CONNECTIONSt. Peter’s

VOL. 8, No. 20June 15, 2018

Connecting the World with God’s Love

THIS ISSUE:Why do people donate blood?

Find out why some of our St.

Peter’s members choose to

donate their life-saving blood

on a regular basis.

Camps need your help

Some of our summer

activities need your help

with hosting camp

counselors and feeding

our campers.

20775 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, Texas 77450 (281) 492-8031 stpkaty.org

We wished Kris and Priscilla Bagley well at a reception last Sunday as they leave St. Peter’s. Kris, who has served as Pastor to The Element for four years, has received a new appointment as Pastor to the Fry Road Campus of Foundry United Methodist Church.

Saying farewell to the Bagleys

Dear Friends, As we approach Father’s Day, I want to

share an article I came across. It was written by Matthew Redder.

As a young father, I remember being fre-quently awakened in the middle of the night by my son. I would open my eyes to see him stand-ing next to my bed, staring at me. It was startling and honestly a little bit creepy. I would ask him what he needed, and it was always something like, “I had a bad dream, I can’t sleep, I’m thirsty, I don’t feel good.” Whatever the problem was, the remedy was always the same. I would either walk him back to bed myself and tuck him in again or simply tell him to return to sleep.

I distinctly remember complaining to some co-workers about these mid-night interruptions when a sobering truth hit me. In between my complaints, I realized that the time would soon come when he wouldn’t come and stand at my bedside. The time would soon come when he wouldn’t bring his bad dreams, his hungry belly, or his stuffy nose. He’d grow up and figure these things out. He’d have new problems and questions and fears. As a young father, I didn’t realize how important it was to be present and available for

my son in the little things. I was complaining about the interruptions when I should’ve been embracing them.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big; because to them all of it has always been big stuff.” —Cath-erine M. Wallace.

We have a heavenly Father who is so completely interested in the little things of our lives. The bad dreams, hungry bellies, and stuffy noses all matter to him. His tender

concern over the little things helps us to trust him even more when the BIG things happen. Why do I trust him when stage 4 cancer hits? Because I learned to trust him every other day in all the other ways when he provided again and again and again.

My son is older now and being his father has changed over the years. However, I still remember and cherish those midnight visits. The timing may be different, but the premise remains: Instead of complaining about the interrup-tions, learn to embrace them.

Blessings,

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Dr. Pat Sparks, Senior Pastor

Listen to the little stuff

Pat

Host a counselor

We our partnering with T Bar M Dis-

cover 252 Adventure Camp this summer to provide a week-long camp for children on the St. Peter’s campus. A team of college-age counselors will be a part of this camp, and we need 12 host families who can give them a place to stay from July 28 to Aug. 4.

A minimum of three college students of the same gender will stay at each home; you are welcome to host more if you like. The host fami-lies will provide a basic continental-style breakfast each day and dinner most nights.

We need to know if you can help as soon as possible so we can plan. To serve as a host family, contact Alyssa Sandlin at asandlin@stpkaty.org.

We will meet June 18 at 1:30 p.m. in S209

for a time of caring and sharing. For more informa-tion, contact Beverly Deer-hake at (281) 372-8389.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

Sunday mornings at West Campus are a

pretty hectic time: setting up curtains, put-

ting out the kids’ equipment, hooking up the

sound and lights. Seeing this process happen

week in and week out for almost a full year,

I am still amazed every week how smoothly

set-up and tear-down goes (especially now,

with all our Sunday School helpers). The one

thing that becomes really clear is that less re-

ally is more! There is no point in unloading and

then reloading things if we don’t/aren’t using

them!

But on Sundays, there is not a ton of time (or energy) to clean up the

clutter in our trailers that seems to come out of nowhere.

Two weeks ago, a brave band of volunteers joined me in the Scout

House to clean out and organize our trailers. We unloaded the boxes and

took the time to go through all of them and inventory what we are using,

what we aren’t using, and what needs to be replaced. We found some

surprising things, including a vacuum cleaner that was hidden in the trailer.

What we ever used it for no one really knows.

This past Sunday was the first Sunday since the big cleaning, and it was

incredible how far a little organization goes. It turns out my mom was right

all along!

So, a big thank

you to our sum-

mer interns and

the various set-up

team members who

helped clean out

the boxes. We are

now a leaner, more-

organized set-up

machine!

