WORSHIP, SUNDAY SCHOOL, LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
Sunday Education Hour 9am (Age 3 to Adult)
Divine Worship 10:15am
Midweek Worship
Lenten Devotional and Sunday Study: Psalms of Ascent and our Pilgrimage to Renewal
This Lent we will draw on the Psalms of Ascent, composed by pilgrims who “went up” to Jerusalem for the three major festivals in Israel’s liturgical year, with the help of our devotional, The Pilgrim Road. Pick up your copy (one per household, please) from under the slat wall. Note that the inside cover lays out how to use the devotional and when to read each chapter; on Sundays we will discuss the past week’s Psalms and chapters and how we have benefited from them in our Lenten pilgrimage. The class will be mostly DISCUSSION. You will still be able to understand and participate if you do not do the readings; but you’ll get more out of it if you do!
For Mar 10: Where the Crooked Path Leads; and, Consumed by Joy (Pss. 125 and 126)
The News
Easter Opportunities
- Donations for Easter flowers will be accepted from Sunday, March 3rd to Sunday, March 10th. Please place your donation (checks payable to: Women of St. Peter) in the box on the table at the back of the church and sign the sheet so we may acknowledge your donation.
- Custodian Matt Rockwell could use some helping hands with setup and cleanup for the Easter Party and Easter Worship: Friday, March 29, 3pm and Saturday, March 30 11am after the party. Please indicate your willingness on the sign-up sheet under the slat wall, and speak to Matt if you have specific questions about helping.
- Serve at the Easter Party and Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 beginning at 9:30. Krista Hunt has graciously agreed to head this up this year. Sign up under the slat wall to serve community families; see Krista or PC with questions.
- Please also sign up your kids using Fast-Track Pre-Registration!
5. There’s a breakfast after worship on Easter Sunday, March 31. Please sign up using the sheet under the slat wall to indicate your willingness to bring a coffee cake, muffins, or some other kind of pastry. Yes, you can buy it at a store! Speak with Paula Ryan if you have any questions.
Thank you for your help with these ministries as we BIOMEN SYNDESMOI into the Resurrection of Our Lord!
Pilgrimage Expo: Sunday, March 17 after worship
Mark your calendars to attend the Pilgrimage Expo after worship on March 17. This is a time for you to talk with folks to support your pilgrimage or get you connected with one.
- Coordinators of pilgrimages will be available to talk about their ideas/plans.
- Renewal Team members will be on hand to help connect you with a pilgrimage opportunity that matches your idea of renewal, and to support pilgrimage coordinators in finalizing their plans.
New Pilgrimage: Mozart’s Requiem and The Christian Funeral on March 17
Interested in joining John Schroeder for a performance of Mozart’s Requiem at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame? https://performingarts.nd.edu/event/16049/The South Bend Chamber Singers, featuring our own Dave Homann, will be delivering this performance. A discussion afterwards will connect the Requiem with our own funeral practices here at St. Peter. If you want to be part of this pilgrimage, contact John as soon as possible at jschroeind@aol.com or 574-220-1530.
SPLC Local Pilgrimages: Updates and Renewal Team Reaching Out
Amy Smessaert, Renewal Team Chair, is reaching out in response to requests for follow-up on the Pilgrimage Idea Forms, and to those who are looking for pilgrimages.
Between now and the end of March is the time to create, update, and/or be close to finalizing your pilgrimage plans. We expect that the majority of pilgrimages will take place between April and the end of July.
A. If you have already submitted an idea, please use the Update Form to firm up your pilgrimages. Let us know over the next couple of weeks:
- Is the pilgrimage “on” (and if it’s not, let us know that, too)
- Who is going
- Date of pilgrimage
- Cost estimates/updates
B. If you have not yet submitted an idea, no worries! Complete a Pilgrimage Idea Form on the St. Peter website at https://splcm.org/renewal/ (click on the blue “Pilgrimage Idea Form” button). Or pick up a blue form on the slat wall, complete it, and return it to the box on the table.
C. If you are looking for a pilgrimage to join, great! Check out the complete list online at https://splcm.org/renewal/ (scroll past the blue buttons) or the list posted on the slat wall. Feel free to contact the coordinator of a pilgrimage that appeals to you. Or, write your name and contact information on the sign-up sheet by the slat wall.
Questions? Contact Deaconess Amy Smessaert at amyhsmessaert@gmail.com or 574-360-8377, or renewal team members Brian and Jill Reedstrom, and Chuck and Paula Ryan.
Announcing the Retreat Weekend Line-Up: SIGN UP COMING SOON
Saturday, April 20th
Schedule — Light Breakfast, 8:45am; Retreat: 9am-12pm, Lunch: 12-12:30pm
- Adults: The Rev. Dr. Art Just (Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne) will present from his life’s work on The Emmaus Road: A Pilgrimage with Jesus
- Kids, Ages 3-13: Music, Art, and Games featuring Emmy Woock (former St. Peter choir director, now Professor of Music, Concordia University-Chicago) and Ninette Deliyannides (Docent and Kids’ Art Instructor at South Bend and Raclin Museums of Art); art and music will be shared in worship Sunday
- Youth: assist with Music, Art, Games, and/or Childcare for under 3. OR, attend the adult track.
