Christmas Love

Sunday morning at Peace we will read the story of the angels and shepherds coming to see the glory of God.    Apart from the love that came down, where would we be?    We’d be lost in the grief that surrounds us, but because of the Incarnation we know a love that gives us hope, peace, and joy!  8:30 or 11:00, we hope to see you!

Thank you all for your involvement at Peace over the last year, as we settled in our new home.   Thank you for your gifts, for your labors of love, and for your vision for all Christ can do among us.

On Christmas Eve there will be readings, candles, communion, and special music at all three services – just slight variations in the music groups for each service at 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00.   Invite someone and by all means, pay attention to warmly welcome anyone you do not recognize.   Help others find a seat on Christmas Eve –slide down, make room in the Inn, so to speak, and encourage them to come back in the new year.   The love of Christ propels us to continue to be kindest, the friendliest, and the most genuinely caring and interested.   That’s how we build peace and Peace!

Our Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols is patterned after the beautiful Festival of Lessons and Carols from Kings College Chapel of Cambridge, which is broadcast around the world on public radio on Christmas Eve at 10:00  am EST.   To learn more go to http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons.html

Last but not least, those of you who are blessed to be over seventy, the President just signed the U.S. House and Senate extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover.   You can transfer as much as $100,000 from an IRA directly to a charity without tax penalty.   We would be happy to be your charity of choice!  Send to the Peace Building Fund 12705 State Road 64, Lakewood Ranch, 34212!

Peace and good will to all,

Elizabeth

At Peace With Mary

Tomorrow we will focus on the faithful trust of Mother Mary, the favored one, the blessed, who brings us joy!.   We are reading the Annunciation and the Visitation – in other words, the angel comes see to Mary to announce that she is with child from the Holy Spirit and Mary goes to see her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John. 

You will be glad to sing some of your favorite carols this week and next.
The crèche is now in place and beautiful poinsettias have arrived, thanks to your gifts.   The tree in the lobby is surrounded by bikes and other gifts for the four families of Beth-El.

The Mission Team has announced that our benevolent giving (giving to needs outside our own congregation) is now at the 13% mark.  This makes my Christmas to see your generosity!   Building fund gifts have been rolling in, along with new pledges for 2015.  The Session was able to move forward with a budget for next year, pending a few adjustments. Thank you so much.  When we all work together, each doing what she/he can, it is a wonderful thing.

The Sunkenbergs are now grandparents to twins – Ethan Henry and Evelyn Rose.   Pray for those precious little four-pound preemies.   I’ve been playing nurse again to Rebecca who had wisdom teeth out yesterday, so thanks for understanding my delay in writing you.   Of course, many of you are often delayed in reading my emails, so it may not matter!  :  )  

Remember to invite friends and family to Christmas services.    God bless all the choirs and readers and communion servers and luminary helpers.   See the bulletin for coming activities.

Peace to all of you!

Elizabeth
 

Attachments

• bulletin-2014-12-14- page 03- Third Sunday of Advent.doc
• bulletin-2014-12-14-insert- Third Sunday of Advent.docx

 

The Dawning of Peace - The Second Sunday in Advent

On the second Sunday of Advent, we move from the hope of comfort to the dawning of peace, as we read Zechariah’s Song in Luke 2 in our morning services.

Our evening Service of Hope (AKA Blue Christmas Service) will be held Sunday afternoon at 5:00.   Come to light a candle for the victims and families of the triple homicide in Bradenton, especially the people at Bayshore Baptist.   Come to light a candle for someone you will miss at Christmas.   Come to light a candle for the Syrian refugees, displaced, tired, and hungry.   Come to give comfort and hope to others who are lighting candles.  Savory refreshments will be served after the service.

Angel tree gifts are due back on the 14^th.  Checks may be written to Peace with Angel Tree in the memo.  Alternative Giving opportunities are still available, I did not send you an email on “Giving Tuesday” but any extra year-end giving to the operating or building fund will be much appreciated.   Remember that if you know you cannot give as you intended, we are gracious and understanding.

The Session and Building Vision Team had a joint meeting to view elevations and interior views of the new sanctuary.  They have decided to have a dinner meeting in February to present the plan to the congregation.   The usual Annual Congregational Meeting and Ordination/Installation will beJanuary 25 at 9:30.

⁷⁸ By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  (Luke 1:78-79)

Peace to you,

Elizabeth

Advent is Here!

Advent means coming.  Christmas is coming and Christ is coming again, and we are coming ‘round to our second year of worship on our new property.   Sunday’s scripture is Isaiah 40:1-11.  We will reflect on the hope that this comforting passage brings us.   No matter how much violence we see in the world, no matter how complicated life is, there is always more reason to hope because of the Incarnation – Christ is with us!

And speaking of hope, our special Service of Hope (also sometimes called “Blue Christmas” service) will be held on December 7^th at 5:00.  This service and the reception that follows seeks to offer support to all who find the holidays difficult.

It’s time to order poinsettias in memory or honor of the ones you love.  This year we will purchase them, if you will leave us a $10 check, clearly marked for poinsettias.  They will be planted at Peace, unless you want to take them on December 28.

