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FRIENDLY MESSENGER
May 2008This Month's Contents:
Beloved People of God at St. Peter’s, |
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St. Peter’s Church Council met on April 14th, at 7:30 PM, in the Council Room. We started with a reading of the second lesson for Sunday, April 20th, 1 Peter 2:2-10. We talked about how Jesus calls us to be living stones, God’s own people, to proclaim his mighty acts in the world.
Pastor reported on her many activities over the past month, She certainly has ben busy! Some work has already been accomplished in regard to the goals set by council at last month's meeting. We are indeed reaching out in new and innovative ways in order to bring St. Peter’s to the attention of some folks who might not be reached in the traditional ways. Pastor has established a blog to work alongside our website. We intend to get out into the community with neighborhood visits and activities such as an ice cream social and yard sale. One idea Pastor brought back from her travels is a Visitor's Bulletin, so people who are unfamiliar with liturgical worship can follow our worship better, and, thus feel more at home here. Pastor will work on this for council's approval.
As usual, there were some financial matters to attend to. It was announced that we have already met our 2008 goal for the “Let it Shine Appeal,” thanks to the friends of St. Peter’s. Also, the first week of the Furnace Appeal was a success, so much in fact, that if, with the matching funds from Thrivent we get more than the furnace bill, we will put it towards the purchase of the new requirements the fire department has given us. The Property Committee is looking into this, and it looks like this will be a really big expense.
In view of these things, and the fact that we have made a gift of $2500, the council voted not to pledge the sum requested by the Synod for the Mission on the Move 3-year campaign. Instead we will have a Sunday each year where the congregation will have the opportunity to give free-will offerings to this important work. Also, each person has the opportunity to make a pledge to the Synod on an individual basis.
Pastor reported that we have been invited to participate in a shared community Vacation Church School to be held at St. Joseph RC Church. the council would like to see the proposed curriculum before making the final decision.
There has been a request by Iglesia Wesleyana to change the hours of their use of the church building. Instead of Friday nights, they would like 2 extra hours on Sunday evenings for practice. Council approval is pending reception of the request in writing.
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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:
Ken Troy who fixed our office chair so promptly and expertly,
We give thanks to God for you, and for your willingness to share your many gifts!
Meet at 8:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 3rd (rain date, May 10th), at the Church of the Holy Cross for registration and then move to the area to be “greened” or house to be painted. Volunteers must be 12 years of age or older.
Those helping to green the brook are asked to wear appropriate work shoes or boots and bring gloves and rakes. Other supplies will be supplied by the borough. Those assisting in painting are asked to bring a paint brush or two and a paint roller.
For more information, call the Church of the Holy Cross at (908)756-2438.
There will be lots of fun including swimming, games, great food (which will be provided), music and fellowship. Just bring a beach chair. Sign up to attend on the Men in Mission bulletin board. Directions and carpooling are available. For more information, see Ken Troy.
If you are interested, please speak to Evelyn Troy.
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!
The success I witnessed at EPES illustrates that dialogue which respects and listens to all voices, has the possibility of inspiring great and lasting social improvements. The community health promoters often told me that, before EPES, they felt worthless, but when they began participating in the events at EPES it gave them a reason to get up in the morning. The women who work with EPES were some of the most inspired people I have ever met.
St. Peter’s support of $20 weekly, which is given by our members in memory or in honor of a loved one, or to remember a special occasion, helps us keep our yearly pledge of $1,040, which goes directly to EPES in Santiago, Chile. Sign up on the chart in the office hallway, and pleae use an envelope clearly marked EPES Mission Support.
Thank you St. Peter's, for supporting this important and sorely needed mission.
Evelyn Troy, C.M.I.
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.
I wanted to share something else with you today, however. Last month, as I was doing some of my devotional quiet time, something struck me that I wanted to share with you all. But, as is too often the way with me, I put it off. I procrastinated. And, of course, the deadline came and went without my article, So now, as I sit down to write something for this month...do you think I can think of that great thought that so inspired me last month? You know I can’t.
But, as a firm believer that nothing is wasted if you learn something from it, the thought for this month is DON’T PROCRASTINATE. If God lays it on your heart to do something for somebody, if you suddenly get the idea that someone might need something that you could offer, if it comes to your heart that someone you haven’t heard from in a long time just might enjoy a call or note from you...DO IT NOW!! How many times has God placed good ideas in my head and I have ignored them until it was either too late or I have forgotten them entirely? Way more than I would like to admit.
With God’s help, I will try to do better in the future.
Yours in Christ,
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?
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 May 4, Seventh Sunday of Easter:
Week before May 11, Day of Pentecost:
Week before May 18, The Holy Trinity:
Week before May 25, Second Sunday of Pentecost:
Lutheran Men in Mission who continue to replace light bulbs and research our options regarding the fire alarm system,
All who contributed to our Furnace Repair Appeal,
Katie’s Quilters for making the great bags for our Sunday School students,
Odessa Lemley for attending the Conference on Congregational Ministries,2nd Annual Paint the Town/Green the Brook Community Day
Join with others in cleaning up our community. We’ll join with others from North Plainfield/Plainfield to pick up litter from the Green Brook. There are also plans to paint a house of a neighbor who needs our help.St. Peter’s Family Picnic
You and your family are cordially invited to St. Peter’s annual Family Picnic being held this year on Saturday, June 14th from 2 PM until dusk at the home of Erik and Paul Henriksen in Lebanon Township, NJ.Young Adults in Global Mission
This program provides one year international cross cultural experience in service, learning and leadership development. Participants engage in assignments with churches, or faith-based, or community-based organizations, developing relationships that provide rich opportunities for growth, support and spiritual life. Placements are made by matching the participant’s interests, skills and gifts, with needs in the following countries and locations: Argentina, Uruquay, Germany, India, Jerusalem/West Bank, Kenya, Slovakia, South Africa, Philippines, United Kingdom and Mexico.Global Mission Event
This summer's Global Mission Event, entitled “God’s Work, Our Hands,” will be held at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, July 17-20. For further information, please visit their Website, www.elca.org/gme/gme2008.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.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. E.P.E.S. (Educacion Popular En Salud): “Promoting Health, Hope and Healing!”
The “Mission” - EPES is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of shantytown inhabitants through the training and organized participation of the residents themselves. Over the past 20 years, EPES has trained hundreds of local people as community health promoters. The great majority (97%) of the health promoters are shantytown women.
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.”Spring Musings
Actually this little message doesn’t have anything to do with Spring per se. But, isn’t it a beautiful Spring we are having? Easter, Spring, rebirth! God is so good. He gives us so much to be joyful about, even in the midst of all the fears and pains, trouble and sorrows of this world. How good to know He is always with us, no matter what.
Linda NietmanWord 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.
2. What is God up to in this text?
3. What does this text call me (or us) to do or to be?
Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-25 (4)
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11
Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (30)
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21
John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Psalm 8 (1)
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131 (2)
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34
Last modified 5/2/08
