It’s our big week-end at Peace! Habitat work Saturday morning, then the Italian Dinner Saturday evening, and finally, the Great Unveiling of the proposed building design on Sunday after worship! Hope you can participate!
By the way, if you have not signed up for Habitat, but want to help, just show up at Peace at 7:00 am Saturday and Tom Knierim will be your guide in “A Brush with Kindness” in Manatee County.
If you have not signed up for the Italian Dinner, you are still encouraged to come Saturday evening at 5:00. It is NOT at Peace, but is at First Presbyterian, Sarasota, 2050 Oak Street, downtown. Oak Street is off Hwy 301, near the connection with Hwy 41. Bring salad, bread, or a door prize and most importantly, bring money in your pockets. This is a fund-raiser for our youth to go to Montreat this summer, where they will grow in faith. The food will be delicious and the entertainment, unforgettable.
Sunday’s worship will focus a challenging passage from Acts 4:29-38 about the disciples’ commitment to share their worldly possessions for the greater cause of the Gospel. The choir will sing a lively Gospel piece and favorite, “We Shall Be Thankful.”
After worship we will take a brief break before starting our congregational meeting to hear the progress of the Building Vision Team. Children will go to their classes, but youth are encouraged to stay and see the design, and with adults, ask questions of the architect and team.
Next week, you will be encouraged to complete a survey indicating the depth of your support for this exciting building project for Peace. Our capability study will inform us as to our readiness to proceed with a capital campaign and plans to break ground the end of 2013. Please see the attached document, passed out last Sunday, which gives more information.
It's a great time to be at Peace!
Elizabeth
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
This Week at Peace -- April 22, 2012
Dear Peace-ful Friends,
This Sunday, the third in the Easter season, we will examine the end of Luke’s Gospel , where the Risen Jesus appears to the disciples and then ascends with his human body into heaven. Richard will preach on the divine glory of the human body.
All youth and children will have a Lively Learning lesson on communion at 11:30 this Sunday. In worship we are adding some tables on the right side of the “sanctuary,” so younger elementary children can more easily engage their children’s bulletins during the sermon. We are thankful for our growing number of children at Peace!
You will receive a special newsletter from the Building Vision Team to prepare you for our great “Unveiling Sunday” next week. Our architect will be present to answer questions and to virtually display the building we are proposing for our land on Lorraine Road. Following the April 29 unveiling, we will survey the congregation to determine what level of support we will be able to offer for these exciting plans. Our financial consultant , Ana Lugo, will interview a few representative families.
Please seek out the 2012-2013 snack list, which includes all Peace participants who have not opted out. If you have any problem with fulfilling this responsibility, please don’t hesitate to write back or speak to Suzi Regulski Shirey. As we have a child with nut allergies, please do not bring anything with nuts that is not clearly labeled. Thanks for doing your part to make our time of Sunday fellowship enjoyable. You will receive an email reminder closer to your date of service and the list will be available at church.
Don’t forget to sign up for the 5:00 Italian Dinner and Talent Show on April 28 at First Presbyterian, Sarasota. We also would like an accurate head count and plenty of salad, bread, and dessert to accompany the fabulous cuisine provided by our own Italian-Portuguese chef Gia. We are still looking for four or five more acts for this not-to-be-missed youth fundraiser.
As the Risen Christ said to his friends, so I say to you, “Peace be with you.”
Elizabeth
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Friday Night at 7pm
Faith & Film at Peace Presbyterian
Message from: David Thomas
Faith and Film Friday night, April 13, 7:00 p.m. at the church sanctuary.
Event Host: Dr. David Mullen. Feel free to bring healthy snacks to share in
the fellowship time.
Film: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008, PG-13, 94 min.)
Plot summary: Set during World War II, this is a story seen through the
innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a
concentration camp. His forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other
side of the concentration camp fence next door has startling and unexpected
consequences.
The theme has some resemblance to Life is Beautiful, but without the tone of
poignancy and its touches of humor. While Life is Beautiful was criticized
for leaning towards trivializing the horrors of the Holocaust for the sake of entertainment, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
cannot be nailed with that objection.
