St. Peter Lutheran Church
2929 F.M 972 (at F.M. 1105)
Walburg, Texas 78626
Office: (512) 863-
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Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Texas District
St. Peter Lutheran Church at Walburg, Texas
2026 -
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Last Updated:
Jun. 28, 2026
St. Peter Messenger: July 2026
Message from Pastor Philip Daniels:
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The question of how to be a faithful Christian and a responsible citizen seems to be on everyone’s mind today. For over 250 years, America has thrived within a beautiful tension: our society calls upon us to use our personal responsibilities to protect the rights of our neighbors.
As a student of history, I am struck by how different the American Revolution was from other global uprisings. From France to Russia, many revolutions sought to build a modern “Tower of Babel”—attempting to grant powerful people the right to engineer a perfect, utopian society. But America’s founders took a more realistic view of human nature. As historian Robert Tracy McKenzie writes in We the Fallen People, “The problem as [the founders] understood it is not that we’re wholly evil; it’s that we’re not reliably good” (p. 17).
George Washington wisely observed this reality in a 1786 letter to his friend John Jay, writing, “We must take human nature as we find it. Perfection falls not to the share of mortals.” As Lutherans, this makes perfect sense. We know we are simul iustus et peccator—simultaneously saints and sinners. Because human nature is fallen, we don’t look to politics or government to save us, create a utopia, or usher in Christ’s kingdom.
Christ’s kingdom is already won on the cross, and we confidently await its final completion when He returns. So where does that leave us on the Fourth of July?
Well, we find ourselves being dual citizens, holding two passports as it were. Martin Luther described this using the concept of the Two Kingdoms—two distinct ways God cares for the world:
The Kingdom of the Left (Civil Society): God uses government, laws, and magistrates to restrain evil, maintain order, and ensure justice.
The Kingdom of the Right (The Church): God uses the Word and Sacraments to forgive sins, dispense grace, and give eternal life.
We experience the best of society when these two remain distinct. The Church should never control the state, and the state cannot dispense God’s grace. This dual reality is exactly what the Apostle Peter points us to when he writes: “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-
I am reminded of early American Lutheran pastor Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and his family. Muhlenberg was the patriarch of American Lutheranism. He came to the colonies to preach the Gospel. His sons, however, stepped boldly into the civic realm, providing us with a beautiful example of what it looks like to hold these two passports faithfully.
Peter Muhlenberg served as a general in the Revolutionary War. Famously, when he chose to fight for the patriots, he laid aside his clerical robes. He wanted to ensure that, as important as it was to defend his country, his congregation never confused the mission of the state with the mission of the church. He knew his flock was watching. By removing his robes, he demonstrated that while the kingdoms of this world may use the sword to defend civil freedom, Christ’s kingdom grows only by the peaceful proclamation of the Gospel.
His younger brother, Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, chose the path of statesmanship, serving as the very first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was instrumental in shaping our early republic, most notably being the first person to affix his signature to the Bill of Rights. These first amendments guaranteed that Americans could freely worship and live out their faith without fear of government coercion or control.
The Muhlenbergs loved their country and served it masterfully, but they never confused the two kingdoms. They knew that the earthly sword and the political gavel belong to the state to maintain a just society, while saving grace belongs to Christ alone.
So how do we practically live out this balance today? Here is our July roadmap:
Celebrate with Gratitude: We can be genuinely patriotic! Earthly religious freedom and civil liberties are magnificent gifts from God. Wielding a vote or serving your community with a clear, Christian conscience is a holy calling.
Serve with Humility: Because we know that earthly leaders are fallen human beings who must one day answer to God, we pray for them rather than idolizing them. We don’t look to a political party to satisfy our souls.
Proclaim with Confidence: Our ultimate hope isn’t tied to an election cycle or a national flag. Our defining identity is that we are redeemed by grace through faith alone.
This Independence Day, let’s fire up the grills, enjoy the fireworks, and give thanks for the blessings of our nation. We love our country best not by pretending it is perfect, but by bringing the humility, grace, and love of Christ into our neighborhoods every single day.
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Church Council Meeting Notes from June 9, 2026
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The Council meeting was called to order at 6:09 and Griffin opened with a devotional message.
Minutes: The minutes were approved for the meeting on May 12, 2026.
Treasurer’s Report: May’s gross income was $11,552 with $11,096 in expenses, for a net monthly income of $456. The May financial report was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance: Committee is working to find the best interest rate as the Cadence Bank becomes Huntington, and our existing CD matures on 6/27/26.
Outreach: Vacation Bible School at St. Peter will begin on June 15-
Faith Formation: A New Testament study session is underway on 1 & 2 Peter.
Worship: Kathy continues her diligent search effort for a new organist.
Properties: Note to Council & Congregation: If thermostats are changed, please DO NOT touch the HOLD button. At the end of service, hit the ‘return to program’ button.
