Announcements for 4 October (Pr22-L27)

WORSHIP and SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sunday School for all ages 9:00am
Divine Worship 10:15am

The News

Get Your Popcorn THIS Sunday to Support Weston Beheyt and our Cub Scouts

Popcorn sales are a major fundraiser for our Cub Scout Pack. Weston Beheyt, a member of the Pack, will be selling a variety of options this Sunday after worship in the Sunday School Wing. Options include pre-popped popcorn, microwave popcorn, and kernels. Of the proceeds, 70% stays with his council and pack, and 30% goes into his scout account to help cover dues, campouts, and supplies. Thanks for your patronage!

New Directories are Available!

At long last – the Fall 2026 edition of the Member Directories are hot off the presses. Grab yours under the slat wall on Sunday. We do not make these available online because of data breaches – hard copy is best.

There are also updated copies of the Ministry Leadership booklets, if you’d like one.

Let Renee know if questions. More of each can be printed if we run out.

LWML Fall Rally – THIS Sunday, October 4

Join other Lutheran women from the greater South Bend area at the annual Fall Zone Rally at St. Paul’s Bremen, 1:30-4:30pm. The speaker is seminarian Jarrod Thomas. A light supper will be served following the Rally, for a suggested $5 donation. Call St. Paul’s 574-546-2332 with any questions.

They are requesting:

• individually wrapped snacks/treats
• pens
• sticky notes
• note pads
• bookmarks

to bless the 57 men entering the Pastoral Ministry program and 6 ladies entering the Deaconess program at CTSFW – the largest entering class since 2009!

Cheeseball Time!

It’s everybody’s favorite time of year! Sign up to help MIX (Tuesday, October 20, beginning at 3pm) and/or WRAP (Thursday, October 22, beginning at 5:30pm). We especially need MEN to be there on Tuesday for the mixing.

Purchase forms are also available under the slat wall. Cheeseballs are made either with or without nuts. Each is $10. Order must be turned in no later than Sunday, October 18.

We make ONLY 500 cheeseballs. Once we reach orders for 500, we close it off. We’re unable to accommodate orders after the 18th, and no walk-up purchases will be available. So get your orders in NOW!

Any questions, see Jill or Paula. If you’re new to St. Peter, you probably wanna order. Trust us. 🙂 They even make great Christmas gifts! Stock your freezer for all-year availability.

Lost n Found

We have a lovely assortment of umbrellas and hats in the Lost n Found box in the coat room… check to see if one is yours?

Ladies! Did you (or your daughter, or your mother) lose a ring on Sunday, 9/20? See Renee – she has it.

Livestream or Catch Up on Bible Studies!

Thanks to our new A/V setup in the Fellowship Hall, you will now be able to livestream some of our bible studies, or watch the video later if you miss it. Note that this is a one-way video (you can watch but not participate, even on the livestream).

• Sunday Study: John’s Gospel
  • John’s Gospel Livestream link (same every Sunday)
  • John’s Gospel: Previous Studies (Vimeo “Showcase”)
• Friday Night Bible Study
  • FNBS Livestream Link (same every week)
  • FNBS Previous Studies (Vimeo “Showcase”)

RLA: Immediate Need for Financial Secretary

Our brother David Orlowski was a devoted Financial Secretary for RLA. Now that he has entered God’s nearer presence, we are looking for someone to fill out his term for this year (ends in June 2027). This is a truly essential position. Duties include: signing checks, taking deposits, reconciling the books using Quick Books (training provided), and three monthly meetings: Executive Committee (first Thursday), Finance Committee (second Thursday), and Board (third Thursday). If you would like to explore serving, please email Board President Brian Ruch at ruch23@yahoo.com.

Thrivent Financial

• Q4 Allocations!

If you are a member of Thrivent Financial, please remember to allocate your Thrivent Choice dollars for 2026 to St. Peter. If they are not allocated, you lose them. Call the Thrivent home office for more details.

• Money Canvas

Money Canvas is a completely free program through Thrivent to help build healthy budgeting, saving, and spending habits. Meet three times (online, at your convenience) with a certified financial associate – did we mention it’s free?! You do NOT have to be a Thrivent client. Money Canvas is available to everyone. Sign up online!

Spiritual Care Training Opportunity

All sessions are at Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran 6318 W California Road in Fort Wayne, IN. Registration fee is $25 [St. Peter will pay for anyone who wants to attend]. To earn SFA certification, you must attend BOTH sessions of the training. Sign up: https://lcc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1474/responses/new

A CLOSER Opportunity to Hear from an Israeli Lutheran Pastor about the Gospel in Israel at Emmaus, South Bend

Women of St. Peter: Wine & The Word — Sun., Oct. 25, 2pm

More information coming soon!

Camp Arcadia Women’s Retreats: 2027 dates announced

Did you know that Camp Arcadia in Arcadia, Michigan, hosts two women’s retreats every year? Think about attending a retreat in 2027. Dates and topics have just been announced:

Retreat I – Sept. 17-19:  “Chosen and Cherished Women of God” with Kate Giger

Retreat II – Sept. 24-26: “Lean and Learn” with Rehema Kavugha

Visit https://camp-arcadia.com/attend-arcadia/womens-retreats/ on Nov. 1 when session descriptions become available.  

