ST PETER'S NEWS
OCTOBER 1, 2020
A WORD FROM PASTOR VANICEK
Worship this past Sunday was rich in many ways as we moved into PHASE 2 of our regathering guidelines and restarted in-person worship. It was a powerful testimony that the body of Christ is always more than the people in a room. Christ's body is knit together with God's love and grace, held together across space and time. One way to feel and experience the mystery of God these days, is to join in worship...where God amazingly knits together people in-person and online (and through DVDs sent to homebound) to transform how we love and live in the week ahead.

There are still some seats available this Sunday. CLICK HERE to RSVP.  The instructions are on the RSVP site for how to choose seats. If the block size you want is full, choose the available next size larger.

God is at work among us in many ways this fall!

  • FALL LIFE TOGETHER BROCHURE - You all should have received a copy of this in the mail. I encourage you to join in somewhere as we Together, BOLDLY live and share God's grace with all. Be a blessing in the life of another!

  • ANIMAL BLESSING - You are invited to bring your pet (on a leash or in a cage) this Sunday at 4pm to the backyard of 1006 Elm Lane for a short worship and blessing (15-20 minutes). We give thanks for these gifts of God in our life.

  • GOD'S WORK OUR HANDS - See details below, but a special email for GWOH should be coming out soon, so be on the look out for that. Projects for at-home and in-person begin October 4th and go through October 18. Please sign-up to donate blood...it is the gift of life!

  • BUILDING COMMITTEE - This diligent and faithful group of folks is moving things along. We are waiting on some design/costs for new exterior signage to move forward with. The main plans for the remodel have been released to the architect to go to the next level of engineering drawings. Things are coming along. THANK YOU all for your patience and continued giving to Building to Bless as we took the time to step back and explore some new ideas and managed unanticipated remodeling needs along the way the past couple of years. Read the latest update if you haven't already.

  • 100 DAYS OF GOALS - Council is in the middle of a 3 week goal setting process led by LEAD to provide our leadership focus and direction through the rest of this year. Please keep our council in prayer through this goal setting process. And, whenever you get the chance, thank them for the extra time they have committed throughout this year.

  • STAFFING TASKFORCE - With Vonda and Craig returning to teaching full-time, the council has been putting together a staffing Taskforce to evaluate and make recommendations by the end of this fall on what staffing going forward looks like. They will be involving you and our congregation in coming weeks.

  • LIVING LUTHERAN - Finally, as we live in an increasingly polarized political time and come upon another election cycle, I have been reading and reflecting more and more on what discipleship in a democracy looks like. I commend to you all this month's Living Lutheran magazine (get a copy from Portico bin), in particular the lead article reflecting on "How should Lutherans be involved in politics?" One of the rich Lutheran theological contributions of Martin Luther is that of the "2 kingdoms." Some have called it God's "left-hand" and "right-hand" strategy of working in the world.
  • CLICK HERE to read a paper I wrote in seminary on the 2 kingdoms. It may read a bit dry, but maybe the graphic I developed might be helpful in wondering about how Martin Luther invited all to be engaged in the world.
  • The article link above notes a social message developed this last year by over 550 individuals across the ELCA to offer congregations a way to faithfully reflect together on what discipleship in a democracy looks like. CLICK HERE to read "Government and Civic Engagement in the US: Discipleship in a Democracy."
  • And, in true catechism fashion that asks a lot of questions like "What does this mean?," there is a great study guide to complement the social message.
  • If any are interested in reading the social message together and going through the study guide in a group, let me know (hvanicek@gmail.com). I would be more than willing to facilitate a few discussions and be a guide in us looking together for those mysterious and obvious ways God is at work around and among us.

I apologize if this week's reflect is a bit long. When I started making the bullet list of ways God is at work among us...the list kept growing...and growing. This list reminds me how the gospel (the Good News of Jesus) is exciting, inclusive, challenging, a blessing, and yes, at times a bit of work...but in all things the Good News promises to be life-giving not just for this person or that plant...but for all people and all creation.

May your weekend ahead be filled with Good News.
Enjoy these low-humidity days!

