What a joy to see 170 faces on Easter morning! If you were not there, we missed you! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! This Second Sunday of Easter, we get to ease off our Easter exuberance to think about doubt and faith and the peace that Christ brings into the room. Hope you will be back for this wonderful reading from the second half of John 20. Hear the Peace quartet sing a wonderful arrangement of the Lord’s Prayer.
To those of you who are snowbirds, who have left already and are soon leaving, we will miss you terribly over the summer. Think of us while you watch spring blossoms unfold.
We will be giving thanks this Sunday for ALL the people who assist with worship – all our choirs, our communion servers and liturgists, our children serving as acolytes, our sound system princes and set up crew champions. Our new/old friends, the Waldrops (Martha is a master gardener) have delivered to Peace a lovely weeping bottle brush tree to be planted Sunday as a regular reminder of the gifts of these dedicated souls who prepare well and arrive early.
Say a prayer of gratitude that God spared the lives of our friends, the Simpsons, who happened to be with friends in Tuscaloosa, AL, when the tornado came through and demolished everything in sight, including the Simpson’s car. I know you are praying for those who have experienced tremendous losses.
Pray also for our confirmands – Amanda, Tim (Harry), Liz Shirey, and Rebecca -- preparing to reaffirm their baptism on May 22nd.
Consider what you’re missing if you don’t stay for Lively Learning opportunities. Peace has many great offerings, made all the better by engaged participants. New class led by Chip Schaaff, beginning in a week on the challenging issue of life management – building the peace of Christ into our daily lives.
While sipping coffee, take time to complete that Time and Talent form “Gratitude Leads to Service”, which many of you promised to Robin two weeks ago.
Find out Sunday during fellowship about the Cedarkirk gathering and the beach gathering on May 7th. Great ways to build your Peace friendships!
Peace be with you,
Elizabeth
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Good Friday & Easter at Peace
Come and walk the lonesome valley of “Jesus’ Last Day” with us. Gathering around tables, we will begin with the Last Supper he shared with his disciples. Then we will journey with him through his betrayal, arrest, judgment, trial, suffering and death. Meaningful music, prayers, and visual arts will guide our deep reflection on God’s wondrous love.
Be at Peace at 7:00 Friday night. (We're in the Manatee Association of Realtors Event & Conference Center, corner of Technology Terrace and Lakewood Ranch Blvd., near Central Park.)
On Sunday morning at 10:00 we will ring in Easter with bells and trumpets and voices, in a grand celebration of new life in worship. This will be followed by joyful, warm fellowship for adults and a fun egg hunt for children, guided by youth and some devoted adults.
This Sunday’s resurrection story from the Gospel of John invites us to "Look Again!" Don’t be content with the first look, because you might have missed something. If you see only frustration, emptiness, and death, look again! God has some surprises for you.
Spring of 2006 when Peace first began worship, we were a fledgling group of forty. But now in 2011, look again! We have 160 people! One year ago we were significantly stalled in our momentum at SCF (formerly MCC) tucked away in the Corporate Park off University. We rose from that tomb of gloom, and entered this wonderful new home, where we are blessed with many new Peace friends!
Come look again at Peace. Come, look again into the tomb of all despair threatens you and find new life in Christ!
Peace be with you,
Pastor Elizabeth
Be at Peace at 7:00 Friday night. (We're in the Manatee Association of Realtors Event & Conference Center, corner of Technology Terrace and Lakewood Ranch Blvd., near Central Park.)
On Sunday morning at 10:00 we will ring in Easter with bells and trumpets and voices, in a grand celebration of new life in worship. This will be followed by joyful, warm fellowship for adults and a fun egg hunt for children, guided by youth and some devoted adults.
This Sunday’s resurrection story from the Gospel of John invites us to "Look Again!" Don’t be content with the first look, because you might have missed something. If you see only frustration, emptiness, and death, look again! God has some surprises for you.
Spring of 2006 when Peace first began worship, we were a fledgling group of forty. But now in 2011, look again! We have 160 people! One year ago we were significantly stalled in our momentum at SCF (formerly MCC) tucked away in the Corporate Park off University. We rose from that tomb of gloom, and entered this wonderful new home, where we are blessed with many new Peace friends!
Come look again at Peace. Come, look again into the tomb of all despair threatens you and find new life in Christ!
