“The Message of the Cross!”

Dr. King stated; “The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand inmoments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy…”Depending on how one perceives the current events and context of our culture and society, we will and are going to be challenged to live out our faith, and represent the kingdom of God to our family, friends, neighbors and strangers. It will not be easy or simple, it is going to require earnest prayer, hard work and
faith to move us from a purely self-interest only perception to one of genuine concern and compassion for all. Our LORD and Savior Jesus the Christ understood the formidable task, placed on his followers, when he preached;
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (The Way of the Cross) For 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”. For what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”(Matthew 16: 24-26) Again to follow the cross can be, and often will go counter to the popular, powerful norms of current culture, and of society. Especially when those messages are not about care, concern, justice, and righteousness for all. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote concerning being a follower of Christ, and taking up our cross to faithfully follow Jesus saying; “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin, than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” Bonhoeffer further stated;
“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples had deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the laborers of God. So Christians too, belong not in the seclusion of cloistered life, but in the thick of foes. That is (Christ Jesus’ Commission), his charge, his work. The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the kingdom of Christ, he wants to be among friends, to sit among the roses and lilies, not be with hurting people, but be with the devout. O you blasphemer and betrayer of Christ.” This is the messiness of the cross, this is the messiness of ministry, this is moving beyond comfortable Christianity, and the song writer wrote- “placing the world behind you, the cross before you, because you’ve decided to follow Jesus. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; no turning back, no turning back. The world behind
me, the cross before me.” I have been struck by the magnificent changes that have come to our nation in last fifty years, changes seemingly incomprehensible during the prior 150 years. But there were persons who went out from their lives of comfort, and convenience away from the norms of their living for they knew, they sensed that something was amiss, something was wrong not with God, but with how far too many others were suffering in their living.
Rev. James Reeb a 38 year old minister, a graduate of Princeton, left his church journeyed to Selma to March for the voting rights of others, he could vote, but he went for others. He was beaten by the Klan and segregationist for his involvement, and died after two days due to his head injuries. Deacon Jimmie Lee Jackson, a deacon in his Baptist church, the inspiration for the Selma March,
unarmed peacefully participated in an earlier March attempt beaten and shot dead in the back by an Alabama State trooper. And then there was a mother of five, a housewife from Detroit MI, who went to support the March effort. Viola Gregg Liuzzo, shot dead by Klan members driving persons back and forth from Selma to the Memphis airport. These were but just a few persons who understood the “Message of the Cross,” they lived out their faith, not just for themselves but for others. They loved God with all that they were, and secondly they loved their neighbors(though unknown) like they loved themselves.
The Apostle Paul writes to the Church of Corinth “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

St. Peter’s UMW Special Mission Recognition 2016

Each year the United Methodist Women of St. Peter’s nominate a recipient for Special Mission Recognition Award. These are special persons who have distinguished themselves in advancing the purpose of United Methodist Women through outstanding service both to their church and to the community. A donation in that person’s name is made to the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church. They also receive a gold pin to recognize the award. This year we honored Amy Tan-Chan and Keat Chan. They have given so much of their time in service behind the scenes here at St. Peter’s and within the community. Amy has served on the Finance Committee and has been the main chef for the meals for the Women’s Crossroads Feeding Program the last several years. She has been our kitchen angel making sure it is clean and organized and well stocked and does this as one of her ways of serving the church. She has helped prepare countless meals for such events as the Shelter meals, Stewardship dinners, Lent meals, Summer Nights with Soul, potluck suppers, women’s socials as well as being the one who steps in first to start the cleanup. She is part of the Women’s Fellowship Circle and helped with our Little Bits program. She is a counter on Sundays. She is always there to help when needed. She is working with the trustees on the bathroom remodeling as well as helping with other projects. Keat has spent hours around the church fixing and installing and repairing. He has been involved in the roof projects, the new lighting in office and hall, the bathroom remodeling and repair, work in Anna’s garden on the trellis. He is a current member of Trustees. I know that both Keat and Amy can be seen at church during the week working on some kind of project or cleanup. Keat and Amy have also started the MakerSpace program for our youth. Keat has worked to stock the downstairs room with items like computers, 3d printer, other “making appliances” and is there to work with the youth as they explore learning to make things. Most of us grew up learning how to do some of these things like sew, use tools, learn to make things. Today’s youth are so involved with working on an education and building up a college portfolio they have not had time to learn how to do many of the things consider part of growing up. We applaud them both for starting this program for our youth and others. They saw a need and stepped in to start the program. They also are raising two wonderful daughters, Jia Wen at the University of Washington and Jia Ling at Interlake High School. This award was presented at the February 11, 2017 Agape Breakfast.

