Newsletter - May 2023

From Pastor's Desk

This Month in May I am going to teach a Bible class where I go over the main Festivals or Holidays in the Old Testament. I thought what better Holiday to talk about than the one that actually falls in May, which is Pentecost.

We learn about Pentecost in Leviticus 23:15-22. It is often called the Fest of Harvest, feast of weeks or sometimes called the day of weeks. It lasted for seven whole weeks, or fifty days; Sometimes called a week of Weeks. I know what everyone is thinking 7 times 7 equals 49. But there was added a 50th Day, or sometimes called the 8th Day. That fifth day is sometimes called the Azareth. Pentecost is in the Old Testament was a Harvest festival. This was the time of year that God had appointed for Harvest. Hence the references to the harvest in Leviticus 23:10 and 23:22.

On the 50th day the Israelites brought two loaves of leavened wheat bread made with yeast as the “first-ripe produce” from the harvest.” Those loaves were presented together with a burnt offering made up of seven lambs, two rams and one bull. Also included were a sin offering with a male goat, and a peace offering with two male lambs. The seven lambs were connected with the complication of the seven weeks. A bull and the two rams were sacrificed because this was a national enactment. The male goat was sacrificed as a sin offering to make atonement for the congregation.

The 8th day is a day of new creation. And we can see how this 50th day is like the ultimate 8th day, since it was the end of 7 weeks. In the same way after the sacrifice of so many animals and offering of the grain the Israelites themselves must have felt like a new creation.

Now for Christians, Pentecost is the day where the Holy Spirit breathed on the disciples and they were given power from on High. The most important power they received was the ability to speak to other people in their own language. In Acts 2, when the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they must have felt like a new creation. What did they do as a new creation? They went out and started a new harvest. They planted the seed of God’s word throughout Jerusalem.

We today can continue to celebrate Pentecost and as we acknowledge there is still plenty of places, and plenty of people, to plant the seed of God’s word.

High School and College Seniors St. Peter and St. Paul would like to feature our graduates in the June Link. Please email or drop off a copy of your senior picture with a bio of your high school or college accomplishments and future plans to the Church Secretary, or email to stpeterflorida@gmail.com.

Social Media Content

Feel free to email Emilie Parsons any photos of church events. Emilie would love help keeping everyone online updated on what St. Peter Church is all about. You can email Emilie at emiliejoparsons@gmail.com or text her at 419-769-2212. Thanks so much!

LWML

The LWML Defiance Zone 2023 Spring Rally was held on April 22nd at St. Peter Lutheran Church - Florida, Ohio. The morning began with a delicious breakfast. Three ladies enrolled in the Deaconess Studies Program at Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana led a Bible study. They also gave a presentation on the Deaconess Studies Program at the seminary. One of the ladies brought her own personal service dog that alerts her when she has a certain medical issue.

A Peek from Preschool

We can't believe that we only have 1 month left of Preschool! April was a busy month and the children enjoyed learning about Easter and the Resurrection. We appreciate those who attended our Community Storytime & Easter Egg Hunt as well as those who helped volunteer to make it happen! The students have also been enjoying trips to the Florida Library and have been checking out books with Ms. Megan as well.

We are so glad to have the support of our local library! Our students have also been learning about animals found on the farm and will begin their Zoo study in May. We had some families bring in their farm animals to talk about and show our students for some hands-on learning! To follow up on what they have been learning, we are excited that we will be able to take field trips to the Meyer Family Farm and the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo in May! Thank you to those who also helped donate baked goods for our Parent Workshop and for those who also volunteered to help with food and childcare. WE could not do these events without the support of our amazing church community!

Our Preschool Graduation will be held on Tuesday, May 23 at 6pm and anyone is welcome to attend. The classes will be singing some of their favorite songs from the school year and each child graduating will receive a Beginner's Bible signed by the teachers and the Preschool Committee. Also, save the date for Wednesday, July 12 from 5-7 pm! We will be having our annual Preschool Carnival and are looking for volunteers to help with booths, games, and much more at this event. Please let Emilie Parsons or a Preschool Committee member know if you're interested in helping at this amazing event!!

Our Teachers Stephanie & Emilie had the opportunity to attend the OAEYC Conference held at Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Sandusky, Ohio April 20-22. We learned so much about child development and were able to bring back many great ideas for the classroom. It was a great way to refresh and rejuvenate as a team and enjoy some team bonding and we even won some awesome things for the classroom! We appreciate our teachers and they do so much to help make our Preschool successful. Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12 and families and church members are encouraged to send notes of thanks to show our teachers just how much they are appreciated!!!

We look forward to our last month of Preschool and can't wait to see what the next year brings. We are still accepting new students for the 2023-24 school year and look forward to another great year!

Mrs. Arce

Ms Stephanie & Ms Emilie's adventures at Ohio AEYC!

Our Preschool Teachers Stephanie & Emilie had the opportunity to attend the OAEYC Conference held at Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Sandusky, Ohio April 20-22!

Day 1:

Stephanie started the day off learning Techniques for Becoming the Best Version of Yourself. This session was about protective factors for teachers to help prepare them for stressful situations and anything that comes their way. The work that teachers do is very important and life changing but without taking proper care of themselves it can lead to stress and feeling drained. Next up for Ms Stephanie was a bonus featured session that required total participation while learning about successful ways young children BEST learn through music, movement, story, play and joy!

