This Week at Peace: October 2014

Friday, October 24, 2014

Reformation Sunday - Kilts welcome!

Dear Peacemakers,

We had a Wonderful Wednesday this week as we welcomed thirty children from the community, along with their parents for a great dinner (thanks Sue and Marnie) and program called “Let’s B Safe” thanks to your Peace and Global Witness Offering, 25% of which is to be used locally.

We are continuing our stewardship season with Putting God First in Living and Giving. “First” Devotional books are available for those who will use them at home. The video and discussion classShiny Gods, led by the Gratitude Team, will continue in the café. We had excellent attendance! If you missed the first day, no worries. You can come any one or more of the four weeks. Mark your calendar for the Gratitude Feast on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00.

This Sunday our friend, Rev. Dr. Taylor Hill, is preaching on the Great Commandment. Pastor Neil is coming in his Scottish kilt to celebrate Reformation Sunday. He and Rev. Dr. Clough (rhymes with enough), known to us as Bill, will be celebrating at table. The Gospel Guys are singing at early service and the choir will surely show up in full number for the 11:00! Richard and I will officiate at Marilyn Tucker’s installation at Forsyth Presbyterian Church in S. Georgia on Sunday.

Counting my blessings, many of which are YOU! What a talented, devoted, and generous group of people you are!

With love,

Pastor Elizabeth

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Saturday, October 18, 2014

New Elders, New Class, New Members

This Sunday at Peace we will have a brief congregational meeting at 9:30 to elect elders for the class of 2017, and one youth elder for a year’s term. The nominating committee recommends the following people for ordination and/or installation: Barb Day (Fellowship Team), Matt Grantham (Youth), Linda Kocourek (Gratitude Team), Anderson Kajang (Worship Team), and Don Simpson (Building Vision Team). If you have any concerns about the ability of these persons to serve in a leadership role, please write back to me.

After the congregational meeting, grab a coffee and participate in the four-week class offered by the Gratitude Team in the Café’ – Shiny Gods: Finding Freedom from Things that Distract Us, a video-based discussion of what it mean to put God first in living and giving.

The Mission Team will be distributing brochures for the Halloween Food Drive, and we’re gearing up for our Outreach Event on Wonderful Wednesday, the 22^nd – Let’s Be Safe. We need warm and friendly faces to help us welcome at least sixty guests.

Our scripture for Sunday, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, invites us to put all our hope in God rather than material wealth -- “to do good, be rich in good works, generous and ready to share…so we may take hold of the life that really is life.”

We will say good-bye to old friends and welcome a few new ones on Sunday. Hope everyone will be back this week. God wants to see you in worship and so do we!

Peace,

Pastor Elizabeth

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Wednesday and Sunday

Just to remind you our regular Wonderful Wednesdays begin tonight with dinner at 5:45, praise and prayer at 6:30, and small groups at 6:45. Choir members and elder nominees will stay on from 7:30-9:00. Yes, a full but fun night for everyone. Food will be generously provided by Sue Donovan and Marnie Whitehead, and we hope you will toss in about $4 per teen/adult to cover expenses. Adult groups will be led by Dana Scott and Chip Schaaff -- Christian Living and Peacefulness and by Prof. Shannon Jung -- Faith, Poverty, and Affluence.

Sunday we will be blessed to consider the great Philippians 4: Rejoice in the Lord always...Do not worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made know to God, and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." See if you can memorize that before Sunday! Send me any messages you get from the Holy Spirit as you do so.

In case you are curious, the Session will be considering the new sanctuary design and elevations at their Thursday meeting this week. If the essence of design is approved, the Building Vision Team will ask the architect and builder for a more detailed design with cost estimates. We hope to share these with the congregation at our annual meeting in late January. Then we will begin fund-raising for that building in earnest. This fall's pledge campaign (Gratitude Season) will be focused on the operational needs of Peace for ministry and mission. You are a generous church!

Keep the commandments and keep praying! God is with you.

Elizabeth

Saturday, October 4, 2014

World Communion Sunday

About seventy-five of us had a Wonderful Wednesday at the International Food Festival this week. If you missed it, we hope you might come next Wednesday.   We learned some Twi from Ghana, Shona from Congo, Spanish from Argentina, and some Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic for our worship on Sunday. Sounds difficult, but it’s not – really.

We trust you will sing along with us for World Communion Sunday, when we will hear the Ten Commandments and consider their ethical promise for a peaceful existence together on God’s good earth. Don't forget the special Peace & Global Witness Offering (especially the children of Syria).

Tomorrow – Saturday at 9:00 – is a work day on the property.   Inside and outside jobs are available for anyone who would enjoy two hours of comradery.   Also tomorrow at 10:00 Toni Muirhead will lead the first meeting of the Peaceful Potters. (bring some money for supplies, which Toni is providing).

There’s a blood drive on Sunday for all who are able to give.

I have heard that all three adult classes – Jesus and the Gospels, the Robin Williams Memorial Class on Mental Illness, and the Wired Word are going well. Thanks, leaders and participants.

In fact, they’ve been so good, I can’t get any folks considering membership to attend my All About Peace and the Presbyterians class!   Do I need to offer this on a Saturday morning?   Next joining day is October 17, assuming that works for our new friends at Peace.

Lastly, an invitation to all early birds to attend the 8:30 service. There are about fifty to seventy-five really friendly people there.   Later service is getting a bit crowded.   Come early, if it suits you!

Peace to all,

Elizabeth

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