You may have missed it this year, but daily I have walked by the Christmas Service Projects in the Commons and am thankful for the kindness and generosity of others, from you to our school families. Elves for the Elderly and Christmas is for Kids bins are full. There are gifts around the Angel Tree that match the big hopes and dreams of the youth who they will go too.

Things have been busy in the office. After I returned from vacation, ministry staff sat down and created a more detailed procedure to prepare the bulletin and live-stream slides, with more overlapping eyes looking at things. Our goal is to give our best to God in worship. I think this complements what Rolf Jacobson says his book "Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms" on the word "worship." He defines worship as, "what God does to us when we think we're singing, praying, listening, daydreaming, and dozing on Sunday morning." A great reminder that in worship we first and foremost are receivers of what we need most (God's grace and love), but also stewards of God's gifts for all.

There are many things council would like to catch everyone up on, from our Building Project, to an update on our finances and the PPP loan, to an updated staffing model for 2021, to simply providing a place for us all to hear and see one another in this time. We are planning on a Virtual Town Hall Zoom meeting on Sunday, December 20 @ 11am. An agenda and any information for the meeting will be emailed out a few days before. If everyone finds this helpful, we may turn this into a monthly rhythm until the pandemic is under control.

Christmas Eve worship plans are coming together. We are offering more times this year in different locations in response to the pandemic and being mindful of gathering safely.

We ask that you sign-up to the worship you plan to attend. This helps in preparations for each worship. CLICK HERE to sign-up.

2:00pm - 30min - family-friendly guitar-led worship (outdoors)

4:00pm - 45min - guitar-led worship (outdoors)

6:00pm - 45min - more traditional worship (sanctuary)

8:00pm - 45min - more traditional worship (sanctuary)

Communion and candelighting will be at all worship times

Blessings to the rest of your week. Stay well. Be bold and generous. Know you are immersed in God's grace every moment. And, never miss an opportunity to tell someone they are a gift from God this holiday season.

Peace,

Pastor Vanicek

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

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.

We are making seating more flexible and welcoming, yet just as safe to gather by offering full pew rows. Up to two family pods can sit in the same row, they just need to be able to sit 6 feet apart. This does not change our distancing guidelines, but it does help simplify our seating, and offers families and family groups that have quarantined together more options. This also is based on lessons learned from other congregations in our community and public school events to minimize risk of COVID spread.

They are $10.00 each and can be taken home after the 8:00pm Christmas Eve Service.

Please use the sign-up sheet in the Narthex or link below to order your poinsettias. Turn in or mail payment to the office and write “poinsettia” + name of person to remember or honor.

If you missed the Superkids performance of BETHLEHEM LIVE! this past Sunday, click the video and be blessed. Many thanks to our amazing cast and wonderful group of volunteers.

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, December11th.

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.

For the Kids in the care of CPS (Child Protective Services) The due date for all gifts is December 13th. Contact: Cindy Struchen

This year we will be having multiple worships throughout the day on Christmas Eve.

2:00pm - Family Friendly Outdoor Worship

4:00pm - Outdoor Worship

6:00pm - Sanctuary Worship (in-person and live-streamed)

8:00pm - Sanctuary Worship (in-person and live-streamed)

To all those who have given so generously this year, thank you for your faithful financial support of St. Peter's. 

The end of the year is historically a season marked by generosity, both in our church and in our culture at large. As you reflect on 2020 and give thanks to God for His many blessings, please consider how you might respond to God's graciousness in your life. Giving back to God a portion of what He has given us is one way we show our thankfulness to Him.

Click the OTHER WAYS TO GIVE button to learn more about giving through IRA distributions and stock options that offer tax saving opportunities for you. If you would like to give to specific ministry of St. Peter's (Blessings, Youth, Music and Choir, School, etc.) click the GIVE ONLINE button. If the ministry you want to support is not listed, use the "other" option.

NOTE: The financial update below is in the bulletin (linked in Saturday email)

Thanks and appreciation for our St. Peter’s Staff  

At Lutheran Camp Chrysalis

in Kerrville

February 12-14, 2021!

lpyle@splcmf.org by Sunday, December 20.

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. 

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.

Book club will be meeting in person at church and via Zoom on the third Monday at 2:30 pm.

January 18, 2021--Trouble in Nuala by Harriet Steel

Contact Betty Matejowsky for more information.

Study more about peace by CLICKING HERE.

Please pick up a devotional from the Narthex to read and study at your leisure.

Please send Tristan any notes that you would like to share with the congregation. Thank you. tristan@splcmf.org

Use smile.amazon.com and choosing St. Peter’s Lutheran School (Marble Falls) as your charity of choice. A portion of your purchase will go to support our school.

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,