After Ms Emilie arrived, Stephanie & Emilie started their weekend off with team building fun and playing along with an 80’s Murder Mystery event. This event kept everyone involved in the Murder Mystery storyline. Luckily, Emilie and Stephanie did not end up being the murderer. It was a great way for them to connect with other teachers from the state of Ohio/Michigan and they definitely brought out their competitive side!

Day 2:

Friday started out extra early… Stephanie & Emilie were able to check out the vendor booths before classes began. We met with the organization that will be putting on our FREE Parent Workshop April 28th, we experienced new technology that can be used in our Preschool classroom and connected with other classroom resources.

Our first session was called “It Looks Like I’m Learning…’Cause I Am”. This session was led by Musician and Educator Red Grammer. This was a wonderful opportunity to talk about how learning is both a natural human drive and a courageous activity constantly filled with mistakes, reflection and correction. This session focused on using music and current research to explore how the never-ending journey of learning can be made more satisfying, efficient, and graceful for students and educators by developing a “Growth Mindset” and nurturing self awareness and self acceptance.

Our Keynote speaker was Gerry Brooks! You may know him from his hilarious Social Media Videos about the day in the life of being an Educator. It is vital for educators to be able to laugh at themselves on a very regular basis. Gerry highlighted the importance of culture in creating a positive work environment leading to improved outcomes for children.

Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld was our next session of the day. Mimi’s presentation was about Teaching in the ‘Key of Life’. How do teachers and administrators shape the climate and spirit of the program? We focused on how we can create life affirming, loving, safe, and joyous environments for our preschoolers, our families and our community.

Next up was Debbie Clement! Debbie shared techniques on STEM/STEAM projects, rhythm and rhyme and focused adding laughter to your day to increase resilience for all.

We met the Rolling Stones of Early Childhood Musicians!! Just kidding…well…kind of…Our Keynote speakers for Friday evening were Greg & Steve. Greg & Steve are Children’s Music Icons. This session was full of energy and upbeat music we can use in our classroom. Guess what! Ms Stephanie even ran up on stage as a backup dancer!

Finally we enjoyed a benefit for Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld’s Scholarship Fund. There was dancing, karaoke with a live band and LOTS of prizes. Guess who won an amazing prize for our classroom! Ms EMILIE! This basket was donated by Feeling Buddies. It is a self-regulation curriculum that can help us with our big feelings in the classroom.

Day 3:

Our first session on Saturday was with Red Grammer. In this session Red Grammer focused on discovering how music can joyfully uplift and improve the functioning of almost every aspect of our classroom. This man is so very talented!

Last but not least our last keynote speaker was Steve Gross who talked to us about the power of optimism. An optimistic disposition enables us through every day and extraordinary struggles to look for the goodness in ourselves, in others and in the world around us. Steve shared how optimistic individuals can bring out the best in all they serve.

We learned so much about child development and we were able to bring back many great ideas for the classroom. It was a great way to refresh and rejuvenate as a team and enjoy some team bonding and we even won some awesome things for the classroom! We appreciate our teachers and they do so much to help make our Preschool successful. Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12 and families and church members are encouraged to send notes of thanks to show our teachers just how much they are appreciated!!! 

Newsletter - April 2023

From Pastor’s Desk:

When I was at Glidden we had this service called “CPH’s creative worship resources”. It was for building services on Sunday. Each church service they would have this opening paragraph before the service called, “As you Gather”. It’s a short introduction that explains the worship service that you as the believer are entering into. So you can read these introductions and imagine you are entering into the church for that worship service.

I thought it would interesting to share a few that open up some of our most important services of the church year, all of which happen in April.

AS WE GATHER [For Good Friday] ( There should be no talking or visiting as you enter .) This is a service of meditation and silence, commemorating what is the most solemn night of the Church Year. Tenebrae means "darkness" or "shadows." Most of the service is simple and austere. There is little movement in the chancel. The service ends in almost total darkness. We will hear and reflect on each of Jesus' seven last words from the cross. After the seventh word, the paschal candle is removed to signify the death and burial of Jesus. There is a loud noise symbolizing the sealing of the tomb. The Lord's Prayer is then whispered. You may remain for meditation and reflection as long as you wish. Please exit in silence.

AS WE GATHER [Easter] We come today because it's Easter. We come seeking God's mercy and grace because we believe the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead! Because we know the story it is hard for us to feel or experience the strange mixture of shock and surprise of the women at the moment they first discovered the empty tomb. The women went to Jesus' tomb because He died. Where do we put people who have died? In a tomb, in the cemetery! Who are in a cemetery? ---dead people! But today we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He died, but He is not dead any longer. He's risen! He's alive! Therefore He's not in a tomb, among the dead. Since then, to this day, all people are invited to seek the Lord, the living Lord, not among the dead mingled with words or places of gruesome death but among the living proclaimed as the resurrected, glorious Word of Life everlasting. [Taken from Creative worship for the Lutheran parish. Series C. Concordia Publishing House. ©2012, St. Louis, Mo. : Concordia Pub. House. Good Friday, Sunrise]

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

April 2nd - Palm Sunday 10:00 AM

April 7th - Good Friday Service 7:30 PM

April 9th Easter Sunrise Worship 6:30 AM / Easter Breakfast 7:30AM

April 9th - Easter Communion Service - 10:00 AM

Congratulations to our Confirman Corinne Leigh Vance – Daughter of Tony and Erin Vance

