THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR
Sunday, September 10th
8:00am Worship (Sanctuary)
9:00am Pancake Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)
10:00am Worship (Sanctuary)
11:00am Love Fellowship Worship (Sanctuary)
Tuesday, September 12th
9:00am Quilting (Quadrooms)
6:00pm Council Meeting (Fellowship Hall)
Wednesday, September 13th
10:00am Bible Study (Fireside Room)
6:30pm Choir (Music Room)
6:30pm Confirmation (Fellowship Hall)
Thursday, September 14th
10:00am Fidget Mats (Quadrooms)
Saturday, September 16th
9:00am Layette and Health Kit Assembly (Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, September 17th
8:00am Worship (Sanctuary)
9:00am Sunday School (Fellowship Hall)
10:00am Worship (Sanctuary)
11:00am Love Fellowship Worship (Sanctuary)
WORSHIP AND WITNESS MISSION NEWS
Sunday Morning Schedule
8:00am – Worship (Sanctuary)
9:00-9:45am – Pancake Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)
10:00am – Worship (Sanctuary)
St. Peter Live
Our 10:00am service is livestreamed to our Facebook page (https://m.facebook.com/stpetersheboygan/) each Sunday morning. Following worship, the service will be uploaded to YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvPIB8agxVhS72C5822etA) and our website (https://stpetersheboygan.com). The weekly bulletin is attached to this email if you would like to follow along with the online service.
Fall Worship Assistants
We will soon be back to two services, please consider helping out by reading, ushering, serving communion, running tech or altar guild. Please take a look at your availability and sign up using the link below or call Carrie to sign up. Thank you! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084aaaac2eaaf58-worship
FINANCIAL UPDATE
It was the best of times it was the worst of times. A phrase that is often overused and at times can be overly dramatic. However, I am going to use it here, as I cannot produce a better phrase that accurately reflects the current financial situation at St Peter.
The financial commitment by the members of St Peter has been outstanding so far in 2023. Through July there has been only one year in the past eight years when the General Fund Giving has been greater than it has been this year! Thank you for your continued support to the various ministries that the General Fund allows us to support. We all should be very proud of this fact and the numerous people affected by our giving. These are indeed the best of times.
However, the available balance in our checking account, which we use to pay salaries, expenses, ministry opportunities, and benevolence has dipped to concerning levels at various times throughout the year. Okay, not the worst of times but cause for concern. There are various reasons for this, and the Finance Team continues to look for opportunities to reduce expenses while maintaining the quality of our worship and ministries. The main reason for the dip in the checking account balance is that we have used up all previous “buffers” from prior years. Without our increased support to the ministries of St Peter through the General Fund, our ability to honor our commitments from our approved budget is compromised. One item that comes up consistently is the topic of Designated Giving. The donations to Designated Giving this year has made it challenging for St. Peter to honor its financial and ministry obligations. We are touching many lives and sharing God’s grace with many within and outside the four walls of St Peter. None of this is possible without our support of the congregation through the General Fund. I realize that the ministries that each of us value may be different, but our purpose is the same; to reflect God’s grace in all that we do. Giving to the General Fund, in my opinion, is the best way to guarantee that the various ministries of St Peter continue at a high level.
There is no reason that the remaining months of 2023 cannot be the Best of Times! ~ Nate (member of the finance team)
LIFELONG LEARNING MISSION NEWS
Pancakes!!
The fall worship schedule begins on Sunday with worship at 8:00am and 10:00am. To kick things off there will be a pancake breakfast directly following the first service. Come enjoy pancakes (gluten free available), sausage, fruit, coffee, juice and of course fellowship time!! Sunday School families are encouraged to attend – this is a great time to register for the school year and get to know the other Sunday School families! Invite a friend or neighbor to worship and breakfast. All are welcome!!
Sunday School
Sunday School will officially start on Sunday, September 17th from 9:00-9:45am, but join us for the pancake breakfast this week. Kids ages 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to join us for a time of bible stories, music, and activities. To register for Sunday School, please visit the website below:
Sunday School Helpers
PLEASE HELP! If you are able to help with teaching Sunday School, please let Pastor Kristin know. We are hoping to find adults who can lead activities. Lessons and supplies can be ready for you. All you need to do is show up and have fun with the kids!
Confirmation
Confirmation for youth in 6th-8th grade will start on Wednesday, September 13th from 6:30-7:30pm. The first class is for ALL confirmation youth AND their parents/ caregivers. To register for Confirmation, please visit the website below:
Bible Study
Join us for Bible Study, led by Myra, on Wednesday mornings from 10:00am-11:00am in the Fireside Room.
SOCIAL OUTREACH MISSION NEWS
ELCA Youth Gathering!
For 8th-12th graders July 15-21, 2024 in New Orleans, LA. Friends are welcome! Talk to Pastor Kristin if you have any questions or are interested in attending. Registration forms will be available and are due, with a $150 deposit, by Tuesday, September 12. Money is available to help with deposits if needed.
