Announcements for April 14 – Divine Worship: the Third Sunday of Easter

Our Pilgrimage to Renewal Weekend
Saturday, April 20-Sunday, April 21

If you haven’t already, please sign up under the slat wall for Pilgrimage to Renewal weekend activities OR contact the church office, 574-255-5585 or office@splcm.org so we know how many to plan for. This retreat weekend is our “capstone” event of this pilgrimage experience for the congregation. You won’t want to miss it! Please see April 14th letter from Pastor Bryan Borger below.

1. Saturday, April 20 Morning Retreat:
   • 8:45am – Light Breakfast (All) – Gathering
   • Adults: 9-Noon – “Road to Emmaus” retreat with Dr. Arthur Just
   • Kids: 9-Noon: Art, Music, Games, etc.
     • Children and teens, please bring an art apron or smock, or clothes that are ok to get messy. Some of the art materials are not washable and will stain permanently.
   • Noon: Catered Box Lunch (All)
2. Saturday Evening: 6:00pm
   • Meet & Greet with Dr. and Mrs. Just and Emmy Woock at the Homann residence
3. Sunday, April 21 Schedule:
   • Education Hour: 9:00-9:50 am
     • Adults: “Christian Pilgrimage” with Dr. Arthur Just
     • Kids: Good Shepherd raft & Sunday Worship preparation
   • Divine Worship – Good Shepherd Sunday: 10:15am
     Pastor Bryan Borger, Presiding; Dr. Arthur Just, Guest Preacher; Emmy Woock, Guest Organist & Children’s Choir; Emily Ruch, Music Director & Choir.
   • Catered Lunch: Immediately following worship (Please sign up and plan to join us!)

Sunday Bible Study, April 14
Concluding the Psalms of Ascent

Join us Sunday for our final discussion of the Psalms of Ascent with the help of our devotional, The Pilgrim Road. You will 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 April 14: Kindred Companions; and Antiphonal Blessings (Pss. 133 and 134)

The Clarks’ Sabbatical Pilgrimage has begun…

Several members have asked for a little clarification on what exactly Pastor Clark’s sabbatical means for his family and for communication between him and the Church–e.g., will he be sending updates along the way? 

What Does This Mean?

1. The Lilly Grant has an intentional policy of “total separation from the work” and explicitly rules out “updates along the way.” Pastor Clark and St. Peter congregation will certainly have some exciting pilgrimage stories to swap upon his return. To that end, please respect the process and the spirit of the sabbatical and do not contact Pastor Clark and his family.
2. Pastor Clark’s family will remain active St. Peter members and part of the community. However, you will not see them on Sundays or at other events they might normally attend, as they will be visiting other churches with Pastor Clark or taking other pilgrimages as a family. They will still be at some St. Peter activities such as Confirmation, Youth, etc.
3. If you have any church-related questions or pastoral needs, please direct them appropriately either to Pastor Bryan Borger (revborger@mac.com, 574-386-6401) or Renee Peggs, our Ministry Coordinator (office@splcm.org, 574-255-5585).
   • All pastoral emergencies should be directed to Pastor Bryan Borger and/or one of the elders.

Thanks for your support of sabbath rest, renewal, and pilgrimage for the Clarks!

Update on SPLC Local Pilgrimages 

• Not connected with a pilgrimage? Please add your name, contact information, and pilgrimage area of interest (i.e., music, art, museum, outdoor activities) to the sign-up sheet on the table near the slat wall. Or contact one of the Renewal Team members: Amy Smessaert, Chuck and Paula Ryan, Brian and Jill Reedstrom (see contact info below). Renewal Team members will be reaching out beginning next week. 
• See the list of pilgrimage opportunities posted on the slat wall. Or create a new pilgrimage by submitting a Pilgrimage Idea Form online at https://splcm.org/renewal/ or on the slat wall (return completed form to the clear box on the table).
• Need help to flesh out your pilgrimage idea? If you noted on your Pilgrimage Idea Form that you’d like some follow-up, the Renewal Team is in the process of reaching out to answer your questions and help make sure you have everything you need. 
• Reminder for Pilgrimage Coordinators: If you are coordinating a local pilgrimage, please use the Pilgrimage Update Form (available at https://splcm.org/renewal/ or on the slat wall) as many times as needed as things take shape. It’s important to know who is going on the pilgrimage, date of pilgrimage, cost information, etc.

Questions? Contact Deaconess Amy Smessaert at amyhsmessaert@gmail.com or 574-360-8377, or Renewal Team members Brian and Jill Reedstrom at brianreedstrom@gmail.com or jcreedstrom@gmail.com, and Chuck and Paula Ryan at CharlesRyan9036@aol.com.

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 is getting closer! 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. We’ve started collecting items we’ll need: see the sheet under the slat wall and/or pick up a slip with the link to the Amazon wishlist. Let Krista Hunt know if you have any questions.

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.   

Thursday Morning Bible Study

Come join us for Measured by Grace, Thursdays at 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 April 19 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.

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.

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.

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