This Week & Next at Peace - - Jan 1, 2012

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I know I speak for Gia and Tricia, as well as for the Deibert family, in saying how grateful we all are for the cards and gifts we received from you. Thank you very much for your kindness. We are also extremely grateful for your meaningful participation in our Advent and Christmas services.

We Deiberts are loading the car to travel to NC and will likely pass Tricia, Clay, and kids along I95 tomorrow as they return from SC.

Sunday’s New Years Day service will be a New Covenant Service at 10:00, in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, led by Pastor Tricia. Next Sunday is Baptism of the Lord Sunday, so for two weeks, we will be thinking about the covenant we have in Christ, and how we can more fully commit ourselves to a life of faithfulness in Baptism.

In 2012, we will have new opportunities to learn and grow. I hope one of your resolutions might be to participate in our second hour at Peace, or to become more involved during the week at Peace. It is in the work, prayer, and laughter of ministry teams, classes, choirs, and other small groups that relationships are forged and faith really grows.

You are all invited to stop by the Deiberts at 6421 Blue Grosbeak Circle (Greenbrook Run) for Epiphany, January 6, which this year is Friday. This is the day after the 12^th day of Christmas. This will be a very relaxed gathering. Bring finger foods and/or drinks, only if you have some leftover from the holidays. No pressure to come, or to RSVP, or to bring anything. The gift will be togetherness , especially for the sake of newer friends at Peace.

May the last half of your Christmas season be filled with the faith, hope, and love of a newborn Prince of Peace!

Elizabeth

Christmas Peace to All!

Come to Peace Presbyterian Church to hear the story that has brought the gifts of HOPE, JOY, PEACE, and LOVE to countless people for more than two thousand years.

Christmas Eve at 6:00 Find joy in the familiar Lessons and Carols, Communion and Candlelight, led by children, youth, and adults.

Christmas Day at 10:00 Be at peace to hear about God’s greatest gift, the Word made flesh, the light that shines in the darkness.

New Years Day at 10:00 In God’s love we can all begin again

Our address is 10902 Technology Terrace, near Central Park on Lakewood Ranch Blvd

Listen to the original Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (started in 1918) live from Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, England. As the Peace Men’s Quartet would say, “Turn your radio on” (prior to 10:00 am on WSMR 89.1 on Christmas Eve) .

See below Our Gratitude for Peace’s Advent Generosity:
Thank you for over $500 in Angel Tree Gifts to our dear friends in Vero Beach, who are so grateful for your love.

Thank you for supporting Beth-El. Pastor Ramiro Ros of the Beth-El Presbyterian congregation was very appreciative of the gifts for 3 unemployed families in Wimauma who are in extreme need this season. There were a total of 10 people with 4 angels for each person fulfilled carefully by donors ( 2 clothing items, shoes and one special wish) A total of 8 bicycles and helmets were donated. In addition, twenty gift cards worth $20 each were purchased with donated cash. These will be used throughout the year as people come in for help.

Thank you for over $1600 given to Alternative Gifts International: Our top recipients were “Helping Hungry & Homeless Americans” with groceries; “Empowering Tibetan Girls” through education; providing “Hens for Health” to children in Bolivia, to alleviate hunger and poverty through hands-on education; providing “Wholesome Meals for Haiti’s Children”; sending high quality formula to facilitate “Health & Hope for Orphaned Infants” in China.

Thank you for special end of year gifts of $5600 and $10,000 and $50,000 to Peace’s operating and building fund needs for 2012, and for all the regular giving which flows in weekly to supply our ministries and mission. Thanks for over $800 in donations for the Christmas wreaths designed by the youth.

Pledges for 2012 are 28% higher than in 2011, and your actual giving is exceeding pledges this year by about the same percentage – that’s $70,000 more received in offerings from the congregation than was promised.

Finally, thank you for the spirit of hope, joy, peace, and love that fills the room whenever we are together, people of Peace. Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth!

Pastor Elizabeth

This Week at Peace - December 18, 2011

Friends of the Prince of Peace,

As we come to the end of Advent and enter Christmas, let us remember those for whom this is a difficult season. For those in our congregation who miss someone or anticipate a death or long recovery, for people in the Philippines, and for many others rebuilding their lives, let us come together to care for the needs of others Sunday afternoon at 5:00. Light a candle of hope and remembrance in a brief and inspiring Blue Christmas prayer service at 5:00.

Our morning worship at 10:00 will be joyful, as we read the Christmas story and reflect on the amazement of the shepherds and all who heard their news. Having held ourselves back from a full array of Christmas carols, tomorrow we will “pull out all the stops” to celebrate the way God made himself known in the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus Christ, the newborn King.

