This Week at Peace - November 20 - 27

Oops, I accidently clicked "hide this message from non-leaders of this email group, so I'm the only one who received This Week At Peace last week.

Let me wish you all a "Happy Thanksgiving" and welcome you to the Season of Advent, which begins Sunday with a focus on "Being Prepared" (Mark 13:24-27). I think you'll love the opening of the service, thoughtfully prepared by our dramatic readers, Peter, Drew, and Chris, led by Jane Taylor, not to mention the dynamic choir piece at offering. We Deiberts are traveling mid-week, but will be back for church Sunday. Hope to see you then.

Special giving opportunities in December: Alternative Gifts International, the Angel Tree (for Beth-El Farmworker Families) & the Joy Offering (for retired Presbyterian ministers & racial ethnic colleges.

May you be given grace to love those with whom you spend Thanksgiving, as well as to be thankful for those whom you miss.

Last week's note below.

Dear Peace Family,

It brings me great joy to announce that we have almost reached our big, holy, audacious goal this year. Last January, we prayed for a great year in membership in our new location. We said “Let’s hope for twenty new family units this year.” We are at the end of November with seventeen new family units (singles, couples, families), and there are at least ten more who are considering. Those of you who are new members in 2011, thank you for the joy you bring us!

As we challenged ourselves to choose gratitude and generosity, even in harder economic times, we knew that we would need to surpass last year’s giving by nearly 50K to move confidently into 2012. I am encouraged to report that we are $40K above last year’s giving of $209,000, and with a few more promises, we will be strong. Thank you for catching the vision of Peace and stretching yourselves in faithful giving.

Pray for Elders Elect (Kathy Flora, Jenny Sheffield, Don Simpson, Mark Winters, and Andrew Deibert—youth) who are training for ordination, and give thanks for Elders whose term on session is ending in January. (Chuck McClurg, Robin Miller, Rod Scott, and Barbara Staton).

We come to the final Sunday of the church year, Christ the King. Our scripture is the story of the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25, a passage which always challenges us to examine our compassion for the “least of these.” Remember that you can make a difference for the needy by participating in our Alternative Giving International program.

Kickball & Hotdogs in LWR Adventure Park (Greenbrook Blvd) has become a relaxing and enjoyable intergenerational experience for the Peace family. Hope you can join us tomorrow at 3 and bring a friend. There was a great article about Peace’s Faith & Film Night in today’s paper! Don't forget to sign up for December Dinner Groups tomorrow.

We are praying for all who find the holidays difficult, especially those who are grieving. We remember Karen Lowder, who is having a memorial service for husband Barry Sunday afternoon, and Diane Engster and Bill Yolton, who lost both Bill’s daughter and Diane’s father in a two week period.

With gratitude for each of you,

Elizabeth

This Week at Peace -- November 13, 2011

We come to Peace’s final week of Gratitude Season, realizing that we are only beginning to appreciate our debt to God for our abundant comforts, challenges, and blessings. We will read the story of the Ten Lepers that Jesus healed, and will hear his disappointment that only one returned to say thanks. I pray Christ will not be disappointed with us, but that he will see by our level of giving how truly grateful we are for the healing work he does in our lives -- body, mind, and soul.

If you cannot be with us in person this Sunday to give thanks to God with your promise to support the ministries of Peace, please mail in your pledge card before Thanksgiving. We are eager to have 100% participation as a sign of our mutual commitment to the vision for Peace Presbyterian. Because of your growing generosity in response to Christ’s amazing grace, Peace’s has future filled with hope. The more generous you are, the more your faith will flourish and the more we can accomplish for God’s glory. Pledge cards, as well as offerings, will be brought forward in worship, as the choir sings a rousing Gospel piece, “We Shall Be Thankful.”

On this Veteran’s Day 11-11-11, let us give thanks for all who have sacrificed for us, and let us plan to make sacrifices of a financial nature ourselves. Let us pray for peace to prevail around the world, even as we pray for Peace to grow and flourish here in this community, that we might be a be blessing to many, just as we have been so richly blessed. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” He also said, “Do not store up treasures on earth, but store up treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”

With gratitude for a vibrant, committed congregation of friends whom we dearly love,

Elizabeth

This Week at Peace -- November 6, 2011

Dear Peaceful Friends, I hope as we move through November, you are choosing gratitude over grumbling, worship over whining, service over selfishness, compassion over contention, thanksgiving over thumb-sucking, generosity over greed, Christianity over culture. This Sunday we read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and consider the connection between gratitude and generosity. Paul challenges the church in Corinth to remember that they will reap what they sow. Early on Sunday, November 6, you have the gift of an extra hour. Why not come early and help us set up the place for worship? Learn how it is done from the devoted early crowd, led by Jim and Sherry Robinson. If you’re busy cooking for our Gratitude Brunch, we’ll appreciate that just as much. Remember there also will be setting and re-setting to be accomplished after worship and after lunch. So don't miss an chance to help out. We will FEAST on gratitude this Sunday, no matter what kind of food you might enjoy at our brunch. We will talk about being truly thankful. Speaking of thanksgiving, I am grateful for new members joining and new participants getting connected. I am grateful for the gifts for the Manatee Food Bank already lining the halls of our ministry center. I am thankful to serve, with devoted colleagues, a church that is so generous with time, talent, and treasure. Watch for your letter from the Gratitude (Stewardship) Team. Stephen Ministers begin training for a life of Christian caregiving this week-end. Pray for Stephen Leaders (Nancy Hughes, Barbara Staton, Betty Clough, Elizabeth Deibert, and Gretchen Frueh-- in absentia) and for Stephen Ministers (Emily Miller, Bob Cutler, Dana Scott, Nancy Hogue, Gertie Rineer, and Barbara Noto). With gratitude for YOU! Elizabeth