St. Peter’s
CONNECTION VOL. 7, No. 9 December 16, 2016
Connecting the World with God’s Love
THIS ISSUE:
Carols of Christmas The Chancel Choir, Orchestra, and Carillon Bells will pres-
ent a morning of Christmas music this Sunday during
Christmas Worship at St. Peter’s
traditional worship at 9:45 and 11 a.m.
Deliver poinsettias Bring some Christmas joy to someone who may not be able to get out much during the holidays by delivering a poinsettia on Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve 3 p.m. – Family Worship for families with children, Sanctuary 4 p.m. – The Element Worship with Communion, Lott Hall 5 p.m. – West Campus Worship, Cinco Ranch High School 5 p.m. – Carols and Candlelight with the Chancel Choir and Orchestra, Sanctuary 5:30 p.m. – The Element Worship with Communion, Lott Hall 7 p.m. – Carols and Candlelight with the Chancel Choir and Orchestra, Sanctuary 9 p.m. – Carols, Candlelight, and Communion with the Youth Choir, Sanctuary 11 p.m. – Carols, Candlelight, and Communion with Combined Choirs, Sanctuary Christmas Day – one combined service at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary New Year’s Day – Traditional at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary, The Element at 11 a.m. in Lott Hall, West Campus at 10:30 a.m. at Cinco Ranch High School
20775 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, Texas 77450 (281) 492-8031 www.stpkaty.org
The joy of giving
Order your poinsettias
M
onday, Dec. 19, is the deadline for ordering poinsettias to decorate the Sanctuary and Lott Hall for the Christmas season. You can order the poinsettias in memory or in honor of a loved one. Order forms have been e-mailed, are available at stpkaty.org, and are on the Information Desk in the Lobby. Cost for each plant is $10.
Christmas Eve snacks needed
C
hristmas Eve is a long day for our clergy, choirs, musicians, and staff, with little time for a meal. We are asking for volunteers to bring bottled water and snack foods such as fruit, veggies, cheese, or crackers to go along with the ham that will be provided for them. If you would like to help, please bring your item to the Parlor on Christmas Eve afternoon or as you arrive for worship services.
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Dear Friends in Christ, I have heard it said that giving should be an occasion for joy. I agree with that statement. In fact, we all know about joyful giving. A young man will give the young woman he adores and wants to marry a diamond that cost him lots of money. He is happy if she rejoices at receiving it. Moms and dads spend lots of money on their children for Christmas. They want to see the gleeful looks on their children’s faces when they open their presents. And the parents are often frustrated by watching their Dr. Pat Sparks, Senior Pastor children ignore the expensive gifts and play with the cardboard boxes they came in. I wonder how God feels about his children ignoring the costly gift he gave that first Christmas? All too often we end up spending our time with the trivial things instead of the most important gift ever given—Jesus Christ. This Christmas, let me encourage you to do two important things: 1) Focus your time, joy, and gratitude on the gift God has given to us—the gift of salvation through Christ 2) Show appreciation for that gift by the way in which you live your life. Give back to God out of a sense of gratitude for all that God has given you. Not only will your giving bring joy to God, but it will also become a resource that will help us connect more people with God’s love. Blessings,
Pat
Staff changes in the Business Office
J
ulia Means, our Church Administrator, retired Dec. 8 after 17 years of dedicated service to St. Peter’s. We are pleased to announce that Mike Benjamin has been hired as the Business Administrator. Mike will support the ministries of St. Peter’s by managing and reporting the financial resources of the church to staff, commitMike Benjamin Julia Means tees, and church members. His e-mail is
[email protected]. Mike is married to Lori, and they have two adult children. Please welcome Mike to St. Peter’s!
Dreaming about where God desires to take us Dear Friends, I am writing you to let you know about a change in The Element. Our worship leader, Matt Broaddus, has accepted a position at another church in Houston. Matt will stay with us through the end of the year and have his final Sunday in January. I am sorry to see him go, but I also support him as he follows what he feels is God’s call for his ministry. Our pastoral leadership has had lengthy conversations about the direction we will go in the future. In truth, these conversations are in the beginning stages, and we are still praying for discernment as we move ahead. We will continue praying throughout this transition. It is important to me that the incoming leadership for our worship team be more than just a person Matt Broaddus filling in a role. We are committed to finding leadership that will be an integral part of our community and continue the faithful direction in which God is leading The Element. I look forward to dreaming about where God desires to take us. I deeply love The Element, but I know that God loves The Element even more. So, please join me in embracing the words of 1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” With Hope and Anticipation,
Kris
Pastor to The Element
It was Family Christmas Chapel time at the Early Childhood Development Center recently. Families were invited to join their child at a special Chapel where Pastor Pat read the story “When Jesus Was Born.” There was lots of singing and jingle bell ringing!
