| Saturday is International Day of Peace and an exciting day of relationship-building at Peace Church! The Brothers of Peace have a second golf outing – this one in Englewood where Drew Jordan works. The Sisters of Peace will walk and pray per usual at 8:30. Eight Peace youth and their chaperones are leaving around 8:00 for a fun day at Cedarkirk with other Presbyterian teens. A few folks will gather briefly at the new Aurora property at 10:00 for more vision work related to room usage. The single women of Peace are sharing a Saturday night dinner (call Ivy 359-1320) and the Peace Dinner Groupies have decided to go to Gecko's Grill and Pub (SR 70), Twelve Oaks Plaza, 7228 55th Ave., E. Bradenton on Saturday evening at 5:30. Call Martha Waldrop (776-1146) if you’d like to join in – all are welcome! On Sunday, we will read from Genesis 28 the story of Jacob’s dream of the ladder, a sign to him of the faithful presence of God in his life. I’m hearing great reviews of the new Bible class – the Sermon on the Mount and of Nooma, Rob Bell’s video-based guide to seeing life from a Spirit-ual perspective. The youth and children are settling into their new lively learning opportunities. If you peek into the Middle School room, you’ll want to stay after you see the wonderful new chairs they’ve added. If you’ve been thinking of making Peace your church home – officially – this Sunday is a great one to sit down with the elders at 11:30 to swap a few life stories. We love new family members at Peace, but we try to give you all the space and time you need! Pray for our nominating committee and for those who are considering nomination to serve as elders for the next three-year term. We will have an election in early October. Speaking of early October, remember our international food festival on October 6 after worship. Sign up to help and plan to enjoy! Pray for Peace Church and for peace in our homes, communities, and around the world! Spend more time praying for peace and working for peace in small ways all around you, than fretting over all the places where there is no peace. Peace to all of you! Elizabeth |
Friday, September 20, 2013
Doing Right!
Dear Peacemakers,
Bill Clough’s sermon this Sunday will invite you to do the right thing – no matter what day it is! The Gospel lesson is Luke 13:10-17, a story of Jesus healing on the Sabbath. I’m sorry to miss worshiping with you, but we are flying to N. Carolina to celebrate my mom’s birthday and our son’s family week-end at college. We will return on Monday afternoon.
Youth – don’t forget that Sunday is Survivor Games on Turtle Beach with First Presbyterian, Sarasota at 12:30. Matt and Jenny are chaperoning. Bring some money, in case you need to pick up lunch on the way.
Kids Club – don’t forget that you are rocking out with a Christian Praise Band, after sharing lunch on Sunday.
Everyone – don’t forget that our International Food Festival is next Sunday, October 6th after worship. Bring food or décor from one of these countries: Argentina, Cameroon, China, England, Jamaica, Haiti, Madagascar, Poland, and Spain. Dress in ANY kind of international clothing you might have. We will collect the World Communion/Peacemaking Offering.
Most importantly, pray for peace for people everywhere. You may use the attached document, A Season of Peace for your daily devotions over the next month, as we prepare for the visit of our international peacemakers from Madagascar. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
With love and gratitude,
Pastor Elizabeth
Bill Clough’s sermon this Sunday will invite you to do the right thing – no matter what day it is! The Gospel lesson is Luke 13:10-17, a story of Jesus healing on the Sabbath. I’m sorry to miss worshiping with you, but we are flying to N. Carolina to celebrate my mom’s birthday and our son’s family week-end at college. We will return on Monday afternoon.
Youth – don’t forget that Sunday is Survivor Games on Turtle Beach with First Presbyterian, Sarasota at 12:30. Matt and Jenny are chaperoning. Bring some money, in case you need to pick up lunch on the way.
Kids Club – don’t forget that you are rocking out with a Christian Praise Band, after sharing lunch on Sunday.
Everyone – don’t forget that our International Food Festival is next Sunday, October 6th after worship. Bring food or décor from one of these countries: Argentina, Cameroon, China, England, Jamaica, Haiti, Madagascar, Poland, and Spain. Dress in ANY kind of international clothing you might have. We will collect the World Communion/Peacemaking Offering.