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Church CouncilMeeting

Tuesday, June 26 7 p.m., E106

All church members are welcome to attend.

Alex Zeisig, Pastor to the West Campus

Summer cleaning

Alex

Our junior high students, along with high school

leaders and adults, will be at Camp Connect beginning June 25. If you can help pro-vide breakfast items for the week, please see the dona-tion box in the Lobby for the specific items we need.

Student Ministry also is looking for volunteers to cook a meal or two for approximately 36 students and staff while they are at Camp Connect at First UMC, Pearland. We need meals prepared June 26 and June 28 by 6 p.m.

If you or your small group can help, please contact Lori Schaefer at stu-dentministry@stpkaty.org.

Can you help Camp Connectwith meals?

Tales from the WestST. PETER’S WEST CAMPUS

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Please donate at our June 24 Blood Drive.Contact Marsha at mea1242@aol.com to sign up.

After having donated blood for so many years, it has almost become a chal-lenge for me to see that I don’t miss a chance. On the rare occasion when I’m out of town on our donation day, I will try to go beforehand and donate, making sure St. Peter’s gets the credit. I think it is small way to make a big difference. —Bill Land

Blood is the only organ I have that I can donate and it will regenerate. There is no substitute for blood. If somebody needs blood and they can’t get it, they die. Why should somebody’s child or parent die because I won’t take the time or make the effort or “sacrifice” to give? I hope somebody else will make the effort if I or somebody I love needs blood. —Traci Albosta

I donate to save the lives of up to three of God’s children. That’s mothers who hemorrhage in childbirth, grandmothers or babies who hemorrhage in surgery, teens who are victims of car wrecks, patients with leukemia and other forms of cancer, and victims of stabbings or shootings, to men-tion a few. It’s effortless. It doesn’t hurt. It takes only a few minutes. They give you cookies and juice after, and also occasionally a T-shirt. It’s a no-brainer. —Tom Moore

Why do I donate blood?

Skeeters Game. The KEYS will attend a Skeeters baseball game Tuesday, July 17. The bus will leave St. Peter’s at 5:30 p.m. to take us to the park in Sug-ar Land. We will eat at the game. Tickets are $15. Sign up at the Information Desk in the Lobby. For informa-tion, contact Ann Adams at (972) 234-2340.

Our next Parents Night Out is July 13 from 5-8 p.m. for children from birth through fifth grade. Dinner and activities will be provided for children

ages 2 and up. For children younger than 2, bring your child’s dinner when you drop them off. The cost is $20 for the first child and $30 for two or more children. Register at stpkaty.org. Church member registration is June 25–July 11. Community registration is July 2–July 11. Space is limited, and refunds will not be offered after registration is closed. For information, contact Nurs-ery Coordinator Kimberly Patel at kpatel@stpkaty.org.

Enjoy a Parents’ Night Out

We are pleased to offer the Savvy Caregiver Class, which helps caregiv-ers learn practical skills for dealing with a loved one with dementia.

The class will provide insights about the changes their loved ones are expe-riencing, coaching to identify solutions for individual issues, and feedback to assess how things are working between sessions.

Offered by Amazing Place, a day center for adults with mild to moderate dementia, this free, six-session class will begin July 9 at 6 p.m. at St. Peter’s. If you are interested in attending, contact Ariana Detert at adetert@amaz-ingplacehouston.org or (281) 217-3077.

Become a savvy caregiver

The Early Childhood De-velopment Center has

openings for 3- and 4-year-olds in some of the Mon-day/Wednesday classes. For more information, please contact the preschool of-fice at (281) 492-0623 or ecdc.office@stpkaty.org.

ECDC openings

The Early Childhood Development Center

has an opening for a lead teacher for young 3s. Ap-plicants must have early childhood experience and either a CDA or college degree, preferably in early childhood. Please contact Bobbi McKinley at bmckin-ley@stpkaty.org to submit a resume or for more infor-mation.

Teacher needed

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PRAYERSMarci Barnes, Jim Basham, Den-nis Bowling, Sharon Brown, Gor-don Buffington, David Burrough, Nick Chancey, Don Davies, Lorkeshia Davis, Jenifer Franklin, John Freeman, Dennis Gane, Delores Gorski, Art Henderson, Brian Jones, Oscar Jones, Ann Kelly, Ralph Lovell, Maybelle Mullen, Ann Nix, Mark Olson, Kathy Powell, Virginia Reper, Fay Smith, Teresa Steele, David Steere, Faith Swiger, Annabelle Turner, Sharon Van Huss, Joe Waterman, Harvey Westbrook, Frank Womack, and Bill Wright.

