In Our Prayers: We are praying for our St. Peter boards, committees and organizations. Next week we will be praying for the St. Peter Nominating Committee.

Devotion of the Week: It is probably not a good idea to start a devotion by asking a controversial question, but sometimes you just have to take risks, "Have you been vaccinated for COVID-19?" Maybe you have been asked that question, maybe you have received the vaccine, or maybe you have vowed to never get the vaccination. Regardless of your belief, stance, or opinion, your answer can remain confidential (unless of course you feel strongly one way or the other and enjoy sharing).

Whether you have been vaccinated, will be vaccinated, or never will receive the vaccine, we all pray that COVID-19 becomes a distant memory very soon. The vaccines that are available all say something like this, "This vaccine is an unapproved vaccine that may prevent COVID-19." We all hope that it does its job, but it is not guaranteed to prevent COVID-19 even though studies are showing very favorable results. It would be wonderful if there was a vaccine that could protect us all from COVID-19, cancer, diabetes, ALS, and any other disease or pathogen that could invade our bodies. We live in a sinful world full of sin, disease, and death. Whether we are in a pandemic or living in peaceful times, the weight of sin covers us.

Thanks be to God that we are reminded daily of His great love for us as Jesus has covered our sins with His blood on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, we have the forgiveness of sins and guaranteed life eternal with Him forever. No vaccine can guarantee that but God's Word promises it over and over again!

Our Condolences: We remember the Wardin family in our prayers as they mourn the death of Mrs. Ruth Wardin. Ruth was the great-grandmother of Charlee and Henry Edgecomb and Alexis and Kelsey Knezek. She was also a very active member in our church and school including teaching music for many years to our kindergarteners. May God surround this family with His comfort and peace as they mourn, but also as they rejoice in the new life in perfection that Ruth has with her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lutheran Heritage Foundation: Last month, we were blessed to have guest chapel speaker Pastor Heise who shared with us how LHF helps to spread the Gospel message. This ministry translates, publishes, distributes and introduces Bible-based, Christ-centered, and Reformation driven books around the world. Our chapel offerings will support the “Come and See Jesus!” project sending Bible books to families in Indonesia.

All students will be given a coin collection bag to gather additional offerings for this ministry. The bags can be returned the last week of February. Thank you for your prayers and support in sharing the love of Jesus to families in Indonesia.

Book Fees and Tuition Payments: As agreed upon in the beginning of the school year, all book fee and tuition payments are due by February 10, 2021. Also, thank you for maintaining a zero or positive balance in all other accounts. Your timely payments are appreciated.

Continuous Enrollment: It is time again to start thinking about the 2021-2022 school year. In order to make this process as simple as possible for you, we will again be doing our continuous enrollment. Continuous enrollment means that once a student is enrolled at St. Peter, enrollment automatically renews each year until your child graduates from St. Peter. Re-enrollment is assumed unless your family notifies the school by March 12 that you choose not to re-enroll. Continuous enrollment saves you time and reduces paperwork while creating a more seamless process. This process is extremely beneficial to our school with staffing, planning, and budgeting. A letter detailing this will be sent with your oldest student next week (this was going to be going home today but we had a snow day) or you may click here to access the letter. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Eric Hagenow.

First Responder Says: In our final event of NLSW on Friday afternoon, students competed to win the listening competition of First Responder Says. This is very similar to Simon Says, except we used "First Responder Says" as we were honoring all of our first responders. Mr. Neumeyer led this activity and here are those that were able to earn a certificate in the individual grade competition:

Michigan History Virtual Field Trip: The third and fourth graders are currently studying government in Michigan history. This week, they experienced a virtual field trip via Zoom of the capitol in Lansing, Michigan. They saw Senator Horn and briefly witnessed a senate meeting. Additionally, they learned about the capitol building and were shown offices and other meeting rooms. The tour guide asked questions that many students recalled from our study of Michigan History thus far and brought up other events that they will learn more about in the future. 

On Thursday, February 4, the second grade students wrote elaborate letters to Mr. Hagenow describing why a snow day was needed. Reasons for a snow day included:

During the winter months, many attempts are made to have snow days. Here are a few things that are sometimes tried: PJs worn inside out and backwards, purple crayons by the window sill, taping paper snowflakes to a window, spoon under a pillow, and flushing ice cubes down the toilet. It looks like the second graders were successful and can add write a letter to the principal to their list of ways to have a snow day!

We are always looking for additional stories to share. Please click here to send us your story to be published in the Panther Press.

School Pictures: Thank you for your feedback to our survey. Hicks Studio was by far the most recommended by those that took the survey. For the 2021-2022 school year, Hicks Studio of Saginaw will be our school pictures provider.

No School: There is no school on Monday, February15. Child Care is available. Children that will be here through the lunch hour will need to bring a lunch from home. The cost is $20/child half day (five hours or less) or $35/child for all day (more than five hours).

Preschool Open House: Our Preschool Open House will take place on Monday, March 1 from 6:00-7:30pm by appointment only. Any parents interested in our preschool, should sign up at the link below. Returning preschool students to St. Peter do not have to attend the open house and will receive the packet of information the week before.

No More Bottles and Cans: We are thankful for the donations of bottles and cans during this school year, but for the time being, we are no longer collecting bottles and cans. We are very thankful for Mrs. Julie Ryan keeping this going and raising a significant amount of funding for future field trips. There may be some collections in the spring, but please spread the word that we are no longer collecting them. Thank you.

SCRIP: Just a reminder that the SCRIP Program raises money for St. Peter Lutheran School. SCRIP gift cards are purchased at face value from a list of stores and restaurants you normally frequent (and many more) and a percentage of that purchase comes back to St. Peter. For example, if you purchase a Meijer gift card for $100, you will receive a $100 Meijer gift card and St. Peter will receive 3% of that. Other examples – Macy’s gives back 10%, Red Lobster 8% and Bob Evans 10%. You receive the full value of your gift card purchase and raise money for St. Peter at the same time! Gift cards make great gifts for many different occasions. Call the school office (642.5659) to get more information on the SCRIP Program, to place an order, or to ask about the simple way to order SCRIP cards on line. Orders are sent in on the second Friday of each month and received at the school in approximately one week. If you need a gift in a hurry, the school office keeps a limited supply of $25 gift cards to local stores and restaurants that are available for purchase at any time. Call the school office to see what is available. February SCRIP orders are due next Friday, February 12.

Sunday Morning at 9:30am and

Thursday Evenings at 6:30pm

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6:30pm