- Kids under 3: let us know if childcare is essential to attendance and we’ll see what is possible.
Drop-In Reception with Dr. and Mrs. Just: approximately 6-8pm (final coming soon)
- Hosted by the Homanns, 21715 Jackson Rd., South Bend
Sunday, April 21st
Special Education Hour: 9am
- Adults: Pilgrimage in Christian History with Rev. Dr. Art Just
- Kids and Youth: Art and Music with Miss Woock and Mrs. Deliyannides (includes final rehearsal for songs in worship and moving art to Sanctuary)
Special Divine Worship: 10:15am
- Preaching: Rev. Dr. Art Just
- Guest Organist: Miss Emmy Woock, Professor of Music
*Catered Luncheon after Worship!*
Sweets and Serenades
The Michiana Lutheran Education Association will hold its annual fundraising event, Sweets and Serenades, to benefit Resurrection Lutheran Academy, at St. Peter on Friday, April 26 from 7-10pm. More details about the event itself will be forthcoming, but the MLEA is right now looking for donations of gift certificates or other auction items. Please call Donald Swift at 574-272-2200 if you have any questions.
Ministry Updates and Opportunities
Opportunity in Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is seeking additional leaders (one or two). The time commitment is a few hours a month; the responsibilities are split up among team members.
We seek and prepare new Stephen Ministers, work with potential care receivers, provide supervision and continuing education, and make others aware of the ministry. Interested? Talk to Amy Smessaert or Vickie Hess.
RLA VBS 2024: June 10-14
Vacation Bible School may not quite be on your radar yet, but our leaders are already diving in to prepare to offer the children a reef-y great biblical adventure this year! Go ahead and get the dates on your calendar, and feel free to scan the QR code or click here to pre-register and/or let us know you’re willing to volunteer! Additional details will follow in the months to come.
Public Service Announcement
Have you heard about the new Indiana state law adopted by St. Joseph County that offers a homestead credit for homeowners over age 55? It will prevent property taxes from rising more than 2% annually. Check out www.sjcindiana.com/2302/auditor for more information.
Sunday Servants Gather Before Worship
All who help lead the Divine Service will gather for 5 minutes by the font at 10 a.m. to prepare their hearts and minds for worship. If you are serving as altar guild, usher, crucifer/acolyte, lector, greeter, tech person, elder, musician/dancer, doorkeeper or other HEART member, etc. on a particular Sunday, please come together for quick introductions and short prayer led by Deaconess Amy Smessaert. Together, we will ask God to bless our service to God’s people as we live connected in spiritual formation in Christ. All confirmands and parents are encouraged to participate, whether or not you are serving on that Sunday.
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Topic: Psalms of Ascent and our Pilgrimage to Renewal
This Lent we will draw on the Psalms of Ascent, composed by Pilgrims who “went up” to Jerusalem for the three major festivals in Israel’s liturgical year, with the help of our devotional, The Pilgrim Road. Pick up your copy (one per household please) from under the slat wall. Note that the inside cover lays out how to use the devotional and when to read each chapter; on Sundays we will discuss the past week’s Psalms and chapters and how we have benefited from them in our Lenten pilgrimage. The class will be mostly DISCUSSION. You will still be able to understand and participate if you do not do the readings; but you’ll get more out of it if you do!
Thursday Morning Bible Study – New Series Begins!
If you missed out on the Colossians study, come join us for Measured by Grace, a new series beginning Thursday, March 21, 9am at church. Please let Paula Ryan know immediately if you’re interested in joining, so we can order you a book.
Friday Night Bible Study
The FNBS next meets March 15 at 6:30pm for dinner, followed by study beginning at 7pm. This year’s focus is 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 Jacob’s 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 [Mar 15, Apr 5 and 19, May 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.
Church Set-up
If you are using the church for any reason and need the church set up a certain way, please text or call Matt Rockwell at 574-261-8318.
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 March 3, 2023
Offerings
General Fund: $7,509.50
RLA: $5
Pastors’ Discretionary: $20
Maintenance: $20
Worship Attendance
Wednesday evening prayer 3/6: 57
Sunday 3/3: 110
M.A.C. Food Pantry
• food collected last week: 78 pounds
• this week’s shopping list: Jell-o, spaghetti, hamburger helper
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.
Sewing Quilt Team
• 4 quilts this week
Through the program year, 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
• 22 books of II Chronicles in Unified English Braille this week
• 16 books of I Kings in Contracted English Braille on Saturday 3/2 with SPY
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 monthly celebrations for birthdays, baptisms, 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:
Mon: “flex” (call to see)
Tue: 11:00am-3pm
Wed: 11:00am-3pm
Thu: 10:30am-3pm
Fri: “flex” (call to see)
Pastors’ Day Off: Mondays
*Otherwise, call, text, or email to set an appointment. See contact below.
Sunday Schedule
- Education Hour: 9am
Ages 3-Adult - Divine Worship: 10:15 am
(stream: splcm.org/worship)