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In the annual cycle of life at St. Peter’s, there are a number of seasons that mark our Church year and connect us to a rhythm that has found expression in the lives of Christians since the earliest days of the Church. Wednesday, February 22nd, Ash Wednesday, is one such day as it marks the beginning of the season of Lent.

Historically, Ash Wednesday is the day that the community of faith would have ashes imposed on their foreheads. This act was symbolic of a deep need for the mercy and grace of God, and a commitment to deepen that relationship with Christ as individuals prepared to celebrate Easter.

Our Lenten Journey at St. Peter’s will include not only our Sunday worship, but also a special Wednesday night teaching forum that will begin at 6:15 p.m. with an Ash Wednesday dinner* and service. We will continue to gather for the next five Wednesday evenings for dinner*, worship and teaching.

The Wednesday night Lenten forums are:

• Parables

• Prayer

• First Communion

Prayer: It’s more than asking
Take a journey into the heart of God through prayer. Prayer is not the object – God is. Prayer does not work; God works in answer to prayer. Throughout this five-week forum, Rees Johnston and Cori Durban will help you discover that prayer is more than just asking God to answer your prayers.

• Week One: The Power of Praising God

• Week Two: Learning the Heart of God

• Week Three: Repentance

• Week Four: The Armor of God

• Week Five: Drawing Near To God

Parables: Jesus’ Kingdom
Very early in the life of the Christian Church, outsiders saw Christians drawing and deepening their faith from Jesus’ parables. The parable, a story through which Jesus used metaphor and pictorial images to make his point, was the primary way that he taught inquirers and mentored his followers. It is to these graphic stories of Jesus that we will turn to gain a deeper understanding of what the Kingdom of God is and how we are to live in it. Through these teachings, we will stand at the edge of the crowds surrounding Jesus, listen to what he is saying to them and then discover what he is telling us today. Bishop TJ Johnston will lead this forum.

First Communion: Getting to know our Savior
Our First Communion forum offers children an opportunity to grow in their faith alongside their parents. Children will come to understand who Jesus is, what he did on the cross and why we ask him for forgiveness. By knowing Jesus, they’ll grow in their knowledge that the love of God in Jesus Christ is theirs to experience and enjoy every day of their lives. This two-day forum lead by Jimmy Kaiser will meet on March 7 and 21. The class is geared toward 4th graders, but all are welcome to participate and parents are required to attend with their children.

On Sunday, February 5, TJ taught about discipleship and the importance of this Lenten Journey. To listen to his sermon, Discipleship: Called and Committed, click here.

We are prayerful that you will join us on this Lenten Journey. Call the office at 843.881.9003 to learn more or to sign up.

*There will be a small fee for dinner and those needing nursery or toddler care.

Blessings,
+TJ

As I reflect on the past several weeks, I am reminded of the gatherings around the Church that have celebrated the sacrificial service and leadership that so many of you have given to the Church in this past year. There has never been a time in the short history of our Church when so many have served others — both in our Church family and outside our Church family. Again, I say thank you.

This past year has been marked by extraordinary change and challenge at St. Peter’s. We have moved into a new building that has served the ministries of the Church beyond our hopes and dreams. Our three buildings (the office, the shed and our multipurpose building) are consistently used six days a week by our Church family, the community, and East Cooper Christian Pre-School (123 students). Lord, thank you for our physical plant and the resource that it is for serving you and others.

Our Church family is also going through a season of natural and healthy growth and change. We now have three times the number of children and twice the number of adults on Sunday morning than we had just six months ago. We are taking very focused steps in encouraging all ages of our Church family to grow in their knowledge of, and relationship with, Jesus through: Life Groups, Bible studies, teaching series, personal Bible study and new mission opportunities to serve others. Lord, transform our lives so that we will delight in you and serve others in your name.

All of the above, especially the bringing on of a new building, have also stretched our Church family financially. When it comes to the expanding ministry and mission of our Church (the Body of Christ), money is the muscle that helps support and sustain our Body. Right now, as we go through this time of natural growth and development, our financial muscle also needs to be strengthened and expanded.

If you have been tracking our congregational giving in the monthly reports, you have seen that we have consistently had a shortfall month over month this past year. The Stewards and I have been willing to step out in faith believing that, as new folks become a part of our Church family (as they are), in time they, too, will join in the financial support and encouragement of the Church. By this Easter (April), we will know what level of increased giving has taken place and then we will take whatever steps will be necessary to bring into balance our financial income and our out flow.

I am, therefore, asking you to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider your giving to our Church. We are in need of your financial support. This need is real and immediate, and it is being driven by the incredible opportunity to serve others in our expanding mission to our Community. I am encouraged by all that is happening in our Church and I am confident that the Lord, who has begun this good work, will also release through you the money and muscle to sustain it.

Faithfully,
TJ