WORSHIP and SUNDAY SCHOOL
SUNDAY:
Sunday School, ages 3 through adult: 9am
Sunday Divine Worship: 10:15am
Wednesday Evening Prayer, 7pm | Soup Supper, 5:45pm
The News
Parenting Group
The next meeting will be Sunday, March 8, a few minutes after worship. We gather in the Fellowship Hall to share parenting joys and challenges, and offer “in-reach” care. Paid supervision is provided in the Sunday School area for any children of parents attending the group. Let Renee know if you have any questions.
Small Groups: Look for an Email Soon, Download or Pick up the First Study
If you signed up for a Small Group, Pastor Clark will email you soon with your specific group’s meeting day and time.
Prepare for your first meeting by completing the Week 1 Guide individually. You may download it below, or pick up a hard copy from under the slat wall.
Funeral for Bob Rohweder
Bob Rohweder, member at St. Paul South Bend and long-time supporter and board member for RLA, will be next Tuesday, March 10th, 12 noon at St. Paul Lutheran, 51490 Laurel Rd South Bend. There will not be a separate visitation. You may view Bob’s obituary here. Please keep his wife Karen, family, and St. Paul and RLA families in your prayers.
Stephen Ministry – Call for New Male Ministers
For the last ten years, Stephen Ministry has established itself as a critical part of St. Peter Lutheran Church’s caring ministry. Over this time, numerous people, both inside and outside our Church family, have received the benefit of a Stephen Minister to walk beside them — not as a counselor or problem-fixer, but as someone to listen and support them via this Biblically-centered ministry. We are now asking the Holy Spirit to help us identify 1-2 men to join the team as Stephen Ministers. Training, supervision, and support are all provided. Could God be calling you to be a Stephen Minister to the men in our congregation? One of our Stephen Ministry Leaders could tell you more or answer any questions you might have.
Mike Fonck (574) 535-3894
Amy Smessaert (574) 360-8377
Kristie Sherburn (574) 293-9229 or (574) 229-0634
Easter Flowers for the Altar
Donations for Easter flowers will be accepted through Sunday, March 15. Please place your donation in the clear box under the slat wall and sign the contribution sheet so we may acknowledge your donation. Checks can be payable to the Women of St. Peter. Thank you!
Pick Up Your Devotional: ONE PER HOUSEHOLD, please
Many devotionals focus on leading us gradually to Holy Week. In contrast, each day in this year’s Lenten devotional looks deeper into one moment in that final week of Christ’s earthly life and ministry. In other words – tying in to our Wednesday theme – in each, you will find your imagination awakened and your heart thrust more deeply into one of the ways we may “die his death, to live his life.” May the Lord bless us as we dwell this Lent “On Calvary’s Hill”!
Thanks from Deaconess Amy
Dear brothers and sisters at St. Peter,
I am so grateful for everyone who has cared for me in some way over the past month since I slipped on the ice and broke my arm: prayers, meals, cards, rides to physical therapy and meetings, texts, emails, home visits, and words of encouragement. Your loving and caring presence in all these forms has helped me heal and stay connected. The words of this poem express what’s in my heart.
With gratitude, Amy
“When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own. There are times of great uncertainty in every life. Left alone at such a time, you feel dishevelment and confusion like gravity.
When a friend comes with words of encouragement, a light and lightness visit you and you begin to find the stairs and the door out of the dark. The sense of encouragement you feel from the friend is not simply her words or gestures; it is rather her whole presence enfolding you and helping you find the concealed door.
The encouraging presence manages to understand you and put herself in your shoes. There is no judgement but words of relief and release.”
Text: JOHN O’DONOHUE, excerpt from his book, Eternal Echoes
Adult Sunday Study (9am): John’s Gospel and Letters
St. Augustine, Martin Luther, and Billy Graham all point to John’s Gospel as the first bible book everyone should read and know well. Yet while the other three Gospels each get their own year in our Sunday lectionary, John is only woven in among them in bits and pieces. Join us Sunday mornings at 9am as we put together the whole picture – and see how it transforms our lives and our worship of the Lord. Bring your bible (or use ours) and a notebook if desired. Previous week’s Leader Notes: splcm.org/john
Sewing Group Needs Sheets!