Church Council will not meet in December.
Blood Drive is Jan. 15
O
ur next Blood Drive is Jan. 15 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Scout House. You can sign up to donate Dec. 18 or Jan. 8 in the Lobby between worship services. Each donor will receive a long-sleeved Commit for Life T-shirt. For information on donating blood, contact Marsha Asplin at
[email protected].
Registration for ECDC is Jan. 9-20
R
egistration for the 20172018 school year for our Early Childhood Development Center is Jan. 9-20. Registration forms will be available during that time in the ECDC office. We offer classes for children ages 15 months through 5 years. For more information, please visit stpkaty.org or call (281) 492-0623 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
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Stages Theatre Comedy. On Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. we will go to Stages Theatre to see “Who Am I This Time? (and Other Conundrums of Love).” We will have dinner before at Molina’s Cantina. Deadline to sign up is Dec. 18. Cost is $25 plus dinner and is due when you sign up. Sign up at the KEYS bulletin board in the Lobby for 15 minutes after the 8:30 a.m. service or for 15 minutes before the 11 a.m. service. For information, call Joan or Bob Belden at (281) 693-3382.
Run to help stop human trafficking
T
he Katy Half Marathon, 5K, and Kid’s Fun Run is on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Katy Mills Mall. This year the Texas Annual Conference has a “Reason2Race” team to help stop human trafficking. If you are interested in running, being a part of the team, or giving to help fight human trafficking, contact Pastor Mark Welshimer at
[email protected].
O
ur Pebbles nursery class is growing! This group is for children under the age of 3 and is made up of an infant class, a 1-year-old class, and a
2-year-old class. While our average weekly attendance is 15 to 18, we have had as many as 21 children lately, as our families are growing! Each Sunday, six adults teach and care for our tiniest members and lead our 2-year-olds in the Deep Blue Toddler and Twos curriculum. In addition, each Sunday a small group of dedicated volunteers set up foam flooring, panel dividers for each age group, a fold-out changing table, small infant swings, bouncy seats, play tents, portable chairs and tables, and lots and lots of age-appropriate toys for each age group. It is a labor of love to make our youngest members comfortable in our
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portable nursery unit.
The Carols of Christmas
C
ome hear the Chancel Choir, Orchestra, and Carillon Bells present a Christmas music extravaganza Sunday, Dec. 18, at the 9:45 and 11 a.m. traditional services, featuring John Rutter’s “Christmas Carols,” a collection of your all-time favorite carols with beautiful orchestral arrangements, and a selection of Christmas music by the Carillon Bells. Please join us for this festive and special Sunday.
Special service for those who are grieving
F
or those who have suffered a loss, a traditional Christmas service can be difficult. Our special Night of Hope service, which is Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary, offers comfort and hope to those who are grieving. During this service we will acknowledge the loss, grief, and darkness in our lives, yet celebrate together the coming of hope, joy, and light into our world through the birth of Jesus.
In Our Prayers
PRAYERS Marci Barnes, Lee Bennett, Lynn Bortka, Dennis Bowling, Gordon Buffington, Claire Cook, Lorkeshia Davis, Faunelle Deaton, Jenifer Franklin, Bob Harris, Joe Hawkins, Art Henderson, Mike Ibarguen, Brian Jones, Maggie Jones, Oscar Jones, Ralph Lovell, Mary K McNamara, Lou Moore, Neil Pickthall, Kathy Powell, Janice Remmele, Virginia Reper, Fay Smith, Cheryl Swift, and Annabelle Turner. JOY To Robby and Stephanie McDaniel on the birth of their daughter Jules Leigh. SYMPATHY To John Freeman and family on the death of his sister. To Ryan Wilson and family on the death of her grandmother.
The Youth Choir presented the Christmas musical “Innkeeper, Innkeeper,” which tells the story of the birth of Jesus from the point of view of the innkeeper. For information on the Youth Choir, contact David Galasso at
[email protected].
ST. PETER’S ATTENDANCE December 4 Traditional Worship 8:30 200 9:45 173 11:00 331 The Element 9:45 62 11:00 113 SPLASH 60 West Campus 220 West Campus Students/Kids 101 TOTAL 1,260
December 11 Traditional Worship 8:30 197 9:45 223 11:00 410 The Element 9:45 63 11:00 90 SPLASH 72 West Campus 169 West Campus Students/Kids 93 TOTAL 1, 317
PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY Tim and Alison Batig, John Belsha, Will Brandt, John Buck, Skyler Cook, Austin Foster, Westley Freeze, James Gilbert, Tyler J. Gorcie, Dylan Greismeyer, Stephen Travis Harding, Adam Higdon, Mike Linn, Ryan Lueders, Blake Nunes, Cameron Nunes, Ryan O’Quinn, Matthew Platz, Shawn Platz, Hamilton Rencurrel, Jack Ritchie, Don Rolleg, Ben Saunders, Jacob Shinkle, John Simmons, Justin Simon, Theo Speas, and Jasen Wilson.
