Announcements (7-14-24)
Welcome
We are expecting God to do great things today! Thanks for connecting with us. If you are on campus, stop at the welcome center for a “Welcome Home” book with more details about St. Peter’s. We’d welcome you to call us your church home.
If you are online or if we can serve you in some way or you’d like to receive a weekly email link to view the message, complete the Digital Connect Card.
He Gets Us.
Maybe you are concerned that if others knew you and your story and your history, they would push back. And maybe you feel that is how God feels about you too.
Pastor Mark wants us to look at Jesus in a way that we notice the way He approached those He encountered when He lived in our world. The truth is… He gets us. He really does. And He is in love with you.
Maybe you saw these words in an interesting footwashing ad during the Superbowl. You are invited to explore the story of Jesus and consider His way of unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness of others. The series will run through the summer Sundays.
The Chosen
The Chosen is a Christian historical drama series about the life and ministry of Jesus and the different people who met and followed or interacted with Him. If you want to experience Jesus in a whole new personable way, you will want to watch! Watch preview here. We are currently in season 2.
Each week we watch an episode with popcorn, then enjoy a light meal during an intermission followed by another episode (approximately 2hrs + 15 min. in total) Choose between two showings:
Sunday Mornings at 11:00am
Wednesday Evenings at 6:00pm
There is no charge to participate - even to share in the meal. It is not too late to jump into the screenings. Join us this week!
Giving
We are glad you are here. Grace is free. There is no cost.
However, when the Spirit gets ahold of our lives, we can’t help but be excited to share it with others. If you desire to do that, there is a basket on a stand just inside the doors of the sanctuary to leave a gift that supports our ministry. There are other ways to contribute as well. The more we discover the love story of Jesus, the more we want to join Him in what He is doing in the lives around us in the community and in the world.
Together we meet families at the intersection of faith and real life.
Unlabeled Theatre Company presents Rock of Ages
There may still be some tickets available for the final show today, July 14, at 2:00pm. Purchase reserved seats for the matinee production of Rock of Ages. This is an inclusive theater performance with artists with disabilities and a shadow partner. The artists have been working hard for weeks. The story is set in 1987 and stars long haired band members on a quest to save a classic theatre. Be prepared to sip classic 80's beverages as you sing along to such rock anthems as “Sister Christian,” “Dead or Alive,” and “Don't Stop Believing."
This is the second Twin Cities production, having done Shrek Jr. earlier in 2024. Tickets are $25 each and support a number of programs for many in our community with a cognitive and/or physical disability or who are neurodivergent. The Unlabeled Theatre Company runs programing from the St. Peter’s facility.
Thank God for Elizabeth’s 100 years!
Elizabeth Borden’s family is hosting a 100th birthday open House on Sunday, July 14th from 1-4pm in St. Louis Park at Elizabeth’s residence: Towerlight, 3601 Wooddale Ave S, St. Louis Park.
Elizabeth continues to have a strong faith and is an amazing woman of prayer! The congregation is invited.
Upcoming Member Birthdays
7/14 - Cinthya Fernandez
7/17 - David Sorensen
7/21 - Adriene Johnson
7/21 - Jeremy Thompson
7/21 - Leighton Thompson
7/27 - Dorothea Harjes
Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Peter’s
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Minnesota Veterans (Pastor Mark is a member) it is time for the 18th quarterly American Red Cross blood drive we have hosted here. Blood, and the many derivative projects enabled by your blood donation, is always needed for area VA hospitals and other medical facilities and hospitals in the Upper Midwest.
Not a blood donor? Bring donations for Veteran Organizations during the blood drive or Sunday before:
- nice used clothing for veteran families
- food and new cleaning supplies and other items to establish apartments for single vets
- used electronic recycling (cell phones, games, computer equipment)
Thursday, July 25, 1:00-7:00pm
Help put the Scriptures in many hands!
Next Sunday, July 21, we will hear about the ongoing efforts of Gideons to share God’s Word in our community. The Twin Cities Bible Blitz is coming October 6-10 -- an effort to distribute 30,000 Bibles in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and suburbs. Learn more next week. Partner during a door offering or sign up to actually hand out Bibles! Imagine being used by the Spirit in that way.
Mark 16:15 "And He said unto them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to all of creation.”
Sunday… a day of health
Regular church attendance is good for our physical health and our mental health! In a review of 69 studies, regularly attending church is linked to a lower incidence of death from cardiovascular disease.
Similarly, a Norwegian study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine found that the more time a person spends at church, the lower his or her blood pressure. (The Norwegian study strengthened an American study that had already made that conclusion).
Furthermore, Psychology Today reports that regular church attendance also boosts mental health by providing feelings of hope and belonging, as well as increasing self-esteem and sense of self-worth. That makes sense because as Christians, we know we are loved:
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Volunteering in the Bible
The American spirit of volunteering is largely a result of the faith of the early pioneers. They served others, often through the church. We would love for you to be involved around the church. We would love it even more if you were sharing your influence throughout the community.
Our 7-year strategic plan at St. Peter’s states what we desire to accomplish in this way:
In the next seven years, through the implementation of our Next Steps Discipleship Pathway, we will mobilize St. Peter’s households to engage and disciple 100 families within our community and sphere of influence.
STP KIDS & Money
There are many aspects of good parenting. Most is learned by watching how you live each day. But some intentional talks are also helpful.
Here are 15 practical ways to talk to your kiddos (of all ages) about money. They’re already on break, so now’s the perfect time.
Portals of Prayer
You may pick up a free copy of the July-September Portals of prayer at the Welcome Center this morning.
Want to get a daily reminder on your device? Portals of Prayer is available online for $10 for 365 devotions plus 10 years of history, prayers for all occasions, and other tools for your personal worship time.