ELCA Young Adult Gathering
This gathering will be alongside the 2024 Youth Gathering in New Orleans! Those who will be 18 to 35 at the time of the Gathering are invited to attend. Most programming will be geared toward those 18 to 25 years old. All young-adult participants will be divided into cohorts based on age. Attendees of the Young Adult Gathering will be housed separately than the Youth Gathering participants, undergo background checks prior to registering, and will have separate programming (aside from the Mass Gathering). More details can be found at https://www.elca.church/gathering/attend/young-adult-gathering. If you are interested in attending, please talk to Pastor Kristin ASAP because the registration process is different.
P-Y-P Day (Pick your Project Day)
All are welcome! What is it you ask? Come to the Quad rooms or Fellowship Hall for conversation, camaraderie, and a place to work on your project of choice.
You can use table space for laying projects out, sewing machines or the industrial sewing machine, putting LWR kits together, writing out birthday cards for WELCA, cutting quilt squares, bringing your own knitting, crocheting or embroidery projects. Whatever you would like to work on. We will meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Any questions, ask Kelly J.
Fidget Mats PLUS!!!!
New name for fidgeters as we have evolved! Some of our fidgeters and quilters have found a new way to bring comfort and care to the people we serve and have added Pocket Prayer Quilts, Adult Bibs and Foley Bag Covers to those in need.
A delivery was made to a neighbor who has family at a home for elderly in Sanford, Florida named the Ethnos Homes. Delivered to them were 3 Alzheimer’s mats, 3 Adult, 3 Children’s mats and 4 cuffs. The neighbor is one who has donated many doodads and gizmos to us to use in our creations. We are always so thankful for all who remember us when sorting things from their larders so we might continue to be super recycle-ers and a blessing to all in need. Peace to All.
Join us on Thursdays from 10am to noon in the Quadrooms.
Lutheran World Relief School Kits
A message from Lutheran World Relief: “Education is one of the strongest tools a community has for breaking the cycle of poverty. Ensuring that girls attend school, especially in places where their access is deprioritized, has even stronger results. Lutheran World Relief School Kits contain essential supplies to help children — and in some cases, adults — continue learning in the face of serious obstacles. That learning leads to a better life for them, their families and their communities.”
Please consider pickup up a few items to help our congregation meet our goal of assembling 150 school kits this year. Drop them off in the hallway between church and the fellowship hall. Thank you for all the support given to this project. It is always amazing on school bag assembly day to see what an impact we as a congregation can have on the world. Any questions, contact a WELCA board member.
School kit item list:
4 – 70-sheet notebooks
1 – box of 24 crayons
1 – pencil sharpener
1 – ruler
1 – pair blunt scissors
5 – unsharpened pencils
5 – black or blue pens
1 – 2 ½” eraser
Lutheran World Relief Layettes and Health Kits
The Layette donations are coming together, but we are in need of standard size bath towels (not bath sheets) in dark colors. Please place all of your donations for Lutheran World Relief on the shelving in the Fellowship Hallway.
Layette and Health Kit Assembly
Please join us at 9:00am on Saturday, September 16th in the Fellowship Hall for Layette and Health Kit Assembly!
Quilting
Is learning to sew on your bucket list? Is quilting one of your passions? Then we can help!
Our mission for quilts for Lutheran World Relief requires: Gently used sheets for quilt backs. (Not silky type fabrics). Flat sheets are preferred, but fitted sheets can be used as well. Twin, Full, Queen, King, and any colors or prints. Then join us for quilting on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, in the Quad Rooms.
We welcome anyone willing to cut quilt squares, layout squares to make tops, sewers to put tops together, or to tie quilts once sewn. Sew! (So) come join us! We would love to have you.
Northside Christian Food Pantry
Thank you, St Peter Members, for supporting NSCFP with food and financial donations. We continue to need your contributions in order to serve those in need of food in our community.
September most needed items are Cereal, Canned Meals, Canned Fruit, Boxed Potatoes, Soup, Pasta/Rice Sides, Canned Vegetables, and Toilet Paper. Our shelves are quite empty. Any other items are also appreciated. Through your financial support we can also provide fresh produce and meat.
We value your partnership. Pat L.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
This lifeline provides care and support to people experiencing stressful situations. It is free, confidential, and is available 24/7. People of all ages who need help for themselves or a loved one can access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by: calling 988, sending a text message to 988, or using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org. People who contact 988 will be connected with a trained counselor who takes note of the person’s needs, understands how the person’s problem is affecting them, provides support, and, if needed, gets the person additional help.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please keep the following people in your prayers: Dominique’s Family, Richard’s Family, Tim, Jim, Karen, Sharon, Christopher, Mallissa, Vivian, Matt, Tony, Jen, Tracy, Evan, Mason, Vonnie, Garry, Joanne, Peter, Wendy’s family, Merri, Randy, Sharen, and Apostles of Christ.
BULLETIN AND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ARTICLE DATES
Announcements for the bulletin and weekly newsletter are due at noon each Wednesday. Please submit information to Carrie, at email address stpeter@stpetersheboygan.com. The staff will review and make final decisions based on clarity, space, content, timing, and needs of the community.