LWML

LWML Ladies, You Are Invited To: The LWML Defiance Zone 2023 Spring Rally to be held Saturday, April 22 nd in our Fellowship Hall. Registration/Breakfast starts at 8:30 am. A deaconess from Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Ft. Wayne will lead a Bible study "A New Spring Wardrobe" based on Colossians 3:12. She will also give a Deaconess Studies Presentation. There will be an in-gathering of feminine products for the Seminary Food and Clothing Co- Op. There will be a Mite box available for Mite donations. God's blessings to our adopted Seminarian James Haugen, III, and his family as he finishes his studies for service in His Kingdom and awaits his placement call to a congregation.. The support and participation we receive from all members of our congregation for our mission projects is greatly appreciated.

LWML Napoleon Zone Spring Rally Saturday

April 15, 2023 St. John, Freedom Twp. Registration and Breakfast at 8:30 am Theme: Gathering the Scattered Bible Translation Return from Babel Guest speaker: Michael Nicol, Bible translator of the Gokana language

Easter Flowers

Have you ever wondered where you can read about flower lilies in the Bible? - Check out Luke 12:27

Easter flowers: Place your flowers on the table in the church library with your name on your plant/plants by 12:00 Noon on April 8th . Please make arrangements to have someone pick up your flower after the late service on Easter. Thank You !

A Peek from Preschool

Our Preschool students are getting more excited as it gets closer to Easter. They enjoyed having guest readers for Dr. Seuss week, had some crazy Shenanigans for St. Patrick’s Day and have been learning about Lent and the events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Parent teacher conferences were held in March and the Open House also went great, bringing in a few more families for the upcoming school year. We are looking forward to our Storytime & Egg Hunt Event being held on Saturday, April 1 from 4:30-6:00. Anyone willing to help with this event can contact a Preschool Committee member or Emilie Parsons for more information. We are also in need of volunteers and donations of baked goods for our upcoming Parent Workshop being held on Friday, April 28 from 5:30-7:00. There will be a sign-up in the narthex for those interested in donating baked goods for this event and we really appreciate your support of St. Peter Preschool! Ms Stephanie

We would like to give a HUGE Shout-Out to our area donors and sponsors of our Community Egg Hunt:

Meijer Keller Trucking Clubhouse Pizza, Florida, Ohio ServiceMaster Defiance, OH Phoenix Theatres Northtowne Mall Putt Putt Golf & Games YMCA The Fun Company, Defiance, OH Tano’s of Napoleon Padrone’s Soaring Arts Studio Meek’s Pastry Shop Kyra’s Bakery Connection Cakewalk Cakery C & H Lanes River City Bowl-A-Way Wendy’s Jewell Ca

fe Mya’s Sweet Treats, Napoleon Megan’s Sweet Treats, Oakwood Simply From Scratch Bakery, Defiance

Newsletter - March 2023

From Pastor's Desk: 

 This week I want to discuss holidays. March is an interesting Month because it can be the Month  where we celebrate Ash Wednesday. This year it is celebrated in February. It can be the month we celebrate  Easter, but this year it will be celebrated in April. Yet, there is one holiday we celebrate every March, and  that holiday is St. Patrick Day.  

 Saint Patrick lived in the Fifth Century. Patrick was originally born in Britain. He was captured by a  group of Pirates when he was sixteen and taken to Ireland. While he was in Captivity, they made him work  jobs like being a shepherd. He claimed later in life that being mistreated made him pray to God and trust in  him, and grew his faith.  

 Then he heard a voice telling him to escape and he ran to boat. He then convinced the captain to take  him back to Britain. He then grew up and studied to be a Priest. He then returned to Ireland to be an Irish  Missionary. There is evidence that some Christians were already in Ireland, but it was mostly Pagan. Patrick  knew from his time in captivity that the people needed to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Patrick was said to  have converted thousands of Irish people but he also faced difficulty and was often arrested.   There are two legends associated with St Patrick. First that he used the shamrock to explain the  trinity. Three in One. That being three leaves but one clover. Just like in the trinity we have 3 Persons, but  one God.  

 The second legend is Less likely. The one about him driving out the snakes out of Ireland. It’s  unlikely because people visiting Ireland noticed a lack of Snakes as early as the 3rd Century.   Saint Patrick’s Day was originally the Feast of Saint Patrick. Which means it was originally a  Christian Feast Day. “Feast Days” mean An annual religious celebration, a day dedicated to particular saint.  The day celebrates the Patrick’s coming to Ireland and his sharing of his Christian Faith. In America it is  more a celebration of Irish Culture than a Religious Feast Day.  

Lenten Services  

Wednesday Lenten Services – 7:00 pm at St. Peter  

Thursday Lenten Services – 7:00 pm at St. Paul  

This year’s Lenten series is: Lamb of God Pure and Holy

Lenten Meals  

Meals will take place at 6:00p.m., starting March 1st. Tableware and drinks are provided by the BOWSO.  Mark the dates on your calendars for a night out. Feel free to bring family, friends, and neighbors. Free will  donations will be collected. 

Easter Flowers  

Members can purchase an Easter flower of their choice  wherever they chose and bring it to the church library on  April 8th by 12:00 noon. Please let Bette, Pam or Dana  know: Your name, kind of flower, how many and In  Memory of. Thank You! 

