Dear Peacemakers,
We continue our Gratitude Season this Sunday with a focus on Ephesians 2:1-10 and the connection between guilt, grace, and gratitude. I hope you are planning to be part of our fun Feasting on Gratitude Brunch on November 6 after worship. No classes that day but lots of thankful sharing over the meal, plus some gratitude-building activities for the kids.
It is time to deliver the Halloween “Trick hunger-Treat the hungry” flyers to your neighbors so they will be prepared to offer you real food (not just candy) on October 31. Pick up your flyers and instructions on this mission outreach event Sunday.
The Session (leadership board of elders and pastors) made two monumental decisions this past week. First, we decided to hire an architect (The Lawson Group, very experienced in church building) to lead us through a three month process to design a Master Plan for our property on Lorraine Road. This will lead to capital fundraising efforts beginning sometime in 2012. Secondly, Session decided to negotiate with MAR (Realtors) the 24/7 lease of a third of the Event Center (the choir side of sanctuary) to accommodate our larger weekday activities. Most significantly, this lease, if signed, will provide for the security of our temporary home (including Sunday worship) for the next three years. We know that all of you agree that securing our current location is crucial for Peace’s development, so please continue to be generous in your gifts to the operating fund. We are excited about our future here and on Lorraine Road and hope that these plans, coupled with your giving and the continued growth of Peace, will land us in a building by the end of 2014 or early 2015.
The Nominating Committee (Eirinn Camphire, Peter Miller, Don McIlwain, Dana Scott, and Sara Rea Jensen) are bringing before you on Sunday the following nominees for election to serve as elders for the next three years: Kathy Flora, Jenny Sheffield, Don Simpson, and Mark Winters. They also recommend that Andrew Deibert, high school senior, serve as youth elder for a one year term. There will be more information about the nominees in the bulletin Sunday and the congregational meeting will take place at the end of service. Any questions, write me back.
We could use your help, if you are able-bodied. Peace has some chairs currently stored at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church in Sarasota. They need to be moved from an office to a storage room. Show your gratitude for the generosity of our friends at Pine Shores by coming to help move the chairs. Meet at Peace at 8:00 this Saturday morning, the 22nd or come to Pine Shores on your own (6135 Beechwood Ave – NW of Clark and Hwy 41).
You are always encouraged to be at Peace!
Elizabeth