Operation School Bell

Please join us on Saturday, February 25th, at 10A to 2P, as we gather for fellowship while we knit/crochet hats and scarves for Operation School Bell.  (This is the program that provides new school clothes and handmade hats and scarves for underprivileged school children in Snohomish County.)  Bring your lunch and stay for as long as you can.  If you use to knit but have forgotten how to cast on or bind off, we will gladly refresh your memory!  Want to learn how to knit or crochet? We will help you learn!   We will provide yarn, but we also accept donations of any machine washable yarn that may be hiding in the back of your closet. 

Worship & Arts Committee

There will be a Worship & Arts Committee meeting after church on February 26th. 

Ash Wednesday Service

Please join us on March 1st at 5:30P for a simple supper of soup, salad and bread, followed by the service at 6:30P in the fellowship hall. Childcare will be available if needed. All are welcome!

Lenten Study Group

There will be a study group during the Sundays in Lent, led by Pastor Steve. The group will meet Sunday mornings at 9:15 am to 10 am from March 5th to April 9th. There are plenty of study books, both regular and large print. The study is called “Near the Cross, a Lenten Journey of Prayer” by Kenneth H Carter Jr. and books are available in the church office for those who have signed up on the poster in the narthex. In observing the 40 days that Christ spent in the desert by studying, praying and being open to the Holy Spirit we prepare ourselves for recognizing Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday and the glory of the resurrection on Easter.

Communications Meeting

There will be a Communications meeting after church on March 12th. 

UMW Circle

Please join us again for the UMW Fellowship Circle on the third Wednesday March 15th at 10A until noon.  We will be doing a Cards for the Troops project and making and signing cards to be sent to our troops. We will also talk about ideas for new projects and enjoy coffee and fellowship. Please call the office if you want a ride.

Family Shelter Update

The Shelter Liaison Committee met on January 11th and again on February 9th. The number of people in the shelter has been at and near capacity of 50 total people with 20 to 24 children.

During the recent snow storm the clients and staff stayed at the church while the schools were closed. Shirley Lumry and Keat Chan checked on their welfare, ascertained that there was adequate food and a fresh dinner coming and provided a snow shovel for a young man willing to shovel.

There have been five volunteers to read to the children after supper: Cathy Relyea Janet dePooter, Kathleen Keeney, Mackie Jurcan and Eun Mi Ham; thank you to these women for volunteering and also to Kasandra Baber who has provided some books to give out. The Mission and Outreach ministry has decided to provide Saturday morning breakfast for the Shelter on February 25th and March 18th. John Fountain is the chef and ministry group members will assist.

Sophia Way Update

The Sophia Way continues to make progress in expanding services for women experiencing homelessness. The Day Center at St. Luke’s Lutheran is now open on weekends as well as during the week, providing lunch, laundry, showers and services to these women who do not have other shelter. This is especially crucial on weekends when other facilities such as libraries may not be open.

This extension of open days also means that meals are needed on weekends as well as week days. The sign-up calendar for both the Day Center and the Night Shelter is available on the Sophia Way website: http://sophiaway.org/meals-calendars/

The Sophia Way continues to need large size clothing for women 2X, 3X and 4X, particularly underwear and bathrobes. These may be dropped off at the Day Center at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church 3030 Bellevue Way.

Great Spring Yard Sale

The spring Yard Sale which funds our missionary, Katherine Parker in Nepal and several church projects is coming soon! Please note the dates, this is corrected from previously published. The dates are April 21st and 22nd and times 9 am to 4 pm.

We will be receiving donations on April 17th to 19th from 9 am to 4 pm and 5:30 to 8:30 pm. A wide range of donations is needed to make this the best sale ever. Books are ever popular items at our low prices. Small appliances and kitchenware are also popular as well as sporting goods, gardening and workshop tools and clothing and linens.

We are looking for volunteers to help with sorting, pricing, cashiering and general tidying on the days of the sale. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex or see Pat King or John Fountain.