OLD BUSINESS
Phone / Address & Photo Directory: The 2026 St. Peter members and friends directory is on track for distribution by the end of June.
Annual Membership Review: Letters of inquiry were sent to inactive members on Monday, 6/8. Church records are missing some new members. This includes baptism & confirmation dates. Updates should be coming.
Parsonage Roof: Shingles were blown away during a storm on 5/19/26. Inspection showed the parsonage roof to be very old and decayed; it needs replacement. Council has a quote to replace the roof for $15,920. The Church has over $50,000 available in a designated fund for “Properties”, repairs or expenses. Council agreed to call a Special Congregational Meeting to approve this expenditure.
Office Assistant: Review is still underway. No decisions have been made.
NEW BUSINESS
Fire Extinguisher Inspections: Pastor Phil will take our (9?) units to Pflugerville where they will be inspected and certified for $15 each.
Front Flower Beds: Discussed the over-
Pastor’s Annual Evaluation: Scheduled for the August Council Meeting.
Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at about 7:34 pm.
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Fellowship News for July 2026
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VBS JUNE 2026 is in the books! We had 10 enthusiastic children attend each day. It was wonderful sharing the Lord’s Word with these young minds, and a joy to hear their thoughts and laughter.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who shared their talents: Phyllis J, Gwen E, Emily S, Carolyn M, Kathy B, Debby I, Amy M, and Pastor Philip Daniels. All of these wonderful people made this year’s VBS truly special and memorable.
A special THANK YOU also goes to the Griffin T & the Taylor Lion’s Club for coming out and conducting eye screening; and to the Weir Fire Department for bringing their equipment and teaching the children what it takes to be a firefighter.
FATHER’S DAY BBQ THANK YOU to Jerry B and Pastor Daniels for preparing the BBQ meat for the Father’s Day celebration.
GOLDEN OLDIES will meet Tuesday, July 7th at 12:00 noon. A potluck meal at noon will be followed by dominoes and fellowship. Please invite your family, friends, and grandchildren to join us. If you have never played dominoes, no problem — we love teaching new players!
FEEDING THE HOMELESS: Friday, July 10th at 4:00pm at St. Paul United Methodist Church, located at 610 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Georgetown. With all the recent flooding, the number of homeless individuals has increased. We will be serving Corn Dog Sloppy Joes, corn, and salad.
Food Prep: Food prep begins at 10:00 am in the St. Peter kitchen. We will take a break, then at 3:00pm we will pack up the food and head to Georgetown to serve at 4:00 pm.
Sign-
LADIES DOMINOES will meet Tuesday, July 21st at 1:00 pm. Hosted by Genie V and Jan J. We play Mexican Train dominoes. Please invite your friends, family, and neighbors!
VBS AT SUNNY CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK: July 28th–30th, 9:00–11:30am. Set-
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Worship Committee News for July 2026
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The Worship Committee met on Tuesday, June 9th at 5 PM, to make plans for the summer season at St. Peter.
Pastor provided some of the extra songs that Juanita P gave us, so we should have some new gospel songs for the choir as well as the congregation to sing in the near future. We had special mementos for father's day and want to thank Jill M for obtaining the lapel pins.
Pastor Phil will be on vacation July 6th-
We are looking into getting a new organist/pianist, so if you know of anyone who is musically inclined please let Kathy B know.
Hymns were picked from Sunday, July 5th, through Sunday June 26th.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 14th, at 5 PM, if you would like to participate in planning the services at St. Peter please come and join us.
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Ladies Aid News for July 2026
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Gwen E opened the meeting. Vinette M shared a touching devotion titled “A Little Happier: Sometimes When We’re the Most Thankful, We Find It Hardest to Express Gratitude” by Gretchen Rubin. Vinette related this to Ephesians 5: 15-
Kathy B reported the quilters are considering a raffle for the award-
Our June benevolence recipient is Salvation Army for Summer Camp. The Sandbox at Madelin’s Place, the recipient of our April benevolence, invited us to tour their facility in Hutto, so on July 20, after Tai Chi, we plan to lunch at Texan Café and Pie Shop in Hutto, and then visit The Sandbox. All are invited to join us on this outing. If you aren’t participating in Tai Chi, meet us at 10:00 at St Peter, and join us for lunch in Hutto.
Our next meeting is July 7 at 11:00 A.M. Plan to stay for Golden Oldies lunch and dominoes.
Sunday Worship Services -
St. Peter Lutheran Church offers in-
New Photo Directory is HERE
The St. Peter 2026 Phone & Photo Directory is complete.
Copies are available in the Northex of the sanctuary. Please pick up your copy at your convenience.
Additional copies can be made. Let the church office know if you want one mailed to you.
Special Congregational Meeting -
St. Peter will have a special called Congregation Meeting to request authorization for the Council to spend existing non-