Grace to you and peace from Christ on these lovely fall days. In September, members of our council spent a Saturday to write a draft Purpose Statement for our congregation. In a recent ELCA study, it was found that congregations that were vibrant, growing and having a real impact were consistent about two things. First, they were clear about their purpose/vision for their ministry. Second, they showed an openness to change in order to be faithful, asking “What do we need to do to be effective for God.”
With the intent to create a draft Purpose Statement, members of the council spent the day praying, reading the Bible and talking together in order to listen to what God was calling us to be. We read together and talked about two chapters in the book of Acts. Acts 2 tells the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the life of the early church: “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people” (Acts 2: 46-47) (Sound familiar to what we do today?) Acts 10 tells of Peter’s dream, conversion and the spreading of the Good News to the Gentile community, where Peter says, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God.” (Acts 10: 34-36). We talked about what God was up to in those readings, what the people of God were up to, and how this can lead us in our discerning what God is calling us to do and be.
After much prayer and study, we spent time writing draft Purpose Statements which sought to name what God is calling us to be in this time and place. A “Purpose Statement” is a concise, missional and outwardly focused statement which names what we believe our purpose is as the people of God. It is my belief that a clear and concise statement of our purpose will capture our imaginations, mobilize our energy, connect us with one another, and will draw others into our community. Through prayerful, diligent and faithful work, we agreed on this proposed Purpose Statement:
Loved by God, we are a place of welcome, growing in faith
and sharing God’s love, hope and joy.
The whole congregation is invited to a Town Hall Meeting after church on Sunday, December 2nd to further discuss this proposed Purpose Statement. We will share more about the process used to discern this draft statement, and ask for input, critique and ideas from the whole congregation. Please take some time in the coming month to read through chapters 2 and 10 in the book of Acts, and to pray about this proposed Purpose Statement and what you hear God calling us to be. We will gather together feedback and responses from the Town Hall Meeting to create a final draft Purpose Statement for approval at our Annual Meeting in January.
I give thanks to God for the faithful leadership of our congregation council. And I give thanks for the faithful service and commitment of this congregation which continues to live with openness to God’s call. What a gift to be the church and to participate with God in God's mission to bless and love this whole world!.
The October Congregation Council Meeting was opened at 7:30 PM on September 8th with a prayer and devotion by Pastor Sara.
Property: Leigh Rink and LMM reported that repair of windows in Fellowship Hall will cost $450. Also, the Mercer Avenue doors need new hinges and that will necessitate some refinishing. Hinges will cost between four and five hundred dollars. LMM will continue to replace light bulbs with the new long lasting CFL bulbs.
Vision Appeal Committee: Gary Johnson will write a letter to be sent to all who contributed to our campaign. He will need help with the mailing.
At the Council Retreat on September 15th, a Purpose Statement was formulated after much discussion and prayer. That statement will be presented to the congregation at a December 2, 2007 Town Hall Meeting (after our 10:30 Worship Service) for responses and suggestions from the congregation. It will then be submitted in any revised form to the congregation at our Annual Meeting in January.
The Council approved the use of Fellowship Hall by the Cub Scouts on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month.
Pastor reported that we have received the funds bequested to us from the estate of John Krouse in the amount of $25,000. She suggested that 10%, or $2,500, be sent to Synod in support of the “Mission on the Move” Campaign and in gratitude to God for this great blessing. Council approved this expenditure.
We were reminded that Thrivent will match any special appeal money that we receive and there was a brief discussion about packaging the funds needed for the Mercer Avenue doors and the windows in this way.
A reminder: At the end of the month we will be asked to make a commitment to support our church through regular steady giving. Please pray and think seriously about how you can give of your resources, time and talents to support St. Peter’s in our mission.
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.
Building Wish List
Gail, our secretary, Pastor Sara and the Property Committee will be compiling wish lists which will be posted on the bulletin board near the side door. Please look at these lists and see how you can help in the running of our church by donating something needed or desired. Thanks for your consideration.
Adult Forum
Everyone is invited to attend our Adult Forum on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. This fall our study centers on the Lord’s Prayer. As the Adult Forum will not meet every Sunday, please check the schedule posted in the narthex for a list of meeting dates.
Let It Shine - St. Peter's Vision Appeal
Through the generous gifts of members and friends of St. Peter’s we have had tremendous success with our first year of the Vision Appeal. But we are not done yet! Please continue this appeal in your giving, so that the momentum we have begun this fall will continue into the coming year.
We also invite stories to share about what St. Peter’s means to you. These stories will be posted on our board in Fellowship Hall.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Kirsten Briggs and Mike Arcell who were married here at St. Peter’s on Friday, October 5th. May God bless this new relationship.
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Our community will gather on Wednesday, November 21st, at 7:30 p.m., for the annual Thanksgiving Eve Service at Trinity Reformed Church on the corner of Greenbrook Road and West End Avenue, North Plainfield. We expect a Combined Choir for this service celebrating our gratitude for all that God has done.