The boy protagonist, Bruno, is deeply naïve and cannot make the connection
between the lessons his highly ranked Nazi parents and his tutors try to
teach him about the evil nature of the Jews, and the people wearing the
striped pajamas in the “farm.” Bruno cannot understand why he cannot be
friends with little Shmuel through the fence.
I chose this movie for its powerful story. At the least, it shows us that
it is extremely dangerous to persist in looking at everything through the
eyes of a child. As the Christianity Today discussion questions (below) suggest, it bears sober examination to compare The Boy in the Striped Pajamas with our response to evil in today’s world.
Our choice of this movie was suggested by Frank Creneti, who says
“Everybody ought to see this film.” When Dotty posted our hosting sign-up
sheet for this year’s movies last spring, David Mullen claimed it that same
day.
This is a serious film, but not an objectionable one to view. The main
warning is: The scenes that place children in jeopardy are unsettling. It
is appropriate for us during the Easter season due to the portrayal of evil
and its consequences.
When first released, the movie received favorable reviews from the
Christian movie review website, Hollywood Jesus, and also from Christianity
Today. It’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea. The general Metacritic review
aggregate score of 55 is mixed between the critics who ranked it very
highly, and those who hated it.
Put me in the first group who rank it highly. It’s not simple, mindless
entertainment, but rather, a social text to study.
Christianity Today
questions:
Discussion starters
1.
How does seeing the story from Bruno's eight-year-old point of view affect
the way you perceive the characters, such as his father? What do we see
that is not shown
from Bruno's point of view? Why does the film let us see these things? Why
does the film not let us see other things?
2.
Who is "innocent" in this film? Anyone? Is there a difference
between ignorance and innocence? How do different characters deal with
their dawning awareness of what is happening at the concentration camp?
3.
Is innocence always a good thing? How are various characters affected by
evil because they are too "innocent" to know better? (See, e.g.,
the way Gretel becomes smitten with the Nazi lieutenant who works at their
house.)
4.
When is knowledge preferable to innocence? How do we become, as Jesus said,
wise as serpents while remaining innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16)?
5.
Have you had to "unlearn" anything that you were taught when you
were young, comparable to the prejudices that Bruno's father and tutor try
to teach him? How did you deal with the knowledge that what you were taught
was wrong? How did this affect the way you perceived your parents and
teachers?
6.
Bruno's grandmother says that Bruno's father always wanted to be a soldier,
and Bruno himself is seen playing at "war" with his friends in
Berlin. Is this a dangerous impulse? Is it a tolerable form of childlike
fantasy? Is it a problem that Bruno's father became a soldier, period, or
that he was assigned to a particular task?
Message from: David Thomas
Faith and Film Friday night, April 13, 7:00 p.m. at the church sanctuary.
Event Host: Dr. David Mullen. Feel free to bring healthy snacks to share in
the fellowship time.
Film: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008, PG-13, 94 min.)
Plot summary: Set during World War II, this is a story seen through the
innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a
concentration camp. His forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other
side of the concentration camp fence next door has startling and unexpected
consequences.
The theme has some resemblance to Life is Beautiful, but without the tone of
poignancy and its touches of humor. While Life is Beautiful was criticized
for leaning towards trivializing the horrors of the Holocaust for the sake of entertainment, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
cannot be nailed with that objection.
The boy protagonist, Bruno, is deeply naïve and cannot make the connection
between the lessons his highly ranked Nazi parents and his tutors try to
teach him about the evil nature of the Jews, and the people wearing the
striped pajamas in the “farm.” Bruno cannot understand why he cannot be
friends with little Shmuel through the fence.
I chose this movie for its powerful story. At the least, it shows us that
it is extremely dangerous to persist in looking at everything through the
eyes of a child. As the Christianity Today discussion questions (below) suggest, it bears sober examination to compare The Boy in the Striped Pajamas with our response to evil in today’s world.
Our choice of this movie was suggested by Frank Creneti, who says
“Everybody ought to see this film.” When Dotty posted our hosting sign-up
sheet for this year’s movies last spring, David Mullen claimed it that same
day.