Peace be with you,
Pastor Elizabeth
Friday, April 15, 2011
This Week at Peace - - April 15, 2011
Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. Holy Week. There is no more special time of year. I wish it had a set date like Christmas. It slips by us sometimes, with little notice, but I bet you know what today, April 15th, is. I hear it every year – “Oh yeah, which Sunday is Easter?” So are you ready for Easter? Get ready by being in worship on Palm Sunday April 17 and Good Friday, April 22. Get ready by making sure this coming week is reflective, sacrificial, and prayerful.
Come to church tomorrow (Sat) at 1:00 and help us decorate the large wooden cross with palm branches. Come on Holy Saturday (next week – same time) to re-decorate with lilies and fresh palms for Easter. BYOF - Bring a lily or white flowering plant to celebrate resurrection on Easter.
Set aside extra offering money for our One Great Hour of Sharing, so you can make a difference in the lives of those who are hungry or suffering from disasters. It is so easy to forget the people of Japan are still struggling. Live more simply this week so someone else can simply live.
This Sunday, please take home some Holy Week postcard invitations to tuck into the doors of 10-20 neighbors or to mail to friends. Many people who are not ordinarily in church will consider going on Easter. So invite them!
We celebrate this Sunday Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem with palm branches and song. We reflect on the last week of his life. We share a special brunch together, even as we consider how grateful we are for all eleven of Peace’s ministry teams, run by six or eight good people like you.
Children and youth will have classes right after the brunch this Sunday. They and their teachers should gather at the front of the buffet line. Thanks to all who are assisting the Fellowship Team with the meal. Adults will not have classes on Palm Sunday or Easter. On Easter the youth will assist with the children’s egg hunt at 11:30. The youth will have their own egg decorating party at the Lowe's house the day before, from 2-5.
Our 7:00 pm Good Friday service will reflect on the last day of Jesus’ life, beginning with the Last Supper he shared with his disciples. This service of communion, with readings, prayers, music , and increasing darkness will help you appreciate the meaning of death. Where is the power of resurrection without death? Don’t miss it.
May this be a Holy Week in your life. No, make this be a Holy Week in your life by the way you live and pray through it.
God be with you.Grace and peace,
Elizabeth
Come to church tomorrow (Sat) at 1:00 and help us decorate the large wooden cross with palm branches. Come on Holy Saturday (next week – same time) to re-decorate with lilies and fresh palms for Easter. BYOF - Bring a lily or white flowering plant to celebrate resurrection on Easter.
Set aside extra offering money for our One Great Hour of Sharing, so you can make a difference in the lives of those who are hungry or suffering from disasters. It is so easy to forget the people of Japan are still struggling. Live more simply this week so someone else can simply live.
This Sunday, please take home some Holy Week postcard invitations to tuck into the doors of 10-20 neighbors or to mail to friends. Many people who are not ordinarily in church will consider going on Easter. So invite them!
We celebrate this Sunday Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem with palm branches and song. We reflect on the last week of his life. We share a special brunch together, even as we consider how grateful we are for all eleven of Peace’s ministry teams, run by six or eight good people like you.
Children and youth will have classes right after the brunch this Sunday. They and their teachers should gather at the front of the buffet line. Thanks to all who are assisting the Fellowship Team with the meal. Adults will not have classes on Palm Sunday or Easter. On Easter the youth will assist with the children’s egg hunt at 11:30. The youth will have their own egg decorating party at the Lowe's house the day before, from 2-5.
Our 7:00 pm Good Friday service will reflect on the last day of Jesus’ life, beginning with the Last Supper he shared with his disciples. This service of communion, with readings, prayers, music , and increasing darkness will help you appreciate the meaning of death. Where is the power of resurrection without death? Don’t miss it.
May this be a Holy Week in your life. No, make this be a Holy Week in your life by the way you live and pray through it.
God be with you.Grace and peace,
Elizabeth
Friday, April 8, 2011
Easter is Coming!
Friends of Peace,
This Sunday we anticipate the good news of Easter with the death to life story of Lazarus! Come, experience new life with the people of Peace. Make lasting friendships. Build peace all around.
"The Last Week" Palm Sunday at 10:00 with tasty brunch to follow
"The Last Day" Good Friday at 7:00 pm with quiet reflection to follow
"The New Day" Easter at 10:00 with lively egg hunt to follow
Postcard copies an invitation will be distributed on Sunday, so you can invite your friends and neighbors. It is exciting to be filling up our new worship space, and even more exciting that one third of you (all ages) are involved in leading worship through various forms of music!
