Blessings to you in this Lenten season. As we prepare for Holy Week and the resurrection of our Lord, I wanted to share with you this poem:
When we are all despairing;
when the world is full of grief;
when we see no way ahead,
and hope has gone away:
Roll back the stone.
Although we fear change;
although we are not ready;
although we’d rather weep;
and run away:
Roll back the stone.
Because we’re coming with the women;
because we hope where hope is vain;
because You call us from the grave
and show us the way:
Roll back the stone.
-Janet Horley
We, too, in our lives and as a congregation, enter into this Holy Week weighed down by our despair and grief, by anxieties about the economy, our families and our congregation. We come to worship in this Holy Week with our whole selves, our hopes and fears, despair and sorrow and joy. We bring all these things with us as we walk with the women to the tomb, trusting in the promise of the resurrection, knowing that the stone will be rolled back, that in Christ life bursts triumphant, again, into our world.
As we enter into the coming Holy Week, we gather together to walk with Jesus to the cross and journey with the disciples to the tomb. We sing at his entry in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, a procession which will lead to the cross. Maundy Thursday, we gather together at table with Christ, celebrating our meal of deliverance the night before his saving death. Good Friday, we come to the cross, where the glory of God is revealed in Jesus’ agony, suffering and death.
On Saturday, we will join with St. Stephen’s for a vigil to tell the stories of God’s saving work throughout history, remember our baptism and proclaim the promise of Christ’s resurrection.
We come together on Easter Sunday, having walked with Christ to his death, standing at the foot of the cross. We gather on Easter, at the empty tomb, the stone rolled back, to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death, proclaiming the power of the resurrection.
We enter into this story of God’s saving power, bringing us and all this world through life to death, rolling back the stone, bringing joy and hope to those things in our lives that are full of despair and fear and worry. These days of Holy Week tell the story of our Christian faith. They anchor us in the saving and life-giving power of God. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection give us courage to face even the hardest realities, because we are reminded that, in Christ, the stone is rolled away and new life is always given. Endings become beginnings, hope trumps despair, life conquers death. Whatever we might face, even the darkness and the seeming ending of the tomb, God has the power to roll away the stone and bring us hope and life and joy.
So come, join us for worship this Holy Week, and experience the promise and the power of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The council meeting on March 16th began with a reading and discussion of the Gospel lesson for the following Sunday: Numbers 21:4-9.
Committee Reports: Financial reports are encouraging, although it was necessary to withdraw from the endowment again this month to cover expenses. All is going smoothly with the transition to new treasurer/financial secretary, and there were no out of the ordinary expenses. Property reported that they received a bid for the installation of the fire alarm for the basement and is moving forward with the project, although they are currently waiting on the permit from the borough. They also repaired the doorbell next to the Mercer Street doors. The Sunday School students will be planting flowers this Spring. Members of the Social Ministry Committee will deliver lilies to shut-ins after Easter.
The Future Task Force reported on the Regional Mission Conversation on February 21st. Members of the Future task Force and Council attended, along with council members and the pastors from St. Stephen’s in South Plainfield and Advent in Warren, and Pastor Schantzenbach and Pastor Spindt from the Synod Office. The day was encouraging, as people from all 3 congregations shared openly about their faith and congregations. It was a time of building relationships with our neighbors. As a next step, the Future Task Force asked Pastor Sara to write a letter to St. Stephen’s and Advent, along with St. Luke’s, and other non-Lutheran congregations in North Plainfield, letting them know the realities of our situation here at St. Peter’s, so that we can have more focused conversation with them in the future. The Task Force is continuing to meet to determine the best way forward for the members and ministry at St. Peter’s.
We are invited to join with our confirmands for Easter Vigil at St. Stephen’s on Saturday, April 11th, at 7:30 pm.
The April council meeting will be held on April 13th.
The New Jersey Synod Assembly will be held June 5-6. We are looking for 1 or 2 voting members from St. Peter’s to attend with Pastor Sara. Registrations are due by April 21st. If you are interested in attending, please speak to Pastor Sara.
