40 For 40 Stewardship Campaign
We are deeply grateful for the members and supporters of Saint Peter who make ministry possible here in our congregation. It is your time, your passion, your prayers, your money, your hopes, and your dreams that help us live into the mission we believe God has entrusted to us. Thank you to all who completed their 2021 Financial Commitment forms. If you have not yet let us know your plans for giving, please make your 2021 Financial Commitment to Saint Peter here or contact Lynn Sherpe in the church office.
As part of this year’s 40 for 40 stewardship campaign, there has been much talk about our congregation’s focus on energized, faithful youth. In case you missed it (or would like to see it again), here’s a video featured during worship a few weeks back that shares messages by and about Saint Peter’s youth.
Want An Advent Wreath?
Saint Peter has purchased enough Advent wreath making materials for every family in our congregation. If you missed the events hosted by Family Ministries this last Friday and Saturday, it's not too late! Contact Lynn Sherpe or Mary Pratt to arrange a time to pick up your kit.
Not only can you enjoy the wreaths on your own time, but all throughout Advent Season, one Saint Peter family will be featured on Zoom during worship as they light their candles and read a Psalm. Join in! It will be fun to see how we’ve all displayed the wreaths.
Featured here are a few photos taken last weekend during the decorating event at Saint Peter and in some of family’s homes. For even more photos, visit the Saint Peter Facebook page.
Faith Forum
After a quick Thanksgiving weekend break, Faith Forum is back. This Sunday, following our 9:30 a.m. Advent Worship Service (with Holy Communion), Pastor Dave will lead us in a conversation about how the commitment to serve our neighbors serves as a source of strength and endurance.
This week we will focus on what at first seems to be a contradictory premise: that in giving to others who are in need, we become stronger, more resilient people. Many have tried the opposite, contending that when times get tough we should circle the wagons, protect our resources, and take care of ourselves first. But Jesus disagrees: “…those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” [St. Mark 8:35]
How can giving away ourselves actually strengthen us, and leave us better prepared to face the challenges that come our way? How might this be a strategy to stay faithful and well on the road that is 2020? Come on by this Sunday and we’ll talk about it together.
New Ministry at Saint Peter, Faith In Action
Saint Peter is home to a new ministry - Faith In Action. A leadership team has been formed and they met for the first time two Mondays ago. Their time together began with a meditation on this poem called “Tired” by Cleo Wade, which captured their collective motivation for joining this team.
The work of the leadership team is to define the structure of this new ministry, with the focus on identifying social issues that Saint Peter would like to begin to learn more about and take action on in the future. Some of the team’s first steps include:
Studying the book Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It) by Robert D. Lupton
Researching community service and advocacy efforts historically held at Saint Peter as well as current efforts of the ELCA and other Christian denominations and religions.
Putting “Theory U” and Adaptive Change into practice. These are leadership strategies that many Saint Peter members have studied through the Excellence in Leadership program run by the Rocky Mountain Synod. We intend to use these methods to help us discern God’s emerging future for our efforts to reach out and love our neighbors as well as all of creation.
Leadership team members include Karne Beighle, Brittany Hass, Del Hooker, Shelly Hunter, Sara Lancaster, Bethany Laurie, Jeanne Maloney, Allegra Reiber, Jacaline Skiles, Sharon Stokes, Janet Weinz and honorary members Pastor David Risendal and Mary Pratt. If you have questions about what the group is up to or have ideas to share, please reach out to one of these leadership team members anytime.