Announcements for 26 April: Fourth Sunday of Easter

WORSHIP and SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sunday Schedule:
Sunday School (Age 3-Adult): 9am
Divine Worship: 10:15am

The News

Sweets & Serenades – THIS Friday, April 24 at 7pm
This is a lovely evening, and one of the major fundraisers for RLA Scholarships!
Click Here ASAP to Purchase Your Tickets for the Event

Can’t make it? Bid on Auction Items from Home!
Auction Site goes live at 7pm on Friday, 4/24
Click Here FRIDAY, 4/24 at 7pm to Bid on Auction Items

Eastertide Tea – Women of St. Peter

If you are a woman of the congregation, high school or older, you are invited to attend an Eastertide Tea at the home of Jackie Homann, Sunday, May 17 at 3pm. The program will focus on getting to know our fellow sisters in Christ! Sign-up sheet under the slat wall -please RSVP no later than 5/10. See Jackie, or Amy Smessaert, with questions.

Whole-Congregation Outreach Focus

On Sunday, April 19, Pastor Clark introduced our first “Big Ideas” for doing outreach. He also gave us a guide to help, and he would love for you to return your completed guide as a way of sharing feedback (return paper to Narthex, or use link below).

• CLICK HERE TO SEE OR SUBMIT THIS WEEK’S GUIDE/SURVEY
• Click here and jump to minute 28.00 to hear the Big Ideas from the Sermon

Everyone is encouraged to try it out, whether doing a Small Group or not. But here are the meeting times for the “out” small groups (email to join in):

• Sunday 9am – Dave and Melissa Luster-Bartz (dlb9791@aol.com)
• Sunday after worship – Andrew and Ninette Deliyannides (adeliyan@nd.edu)
• Monday evening, 7pm – Chuck Ryan (CharlesRyan9036@aol.com)
• Wednesday evening, 6pm – Steve and Judy Bubanovich (stephen.splc@bubanovich.net)

More “Big Ideas” coming this Sunday, April 26!

Farewell and Godspeed – Hannah Stevenson

Hannah has been a member of SPLC while earning her Ph.D. in medieval history at Notre Dame, and having just completed a post-doc year. She heads back to the Boston area in May to pursue next steps. Hannah was a Sunday School teacher for our older children’s class, has mentored confirmands, taught Adult Ed when we studied the unfolding of church history, and been part of our small group series. We will miss her many gifts of teaching and presence!

Please sign the mat board behind the pews THIS SUNDAY, April 26, so we can present her with a special framed prayer and the love of the congregation on her last day with us in worship.

Lost and Found

Does any of these items look familiar? Pick up what’s yours on Sunday!

Bicycle Safety

Our Cub Scout Pack will host a bicycle safety event on Thursday, April 30, from 6:30-8pm in the church parking lot. Kids of the congregation can feel free to bring their bikes and join in!

We do need some additional adult volunteers to help everyone stay safe in the parking lot. See Dave Gurnee if you’re able to give us a hand.

Sewing Group Needs Sheets!

Thank you SO MUCH to those who have donated sheets and other fabric! We are constantly in need and so grateful for your contributions.

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)!

Rainforest Falls Vacation Bible School

June 8-12 / 9-11:30am

We appreciate your PRAYERS for our program as we continue to prepare for this event!

EARLY REGISTRATION (which includes a free t-shirt) is open until April 30. Register here. If you have questions about the week or registering a participant, please contact Krista Hunt at rlavbsinfo@gmail.com or 574 339 5479.

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS! We are especially in need of group leaders (no planning or teaching involved), station leaders for our preschool area, and people to join our decorating crew for June 5-7. There are other options as well, but those are our greatest needs. You can sign up here to volunteer or contact Melissa Luster-Bartz mlusterbartz@rlasouthbend.com. 

We are also COLLECTING PAPER TOWEL (or other similar/longer) tubes. You can bring your donations to the laundry basket in the Sunday School area.

There is an AMAZON WISH LIST with some items on it as well.  You can find that list here.

VBS Early Registration Open through April 30! (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.

26 April (Unit 3 Lesson 8) – The Bible lesson this week is “An Ascending Truth.” During His last days on earth, Jesus instructs His disciples, preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead. Gathering His disciples on the Mount of Olives one last time, Jesus physically ascends to heaven. Two angels repeat Christ’s promise to return in the same way He ascended into heaven. Discuss, “What great commission does Jesus give His followers?”  

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

Sweets and Serenades – TOMORROW NIGHT!

Even if you don’t have a ticket yet, please plan to attend Sweets and Serenades tomorrow night, Friday, April 24, from 7-10pm, to support the Dale Timm Scholarship Fund for RLA. This is a lovely event featuring a transformed SPLC space where you’ll be treated to great music, luscious desserts, wine, fellowship, and the chance to bid on auction items of all kinds. Tickets are $20pp, $30 per couple.

Even if you cannot attend the event, you can still bid-by-proxy on auction items. Click Here FRIDAY, 4/24 at 7pm to Bid on Auction Items

Employment Opportunities

RLA is 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.

And also!

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry and for partnering with us in preparing students for lives of faith, learning, and service.

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.

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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 19 April 2026

Offerings
General Fund: $9805 (4/12 and 4/19)
Pastors’ Discretionary: $100
Endowment: $500
Special Donation: $2000

Worship Attendance
Sunday, 4/19: 122 in person, 10 streaming

M.A.C. Food Pantry
• 316 pounds this week
• most needed right now: soup, side dishes, soap
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.

Braille Team
• 30 copies of Exodus in Spanish this week with help from RLA 5th-8th graders
Contact Dave Homann (574) 274-6543 or Sandy Ellis (574) 256-1121 or Kristie Sherburn (574) 229-0634 for more information.

Sewing Quilt Team
• 18 quilts this week with help from RLA 5th-8th graders
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.

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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.

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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

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