The church office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 A.M. - to 1:00 P.M. If the door is not unlocked, please ring the bell or knock. Pastor Sara will also be available at the church on Thursdays.
Weekly Bible Study
Join us each Wednesday for a Bible Study held at the church at 3:30 p.m. We will focus on the texts for that week that will be read at the following Sunday's service. (See “Word for the Week” further on in this newsletter.) Invite your friends and neighbors to join us for this informative time together, as we grow deeper in our faith and understanding of God’s word.
In Memoriam
We have been saddened in recent days by the untimely death, on March 10th, of our member and friend, Linda Rapp. May our prayers be with her husband, Dave, and others of the Rapp family, as we place our trust in the hope of Christ’s resurrection.
Loved by God, growing in faith, we are a place of welcome, sharing the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ
This is the purpose statement that was adopted by St. Peter’ congregation at our Annual meeting on January 27th, 2998. The hope is that this statement, which grew out of shared prayer, Bible study and conversation, will continue to take roots in our life as a congregation. It names both who we are today, and who we long to be in our future. This is something for all of us, from all of us, to give life and focus to our ministry. We will place this statement throughout our building, in our bulletins and elsewhere, to remember our purpose and to focus on our ministry. May God bless us and lead us as we participate in God’ mission with our unique purpose!
Paint the Town and Green the Brook
North Plainfield Community Day
Saturday, May 1st, in the morning
Mark off your calendars for this great day of community service and fellowship.
Also, if you or someone you know are in need of some house painting or help with some lawn or yard work, please let Pastor Sara know and we might be able to help.
CWS Blanket Sunday
Church World Service Blanket Sunday will be held on April 26th. A $5 donation will buy a recycled blanket like the one on display in the narthex, to be sent all around the world where needed.
WELCA Dinner Theater
WELCA will be attending the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse production of “Over the River and Through the Woods” on Sunday, June 14th, at 2:30 pm. Dinner is included in the price of the ticket, which is $61.50 per person. Please see Ev Troy for more details and tickets.
Save the Date
The Annual LMM Church Picnic will be held on Saturday, June 20th, at the home of Erik and Paul Henriksen in Lebanon Township, NJ.
Friends of the Carpenter
Friends of the Carpenter (FotC) is looking for applicants for their Home Rehabilitation Program. FotC is a North Plainfield non-profit organization which seeks to assist low and moderate income residents in the repair and rehabilitation of their owner-occupied homes. We would make interest-free loans available to you and do all the work to repair your home. If you are in need of a new roof, electrical, structural, heating, plumbing or others improvements necessary for the upkeep and safety of your house, and think you may be within the income guidelines, please see Pastor Sara.
With Gratitude
“...I thank my God every time I remember you...” Phillipians 1:3
God works in amazing ways through the generous and humble service of faithful people. In our newsletter each month we are going to share gratitude for the people who have done so much for our congregation in the past month. The purpose of this is for us to give praise to God for the many gifts and generous work of our community. If there is something or someone you want to thank and give praise to God for, please let the office know and we can include them here...
We thank God for:
Pat Shebey, soup makers, WELCA, LMM and all who made our Lenten Soup Luncheon so wonderful,
All who support the ministry of EPES through weekly Mission Support,
Lynn Blenderman for making such nice curtains for the quilting room,
Odessa Lemley and all who helped with hospitality for our Regional Mission Conversation,
WELCA for their continued generosity to so many organizations beyond themselves,
The continued good work of the Future Task Force,
The people of Holy Cross Episcopal Church for inviting us to join them for their Mardi Gras Celebration,
All Fellowship Timers for their hospitality and generosity and good food!
We give thanks to God for you, and for your willingness to share your many gifts!
Food...The Need Continues!
We continue collect non-perishable food for the needy in North Plainfield. The Ministerial Association in North Plainfield has a Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, where we deliver our donated food. With the cost of food today, it is a crisis all over the world, AND in North Plainfield!
The next time you shop, remember to buy a couple of extra cans for our food table in the narthex.
