WORSHIP and SUNDAY SCHOOL
To access live-streamed Worship and view Worship Folder please use:
Sunday Education Hour for ages 3 – adult at 9am
Divine Worship at 10:15am
The News
Rally Day this Sunday, Sept 10: Sunday School, Prayer Walk, Potluck, Slide, Spirit Wear!
Rally Day kicks off the new year in Sunday School for ages 3 to adult, as well as all our Fall adventures under the 2023-24 Theme: “Biomen Syndesmoi: Live Connected in Spiritual Formation”
- 9am Prayer Walk for the adults at the church; Sunday School for the kids
- 10:15am Divine Worship returns to its regular time
- Potluck after worship: Chicken and dessert will be provided (thank you Paula Ryan and MLT!). Please sign up for sides, salads, and bread/crackers. You can sign up in the Narthex or by using this sign-up genius link (either one, no need to do both). A mega-slide will also be available for the kids.
- Spirit Wear: Webstore is LIVE through Monday 9/18 – click here! | samples available in Narthex the next two Sundays (pro tip: last year, many found that t-shirt and polo sizes ran SMALL; consider ordering a size “up”)
- First Adult Sunday Study: Pastor Borger will teach and lead discussion on the spiritual formation of character and relationships in the Book of Ruth and in our lives.
Please Sign-Up for Wine & Word on Sept. 17
Women of St. Peter (ages 21 and over) are invited to Wine & Word on Sunday afternoon, September 17, at the home of Jackie and Dave Homann. This time of living connected features Bible study and reflection, interspersed with wine tasting. It’s a lovely experience of spending time in God’s Word, being with one another, and learning something new about the fruit of the vine! Other beverages will be available. Please sign up by emailing Jackie Homann or on the sheet under the slat wall. Questions? Connect with Jackie or Amy Smessaert.
Sunday Sept 24: MCC Survey Forum and Lunch Sign-Up (CROP Walkers also invited!)
Last Sunday, the Ministry and Call Committee distributed the results of our summer survey on the possibility of Pastor Borger “stepping back” and Pastor Clark “stepping up.” Our next step will be a Forum for further discussion on Sept 24 after worship (a “summary view” of the pastors’ current schedules will also be distributed ahead of the Forum).
Lunch will be provided, and CROP Walkers will head to the Walk immediately after. Please click here to sign-up for the meal (or sign up in the Narthex).
*Please also read the Letter in advance of the Forum and continue to pray our “MCC Prayer.” Click here for the Letter and Prayer.
Joyce Frederick Turns 99 on September 11!
Joyce has been a member of SPLC since 1951. To help Joyce celebrate her special day, the congregation is invited to send birthday cards. She would love to hear from you! Joyce may be reached at:
530 Tanglewood Lane Apt. 203
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Jackie Florian turns 90 on September 14!
Jackie used to be in charge of the sewing and quilt-making ministry. To help make her day special, the congregation is invited to send cards.
1637 Dogwood Rd.
Bremen, IN 46506
Farewell to the Werts
Terry and Michelle Wert will be moving with Terry’s new job later in September. Please sign the “Godspeed and Farewell” frame for them in the Narthex.
Church Cleaning: Volunteers will be Needed Starting in September
In addition to appreciating the Werts as members, we also give thanks for Michelle’s service in our Custodial Ministry. As she leaves, we will have a transition period in which we need volunteers to clean before Sunday worship. Please please prayerfully consider if you might serve, and use this link to sign up for a slot. Click below for a list of responsibilities with video tutorials on how to carry out the tasks. We are so grateful for your willingness to BIOMEN SYNDESMOI by caring for God’s house.
Join Us for this Year’s CROP Walk – September 24th!
Join us in our efforts to support this year’s St. Joseph County CROP Hunger Walk and help us fight hunger in our community and across the globe.
What is the CROP Hunger Walk?
CROP Hunger Walks are community fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), a faith-based organization addressing hunger and food insecurity, lack of clean water, and other issues defining poverty in our community and across the globe. 25% of the funds we raise will go to local organizations in St. Joseph County, including The Christian Community Pantry, Broadway Christian Parish UMC Food Ministries, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church Food Pantry and United Religious Community Advocacy Center.
How can I get involved?
- Walk with us on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Zion United Church of Christ in South Bend (near Howard Park). Registration starts at 1:15 pm. There are two walks – a short 1-mile walk or a long 4-mile walk.
- Donate on behalf of our walkers and SPLC. Our goal is to raise $500. Let’s make it happen!
- Online: To donate online, click here or go to our SPLC fundraising page and click on the orange ‘Donate’ button.
- Offline: Grab one of the donation folders by the slat wall and return it to Halrun Luppes by September 24.
- ATTN SPY! If you are associated with SPY, please reference “St. Peter Youth” in the ‘Message’ field online or on your check as CWS will make a matching gift of $125 if our youth group raises at least $250.
- Pray for the CROP Walk and for our participation in it.
To learn more about CWS and CROP Hunger Walks visit CROP Hunger Walks. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Halrun Luppes at luppes@sbcglobal.net or 574-292-2792 (mobile). Thank you for your support!
New Partnership and Resource – Dunes Hospice Community Grief Share: 3:30-4:30pm Second Mondays, starting Sept 11
St. Peter is set to host this new group for people journeying together through grief after the loss of a loved one. The regular leaders will be Chaplain Matt Barker and a social worker, both from Dunes Hospice. But importantly, the loved one you lost does not need to have been in hospice for you to participate. The group is free and open to the public. Before attending, please contact Chaplain Barker at mbarker@duneshospicellc.com. (You can also see PC with any questions relevant to St. Peter)
Chaplain Barker has served many years locally as a Presbyterian pastor and is a personal friend of the Deliyannides family. We thank them (and God!) for this connection.