JOYTo Eric and Krista Muller on the

birth of their son Eli.

SYMPATHYTo Judy Donnelly and family on the death of her mother.To Kerri Schultz and family on the death of her grandmother.To Gary Wacker and family on the death of his sister.

PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY

Clayton Barnes, Tim and Alison Batig, John Belsha, Will Brandt, John Buck, Jonathan Burdette, Sterling Burdette, Daniel Clarke, Skyler Cook, Austin Foster, West-ley Freeze, James Gilbert, Tyler J. Gorcie, Dylan Greismeyer, Stinson Hamilton, Stephen Travis Harding, Adam Higdon, Tyler Konrad, Mike Linn, Blake Nunes, Cameron Nunes, Ryan O’Quinn, Melissa Ouellette, Matthew Platz, Noah Platz, Shawn Platz, Hamilton Rencurrel, Jack Ritchie, Don Rolleg, Ben Saunders, Jacob Shinkle, Justin Simon, Theo Speas, Jason Steele, Kyle Taylor, and Jasen Wilson.

In Our Prayers

June 3Traditional Worship8:30 190 9:45 19211:00 326The Element9:45 69 11:00 110SPLASH 45 West Campus 82 West Campus Students/Kids 27TOTAL 1,041

ST. PETER’S ATTENDANCEJune 10Traditional Worship8:30 165 9:45 153 11:00 321The Element9:45 62 11:00 154SPLASH 45 West Campus 79 West Campus Students/Kids 28Courage Service 37TOTAL 1, 044

Welcome to our new membersGreg and Mary Page

Cooking With Friends helps children learn how to prepare food, set the table, have good table manners, and pray before eating. They also learn about the value of exercise in addition to healthy eating. At the end of the week, they get to enjoy a tasting party! Our children’s Summer Ministries continue next week with Vacation Bible School.

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Camp Connect. Junior high students (who have completed fifth, sixth, or seventh grade) are invited to participate in Camp Connect from June 25-29. Students will lead Vacation Bible School for the chil-dren living at the Parkview Village Apartments in south Houston. At night, stu-dents will enjoy fellowship through sports, games, worship, and Bible stud-ies. We will be staying at a church in Pearland. High school helper spots are available, but limited. Cost to attend is $125. June 17 is the deadline to register at stpkaty.org/student-minis-try. Please contact student-ministry@stpkaty.org with any questions.Zombie BBQ. All junior high and high school stu-dents, join us June 20 for our Zombie BBQ from 6-8 p.m. We will gather on the baseball field at the church for some good summer grillin’ and fun playing the game Zombie. Cost is $5. Please contact studentmin-istry@stpkaty.org with any questions.

What does it mean when we say St. Peter’s is a congre-gation committed to living out the vision of offering

the grace of God to the greater Katy-Fulshear area? Simply put, it means offering a way for all people in our community to worship in the environment that is best for them and allowing them to be the people God created them to be. We are living out that vision with our new worship service, Courage, which meets the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 5 p.m. in Asbury Hall. This service offers all the aspects of our other services—music, scripture, sermon, offering, communion—but in a way that is designed to welcome all of God’s people, including those individuals with special needs and their families.

While our other worship services are inviting, there are many aspects that are not comfortable for some. The lights may be too harsh, the music too loud, or there isn’t a place where those who need to walk around feel

they can. In Courage worship, families are able to worship together, sometimes for the first time. One mom said, “As we talked about the service driving home, we realized it had been six years since we went to a ser-vice as a family. Six years! Wow! Thank you!” Worshippers are free to be themselves, even if that means walking on stage during

the music, talking out loud, or receiving help during the sermon. Those with special needs are serving and being served and are taking ownership of this service as theirs, understanding that they are made in the image of God for his purpose.

Courage is designed using Matthew 14:24-29, which is the story of Christ calling Peter out onto the water. It wasn’t because of Peter’s ability that he was able to leave the boat, but solely because Christ called him. Christ’s words to Peter in The Message are “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Courage is attended by people from Katy, Houston, Cypress, Fulshear, and Richmond as well as by members of St. Peter’s who come to both receive the grace of God and also give it. The individuals and families who attend see the church and its members welcoming them, interacting with them, sitting with them, sing-ing with them, and fulfilling our mission to connect the world with God’s love.