Thank you,
Ken Troy, LMM
Church Women United “Good Deed Foundation”
We are collecting recycled cell phones. In the U.S. more than half a billion cell phones are no longer being used and are ready for recycling, and more than 11 million phones are added to that total each month. With one simple act - recycling your old cell phone- you can create lasting solutions for women and families in poverty.
A portion of the recycled phones are programmed to dial only 911 and donated to domestic violence survivors, elder and low-income people at risk, for use in emergencies.
Please place them in the designated basket in the narthex.
Katie’s Quilters
Can you believe it: Katie’s quilters began their 12th year on September 12th, 2008. We cut the material into squares, sew the pieces into tops, assemble three layers (tops, filers, and bottoms), and sew and tie all the layers together for the quilts. Fabricland donates the material, while the quilters buy thread, filler material and pins, and deliver the quilts to Maryland, As you know, most of our quilts go to Lutheran World Relief. This year there was a 46% increase over the previous year in the number of quilts sent all over the world! Hallelujah! But the need is so great, and LWR is asking for more quilts. Last year LWR collected and delivered 452,870 quilts worldwide.
Monetary donations are gratefully accepted, which go mainly toward the purchase of filler material.
We can always use helpers. Please see any Katie’s quilter. Who are our quilters? Here is the list: Lynn Blenderman, Pia Grant, Barbara Henriksen, Chris Zehrfuhs, Clara Jencik, Barbara Shebey, Ann Kircher, Odessa Lemley, Mary Ann Schwarz, and Judy Ziccardi. We are most fortunate to also have the talents of Ginger Smellie from Trinity Reformed Church and Betty Garguile from Dunellan Presbyterian. You do not need sewing experience, as our helpers fulfill lots of different jobs, from cutting squares, sorting them into patterns, sewing squares into tops, sewing backs, assembling tops, backs and fillers into quilts, and tying the quilts together with embroidery thread knots.
You will discover that the experience is not only rewarding, but also a lot of fun, too. And the quilts that are produced are just beautiful! These are wonderful things that will brighten up the life of an individual a world away, while also providing some much needed warmth, comfort, and protection from the elements. Why not talk to a member of Katie's Quilters today?
News from WELCA
Did you know that any woman of St. Peter’ is welcome to join us for our monthly meetings? Did you also know that we do more that provide desserts for various St. Peter’s functions?
While it is true that we host the annual Palm Sunday Breakfast and the lenten Soup Fellowship, as well as sponsor fellowship once a month, we also actively support many other worthwhile causes. Some of these are financial, such as our contributions to Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Social Services, Lutheran Association of Missionary Pilots (LAMP) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia. We also collect food for FISH, and labels for the Rock Point Navajo Lutheran Mission School.
Among the labels we collect are the following:
Campbell soups and beans
Franco-American pasta and gravy products
Mrs. Paul’s frozen seafood products
Pepperidge Farm products
Prego spaghetti sauce
Swanson frozen foods
V8 products
General Mills “Box Tops for Education”
You can all help us by saving these labels and putting them in the kitchen or handing them to a WELCA member.
So bottom-line, please help us help others by saving the above. And please join us at our meetings so that we can contribute even more to our community.
Irene Plitz
President, WELCA
Women of the ELCA
The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) invite all women to participate in their many activities. Meetings with a specific theme or activity are usually held at the church once each month. Our Katie’s Quilters usually meet twice a month on a Wednesday morning at 10:00 and a Friday evening at 7:00. Check with the office for the monthly schedule of activities.
In August, 2008, our women delivered an additional 90 quilts to Lutheran World Relief center in Maryland. Food items for FISH, the local food bank, are continually collected and delivered. Thankoffering Sunday is held in November. Many other opportunities for fellowship and service are coming along. As you can see, our women are very active.
To find out how you can join in, and to find out what’s happening when, please talk to an active member, watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office (908-754-0530) for further information and/or the name and phone number of the proper contact person. Our Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America look forward to welcoming you!
Lutheran Men in Mission
Our Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) meet once a month at the Church. All men of the church, young and senior alike, are welcome and encouraged to attend. Check with the office for the monthly schedule of events. In recent years, LMM has sponsored our Annual Picnic. They also take a regular turn with Fellowship Time after services.