There are a few angels left on the tree for those who would like to make Christmas brighter for four families at Beth-El.  Plus the Mission Team is still offering you the opportunity for Alternative Giving.   It is always so encouraging to me to watch Peace meet and exceed the commitment to give away a tithe every year -- yes, 10% of our budget is always given "to care for the needs of others."

The fall newsletter is attached with our thanks to Diane Brinkmeyer and Peter Miller.

We are grateful to those of you who have made pledges for 2015.  No matter the size of the pledge, we are grateful to know you are making commitments to put Christ first.  God has great things in store for us this year!

Peace and prayers for everyone, every day!

Elizabeth

Attachments

Peaceful News Fall 2014.pdf

Dedicating Our Pledges to God

We had a delicious Gratitude Feast on Wednesday night, our last Wonderful Wednesday of the fall.   We were inspired to hear the grateful testimonies of four Peace people whose ages spanned 60 years.

With hearts full of gratitude for God’s gifts, we bring our gifts this Sunday.  All are encouraged to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2015 and to complete the pledge form attached and bring on Sunday (forms in the bulletin also). 

Our scripture reading is 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3,8-18.  It describes the perspective of a grateful Christian.  New member, David Klement will share his thoughts on gratitude, and there will be special music at both services.   The video-based class “Jesus and the Gospels” resumes this week in the Gathering Room.   Read your bulletin and the monitors for more announcements.

In the afternoon, some folks will set off for Godspell and others for kayaking.  Thirty to forty of us were thoroughly engaged Friday night by our own brother, Anderson Kajang, Cameroon-American, who led the Faith and Film discussion of Mary and Martha, a movie which helps us to feel the tragic pain of malaria, which still kills more than half a million children every year, more than 80% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

If you are out of town, pledges mail be mailed to the church, or turned in next Sunday.   They will be handled confidentially.  We do hope everyone will participate as a sign of your commitment to Christ and the ministries and mission of Peace.

Peace to you,

Elizabeth


 

Attachments

• pledge card.doc

 

At Peace - Lot's of Gratitude!

You did it again, you generous people!   You increased your giving to the Manatee Food Bank for hungry people on Halloween – 13,600 lbs. of food.   Special thanks to the Mission Team, and to Weston, Summerfield, and University Park, where Peace’s food drive is tradition!

It’s always gratitude season, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving, we must count our blessings.   Give thanks to God for every day of life and its gifts to you.   Give thanks to God for every person in your family, even the one who drives you crazy.

Give thanks for Peace Church, for the amazing way God has led us from several people around a kitchen table, to twenty-five on Sunday nights at Living Lord Lutheran, to less than a hundred at SCF, to more than one hundred at MAR, to nearly three hundred of us after one year in our beautiful new home!   So many interesting people, with different journeys of faith, all coming together as one in Christ.   Give thanks with a grateful heart.

This Sunday we read in chapter 24 the challenge of Joshua to the people to put God first.   “Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”   Choosing to put God first means giving back.  Pledge forms will be in the bulletin for you to take home and prayerfully consider.

Don’t forget the Gratitude Dinner on Wednesday at 5:45 for a 6:00 start.   Bring your favorite foods.   Everyone, please come, even if you have to arrive at 6:30 empty-handed.   No problem.   This will be our last Wonderful Wednesday until mid February.

If you want something to do on Wednesdays, it is a great time to join the Christmas choir!

Also, remember Kayaking and Godspell – two separate fellowship activity options for Sundayafternoon, November 16!   Speak to Pastor Neil or Elder Eirinn.

Peace,

Elizabeth
 

Attachments

• bulletin-2014-11-09 - page 03- 22nd Sunday after Pentecost.doc
• bulletin-2014-11-09- page 04 - 22nd Sunday after Pentecost.doc
• bulletin-2014-11-09-insert-22nd Sunday after Pentecost.docx

 

Food For All Saints and Souls

Friends in Christ, I hope you are collecting piles and piles of food from your neighbors.  If not, I hope you will write a fat check to Peace with memo (Food Bank) because we want to surpass our total from last year – 11, 515 pounds of real food for real hungry people.   We CAN make a difference! Besides, if you don’t contribute something for the hungry this Sunday, then the scripture reading will make you feel guilty.   It is the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.   It is one of those reversal of fortune passages that is hard to hear, if you live comfortably.   Not sure if I can avoid stepping on our toes this week, but I trust the Spirit will make it a good news day. It’s All Saints & All Souls Sunday at Peace, so we will begin our service with the naming of special persons who have died, who are still very much with us.  Then we will sing For All the Saints.  Toward the end of our worship we will have a Call to Gratitude every Sunday until Thanksgiving. Lastly, a short-notice invitation to all newcomers to Peace – and anyone who has never spent any time in the Deibert house:   You are invited to a very casual dinner from 5:30 – 8:30 on Sunday night, the 2nd.  Children, food, and beverages of all types are welcome.   We will grill some chicken and make some cabbage/kale slaw for your good health.   Come when you can; leave when you must.   Write back to let me know IF you are coming.   No pressure – just want to spend some time building friendships.   6421 Blue Grosbeak Circle, 34202  (756-8153) Peace to you all, Elizabeth