LWML  

We appreciate so very much the generosity of our members on the first Sunday of the month MITE  OFFERINGS. St. Peter's contribution for MITES totaled in excess of $753 during 2022. Mite offerings are  only used for mission projects of Ohio District and National LWML for mission grants. These grants are  selected at district and national LWML conventions. Your MITES help spread the Word of God---the Good  News of Jesus, our Savior--- to the whole world.  

Another example of LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION was the abundance of neat stuff provided for the  COLLEGE CARE PACKETS! We were able to fill five boxes. We are grateful to all of you and say OUR  GOD BE THANKED!  

Lana Culp, a recipient of one of the college care packages writes;  

Thank you so much for the care package! I really appreciated the skin care products and snacks. The tissues  were also really useful since I didn't have any. Everything was so thoughtful and I appreciated everyone  taking the time to put it together and send it to me. Sincerely, Lana 

Greetings from Preschool!  

Our Preschool students enjoyed spreading some love and kindness last month and also learned about how  God loves us and heals us when we are sick. The class worked on making posters for the Night to Shine  event held in Defiance and made Candy Grams for area healthcare workers at the Filling Home of Napoleon  and Mercy Hospital of Defiance. We also had Dr. Kamcza from Mercy Family Practice visit our classroom  and she talked about how Doctors help take care of us when we are sick and did some hands on activities with  the children as well. Next month we will be celebrating Right to Read Week and Dr. Seuss’ birthday with  guest readers from the community including the Mayor of Florida and the Henry County Sheriff’s  Department. We will also be learning about taking care of our teeth and will have a special visitor come talk  to the class about Dental Hygiene.

 Mrs. Arce

Save the Date for:  

April 1, 4:30-6:00 Community Storytime & Egg Hunt  

April 28, 5:30-7:00 Parent Workshop & Dinner, volunteers are needed for serving dinner/childcare  

Newsletter - February 2023

From Pastor's Desk: 

 Last Month I discussed the visit of the magi within its cultural contexts, I want to do the same today  with the death of the Holy Innocents. That is when King Herod ordered the death of the children in  Bethlehem. Some historians don’t think this event ever took place. One reason is that there is no mention of  it outside of the account in Matthew. Another reason, is that seems so evil that it is hard to believe.  

 But when you study the life of King Herod it’s easy to believe he was capable of such cruelty. There  are many events that are recorded outside of the Bible that showcase this cruelty. For one thing, he had two  of his own Sons were strangled to death by his orders. He even had his wife Mariamne killed because he  became suspicious of her.  

 There is one account of Herod that has ghostly parallels with the ordered death of children in  Bethlehem. One of the last Herod gave towards the end of his life was to command his troops to arrest  thousands of notable people from across the country and sequester them in Jericho. Then to have them  executed. The purpose of this was that this was supposed to happen around his death, so that there would be  mourning at his death. He knew few would mourn his death, but he wanted people to be mourning at his  death. Even though this was ordered, it was not followed after his death. So, if Herod was prepared to kill  nobles and famous people in the region, he was certainly willing to kill some infants in a small lower-class  town.  

 People often wonder why Matthew included such an account. We certainly see examples of equal  brutality, even today. Russian torturing of captured Ukraine solders in the last year comes to mind. How do  people retain their faith under such conditions? One answer is that even in the midst of the Christmas story  we have parallel story that reminds us of the cross. Matthew presents a picture of evil that reminds us that the  world needs to be redeemed. It also explains the world that God send his vulnerable Son into. Jesus and John  had to deal with Herod’s Sons in their own lives. If the Gospel can flourish in a region that produces the  slaughter of the innocents and the cross, it can flourish anywhere. From this awareness the readers of the  Gospels can take heart in any age.  

[Some of the notes were taken from Kenneth E. Bailey’s Book: Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes. IVP  Academic. 2007; Pages 56-58.] 

Ash Wednesday and Lenten Services  

Ash Wednesday Service – February 22nd – 7:00 pm at St. Peter  

Ash Wednesday Service – February 23rd – 7:00 pm at St. Paul  

Wednesday Lenten Services – 7:00 pm at St. Peter  

Thursday Lenten Services – 7:00 pm at St. Paul  

This year’s Lenten series is: Lamb of God Pure and Holy

Lutheran Hour Sunday  

St Peter is observing Lutheran Hour Sunday on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Literature and gift envelopes will be inserted in the church bulletins. For those interested in sponsoring a local Lutheran Hour radio program the envelopes with the information are located on the narthex bulletin board. Thank you in advance for supporting this mission.  

For over 100 years Lutheran Hour Ministries has been committed to sharing the Gospel with those who need to hear it. Today, LHM energizes, equips, and engages Christians to share the Gospel throughout North America and around the globe. We are able to offer many free or low-cost resources because people like you have already joined our mission. Lear more about how you can get involved at lhm.org/discoverlhm. 

Greetings from Preschool!  

We are off to a great school year and the children have been busy learning about Winter as well as spreading  Kindness in the classroom! For February, our students will be creating Valentine’s Candy Grams to be  delivered to area shut-ins and Healthcare workers at Mercy Hospital and the Filling Home of Napoleon. We  are also now enrolling for the 2023-24 School year! Our Spring Open house will be held on March 7 from 5 - 7 pm. Anyone interested in enrolling at the Preschool can talk to a Preschool Committee member or call the  Church/Preschool to schedule a tour during the hours of 8 am – 1 pm. We look forward to what is to come  the rest of the school year!  