Most importantly, pray for peace for people everywhere. You may use the attached document, A Season of Peace for your daily devotions over the next month, as we prepare for the visit of our international peacemakers from Madagascar. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
With love and gratitude,
Pastor Elizabeth
Attachments
Friday, September 13, 2013
Molded by God
This Sunday we welcome more new members and think
about what it means to be “Clay in the Hands of God,” as we read Jeremiah
18:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 4:7-11. You would do well to read these
verses before Sunday. Over the week-end at Peace we have Movie
Night (Fri 7), Mom’s Night Out (Sat 6:30), and Youth Pool
Party and Parents’ meeting (Sun 4)
I have not allowed myself to get excited early about our new property on Hwy 64 because we are still waiting for zoning approval to close in November. But now it is impossible to hold back the dreams of all the things God can do with us in a new, permanent home. It is not perfect, but there is so much potential. I am much more enthusiastic about this building and land than I ever was for the Faith Church property. The Outreach and Building Vision Teams are meeting together to discuss signage – permanent signage – after eight years of hassling with signs up and signs down every week-end.
Our prayers continue to be with all who are struggling, especially the Seiter family. Our Stephen Ministers are active supporting people who need extra support, and the Congregational Care Team prays for every single one of you – every day. Pray also for the Nominating Committee, discerning the next class of elders for Peace.
Last but not least, let us remember to pray for peace in Syria and other troubled regions of the world, even as we prepare for our World Communion/Peacemaking Sunday, where we will enjoy a food festival and peacemaking activities for children after worship. A special offering taken that day will support our own peacemaking efforts, as well as peace around the world. Two peacemakers from Madagascar are coming to speak to us on Thursday, October 17. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Peace to you!
Elizabeth
I have not allowed myself to get excited early about our new property on Hwy 64 because we are still waiting for zoning approval to close in November. But now it is impossible to hold back the dreams of all the things God can do with us in a new, permanent home. It is not perfect, but there is so much potential. I am much more enthusiastic about this building and land than I ever was for the Faith Church property. The Outreach and Building Vision Teams are meeting together to discuss signage – permanent signage – after eight years of hassling with signs up and signs down every week-end.
Our prayers continue to be with all who are struggling, especially the Seiter family. Our Stephen Ministers are active supporting people who need extra support, and the Congregational Care Team prays for every single one of you – every day. Pray also for the Nominating Committee, discerning the next class of elders for Peace.
Last but not least, let us remember to pray for peace in Syria and other troubled regions of the world, even as we prepare for our World Communion/Peacemaking Sunday, where we will enjoy a food festival and peacemaking activities for children after worship. A special offering taken that day will support our own peacemaking efforts, as well as peace around the world. Two peacemakers from Madagascar are coming to speak to us on Thursday, October 17. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Peace to you!
Elizabeth
Friday, September 6, 2013
Lively Learning September 8th!
Life is chocked full of both joys and sorrows. Our joy this week at Peace is in celebrating
the baptisms of David, Zoe, and Amanda Thornton. Our sorrow is over Bob Seiter’s stroke. Sue appreciates your prayers, cards, and
emails.
This Sunday we read of the inescapable presence of God in
our lives in Psalm 139. Our Autumn Lively Learning begins again with classes for all ages at 11:30!
- PK-2nd graders are in Godly Play, where they engage the major stories of the Christian faith with wonder and creativity.
- 3rd-5th graders are in the Lion’s Den where they will delve into Paul’s letters using the We Believe curriculum.
- Middle School Voyagers will travel this fall with Joseph (of the OT) to discover that even when others do you harm, God intends him it for good.
- High Schoolers will connect the Bible to their modern lives in meaningful ways.
- The Sermon on the Mount -- a devotional conversation on the heart of Jesus' teaching.
- Nooma – a video-based series by Rob Bell promoting spiritual reflection on life’s experiences.
- Worship Reflection – a discussion of worship & its connections to your life.
- All About Peace and the Presbys – a one-session overview for prospective members.
On Saturday morning, Ministry Team Leaders and Elders are
going to the new building on Saturday at 10:00 to begin a discussion of room
usage. Meanwhile, some faithful chair
loaders are meeting Jim Robinson at Pine Shores Presbyterian at 6116 Crestwood
Ave in Sarasota at 9:00 to collect the 150 chairs they are storing for us. Others are needed at 10:30 at the new
Walmart on Hwy70 and I75, where you will travel together to a “free” storage
unit where those chairs can be cleaned and stored until we can put them in our
new chapel. If you can help with
cleaning or moving chairs, please contact Jim and Sherry Robinson. 907 8041 or e mail: kjamesrobinson@hotmail.com
The peace of Christ be with you all!Elizabeth
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