Peace,
Pastor Vanicek
RE-GATHERING STATUS
We are in PHASE 2 of our re-gathering guidelines
WORSHIP INFORMATION
CLICK HERE to RSVP to worship in-person this Sunday, or join online. Worship begins at 9AM.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel or Facebook page, and be notified when we go live.

WORSHIP WITH US ONLINE:
  • click the video link in the Saturday worship email.
  • go to our YouTube channel and click the video.
  • watch from our St. Peter's Facebook page.
  • worship off-line anytime by clicking here.
  • NOTE: the Animal Blessing will not be offered online.
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.
2020 GOD'S WORK. OUR HANDS.
GOD’S WORK, OUR HANDS IS COMING! October 4-18

COVID-19 has had an impact on so many things in our lives, including God’s Work, Our Hands!  This year’s events and activities will look different, but we’ve tried hard to come up with a mix of things that can be done at home and things that can be done in-person, keeping the health and safety of others and ourselves firmly in mind.  We’ve also tried hard to come up with a selection of activities that range from no cost to low cost, being mindful of our members’ financial situations.

At-home activities include the following:
  • Filling tote bags with cookies for Meals on Wheels
  • Filling tote bags with toys for children served by Crisis Center
  • Filling tote bags with items for residents of Oaks Nursing Home
  • Writing notes of love and encouragement to include with Bibles and devotionals for the patients and visitors at Baylor Scott & White hospital (books purchased through a Thrivent grant)

In-person activities include:
  • Saturday, October 10 – Choice Medical building clean-out day 
  • Sunday, October 11 - Donating blood at church.
  • You can sign up now by clicking here to make an appointment online
  • Saturday, October 17 - Church yard-work day 
  • Date To Be Determined – Sorting pencils and making cloud dough for the Phoenix Center; tying quilts 
  • Date To Be Determined – Gardening at the Helping Center

For the at-home activities, you can pick up tote bags and content lists from the church from October 4 (Kick-Off Sunday) through October 17.  Take as many as you want!  Bring the completed bags back to the church on or before October 18 (Celebration Sunday).  We aim to have the altar area covered with tote bags and Bibles/devotionals on the 18th!

For the in-person activities, sign-up sheets will be available at the church starting October 4 (Kick-Off Sunday).  Your accomplishments will be recognized and celebrated on the 18th!

We sincerely appreciate your help and support during these unusual times.  Together we can creatively continue to serve God’s work with our hands!

Your Social Outreach Committee
A CALL TO PRAYER
A ministry of prayer warriors -- ordinary people called for praise, confession and intervention

CLICK HERE for details from last week's email and how you can be part of this new ministry.
BIBLE AND BOOK STUDIES
BIBLE STUDIES
BYOBible Study - not meeting.
Contact Dusty Knight

Deborah Bible Study - not meeting in person, email check in.
Contact Pam Wettstein

Agape Bible Study - Contact Belva Latshaw for next meeting.
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BOOK STUDIES
Book Club - meeting each month via Zoom on the third Monday at 2:30pm. Next books we are reading and meeting dates:

September 21st - A Piece of the World 
by Christina Baker Kline

Contact Betty Matejosky for more information.
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Faith is scripture is rarely a noun...but most often a verb...an active and alive thing. Faith is like a muscle, requiring exercise to stay healthy and strong. While we are in Diaspora (separated...), use these short videos as a weekly way of growing in your faith and love.

Lutherans don't often talk about sacrifice and atonement, but these are rich theological words that invite us to wonder about the mystery and awe-some-ness of God's love for us all. So...sacrifice a few moments right now and dwell in the love and mystery of God for you and for all.
Study more about sacrifice and atonement
The October Living Lutheran Magazine is in! Pick up your copy in the white Portico bin. You can also find many of the article at the website, www.livinglutheran.org
Don't forget your daily devotionals and dwelling time with God! You can pick up your Oct - Dec daily devotional! They are in the white bin at the Portico entrance.
GRATITUDE AND CONGREGATIONAL NOTES
Please send Tristan any notes that you would like to share with the congregation. Thank you. tristan@splcmf.org
OTHER RESOURCES
ST PETER'S RESOURCES

LARGER CHURCH RESOURCES