If you have old or unused bed sheets, please bring them to the sewing ladies! They can use any size, flat or fitted. They prefer cotton or cotton-poly, but any sheet will be gratefully accepted. See Nancy Kroll with questions. And thank you so much!
VBS Volunteers needed (click the image)!
We are excited as we continue to make preparations for this summer’s Vacation Bible School program. As we plan our week of ‘Exploring God’s Nature’ in the Amazon rainforest, there is a list of items that we will need and can be found online. If you are interested and able to help us with an item or two, check out our list here. We can also use paper towel tubes (or other larger cardboard tubes), brown packing paper, and any type of green paper that you have and don’t want anymore. There is a basket in the Sunday School wing to collect donations. Thank you for your help and prayers!
VBS Registration Now Open! (Click the image!)
Sunday School Lessons
Parents (and prayer partners, too!), check here each week for what your children will be hearing about in Sunday School.
8 March (Unit 3, Lesson 1) – In this week’s lesson, “A Mercy-Full Message,” Jesus tells the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, who risks his own life to help a Jewish man whose peril was ignored by his own countrymen. In telling the parable, Jesus answers the question “Who is my neighbor?” for His followers as He challenges us to “go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). As a family, you could discuss ideas to help those in need in your community.
Thank You – and Thanks be to God
- For all who continue to lead or participate in Ministry Teams and all who minister to our neighbors and to the faithful gathered by the Long Arms of the Cross.
Resurrection Lutheran Academy (RLA)
News, Info, and Ministry Opportunities
Employment Opportunity
RLA is now seeking a full-time Middle School Language Arts Teacher who is passionate about Christian education and committed to nurturing both academic excellence and spiritual growth in students.
We value our partnership with our church associations and deeply appreciate your help in connecting us with qualified, mission-minded educators who feel called to serve in a Christ-centered environment. Please contact principal Danielle Mazzocato at (574) 272-2200 with questions or to express interest.
Thank you for your continued support of our ministry and for partnering with us in preparing students for lives of faith, learning, and service.
Construction Moving Forward!
Exciting news from RLA! The foundation is down and walls are going up! We are so blessed and thankful for everyone who has helped be a part of this project.
Capital Campaign Status Update as of 2/26/26
We continue to remain thankful for everyone who has pledged to the capital campaign. You can check this page for progress on the build:
https://www.rlasouthbend.com/expansion-campaign.html
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.
Mid-Week Bible Studies
THURSDAY MORNING, 9am at church
We continue our study on the book of Joshua. Connect with Paula Ryan or call Renee in the office (574-255-5585) if you are interested in joining.
FRIDAY NIGHT: 1st and 3rd Fridays 6:30pm: Connect with John Schroeder or Mike Fonck if you’re interested in joining. This year, we are studying the book of Acts, featuring a companion video series that we’ll watch together.
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.
Stewardship from the Week of 1 March 2026
Offerings
General Fund: $5764
Pastors’ Discretionary: $20
RLA: $25
Worship Attendance
Sunday, 3/1: 96 in person, 8 streaming
Wednesday, 3/4: 50 in person, 2 streaming
M.A.C. Food Pantry
• 551 pounds this week
• most needed right now: diced tomatoes, tomato soup, Jiffy mix
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.
Braille Team
• 20 copies of Galatians – Philemon in Spanish were printed this week
Contact Dave Homann (574) 274-6543 or Sandy Ellis (574) 256-1121 or Kristie Sherburn (574) 229-0634 for more information.
Sewing Quilt Team
• 7 quilts this week
Through the program year, the sewing group meets Tuesdays to cut squares, iron and size sheets, assemble backs and fronts, and pin and sew 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)
Alex Homann (Secretary)
David Luster-Bartz (Treasurer)
Andrew Deliyannides (At-Large member)
Dan Hertel (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:
Tue: 11:30am-3pm
Wed: 11:30am-3pm
Thu: “flex” (call to see)
Fri: “flex” (call to see)
Sunday Schedule
- Education Hour: 9am
Ages 3-Adult - Divine Worship: 10:15am
(stream: splcm.org/worship)