Save the Date:  

April 1, 2023 4:30 – 6 pm Easter Storytime and Egg Hunt Community Event  

April 28, 2023 5:30 - 7 pm Parent Workshop and Dinner (volunteers needed for childcare, please inquire  within)  

Mrs. Arce 

Newsletter - January 2023

From Pastor's Desk 

 This month I want to discuss the visit of the Magi which we celebrate as Epiphany. Last month we  discussed Jesus’ birth though an historical lens and this time I want to do the same with the Visit of the magi.  Matthew describes them as men from “the East”, but he doesn’t say where in the East. Any Christian living in  Rome in the first century would have seen “the East” as Persia. But for the People living in Jerusalem and  Judea, the East would just simply mean “east of the Jordan River.” What we would see today as the West  Bank/Palestine.   According to Matthew 2, the Wise Men arrived with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. There  may have been more than 3 people from the West, tradition had that there were three because there were three  gifts. The gifts are actually clues about where they were from. First, Gold was mined in Arabia.  Frankincense and Myrrh are harvested from trees that only grow in southern Arabia. Wealthy dwellers of  those desert regions would naturally have those three gifts. The interesting thing about Jesus’ birth is that it is  celebrated by both Jews and Gentiles. The shepherds out of the fields at night were most likely Jewish and  the men who traveled from the east would have been seen as outsiders [gentiles].   In the same way, today the whole world can celebrate Jesus’ birth and celebrate what he has done for  the world in his birth, death, and resurrection.  I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

[Most of the notes were taken from Kenneth E. Bailey’s Book: Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes. IVP  Academic. 2007; Pages 51-53.] 

“We Care” Packages  

For the month of January we will be collecting items for our college  students which will be packed at our February 7th meeting. Items for  this mission project can include snacks, treats, personal items, pens,  pencils, packages of facial tissue, gum, candy, quarters for laundry or  vending machines, etc. This year we are collecting for 4 girls and our  adopted seminarian, James Haugen and his wife and their 18 month  daughter. If you care to assist with this project, please place your gifts in  the box on the table in the narthex. Thank you very much for considering  how you can help.  

New Flower Charts  

The 2023 Flower Charts have  been posted in the narthex of  each church.  

St. Peter Council  

President: Tim Buchhop  Vice President: Russ Krueger  Recording Secretary: Trisha Ross  Board of Trustees: Jerry Lindhorst, Roger Jones, Steve Franz, Board of Elders: Mike Volkert, Chad Clark, Treasurer: Jon Block, Financial Secretary Judith Meyer Board of Witness, Outreach and Stewardship: Bridgett  Volkert

Other Elected Officers 

Building Improvement Fund Treasurer: Judith Meyer  Sunday School Superintendent: Bridgett Volkert  Financial Review Committee: Nancy Michaelis, Betty Hoy,  and Sandy Dickman  Endowment Fund Committee: Bette Weddelman, Dave and Nancy Conrad, Jim  Dickman and Tim Buchhop  

Appointed Positions 

Ushers: Tony Mullett and Dave Conrad  Bethany Mathers and Pam Jones  

 Christmas Committee: Bill and Alicia  Richardson, Mark and Deb Oberhaus, Chad  and Melissa Clark  Morning Meditations Representative: Ruth  Block  LLL Representative: Steven Franz and  James Meyer Circuit Forum Representative: Thomas  Meyer Filling Memorial Home of Mercy Delegate  and Resources Person: Nancy Conrad  

Greetings from Preschool  

Thank you to everyone who helped support our Preschool Cookie Walk Drive-thru as well as our Adopt-a Family program for Christmas. We were able to provide over $500 in gifts and gift cards for the family with  your generous support. Our Preschool Christmas program was also a great success and we appreciate  everyone who attended on that Sunday as well. Our Preschool kids also enjoyed Christmas festivities,  Caroling and a visit from Santa to wrap up our school year. We look forward to another great year of  Preschool when we return on January 4, 2023! 

The Preschool is also excited to announce that we have been approved for a 2022-23 Stabilization Grant  through the State of Ohio. A lot of time, work and consideration was put into the application process with the  hopes of raising money for a new playground and to reimburse the costs put into repairs last summer as well.  We appreciate all the support we have had from the church and plan to also give back to the church as well to  help with operating costs. Any questions or further inquiries regarding this Grant can be brought to any  Preschool Committee Member and we are excited for some great things to come in 2023!  

