St. Peter’s
CONNECTION VOL. VOL. 5, 5, No.No. 1817 March 2015 April 10,27, 2015
Connecting the World with God’s Love
THIS ISSUE: Celebrating Easter Church Without Walls
On April 19, find out about all the ways you can be
involved in this church-wide day of service.
Make a joyful noise Join one of our outstanding music ensembles and share the gift of music in worship.
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt was a great success as the rain held off until the last egg was found. Pastor Kris Bagley started things off for the older kids. Holy Week continued with our Holy Thursday and Good Friday services, culminating in Easter Sunday with eight worship services.
20775 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, Texas 77450 (281) 492-8031 www.stpkaty.org
Sign up Sunday to donate blood
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t. Peter’s next blood drive is April 26. You can sign up in the Lobby April 12 or 19. Blood drive hours are 8 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. This will be a T-shirt drive. There have been some changes to the FDA policy on donating blood. Please bring dates and locations for everywhere you have been if you have traveled outside the United States or Canada within the last 12 months or if you have lived outside the United States or Canada during the last three years. For more information or to sign up by e-mail, contact Marsha Asplin at
[email protected].
WND helpers
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ednesday Night Dinner is winding down for the spring, but we are looking forward to the fall. We are looking for new volunteers to help make this ministry run smoothly. Ways to serve include cooking teams, shoppers, ministry leaders, servers, and cashiers. If you are interested in becoming a part of this fun ministry, please contact Nathan Bledsoe at
[email protected] or Whitney Peper at
[email protected].
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The final chapter
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have spent the past few months slowly reading through a good book. Some books are better that way—slow. It lets you take it in, think deeply on the storyline, and build up anticipation for the next chapter, the next progression of the plot. As of this moment, only one chapter remains, and I’m a bit scared to read it. What do I do when I’m finished? Start a new book with another list of characters in another world doing something completely different from the ones I grew to love? I guess. But I’ll miss the characters in my current book, and once I read that final chapter, they’re gone. So I prolong the ending, Kristopher Bagley, Pastor to the element putting it off for just a bit longer, all the while wanting to see the finale. What to do? This is my dilemma. I think there are some similarities with this feeling of finality with Easter. Though I’ve never been one to dread the coming of Easter, it does have a great sense of completion to the buildup of Lent and Holy Week. For 40 days, we’ve had this sense of anticipation as we looked forward to the coming of Easter. The plot line builds throughout the final seven days, reaching a peak on the morning we celebrate the empty grave and Jesus’ victory over death. When we experience that joy of the day of resurrection, I think it’s natural to feel like everything is complete, final, wrapped up perfectly, and it’s time to move on to a new story while we look back fondly on the one we have completed. It may be natural, and it might be fine to linger there for a moment, but we dare not remain. There is so much more to this story. Easter can’t be the finale of our faith because it propels us onward into the world and into our community. Because of the grace extended to us through God’s Holy Spirit, we are invited to share the breakthrough message that is Easter. That’s part of what our next sermon series is all about—the risen Christ breaking through our walls. That’s part of what our upcoming Church Without Walls day is all about—the Holy Spirit empowering us to break through barriers. I invite you to examine what your walls are and to encourage one another with Christ’s story of breakthrough. Easter extends far beyond that Sunday morning. Easter extends far beyond our own boundaries. Easter Sunday is not the final chapter—not even close. Peace and Joy!
Kris
Open Hearts Support Group
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The element celebrated Easter with two worship services last Sunday. This is the first element Easter service led by Pastor Kris Bagley and Worship Leader Matt Broaddus. The element provides a contemporary worship experience at St. Peter’s main campus.
First Harvest Women’s Ministries tea is April 20
H
arvest Ministries is a new and exciting ministry within the life of both St. Peter’s campuses. It is designed to give women of all ages and stages in life an opportunity to find their place and calling within their relationship with Christ and the church. Harvest Ministries will help women find the group, Bible study, ministry, fellowship, and sisters in Christ to help them as they continue on their journey. All women are invited to our first monthly tea April 20 at 1 p.m. in Asbury Hall, where we will have information about this ministry, enjoy prayer and fellowship, examine the groups and Bible studies available in the church, and hear from a representative from Living Stones. For more information, please contact Whitney Peper at
[email protected].
