Peace Lutheran Church
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Catechism Winter Session

Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m., Jan. 17-Feb. 21: Open to all 6th and 8th grade youth, Catechism is an opportunity to study and discuss with Pastor Debbie the core elements of our Christian faith and Lutheran traditions.

Pastor Class: “Theology Spoken Here”

Winter session meets on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8 pm beginning Jan. 11 thru Feb 8. The subject is Heaven on Earth - Studies in the Gospel of Matthew. Each week is self-contained. All are welcome to attend.

Peace Church 2012 Cookbook

Rachelle Johnston is compiling this cookbook for purchase in time for Christmas 2012. We will be using an affordable publishing company.

She was inspired to do this after tasting so many wonderful dishes made with the loving hands of so many folks while Dave was recovering. Our community meals and grace dinners certainly attest to the good cooks in our midst. So please share your recipes!

Typing them within an email is preferred; you can send directly to Rachelle or to office@peacechurchbg.org (with "church cookbook" in the subject line), but you are also welcome to drop a copy off in the marked box in the church lobby. Feel free to add any anecdote about the recipe(s). Contact Rachelle to contribute or with your questions.

Special Offerings

Special Offerings are selected by the Share Team and are offered throughout the year as a way for us to stretch our benevolence as an extra expression of thanksgiving to God’s generosity and desire for a just world. The Team encourages you to make a special offering as an expression of thanks to God for something significant or special in your life.

January Special Offering: Wood County Area Ministries [WAM]

WAM assists member churches and organizations help each other in ministry to the underserved in our community. It is open to all Wood County churches and faith-based organizations. Peace Church is one of the founding members. The Special Offering will be used for annual dues and direct service to those needing assistance with rent, utilities, medicine, work transportation, and other basic needs.

Mission Statement: Through understanding, communication, compassion and cooperation, WAM, an interfaith network, will equip and organize its members to better serve the underserved in our community. WAM seeks to meet the basic needs of the people in our community through faith and compassion by empowering them to live self-sufficient and spiritually fulfilled lives.

To contribute please use the pink envelope from your offering box or an envelope marked Special (extras available on songbook shelf).

BG Christian Food Pantry

Especially needed: canned pasta and beef and/or chicken stew. All non-perishable food and hygiene items welcomed. Empty water bottles for detergent are no longer needed. Loose cash offerings on second Sundays of the month are donated to the food pantry for purchases from local food banks. Old cell phones may be donated to help fund services for the Cocoon Shelter. Place items in the blue tub under table near north exit in the church lobby.

God’s Explorers

This Learn offering for elementary youth at the 11 worship time during the Message/Response time provides youngsters a more age appropriate activity to hear and discover God's word. It is dependent on mentors!

Children’s ministry director Rebecca Conklin maintains the mentors’ schedule and provides resources from round table lessons to game playing, from craft activities to service acts. She will also lead the Youth Moment for those mentors who do not wish to include this activity. Interested? Contact Rebecca for more information. No experience necessary. Requires a joy of children, and a willing spirit to learn and discover God’s grace!

Children, as always, are encouraged to participate in the full worship experience. Activity binders for readers and non-readers are on the shelf near sanctuary entrance. A staffed nursery is available for children age 5 and younger.

Cast-Off

Cast-Off Get Together creates handmade items of care, concern and cheer to cast off to others, especially to those experiencing significant need. The meeting dates are changing in January in hopes that more stitchers may be able to join in the fun. We will be meeting the third Saturday of the month at 11 a.m. and the first Monday evening of the month at 6:30 p.m. All skill levels welcome. Group participation is not required to make an item for this ministry.

Items currently under construction are prayer shawls, lap blankets, men’s hats and scarves for residents of the SEARCH program, a pre-release correctional center for men located in Bowling Green, and women’s mittens for residents of Devlac Hall, a women’s addiction treatment center here in BG. Other items, infant caps and blankets are welcome as well. Place in basket at the base of the Lord’s Table for prayer and distribution.

Feed The 5000 Food Drive

The demand for Food Pantry has increased making it a real challenge to keep the shelves stocked. The huge success of last Lent’s 5000 Food Drive sponsored by the Wood County Area Ministries has prompted WAM churches, including Peace, to have a Fall 5000 Food Drive. Peace is again asked to collect rice and naturally sweetened can fruit. Please place these items on the table near the north entrance of the lobby (look for the Food Drive poster.) Other times may be placed in the food pantry tub under table near office door in the lobby. Thank you!

Churchwide Assembly Report

The Twelfth Biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was held Aug. 15-19, 2011, at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

The theme was “Freed in Christ to Serve.” Summary of Actions:

• ELCA Malaria Campaign officially launched
• “Genetics, Faith and Responsibility” social statement adopted
• Review process for social statements adopted
• Living into the Future Together implementing resolutions adopted
• 2012-2013 Budget proposals adopted
• Memorials and constitutional changes adopted

For more information on the work of the assembly, including daily legislative updates, videos and a news blog, visit www.elca.org/assembly.

