. As we wonder what we are called to do given our limited resources, this prayer teaches us to seek and learn God’s will for us and for this world. As we discern the best way for us to participate in God’s mission, this prayer reminds us that God will bring about God’s way. As we worry and grieve whatever changes might come, this ancient prayer reminds us that God’s power, love, and presence endures, no matter what happens. In praying this prayer as a shared venture, we remember that we are all in this together, that we pray with one another and with all the saints. We are reminded that we can depend upon God’s daily bread and that God will not abandon us.
I invite you to pray this prayer which has sustained God’s people for centuries. In praying, we will be reminded of God’s power and God’s abiding love. Living in these words can fill us with expectation and hope, with courage and faithfulness, even when things are hard. In the midst of the coming conversations and decisions, this prayer will root us in God’s love and mission made known in Jesus. Together, we will pray, knowing and trusting that our God is with us, that God will not abandon us, and that God will bring us and this congregation to the joy of resurrection life.
The council meeting on February 9th began with a reading and discussion of the Gospel lesson for the following Sunday: Mark 1:40-45.
Pat Klatt read a letter from Joan Hassard in which she resigned from council. This was regretfully accepted. Discussion ensued as to whether we needed someone to replace Joan or if we could continue with current members. Since we are currently within the guidelines of the constitution we will leave it as it is for now.
Barbara Henriksen reported that we will be eligible for $1,020 in matching funds from Thrivent this year.
Pia Grant read a letter from the VA hospital thanking Katie’s Quilters for the 17 lap robes they donated to patients.
On February 21 members of the Future Task Force will meet with members of St. Stephens and Advent Lutheran Churches regarding possible shared ministry or merger. Lunch and direction will be provided by the Synod. Pastor Sara will be making individual appointments to meet with members of the congregation to discuss their thoughts and feelings regarding the future of the church.
Our confirmation class will be joining with the confirmation class of St. Stephens to put together an Easter Vigil service for Saturday evening before Easter. This is a very meaningful service which includes lots of Bible lessons which are especially appropriate for youth and families toward whom this service will be aimed. Of course, all are welcome. This will give our confirmation youth an opportunity to be part of a really meaningful project of involvement in the church.
Committee Reports: The financial reports were encouraging. We may not have to transfer any funds to meet February expenses. The piano was moved up from the choir room in the basement to a Sunday School room, so now the choir has a new home. Property Committee is working on the downstairs sprinkler system.
Lent is soon upon us. We will have our usual Ash Wednesday service, but will not have any other Wednesday evening Lenten services. Pastor will make available a list of services in surrounding churches we could attend if desired. Also, we are ordering booklets for private devotions for anyone interested. Also, there will be other devotional materials available in the Narthex. Soup Sunday is March 1st. Plan to stay after church for some simple but good eats to start Lent.
We will have a congregational appeal to help FISH ministries on February 15 and 22. Also, a Mission on the Move Appeal on April 19 and 26.
The church office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 A.M. - to 1:00 P.M. If the door is not unlocked, please ring the bell or knock. Pastor Sara will also be available at the church on Thursdays.
Weekly Bible Study
Join us each Wednesday for a Bible Study held at the church at 3:30 p.m. We will focus on the texts for that week that will be read at the following Sunday's service. (See “Word for the Week” further on in this newsletter.) Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for this informative time together, as we grow deeper in our faith and understanding of God’s word.
Soup Sunday
Sunday, March 1st is the date for our Lenten Soup Fellowship Time after the church service. Members of the congregation will provide a selection of 5 soups and bread. Please plan to attend this simple event of good eats to start the season of Lent.
Church Women United
You are cordailly invited to attend this “World Day of Prayer”, Friday, March 6th, at 1:30 pm, at Covenant United Methodist Church, 631 E. Front Street, Plainfield. The theme will is: “In Christ There are Many Members, Yet One Body.” The program is written by women of Papua, New Guinea.
India Sharing
After Fellowship Time on Sunday, March 15th Pastor Sara will be showing pictures and telling stories about her time in India.
Please plan to stay after church for this fun and informative time.
Paint the Town and Green the Brook
North Plainfield Community Day
Saturday, May 1st, in the morning
Mark off your calendars for this great day of community service and fellowship.
Also, if you or someone you know are in need of some house painting or help with some lawn or yard work, please let Pastor Sara know and we might be able to help.
Lenten Opportunities
The 40 days of Lent give us a chance to immerse ourselves fully in our baptismal call to follow Jesus. During Lent’s forty days we are invited to observe the traditional Lenten disciplines of fasting, prayer, and works of love. I pray that we each might make a commitment to practice these disciplines of our faith more deeply in these coming weeks of Lent.
Throughout the Sundays in Lent Pastor Sara will be doing a Sermon Series on the Lord’s Prayer. In conjunction with the series, the Adult Forum will also be studying the Lord’s Prayer and there will be daily devotions available for study and prayer at home. There are also other Lent Devotion books available in the Narthex and you can talk with Linda Neitman for further resources.
While we will not be having our own midweek service or study, we encourage you to attend a service at one of our neighboring congregations. Information about their services will posted on the Narthex Bulletin Board.
Also, in this time of Lent, we are called to works of love and compassion for our world. In the Narthex are copies of the “Lutheran World Hunger Appeal 40 Day Calendar” with prayers, statistics, and ways to “think & tell” and “go & do” in response to God’s call to bless and heal this whole world, It is a thoughtful guide to incorporating prayer and service into your life in simple and active ways. Pick one up and put in on your fridge throughout this season of Lent!