Donate Books to Help 8th Graders in Our Community Do Art!
Ninette Deliyannides invites you to join her, along with our Art Museums, in providing art opportunities for 8th graders by bringing used books to church. We are looking for (age-appropriate) word- or picture- books, and “younger child” books are just fine for the project. A bin will be available under the slat wall for your donations. Thank you!
Ministry Updates and Opportunities
ANNOUNCING FALL 2023: Adult Bible Studies and Small Groups
Sunday Morning Adult Study: Live Connected in Spiritual Formation – The Book of Ruth
Pastor Borger will teach and lead discussion on the Book of Ruth starting on Sunday, September 17th (Rally Day, Sept 10, is our Annual Prayer Walk). How do we see God forming the character and relationships of everyone in this narrative? How might this help form our character and relationships as we “live connected”? How does this connect with our overall story in Israel and in Christ?
When: Sundays, 9am | Where: Church Fellowship Hall
Friday Night Bible Study
The FNBS meets next on September 15 at 6:30pm for dinner, followed by study beginning at 7pm. This year’s focus will be Chad Bird’s book, Limping with God: Jacob and the Old Testament Guide to Messy Discipleship. Anyone is welcome to join; no previous bible study experience needed!
Jacob seems to be anything but a model disciple. And yet he is also “Israel,” the namesake of the Old Testament community of God, chosen and blessed. In Jacob’s life we see our lives, our struggles, our failures…but most especially, the God who loves us and chooses us as his own. Come explore his story as we learn more together about ourselves and about the God of Israel, who is with us and for us in Jesus the Messiah.
Book: Check it out or order here (the church will cover the cost if needed)
Time: Meal, 6:30pm | Study 7-8:30pm
Dates: 1st and 3rd Fridays [Sept 15, Oct 6 and 20, Nov 3 and 17]
Where: Fellowship Hall
Sign-up: Please contact either John Schroeder (jschroeind@aol.com) or Mike Fonck (mfonck@comcast.net) to let them know you’re interested.
Pick Your Next Usher Date!
Thanks to everyone who has served as an usher or part of an usher team. It’s time to pick another date to serve! Please sign up on the Sunday Servants sheet on the slat wall. You can see the specific list of duties, with video demos, here. A veteran usher will assist you and teach you one extra duty beyond communion each time you serve.
Crucifer: Pick a Date to Carry the Cross!
Anyone interested and able is invited to carry the Cross for the processional at the beginning of worship. Sign up on the Sunday Servants sheet in the Narthex and watch this video to prepare.
Church Set-up
If you are using the church for any reason and need the church set up a certain way, please contact Matt Rockwell rockwellmatt87@gmail.com.
Coffee Hour/Hospitality
We need volunteers for hospitality on Sundays. Pick up some treats from the store such as mini rolls, strudel, fruit, donut holes, small cinnamon rolls, or similar. Total cost is no more than $20 (3-4 packages). There is a sign-up sheet and instructions on the table by the slat wall. Please contact Nancy Kroll if you have any questions at (574) 229-9496.
Week of September 3, 2023
Offerings
General Fund: $7,680.26
Worship Attendance
Sunday 9/3: 94
M.A.C. Food Pantry
• food collected this week: Cindy will return toward the end of the month
• this week’s shopping list: Jiffy mix, hamburger helper, Jell-o
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.
Sewing Quilt Team
• Sewing resumes in October
The Sewing Group meets Tuesdays to cut squares, size sheets, assemble backs and fronts of quilts, iron sheets, sew and pin quilts. Participants of ANY skill level from the least to the greatest are welcome. If you are interested in this human care ministry, contact Helga Platz (574) 514-3751 for more information.
Braille Bible Team
• Braille resumes next week
• 18 books of I Kings in Contracted English Braille
Contact Sharon Csaszar (574) 904-1411 or Sandy Ellis (574) 220-3636 for more information.
Links and General Info
Prayer Requests may be submitted by:
- Using the convenient on-line Submit New Prayer Request Here Link
- Adding written prayers to the “Our Gathering Prayers” form on Sunday morning
Announcements may be submitted by:
- Using the online form: https://splcm.org/forms/submit-announcement/
- Filling out an announcement form from the left of the slat wall in the Narthex and placing it on the pastor’s chair to the right of the Cross at the front of the sanctuary.
St. Peter Members Website Page
Did you know that we have a dedicated page just for members of St. Peter? This page contains the most current church directory; monthly celebrations for birthdays, baptism and wedding anniversaries; annual Kingdom Spending Plan (budget); monthly financial reports; MLT and Voter Assembly minutes and announcements; church Constitution, and more. NOTE: Password is the same as “prayers” password; call the church office with questions, 574-255-5585.
Zoom Videoconferencing
Changes have continued. If your group needs to use Zoom, please email PC at adamclarknd@gmail.com.
Your St. Peter Leadership
- Mission Leadership Team (MLT)
Brian Reedstrom (President)
David Seitz (Vice-President)
Alex Homann (Secretary)
David Luster-Bartz (Treasurer)
Andrew Deliyannides (At-Large member)
Elizabeth McGrath (At-Large member)
Dylan Bergstrom (At-Large member) - Elders
Chuck Ryan (Head Elder), Marty Orlowski, Brian Reedstrom, Mark Waldron, David Gurnee, John Schroeder, Jeff Rockwell - Pastors
Pastor Bryan Borger, Senior Pastor
Pastor Adam Clark, Associate Pastor
Office Hours:
Tu/Th: 9am-12pm
Wed: 8-10:30am
F: “Flex” (call to see)
Sunday Schedule
- Education Hour: 9:00-9:50am
- Divine Worship: 10:15am
(stream: splcm.org/worship)