Friends of Peace,
One week until the big day! On behalf of all the people of Peace Presbyterian, I wish you joy, peace, and hope as Christmas comes.
We hope to see you at one or more of these services:
December 20 – 4th Sunday of Advent – 9:30 SCF - Special Joy Offering collected. *December 20* - Prayers for Hope - 7:00 Deiberts’ – bring your seasonal sadness, light a candle for someone
December 21 – 9:00-3:00 Middle School Youth providing babysitting and gift-wrapping service @ Deiberts’
December 24 – 6:30 Service of Candlelight & Communion @ SCF, Lessons & Carols for all ages. The music begins at 6:15!
December 27 – 1st Sunday of Christmas! 9:30 @ SCF
Addresses:
SCF – State College of Florida (formerly MCC) 7131 Professional Pkwy, 34240 in the Corporate Park off University Blvd, east of I75
Deiberts’ House – pastor’s house and church office – 6421 Blue Grosbeak Circle 34202 (Greenbrook Run)
Questions – Call 753-7778 or visit the church website www.PEACEpcusa.com
For more information from the Presbyterian Church(USA) re: Advent & Christmas: www.pcusa.org/advent/
Begin the new year with daily devotions: www.d365.org
Merry Christmas and New Year’s Blessings!
Pastor Elizabeth
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
This Week at Peace - December 11, 2009
You are a generous congregation. Our pledges and special gifts to the 2010 operating fund now top $200,000. Thanks be to God for this amazing stewardship response in a difficult year. Our planning is easier when we know what you’re planning, even though your plans might change.
Remember that angel tree gifts and bikes and gift cards are due this week. Those who have household items to give away should contact David T. who will collect them with his trailer between now and Tuesday morning.
Here’s a calendar of whole church activities for the rest of December at Peace:
December 13 – 3rd Sunday of Advent – 9:30-12:00 Bring angel tree gifts
December 18 – Movie Night at the Palmers 7:15 for 7:30 358-7676
December 20 – 4th Sunday of Advent – 9:30-12:00 Special Joy Offering collected
7:00 @ Deiberts’ – Prayers for Hope – bring your sadness, light a candle for someone
December 21 – Middle School Youth babysitting and gift-wrapping service
December 24 – 6:30 Service of Candlelight and Communion, Lessons and Carols for all ages Don’t miss this highlight of the year, if you are in town! The music begins at 6:15!
December 27 – 1st Sunday of Christmas! 9:30-12:00
Session, Stewardship, Men’s Prayer Group, and Choirs will be meeting as planned this coming week.
This Sunday we rejoice with Zephaniah and the Apostle Paul that God renews us in love.
God’s peace and love to you,
Elizabeth
Remember that angel tree gifts and bikes and gift cards are due this week. Those who have household items to give away should contact David T. who will collect them with his trailer between now and Tuesday morning.
Here’s a calendar of whole church activities for the rest of December at Peace:
December 13 – 3rd Sunday of Advent – 9:30-12:00 Bring angel tree gifts
December 18 – Movie Night at the Palmers 7:15 for 7:30 358-7676
December 20 – 4th Sunday of Advent – 9:30-12:00 Special Joy Offering collected
7:00 @ Deiberts’ – Prayers for Hope – bring your sadness, light a candle for someone
December 21 – Middle School Youth babysitting and gift-wrapping service
December 24 – 6:30 Service of Candlelight and Communion, Lessons and Carols for all ages Don’t miss this highlight of the year, if you are in town! The music begins at 6:15!
December 27 – 1st Sunday of Christmas! 9:30-12:00
Session, Stewardship, Men’s Prayer Group, and Choirs will be meeting as planned this coming week.
This Sunday we rejoice with Zephaniah and the Apostle Paul that God renews us in love.
God’s peace and love to you,
Elizabeth
Thursday, December 3, 2009
This Week at Peace - December 3, 2009
Dear Peacemakers,
Last week was the week of waiting. This is the week of preparing. Read Luke 3:1-6 to be prepared for worship Sunday.
Some reminders….
1. The gift of your time is the most valuable thing you can give away. YOU are the most precious gift – not anything you can buy. Give the gift of encouragement to others.
2. Angel tree gifts at Peace due by Sunday, the 13th. Remember that food and gift certificates are always appreciated at Beth-El.
