Weekly Word for April 18, 2021

From Dr. Rich Wolf:

Peace be with you! In the last two Sunday gospel lessons, we found the risen Christ greeting his disciples by giving them his peace, or shalom. I learned a bit of history about the famous peace sign recently:

When the designer was asked to create the symbol, nuclear disarmament was the cause for which the sign was developed. In semaphore signaling, the flag positions for N and D form the symbol we know today. I pray daily for peace in our world, and urgently for peace in our streets, especially in these times of too much gun violence, and not enough racial and social justice.

The peace of Christ is key to peace in a community, and our world. When we greet one another with a sign of Christ’s peace, it is not only a way of saying hi and welcome to a fellow believer, it is an active prayer FOR peace. Our Board of Elders and Church Council are going to reintroduce the greeting of peace in our worship services, based on the Long Range Vision recommendations. As we are still under pandemic guidelines for now, this will not involve speaking or handshakes. Our Elders suggest we greet one another in worship using American Sign Language (ASL). We will demonstrate this in several ways, both in person and on video, in upcoming weeks. Please view the video via the link below to get a head start on the ASL greeting. And may the peace of Christ be with you all.

Confirmation News:

The confirmands are nearing the end of confirmation. Yay! A Faith Fair project video and faith statements will be emailed in a separate email to the congregation sometime next week, so please be on the look out for that email. On Sunday, May 2 at 11am, an in-person confirmation worship will be held for the confirmands, mentors and relatives, though we will also celebrate confirmation day in web worship and at the 9:30am in-person worship. As we anticipate our youth affirming their baptisms and becoming members of St. Peter’s on May 2, I hope you join with in me celebrating our Confirmation Class of 2021.

Pastor Amanda

Disciple Zone virtual meet: Sheep! Disciple Zone families, be sure to check your email for a Zoom invitation for this Sunday’s virtual meet from 9:40-9:55am. Bring your best sheep impressions and find the shepherd craft from your drive-thru bag (should be labeled 4/25). We’ll be doing the craft “together” and then show off our masterpieces! Can’t wait to see you!

Notes from the Social Justice Team:

Love Your Neighbor

We seek to respond to Christ’s call through advocacy and acts of peace, justice, and love. We will work to have a transforming impact on local, national and global communities.

A Moment for Prayer and Reflection

Several of us met last Sunday for our Social Justice Moment of Prayer and Reflection. The recent wave of Police shootings, racial discrimination and gun violence weighed heavy on each of our hearts. We discussed police departments, like those in St. Louis and LA, who are restructuring how they respond to mental health calls.

If these issues are important to you, learn more and act through the UCC website.

Demilitarize Law Enforcement

Act to End Police Violence

Join the UCC’s Justice and Peace Action Network to be aware of issues in our world and how to respond.

We ended our time together with a prayer for peace and change.

Dear Lord,

We come before you today, asking that you give us strength and courage to face our failures, our faults, and our fallacies.  We as individuals, as communities, as industries and businesses as community organizations as well as political institutions have a long history of traditions AND courage to CHANGE. We ask your guidance, your grace and courage to accept the truths that need to be recognized to move from certain traditions based in fallacies to more appropriate practices, beliefs, and policies that are truly based in Christ taught Truths!

Again with your guidance and our humility help us work to get closer to liberty, equality and justice for all.

Amen

Anyone is welcome to join us the third Sunday of each month at 11:30 am for the Moment of Prayer and Reflection. Watch the Weekly Word for Zoom invite.

From United Community Concerns Association:

United Community Concerns Association is excited to announce the 4th annual Taste of the Town: Dining for a Cause, an Elmhurst food and drink experience. Participating restaurants and businesses will be holding Eat & Earn events throughout the month of May to benefit District 205 families experiencing food scarcity.

The community is invited to support UCCA by dining-in, getting carry-out, or making a purchase from as many of these businesses as they can. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund at least five Mobile Food Pantries throughout the coming months. Visit ucca-elmhurst.org for more details and individual business websites for hours. When dining or purchasing from these businesses mention UCCA or show them the event coupon, which is available to download from the UCCA website.

Having Trouble Finding an COVID Vaccine Appointment?

If you are in a vaccine-eligible group, but are having difficulty navigating the vaccine appointment maze, there are folks at church who can help. We have received word that the not-for-profit website www.ILvaccine.org is very helpful. The more shots in arms, the better our community will be.