Merry Christmas!!
SCHELDUE FOR THIS WEEK
Friday, December 24th
Christmas Eve
*To allow for distancing, seating will be available in the sanctuary and to accommodate more people safely, the service will be livestreamed in the fellowship hall.*
Worship – Family Focused 2pm
Worship – Band Led 4pm (Candlelight)
Worship – Choir Led 7pm (Candlelight)
Saturday, December 25th
Christmas Day
No Worship
Sunday, December 26th
Worship 9am
No Sunday School
Sunday, January 2nd, 2022
Worship 8am
No Sunday School
Worship 10am
Love Fellowship Worship 11am
SAVE THE DATE
The Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 30th, 2022 at 10:45am in the Fellowship Hall.
WORSHIP AND WITNESS MISSION NEWS
St Peter Live!!
You can now watch our worship service live! Our 8am service will now be 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). In case of technical difficulty, the service will still be recorded and posted as soon as possible after worship.
8:00am & 10:00am – Worship in the sanctuary. We will wear masks and distance.
9:15am-9:45am – Sunday School in the fellowship hall.
TASK FORCE UPDATE
The Sheboygan County Division of Public Health and Human Services shared the following statement in a message sent on December 6th. “Sheboygan County Public Health and the CDC recommend that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks while indoors or when physical distancing cannot be maintained in areas experiencing high or substantial levels of COVID transmission.” Sheboygan County currently has a high transmission level. For this reason, and to live out the command we have to love our neighbors, we will do our best to distance and wear masks indoors.
SOCIAL OUTREACH MISSION NEWS
Mitten Tree
The Mitten Tree is back and ready for your donations. We have LOTS of hats, but we could use more gloves/mittens and scarves. Please bring your new or gently used items to St. Peter and add them to the tree. We will then send them off to area elementary schools. Before we even get started this year, we are dropping off 126 hats, 25 pair of gloves and 3 scarves to 7 different elementary schools. Thank you so much for your generosity – please keep it coming!!
El Salvador News
Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. Peters Church:
I send to you warm hugs and I wish blessings in your lives. I give my regards to the congregation.
I sincerely apologize for the communication problems we have had lately and for the delay in sending the scholarship information. Many things have happened and it was not possible to send the information before because of the pandemic, the violence in the communities, the responsibility of my work at his time (which includes the migrant ministry in which I work) and also due to the lack of a computer for personal use.
At Apostles of Christ Church we are grateful for the support you give us in order that our children and youth can continue their studies. They are also excited because in December we will have a gathering and retreat thanks to the financial help that you always give us.
In January, God willing, I will send you a brief report of the main activities we have been doing this year, including the retreat, with photos and videos.
I also take this opportunity to ask when we can have a virtual meeting. I will wait for the dates when you can do it and if it is possible to do it at night it would be better.
Greetings from the Apostles of Christ Church and Pastor Cruz and family.
Blessings, Pastor Cruz Antonio Calles
Quilting for Lutheran World Relief
Quilting Update: Ten children’s quilts and ten adult quilts have been given to the Afghan refugees at Fort Mc Coy and twenty children’s quilts have been given to Project Linus and through them will go to the local Head Start Program. Thanks to all of you who have helped make this possible- those that sew, cut fabric, lay out quilt tops, tie, donate fabric, donate batting, donate sheets, or help in any way. It takes MANY hands to make a quilt. We are blessed! Thanks be to God! Join us for quilting every Tuesday from 9am – 12pm in the quadroom. Please come, we have a lot of work to do. With all the earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters, LWR is in desperate need of quilts. No experience necessary. We will teach you. See you there. Peace, Wendy B. No Quilting on December 21st or 28th. We will be back on January 4th.
Fidget Mats
The fidget mat group would like to extend the invitation to join us every Thursday in the quadroom from 10am to noon. We have been abundantly blessed with all sorts of fabric, doodads and gizmos to put on these sensory mats to be distributed to nursing homes, high schools and child care education centers which are used for distraction, comfort and mental stimulation for those in need. No need for experience, you’ll be surprised at your own creativity and we will give you direction. As our group will tell you, it is therapy and enjoyment for us also. There is much to do so stop in when you can and see what goes on! No Fidgeting on December 23rd or 30th. We will be back on January 6th.
Farmer’s Market
The SCIO Winter Farmers Market has begun! The market will be held the first and third Saturdays from 9am-12pm at First Congregational UCC, 310 Bluff Avenue, Sheboygan. We have new vendors and new products to share. We also continue to offer EBT services and DYB vouchers.
The farmer’s market has been actively working with low-income patrons to increase access to fresh, locally grown produce. Over $15,000 was spent in food share at the 2021 summer market, and the Double Your Bucks program that is sponsored by St. Nicholas Hospital increased their buying power by adding another $8,000. We also were able to distribute 245 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program booklets to low-income seniors to purchase $25 of fresh produce at the market in 2021. The farmers market aligns beautifully with our mission to “advocate for social justice, dignity and to improve the quality of life for all people.”
Bridgeway
Bridgeway could use the following items: hand soap, wrapping paper (holiday or birthday), dryer sheets, and 3 matching holiday vinyl tablecloths.
Bridgeway remains focused on helping moms and kiddos accomplish their goals. Mental health counseling, debt reduction, and actively searching for affordable housing top the list this month. Our case manager is working with 10 families through outreach with the hopes of bringing those in who meet the criteria for residency when openings occur. Until that time, we continue to provide food and other basic necessities to help ease their burden of homelessness or vulnerable living conditions.
Community Resources
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) has a helpline 800-950-6264 that is available M-F 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This helpline provides the one-on-one help and information necessary to tackle tough challenges that you, your family or friends are facing. They also have 24/7 crisis support. Call 800-273-8255 or text NAMI to 741-741 to receive free support via text message.
LIFELONG LEARNING MISSION NEWS
Sunday School
Sunday School for children ages 3 years through 5th grade meets from 9:15-9:45am. At least one caregiver/parent must accompany each household of children. We need adults to stay because we will not be having a sign-in/sign-out procedure. Caregivers/parents are encouraged to participate with their children! Masks are required in the building. No Sunday School on December 26th or January 2nd. We are back on January 9th!
Confirmation
All students entering 6th-9th grade are invited to join confirmation classes on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm. No confirmation on December 22nd or 29th. We are back on January 5th.
Bible Study
Join us for Bible Study, led by Myra, on Wednesday mornings from 10:00am to 11:00am in the Fireside Room. No Bible Study on Wednesday, December 29th.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please keep the following people in your prayers: Rudy, Lydia, Bruce’s family, Jazzy, Wina, Dave, Linda, Dianna, Rae-Ellen, Reed, Hannah, Carole, Barb, David, St. Peter, Jensen, Jaylin, Bob, Vicki, and Apostles of Christ.