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Girlfriend Getaway
Connecting the World With God’s Love
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re you looking for a way to meet other women at St. Peter’s? Girlfriend Getaway, our annual women’s retreat, is a great way to connect with women of all ages. This year’s retreat is Jan. 27-29 at Cathedral Oaks Retreat Center in Weimar. Karen Mayer Cunningham, a Christian comedian, author, and advocate for special needs children, will speak on “Joy for the Journey.” Cost is $150 for the weekend. Go to stpkaty.org to register. For questions or to volunteer to help with the retreat (another way to make new friends!), please call Katie Miller at (281) 398-0740.
Missions Gift Cards Sunday is your last chance to purchase missions gift cards this year. These cards benefit 10 of the ministries with which St. Peter’s partners. They make a great gift for the person who has everything or who is interested in helping others. Mission gift cards will be on sale at the Information Desk in the Lobby between services.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
T
he Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet Dec. 19 at 1:30 p.m. in S209 for a time of caring and sharing. For more information, contact Beverly Deerhake at (281) 372-8389.
The New Beginnings Sunday School class sponsored the monthly Hope Impacts community breakfast and worship service on Dec. 3 at New Hope Presbyterian Church. Hope Impacts is a Katy-based charitable organization serving the needs of the homeless and under-resourced in our local community through tangible acts of love. New Beginnings helped set up, cook, and serve breakfast; sang Christmas carols (in both English and Spanish); led a devotional; and then helped clean up. A record 104 guests attended.
Help deliver poinsettias to the home bound
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ou and your family are invited to help make Christmas a little brighter for others by delivering poinsettias to those who are home bound. You can pick up a poinsettia and delivery instructions after the 11 p.m. service on Christmas Eve or after the 11 a.m. service on Christmas Day in the Sanctuary. If you have questions, please contact Kim Poer at
[email protected].
The Road to Bethlehem
Daily Bible Reading Dec. 19 – 25 MONDAY Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 TUESDAY John 15:12-17 WEDNESDAY 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 THURSDAY Isaiah 42:1-9 FRIDAY Luke 10:1-12 SATURDAY 1 Peter 2:1-10 SUNDAY Colossians 3:12-17 Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 MONDAY Matthew 2:1-12 TUESDAY Isaiah 46:5-11 WEDNESDAY Hebrews 6:9-20 THURSDAY Matthew 19:16-30 FRIDAY Matthew 6:25-34 SATURDAY 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 SUNDAY Matthew 25:31-46
The KIDS JAM children’s choirs presented their Christmas musical “All About That Baby” on Dec. 18. KIDS JAM includes four choirs for children ages 4 through fifth grade. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays and begin again on Jan. 18. For more information on KIDS JAM, contact Anne O’Quinn at
[email protected].
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S u nday Worship 8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship with Holy Communion
9:45 a.m.
Traditional Worship The Element Contemporary Worship Sunday School for All Ages
10:30 a.m.
St. Peter’s West Campus at Cinco Ranch High School
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship The Element Contemporary Worship SPLASH Children’s Worship Sunday School for Adults
St. Peter’s Events Calendar
Coming soon:
Sunday, Dec. 18 9:45, 11:00 a.m.
Chancel Choir, Orchestra
and Carillon Bells Concert
4:00 p.m.
Women’s Cancer Support
Sanctuary S205
Monday, Dec. 19 1:30 p.m.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
S209
7:00 p.m.
Night of Hope
Sanctuary
Saturday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Worship (see page 1) Sunday, Dec. 25 11:00 a.m.
Combined Worship
Authentic Manhood Men’s Study Wednesdays beginning Jan. 4
Sanctuary
Monday, Dec. 26 Church Office closed Sunday, Jan. 1 10:30 a.m.
West Campus Worship
Cinco Ranch HS
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
The Element Worship
Lott Hall
Monday, Jan. 2 Church Office closed Detailed weekly calendars of St. Peter’s events are available on our website.
33 The Series: Bible Application for Men Wednesdays beginning Jan. 11 Wednesday Nights at St. Peter’s Join us for adult small groups, children’s choir, IMPACT for children, and Rooted for junior high students. Student Ministries Mid-Winter Camp Feb. 24-26 at Forest Glen Jamaica Golf Tournament Feb. 20 at Cinco Ranch Golf Club