This is a serious film, but not an objectionable one to view. The main
warning is: The scenes that place children in jeopardy are unsettling. It
is appropriate for us during the Easter season due to the portrayal of evil
and its consequences.
When first released, the movie received favorable reviews from the
Christian movie review website, Hollywood Jesus, and also from Christianity
Today. It’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea. The general Metacritic review
aggregate score of 55 is mixed between the critics who ranked it very
highly, and those who hated it.
Put me in the first group who rank it highly. It’s not simple, mindless
entertainment, but rather, a social text to study.
Christianity Today
questions:
Discussion starters
1.
How does seeing the story from Bruno's eight-year-old point of view affect
the way you perceive the characters, such as his father? What do we see
that is not shown
from Bruno's point of view? Why does the film let us see these things? Why
does the film not let us see other things?
2.
Who is "innocent" in this film? Anyone? Is there a difference
between ignorance and innocence? How do different characters deal with
their dawning awareness of what is happening at the concentration camp?
3.
Is innocence always a good thing? How are various characters affected by
evil because they are too "innocent" to know better? (See, e.g.,
the way Gretel becomes smitten with the Nazi lieutenant who works at their
house.)
4.
When is knowledge preferable to innocence? How do we become, as Jesus said,
wise as serpents while remaining innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16)?
5.
Have you had to "unlearn" anything that you were taught when you
were young, comparable to the prejudices that Bruno's father and tutor try
to teach him? How did you deal with the knowledge that what you were taught
was wrong? How did this affect the way you perceived your parents and
teachers?
6.
Bruno's grandmother says that Bruno's father always wanted to be a soldier,
and Bruno himself is seen playing at "war" with his friends in
Berlin. Is this a dangerous impulse? Is it a tolerable form of childlike
fantasy? Is it a problem that Bruno's father became a soldier, period, or
that he was assigned to a particular task?
Adult Ed Classes for Eastertide to Pentecost
For Sunday mornings during Lively Learning, Eastertide to Pentecost, we will hold a series of classes on the subject “Being at Peace with…” The topics covered will be:
April 15 Being at Peace with Ourselves I (Chip)
April 22 Being at Peace with Our polarized culture (Mickey)
April 29 Special Event
May 6 Being at Peace with Ourselves II (Chip)
May 13 Being at Peace with Our relationships (Chip)
May 20 Being at Peace with Our possessions (Mickey)
May 27 Being at Peace with Our mortality (Richard)
The Sermon/Service reflection classes will be going Sunday mornings as well
and don't forget the Religion and Science course Thursdays. Everyone is
welcome come and invite your friends.
Χριστός ἀνέστη! (Christ has risen)
Bill
April 15 Being at Peace with Ourselves I (Chip)
April 22 Being at Peace with Our polarized culture (Mickey)
April 29 Special Event
May 6 Being at Peace with Ourselves II (Chip)
May 13 Being at Peace with Our relationships (Chip)
May 20 Being at Peace with Our possessions (Mickey)
May 27 Being at Peace with Our mortality (Richard)
The Sermon/Service reflection classes will be going Sunday mornings as well
and don't forget the Religion and Science course Thursdays. Everyone is
welcome come and invite your friends.
Χριστός ἀνέστη! (Christ has risen)
Bill
This Week at Peace -- April 15, 2012
What a meaningful Holy Week! So many of you came and participated
- 120 at Good Friday, 17 youth at Holy Saturday Eggstravaganza and
230 on Easter morning! Thanks to Gia and all the musicians for their hard
work; to Jane, the Worship Team, and all the readers, to the Lowes,
Jensens, and Tricia for the youth event, to Drew and others for the egg
hunt, to the Troy for the Cross, to the Robinsons and others who set up and
break down, and to Fellowship, Congregational Care, and Outreach who are
always welcoming people to Peace with great hospitality and authentic
friendship.
