ST PETER'S NEWS
December 3, 2020
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This Sunday, we hear John the Baptist quote Isaiah in saying "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!" (Mark 1:3)
John the Baptist (and Isaiah before him) dreamed big dreams...God-sized dreams for our world and all the life it gravitationally holds together. I appreciate Pastor Kara Stewart's message last week acknowledging that COVID has meant we have had to let some of our dreams go in this time. It's true. Yet, she also noted that Advent is yearly this call for us as people of faith to join together in "watchful expectation" and to "keep awake"...that we have been watching and waiting since March for release from the hold of this pandemic, and recent news of vaccines beginning to be approved is hope-filled and good news for us all...very advent-ish indeed!
Yet, at the heart of Advent is the watchful expectation that Christ is coming...that Christ will return and bring to fullness in this world what God began in his birth, life, and resurrection from the dead. So, being expectant in this time makes me think back to Greg Murrell's message from 11/22, where he so powerfully proclaimed that we don't feed the hungry and care for our neighbor to EARN our salvation. We do these things as EVIDENCE of our salvation. God alone saves and brings us to new life. Preach it Greg!
In the coming months, we wear our masks with watchful expectation...we wear our mask for the sake of our neighbor, and if we want to be very churchy and theological...might we also say we wear masks as evidence of our salvation...a visible response to our baptism...a powerful sign of our love of neighbor and God.
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When COVID began, the mask market was just getting going. At one point I designed and had my own printed. I took one of my night time pictures of the Milky Way that I had taken in the spring in Meadowlakes and had it printed on the mask. I did this because it was fun...but also to be forever reminded in this time of how all creation is connected together...of how I am connected to you and you to me because of God's love for us all...and to live into this reality the best I can.
Before Thanksgiving, I worked with other pastors in the Highland Lakes to write up a statement of unity among us pastors...to offer not a political statement about wearing masks, but instead to offer a theological window into mask wearing. In our own little way, maybe this is us pastors trying to be little more like Isaiah and John the Baptist this Advent...our way of crying out in the wilderness...and seeking to invite others to join together in preparing the way of the Lord for the life of all in our community.
CLICK HERE to read the unity statement. CLICK HERE for the article that just came out in the Daily Tribune talking about how it came to be and why we did it.
Dream big dreams good folks of St. Peter's. Check on your neighbor. Be about words and acts of kindness and generosity. Wear your mask. Blessed Adventide to you all.
Pastor Vanicek
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Worship begins at 9AM
in-person & on-line
WORSHIP WITH US ONLINE:
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click the video link in the Saturday worship email.
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go to our YouTube channel and click the video.
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watch from our St. Peter's Facebook page.
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worship off-line anytime by clicking here.
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WORSHIP RESOURCES / ARCHIVES
CLICK HERE if you missed a recent online worship, want to read the text of sermon, are looking for daily prayer resources, or want to find something noted in our weekly emails.
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DRIVE-THRU COMMUNION
11am - 1st Sundays (this Sunday)
Drive up to the Portico entrance to receive communion and a blessing. We will do this on the 1st Sundays of the month.
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Free COVID-19 testing at the Marble Falls Fire Rescue station has been extended through Dec. 30. Testing is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays at the fire station,
700 Avenue N in Marble Falls.
During the holidays, testing will be Monday, Dec. 21, before Christmas.
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CHRISTMAS GIVING OPPORTUNITIES |
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The Helping Center
During this season of giving, the food needed at The Helping Center are turkeys and hams.
The Double Horn is donating food purchases, Dine In and Take Out (as well as merchandise) on Wednesday, December 9th from 4 to 8 pm, to The Helping Center.
Contact: JoAnn Ramsey
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Baking Time!
This month is starting off great, let's keep it up. We need more cookies for Meals On Wheels, remember to package them per dozen with the type written onto the package. These are due by Friday the 11th of December.
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Christmas Is For Kids
There will be collection boxes located in the Commons area through December 13th. You may drop off your unwrapped gifts for male or female children ages birth to 16 years old in one of the collection boxes.
Friday, December 18th, 6:00pm, we will sort toys at the Marble Falls Middle School front foyer. (right behind HEB) Saturday, December 19th, 9:00am. We will be packaging the gifts for the families of the Highland Lakes.