I am pleased to announce that it appears that MAR will allow us to use Conference A (choir section) of the Event Center 24/7 beginning in 2012 on a monthly basis, as needed. I am sure you will rejoice with me that a special gift was given this week to make that extra lease possible, that our growth as disciples of Jesus Christ will not be hindered by space.

It warms my heart to see Peace people being so generous. Thank you for all the angel tree gifts, all the gifts for the PC(USA) Joy Offering to assist ministers and racial ethnic colleges, all who helped the youth program with wreath donations, and special end of year gifts to the building and operating funds of Peace. It takes all of us doing what we can, working together, to build this community of Peace. See the attached newsletter to read more about our friends at Beth-El.

The session (board of elders and pastors) is committed to keeping Peace generous with a 10% benevolence. That is, the church will tithe 10% of budget (through budget items and special offerings) to missions beyond the church. Thank you for being serious about compassionate outreach to those in great need.

Keep your focus this week. Here’s a 10 minute youtube video from a pastor friend of the Kopels that might help you --http://youtu.be/xjgREu_yctQ It is easy to slip into frenetic activity and forget the reason for the season. Be at Peace to remember what matters:

Tomorrow at 10:00 and at 5:00 (Blue Christmas)
Christmas Eve at 6:00 and Christmas Day at 10:00 (no lively learning)
New Years Day at 10:00

With joy, hope, peace, and love,

Elizabeth
Attachments:

• B_E_11 Dec News[2].pdf

This Week at Peace - - 11 December 2011

Dear Peace Family,

Our Advent season at Peace has been especially meaningful, thanks to the dedication of Jane Taylor, Drew Jordan, Peter Miller, and Chris Camphire, our outstanding Advent Players Group.

We will continue our gradual crescendo from Advent waiting to Christmas joy, adding a few more familiar carols each week. This week we read the story of the Visitation of Mary with Elizabeth, followed by the Mary’s Song, the Magnificat. Come ponder with us why Mary is called “blessed” by all generations and hear the beloved "Ave Maria."

Remember to bring your Angel tree gifts this week-end, if possible. You may still order Alternative Gifts International, and, you may donate to the Joy Offering of the PC(USA), which supports retired ministers, ministers with special needs, and racial ethnic colleges.

We are grateful for the generosity of Peace people, who put the needs of others before their own wants. Thanks to all who may have given or are considering special year-end gifts to Peace’s ministry and missions. If you cannot give extra money this time of year, consider giving your time or even your blood! The bloodmobile will be in the parking lot this Sunday between 11:00-1:30. All who wish to go caroling with the youth this Sunday, meet at church at 2:00.

The Outreach Team has prepared special invitations to our Christmas services for you to share with friends, family, and neighbors, so please pick up as many as you can use on Sunday. Envelopes will be available for those who wish to mail them.

December 18^th at 5:00 Blue Christmas Service of HOPE
When the holidays are hard, light a candle of hope and remembrance.
Christmas Eve at 6:00 Service of JOY
Find joy in the Lessons, Carols, Communion, and Candlelight, led by children, youth, and adults
Christmas Day at 10:00 Service of PEACE
Hear the story of Christmas peace, along with the stories behind the Christmas Carols
New Year’s Day at 10:00 Service of LOVE
In God’s love, we can all begin again!

May the hope, joy, peace, and love of Advent be yours!

Elizabeth

Christmas Peace to You!

We hope you will be at PEACE this Advent and Christmas! Join us for our special services during the holiday season:

December 4, 11, and 18 at 10:00 “Comforted,” “Blessed,” and “Enlightened”

December 18 at 5:00 Blue Christmas Service
This is an informal service of prayer and candle-lighting to remember those we miss in the holidays.

Christmas Eve at 6:00 Lessons & Carols Candlelight Service
Hear all the carols and stories of Christmas. This service will be led by children and youth, with a little help from pastors, music director, and choirs. Communion will be served.

Christmas Day at 10:00 A Celebration of Christ’s Birth

New Years Day at 10:00 God Makes All Things New

If you come this Sunday, the 4th, you can still take part in our Alternative Gifts International, which allows you to give meaningful gifts to family, which benefit those in foreign lands, whose need is great.

You can also be part of our Angel Tree Giving to local families in need. You can still purchase a handmade fresh Christmas wreath from the youth at Peace.

Come to Movie Night on Friday, the 9^th and view an inspiring film about an unforgettable Christmas during WW2. Joyeux Noel

Did you know that the Peace congregation has expanded by more than 20% in the last year? Our pledged giving is up 25% in a down-sized economy. If you haven’t been with us in a while, we’d love to see you again.

Come and see what’s happening with Peace at 10902 Technology Terrace. That’s in the Realtors Event and Conference Center along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, across from Central Park.

May Christ fill you with all comfort and joy!

With love,

Pastor Elizabeth