This Week at Peace - - July 22,2012

Dear Peace Family, Tonight at 7:00, before the session meeting, we will have a time of prayer for our friends at First Presbyterian, Sarasota, whose beautiful sixteen year old daughter, Leanna, died today.   Many of our youth are feeling this loss with the Knopik family, as are Clay and Tricia and many others who have been praying so hard for Leanna.   All of you are welcome to come tonight to pray for the peace that passes all understanding in this time of loss.  This Sunday at Peace you will have the opportunity during Lively Learning to hear from Elder Jim Padula about the General Assembly, the national meeting of the PC(USA) which happens every two years.   In worship Sunday we will read the epistle that was our focus on the day Peace was officially chartered as a church nearly three years ago.   Ephesians 2:8-22 helps us to see what Paul means when he  opens his letters with “Grace to you and peace.”  What does it mean to be a grace-filled church named Peace?   What does it mean to say that in Christ, all walls are down?   What does it mean to be saved by grace through faith?   Come, discover with us. VBS Flyer attached. Peace be with you, Elizabeth Attachments: VBS Flyer 2012.pdf

This Week at Peace - - July 15, 2012

<>   Dear Friends, It was great to see many of you returning from vacations last week.   Our attendance jumped from 80 to 120.    With choir back tomorrow, I expect we will be even stronger in worship.   Thank you for supporting the car wash and lemonade stand last week with $433 of generous giving. Some of you have asked where we are with building plans.   The Building Vision Team will meet again with architects and builder on August 2 to hear several options on how to scale back to an affordable first phase building project.  In the meantime, we are still grateful for the gift of our current ministry center, and for all who work so faithfully to set up weekly for worship.   We are building the church and the church is YOU! Many of our middle schoolers left for the Montreat Conference at Presbyterian College this morning.   They will also enjoy a few days at a family lakehouse in S.C. with Pastor Tricia and Suzi Regulski and the First Presbyterian youth. Tomorrow Marilyn Tucker preaches her first sermon for a congregation.  She has boldly chosen a challenging Gospel lesson – Mark 6:14-29, the story of the death of John the Baptist.   Her sermon will explore the question, “Where is God?”   Don’t forget that she has just initiated a Bible study each Wednesday night at 7:00 to explore the coming lectionary passages. Vacation Bible School is coming soon – week-end of July 27-29.   Find attached a flyer, or pick one up at church.  Offer support to Mary Ann and crew by bringing items on the board. Also, please collect your giving statements with our deep gratitude for the way you support Peace with your time, talent, and your treasure.   You demonstrate your values by the way you live.  God is smiling when you give! Peace to all, Elizabeth   Attachments: VBS Flyer 2012.pdf

This Week at Peace - July 8, 2012

Peacemakers, I have reflected a lot this week on what it means to build a community of peace, as we say in our mission statement.   How far can I (and we) go in expressing personal opinions before we begin to crowd out someone else who has a different view?    What is the right spirit and forum for discussions of a controversial nature?    How can we as a church model the kind of respectful dialogue that creates space for healthy discussion?    I return to the often-quoted line “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, love.”    Jim Padula and the other GA commissioners will be completing their work in Pittsburgh in a few hours.    It appears that this assembly has done a good job of taking moderate stances.   Many have said that too much more change at this juncture would make unity difficult. Tomorrow we read Mark 6:1-13 the story of Jesus’ loss of power when the people question his authority.   He then sends out disciples in twos, telling them if they are not welcomed to shake the dust off their feet and move on.   We welcome a new member and affiliate, both under 25 years of age! Don’t forget that we have a second fund-raiser for Cedarkirk scholarships for our children and youth, who will be serving lemonade and washing cars during lively learning.    We appreciate the generosity of this church. See attached a flyer and registration form for Peace’s first VBS, a week-end of fun at the end of July.    Please print and share, or pick up copies tomorrow at church. Peace to you, Elizabeth   Attachments: VBS Flyer 2012.pdf RegistrationForm.pdf

This Week at Peace - - July 1, 2012

Dear Peace-makers, I’m back at Peace and hoping you will be back soon too.   And for those who never left, big thanks for keeping the ship sailing while some of us traveled.  The Montreat Worship and Music Conference was sheer delight for me, as I played trumpet in the orchestra, sang with hundreds of people who love God and love music.  Beyond the joy of inspiring daily worship, it is always great to spent time with family away from the pressures of work.  We all need Sabbath time to remember that God is God, and the world will keep turning without our labor.  Speaking of hard work, remember to pray for Jim Padula and all who are commissioners to our national church meeting, called the General Assembly which happens every 2 years.  The Assembly begins tomorrow in Pittsburgh.   To be informed of daily summaries call 1-800-728-7228, ext. 2012, or 502-569-5000, ext. 2012. Or go to http://www.pcusa.org/news/   This Sunday I am preaching on two stories which collide in Mark 5 – the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage and the raising of Jairis’ daughter.   Both stories teach us the power of trust for healing.  They show us Jesus’ eager desire to bring health to a poor, outcast woman, as well to a girl from a wealthy family.  Seminary intern Marilyn Tucker has prepared two new initiatives at Peace.  On summer Sunday mornings, she will lead lively learning activities for children and youth, and on Wednesday nights beginning July 11, she will lead a lectionary study group for youth and adults.  Pastor Tricia has done such a good job with our growing youth group, that we are looking for more scholarship money for camps and conferences, due to high numbers of participation.  Remember that these times away can be life-transforming moments for faith development.   If you’d like to help a kid get to Cedarkirk, please write a check to Peace with Cedarkirk in the memo.  Stayed tuned for future youth fund-raisers.   You were very generous on lemonade/carwash day recently. Week-end VBS is coming soon to Peace – July 27-29.   Have you invited all the children you know? With gratitude, Pastor Elizabeth