SAINT PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

4843 Southport – Supply Road SE Southport, North Carolina 28461

https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org Church Office Phone 910-457-5604

Church Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Office email: info@stpeterlutheran-nc.org/

Newsletter Submission Deadline for Newsletter - Thursday 9:30 a.m.

The Rev. Nicholas A. Giannatasio, Senior Pastor

Email: pastornick@stpeterlutheran-nc.org The Rev. Jason W. Huebner, Associate Pastor

revjhuebner@stpeterlutheran-nc.org Vicki Carlson, Parish Deacon

Lois Moore, Director of Worship and Music Arts

Dale Giannatasio, Associate Director of Worship and Music Arts Dwayne Blair, Accompanist

Cindy Ledbetter, Director of Handbell Choir Brenda Dunn, Administrative Assistant

Larry Capriotti, Treasurer

Sue Thompson, Assistant Treasurer Don Brenner, Financial Secretary

December 27, 2020

FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS

The psalmist calls on the natural world, celestial bodies, fire and earth, creatures, and all

humanity, to praise God. The voices of Simeon and 84-year-old Anna join the chorus today, recognizing what God is doing in Jesus. Simeon’s song is often sung after

communion, for we have seen God’s salvation in the assembled community and have held Jesus in our hands in the bread. Then, like the prophet Anna, we tell of Jesus to all

who look for the healing of the world.

Luke 2:22-40 Luke’s narrative continues with stories that emphasize Jesus’ connection to Judaism. His family is devout in its observance of the law, and Jesus himself is

recognized as one who will bring glory to Israel.

Christmas Eve Services * The drive-in 4:30pm Christmas Eve Service will have the Live Nativity and

has plenty of room for all!

* 7:00 PM Christmas Eve livestream - Our livestream equipment has an upgrade! Future services will be posted live on Facebook in HD and shortly

after on our church website at http://stpeterlutheran-nc.org .

For the livestream broadcasts, visit

https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Peter-Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-113395065360769

Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Service will be held in the back parking lot, weather permitting. Holy Communion will be offered. All are invited. Tune in to 97.5 on your FM radio.

The Sunday worship bulletin will be posted on the church web site each Thursday. https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org

Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Service will be recorded in the Sanctuary and posted on the

church website home page by Noon each Sunday. https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org

Wonderful Wednesday Services

**Wonderful Wednesday Service.

January 6, 2021 will be the last Wonderful Wednesday Service in the Labyrinth until Ash

Wednesday, February 17,2021 when it will resume at 4:00pm.

The Sanctuary Flowers were placed in the Sanctuary for the glory of God.

Spirit Notes 2020

Joy does not come from positive predictions about the state of the world.

It does not depend on the ups and downs of the circumstances of our

lives. Joy is based on the spiritual knowledge that, while the world in

which we live is shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world.

Jesus says it loudly and clearly: “In the world you will have troubles,

but rejoice, I have overcome the world.”

The surprise is not that, unexpectantly, things turn out better that

expected. No, the real surprise is that God’s light is more real than all

the darkness, that God’s truth is more powerful than all human lies,

that God’s love is stronger than death.

Henri Nouwen

Pastor Nick’s Thought For the Week

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

Did you ever wonder why it is that we tend to make life decisions when we are the most

emotional? When we are troubled or when we are frustrated, we tend to make decisions that

strongly affect our lives. I think of the commercial on TV that goes, “Sometimes you feel like a

nut, sometimes you don’t!” It is during these times of ups and downs in our lives that we make

tremendous, life changing decisions when we should just be still and know that God is God.

Let God into your lives and trust God and wait on God. Don’t ask yourself “what do I feel?”

But stand on what you believe.

Pastoral Thought of the Week

Pastor Jason’s Pastoral Thought of the Week

I remember the rock band Tesla singing “And the sign said long haired freaky people

need not apply…”. In contrast, I’ve seen church signs read “all are welcome”. It seems

signs can be used to restrict or receive people. Thanks be to God for the gift of Jesus,

announced with these words: “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who

is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a SIGN for you: you will find a child wrapped in

bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). Our savior is the sign of God’s

love for all. Look at the sign in swaddling clothes and know that God loves, forgives, and

welcome you with open arms.