Tonight (Thursday) we begin our Science and Religion Course, and on Sunday
our Being at Peace with Life Class. These will enrich your life
if you can commit to participating. We will also run a new
members info class this Sunday at 11:30. In worship we will
read the “Doubting Thomas” narrative from John 20:19-31. If
you’re a doubter, the message from Christ is “Peace be with you.”
Tomorrow night (2nd Fridays) Peace’s Faith and Film Group is
viewing a great WWII movie, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. If you have not
attended one of our movie nights since we shifted to the big screen and
spacious room, you’re missing out. Come at 7:00 for a 7:30
start.
Mark your calendars for the last week-end of April. Here's the
good news: you can spend almost the entire week-end with your Peace
friends. Habitat on Saturday morning 7:30-11:30 (sign
up). Italian Dinner and Talent Show at 5:00 for a 5:30 start
(sign up). On Sunday we have worship at the usual 10:00 followed
by a congregational meeting to hear the progress of the Building Vision
Team. This will be the unveiling of the initial plans for our 5
acres on Lorraine Road. Our architect will be here to answer
questions, as we dream together of possibilities for Peace’s future
building, scheduled to commence end of 2013, if all goes well.
Hope to see you Sunday!
Easter peace to all,
Elizabeth
- 120 at Good Friday, 17 youth at Holy Saturday Eggstravaganza and
230 on Easter morning! Thanks to Gia and all the musicians for their hard
work; to Jane, the Worship Team, and all the readers, to the Lowes,
Jensens, and Tricia for the youth event, to Drew and others for the egg
hunt, to the Troy for the Cross, to the Robinsons and others who set up and
break down, and to Fellowship, Congregational Care, and Outreach who are
always welcoming people to Peace with great hospitality and authentic
friendship.
Tonight (Thursday) we begin our Science and Religion Course, and on Sunday
our Being at Peace with Life Class. These will enrich your life
if you can commit to participating. We will also run a new
members info class this Sunday at 11:30. In worship we will
read the “Doubting Thomas” narrative from John 20:19-31. If
you’re a doubter, the message from Christ is “Peace be with you.”
Tomorrow night (2nd Fridays) Peace’s Faith and Film Group is
viewing a great WWII movie, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. If you have not
attended one of our movie nights since we shifted to the big screen and
spacious room, you’re missing out. Come at 7:00 for a 7:30
start.
Mark your calendars for the last week-end of April. Here's the
good news: you can spend almost the entire week-end with your Peace
friends. Habitat on Saturday morning 7:30-11:30 (sign
up). Italian Dinner and Talent Show at 5:00 for a 5:30 start
(sign up). On Sunday we have worship at the usual 10:00 followed
by a congregational meeting to hear the progress of the Building Vision
Team. This will be the unveiling of the initial plans for our 5
acres on Lorraine Road. Our architect will be here to answer
questions, as we dream together of possibilities for Peace’s future
building, scheduled to commence end of 2013, if all goes well.
Hope to see you Sunday!
Easter peace to all,
Elizabeth
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Easter Peace to All of You!
Find more than eggs in the backyard this Easter. Find Peace, an open-minded and authentic congregation of friends. Find a community of faith that accepts you as you are and provides encouragement for you to grow as a Christian. Find prayer-filled, musical worship. Find people of all ages connecting with one another. Find the God of the ages, whose love is beyond all imagining!
You are invited to Peace’s Easter Week-End:
Good Friday at 7:00 Even to last breath, Jesus was loving the world, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” We hope you will join us for a service that begins around tables with a simple meal of fruit, veggies, and cheese, before transitioning to the Last Supper and a prayerful reading and singing about the last day of Jesus’ life.
Holy Saturday at 10:00 we will pray and set up for Easter worship. If you are bringing memorial lilies or other plants to place at the base of the cross, please email back with names you would like included in the bulletin today. Flowers may be brought on Saturday or Sunday morning. Holy Saturday at 1:00 youth will gather at Gail and Grant Lowe’s house for their eggstravaganza.
