Peace Lutheran Church
Weekly Notes

TABLE CHAT & DAILY TOUCH

Are you looking for a safe, inclusive space to chat about faith, its questions, doubts and strengths?

Are you looking for some time of abiding with genuine feelings, be they fearful, regretful, worrisome, reflective, expectant, and more?

Thursday Table Chat returns April 24 at 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 is the place!

The Daily Touch offers a devotion, prayer and often a recipe, Monday thru Saturday at our Facebook Page and sent to the e-list.

Not on the list and want to be?

Send your request and email to Pastor Debbie.

HOLY WEEK OBSERVANCES

WHERE: 1021 W. Wooster at Martindale, Bowling Green

TUESDAY, April 15: Soup Supper & Book Conversation "Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World" by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

All are welcome! Haven't read the book? Still, come if you are interested. It will be an edifying conversation nonetheless.

THURSDAY, April 17: 6:15 p.m. Tenebrae will be offered at 6:15 p.m. A service of shadows.

As lights are extinguished participants ponder the depth of Christ’s suffering and death. A small but persistent flame of a single candle at the conclusion of the service reminds us of the joy of Easter’s ultimate victory.

GOOD FRIDAY, April 18: A recording of Tenebrae will be posted for your Good Friday prayer at our You Tube page by 8:00 a.m..

The Peace Church sanctuary will be open for individual prayer and meditation on Good Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

All are Welcome! There are no requirements, no restrictions, and no judgement placed on what you choose to participate in or not.

EASTER • RESURRECTION SUNDAY • APRIL 20

WHERE: 1021 W. Wooster at Martindale, Bowling Green

POTLUCK BRUNCH: Begins at 9:00 a.m.and continues through Holy Buzz time following worship.

RESTORATION OF SACRED SPACE: Worship Embellishments including spring flowers begins at 9:45 a.m.

WORSHIP: Vibrant and slightly adventurous with Holy Communion at an open table where all are welcome.

All are Welcome! There are no requirements, no restrictions, and no judgement placed on what you choose to participate in or not.

ONGOING EVENTS

One Sunday morning worship experience at 10 a.m.

In person and broadcasted live at our Facebook page.

A Thursday Evening Round Table Conversation returns April 24 at 5:15 p.m - 6:00 p.m.

A Thursday Evening Contemplative Prayer Service at 6:15 p.m. [returns April 24] A half hour of prayer, silence, song and communion.

Midweek Supper Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m., also returning April 24. Simple, vegetarian friendly supper and gentle conversation. Wine is known to be served!

Each event is distinct and is not required for another.

There are no requirements, no restrictions or judgement placed on what you participate in or not. You are truly welcome to come as you are able and stay as long as you like!

MONTHLY SPECIAL OFFERING

Special Offering Designations are offered by the Share Team throughout the year to offer thanks for God’s kindness and generosity toward us, and to participate in God’s desire for a just and loving world.

April: Bowling Green High School Bobcats Basics program

The Bowling Green High School Bobcat Basics Program provides hygiene products to students in need. It is very low on feminine hygiene products like pads, tampons, and liners. Lots of teens depend on these products if they have an emergency or don't have any available at home. Other hygiene items for teen, regardless of gender, are welcomed!

Items can be brought to Peace Church and placed in container under the tall lobby table near office entrance. A monetary donation may be better as it will allow the program to purchase what is most needed.

Donations can be sent to: Peace, 1021 W. Wooster, Bowling Green OH 43402. Make checks payable to Peace and put Bobcat Basics on the memo line.

Contact Mfisher@bgcs.k12.oh.us for more information

ON-GOING: All non-perishable food and hygiene items welcomed. Old cell phones may be donated to help fund services for the Cocoon Shelter. Place items in the blue tub under table near north door in the church lobby.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

The PEACE COMMUNITY GARDEN is getting prepared by our master gardener, Bruce Kidder for another successful year of fresh produce for the community.

The people of Peace are happy and grateful for the opportunity to serve the community this way!

Check out the Solar Picnic Table near the garden.

Feel free to plug in and charge up your devices or play a happy tune!

Prayer Requests / Ministry

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.

Those requesting prayer are asked to notify Pastor Debbie by calling 419-266-5865 or emailing pastordeb@peacechurchbg.org. With permission, she will include them in the Sunday Weekly Notes and Prayers for the People at worship. If desired, she will also share them with the Prayer Wheel Ministry, a confidential email list.

To join this ministry, please contact Pastor Debbie.

Holy God, help us to be quick to understand and eager to assist where we can. Let no one in our midst celebrate without companions, grieve without consolation, sin without mercy, suffer without loving care, live without respect, hunger without food, or die without being tended with love and surrounded by prayer. Amen.

CERTIFIED COOL CONGREGATION

Upon applicaton and approval, Peace Church has been awarded Cool Congregation Status by Interfaith Power & Light for reducing our carbon output by 30%. This was a result o four solar panel installation and our change to LED lighting. A framed certificate is displayed near our south entrance. 

You can monitor our solar panel performance in real time online, and you can learn more about Cool Congregations across the country at coolcongregations.org. The mission of Interfaith Power & Light is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. This campaign intends to protect the earth’s ecosystems, safeguard the health of all Creation, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all.

SOLAR PANELS POWERING PEACE

Check out the roof of Peace Church on the east end of the south side: We have solar panels up there!

They look really great and they are operating great as well. You can monitor via a computer app each panel's production and whether there are any failings or concerns. We expect to see as much as a 25-percent savings in our utility bills, which we will be able to apply to ministry!

This project was made possible with the gift we received from the Leonard and Margaret Davis trust and was one of four environmental projects. They proclaim God's resourcefulness and generosity by embracing and practicing good creation care, doing what we can to lower our carbon footprint, reduce our negative impact on the environment, and promote this calling to the larger community in a positve and inviting manner.

Approximately $40,000 is accomplishing this effort in four ways. We have:

• Partnered with Ohio Interfaith Power and Light and Energy Stewards to monitor and analyze our energy use. (This is an ongoing effort.)
• Upgraded our facility to LED lighting.
• Purchased a picnic table equipped with solar-powered lighting and electric outlets.
• Installed solar panels on the south side to both promote and practice energy efficiency.

Other projects made possible by the trust gift include new playground equipment, sponsorship of a Syrian refugee family, and debt reduction.

Thanks be to God for generous neighbors and for granting us a vision to keep striving to Create Christ-Connected Community!