3. Fresh wreaths may be purchased this Sunday to support youth activities.
4. Christmas International House – help the Shireys host two Chinese college students for part of a day
5. Alternative Christmas Gifts can be purchased at Kirkwood Presbyterian of Bradenton (not Westminster) this Saturday morning.
6. Sisters of Peace Caroling, Gifts, and Cookies this Wed at 7:00 at Sue Seiter’s 739-9480
Have you seen the "I Am Peace" ads in the East County Observer? The Evangelism Team chose four demographics to show the community some types of folks who are Peace – pastor, young father, vitally active snowbird, and a youth. We hope the ads will help us to make God (and Peace) known.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is calling on Publix to ensure fair wages and human rights in Florida’s tomato fields. Interfaith Action of SW Florida invites you to "Walk and Witness for Justice" in Lakeland at 3:30 this Sunday, the 6th.
We had 18 people at choir on Wednesday night. We had nine at the Fellowship Team meeting. I’d love to see every person at Peace connected to some team or another where you can build close ties, have fun, pray together, and share a commitment to make Peace the best church we can be! Our five goals are inspiring worship, authentic relationships, nurturing discipleship, compassionate outreach, and responsive stewardship. Speak to me about how you might get meaningfully involved.
I have been truly overwhelmed at the gratitude expressed in generosity at Peace. Budgets are tight in many homes this year, but the promises to build up our mission and ministry for 2010 continue to flow in. Whatever you commitment you can make, we encourage you to remember your card asap. And for those who might have the privilege and responsibility of extra gifting at the end of the year, please remember that Peace needs to begin to develop land, which might necessitate the purchase of a few more acres in preparation for an exciting future!
Don’t let Christmas busy-ness prevent you from worshiping Christ, the reason for the season. Invite your friends and family. Our Christmas Eve service is at 6:30 at SCF. Hear and see the Christmas story. Sing and hear the carols with people of all ages. Come to the Lord’s table of grace. Go into the world renewed by the light of Christ.
Until Christ’s coming, let us seek to live faithfully, building peace everywhere we are.
Advent blessings,
Elizabeth
Last week was the week of waiting. This is the week of preparing. Read Luke 3:1-6 to be prepared for worship Sunday.
Some reminders….
1. The gift of your time is the most valuable thing you can give away. YOU are the most precious gift – not anything you can buy. Give the gift of encouragement to others.
2. Angel tree gifts at Peace due by Sunday, the 13th. Remember that food and gift certificates are always appreciated at Beth-El.
3. Fresh wreaths may be purchased this Sunday to support youth activities.
4. Christmas International House – help the Shireys host two Chinese college students for part of a day
5. Alternative Christmas Gifts can be purchased at Kirkwood Presbyterian of Bradenton (not Westminster) this Saturday morning.
6. Sisters of Peace Caroling, Gifts, and Cookies this Wed at 7:00 at Sue Seiter’s 739-9480
Have you seen the "I Am Peace" ads in the East County Observer? The Evangelism Team chose four demographics to show the community some types of folks who are Peace – pastor, young father, vitally active snowbird, and a youth. We hope the ads will help us to make God (and Peace) known.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is calling on Publix to ensure fair wages and human rights in Florida’s tomato fields. Interfaith Action of SW Florida invites you to "Walk and Witness for Justice" in Lakeland at 3:30 this Sunday, the 6th.
We had 18 people at choir on Wednesday night. We had nine at the Fellowship Team meeting. I’d love to see every person at Peace connected to some team or another where you can build close ties, have fun, pray together, and share a commitment to make Peace the best church we can be! Our five goals are inspiring worship, authentic relationships, nurturing discipleship, compassionate outreach, and responsive stewardship. Speak to me about how you might get meaningfully involved.
I have been truly overwhelmed at the gratitude expressed in generosity at Peace. Budgets are tight in many homes this year, but the promises to build up our mission and ministry for 2010 continue to flow in. Whatever you commitment you can make, we encourage you to remember your card asap. And for those who might have the privilege and responsibility of extra gifting at the end of the year, please remember that Peace needs to begin to develop land, which might necessitate the purchase of a few more acres in preparation for an exciting future!