You and your family are invited to participate in this very rewarding project. No experience is needed.
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Elves for the Elderly
sponsor - Meals on Wheels of Burnet County
We will be collecting the items listed below through December 6th. The gifts are then delivered by volunteers to the homebound residents.
Items needed are: slippers, mittens, gloves, mufflers, blankets, slipper socks (with treads), lap quilts, nightlights, flashlights, & large print books.
For more information, please contact the Church Office.
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Casa Angel Tree
For the Kids in the care of CPS (Child Protective Services) The due date for all gifts is December 13th. Contact: Cindy Struchen
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Stamps for Burnet County Inmates
For the inmates to send Christmas cards to their families. Stamps are needed by Sunday, December 6th
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ANNUAL FAMILY/CONGREGATION RETREAT |
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At Lutheran Camp Chrysalis
in Kerrville
Mark your calendars!
February 12-14, 2021!
We could all use a little time to unplug and enjoy life with others.
Join us for Bible study, games, fellowship and more!
Cost will be: $100 (ages 13+), $50 (4-12),3 and under free!
If you would like to join for the day on Saturday only,
the cost will be $25 (age 13+) and $12.50 (4-12).
Please contact Lindsay Pyle at (512) 587-6807 or
lpyle@splcmf.org by Sunday, December 20.
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St. Peter’s Prayer Ministry prays for the church prayer list, and also for additional requests and concerns. Members of the Prayer Ministry Team receive information by email weekly and pray individually. This group does not gather in person at this time. If you have prayer concerns or requests and/or if you feel called to be part of this important ministry, contact Janette Clausen, janetteclausen@aol.com.
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BIBLE STUDIES
BYOBible Study - not meeting.
Deborah Bible Study - not meeting in person, email check in.
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BOOK STUDIES
Book club will be meeting in person at church and via Zoom on the third Monday at 2:30 pm.
Titles to read and discuss include:
December --No Meeting
January 18, 2021--Trouble in Nuala by Harriet Steel
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ADVENT HOPE - This look at the biblical word "hope" is fitting for Advent. Hope is not just optimism against the odds, but a BOLD and confident trust in the person of Jesus and what God has been doing since...forever! |
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The November Living Lutheran Magazine is in! Pick up at church or read online livinglutheran.org
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The November Gather magazine is available for pick up. |
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Don't forget your daily devotionals and dwelling time with God! You can pick up your Oct - Dec daily devotional! |
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This Year the Advent Devotional is THOSE WHO DREAM
from A Sanctified Art.
Please pick up a devotional from the Narthex to read and study at your leisure.
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GRATITUDE AND CONGREGATIONAL NOTES |
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Please send Tristan any notes that you would like to share with the congregation. Thank you. tristan@splcmf.org
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St. Peter’s Lutheran School is doing well and surviving in these strange times. We have registered 4 new students in the last 2 weeks and 3 of our delayed enrollment students have returned. We have happy, smiling students each day and that is what we want! Our teachers are super stars and are powering through with only one 15 min break, no planning time, and no opportunity to engage with each other, but they are doing it with a positive attitude and a grateful heart!
We have had our Memories with Mommy time (socially distanced and wearing masks) and have our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch scheduled. We are trying to make each day as normal as possible with as many opportunities to learn as possible!
Thank you for your continued prayers as we continue to pray for good health and protection over our school, the teachers, the students, and the families.
Tracy Knight, Director/Teacher
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If you shop on Amazon at all, please consider using smile.amazon.com and choosing St. Peter’s Lutheran School (Marble Falls) as your charity of choice. You do not have to re-select our charity each time you shop, but you do have to go to smile.amazon.com each time (try bookmarking the site). We would appreciate it if you could also share this valuable fundraising opportunity with neighbors, family, and friends (far and wide). It really does add up and so many people use amazon, so why not make it count for our school?
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As many are aware, National, State, and local COVID cases are trending up as we head into the holiday and winter seasons. We are holding at PHASE 2 right now. Please remember to wear a mask in public and when you gather with others, particularly indoors. Let us join together in embodying the parable of the Good Samaritan. Thank you! |
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We are in PHASE 2 of our re-gathering guidelines |
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ST PETER'S RESOURCES
LARGER CHURCH RESOURCES
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