Prayer Group

Prayer Group is a safe gathering and expression of prayer, centered in trust and openness where joys and concerns, certitudes and doubts are shared and held in confidence by those gathered. The group will meet the third Monday evening at 6:30 p.m.; and the first Saturdays at 10 a.m.. Contact Pastor Debbie if you’d like to learn more.

Habitat Seeks Partner Families

If you or someone you know is in need of decent affordable housing, please see flyer on table in lobby near office. A partner family is a family selected to work with Habitat to build their home. Sweat equity is the time each partner family completes to help with construction of their home: single parent families complete 300 hours; two parent families complete 500 hours.

Prayer Requests / Ministry

Those requesting prayer are asked to notify Pastor Debbie at 419-266-5865 or pastordeb@peacechurchbg.org. She will include them in the Sunday Weekly Notes and Prayers for the People at worship. She will also share them with the Prayer Wheel Ministry, a confidential email list. To join this ministry, please contact Pastor Debbie.

Please keep in mind Patient Privacy Act precludes hospitals or other care facilities to contact Pastor Debbie without your permission. Please include her as a contact on your registration so that she may be notified.

A Prayer

As the psalmist declares God’s compassion is over all that God has made. God’s compassion is over all that God has made in the Gulf of Mexico. God’s compassion is over all the sea creatures who are suffering, all who have died in the waters there and over all life that has been destroyed. God’s compassion is over all who are working tirelessly to lessen the massive environmental damage. God’s compassion is over the coastlands, the land and the fragile wetlands threatened by the oil spill. With God’s compassion over us all, and over all of creation, we pray that human compassion will respond to bring life and justice to all that God has made, and that we will not turn away but increase our willingness to suffer with those who are in need. Amen

In Haiti, There is Anguish

Text: Copyright © 2010 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  All rights reserved. Carolyn visited Haiti on a mission trip when she was a Lebanon Valley College student.  Permission is given for use by those who support Church World Service (Includes ELCA).

In Haiti, There is Anguish - A song of dedication for those suffering in Haiti from the recent earthquake. Tune: ST. CHRISTOPHER 76868686 ("Beneath the Cross of Jesus")

In Haiti, there is anguish that seems too much to bear;
A land so used to sorrow now knows even more despair.
From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above;
In all the sorrow, pain and death, where are you, God of love?
A woman sifts through rubble, a man has lost his home,
A hungry, orphaned toddler sobs, for she is now alone.
Where are you, Lord, when thousands die—the rich, the poorest poor?
Were you the very first to cry for all that is no more?
O God, you love your children; you hear each lifted prayer!
May all who suffer in that land know you are present there.
In moments of compassion shown, in simple acts of grace,
May those in pain find healing balm, and know your love's embrace.
Where are you in the anguish?   Lord, may we hear anew
That anywhere your world cries out, you're there-- and suffering, too.
And may we see, in others' pain, the cross we're called to bear;
Send out your church in Jesus' name to pray, to serve, to share.

The Healing Ritual

On occasion Peace offers a healing ritual during its worship service. Participation is always by invitation and one is welcome to participate as they desire.

From Evangelical Lutheran Worship: “The order is an expression in worship of the church’s ministry of healing . . . it does not replace the gifts of God that come through the scientific community, nor does it promise a cure. Rather the church offers and celebrates gifts such as these: God’s presence with strength and comfort in time of suffering, God’s promise of wholeness and peace, and God’s love embodied in the community of faith. (p. 276)

Remember: Health means more than the absence of disease. Sick relationships can be more life threatening than sick bodies. Reconciliation with God is our greatest need, and that is ours in Christ. Faith is accepting this gift. Sickness is not evidence of sin. It is part of life this side of the grave.

Healing is not a matter of whether but when. Everyone will experience healing and ultimately resurrection. The Healing Liturgy is an expanded version of the petition, Your Kingdom Come! Do not limit God’s healing in your life. Not receiving the healing you seek does not mean you have not experienced God’s healing touch.

Modern medicine is filled with miracles. Avoid the trap. “If you believe, you will receive.” Healing is not a matter of “believing enough.” Faith is a response to what we have been given. We do not receive a reward for our faith. Faith is trusting in the goodness of God – sometimes because of what we experience, often in spite of it.

Smile!

Our web/communications team will continue taking occasional pictures of our sharing, learning and celebrating Christ. Some of these will find their way to the Peace web site and other printed publications. If you would like not to be included, please advise Pastor Debbie.

Internet

Wireless High-Speed Internet is now available within the church building for anyone to use. Enjoy!

Peace Email List

Are you currently on the Peace email list? If you've received an e-note from Pastor Debbie in the last month the answer is yes. If not, please forward your address to her at: pastordeb@peacechurchbg.org and get on the list for timely updates and requests.

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