Don’t let Christmas busy-ness prevent you from worshiping Christ, the reason for the season. Invite your friends and family. Our Christmas Eve service is at 6:30 at SCF. Hear and see the Christmas story. Sing and hear the carols with people of all ages. Come to the Lord’s table of grace. Go into the world renewed by the light of Christ.
Until Christ’s coming, let us seek to live faithfully, building peace everywhere we are.
Advent blessings,
Elizabeth
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Our Youth and Children at Peace - Dec.1, 2009
Dear Peace-makers,
For the last several weeks, we’ve focused on gratitude. I have before me a list of people for whom we are immensely grateful. What a delightful, energetic, intelligent, creative and faithful group of children, youth, and young adults we have at Peace. We have the privilege of spending time with these younger people and sharing our lives and learning with them. Our college students are not often with us, but we remember them in prayer and look forward to their visits.
Let’s devote ourselves this Advent and Christmas to praying for our young people. Pray for them by name. Speak to them at church. Offer to provide devoted supervision to our youth and children during fellowship time and/or as we pack up from 12:00-12:30. (We’re currently setting up a rota of adults to do this. Email back if you’ll participate.) Volunteer to assist in a lively learning class or with youth fellowship. (Speak to Tricia about this.) Know that it takes a village or better, a whole church family, to raise children well. We, as a congregation, communicate the love of God to them by the depth of our care. Those of you who were at Peace in the first year at of worship at SCF (MCC) will remember that Reid S. encouraged his parents to return to Peace because he said, "They respect me there." Let’s make sure all children and youth at Peace feel respected, valued, and most of all, loved.
To make sure our children and youth are being respected, valued, and loved, let’s provide adequate supervision every time we are together. It would be great to be able to relax a little with the kids, but our current context does not allow the kind of freedom we might enjoy in our own building. So we must be vigilant. Let’s accompany children who must leave during worship for an emergency bathroom break. Let’s observe the children who are outside or in the halls during fellowship time. Let’s take this as an opportunity to ensure that calmness, kindness and forgiveness are being practiced by the kids in their occasional moments of conflict and rambunctiousness. Let’s model the kind of peacemaking among ourselves that we hope they will emulate.
And one day in the not too distant future, let’s provide a church building and recreational areas on Lorraine Road, where we can all grow together in Christ’s love and enjoy God’s goodness with freedom and responsibility.
Your Pastors,
Elizabeth and Tricia
For the last several weeks, we’ve focused on gratitude. I have before me a list of people for whom we are immensely grateful. What a delightful, energetic, intelligent, creative and faithful group of children, youth, and young adults we have at Peace. We have the privilege of spending time with these younger people and sharing our lives and learning with them. Our college students are not often with us, but we remember them in prayer and look forward to their visits.
Let’s devote ourselves this Advent and Christmas to praying for our young people. Pray for them by name. Speak to them at church. Offer to provide devoted supervision to our youth and children during fellowship time and/or as we pack up from 12:00-12:30. (We’re currently setting up a rota of adults to do this. Email back if you’ll participate.) Volunteer to assist in a lively learning class or with youth fellowship. (Speak to Tricia about this.) Know that it takes a village or better, a whole church family, to raise children well. We, as a congregation, communicate the love of God to them by the depth of our care. Those of you who were at Peace in the first year at of worship at SCF (MCC) will remember that Reid S. encouraged his parents to return to Peace because he said, "They respect me there." Let’s make sure all children and youth at Peace feel respected, valued, and most of all, loved.
To make sure our children and youth are being respected, valued, and loved, let’s provide adequate supervision every time we are together. It would be great to be able to relax a little with the kids, but our current context does not allow the kind of freedom we might enjoy in our own building. So we must be vigilant. Let’s accompany children who must leave during worship for an emergency bathroom break. Let’s observe the children who are outside or in the halls during fellowship time. Let’s take this as an opportunity to ensure that calmness, kindness and forgiveness are being practiced by the kids in their occasional moments of conflict and rambunctiousness. Let’s model the kind of peacemaking among ourselves that we hope they will emulate.
And one day in the not too distant future, let’s provide a church building and recreational areas on Lorraine Road, where we can all grow together in Christ’s love and enjoy God’s goodness with freedom and responsibility.
Your Pastors,
Elizabeth and Tricia
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