Newsletter - December 2022

From Pastor’s Desk December 2022  

 December is the Month of Christmas. Last year, I went through customs around the world describing  how they celebrated the seasons and festivals of the Church year. This year I want to do something different.  I want to look at the life of Jesus through the customs of his own time period. Today I want to clarify an  aspect of Jesus’ birth that we usually misunderstand. We usually imagine Mary and Joseph coming into  Bethlehem and being unable to find room in an Inn so they are forced to go sleep in a Barn.   Kenneth Bailey in his Book “Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes” sees it differently. He points out  that the word that gets translated for INN is not “pandocheion” which usually means commercial Inn.  Instead, Luke uses, “Katalyma” which can just be a Place to stay. He also points out that most simple ancient  world houses had two rooms. The first was the Family room, and the other was stable, this is where the  animals would sleep at night. Some homes had a third room which was the GUEST ROOM. This third guest  room is the kind of room Jesus eat with his disciples on the night on which he was betrayed. So Joseph and  Mary came to an ordinary Home, found the house full, and even the guest room was full, so they had to sleep  in the third room which was the Stable room. This is the “Manager”.   This gets reinforced in Luke 2:8-14. This is where the Shepherds are told to find Jesus, lying in  Manager. That is they would find the Christ Child in an ordinary Peasant home such as theirs. He was not a  rich person’s house, but in an ordinary two room home like theirs.   I bring this up because the image we sometimes have of Bethlehem is where the people push them  away and can’t seem to find shelter for a poor woman who is pregnant! But understanding how an ordinary  Jewish home in the first century looked can help us understand that it is not what happened.   I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

[Most of the notes were taken from Kenneth E. Bailey’s Book: Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes. IVP  Academic. 2007; Pages 26-37.] 

Christmas Services  

December 24th – Christmas Eve  

8:00 pm St. Peter Children’s Christmas Program Service  

December 25th - Christmas Day  

10:00 am St. Peter Christmas Day Service 

Sunday School News 

 We will be doing a Christmas Eve Children's  Program called "Catching the Christmas Spirit" this  year. I have contacted parents, so I know who is  participating to assign parts. If I missed anyone,  please contact me at 419-487-2744 ASAP. Parts  and practice information will be coming soon. The  more the merrier! Any child is welcome to join.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the service. 

Board of Witness 

 We are adopting a family again for Christmas. The  Board of Witness is joining with the Preschool in  collecting for a family with 3 children (a senior in high  school, a preschooler, and a baby). The baby has  medical issues. There is a collection basket in the  narthex. Please consider donating.  Thank You!

LWML  

A very interesting letter and picture has been  received from our adopted seminarian, James  Haugen. He thanks us for the blessings he and his  family has received during their time at the  seminary. He served as vicar at St. Paul Lutheran,  Napoleon this past year as well as serving the vacant  congregation at St. John Lutheran, Holgate of which  he is still serving during this fourth year at the  seminary. He tells of all the knowledge and  experience he has gained through his vicarage. He  states it was great being close to home. His wife,  Michaela felt comfortable in the new congregation  and was able to make great relationships that will last  forever. Their daughter, Ella was cared for and was a  part of these great families during his vicarage.  His continued prayer is that we all share the Gospel  with others and that we will continue to bless future  pastors in the ministry set before them. He hopes to  see us soon.

Poinsettias  

Members place poinsettias in memory of their  loved ones who have passed away this year and years  before. Poinsettias symbolize Good Will &  Community Spirit. The shape is the Star of  Bethlehem and the red leaves the blood of Christ.  

Poinsettias - This year the Altar Guild has decided  to let members purchase their own  poinsettia/poinsettias and bring them to the church on  December 17th by 12:00 noon with your name and  in Memory of_____________.  

I have called Ivy League, Napoleon and she has a  limited supply, so orders need to be called in soon.  They are $15 for a 6" plant, with a selection of colors.  Questions call: 419-762-5397.   Thanks!

Greetings from Preschool!

Our Preschoolers enjoyed learning about turkeys, Pilgrims and Indians for Thanksgiving along with a Family  Feast to wrap up the month of November. The children are already eager for Christmas and will begin  counting down the days along with our class elf who should be making an appearance soon! Thanks to  everyone who helped support our Thanksgiving Food Drive for a Preschool family in need and we were also  able to contribute items to the Grain Train as well! We will continue to support this family for Christmas and  will be collecting gift cards and items including: gas cards, food cards/family experiences, size 12-18 month  girls’ clothing, 3T-4T girls’ clothing and size 4 diapers and wipes. Please save the date for our annual Cookie  Walk/Drive-thru fundraiser on Saturday, December 10th from 8:30-10:00 am. Anyone interested in donating  cookies for this event may inquire with Emilie Parsons or any Committee member. Our children are also  looking forward to singing during the church service on Sunday December 11!  

Mrs. Arce  

Newsletter - November 2022

From Pastor's Desk 

 This year I have been going through the church year and discussing the seasons and festivals and how  those festivals have been celebrated throughout the world. In November I wanted to talk about Thanksgiving.  Which we usually don’t see as a religious holiday. It isn’t attached to the life of Christ like Christmas or  Easter. So, I had always seen Thanksgiving as a Secular holiday that we as Christians gave religious fervor.  

 This is not the Case. Thanksgiving services are as common and as early in America as the  thanksgiving services themselves. Thanksgiving services were routine in what became known as the  Commonwealth of Virginia as early as 1607. Jamestown Virginia held Thanksgiving in 1610.1  

 In 1619, 38 English Settlers celebrated a thanksgiving immediately upon landing in Virginia. “That  day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and  perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”2  

 I think in this way Thanksgiving is at its core a Religious Holiday. It is for us to Thank God for our  welfare, our health, and our Harvest. Today as Christians we can continue to use the day to thank God for all  the good things in our lives, He has given us.  

