The content of this post (which is automatically delivered to email subscribers) includes a summary of the latest issue of Saint Peter’s Our Life Together (weekly newsletter). You can find a link to the latest issue by clicking here.

WHO’S AT THE DOOR?

“I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:1) When the apostles hear this news from Mary Magdalene, they don’t run into the streets, declaring the truth of the risen Christ. They don’t storm to the leaders of the day, alive with the news and emboldened with the fulfillment of prophecy. Instead we find them huddled behind locked doors out of fear for their lives, afraid of their uncertain futures.

The Easter season of alleluias can sometimes seem to leave little room for our doubts, our fears, and our pain. The atmosphere is one of overwhelming belief, he-is-risen-indeed, open eyes and exponential joy. We may forget that for the first disciples, there was fear, doubt, pain and confusion before there was understanding and joy. Though we rejoiced with alleluias a little over a week ago, how might anxiety and fear in our lives keep us locked in, keep us from fulfilling the mission for which Jesus has called and sent us?

Thankfully Jesus cannot be stopped by our locked doors! Just as he showed up again and again to those fearful disciples, Jesus comes to us right in the midst of our fear, pain, doubt and confusion – speaking peace. He keeps showing up, week after week, in the word, water, bread and wine. He breathes into our anxious lives the breath of the Holy Spirit. And he keeps sending us out of our locked rooms into a world that, like us, so desperately needs his gifts of life and peace. Excerpted and adapted from “Commentary on John 20:19-31” by Elisabeth Johnson.

PASTORAL CARE

If you want reliable and empathetic pastoral guidance or simply a listening ear, please reach out to Pastor Vera to arrange a time to talk. Stephen Ministers are also available for compassionate and confidential care.

UPDATED CHURCH HOURS

To best support the staff, the church office will be open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

HE IS RISEN INDEED — ALLELUIA!

The drama of the Passion, the intimacy of the Easter Vigil, the abundance of Easter – what an unforgettable event, full of reminders of the redemptive quality of love and the promise of new life. Thank you to all who had a hand in making the story come alive through music, word, worship and atmosphere.

CHEER SQUAD

The Cheer Squad is back in action! Come support StPLC kids playing Baseball (4/13 @ 1PM) and softball (4/14 @ 2PM). Contact Ms. Mary mpratt@stplc.org for more details! Who has a Spring Concert coming up? Soccer game? Tae Kwon Do demonstration? Drop off the information or the schedule in Ms. Mary’s box or send it to her at mpratt@stplc.org so she can help get the word out. Let’s have some fun together and watch some ball games, hear some concerts, and support our kids!

FIRST FRIDAY FUN

Tell your friends and family about First Friday Fun! 5th Graders and middle schoolers are invited to dinner and games at Saint Peter from 6-8PM on the first Friday of the month. Bring your friends and siblings!

NARCISSUS PLANTS

Wow! 37 Narcissus Plants for Easter! Thank you kids and adults alike for throwing yourselves into the growing of our Easter narcissus bulbs. On Easter Sunday, your narcissus plants were mixed amongst the other flowers on the altar, creating a reminder of beautiful, vibrant, abundant life coming from a simple lifeless-looking bulb. Christ is Risen Indeed — alleluia!

GET TO KNOW SAINT PETER

Introduce yourself! Get to know the stories and histories of the faces you see on Sunday. Send Arielle (awilson@stplc.org) pictures and a few trivia pieces, and you might be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Make connections and start conversations with your Saint Peter community!

CHILDREN’S CHOIR REHEARSALS CONTINUE APRIL 14 AFTER WORSHIP

We will perform in worship on April 21. Come and sing! Have questions? Email Beryl Fanslow Wilson (bfanslow@stplc.org).

OTHER WAYS TO HELP COVENANT CUPBOARD:
Monetary donations to CCFP are always welcome. Your donations help maintain a robust pantry for folks who face food insecurity and hardship – we serve new families each week! You can write a check to Saint Peter with “Covenant Cupboard” or “CCFP” in the memo line, or make it out directly to Covenant Cupboard. The food pantry is an independent 501(C)3 nonprofit.

Support CCFP by shopping at King Soopers/City Market! Obtain a loyalty card from King Soopers/City Market and go online (www.kingsoopers.com). Set up your account, select “My Account” and “Community Rewards.” Enter DC406 to select Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry. As your designated nonprofit, CCFP will receive part of the proceeds from your purchases. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to join you in supporting CCFP when they shop!

We love to give books to the children who visit the food pantry! Do you have new or gently used picture books for infants and toddlers? Contact Laura Guthals or Terri Mohrhaus if you have books to donate.

CCFP serves between 150-200 families a week, many of whom are new to the pantry, or new to the country. This service is vital and life-changing. Thank you for your help!

HELP SPREAD THE WORD WITH AN StPLC GOOGLE REVIEW!

If you haven’t already left a review online, please take a couple of minutes this week to share with the online world what you think is special about our South Denver church. It’s free to do and will only take you a couple of minutes. You can find instructions from Google here. You can find the Saint Peter listing here.