Easter morning at 10:00, join us as we celebrate the good news of Christ’s resurrection with the sound of trumpet, bells, strings, and a chorus of hallelujahs! There is no better time to find yourself at Peace, reveling in the truth: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Read 1 Corinthians 15 in preparation for worship) For a deeper reflection on this Holy week-end, please read the attachment.
After worship, children will have an egg hunt. Adults will have an extended time of fellowship, while elders will meet with those who are ready to commit to a shared Christian life in the Peace Presbyterian family at 11:30. Are you ready to join?
Peace to the whole world, loved by God in Jesus Christ!
Elizabeth
Attachments:
• Easter Faith Column by E. Deibert.pdf
You are invited to Peace’s Easter Week-End:
Good Friday at 7:00 Even to last breath, Jesus was loving the world, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” We hope you will join us for a service that begins around tables with a simple meal of fruit, veggies, and cheese, before transitioning to the Last Supper and a prayerful reading and singing about the last day of Jesus’ life.
Holy Saturday at 10:00 we will pray and set up for Easter worship. If you are bringing memorial lilies or other plants to place at the base of the cross, please email back with names you would like included in the bulletin today. Flowers may be brought on Saturday or Sunday morning. Holy Saturday at 1:00 youth will gather at Gail and Grant Lowe’s house for their eggstravaganza.
Easter morning at 10:00, join us as we celebrate the good news of Christ’s resurrection with the sound of trumpet, bells, strings, and a chorus of hallelujahs! There is no better time to find yourself at Peace, reveling in the truth: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Read 1 Corinthians 15 in preparation for worship) For a deeper reflection on this Holy week-end, please read the attachment.
After worship, children will have an egg hunt. Adults will have an extended time of fellowship, while elders will meet with those who are ready to commit to a shared Christian life in the Peace Presbyterian family at 11:30. Are you ready to join?
Peace to the whole world, loved by God in Jesus Christ!
Elizabeth
Attachments:
• Easter Faith Column by E. Deibert.pdf
This Week at Peace - - March 25, 2012
Dear Peace Family,
I hope you’ve been able to invite a friend for tomorrow’s service. If not, remember that any Sunday is a good time to welcome friends at Peace. Before and after worship we will be sure to be hospitable and converse with our guests, just as we would, if visitors came into our own individual homes. Build some authentic relationships!
Remember that tonight at 7:30 is the “Heaven is for Real” event at McKechnie Field – the story of the little boy’s trip to heaven and back. Tickets are $10.
We encourage you to participate in our Good Friday service from 7:00-8:15 on April 6. We walk through the last day of Jesus’ life, beginning with his last supper , sharing simple finger food around tables of seven (bring cheese, fruit, vegetables) before breaking the unleavened bread (pita for us) and sharing it round the table in communion , remembering the real and mysterious presence of Christ with us. Then a dozen readers, alternating with choral and congregational music, will take us through the hours leading to Christ’s death. The service is somber, meaningful, and is appropriate for elementary children. Three services are at the heart of our faith: Christmas – Christ’s birth, Good Friday – Christ’s death, Easter morning – Christ’ resurrection. Hope you can be present.
Tomorrow we read Jeremiah 31:31-34 and think about the new covenant (in Christ) which is to be written on our hearts.
Remember that members of the Congregational Care Team pray for you by name every day.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
I hope you’ve been able to invite a friend for tomorrow’s service. If not, remember that any Sunday is a good time to welcome friends at Peace. Before and after worship we will be sure to be hospitable and converse with our guests, just as we would, if visitors came into our own individual homes. Build some authentic relationships!
Remember that tonight at 7:30 is the “Heaven is for Real” event at McKechnie Field – the story of the little boy’s trip to heaven and back. Tickets are $10.
We encourage you to participate in our Good Friday service from 7:00-8:15 on April 6. We walk through the last day of Jesus’ life, beginning with his last supper , sharing simple finger food around tables of seven (bring cheese, fruit, vegetables) before breaking the unleavened bread (pita for us) and sharing it round the table in communion , remembering the real and mysterious presence of Christ with us. Then a dozen readers, alternating with choral and congregational music, will take us through the hours leading to Christ’s death. The service is somber, meaningful, and is appropriate for elementary children. Three services are at the heart of our faith: Christmas – Christ’s birth, Good Friday – Christ’s death, Easter morning – Christ’ resurrection. Hope you can be present.
