Announcements for March 23: Third Sunday in Lent

National Youth Gathering Auction: this Sunday, March 23rd after Worship or by Proxy

Even if you have not RSVP’ed, please still attend and bid if you can! Free lunch provided from Frankie’s tacos. If you cannot attend in-person but want to bid ahead, click here for the Proxy Bidding page (closes Noon March 21). You can also download a list of the items up for bid below:

Lenten Small Group Study Guide

Weekly study sheets are available in hard copy every Wednesday evening for the following week. You may also download them below:

Easter Flowers

Donations for Easter flowers will be accepted beginning Sunday, March 23 and running through Sunday, March 30. Please place your donation in the box on the table at the back of the church and sign the sheet so we may acknowledge your donation. Checks payable to: Women of St. Peter.

Thank you for helping make our Easter altar amazing.

Interested in Becoming a Stephen Minister?

A couple weeks ago on “Noticer Sunday,” we mentioned Stephen Ministry. In response to the ongoing growth of the faith community here at St. Peter, our Stephen Ministry program is in need of additional Stephen Ministers – both male and female. Want to learn what being a Stephen Minister is all about? Check out the literature in the Stephen Ministry section of the slat wall. Have questions? Do you feel that God might be calling you to join this mutually beneficial ministry? Then just talk to one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders. Applications must be submitted by May 1 and are available from Vickie Hess. Our next Stephen Ministry training class will be starting on August 8. Stephen Ministry is truly “God’s Love in Action!”

Emergency Prayer Team Up and Running

The new Emergency Prayer Team is now up and running. Call this team for instant prayer when there is a life-threatening emergency (ONLY). This team will serve alongside our regular prayer list and procedure for all other prayers. To reach this team, you may call any of the following: Mary Jo Dubie (574-298-1432), Marion Mueller (920-378-775), or Sharon Csaszar (574-904-1411). Thanks to all on the team for their service to the Body of Christ!

Sunday Adult Bible Study, 9am: Confessional Lutherans in the Wider Body

We continue our pilgrimage into the Protestant traditions. This week we continue the theology of church, state, society, peace, and mission from the four principal Protestant streams: Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Anabaptist. Never too late to join us!

Missing Earrings?

If you lost a pair of silver hoops over by the slat wall, Renee has them in the office.

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!

Thank You – and Thanks be to God!

• For MaryJo Dubie, who put together the Emergency Prayer Team, which includes Marion Mueller, Sharon Csaszar, Cindy Matthews, Ronnie Zarate, Nancy Kroll, Darryl Henk, Annette Winterrowd, Mike Fonck, Sandra Street, Cindy Schroeder, Christine Seitz, and Ed Mueller.
• For Elizabeth McGrath and all her work in hosting our most recent Family Game Night!

Thanks be to God for these servants and their service!

Resurrection Lutheran Academy (RLA)
News, Info, and Ministry Opportunities

New Principal to Join RLA

I am excited to share that RLA has hired a full-time principal for the 2025-26 school year, Danielle Mazzocato. After a thorough search process last fall, we are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Mazzocato to our school community. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and will receive her principal’s license and certification in school improvement this spring. With her passion and energy, she is eager to begin her journey as principal this fall.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Michelle Megyese, who has dedicated nine years to RLA in the dual role of teacher and principal. Mrs. Megyese will continue her teaching role, and we are deeply thankful for the countless hours she has devoted to making RLA the exceptional school it is today. This past fall, Mrs. Megyese recognized the need for a full-time principal to better serve our growing school and to restore balance in her own life. She remains steadfast in her commitment to RLA and our mission to reflect God’s love each day.

Please join me in thanking Mrs. Megyese for her many years of service and in warmly welcoming Mrs. Mazzocato. In Christ,

Brian Ruch, MLEA President

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. We are studying the book of James. 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 6:30-7pm, with study beginning at 7pm and lasting an hour or 90 minutes, usually. We are studying Isaiah! If you would like to know more, please see John Schroeder or Mike Fonck.

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.

Offerings
General Fund: $3596
Pastors’ Discretionary: $50

Worship Attendance
Sunday 3/16: 118
Midweek Wednesday: 71

M.A.C. Food Pantry
• 68 pounds this week
• most needed right now: TOILET PAPER and PAPER TOWELS, feminine hygiene products; CRACKERS; jelly/preserves; Jello-O; Rice-a-Roni; bags of rice; pasta: noodles, bow-tie, elbow, spaghetti; boxed potatoes; canned tuna; toilet paper; feminine hygiene; adult diapers; Jiffy; side dishes
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.

Braille Bible Team
• 16 copies of Galatians – Philemon in Spanish this week
Contact Sharon Csaszar (574) 904-1411 or Sandy Ellis (574) 220-3636 for more information.

Sewing Quilt Team
• 7 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.

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