WORSHIP (SUNDAY SCHOOL is in recess until September 8)
Divine Worship 9am (Summer)
The News
Join our choir!
All confirmed church members are welcome to sing with our adult choir. The choir sings 2-3 Sundays each month and on special days like Christmas and Good Friday. Rehearsals are 7:30-9 pm on Wednesdays and will begin on August 28. You do NOT have to be available every Sunday and Wednesday – just sign out on the calendar in the choir room for the days you will miss. Please talk to Emily Ruch (emmileebeth@hotmail.com, 574-339-9669) or a current choir member with questions. We have a lot of fun – don’t miss it!
Christmas in August! Help with Chrismons
We are thinking ahead and working on making new chrismons out of Braille paper to use during Christmas for our tree. Ninette Deliyannides will provide all supplies and paper. Anyone age 12 and over (not just Women of St. Peter) is welcome to join for this work session, Saturday, Aug 24, 10am-noon, at the church. Questions? See Ninette!
Sign Birthday Cards for Homebound Members: Gerry LaCluyse and Joyce Frederick
On Sept 25, Gerry LaCluyse will turn 99, and on Sept 11, Joyce Frederick will turn 100! Please join in celebrating and encouraging these wonderful “Older, Wiser Lutherans” (OWLs) by signing a birthday card for each (in Narthex) over the next few Sundays.
Sign Up: Rally Day Potluck, Sunday Sept 8th
We are excited for our Pilgrimage Potluck on Rally Day, Sept 8th. Fried chicken and dessert will be provided. Please sign up for a side, salad, or bread by clicking this link!
During the Potluck, Pastor Clark and several other members will share a bit about their pilgrimages. But Fall Sunday Adult Education also will feature more opportunities to share. So please be sure to submit your Connection Stories if you haven’t already! (see the Pilgrimage section below).
Fall Mid-Week Bible Studies Resume in September
Join the morning bible study group on Thursdays at 9am beginning September 19 in the “library area” of the narthex. If you’d like to participate, sign up on the table under the slat wall so we can order you a book. The title is “Sip, Savor, and Drink Deeply: Receive God’s Overflowing Gifts.” See Paula Ryan with questions.
Join the evening bible study group on 1st and 3rd Fridays beginning September 20 at 6:30pm in the fellowship hall. Hosts offer dinner from 6:30-7, with study beginning at 7 and lasting about an hour, usually. This year begins with a study of 1 Corinthians, followed by Isaiah around the first of the year. If you’ve never been part of this group and would like to join, please see John Schroeder or Mike Fonck. All are welcome!
Fall Adult Education Hour: Spiritual and Ecumenical Pilgrimage
On Sunday Sept 15 and Sunday Sept 22, Adult Ed will feature stories from our various pilgrimages over the summer. Come and share!
Afterward, we will focus on this theme: how do we live as Confessional Lutherans within the wider Body of Christ? What direction do we find in Scripture? What can we learn from others? How can we connect with believers of all stripes and yet be faithful to our key convictions–and bring them as an offering TO the wider Body? Pastor Clark will share from his experiences but also invite you to share from yours.
MAC Food Pantry
Marion Mueller recently shared with her neighbors that the food pantry is getting more “customers” than normal for this time of year. God bless her neighbors for sending food to donate on behalf of SPLC!
MAC has also shared that many of the families have mentioned they don’t have can openers or a way to prepare food, so pop-top cans and pre-cooked, ready-to-eat items are especially in demand. Additionally, many families now also include young adult children, with no wage-earners in the household.
If you’ve never given to the food pantry before, just grab a couple extra items at the store next time you go, perhaps something YOU enjoy eating and would like to share with those who are struggling. Non-perishable only. Toiletries are also welcome. See Cindy Matthews or Renee Peggs if you have any questions.
Are you missing a coat?
Two leather jackets have been in our coat room since Easter weekend. Perhaps you had relatives in from out of town that weekend who may have left their jacket? We will hang onto these for a couple more weeks before they are donated. Please call the office or just grab it if one of them is yours (or you know the owner). Thanks!
LWML Zone Rally
Head on down to Calvary Lutheran in Plymouth on Sunday, October 6 at 1:30pm for the Ladies’ Fall Zone Rally! Meal cost is $5 and speaker is Laurie Hayn, who lost her arm and leg in an accident several years ago. Special ingathering for Phil’s Friends – see flyer on table in back of narthex for details. RSVP is not necessary. Just show up and plan to have a great afternoon with the other ladies!