Work days at the church are also scheduled when a need arises. Each month, the men collect and deliver many bags of food to the local FISH program. Many other opportunities for fellowship and service are coming along.
As with the Women's Group, to find out how you can join in, and to find out what's happening when, please talk to an active member, watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office (908-754-0530) for further information and/or the name and phone number of the proper contact person. Our Lutheran Men in Mission look forward to welcoming you!
EPES (Educacion Popular En Salud) and AHA (Action for Health in the Americas)
Our own missionary, Karen Anderson, whom we have supported in her mission in Chile for over 25 years, is President and founder of EPES, working in Chile through its first two decades. Karen said in a recent letter to all of her supporters, “Thank you for your continued support on behalf of our friends who work and serve in the shantytowns of Chile. With your help, EPES will continue to help educate and empower people in the poorest neighborhoods throughout Chile.“
Upon returning to the U.S., Karen founded AHA to help continue the support of EPES in Chile. At this time, EPES needs our support, as the declining U.S. dollar is having a devastating effect on organizations like EPES that receive much of their funding in U.S. dollars. The dollar is barely worth 450 Chilean pesos today, compared with 650 pesos 2 years ago.
There are Sundays available on the EPES chart, across from Pastor's office, for you to honor a loved one's memory, or someone's birthday. All of your donation of $20 goes directly to EPES in chile. Please remember to mark your envelope clearly for EPES.
Evelyn Troy, C.M.I.
ELCA World Hunger Appeal
“In 2004, our church’s World Hunger Appeal celebrated its 30th anniversary - 30 years of bringing help and hope to people in need.” These are the words addressed to us in a letter from Mark S. Hanson, presiding Bishop of the ELCA. He goes on to say, “In this anniversary year, our church will be celebrating the work of the Appeal...Through your giving, you have been part of this mosaic of hope that comes through merging relief, sustainable development, advocacy, and education. Your gifts are part of a picture - of a church that is responding faithfully and effectively to its Lord’s command to feed those who are hungry and to seek justice for those who are oppressed.”
Please continue to be a part of this picture by giving generously to our church’s World Hunger Appeal.
Gifts can be given through St. Peter’s, or sent directly to ELCA World Hunger Appeal, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764.
Word for the Week
Each week we are given the gift of God's Word in our lectionary texts, the texts assigned to us for each week of worship. You will hear these words on Sunday mornings and the Sunday School children study these texts. I invite you to take some time during the week before you come to church on Sunday to read, study and pray with these texts each week. It could be a simple way to do daily devotions. On Monday, read the first reading, Tuesday, the psalm, on Wednesday, the second reading, and Thursday, read the Gospel texts. On Friday and Saturday, go back to those readings you had questions about and dig more deeply into your study. These passages can also be read in preparation for our weekly 4 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study held at the church.
One simple way to read these texts is to ask yourself the following questions:
1. What does this piece of scripture tell me about God?
2. What is God up to in this text?
3. What does this text call me (or us) to do or to be?
These are some of the questions I pray and ponder as I prepare for my sermons each week, and perhaps as you begin to ask them with me. We can grow in deeper conversation and connection with God and God's mission in the world. And you might even have a deeper experience of worship on Sunday morning.
Week before April 5th, Palm/Passion Sunday:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16 (5)
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
April 6, Monday, Holy Week:
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 36:5-11 (7)
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 12:1-11
April 7, Tuesday, Holy Week:
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 71:1-14 (6)
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
John 12:20-36
April 8, Wednesday, Holy Week:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 70 (1)
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32
April 9, Maundy Thursday:
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 (13)
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
April 10, Good Friday:
Isaiah 52:13Ñ53:12
Psalm 22 (1)
Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42
April 11, Holy Saturday:
Salvation Stories
Various Poems
Romans 6:3-11
John 20:1-18
April 12, Easter Sunday:
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (24)
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Mark 16:1-8
Week before April 19, Second Sunday of Easter:
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133 (1)
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 20:19-31
Week before April 26, Third Sunday of Easter:
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4 (3)
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
Week before May 3, Fourth Sunday of Easter:
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23 (1)
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