This year, 10 current and former members of St. Peter traveled to Camp Arcadia for the Sept. 18-20 retreat with the theme “Resting Your Way into the Promised Land,” presented by Jamie Wiechman. In addition to the main presentation, several breakout sessions were offered, including one on the spiritual discipline of Centering Prayer, led by Lori Borger and Amy Smessaert.

We enjoyed renewing our faith, worshiping and singing together (Vickie Hess and Susannah Clews were part of the choir), and living connected on the shore of Lake Michigan. 

If you want to know more, just ask any of us who attended: Jackie Homann, Susannah (Yoder) Clews, Lori, Sandra Street, Anne Mangelsdorf, Amy, Vickie, Kim Eveler, Ana (Eveler) McIntyre along with baby Ari, and Sara (Eveler) Moriarty. 

Thank you for supporting our CROP Hunger Walk Fundraiser!

This year we participated again in raising funds for the annual St. Joseph County CROP Hunger Walk, organized by Zion Church in South Bend on behalf of Christian World Services (CWS). 

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, we did not physically walk this year. However, to date, we have raised $565 in donations, which will support projects addressing hunger and food insecurity, lack of clean water, and other issues defining poverty in our community and across the globe. 25% of all the funds raised stay with local organizations, including Broadway Christian Parish, UMC Food Ministries, Christian Community Pantry of Walkerton, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, and United Religious Community Advocacy Center.

If you would still like to contribute, please click here to donate online. 

To learn more about CWS and CROP Hunger Walk, click here.

Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative! Your generosity is deeply appreciated!

Continuing to Bathe Our Life, Worship, and Ministries in Prayer: Sundays, 10am

Ever notice that circle of people praying around the font each Sunday at 10am? What are they doing?

They are joining in a 2-minute prayer led by Deaconess Amy. Everyone serving that Sunday is especially asked to join: the crucifer/acolyte, lector, ushers, elders, greeters, doorkeepers, Sunday School teachers, video/sound tech(s), hospitality coordinators, altar guild, and anyone else serving. Also, any confirmands present that day.

Yet anyone can join us as we lift up the day’s worship and all our ministries to God and become better centered in our relationship to Him and each other. We’d love to have you join us any Sunday!

Why is There Water in the Font?

Beginning on Rally Day, you may notice that the baptismal font will have water in it
before and during worship. Our Sunday Servants, led by Dcs. Amy, will be responsible for filling, emptying, and appropriately maintaining the bowl.

But, “what does this mean?” Lutherans do not bless the water or consider it “holy.” Rather, it is made available so that, as you pass, you might remember your Baptism. If you so desire, you can even dip your fingers in the bowl and make the sign of the Cross over yourself, recalling that in your baptism, you were “claimed by Christ, the crucified.” In Baptism, you are buried into his death, that you might rise with him to walk in new life (Rom 6). You die, that you might live (Mt 16)!

Though we have not had this as a regular recent practice at St. Peter, the custom goes far back in the Lutheran tradition; both your pastors have appreciated it at least since Seminary, where it is a regular practice. Whether you choose to cross yourself or simply let the water serve as a visible reminder, may it likewise enrich your weekly baptismal remembrance as you come once more to the Divine Service to receive God’s grace through Word and Sacrament.

Do You Want to Be a Prayer Partner to our Youth?

Last year, we had 20 members step forward to serve as prayer partners for our children, ages 3 and up. Studies show that if youth feel connected to FIVE adults of faith, they are much more likely to stay in the Church as they grow.

Could you be part of this vital ministry as we begin it again this year? It’s really easy. You simply meet with your partner 4 times throughout the Sunday School year for 10 minutes at the end of Education Hour (i.e. 9:35 “ish”). You get to know them, ask what’s good and what’s hard, then pray briefly. You also have the option of sending birthday, baptismal birthday, and/or Christmas/Easter cards that PC provides for you.

Contact PC ASAP if interested: adamclarknd@gmail.com.

Outreach: Keep it Going!

Click here to link to the Outreach Stories page

*Hit SUBSCRIBE for instant updates*

Sunday School Lessons

Sunday School lessons will begin to appear here again next week!

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

Capital Campaign Status Update

During the Back To School Matching Gift Drive in August, we received more than $32,800 in new donations. We also received a very large stock gift of more than $450,000. This puts our total raised to more than $2,600,000! We have less than a million dollars left to go! Praise be to God!

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
Meet in the church “library” area. The group is finishing a study on the book of Joshua. Next study begins early October (Philippians!). 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: dinner 6:30pm, study 7-8:30pm. Ezekiel is the focus through the first of the year, then Daniel beginning in February. Connect with John Schroeder or Mike Fonck if you’re interested in joining.

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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 27 September 2026

Offerings
General Fund: $4195
MAC Food Pantry: $50
RLA: $40
Memorials: $100

Worship Attendance
Sunday, 9/27: 102 in person, 5 streaming

M.A.C. Food Pantry
• 450 pounds this past week
• most needed right now: spaghetti/pasta, Jiffy mix, cereal
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.

Braille Team
• xx copies of Galatians-Philemon this week
Contact Dave Homann (574) 274-6543 or Kristie Sherburn (574) 229-0634 for more information.

Sewing Quilt Team
• 10 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, see Nancy Kroll or Karen Waldron 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)
  Laurie Miner (Vice President)
  Alex Homann (Secretary)
  David Luster-Bartz (Treasurer)
  Andrew Deliyannides (At-Large member)
  Dan Hertel (At-Large member)
  Kathy Levy (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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