Twas Blind But Now I See!

It is good to back home in Florida with you after traveling with Rebecca to nine colleges in several states this week.   My gratitude to Bill Clough for preparing the sermon this week, so that I could be away. 

He will be preaching on John 9, the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam.   If you remember mud in the eyes and arguments about whether the man was truly born blind, whether it was his fault or his parents, whether Jesus should be and could be performing such healing miracles….that’s the story!   I look forward to worshipping with you and celebrating communion.

Remember that the Outreach Team is offering plants for you to give to friends, family, and neighbors to invite them to Holy Week services – April 13-20 – but they need to know how many you’d like.   Email me back a number or sign up tomorrow.  Did you know that three out of four people who are not connected to a church say they would go if someone invited them.

There will be a painting the nursery party on April 6th at noon. 

The youth are grillin and chillin tomorrow at 4:00.

How's your Lenten discipline of simplicity going?   Rebecca and I stayed with family and at a cheap hotel on the way home and saved several hundred dollars for the One Great Hour of Sharing.

If you are joining Peace on April 6, we are very pleased.   Please pick up a new members packet and complete the form attached (or paper one) by Tuesday and if you’ve not attended the All About Peace and the Presbys class, you can come tomorrow at 9:45.

Other classes tomorrow:   Struggles with Adult Children, Nooma, and Exploring the God Question.

Hope a few more of you can come to 8:30 worship tomorrow for the next several weeks.

Peace to you,

Elizabeth

Attachments

membership data revised.doc

Thirsty Souls

Jesus has a thirsty body and he encounters a thirsty soul in the Woman at the Well.  That's only name we have for her -- Woman at the Well.   But she teaches us a lot -- about ourselves, about Jesus, about sharing good news.   Read John 4 to learn more.

The Mission Team will challenge us to the Disciplines of Simplicity and Generosity for the rest of Lent -- spending less so we can share more by giving to the One Great of Hour of Sharing (which we will collect on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday).  I guess we will have three great hours of sharing and we're aiming for $3000 or more to help with hunger, poverty, and disaster relief -- both here and abroad.

The Youth are sharing lunch at noon and going to see the movie, Son of God at 2:00 on Sunday.

The Outreach Team wants you to begin considering whom you will invite to share Palm Sunday or Easter at Peace.   They will provide you a small potted plant on April 6 with invitation card for as many friends, family, neighbors, colleagues you might plan to invite.   Give it some prayerful thought and sign up.

Here's our Holy Week Schedule:

Palm Sunday 8:30, 11:00 plus lunch and activities

Worship at 8:30 and 11:00, Lively Learning at 9:45

12:00-2:00 Lunch, egg hunt, fishing, tethered balloon rides!

Maundy Thursday 7:00-8:00

Simple supper, scripture, communion, and song around tables with theme of Christ's and our loving sacrifice.

Good Friday 7:00-8:00

Three dramatic readings from John's passion narrative, meaningful music, prayers.  Service ends outside at sunset around our wooden cross in the spot where our sanctuary will be.

Easter Sunday 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00

Three joyful celebrations of the Resurrection!

Try not to miss any of these special events at heart of the Christian faith!

Peace,

Elizabeth

Courage!

Dear Peace People and Friends,

Tomorrow we will commission our new part-time Parish Associate for Ministry to Youth and Families, the Rev. Neil MacQueen.  Neil brings creativity and experience to the world of Christian education, having founded the Workshop Rotation model of Sunday school, and developed the company, Sunday Software.   Some of his Bible learning video games are now set up in the “Surf Shack” - one of the youth rooms in the north hall.  We are blessed to have the faithful and fun Neil serving on our staff!

Last night at Peace’s Faith and Film night, we viewed “The Butler” and had a meaningful discussion of what it means to be courageous.   If you’ve seen it, you know that both the main character, Cecil and his son, Louis, were each courageous in their own way as they faced racism during the civil rights era and beyond.

In worship we will focus on courageous characters in the Bible – among them are Esther, Abraham & Sarah, Joshua, and of course, Jesus.   We will not forget that courageous patron saint of Ireland this week-end.

Hope you might have the courage to join us Sunday, especially if you have not been at Peace lately. 

And if you've been coming a while, consider the All About Peace class to prepare for membership in April.

An interesting new class begins tomorrow at 9:45 in our Fellowship Cafe' -- Exploring the God Question:  Science, God, & the Search for Truth.  All are welcome. 

Mark your calendars now for Holy Week Services – April 13 is Palm Sunday, 17th at 7 is Maundy Thursday, 18th at 7 is Good Friday, and 20th at 8, 9:30, and 11:00 – Easter!

Peace and courage be with you and with all whose family members or friends were on the missing airplane.

Pastor Elizabeth

 

Barbershop, Baby, Being Presby, Bible

Dear Peaceful Friends,

This is your reminder that the clock is springing forward on Saturday night/Sunday morning.    But before you change the clock you might like to hear the Sandpiper Barbershop Chorus at Peace at 7:00.  A freewill offering will be collected for Peace Youth Music.

Sunday morning at 9:30, we will enjoy an informal and brief celebration of birth and adoption of Andy Thornton.  Gifts for eight-pound Andy and his sisters may be added to this moment of love and admiration. 

All About Peace and the Presbyterians is a great class for those considering membership in April.   It will be held this Sunday at 9:45 in the Gathering Room.

The Lenten Bible Study and Soup for Women at 12:00 and 6:30 begins next Thursday night.  

Thank you to all, especially Debby Sunkenberg, who made the Pancake Brinner a rousing success!   After all that hard work, youth, please enjoy a Sabbath rest this Sunday afternoon.    Then next Saturday, come to the Camphire’s Irish party and connect with Pastor Neil.

Blessings,

Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

Ash Wednesday and a New Pastor

Lent marks the 40 weekdays (excluding Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Easter Eve and is a season of solidarity with Christ’s suffering.  It is a time of sacrifice, sensitivity to the suffering of others, and growth in faithfulness to God.  We will begin Lent like millions of Christians around the world, receiving the mark of the cross on our foreheads with ashes burned from last year’s Palm Sunday branches.  We hope to see you at our Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00.  Choir rehearsal will follow at 7:45.

On the first Sunday of Lent, we will read the story of Jesus’ forty-day fast and resistance to temptation from Matthew 4.  Music will take a reflective, minor tone.

Don’t forget the Barbershop Chorus Concert this Saturday evening at 7:00.

And now for the latest news:  Pending approval of Peace River Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, our friend Rev. Neil MacQueen will be our new Parish Associate for Ministry to Youth, Young Adults, and Families.  Ordained in 1985, Neil brings eighteen years of pastoral experience, most of it focused on ministry to children, youth, and families.  A person of creativity and vision, he founded the Workshop Rotation Model of Christian Education and a Christian education software company, both of which still keep him busy part-time. The Search Team and Session agreed that Neil is the right person for our part-time position.  Read below words from Neil’s resume:

Children and Youth Ministry has been God's call to me since I was in High School. I love spending time with young people, and enjoy being part of their personal and spiritual journey. I love working with youth leaders, teachers, and parents too, -because it does take a village. I believe a vision for youth and children's ministry is inseparable from a ministry to parents and families, and hope you do too. Such ministry should be relational, relaxed, relevant, real, ...and fun. I hope those qualities describe me as well.

Hope to see you on Wednesday and Sunday!

Lenten peace,

Elizabeth