SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WORSHIP
Sunday School 9am
classes for all ages
Divine Worship 10:15am
The News
Hanging on the Cross, 01/18-01/19: You can still pledge!
Our St. Peter Youth raise funds–and bond with each other–for the National Youth Gathering by keeping their hand on the long-arms cross for a full 24-hours! Please support SPY by sponsoring a youth for a certain amount per hour. For instance, if you pledge $1/hour, that would be $24 total. Any youth will be happy to take your pledge this Sunday or by phone or text!
WoSP Epiphany Tea
All Women of St. Peter are invited to an Epiphany Tea on Sunday, February 2, 2:30pm at the home of Jackie Homann.
Winter is the perfect time to slow down, sip delicious teas, connect with one another, and ponder the presence of God in our lives. More details to follow.
Please sign up on the sheet on the table in the narthex. See Deaconess Amy Smessaert or Jackie Homann with questions. We’d love to have you join us!
Workshop for New and Continuing Lectors: Saturday, Feb 8, 10:00-11:30am
Do you have the gifts and desire to serve the proclamation of the Word of God as a lector? Mike Fonck and Pastor Clark are rallying all continuing and potential new lectors for training on Saturday, February 8th from 10-11:30am. This training opportunity will feature a new workshop approach unlike any we have tried before. So whether you are a potential new lector or a returning veteran, please email Mike your RSVP: mfonck@comcast.net.
Sunday Adult Bible Study, 9am: Confessional Lutherans in the Wider Body
We are definitely finishing our discussion of Eastern Orthodoxy this coming Sunday – come discuss the significantly different practices of mystical and apophatic prayer, and the use of icons! Next week we turn to the Protestant traditions.
College Boxes
We have TEN boxes going out this year! Please bring your donations of goodies for our SPLC college/graduate students and leave them in the bin under the slat wall by Saturday, February 1. Cookies, breakfast/protein bars, popcorn, hot chocolate mix, candy, and gum are always welcome, but we do have several who are gluten-free, so careful shopping is appreciated as well. Thank you for your generosity!
Call for Christmas Trees!
We are STILL LOOKING for artificial Christmas trees for our VBS program in the summer of 2025. If you have one that you are ready to get rid of, please let Krista Hunt know. We’d be happy to collect it now or anytime before summer if you don’t plan to keep it for next December. Another option would be if you have a tree you would be willing to loan us for the week during VBS, consider packing it up and leaving in an accessible location to make a quick grab from your storage area in June. Green trees in all sizes, styles, and shapes would be welcomed. Thank you for keeping us in mind!
Save the Date: Family Game Night MOVED to Friday, March 14
It’s that time again! Bring your favorite board/card/table game and come on out to play with other SPLC members on Friday, March 14, beginning at 6:30pm. We’ll provide some snacks and also games. BIOMEN SYNDESMOI in a fun, family-oriented evening of recreation. See Elizabeth McGrath with questions.
Name Tags
We’d like to invite everyone to please begin wearing your name tag again, while you’re at church on Sundays. If you do not have a name tag or cannot find yours, let Renee know and she’ll print you another one.
We have MANY new people and it helps them feel comfortable and confident when they can learn the names of the people worshiping here (and we can learn their names, too!). Also, the elders appreciate being able to say your name as they are communing you, but sometimes they draw a blank. Please help everyone out by using your name tag! It’s a simple way we can BIOMEN SYNDESMOI under the Long Arms of the Cross.
Dissertation Research
An LCMS pastor working on his doctorate is seeking Lutheran church members to answer a 15-20 minute online survey about your experience of relationships and spiritual formation in the local church (i.e., here at St. Peter). If you’d be willing to participate, please email him. Let Renee know if you have questions at all.
Valparaiso University
The St. Peter Lutheran Church — Mishawaka, IN Endowed Scholarship Fund (PACT) was established in 1986 by the church members. Awards are given to students from SPLC first and then to students from the greater South Bend area.
Our scholarship fund’s ending balance for FY24 was $32,757.41.
Our own Meghan Carter is a beneficiary of this scholarship. Meghan is a sophomore at Valpo studying health science.
Church Basketball League
The Kroc Center is offering a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for Michiana churches from January 27 – March 3, Monday evenings 5-8:30pm. Get a team together and register using the QR code from the flyer outside the church office.
Resurrection Lutheran Academy (RLA)
News, Info, and Ministry Opportunities
What a surprise it was to receive an Amazon gift certificate. We are building a resource room and I was able to purchase many items to help our students grow academically! Thank you very much!
Your friend in Christ, Sue Shriver
Dear St. Peter,
Thank you so much for the gift card for our 4th grade classroom. We used it to purchase test dividers, watercolor paper, and books. We appreciate your kindness! -Mrs. Kankel and Mrs. Steffen
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.
Winter Mid-Week Bible Studies
THURSDAY MORNING, 9am at church: we meet in the “library area” of the narthex. Our study beginning Nov. 7 is called “Casting Stones.” 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. We begin this new year with a study of Isaiah! 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 12 January 2025
Offerings
General Fund: $6209
Valpo: $70
Endowment: $150
Pastors’ Discretionary: $270
Memorials: $1550
RLA: $200
Worship Attendance
Sunday 1/12: 116
M.A.C. Food Pantry
• Cindy is gone this week
• The Food Pantry is under new leadership and has developed an expanded list of needed items.
• most needed right now: bags of rice; pasta: noodles, bow-tie, elbow, spaghetti; crackers; boxed potatoes; canned tuna; toilet paper; feminine hygiene; adult diapers
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.
Braille Bible Team
• 17 copies of Galatians – Philemon this week
Contact Sharon Csaszar (574) 904-1411 or Sandy Ellis (574) 220-3636 for more information.
Sewing Quilt Team
• 6 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 Adam Clark, Senior Pastor
Pastor Bryan Borger, 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)