   Footnotes:  1. taken from the Wikipedia article on Thanksgiving (United States) on 10/27/2022  [The wiki article Citation is “Teacher’s Guide Set: Thanksgiving.” Library of Congress.]  2. Ibid: [Citation Dowdy, Clifford (1957). The Great Plantation. Rinehart and Co. pp. 29-37.] 

Thanksgiving Services  

 Wednesday – November 23th Thanksgiving Eve Service at St. Paul – 7:00 pm  Thursday – November 24th Thanksgiving Day Service at St. Peter – 9:00 am 

Offering for for LCMs World Relief  

St. Peter – Changes CHANGES: The Christmas Poinsettias & Easter Flowers will no longer be  available from Hastedst/Jeff Brubaker. We have priced with area florists and their  prices are considerably higher and they do not deliver. The Altar Guild only has a  few active members and we are reaching out for more help. Option: Members  can purchase their own poinsettias where they want and bring them to church to be  displayed for the Christmas services. More information will be given. Questions  call 419-980-0979 

St. Peter - Board of Witness  

Starting Sunday, November 6th, we will be taking  monetary donations in the narthex to provide a  family in the community with a brighter  Christmas. There will be information to come  about the family we will be adopting this year.  Donations will be taken through Sunday,  December 12th. 

St. Peter - Sunday School Christmas Program 

I would love to do a Christmas Program again as we  usually do, but it is difficult when we are only having 2-6  kids come to Sunday School on a weekly basis. I  encourage you to have your children bring friends,  cousins, and neighbors. As the saying goes, the more the  merrier! Contact Bridgett with ideas, questions, and  concerns in regards to Sunday School. 

Greetings from Preschool!  

Our Preschool classes enjoyed learning about Fire Safety and have been learning about all things Fall. They  also enjoyed some trips to the library, to Mahnke Apple Orchard, and T22 farms. We also talked about how  God keeps his promises and is loving and forgiving and learned about some Bible stories including:  Abraham & Sarah, Joseph and his colorful coat, and Moses. Next month, we will be learning about Praise &  Thanksgiving stories from the Bible as well as continuing our Fall study including Harvest along with  Pilgrims & Indians. Our Preschool will be collecting items for a Thanksgiving Food Drive for some families  in need within our Preschool Community. Items will be collected through Sunday, November 20 and  distributed the week of Thanksgiving to those in need. Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated and  will be used to purchase a turkey or ham for families in need. Please see Emilie Parsons or a Preschool  Committee member with any other questions or donations…we greatly appreciate it! Our Preschool classes  will be enjoying a Family Feast with their parents the week of Thanksgiving and we wish you all a Happy  Thanksgiving as well too! Mrs. Arce 

Newsletter - October 2022

From Pastor's Desk  

Throughout this year I have been discussing and talking about the church year. I have been discussing how  the many seasons, feasts, and festivals have been celebrated throughout the year.  

The month of October happens while we are still in the long season of Pentecost. As Lutherans in October  we celebrate the Reformation. Reformation Day falls on October 31st. This was the day Martin Luther  posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  

Normally the Reformation is celebrated on the nearest Sunday, usually not on a weekday. Lutherans have  been celebrating the Reformation since the 16th Century.  

In fact Luther wrote this to Nikolaus Von Amsdorf on Nov 1st 1527, "Ten Years after the indulgences have  been destroyed, in memory of this we both drink and are comforted at this hour."  

In the 1800s when Lutherans came to America they also started to celebrate the Reformation. In fact, the  Reformation became a day to remember for the majority of American Protestants.  

The Reformation should be a positive holiday. One in which we thank God for the many gifts he has given to  us. Including the scripture he has given to us, Salvation by Grace, and also recognizing the universal  priesthood of all believers. These are some of the things that Luther championed in his day, and we can  champion in our day.  

Some of the information was taken from:  

Kleinhans, Theodore J. The Year of the Lord: The Church Year: Its Customs, Growth & Ceremonies. St.  Louis: Concordia Pub. House, 1967.

LWML SUNDAY  

LWML Sunday will be observed October 9th with a special service theme “For Us and With Us,” based  on Romans 8:31-29.  

LWML News  

St. Peter LWML has been assigned a Seminarian for the 2022-2023 school year by the Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. He is James Haugen who is a fourth year student. He and his wife, Michaela, have a daughter, Ella, who was born July 11, 2021. He just finished his vicarage at St. Paul, Napoleon. We will support him and his family with a monthly monetary stipend during the current school year. Besides the monetary gifts, we have promised to encourage him with our prayers and we hope you will join us in this service. His home church is Saint John Lutheran Church-Strongsville, OH. His address at the seminary is 6600 North Clinton Street – Campus Box 250 – Ft. Wayne, IN 46825. We look forward to James and his family joining us for worship services sometime in the next few months.

LWML Christian Life  Workshop  

Sunday, October 23 – All ladies are welcome  to attend the Defiance Zone LWML  

CHRISTIAN LIFE WORKSHOP, beginning  at 2 pm at St. John Lutheran Church,  Openlander and Lockwood Roads, west of  Sherwood. The theme is “Israel, a Land  Where Jesus Walked,” based on Matthew  8:10. Guest speaker, Judy Kaufmann will tell  us about her tour of Israel.  