Conference on Congregational Ministries
All are invited to the NJ Synod’s Conference on Congregational Ministries on Saturday, March 28th. It promises to be a great experience, with Dr. Timothy Wengert from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia as the keynote speaker. Pastor Sara will also be doing a workshop about the Book of Faith Initiative, looking at Devotional Reading of the Bible for groups and individuals. Registration materials will be available soon in the Narthex.
Loved by God, growing in faith, we are a place of welcome, sharing the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ
This is the purpose statement that was adopted by St. Peter’ congregation at our Annual meeting on January 27th, 2998. The hope is that this statement, which grew out of shared prayer, Bible study and conversation, will continue to take roots in our life as a congregation. It names both who we are today, and who we long to be in our future. This is something for all of us, from all of us, to give life and focus to our ministry. We will place this statement throughout our building, in our bulletins and elsewhere, to remember our purpose and to focus on our ministry. May God bless us and lead us as we participate in God’ mission with our unique purpose!
With Gratitude
“...I thank my God every time I remember you...” Phillipians 1:3
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:
Irene Plitz, Bill Shebey and Joan Hassard for your years of faithful service on council. We are so grateful for all you’ve done. And to Gary Grant and Judi Ziccardi for your willingness to serve on council as our newest members,
Odessa Lemley for putting together such a wonderful spread for our Annual Meeting,
Leigh Rink for installing the new thermostat in the Fellowship Hall and to LMM for your continued care of the building,
Barbara Henriksen, Evelyn Troy, Odessa Lemley and the others who helped prepare a meal for Habitat for Humanity workers this month,
Dominique and Tony Pasquarello and Ken Troy for delivering the food for the hungry and to all who so generously donate.
Linda Neitman and Irene Plitz for their willingness to lead worship while Pastor was away,
Mary Ann and the choir, the Altar Guild, acolytes, communion assistants and readers who made our Christmas Eve service so wonderful and for weekly working to create a space and lead worship that is beautiful, holy and special,
Pat Shebey in gratitude for her years of service as the chair of Altar Guild and for Linda Neitman for her willingness to serve as the new chair,
Walter Blenderman for his work in keeping track and acknowledging offerings to the church and preparing our year end statements,
Tom Johnston for doing our annual audit.
We give thanks to God for you, and for your willingness to share your many gifts!
Food...The Need Continues!
We continue collect non-perishable food for the needy in North Plainfield. The Ministerial Association in North Plainfield has a Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, where we deliver our donated food. With the cost of food today, it is a crisis all over the world, AND in North Plainfield!
The next time you shop, remember to buy a couple of extra cans for our food table in the narthex.
Thank you,
Ken Troy, LMM
Church Women United “Good Deed Foundation”
We are collecting recycled cell phones. In the U.S. more than half a billion cell phones are no longer being used and are ready for recycling, and more than 11 million phones are added to that total each month. With one simple act - recycling your old cell phone- you can create lasting solutions for women and families in poverty.
A portion of the recycled phones are programmed to dial only 911 and donated to domestic violence survivors, elder and low-income people at risk, for use in emergencies.
Please place them in the designated basket in the narthex.
Katie’s Quilters
Can you believe it: Katie’s quilters began their 12th year on September 12th, 2008. We cut the material into squares, sew the pieces into tops, assemble three layers (tops, filers, and bottoms), and sew and tie all the layers together for the quilts. Fabricland donates the material, while the quilters buy thread, filler material and pins, and deliver the quilts to Maryland, As you know, most of our quilts go to Lutheran World Relief. This year there was a 46% increase over the previous year in the number of quilts sent all over the world! Hallelujah! But the need is so great, and LWR is asking for more quilts. Last year LWR collected and delivered 452,870 quilts worldwide.
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?
News from WELCA
Did you know that any woman of St. Peter’ is welcome to join us for our monthly meetings? Did you also know that we do more that provide desserts for various St. Peter’s functions?
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
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 once each month. Our Katie’s Quilters usually meet twice a month on a Wednesday morning at 10:00 and a Friday evening at 7:00. Check with the office for the monthly schedule of activities.
In August, 2008, our women delivered an additional 90 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!
Lutheran Men in Mission
Our Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) meet once a month at the Church. All men of the church, young and senior alike, are welcome and encouraged to attend. Check with the office for the monthly schedule of events. In recent years, LMM has sponsored our Annual Picnic. They also take a regular turn with Fellowship Time after services.
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) and AHA (Action for Health in the Americas)
Our own missionary, Karen Anderson, whom we have supported in her mission in Chile for over 25 years, is President and founder of EPES, working in Chile through its first two decades. Karen said in a recent letter to all of her supporters, “Thank you for your continued support on behalf of our friends who work and serve in the shantytowns of Chile. With your help, EPES will continue to help educate and empower people in the poorest neighborhoods throughout Chile.“
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.
Word for the Week
Each week we are given the gift of God's Word in our lectionary texts, the texts assigned to us for each week of worship. You will hear these words on Sunday mornings and the Sunday School children study these texts. I invite you to take some time during the week before you come to church on Sunday to read, study and pray with these texts each week. It could be a simple way to do daily devotions. On Monday, read the first reading, Tuesday, the psalm, on Wednesday, the second reading, and Thursday, read the Gospel texts. On Friday and Saturday, go back to those readings you had questions about and dig more deeply into your study. These passages can also be read in preparation for our weekly 4 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study held at the church.
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.
February 25, Ash Wednesday:
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Psalm 51:1-17
2 Corinthians 4:20b-6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Week before March 1, First Sunday in Lent:
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3: 18-23
Mark 1: 9-15
Week before March 8, Second Sunday in Lent:
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8: 31-38
Week before March 15, Third Sunday in Lent:
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
I Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22
Week before March 22, Fourth Sunday in Lent:
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 (19)
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21
Week before March 29, Fifth Sunday in Lent:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 (10)
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