Dear Church Family,

The Church Council and Task Force have been discussing the elevated risks associated

with in-church meetings amidst December’s dramatic increase of Covid-19 cases.

Brunswick county has already reached the pandemic “orange” level, and holiday

gatherings continue to multiply infection rates. As a result, the Council approved the

Task Force recommendation to suspend in-sanctuary services along with Fellowship Hall

and church kitchen use beginning December 27th and continuing until mid-January when

they will reevaluate risk levels.

The Church Council and Task Force also decide to temporarily stop in-person pastoral

visits and hospital visits until it is determined that the risk of visiting in-person is

significantly lowered. Many hospitals in our state have already banned family, pastors,

and non-medical personnel from visits as local ICU units are beyond capacity.

As your pastors’ we care deeply about the health and spiritual life of our church family.

Like the Hebrews wandering through the wilderness, we too long for this difficult time to

pass. As God provided manna to the Hebrews, we too will receive what we need to

continue forward toward better days. There is hope on the horizon.

Over the next few seasons, month by month, tens of millions will receive the Covid-19

vaccines. The Task Force is already discussing ways to transition toward normal. It will

take patience and time, but with God’s help, we will get there. Until then, stay

connected! Call one another. Join a Zoom Bible Study. Come to the 9:00 AM drive-in

worship service. Participate in worship through our website or church Facebook page.

But also consider exploring creative ways to express your faith, serve God, and support

Christ’s Church.

Please let us know if you have any pastoral care emergencies so that we can

communicate and discern how to help and support you and your family. You are in our

prayers.

Your Truly,

Pastor Nick and Pastor Jason

The Journey to the Manger was a success. If you missed it, you can view the live

stream at https://www.facebook.com/huebnerja/videos/10159243591761004 . On

Facebook, our live Nativity commercial reached 4,500 people, and hundreds watched the

preview and live stream. Over 300 people over two days took the 10-minute

journey through five scenes in our Nativity. One visitor posted on Facebook, "This is the

finest Live Nativity I have ever seen." Thank you to the many people who made this

event a success! Enjoy the pictures!

RESULTS OF 12/13/20 CONGREGATION MEETING

Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting and to all who voted! The 2021 budget was approved, and the following slate was approved. President - Tom Propst; Vice

President - Rod Mitton; Council Members – Susan Crabtree, Ann Hager, Barbara Grever,

Doug Heckler, and Kevin Penner; 2021 Nominating Committee - Pat Cremins, Noel Dusanenko, Kart Farris, Diane Guss, Robin Johnson, and Donna Parsons;

Memorial Committee – Emy Vig and Scott Baldwin; and Mission Endowment- June Otte Congratulations to those elected. They will be installed on Sunday, 1/3/21.

And thank you to all who are ending their terms. We are blessed to have a congregation that has so many gifts they are willing to share!

Thank You!

Thank you for the lovely plant and gift card. What a wonderful surprise. It has been a joy to serve as your president and on Council these past years. The Council members

always “showed up,” and were thoughtful and diligent decision-makers as they worked

to serve God in this place and to serve you. Robin Johnson

Reminder - Committee Reports for the Annual Report are due. If you haven’t yet

submitted yours, please get it to Brenda in the Church office as soon as you can. And thanks to those who already submitted theirs.

Thanks!

Robin Be still and know. Psalm 46

2021 SPENDING PLAN AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

The 2021 Spending Plan approved by Finance Committee and Church Council is now

available for review on the SPLC website. Log into the MEMBER / Member Portal, scroll

down and click on '2021 Spending Plan' to access it The data in the 2020 ACTUAL

column is complete thru November. If you have any questions about the proposal, you

may contact me and I will attempt to answer them for you. If a question and answer is

of general interest, I will share it with the congregation at the meeting.

Larry Capriotti, Treasurer

splctreasurer@stpeterlutheran-nc.org

910.512.5435

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” Jeremiah 5.

Can You Help the Giving Garden?