Help us keep you informed
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lease check your information on our website through our online connection tool Mystpkaty. You can update your address, e-mail, or phone number and add a photo. Just go to www.stpkaty.org. Mystpkaty is in the upper right corner. If you need to set up a password or have forgotten your password, the page gives you links to do that. Keeping your information up to date ensures that you will receive all communications from St. Peter’s, including the St. Peter’s Connection newsletter and weekly event e-mails. You also can access the church directory at this site and register for events. Please contact Ashley Eidson at aeidson@stpkaty. org if you have any questions. If you do not have internet access and your contact information has changed, please call Ashley at (281) 492-8031.
pen Hearts will meet April 16 at 7 p.m. in E225. Open Hearts is a support group for families and friends of LGBT persons. We offer a safe and affirming setting for those who desire understanding, education, and support. We welcome anyone to be a part of this group, whether you need support or can provide support. For more information, please contact Elaine Saunders at esaunders@ stpkaty.org or (281) 4928031.
Children’s Summer Programs
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ur Summer Ministries for children include Vacation Bible School, Family VBS, Kingdom Kids, Sunny Days, Cooking With Kids, and T Bar M Camp. Registration is ongoing for church members and begins April 13 for the community. Visit the Children’s Ministries page at stpkaty. org for more information and registration.
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Port of Houston Tour. On April 24, we will take a 90-minute narrated boat tour of the Port of Houston, one of the busiest ports in the world. The cruise goes from the Turning Basin to the Washburn Tunnel. You should wear weather-appropriate clothing, including flat rubber-soled shoes. Large bags, backpacks, cameras, food, and drinks are not permitted. One complimentary beverage will be served during the tour. You must present a current government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license. We will have lunch at Brady’s Landing. The buffet is $15.50 and a drink is $2.95. The bus will leave St. Peter’s at 8 a.m. and return at 2 p.m. Sign up at the KEYS bulletin board in the Lobby. If you have questions, contact Gaylene Taylor at (281) 599-1064.
Welcome to Our New Member Priscilla Jones
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Connecting the World With God’s Love Church Without Walls. Preparations are well under way for our annual Church Without Walls, which will be on Sunday, May 17, this year. People from both campuses of St. Peter’s will be going out into the community to be the hands and feet of Christ in action for a Sunday. We have service projects both on and off campus that are suitable for all ages and abilities. This year, many of our projects are being organized and run by the small groups that make up the St. Peter’s community. While a lot of the leadership has been taken on by our small groups, we can still use your help. We need people to help coordinate with our project leaders, to help people with registration, and to sell t-shirts. If you can help with any of these, please e-mail
[email protected]. Most important though, we need you to participate in CWOW! Registration will begin April 19 online and in the Lobby on Sundays. CWOW is such an awesome part of the life of this church when our entire congregation comes together at one time and in one place. This year, we are hoping to exceed 1,000 participants. We’ll have multiple community garden projects as well as projects benefiting United Methodist Committee on Relief and Christ Clinic and The Ballard House and a whole host of other organizations. We hope you can join us. For up-to-date information, check the Missions page at stpkaty.org beginning April 19. Fondren Apartment Ministry. As a covenant partner with FAM, St. Peter’s has been invited to participate in “More Than Enough Love,” a celebration of ministry on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Los Arcos Apartments on Fondren Road. There will be music, ministry, friendship, and great food provided by the Los Arcos residents. We want you to come! If you are interested in attending, contact me at nbledsoe@ stpkaty.org. Paz,
Nathan
Be a part of our Music Ministry
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ow is a great time to join one of our music ensembles that contribute so much to our worship here at St. Peter’s. We especially are looking for new members for the Chancel Choir, Men’s Ensemble, and Orchestra. The Chancel Choir accepts members who are college age and older and rehearses Wednesday evenings. No experience is necessary. Anyone in junior high or older is welcome in the Orchestra, which rehearses Sunday evenings. We are especially in need of strings. The Men’s Ensemble is looking for men of any age who love to sing. Our rehearsals resume on Monday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. More information is at stpkaty.org or by contacting David Galasso at
[email protected].
