Exciting News for Peace!

Exciting news!   We now have a contract to purchase the Aurora Ministries Property on Hwy 64 and a zoning application turned in to the county office!   You are invited to tour the property on Sunday, June 30 at 11:30 or Saturday, July 6 at 2:00.  There will be a Congregational Meeting on July 7 after worship to hear the Building Vision Team’s report, ask questions, and make a decision regarding this new potential site for Peace.   If you have questions, please ask Don Simpson or Bob Donaldson.

Great generosity!   We have secured a $23,250 grant from the Presbyterian Church of Dunedin to assist us in securing a permanent home.  Thanks to Sue Seiter for making the connection with Dunedin.  We are grateful to God for the connectional PC(USA) and for people like Dana Francher, whose generosity exceeds her length of life, and enables her congregation to be a blessing to others

Montreat Magic!  It was wonderful to arrive for the final worship service with the youth on June 14, concluding with candlelight around Lake Susan in Montreat, and a surprise good-bye party for Pastor Tricia, orchestrated entirely by the youth.

This week in Montreat over 1000 people – children, youth, and adults of all ages – are attending the Worship & Music Conference, the largest annual gathering of Presbyterians!   I hope that many of you will consider attending next year.  Even if you don’t want to make music with the bells or the choirs or the instrumental groups, you would be inspired by the daily worship in the beautiful setting of these mountains.

BOOKS FOR BETH-EL – Beginning June 23rd and continuing through July 7th, the children and youth are sponsoring a book collection for Beth-El.  Please consider donating any gently used children’s books. If you have none in your collection at home, please consider visiting the Goodwill Book Store and purchasing a child’s book to donate.  Picture books through upper-elementary level are welcome -– but especially those for younger children.  Donation bins will be in the entry area each Sunday through until July 7th.

Stay tuned for some Family Summer Fellowship activities happening soon!

Grant Lowe is leading worship on Sunday.   He will help the congregation explore the meaning of “Thy Kingdom Come.”

Peace to you all,

Elizabeth

Dear Friends,

Here’s a little Peace news for the next couple of weeks:

The Building Vision Team has approached Manatee County officials with our zoning application for the new potential property.  We hope a contract will follow.  We know you will want a full report before voting about this new prospective home for Peace.  The Outreach Team is working on a new set of outside greeters, while the Stewardship Team is recruiting people to serve as “buddies” to new members.

I will be in Montreat, NC from June 14-30 arriving for the last evening worship with the youth, attending the Worship & Music Conference, and spending a week with my family, ending the time with a nephew’s wedding.  In an emergency, you may reach me at: 941-779-4900, but otherwise, take good care of one another – as our text last week said, “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another.”

Bill Kemp will be preaching and celebrating this Sunday on Galatians 2:15-21 and Luke 7:36-50: “A Doctrine that Doesn’t Like Walls.”  Grant Lowe brings the Word and Sacrament on the 23^rd.   His text is Matthew 6:9-13, most particularly, the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer:  “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done.”  Neil MacQueen is taking the lead on Sunday, the 30th, and he says his sermon is already taking shape in his head, as he packs up boxes to move with the family to a new house.

Faithful Director Gia will be back from the Youth Conference and back in the office sometime next week.  Family Choir begins on July 7^th – Sunday rehearsals at 9:15. 

Peaceful Moms (with kids under 21) Sleepover at Eirinn Camphire's house on July 5 at 5:00 will be fun.  Sounds like eight are already looking forward to it.

Thanks to Tricia for posting on Peace’s Facebook page this three minute taste of the youth conference at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JI0AmBNEPU . 

If you are traveling, go with the grace and peace of Christ.  Hope to see you soon.

Prayerfully,

Elizabeth

 

 

 

Even if you do not have children in school, even if you are not an educator, you can still relate to the exuberant feeling of summer.  School’s out, exams are done, Tropical Storm Andrea has passed, and our youth leave tomorrow for a week of faith development and fun in Montreat!  Pray for them and their chaperones.   Give thanks for them.  Listen to them talk about their experiences when they return. They have the added blessing of one final week with Pastor Tricia, who is joining them for this week, as planned.

Speaking of Tricia, here’s a note from her yesterday: 
Dear Peace Family,
From the perfect meal of fried chicken to the gifts, songs, videos, and massage, I want to thank you all for your generous expressions of love you all presented to me and my family last Sunday. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for each of you and for our time together at Peace. Thank you all so much.
Much love and many blessings, Tricia

Tricia and Clay put an offer on a house in Chattanooga this week.  We will miss them, but wish them God’s richest blessings with their new church family, Rivermont.  In addition to spending this week with the Peace youth and all the details of moving, Tricia is co-director of two weeks of Montreat Youth Conferences in July.   Keep her in your prayers.  Our Search Team (Drew, Dana, Grant, Shirley, Dan, Liz, and Rebecca) will meet with me in July to begin to guide the session in sorting out what’s next with Peace’s ministry to youth and families.

This Sunday I am leading us to take a deeper look at what it means to have good relational harmony in a church named Peace whose mission is to make God known by growing as disciples of Jesus Christ, building a community of peace, and caring for the needs of others.   Read Romans 12:9-21 to prepare for worship.   Thanks to Linda, assistant organist, who is giving Gia an opportunity to be in Montreat with the youth.

And for all who are new to Peace, and for all who want to learn more about church history, and for all who wonder why there are so many different kinds of Presbyterians, and for all who want to know what it means to be in the Reformed tradition and how that is similar or different from other traditions, and for all who would like to know how Peace is organized for ministry and mission, please stay Sunday at 11:30 for All about Peace & the Presbyterians.  Prospective members, be there if you can.

And by the way, the Adult Education Team has decided that it might be meaningful to have Worship Reflection Class each week over the summer since we are not moving yet.  Those with kids, please make sure Damaris understands, if you are needing her supervision during second hour, and let’s see that she gets the support she needs.

Peace to you,

Elizabeth

 

Peaceful Friends,

This Sunday is Pastor Tricia’s last with us.   She will be preaching on the story of Hannah praying for a child and then devoting that child to God.   Read I Samuel 1:1-28 to prepare for tomorrow and ponder what it means to devote what you love and who you love to God. 

After worship, at approximately 11:30, we will have a gratitude lunch for Pastor Tricia, saying farewell to her, and to Fields and Mason.   (Wells went home with Grandma.)  If you did not sign up to bring food, no worries.   You can toss some money in the basket to help cover the cost of the fried chicken.  There will be plenty!   Come, one and all, let’s sing, laugh, share memories, and give thanks to the Spirit of God for the time we have shared at Peace with Pastor Tricia.

The Cedarkirk Staff (about 30 church camp counselors and directors) will be with us for worship only, so welcome them warmly.   Kids, meet the counselors and ask questions about camp.

Christ’s Peace to every single one of you and to all whom you love,

Elizabeth