Through the Study Window

Peru Community Church 12 Elm Street Peru, NY 12972 April 2021 Page 1

From the Pastor’s Pen Rev. Peggi Eller “Rejoice and Be Glad! Yours is the Kingdom of God!”

The Story never changes in its most basic outline:

Jesus died. The women came to the tomb. The tomb was empty. There was much rejoicing.

The details of the story are highly dependent on us. Where do we focus our Upcoming Worship minds? In the past year, over a half-million new tombs were opened and Opportunities sealed in the US because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have all experienced ------too much death, isolation, fear, and loneliness. How can we rejoice? We 4/1 - Holy Thursday could choose to stand still in the grief because this has certainly been a grief- Zoom Worship at 6pm filled year. But the tomb where Jesus was laid was empty. At first Mary Celebrate the weeps that Jesus is gone, but then she sees that there is reason to rejoice. Jesus invites them to go forward, leading his disciples to the next chapter of ------the story. 4/2 - 6pm Service of Easter is a time to rejoice. It is the time to rejoice about the stories of Shadows & Darkness in resurrection that have occurred all around us: the emergence of new life the Sanctuary & Zoom coming from the ground, the changes in patterns of life, the gift of time, the Masks & social interruption of busy calendars and the joy of newness. The Easter narrative never changes in its basic outline, but the stories, the memories, the distancing in effect happenings and the lessons-learned provide the specific details of the ------reasons to rejoice for each of us each year. Easter is not a time to look back, 4/4 - Easter Sunday but to look forward, for God is doing a new thing. What does God have in at Peru store for us next year that we can rejoice in our blessing of resurrection? Boat Launch on Rt. 9 at 6:30am As we have spent the time during looking at the Beatitudes, recall the and words of the hymn, Zoom Worship at 9am “Rejoice and be glad! Blessed are you; holy are you! ------Rejoice and be glad! Yours is the Kingdom of God!” 4/11 - Concurrent Worship Happy Easter, Zoom and In-Person Pastor Peggi Worship will be held at 9:00am from our Fellowship Hall

Bring the “bridges” you have been building throughout Lent to the Fellowship Center after Easter Sunday. Place them in the bin outside the Elm Street entrance if the door is locked. We will use them to decorate the worship space in Fellowship Hall! Happy Easter! Page 2 Through the Study Window April 2021 Sunday Worship at 9:00am on ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86054961677?pwd=ZTduYkIwMmhIdnE4LzV3cC9VNmhoQT09

By Phone: 1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 860 5496 1677 Passcode: 973768

Prayer Requests

Hilary Cross Hilda Curtis Lori Dahlman Arnold Roberta Day Joan Dermatis David Everett Kelly Guynup Marianne Miller Barb Perry RJ Reyell Guy Rotz Nancy Sunderland Ann Wilke Amber Woods Joe Woods

Those struggling with physical, mental and spiritual health and addiction. Please pray for our military, law enforcement, first responders and medical personnel. Teachers and aides working with children in the schools.

A big “THANK YOU” to the bakers at Rulfs Orchard for taking on the Hot Cross Bun challenge. The Worship Team thought it would be nice to have a treat to hand out on so a team member made the request. Rulfs bakers hadn’t made the buns before, but they came through for us with 6 dozen tasty buns. If you stopped by the Open House on Palm Sunday you received a Hot Cross Bun with your palms. Next time you’re in Rulfs be sure to tell them thank you!

Thank You for Your Donations!

We received over $500 dollars from our members for the Texas weather disaster last month. The funds will be divided between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and United Methodist Committee On Relief for their ongoing work to help those in need in our country and around the world.

Glimpses of God’s Light Join Pastor Peggi as she explores Scripture and topics of faith in a 10-15 minute Facebook Message each Sunday at 10:30am. Be sure to Check-In so we know who is attending. Go to: Facebook.com/perucommunitychurch With Pastor Peggi Eller AprilAprilDecember 2021 2021 2019 Through the Study Window PagePage 3 3 Counting our Blessings - An Act of Stewardship

Like all churches, last year has been both a blessing and a challenge here at Peru Community

Church. It has been a blessing and a challenge in most of your lives, too.

We have been faithful in our stewardship of the giving to the church, finding ways to reduce spending while continuing to explore new ways to continue in ministry. We were fortunate to qualify for a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) forgivable loan under the CARES Act to offset salaries by approximately $26,000, we significantly reduced heating costs by keeping the unused portions of our buildings at between 55-60 degrees and cut back our building and office supply needs due to no in-person gatherings or worship. We made some small investments in new technology to improve the quality of music for the ZOOM services, updated our website and increased the effectiveness of our Facebook and Instagram social media pages. We have fared better than many churches with your faithful giving. Some of you have even offered special giving from your stimulus checks and participated in #GivingTuesday in addition to other special holiday offerings. (Thank You!) So, this year, instead of a lengthy Stewardship Campaign, we are simply asking each of you to “Take One Step Up” in your giving. Locate your current giving on the diagram and prayerfully consider if you can ‘step up’ one step. If each of us could just take one step up in our giving, we will be able to maintain our current level of staffing, outreach and ministry.