In Our Prayers PRAYERS
Living Stones, St. Peter’s West Campus, held its first Easter worship services last Sunday, led by Pastor Scott Rawlings and Worship Leader Thad Brown. Living Stones, which meets at Cinco Ranch High School at 10:30 a.m., continues to grow and connect the West Katy area with God’s love.
Wednesday Night Dinner 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Lott Hall April 15 (This is the last Wednesday Night Dinner until the fall.) BBQ baked potato bar, cole slaw, and Symphony brownie bars
Hua Atkinson, Don Beach, Dennis Bowling, Jim Butler, William Clites, Julia Clites, Faunelle Deaton, John Duffield, Caleb Gore, Lu Haas, Art Henderson, Ann Hlinak, Rick Jage, Brian Jones, Oscar Jones, Don Kennedy, Wanda Klaus, Betty Marsh, Maynard Robertson, Kathryn Sadowski, Marilyn Shaw, Beth Smith, Ruby Smith, Spencer Stanford, and Cheryl Swift.
JOY To Thomas and Chelsea Davis on the birth of their son Everett.
SYMPATHY
Kid’s meal: pizza with cheese sticks Healthy option of a chicken Caesar salad available by reservation
To Paula Cavett and family on the death of her father.
Adults/Kids: $6/$3 with reservation Make reservation by Sunday at midnight at stpkaty.org or by 12:15 p.m. Sunday at the Information Desk.
PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY
ST. PETER’S ATTENDANCE March 29 Traditional Worship 8:30 184 9:45 434 11:00 517 the element 9:45 60 11:00 103 SPLASH 83 Living Stones 313 TOTAL 1,694
April 5 Holy Thursday 254 Good Friday 221 Traditional Worship 6:30 125 8:00 350 9:30 987 11:00 1,025 the element 9:30 158 11:00 184 SPLASH 51 Living Stones 422 TOTAL 3,777
Tim and Alison Batig, John Belsha, Will Brandt, Skyler Cook, Westley Freeze, James Gilbert, Tyler J. Gorcie, Dylan Greismeyer, Stephen Travis Harding, Adam Higdon, Matthew Ivester, Mike Linn, Ryan Lueders, Blake Nunes, Ryan O’Quinn, Matthew Platz, Shawn Platz, Hamilton Rencurrel, Jack Ritchie, Don Rolleg, Ben Saunders, Jacob Shinkle, John Simmons, and Jasen Wilson.
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UMW Style Show
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Style Show. Don’t forget to get your tickets to our “Garden of Fashions” show on April 21 at 7 p.m. in Lott Hall. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the Information Desk in the Lobby on Sunday mornings.
The Giving Tree
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ook for the Giving Tree in the Lobby this Sunday, where you will find opportunities to make donations of snacks and supplies for Vacation Bible School. Each summer VBS brings hundreds of children to our campus, where they learn about God’s love for them.
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he United Methodist Women will present their annual style show “Garden of Fashions” April 21 at 7 p.m. in Lott Hall. Clothing and accessories will be worn by St. Peter’s own models Priscilla Bagley, Elizabeth Bucher, Dawn Bunting, Marti Davis, Marydith Donnelly, Stephanie Gowen, Martha Mireur, Kelli Pappas, Whitney Peper, Linda Schacht, and Joey Swarts. Entertainment will be provided by St. Peter’s Bluegrass Band. Tickets will be on sale Sunday at the Information Desk in the Lobby for $15. The style show benefits UMW missions. For information, contact Charline Grace at (281) 579-8380.
School supplies needed for UMCOR school kits
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he United Methodist Women are collecting supplies for 100 school kits to be shipped to United Methodist Committee on Relief for distribution around the world. These kits will be assembled during Church Without Walls. There is a box in the Lobby to collect donations. Needed items include blunt scissors (rounded tip only, no plastic), loose-leaf paper or top-bound pads of paper, hand-held pencil sharpener (must be at least 1 inch long), 30-centimeter ruler, unsharpened pencils (no religious, patriotic, or military symbols), 2-inch or larger eraser, and 24-count box of crayons (Crayola brand preferred). Thank you for your help.
St. Peter’s celebrated Easter with eight worship services on two campuses this year, with more than 3,300 people in attendance. The traditional services included music presented by the Chancel Choir, Youth Choir, and Orchestra.
