ST PETER'S NEWS
June 4, 2020
A WORD FROM PASTOR V
In this week's e-news is an update on re-gathering for worship, a rich Bible study on the Holy Spirit for this Holy Trinity weekend, a reminder to pick up the latest Living Lutheran and Gather magazines ( invaluable resources that help us see and talk about current events through a cross-shaped lens), and a ministry report from our St. Peter's Lutheran School. Know that your generosity in giving helps make our school possible. Through our congregation helping through this building, custodian, utilities, volunteers, and scholarships, our school is able to teach and love on children and families that we would not be able to otherwise. So, thank you, and know that you are helping us be a light for God in our community through our school.

I really didn't think anything could overtake the pandemic in the news cycle, yet this past week's death of George Floyd revealed there are other deadly viruses among us that are just as large, scary, and overwhelming.

I want to offer you, dear church, a few pastoral reflections for this week and the weeks ahead.

  • In times such as these, I find it helpful to reflect and respond to what's happening in the world and in our community through lens of the sacred story...not through the news or my upbringing or what I already believe. First, spend some time with Paul in Romans, maybe starting in Chapter 8, "the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that the very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." Then make your way to the songbook of the Bible...the Psalms...begin with Psalm 5 and 10 and see where they lead you. Over 40% of the psalms are songs of lament and people journeying through the the hardest of times. Finally, head to the gospel of Luke, chapter 10, to the parable of the Good Samaritan. How do Jesus' life and teaching shape our words and actions in this moment? I would love to know where this time has led you to go dwell in scripture.

  • In this time, I am ever reminded of the richly Lutheran paradox of life, that as a follower of Jesus, I am both 100% saint, but also 100% sinner. To say I don't have a racist or prejudiced bone in my body is to claim the saint and not the sinner and in so doing I deny the reality of being human. It takes vigilance to be all inclusive and welcoming, but I am not powerful enough to overcome every thought and gut reaction shaped by society, culture, and my upbringing. So, in times like these, I find myself listening way more than speaking, seeking faithful questions over easy answers to heal our world, and calling upon God's Spirit every time I open my mouth or take a step into a place of hurt and loss. I am so thankful we begin our worships in confession or at the font.
  • I would like to invite anyone interested to join me in a book study on race and racism. Lenny Duncan is a black ELCA pastor who wrote a book last year titled "Dear Church: A love letter from a black preacher to the whitest denomination in the US." It is a book that is both challenging and hope filled, one that might be helpful for our own life together as a congregation and for the life of our larger community. I am looking at doing it over 3 Zoom meeting sessions, dates TBD. If you are interested, send me an email by Friday so I can see what dates and times will work for everyone. In the mean time, go ahead and order the book from your favorite bookseller and start reading, ~$13 on Amazon.
  • Finally, my door is open for conversation and reflection! I do not always have clear answers (outside of basic math problems), but I can listen and wonder with you how we point our life towards Christ in all that is going on. You have called me to be the trusted theologian you can turn to in the good times and in the tough, and this is a role I find both sacred and humbling. So, thank you for the gift of walking among you, and wrestling with the same things God wrestles with.

Peace,
Pastor Vanicek
WORSHIP UPDATE
Preparations for in-person worship are coming along!

We now have internet access in the Commons and Sanctuary. Our A/V booth is complete (thanks to Fred and Tom Pfaff). And, our live-streaming equipment is being installed tomorrow and next week.

We also have a Task Force developing guidelines to re-gather in phases, realizing that recovering from this virus is likely not a linear process. Thanks to the following folks who have been helping to shape these guidelines for council approval: Courtney Wing, Lynn Carlson, Katherine Terrell (council), Kelly Martin and Dale Moquist (medical), Olivia Cheesman, Don Trapp, Pat Erickson, and Deborah Vanicek (worship and technology), Joan Leake (Fellowship), Belva Latshaw (altar guild), and Dusty Knight and Janette Clausen, who bring a range of perspective from various roles of leadership in the congregation, as well as in the community.

Due to:
  • uncertainty of the effects of recent protest gatherings on community spread
  • observing flat or increasing daily cases for our surrounding counties (where our membership lives) and Texas new cases increasing as a whole
  • a desire to begin this new live-stream capability well and not rushed, with all guidelines and processes in place to keep everyone healthy and well, we are moving our "hoped for" date out a little.

