HOPE is Coming
Michelle Leahy • December 16, 2024
Which type of hope do you have this Advent season?
During the month of December we find ourselves hoping for all sorts of things. We hope the Christmas tree lights will stay lit this year. We hope our child will actually sing, and not cry, during the school program. We hope our family has a wonderful time together building precious memories that last. This sort of hope is an uncertain hope... a future we would prefer, but we recognize it might not happen. The season of Advent reminds us that the hope found in the Gospel is different. It is a certain hope, one you can count on. I recently learned that the word used for hope in the New Testament is related to the word used for rope. It makes sense. If you were wrapping a rope around your waist and scaling the side of a cliff, which type of hope would you prefer to have? Because of that humble baby born in a manger and His life, death, and resurrection, we have certain hope... hope that our sins are forgiven... hope that we will live eternally with our Savior.
Soon the holidays will be behind us once again, and the cold and dreary months of winter will settle in. I'd like to invite you to join us on Tuesday evenings for a cozy break from the dreariness and to spend a little time exploring what that certain hope means for you and for your life. We will feed you a hot meal starting at 5:30, then at 6:10 we will all join in a devotional time that is sure to warm your heart.
Individual classes will begin each evening at 6:30 and run for an hour. Check out the fantastic class options for this session:
- Tips and Tricks for Parenting Teens in the Digital Age - We live in a digital age that is growing faster than my son can eat all of the Doritos in my house. More than 1,200 apps are published and accessible for your child to download every single day. Our teenagers are growing up in a world that is vastly different than it was in our teenage years. We cannot stop this technology growth or completely shield our teens from it; technology penetrates our world. As a parent, my goal is to help my children navigate everything that is accessible to them, based on being a child of God. This session will give parents some helpful websites and yes, apps, to equip us in this digital age. We will also have an environment for sharing questions and topics you may want to learn more about as we spend time together in the sessions. - My name is Kami Mogelvang, and I am a former Director of Christian Education. My husband Chris is in his first year at the Seminary and we have three children, Corban (14), GraceAnn (12) and Lena (11).
- Built on the Rock: A Biblical Look at Marriage and Relationships - The Bible is a vast source of knowledge and information, and it has some wonderful and interesting things to say about the nature of marriage and our relationships. Join Pastor Nate as we explore the inner workings of communication, conflict resolution, appropriate expectations and more as we work through how the Bible applies to us. Next to being a Christian, the most important vocation we have is to be a partner. Even though the world fights against the idea of monogamy, peace within a relationship and a proper work/life balance, it's our duty to look to God and take direction from His Word. Join us for Built on the Rock and see how the Bible can strengthen our relationships and change "You," or, "Me," into, "Us."
- Untangle Your Emotions - I (Michelle Leahy) will lead a class based upon the book by the same name by Jennie Allen. How often have you heard, “Don’t let your emotions get the best of you”? But what if instead of ignoring our feelings, we noticed them, named them, and let God use them to draw us closer to Himself and others? Feelings aren’t something to fix; they are something to feel. As we discover how to name and navigate our emotions, we’ll learn how they can draw us closer to the God who built us—soul, mind, and heart.
- Drums of Praise - Drums Alive is a program that utilizes “whole brain – whole body” thinking by developing sensory motor reflexes and kinesthetic awareness. The physiological and psychological benefits are numerous including those found in traditional forms of aerobic fitness. Drumming has also been found to improve and increase the neurological connection between the 2 brain hemispheres, stimulating Alpha brain wave activity which can lead to higher levels of concentration, sensory/motor improvement, and an overall sense of well being. In Drums of Praise, Certified Drums Alive Coach, Alicia Rodenbeck, will lead participants through a short meditation on a verse highlighting God's Masterwork in the human body before leading a fun and uplifting drumming workout suitable for all ages and abilities. Come to drum away some stress or to dance and find some joy!
- Pastor McDowell is preparing a class dedicated to our Middle Schoolers. This class will feel like a Middle School Youth Group meeting. We will tackle a Bible study and enjoy some activities as well.