An Illustrated Breakdown of Pledged Operating Fund Giving Based on pledge cards received for Fiscal Year 7/2020 - 6/2021

Where are you on this chart? Can you move up a step?

Only those who returned their pledge card are represented.

1 pledge 12 Elm Street $200 & up Peru, NY 12972 1 pledge per week Rev. Peggi Eller $150 - $199 3 pledges per week $100 - $149 1 pledge per week $75 - $99 8 pledges per week $50 - $74 7 pledges per week $40 - $49 4 pledges per week $30 - $39 12 pledges per week $20 - $29 13 pledges per week $10 - $19 8 pledges per week $5 -$9 per week

Continued on next page... Page 4 Through the Study Window April 2021

We will be mailing Pledge Cards later this month so that we can finalize a budget in mid-May. God is doing a new thing here at Peru Community Church. May we rejoice and be glad for the invitation to continue to be God’s church in this community!

The pledge cards will look something like this:

2021-2022 Pledge to PERU COMMUNITY CHURCH - OPERATING FUND I commit to sharing my gifts for God’s work with the following pledge: Date ______My commitment is: Name ______$ ______per week Mailing Address ______$ ______per month ______$ ______per year Email Address ______Home Phone ______Cell Phone ______

_____ I would like weekly/monthly envelopes. _____ I would like to continue electronic transfer for my financial commitment. _____ I would like to learn more about automatic electronic transfers. _____ I am choosing to make no financial commitment at this time. _____ I pledge to make a personal commitment of my time and assistance.

We know sometimes things change…Should circumstances arise that you need to adjust your pledge, send a note to the church office, marked “Treasurer”.

As reported in the February 2021 newsletter, the Town of Peru will begin a construction project this spring.

ConstruCtion update

The Town of Peru has begun construction for a new pump station behind the Fellowship Center. Currently most of the work is down by the pond, but as the spring and summer progress, new lines will be installed on the West side of the Fellowship Center (kitchen side) as well as down Elm Street. We have been notified that at times Elm St. will be closed to traffic. Large equipment will be using the access road on the East side of the building. Parking is likely to be limited around the Fellowship Center. The construction is anticipated to last through the summer. Please be alert. April 2021 Through the Study Window Page 5 YEAR TO DATE INCOME & EXPENSES As of February 28, 2021

Actual Budget Category Annual Budget Year to Date Year to Date

X-fer from Endowment 0 $45,000 $45,000 Giving & General Income $98,284 $103,832 $156,000 Total Income $98,284 $148,832 $201,000 Operating Expenses $131,508 $156,256 $235,506

Holy Week, Easter Worship and Beyond

Holy Thursday April 1 Celebrate a re-telling of the Last Supper ZOOM worship at 6:00pm Good Friday April 2 A Service of Shadows and Darkness (with music) 6:00pm in the Sanctuary (masks & social distancing required) & Zoom Easter Sunrise April 4 Sunrise Worship at 6:30am at the Peru Boat Launch Bring your chair (and blanket) to experience the resurrection retold, hear music and share communion at the lakeshore Easter April 4 ZOOM worship at 9:00am

Welcome to April 11 We will begin holding concurrent Zoom and in-person worship at Worship! 9:00am from our Fellowship Hall. (masks & social distancing required)

Holy Thursday - April 1, 2021 - April 11, 2021 - Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 - Acts 4:32-35 - Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 - Psalm 133 - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - 1 John 1:1-2:2 - John 13:1-17, 31b-35 - John 20:19-31

Good Friday - April 2, 2021 Third Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2021 - Isaiah 52:13-53:12 - Acts 3:12-19 - Psalm 22 - Psalm 4 - Hebrews 10:16-25 - 1 John 3:1-7 - John 18:1-19:42 - Luke 24:36b-48

Easter Sunday - April 4, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 25, 2021 - Isaiah 25:6-9 - Acts 4:5-12 - Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 - Psalm 23 - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 - 1 John 3:16-24 - John 20:1-18 - John 10:11-18 Peru Community Church A place for you to encounter God.

PO Box 38

12 Elm Street

Peru, NY 12972

Come Worship With US!

Sunday Morning at 9:00am on ZOOM* Call the office for log in information *See below for in-person worship information

Sunday Morning at 10:30am on Facebook facebook.com/perucommunitychurch The Coming Together of Two Great Traditions:

Presbyterian Church USA Contact Us: The United Methodist Church

Phone: 518-643-8641 Our vision at Peru Community Church is to: E-mail: [email protected]  Meet people where they are (physically, emotionally and spiritually) Website: www.perucommunitychurch.com  Transform lives by sharing and growing in the love of Christ (grow disciples)  To actively care for all God’s Creation (be good stewards)

We are pleased to offer you a North Country Soul Fruit Easter Concurrent Congregational Worship Experience! Episode is now ready to view on YouTube! A child-friendly telling of If you are comfortable coming to in-person worship, welcome! the Easter Story with prayers and If you are more comfortable logging in via Zoom, welcome! songs. The service will begin at 9:00am and will be held in Fellowship Hall and via Zoom. https://youtu.be/49_TUcy0c7g Sunday, April 11th at 9:00am