Sole Hope Shoemaking Project. All junior and senior girls are encouraged to meet April 17 from 6-8 p.m. in Wesley for a shoe cutting party to benefit Sole Hope. This organization provides the materials for local shoemakers in Uganda to create shoes for their community, which gives the wearers protection from diseases that enter through the feet. Please bring a plastic folder or milk jug (clean and dried), scissors that can cut jeans fabric, $10 to donate to Sole Hope, and a friend. Sole Hope will use the donations to pay a fair wage to the shoemakers, who are often elderly members of the community. If you can’t attend but would like to help, please consider donating medical gloves, plastic bandages, alcohol wipes, gauze wrap, triple antibiotic cream, child-strength pain medication, medical tape, or stickers for children. Monetary donations also would be appreciated. Summer Camps. Camp Connect: June 8-12; students currently in 6th8th grades; cost: $100; deadline: April 15. U.M. ARMY Mission Camp: June 21-27; students currently in 9th-12th grades, college students, adults; cost: $250; deadline: April 15. Student Life: July 5-11; students currently in 8th-12th grades; cost: $499; deadline: March 31. Scholarships are available; contact Jason Trice at
[email protected]. A deposit of $100 is required to hold your spot for all camps. Full payment due May 15. Adult volunteers are needed. Register at STPstudentministries.org. For more information on any of these camps, call (281) 492-8031, ext. 319, or e-mail
[email protected]. College Care Packages. The Senior High Ministry team will be providing care packages to our congregation’s college students during final exams. If you would like to donate items (individually wrapped and lunch-sized chips or cookies, candy, chewing gum, single serving microwave popcorn); provide monetary donations for packaging and shipping; or if you would like to provide us with your college student’s school address, please contact Marilyn Stegemann at
[email protected] or (210) 632-8891. A collection bin is in the Lobby to collect your donated items.
Palm Sunday Children processed with palm branches through the worship services on Palm Sunday as we remembered Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Daily Bible Reading April 13 – 19 MONDAY Acts 4:32-35 TUESDAY Psalm 133 WEDNESDAY 1 John 1:1-22 THURSDAY John 20:19-31 FRIDAY Deuteronomy 6:1-8 SATURDAY 1 Timothy 6:11-16 SUNDAY Amos 5:18-24 April 20 – 26 MONDAY Acts 3:12-19 TUESDAY Psalm 4 WEDNESDAY 1 John 3:1-7 THURSDAY Luke 24:35-49 FRIDAY Ezekiel 34:1-10 SATURDAY Ezekiel 34:11-22 SUNDAY Ezekiel 34:23-31
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S unday Worship 8:30 a.m.
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church 20775 Kingsland Blvd. Katy, Texas 77450
Traditional Worship with Holy Communion
9:45 a.m.
Traditional Worship the element Contemporary Worship Sunday School for All Ages
10:30 a.m.
Living Stones 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 Sunday, April 12 12:15 p.m. Pizza With the Pastors Asbury Hall 6:30 p.m. ADHD Support Group S201 Tuesday, April 14 1:30 p.m. KEYS Council E225 7:00 p.m. Women of Joy S203 Wednesday, April 15 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner Lott Hall 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Nights at St. Peter’s Various Thursday, April 16 7:00 p.m. Finance Committee Conference Room Open Hearts Support Group E225 Sunday, April 19 8:00 a.m. CWOW Registration Opens Lobby 4:00 p.m. Women’s Cancer Support Group S209 Monday, April 20 1:00 p.m. Harvest Ministries Women’s Tea Asbury Hall 1:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group S209 7:00 p.m. Trustees Conference Room Tuesday, April 21 7:00 p.m. UMW Style Show Lott Hall Wednesday, April 22 10:00 a.m. The Gathering Asbury Hall Friday, April 24 6:00 p.m. Friday Night Friends E221 Sunday, April 26 8:00 a.m. Blood Drive Scout House 9:45 a.m. KIDS JAM Spring Musical Sanctuary Detailed weekly calendars of St. Peter’s events are available on our website.
Men’s Breakfast Group Meeting at Whataburger, 23540 Westheimer Pkwy. Thursdays at 8 a.m. All men are invited to come for breakfast and fellowship. This is a great way to get to know other men at St. Peter’s. No reservations needed.