Save the Date: Wine and Word – October 20
The Women of St. Peter Wine and Word event will be on the afternoon of Sunday, October 20, at the home of Jackie Homann. A specific time and more information will be shared in the coming weeks. Mark your calendars now!
Questions: Contact Amy Smessaert at amyhsmessaert@gmail.com or Jackie Homann at Jackie@athoralaw.com
Sewing Bonanza!
Many, many thanks to the erstwhile sewing ladies at St. Paul’s Lutheran up in South Bend. They have “retired” their sewing ministry, as the youngest member of their group just turned 89 years old! Graciously, they have donated their entire “stash” to our sewing ladies here at SPLC, and it’s a LOT. We are so grateful to carry out this quilt ministry that provides warmth and comfort around the globe.
Whether you have experience or interest in sewing or not, if you’re free on Tuesday mornings at 9am, come on out to the church and join this ministry. The ladies (and a gent or two!) have a great time, they have great snacks, and they can use willing hands, even if you have never touched a sewing machine! See Karen Waldron or Helga Platz for more information.
St. Peter Pilgrimages & Renewal
(Lilly Grant)
Dear Pilgrims at SPLC,
To help us celebrate our time of pilgrimage and renewal on Rally Day, it is important that we collect the stories and pictures from your local pilgrimages … and your receipts.
By the end of August, please:
- Submit a photo from your pilgrimage to Renee Peggs at office@splcm.org. Be sure to put the name of your pilgrimage in the subject line.
- Complete the brief (only 3 questions!) Connection Stories form, using the paper form on the slat wall or the online form via the Renewal tab on the SPLC website https://splcm.org/renewal/ – scroll down to the blue bar that says Local Pilgrimage: Connection Stories. Paper forms may be placed in the clear box by the slat wall. NOTE: Each person who participated in a pilgrimage is asked to share their experience via this form.
- Pilgrimage coordinators: Complete a reimbursement form for expenses. Reimbursement forms are available on the slat wall. Place your completed form with receipts attached in David Luster-Bartz’s mailbox in the church office or in the clear box..
Photos and stories will be shared at a potluck gathering on Rally Day. We look forward to celebrating our pilgrimage journeys!
Resurrection Lutheran Academy (RLA)
News, Info, and Ministry Opportunities
 Over the summer RLA has been blessed in many different ways. In the 26 years that RLA has been operating this is the first that we are serving 100 students in K-8th grade, 120 total with preschool. Last year we had 97 students total, and 100 K-8 was our five-year goal! We are so thankful, and we’ve also made some changes to better serve all of these Saints.  A wall was built to create to separate classrooms. Now music and math will be able to be taught at the same time with out interruption. Thank you donors!  Thanks to some generous donors, the gym floor was resurfaced to make playing on it safe for all students.  Mrs. Joy Steffen has joined the RLA staff to team teach 4th grade  Mr. Jonathan Jackson has Joined the RLA staff to teach 2nd grade. These are just some of the many blessings God has shared with Resurrection Lutheran Academy this summer. As school starts we look forward to opening up our building again to all of the families and churches that support the Lutheran Education that RLA continues to provide Michiana. Blessings! Resurrection Lutheran Academy 6840 Nimtz Parkway South Bend, IN 46628 574-272-2200 https://www.rlasouthbend.com/  |
Ministry Updates and Opportunities
Sunday Servants Gather Before Worship
With the summer worship schedule in place, all who help lead the Divine Service gather promptly at 8:50am to take 3 minutes 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.
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.
Week of August 18, 2024
Offerings
General Fund: $2,819.50
Endowment: $45
Worship Attendance
Sunday 8/18: 91
M.A.C. Food Pantry
• food collected: 67 pounds
• this week’s shopping list: applesauce cups/fruit cups, Knorr/Rice-a-Roni, soup
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.
Braille Bible Team
• start date still to be determined…
Contact Sharon Csaszar (574) 904-1411 or Sandy Ellis (574) 220-3636 for more information.
Sewing Quilt Team
• begins September 10
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.
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
If your group needs to use Zoom, please email the office at office@splcm.org.
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)