“Probably the most meaningful part of my Mother’s Day this year was taking my son to worship at St. Peter’s at their new Courage worship ser-vice,” another mom said. “I encourage all my friends with special needs fam-ily members to check it out.”

Our next service is Sunday, June 24, at 5 p.m. in Asbury Hall. All are wel-come to come and receive the gift of God’s grace, just as they are.

For more information about Courage or our Special Needs Ministry, please contact Whitney Peper at wpeper19@gmail.com.

Worship that welcomes all God’s people

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June 18 – 24MONDAY

Isaiah 65:17-25TUESDAY

Acts 27:21-32WEDNESDAYActs 27:33-44THURSDAY

1 Samuel 17:32-49FRIDAY

Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32SATURDAY

2 Corinthians 6:1-13SUNDAY

Mark 4:35-41

June 25 – July 1MONDAY

1 Kings 17:17-24TUESDAY

Romans 12:1-8WEDNESDAYIsaiah 54:4-10THURSDAY

2 Samuel 1:17-27FRIDAY

Lamentations 3:22-33SATURDAY

2 Corinthians 8:7-15SUNDAY

Mark 5:21-43

Daily Bible

Reading

Each year members of the Youth Choir take a music and missions trip at the end of the school year to build closer friendships, spread God’s word

in song, and have fun. The trip is also designed to show the students how grateful the Music Ministry of St. Peter’s is for their many hours of service and hard work. We at St. Peter’s are blessed by our choir, as they are one of the few youth choirs in the country who sing every Sunday of the year with beauty and excellence.

This year the choir traveled to Missouri and stayed with former St. Pe-ter’s members Steve and Carol Gardner. While on the trip, the students sang at assisted living centers, nursing homes, and churches. They also canoed down the Buffalo River, rode roller coasters at Silver Dollar City, explored a cave, went water skiing and tubing, and played hours of dodgeball and knock-out basketball.

Thank you, Youth Choir, for all you do to bless St. Peter’s with an ex-traordinary music ministry.

Parenting in the best of circumstances can be hard; when you are a par-ent of a child, teen, or adult with special needs, it can be overwhelming.

St. Peter’s is starting a support group for special needs parents. It will be open to parents with children of all ages and of any need. Members of this group will meet to support each other, pray with each other, laugh, and cry as needed. If you are interested in being a part of this support group, please e-mail Whitney Peper at wpeper@stpkaty.org.

Group for parents of special needs children

On the road with the Youth Choir

Sunday Worship (Oct. 8 only)

9:00 a.m. Combined Traditional, The Element, and West Campus Worship in the Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. Combined Traditional, The Element, and West Campus Worship in the Sanctuary

Sunday School for ages 2 to 5 only at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Nursery is available for children younger than 2.

Sunday 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

(2nd & 4th Sundays) 5:00 p.m. Courage Worship for All

St. Peter’s Events CalendarSunday, June 173:00 p.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal Ellis Music Suite4:00 p.m. Women’s Cancer Support S205Monday, June 189:00 a.m. Vacation Bible School begins 1:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group S2097:00 p.m. Trustees Conference Room Missions Committee Asbury HallWednesday, June 206:00 p.m. Student Ministry Zombie BBQ Baseball Field7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Ellis Music SuiteThursday, June 217:00 p.m. Finance Committee Conference RoomSunday, June 248:00 a.m. Blood Drive Scout House3:00 p.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal Ellis Music Suite5:00 p.m. Courage Worship Service Asbury HallMonday, June 25 Camp Connect begins Off CampusTuesday, June 267:00 p.m. Church Council E106Wednesday, June 277:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Ellis Music Suite

Detailed weekly calendars of St. Peter’s events are available on our website.

St. Peter’sUnited Methodist Church20775 Kingsland Blvd.Katy, Texas 77450

Lakeview Summer Camp. St. Peter’s will be taking a

group of elementary children to Lakeview Summer Camp in Palestine July 8–13. Those who have completed second through fifth grades can at-tend. Cost is $400 and scholar-ships are available.

Register at lakeviewmcc.org/summer-camp and indicate you are attending Camp Ses-sion 4 and are part of St. Pe-ter’s. The deadline to register is June 24. For more informa-tion, contact Alyssa Sandlin at asandlin@stpkaty.org or (281) 492-8031.

Lakeview Summer Camp