Greetings from Church of Peace - August 18, 2011

Greetings from Church of Peace!

Last night we had a new member orientation meeting at our home for the six people who will be joining our congregation on Sunday.  What a nice group of Christian men and women!  Join us at 8:45 a.m. for the worship service which will include some snappy hymns and a strengthening sermon. Following worship, you can greet the new members in the lobby; we’ll have a “welcome” cake for social hour. 

Sunday is the last day to sign up your kids for the day camp at Pilgrim Center.  We have plenty of adult chaperones, but we would welcome more.

Do you like pizza?  Ok then.  Next Wednesday between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. our youth will be serving at Pizza Ranch.  They get to keep all the tips and will make profit on the sales as well.  Last time, our church family filled the place; it was a lot of fun.  If you would rather eat at home, we make money on carry-outs and deliveries also.  Thanks for your help.

Most of you will receive a letter in the mail today (and the rest of you tomorrow) outlining some changes that the Council is making to save money.  We’ve had a tough year financially and we are taking some cost-cutting measures to try to make ends meet.  Please make sure to read the letter so you are familiar with the modifications that are being made.  

Coming up in ten days, at the service a week from this Sunday, we will have guests providing special music.  Jim’s trio will bless us with their songs.  For many folks, this guarantees a meaningful worship experience.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

We’ll see you in church!  Pastors Jenny and Jim

A prayer for today: O God, your love never changes.  Please help me to remember your constancy when it feels like every day I am asked to adapt to another change.  Bless our congregation in this time of financial stress.  Show our leaders how to use faithfully and wisely the gifts we bring for the work of Christ through Church of Peace.  Lead me to be a welcoming, encouraging host when new members and visitors come to my church home.  These things I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.   

Greetings from Church of Peace - August 11, 2011

Greetings from Church of Peace!

COME EARLY TO WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY or you’ll miss part of the mission trip slide show.  We’ll be showing it as a prelude beginning around 8:30.  The pictures will help you to see for yourself the great work that was accomplished on behalf of Church of Peace.  The service itself will include youth and adult reflections on how the trip helped them to grow in faith.  The service will help you grow in faith too.  Exciting news: there will be two roses on the altar; our church family is growing!

CALLING ALL KIDS: The Church of Peace Day Camp at Pilgrim Center will be on Thursday, August 25^th.  The camp is for children aged 4 through 8^th grade; interested parents are welcomed to attend as well. Kids can bring a friend. Registration forms are available at the church.  It will be a fun day of friends, faith, food, swimming, and crafts: a mini-camp!

It is time to proceed with the resealing and striping of our PARKING LOT.  It will look better and be more functional; in addition, doing it now will repair the cracking and deterioration before they become so serious that we have to replace the lot.  We have contracted with a professional team to do the work for $4500 (lowest bid).  Because there is insufficient money in the budget, the Building Committee is doing a fund raiser by “selling” five gallon buckets of sealer for $10.00 each. The project will take place in early September so the fundraising is a matter of some haste.  Please prayerfully consider how many $10.00 buckets of sealer your family can “buy” and check the lobby for signs of progress. Thank you!

Edsel Weigert is in the hospital in Oshkosh.  Please remember him in your prayers. 

That’s the news from Church of Peace. 

We’ll see you in church!  Pastors Jenny and Jim

A prayer for today: Thank you, O God, for this lovely summer day. During its hours, please open the eyes of my heart so I notice the many ways in which you are reaching out in love to me.  Remind me over and over again how important it is that I treat every person to whom I speak with kindness.  Shine your healing light upon Edsel Weigert and all who are sick.  Bless the mission trippers with wisdom and confidence as they prepare the service for Sunday.  These things I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace - August 4, 2011

Greetings from Church of Peace,

Today’s weather is perfect – warm, not humid, with a gentle breeze.  Many of us would like every day to be just like this one.  But not every day of our lives will be sunny – we all know storms come not only in the natural world but also in our personal lives.  In the gospel lesson for this week, Jesus walks on water during a storm.  How does this help us handle the storms in our lives?  Come Sunday at 8:45 a.m. and find out!  Nine women of our choir have prepared a lovely anthem which will grace the service and Holy Communion will be celebrated.

Last week, several “bag ladies” joined us in worship.  During the mission moment, they handed out grocery bags to be filled with food and returned for our food pantry.  If you took a bag, please bring it in soon.  If you didn’t get one, any bag full of canned and boxed food will do just fine.  The number of requests for food has been high so the shelves are quite bare.  Thank you for supporting this important ministry of Church of Peace.

Edsel Wiegert is in the hospital in Oshkosh.  Please remember Edsel in your prayers.

Parents:  now is the time to sign up your children (and yourself if you would like to participate) for the Church of Peace Day Camp at Pilgrim Center on Thursday, August 25^th.  Call the church office for a sign-up sheet and/or stop in at the desk in the narthex.  Kids can bring a friend.  The cost is $10.00 per family and $5.00 for each friend.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

We’ll see you in church!  Pastors Jenny and Jim

A prayer for today: What a gorgeous day it is today, O God, and my heart sings your praises. I pray that my thanks will be expressed not only in words but also in deeds of compassion.  Show me how to live in hope and to shine with your love.  I pray that you will bless Edsel Wiegert with your healing love.  In Jesus name, Amen.