Fort Wayne Seminary Food Bank

Ft. Wayne Seminary Food Bank - During the months of October and November we will again concentrate  on collecting seasonal baking supplies for the  seminarians and their families. Some ideas are: Flour  (all kinds), sugar (all kinds), cookie, brownie and  cake mixes, cocoa, molasses, baking chocolates,  nuts, frostings, decorations, etc. Also cold weather  OTC medicines, lotions, and lip balm. Bring your  donations to the church and put them in the box on the  table in the narthex.  

Reformation Day Dinner  

Mark your calendar the Congregational Reformation Day Potluck Dinner is October 30th after the worship service. Dust off your favorite German recipes, prepare one and bring  it to our Reformation Dinner Potluck. If you do not have a German recipe, there will be  German recipes posted on the bulletin board that may interest you to try. Also, there  will be a sign-up sheet located on the bulletin board in the narthex. Brats, hot dogs,  buns, beverages and table service will be provided. Some suggestions for the potluck dishes could be:  German potato salad, red cabbage, German sauerkraut, German noodles, or German coffee cake. Come and  learn more about the Reformation. If you have questions please contact either Jim or Judy Meyer. 

Greetings from Preschool!!  

Our Preschool year is off to a great start as the children are getting to know each other and learn the routines  in the classroom. The children have been learning about the Creation story and had their 1st Chapel meeting  with Pastor Stuenkel as well as our 1st trip to the Florida Library! They have begun learning their colors,  numbers, and letters and all about Apples. Our class will begin their Fall & Pumpkin study for October and  will celebrate Fire Safety week with a visit from Flatrock Fire Dept. We look forward to our 1st Field trips to  Mahnke Orchard with the 3 year old class and T22 Farms & Pumpkin Patch with the 4 & 5 year old class!  Our Fall Storytime & Craft is planned for Friday, September 27 at 4:30 pm. Also a BIG thank you goes out  to our Trustees for all their help with our playground...it looks great and we appreciate you!!  

Mrs. Arce 

Newsletter - September 2022

From Pastor’s Desk:  

 This year I have been going through the church year and discussing the seasons and festivals. In the  Summer time and into late fall we are still in the season of Pentecost. On September 29th there is a Feast  Lutherans usually don’t celebrate, but it has been popular since the Sixth Century. It is called the Feast of St.  Michael and All Angels. In the book of Revelation 12, Michael is the one who engages with Battle with  Satan and throws him out of heaven. This is one of the reasons there is a lot of folklore and Legends about  St. Michael. Some believed his primary job was to guide the souls of the blessed to heaven, once they had  finished their earthly pilgrimage.  

 The Feast really marks the anniversary of a Roman Church. The Lutheran reformers later added the  words “And All Angels” to include four other holy days honoring the angels. They were following the same  pattern that the Orthodox church had followed. In the sixth century Michael had five distinct orders of  worship, an Honor that was shared only by Christmas and Easter. Orders of worship are the outline of what  we follow on Sunday. Divine Service Setting Three in the Lutheran Service book is an order of worship. I  think this shows how popular the Feast of Michael was at the time.  

In Germanic Countries the festival fell at the same time as the quarterly meeting of the Thing, which was the name for Parliament. This means the markets, fairs, dancing, feasting, and courts brought in country folk for miles around. So even though the Feast has fallen out of popularity today, it easy to see it was an Important Feast in the Church Year.

Why do we need catechisms? 

While visiting local churches,  Martin Luther found many  pastors and their church  members were unaware of the  true teachings of the Bible.  Because of this, the people  were living immoral lives.  Martin Luther wrote the catechisms to instruct  people in the basics of the Christian faith, that  they might know Christ and His forgiveness and  live accordingly. We still use Luther’s Large and  Small Catechism so that we never forget those  things that are necessary for faith in Christ.  From LCMS Worship.  

LWML Fall Retreat - Defiance/Napoleon  

When: Saturday - September 17th 

Where: St. John Lutheran, Stryker (St Rt. 6 & 66)  Topic: “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" 

Schedule: 8:30 am Sign in  

 9 am -1 pm Program with Brunch at 11 am  Cost: $15.00 includes brunch 

Ingathering: Filling Homes  

Needs list: Hot chocolate mix, Jello, ketchup, mustard,  macaroni, mixes (cake, pancake, muffin), noodles,  oatmeal, rice, shortening, snack-pack pudding, soups  (all types), spaghetti. Complete list posted on bulletin  board.  

Offering: Bring your mites & Christian books  (New/Used) can be hard cover, paperbacks, children’s  books, or CDs.  

Registration forms on the bulletin board.  

Due September 2nd.

Greetings From Preschool!

I Scream, You Scream, we all Scream for Ice Cream at St. Peter Preschool!! Our Fall Open House was a  huge success and the families came to visit the classroom, meet the teachers, and finished off their visit with  an Ice Cream Social! We are excited for our 1st day of Preschool on August 29 and we will be having 2  classes again this year with 4 & 5 year olds on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and our new 3 year old  class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have a total of 15 students enrolled for the upcoming 2022-23 school  year with an additional 2 children anticipated to start when they turn 3 in the Fall or Winter. We also want to  thank the Trustees who have volunteered and worked hard to improve our playground for the upcoming  school year. It looks great so make sure you take a look when you are able to and please thank our Trustees  for such an amazing job they did. We look forward to our upcoming school year and have some exciting  plans anticipated and appreciate the wonderful support of the St. Peter Lutheran Congregation! Please  continue to pray for our teachers and students as they return to school this year!  

Mrs. Arce