The Giving Garden at Saint Peter needs your help funding the 12’x4’ Garden Boxes

where the vegetables will be planted. The cost for material for the boxes is $500 per

box and we intend to start with 12 boxes. You can donate $500 for the entire box or

buy a portion of the box. You may also buy a box in memory of someone. All donations

will go toward the garden. We anticipate having a planting of peas in early spring. If

you have seen the commercial on our web site or read about the garden in the

newsletter, we are close to the start of this project.

It is the purpose of the garden to supply the Food Pantry with fresh vegetables,

provide instruction for Future Farmers of America, provide opportunity for Early College

community service, and as an avenue for teens who are in the court system to do

restitution service. Furthermore, it is an option for members of our congregation who a

looking for an “outdoor” ministry.

We ask you to please be as generous as you can for this worthwhile project.

Please write the words Saint Peter Giving Garden on your check.

Book Study With Pastor Nick

Dear Friends in Christ,

Starting Tuesday, December 1, 2020 and continuing for 8 weeks (with some time off for

Christmas and New Year’s celebration we will have a Zoom Book Study. The name of

the book is “Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus Christ.” We will meet every Tuesday

during that time at 4pm. The book is available on Amazon used and new. You will need

to purchase this book.

The zoom access number is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89135583868

Please read the Introduction and the Prologue through Chapter 7-8.

I look forward to seeing you at this zoom address. The next class on zoom is

on January 5, 2021.

Pastor Nick

Pastor Jason’s next Bible Study: Galatians

Thursdays at 7:00 pm beginning 12/3/2020 (6 weeks - skipping 12/24 & 12/31)

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81854143747

Meeting ID: 818 5414 3747

Session 1. 12/03/2020 Read all 6 chapters of the epistle Galatians from your Bible

before class Session 2. 12/10/2020 What happens to people pleasers? (Galatians 1:1-24)

Session 3. 12/17/2021 Is there one, and only one, Gospel (good message)? (Galatians

2:1-21) Session 4. 01/07/2021 So . . . what about God's rules now? (Galatians 3:6-29; 5:18)

Session 5. 01/14/2021 How do we live by the Spirit? (Galatians 3:1-5; 5:1-26; 6:8-10) Session 6. 01/21/2021 Final thoughts on the epistle Galatians – no homework

Contact Pastor Jason at revjhuebner@stpeterlutheran-nc.org and he will reserve a book for you!

Prayer Requests For Our Saint Peter Family

and Friends

Robert Beck Sr., The Chinnery Family, The Family of Gerald Curtin, Jimmie Doll, Dave Goudy, Art & Sharon Falcone, June Harper, The Family of John Nowell, Frances Outlaw,

Karen Penner, Sharon & Tom Paul, Roxanne Pratt, Henry Seitz, Kathleen Thompson,

Meg Upp

ATTENDANCE – DECEMBER 20, 2020

9:00 A.M. WORSHIP – 50 PARKING LOT

11:00 A.M. WORSHIP - 33 SANCTUARY SERVICE 4:30 P.M. WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY – NO SERVICE

PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP ON LINE - 238

Daily Spiritual Readings Saint Peter Financial Summary

December 28 - January 3 2020 YTD - November 2020

Scripture citations taken from the YTD

Three Year Daily Lectionary in the ELW, pg. 1133 (Year B) Income $ 474,367

Expense $ 457,642

Monday Matthew 2:13-18 $ 16,725 Pos Cash Flow Tuesday Matthew 12:46-50

Wednesday 2 Peter 3:8-13 Thursday John 8:12-19 Complete financial reports are

Friday Luke 1:22-32 posted in the corridor. Saturday James 3:13-18

Sunday Luke 2:22-40

CALENDAR

Sunday

12/27

9:00 a.m. Worship Service (back parking lot)

11:00 a.m. Worship Service (recorded)

Monday 12/28

Tuesday 12/29

Wednesday

12/30

4:00 p.m. Wednesday Worship Service (Labyrinth)

Thursday

12/31

Church Office Closed

Friday 1/01/2021

Church Office Closed

Saturday 1/02/2021

$30,000 $29,105

$4,000 $5,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $3,000 $2,000 $835 $1,200

$7,070

$- $5,000

$10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000

SAINT PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHFOR I WAS HUNGRY FUND

OCTOBER 28, 2020