SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WORSHIP
Sunday School 9am
classes for all ages
Divine Worship and Pastoral Installation, 10:15am
The News
This Sunday, Sept 29th: Pastoral Transition and CATERED Luncheon (NOT a potluck)
THIS Sunday, September 29th, our District President, the Rev. Dr. Rick Stuckwisch, will be present to preach and install Pastors Clark and Borger in their new calls. After worship, we will join in a celebratory luncheon catered by Nelson’s. Email office@splcm.org to add your household and number attending to the list. We look forward to a great time of fellowship!
Adult Ed starting THIS Sunday, Sept 29, 9am: Confessional Lutherans in the Wider Body
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? With each Tradition, Pastor Clark will share from his experiences and invite you to share from yours; then we will examine everything in the light of Scripture. We’ll consider traditions like: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican/Episcopal, Reformed & Presbyterian, Anabaptist (Mennonite, Amish), Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal.
Bethlehem Artisan Pre-Order Christmas Catalogs
In the Spring of 2023, the Borgers and Homanns were privileged to tour the Holy Land with Professor Art Just, who led our spring Pilgrimage Retreat. Iyad, our Palestinian Christian tour guide, reached out to us recently with an opportunity to help local Palestinian Christian artists from Bethlehem. Iyad wrote, “I am writing to you hoping you can help us as the situation here continues to be bad and getting worse since the war continues and it has been over twelve months.” Many of the Palestinian Christian artisans in Bethlehem are struggling due to the ongoing war that has decimated the tourist industry and made it difficult to sell their creations.
To support these artisans and their continued livelihood, our St. Peter congregation is able to order items from either: (1) a Jewelry Catalog (weblink here) or (2) the Touch of Grace Olive Wood Christmas Catalog (pdf download below)
To pre-order, please either: (1) use the Bethlehem Artisan Order Form at the back of the church; OR (2) call Renee in the office (574-255-5585) on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and she will take your order OR (3) download, print, and fill out a Bethlehem Artisan Order Form (pdf download below):
Please fill out the form with all the requested information for each item. Payment will be collected when the order arrives (NO MONEY IS DUE NOW). Final day for placing any orders is Sunday, October 6. If you have any questions, see Pastor Borger or Renee.
Updates and Invites from the Women’s Leadership Institute
1. Pray for the 14 pairs of mentors/mentees in Concordia Wisconsin’s EmpowHer program.
2. On Nov. 16, the Women of Influence banquet will highlight this year’s recipients of the Donna J. Streufert leadership award. Click here for more information, or to sponsor students and scholarships!
3. Three women have completed the Growing Together Workshop Facilitator Training!
4. We have applied for a $50,000 LWML grant; please consider or encourage a vote for us if you or a friend are attending the national convention!
5. Please pray for the hiring process for our next WLI Director!
Gloria Dei: 30th Anniversary Organ Recital with David Stultz – Sunday Sept 29, 4pm
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
225 Haney Ave., South Bend IN 46613
Parking lot and main entrance: north side of the church building off of Broadway Street.
This concert celebrates the 30th anniversary of the installation of the Gloria Dei Memorial Organ (Charles M. Ruggles, Op. 25, 1994). David Stultz is a recent graduate of the Master of Sacred Music program at the University of Notre Dame and a doctoral student in organ performance at the University of Michigan. A talented improviser, he will include two original improvisations on well-known hymn tunes during the concert. This concert is free and all are welcome, especially families and children.
Hymn Fest at Valpo
To celebrate its 100 years of Lutheran heritage, Valparaiso University kicks off a year of fabulous events beginning with a Hymn Festival on Saturday, October 5 at 4pm (5pm our time). In addition to a phenomenal guest organist, the festival will feature a 500-voice choir comprised of current music students, alumni, Lutheran Summer Music alumni, and others from the wider Valpo circle, in addition to the university’s band, orchestra, and other ensembles. This event is free to attend and promises to be a magnificent celebration of Lutheran music and tradition.
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
Cheeseballs
Cheeseball time is almost here! We will be making cheeseballs on Tuesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 24. Mark your calendars now; we’ll need lots of help!
Once again, we will sell by order only. Order forms will be available on October 1 and must be turned in by Sunday, October 20. Cost will be $8 per cheeseball again this year. Pickup for orders will begin Sunday, October 27.
Cookie Pantry
Our annual cookie sale will be Saturday, December 7. Plan now to make a batch (or a ton!) of cookies.
Advent by Candlelight
If anyone is interested in planning this event for the Women of St. Peter, please talk to Paula Ryan soon!
St. Peter Pilgrimages & Renewal
(Lilly Grant)
Considering Traditions, Connecting with the Homebound, Moving toward a Memory Book
Our pilgrimage continues as we consider how to be Confessing Lutherans within the Wider Body of Christ in Adult Ed (see announcement above). Look forward also to hearing more about opportunities to include our homebound members in our pilgrimage and to preserve our journey in a forthcoming “Memory Book.”
Resurrection Lutheran Academy (RLA)
News, Info, and Ministry Opportunities
Gym Floor Fundraiser
This summer Resurrection Lutheran Academy was able to refinish our gym floor thanks to the help of some generous donors. This gift has allowed students and student-athletes to play and practice safely, without fear of sliding around. We use our gym daily for play and gatherings. The entire school gathers at the end of the day for dismissal in the gym, weekly in our family groups for chapel, and for big events like our Christmas program. For the bigger events, we need to put out chairs and tables, which is the leading cause of scratches and damage to the floor.
To prevent damage from the chairs and tables and preserve the life of our gym floor, we are starting a funding drive for a cover. The cover is 300 tiles that are 6’x3′. This cover style will give RLA the flexibility to selectively protect portions of the floor and leave other parts usable, such as during basketball and volleyball games. As a school, and with the help of our associated churches, we need to meet our goal by Nov. 1st so that the cover can be ordered and in place in time for the Christmas program. If each family works to collect donations equivalent to 2-3 tiles, which are $50 each, we will reach our goal!
If a donor would like to support in the name of one of our school families we are hosting a raffle for the families at school. There will be several items in the raffle for the school families but the grand prize is a $250 gift card to Generations Venture Plex. Every tile that a family brings back funded, or funded in their name, gets entered into the raffle.
Please reach out to Donald Swift by calling 574-272-2200. Thank you all for all of the support that you show RLA.
Bible Studies & Ministry Updates and Opportunities
Sunday Servants Gather Before Worship
All who help lead the Divine Service gather promptly at 10:05am 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.
Fall Mid-Week Bible Studies
THURSDAY MORNING, 9am at church: we meet in the “library area” of the narthex. The study is “Sip, Savor, and Drink Deeply: Receive God’s Overflowing Gifts.” We’d love for you to join us! Connect with Paula Ryan or call Renee in the office (574-255-5585).
FRIDAY NIGHT: 1st and 3rd Fridays 6:30pm: we meet 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!
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 September 22, 2024
Offerings
General Fund: $4409.50
Worship Attendance
Sunday 9/22: 110
M.A.C. Food Pantry
• food collected: 414 pounds
• this week’s shopping list: kid snacks/treats, potatoes, pasta, CAN OPENERS
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
• 9 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.
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: *pastors’ day off*
Tue: 11:30am-2pm
Wed: “flex” (call to see)
Thu: “flex” (call to see)
Fri: “flex” (call to see)
Sunday Schedule
- Education Hour: in recess until September 13, 2026
Ages 3-Adult - Divine Worship: 9:00 am
(stream: splcm.org/worship)