Coming April Activites at Peace:
April 15 Movie Night at 7:00, viewing Gosford Park (R)
April 27 Sisters of Peace Sunset Kayaking and Yoga at Lido
Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Elizabeth
This Sunday we anticipate the good news of Easter with the death to life story of Lazarus! Come, experience new life with the people of Peace. Make lasting friendships. Build peace all around.
"The Last Week" Palm Sunday at 10:00 with tasty brunch to follow
"The Last Day" Good Friday at 7:00 pm with quiet reflection to follow
"The New Day" Easter at 10:00 with lively egg hunt to follow
Postcard copies an invitation will be distributed on Sunday, so you can invite your friends and neighbors. It is exciting to be filling up our new worship space, and even more exciting that one third of you (all ages) are involved in leading worship through various forms of music!
Coming April Activites at Peace:
April 15 Movie Night at 7:00, viewing Gosford Park (R)
April 27 Sisters of Peace Sunset Kayaking and Yoga at Lido
Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Elizabeth
Friday, April 1, 2011
This Week at Peace - - April 1, 2011
Gia, Tricia, and I will not be able to make it this to worship this Sunday, but I'm sure everybody will pitch in and all will go well. Note the date of this email and you will understand what I mean.
How’s your eyesight? Mine’s terrible without glasses. And even with my glasses, sometimes I don’t see what I need to see. I ignore the person who needed me to listen. I speak too quickly what I think I know. Vision has more to do with the Spirit in us, than with our eyes. Hope to “see” you Sunday.
For the next three weeks during Fellowship we will open our eyes to all that God has done (gratitude) and how God may want us to respond (stewardship of our time and talent). Listen for God’s call to service through Peace’s ministry teams, each of which is a nurturing group committed to orchestrating one part of Peace’s life. You could be blind at the moment to some form of service and some group of people in which you would really thrive. Give it prayerful thought and action.
New Members and Prospective Members – please join us at 11:30 for the next two Sundays. Hear more about Peace and the Presbyterians. Connect with people and see how your story intersects with ours.
Fellowship Activities coming: Passion Play in Wauchula on April 9. (Email Nancy Hughes nanskodi@gmail.com) Movie Night on April 15 at Peace.
Worship Services not to be missed: Palm Sunday 10:00 with brunch to follow, Good Friday, April 22 at 7:00, and Easter Morning 10:00 with egg hunt to follow.
Peace’s week to help Family Promise is April 10-16. Please email Eirinn Camphire, if you’d like to be added to her support team so you might assist sometime (e.eirinn@gmail.com)
Finally, I'm hoping you might be using the prayers I sent last week. Yes, there are more! Find the evening prayers from the Book of Common Worship. They work any time after 12:00 noon and before midnight.
Grace and peace,
Elizabeth
How’s your eyesight? Mine’s terrible without glasses. And even with my glasses, sometimes I don’t see what I need to see. I ignore the person who needed me to listen. I speak too quickly what I think I know. Vision has more to do with the Spirit in us, than with our eyes. Hope to “see” you Sunday.
For the next three weeks during Fellowship we will open our eyes to all that God has done (gratitude) and how God may want us to respond (stewardship of our time and talent). Listen for God’s call to service through Peace’s ministry teams, each of which is a nurturing group committed to orchestrating one part of Peace’s life. You could be blind at the moment to some form of service and some group of people in which you would really thrive. Give it prayerful thought and action.
New Members and Prospective Members – please join us at 11:30 for the next two Sundays. Hear more about Peace and the Presbyterians. Connect with people and see how your story intersects with ours.
Fellowship Activities coming: Passion Play in Wauchula on April 9. (Email Nancy Hughes nanskodi@gmail.com) Movie Night on April 15 at Peace.
Worship Services not to be missed: Palm Sunday 10:00 with brunch to follow, Good Friday, April 22 at 7:00, and Easter Morning 10:00 with egg hunt to follow.
Peace’s week to help Family Promise is April 10-16. Please email Eirinn Camphire, if you’d like to be added to her support team so you might assist sometime (e.eirinn@gmail.com)
Finally, I'm hoping you might be using the prayers I sent last week. Yes, there are more! Find the evening prayers from the Book of Common Worship. They work any time after 12:00 noon and before midnight.
Grace and peace,
Elizabeth
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