- Bible Sprouts - This class is for children of all ages and includes games, activities and mini discussions about the Bible in the world around them. Learn through play and fellowship with other St. Peter’s kids. You can find us in the Preschool PEEPS classroom to start, but (depending on weather and class size) we often venture outside for a nature walk, to the gym, or under the front porch to the north of the sanctuary.
News & Notes
A Final Note
See you at church!
A Note from Barb Christian, Preschool Director
Our online directory is updated with our new pictures, and you all look fantastic!
Sermon by Pastor Paul Dancy
There's Been a Change
Board of Directors Ben Clinkenbeard Your Board of Directors is proud to announce that the motion to change our bylaws was approved by the members of St. Peter's on Sunday. A hearty THANK YOU goes out to all of our members who attended the meeting. The meeting also provided an opportunity for spirited discussion and reports from the Endowment Committee, Treasurer, School and Preschool, and some of our Ministry Teams. We also received an update from the Vision to Victory team and the Senior Pastor Call committee. As Pastor Dancy steps away from St. Peter's at the end of May, please be on the lookout for updates from our Senior Pastor Call committee and updates from the Board of Directors as we transition into our newly approved bylaws. We want to extend another thank you to both Pastor Dancy and Pam Launer! Blessings on your next chapter. New elections to the Board of Directors were as follows (* indicates incumbent): Dennis Borchers Ben Clinkebeard* Gary DeCamp Bill Habegger* Mark Timm Vision to Victory Mark & Sandy Timm If you missed the Spring Voter’s Meeting, you missed a big announcement from the Vision to Victory Team. WE PAID OFF THE MORTGAGE! Praise the Lord! We took out a loan twelve years ago to make additions and major renovations to the church. Paying down, or paying off this loan has been a major focus of four consecutive capital campaigns. And we are now debt free. Thanks to everyone who contributed to any of these capital campaigns. It’s been a long time coming, but we praise the Lord that this has been accomplished. Huge cause for celebration! In the weeks to come, the pastors will incorporate a symbolic “mortgage burning” ceremony as a part of our weekly services. And maybe, if we ask nicely, we might even get some refreshments following the service! The Vision to Victory campaign has four major objectives. Retiring our debt was the first and foremost. Done. Refurbishing the sanctuary was the second objective. That has been accomplished and paid for through dedicated funds that were earmarked for this purpose. In fact, we did not require any funds from the capital campaign to accomplish this work. Refurbishing the organ was a third objective. This work is also complete and paid for. At a cost of $330k, we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Lutheran Foundation to cover half the expense. We also were able to use a fund that was previously set aside for this purpose. In reality, we only required a little over $70k from the Vision to Victory capital campaign to get this work accomplished. The final objective of this campaign was to accomplish some much-needed work at the school. Last summer, we were able to install air conditioning units for the school cafeteria and gym. That work is paid for. This summer, we will replace all the windows in the school and refurbish the gym ceiling. We expect this work to total approximately $150k. The Vision to Victory Capital Campaign was designed to run for three years, through June of 2026. We are almost finished with the second of those three years, and we are in great shape. But this is not a time to step away from our pledges. A dozen years ago, the congregation approved a Master Plan that featured three phases. Paying off the mortgage closes the books on the first phase. Whether we continue with the other two phases as described 12 years ago, or go in another direction remains to be seen. But I am certain there will be a next step. And by honoring ourcommitments in the Vision to Victory campaign, we give ourselves a running start on whatever those next steps may be. Like all the generations of church members before us – from the original families who came together to form St. Peters 170 years ago to today – we need to follow two objectives. Maintain the church to meet the needs of the day. And prepare the church to meet the needs of the next generation. We thank each and every one of you who contributed to our accomplishments so far. Let’s finish this final year of the capital campaign by tucking some funding away for wherever the Holy Spirit leads us in the next phase of the life of St. Peters. Finance If you would like a copy of the budget presented at the voter's meeting, give the church office a call and we're happy to get you a printed or electronic copy upon request.
St. Peter's Seminarians & Deaconess
Sermon by Pastor McDowell
When considering the example of a servant leader, one face easily comes to mind... Mrs. Pam Launer and her ever present smile.