Tomorrow we read Jeremiah 31:31-34 and think about the new covenant (in Christ) which is to be written on our hearts.
Remember that members of the Congregational Care Team pray for you by name every day.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
This Holy Week at Peace - - April 1, 2012
We are fast approaching the Holiest Week of the Year again. Hope you can be present for Palm Sunday, which will begin outdoors at 9:50 with a parade of palms and then inside at 10:00 with a wonderful Gospel Hosanna, but we will quickly move from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the earliest hymn in the Christian church – our scripture lesson from Philippians 2, which tells us that Christ “humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” On April Fools’ Day it is appropriate to remind ourselves of our call to be Fools for Christ, emptying ourselves of all selfish ambition, looking to the interests of others.
Please remember the One Great Hour of Sharing offering by which you can serve the needs of others these next two weeks.
Be here for our 7:00 Good Friday service, where we will move from Last Supper to Last Breath, with readings, prayers, and meditative music.
Our week culminates with a full and joyful Easter morning as we celebrate that indeed Christ is risen and the choir (with more voices than ever) sings, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And he shall reign forever and ever. After worship on Easter, adults will have extended fellowship time to celebrate good news and children will have an egg hunt. (Youth will enjoy an egg-stravaganza at Gail and Grant Lowe’s house the day before from 1-3.)
Bring your own lilies and other Easter flowers to make our Easter morning bright, and if you’d like to remember someone special, you may write back to me now and name the person for our Easter bulletin.
Attached find our Holy Week postcard. We hope you will pick up several to mail or hand to friends or neighbors this Sunday. Also attached are a letter from our General Presbyter, Rev. Graham Hart, about helping people “see Jesus” And a statement from the PC(USA), along with other denominations, about the Trayvon Martin case.
Mark your calendars for the week of April 28-29. The Italian Dinner & Variety Show is on Saturday evening and then Sunday, after worship, a meeting of the whole congregation to hear the progress of the Building Vision Team and meet with the architectural firm, the Lawson Group. Hope you can be there!
If there is any encouragement in Christ...., make my joy complete by being together.... (Phil. 2:1-2 paraphrased)
With love,
Elizabeth
Attachments:
• Easter at Peace
• from Graham Hart, Peace River Presbytery.docx
• CUIC issues statement on killing of Florida teenager.docx
Please remember the One Great Hour of Sharing offering by which you can serve the needs of others these next two weeks.
Be here for our 7:00 Good Friday service, where we will move from Last Supper to Last Breath, with readings, prayers, and meditative music.
Our week culminates with a full and joyful Easter morning as we celebrate that indeed Christ is risen and the choir (with more voices than ever) sings, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And he shall reign forever and ever. After worship on Easter, adults will have extended fellowship time to celebrate good news and children will have an egg hunt. (Youth will enjoy an egg-stravaganza at Gail and Grant Lowe’s house the day before from 1-3.)
Bring your own lilies and other Easter flowers to make our Easter morning bright, and if you’d like to remember someone special, you may write back to me now and name the person for our Easter bulletin.
Attached find our Holy Week postcard. We hope you will pick up several to mail or hand to friends or neighbors this Sunday. Also attached are a letter from our General Presbyter, Rev. Graham Hart, about helping people “see Jesus” And a statement from the PC(USA), along with other denominations, about the Trayvon Martin case.
Mark your calendars for the week of April 28-29. The Italian Dinner & Variety Show is on Saturday evening and then Sunday, after worship, a meeting of the whole congregation to hear the progress of the Building Vision Team and meet with the architectural firm, the Lawson Group. Hope you can be there!
If there is any encouragement in Christ...., make my joy complete by being together.... (Phil. 2:1-2 paraphrased)
With love,
Elizabeth
Attachments:
• Easter at Peace
• from Graham Hart, Peace River Presbytery.docx
• CUIC issues statement on killing of Florida teenager.docx
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