The updated timeline:
6/7 and 6/14 - continue with pre-recorded worship
6/21 - debut of live-stream worship (only leaders)
6/28 - new "hoped for" date for our 1st in-person worship
JOIN THE NEW A/V TEAM!
We are forming a small team of folks who can help run audio and the live-stream from our new A/V booth in the sanctuary.

Please contact Olivia Cheesman if you might be interested in being part of this team, or know of someone else who would enjoy doing this.

The live-stream installer will be leading a training session this coming Tuesday at 10am in the sanctuary. If you are interested and unable to attend, Olivia can meet with you at a more convenient time to train you herself.
ST. PETER'S MINISTRY UPDATE
ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Not surprisingly, we had a crazy end to our 2019-2020 school year! We began doing virtual learning the week following Spring Break on March 24 and had our last day of school on Thursday, May 21. It was quite a ride for the teachers, families, and students as we all had to learn an entirely new way of teaching and engaging preschool students without contact.

We opted to only ask parents to pay half tuition during the months of April and May to try and ease the financial burden on them and because our lessons were not in person. Doing this was a risk financially, but we felt like the families were so appreciative, and in doing it that way, we only had a single student withdraw! The teachers were able to prep materials ahead of time and leave it outside for parents to come by the church and get them prior to the lessons being taught. Then, the lessons were recorded in a private Facebook group for all parents to access. Ms. Belva and Pastor Vanicek both submitted videos for library and chapel time each week through the whole time as well.

We ended the year with a drive-by parade! We asked parents to drive through our parking lot to wave and see the teachers smiling at them! It was a joy to see their smiling faces and wave good-bye! We were so grateful to have that opportunity! We also created an end of year celebration video that went out to all of the parents that included a presentation from each class, certificates, and a song from the teachers.

During the quarantine months, we were able to still hold our 9th Annual Run for the Son, but we did it virtually! We asked all participants to do the 1K or 5K at their own location but on the same day, wearing the same shirt, and for the same purpose - St. Peter’s Lutheran School scholarship fund! It was the biggest Run for the Son we’ve had! It was a blessing! 

Looking forward is still blurry - we don’t know what will be coming for the fall. We are making plans to have a “normal” school year, but are fully prepared that it may be anything but “normal”. We are moving forward with the following things:

  • re-purposing Room 215 by adding a bathroom, sink, and closet to make it into a 2nd Kindergarten classroom
  • expanding to 6 classes, not including Monday and Friday Extended Learning (2 three year old classes, 2 PreK classes, and 2 kinder classes)
  • having the original 4 classrooms painted - first time in at least 10 years
  • hiring a new aide, Markelle Fry - the teaching staff has remained the same (Tracy Knight, Christy Humphreys, Anna Womack, Ashley Crouse, Jeannie Hanshaw, Lindsay Pyle, and Carrie Rice)
  • hosting a Proceeds Night Fundraiser at Double Horn Brewing Company on July 15 (please mark your calendar to join us for take-out or dine-in (additional details will be coming soon)

We are, as always, so appreciative of the congregation at St. Peter’s. We would like to ask that you keep our school in your prayers as the uncertainty of the world continues to affect the future of St. Peter’s Lutheran School. Thank you for your support! Tracy Knight, St. Peter's School Director
BIBLE STUDY AT HOME
Faith is scripture is rarely a noun...but most often a verb...an active and alive thing. Faith is like muscles, 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.

As we celebrate Trinity Sunday this weekend, we come face-to-face with a God who is both knowable and utterly mysterious...a God who can hold our hand, but also able to hold all at once the universe. As we enter into the season of Pentecost that extends in the fall, we enter the time of the church year where we are to be on the look-out for how God is at work among us in both knowable and mysterious ways. Where did you see God's Spirit at work this past week...a Spirit of life, love, hope, and restoration? How is God's Spirit calling you to move, speak, and live for the life of others this week?
CLICK HERE to go deeper in
learning about the Holy Spirit.
DEVOTIONS AND MAGAZINES IN THE PORTICO BIN
NEW!
CHRIST IN OUR HOME
WORSHIP & PRAYER RESOURCES
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, CLICK HERE for a one-stop page on our website.
GRATITUDE AND CONGREGATIONAL NOTES
Please send Tristan any notes that you would like to share with the congregation. Thank you.
OTHER RESOURCES