Church Women United
Church Women United in New Jersey will present a program entitled “A Day of Spiritual Renewal, End of Life Issues,” on Saturday, December 1st, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Tenefly, New Jersey. Continental breakfast will take place at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The program will be led by The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Rusnak, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cresskill and Hospice Chaplain in Connecticut and New Jersey. Registration is $2 at the door. Bring a lunch. Dessert and beverage will be provided.
The church address is 430 Knickerbocker Road, Tenefly. Please call 201-568-8821 for further information.
Transformational Ministry Event
“In the Zone,” a Tranformational Ministry Event will be held at St. Peter’s on Saturday, November 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join with other members of the Gateway Mission Cluster Oval to gain ideas and experiences to help renew our mission and grow in faith.
The Discipleship Academy
Come together with folks throughout New Jersey to learn new ways to see God moving and working in our midst. Bring your Bible and a newspaper for a full day of conversation, worship and fun. The Academy will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Somerville on Saturday, December 1st. Please call 908-685-1660 for further information.
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:
Bob Hassard for leading us in music while Mary Ann was away,
Kirsten and Mike Arcell for sharing their wedding flowers with us,
Council and Linda Nietman for their faithful work at our Council Retreat,
Ken Troy for doing such a great job recycling church office paper,
Joan Hassard for her leadership with Stewardship,
and all who served as sponsors to make the NP CROP Walk such a success.
We give thanks to God for you, and for your willingness to share your many gifts!
We also give thanks to God for the generous bequest we received from John J. Krouse, Jr., who entered into life triumphant in the fall of 2005. Mr. Krouse and his family were longtime members of St. Peter’s. He also served as organist of First United Methodist Church in Scotch Plains. We give thanks to God for this generous gift of $25,000 which continues the faithful witness of John Krouse in a lasting legacy. In order to continue the generosity of the gift, the Council decided to give 10% of the bequest to the New jersey Synod’s Mission on the Move Campaign which supports mission throughout the Synod. Council will continue to discern how to faithfully make use of the remainder of this gift.
If you are interested in Legacy Giving and including St. Peter’s in your will, please see Pastor Sara. It is a wonderful opportunity to make a lasting witness beyond our lifetimes.
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 7:30. Check with the office for the monthly schedule of activities.
In August, 2007, our women delivered an additional 80 quilts to Lutheran World Relief center in Maryland. Food items for FISH, the local food bank, are continually collected and delivered. They assist our Lutheran Men in Mission at our Annual Dinner Theater and serve as Fellowship Time hostesses after Sunday church services. The women also sponsor a Thankoffering Sunday which is held in November. There are special service projects around the Christmas and Palm Sunday/Easter holidays. Other overseas projects, besides the LWR quilts, include the collection of items for health kits, layette kits, and school kits. 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, and have have organized and cooked for our Annual Dinner Theater. They also take a regular turn with Fellowship Time after services, plus present our ladies with carnations on Mother's Day.
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!
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.
E.P.E.S. (Educacion Popular En Salud)
The "Mission" - EPES is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of shantytown inhabitants of Santiago and Concepcion, Chile, through the training and organized participation of the residents themselves. Over the past 25 years, EPES has trained hundreds of local people as community health promoters. The great majority (97%) of the health promoters are shantytown women. They have addressed issues which have included acute respiratory infections, breast cancer, reproductive rights, domestic violence, adolescent sexuality, HIV infection and AIDS, mental health and environmental pollution.
St. Peter’s congregation has supported this valuable mission project for the past 25 years. Donations are immediately forwarded to Rev. Lerseth, Mission Director at Lutheran Headquarters in Chicago, who, in turn, forwards those funds directly to EPES in Chile. You can help in this support with your $20 suggested donation, made in memory of a deceased loved one, or in honor of someone or a special occasion. Envelopes are available in the church hallway on the bulletin board near the office.
Thank you.
Evelyn Troy, C.M.I.
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, the Sunday School children study these texts, and, in the Season of Lent, 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. 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 November 4th (All Saints Sunday):
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Psalm 149 (Ps. 149:1)
Ephesians 1:11-23
Luke 6:20-31
Week before November 11th:
Job 19:23-27a
Psalm 17:1-9 (Ps. 17:8)
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Luke 20:27-38
Week before November 18th:
Malachi 4:1-2a
Psalm 98 (Ps. 98:9)
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19
Week before November 25th (Christ the King Sunday):
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Luke 1:68-79 (Luke 1:69)
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43
“Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
This year’s stewardship emphasis will focus on the basic principles of faith, hope and love.
October 28th will be Pledge Sunday. This Sunday gives us an opportunity to make our commitments of loving response to God by returning our financial pledge for 2008. We will have a special time in our worship to celebrate the reception of these pledges. Please take some time to prayerfully discern how you will respond to God’s many blessings by supporting God’s work here at St. Peter’s.
Thanks to all who participated and supported this year’s stewardship campaign.
