Greetings from Church of Peace - March 27, 2014

Greetings from Church of Peace!

On Sunday, we will dedicate our lovely new baby grand piano.  Five musicians from our congregation will play at various points in the service.  Come rejoice with us at 8:45 a.m.

It has been a hard week for many in our congregation.  Three funerals are being held this week: Harold Kryzyanowski, Carol Schrank, and Delores Emmer.  Please remember their families when you pray.  Three members of our church family remain hospitalized: Matt Ewerdt, Ruth Loehrke, and Eugene Willis.  Please pray for them as well.

The Church Council has accepted the resignation of our Chapel Choir Director, Lee Behnke.  Lee will finish out the spring with us.  We are saddened to see her go, but know she will be blessed in her new adventures.  A celebration of her music ministry will be held this summer.

The Messenger for April will be on-line by Friday noon (www.uccchurchofpeace.org) and in the church narthex on Sunday.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, what would I do if I did not know of your love, your healing power, and your gift of strength to all who ask?  Please bless those who are sad with a sense of your nearness; heal their broken hearts.  Be with the sick and hospitalized; shine your healing light into their lives.  I pray that you will bless me with the gift of perseverance so I can press on toward the goal of a faithfully-lived life.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace 04-19-14

Greetings from Church of Peace!

We fixed the sound system.  Those of you who attended the Lenten service last Wednesday may have had trouble hearing the Andy Griffith sermon.  But the problem has been rectified and we are ready for tonight’s episode which is entitled “The Sermon for Today”.  The Lenten candle is humility.  Join us for this time of spiritual renewal which begins at 7:00 p.m.

On Saturday, the women of the church who celebrate their birthday this month are invited to a gathering in their honor at the Gift and Gab Café in Peebles at 10:00.  We’ll spend an hour in conversation, getting to know one another a little better.

Are you going through some difficult times?  If so, Sunday’s service will bring you encouragement and hope.  If not, Sunday’s service will give you some tools to boost your spirit when those hard times come, and you know they will.  The Sunday School children will sing.  Our worship service will be a time of spiritual strengthening, beginning at 8:45 a.m.

We have three people in the hospital: Matt Ewerdt, Dick Kunasch, and Gene Willis.  Harold Kryzyanowski is now a resident of Hospice Home of Hope.  Please remember these men in your prayers.

Golden Fellowship meets Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. to learn about the history and peoples of ancient Fond du Lac County.  Adults of all ages are welcome to participate.  Lunch will be served – please sign up ahead of time so we prepare enough food.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, I need your help to stop hurrying and worrying my way through life.  You pour so many blessings on me that I miss because I’m rushing.  I don’t take enough time to savor your presence with me.  Please slow me down and give me a calm and serene heart.  I pray for Matt, Dick, Gene, and Harold; may each one feel your strengthening love.  These things I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Ushers this week: Scott Heim, Theresa and Tom Schultz, Nicole Schendel, and Pete Peterson.     

Ash Wednesday Greetings from Church of Peace

Lenten Greetings from Church of Peace,

It is Ash Wednesday. Today begins our six-week journey to the cross and on to Easter resurrection.  Our Ash Wednesday service tonight will include a service of Holy Communion served in the pews.  Join us at 7:00 for this sacred time as we turn our lives toward Christ with renewed dedication.

Tomorrow Pastor Jenny and Jeanette Hinn will lead the communion service at All About Life at 10:15.  You are welcome to attend and participate. 

There will be no NEW Worship on Thursday nights in Lent.

Our oldest member has died at the age of 100.  William Smith died late last week.  Please remember his family when you pray.

Matt Ewerdt is in the hospital following surgery.  He faces more surgery in the coming days. Please pray that Matt’s surgeries will be successful and that his recovery from them will be speedy and complete.

DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCK AHEAD ONE HOUR

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

The theme of this Sunday’s service will be the temptation of Jesus and how we can be bolstered in our efforts to remain faithful. We will receive new members into our congregation. What a joy to extend the hand of Christian friendship to these folks who are eager to become active in our church family.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, as I begin this Lenten journey of faith, I pray that you will inspire me in new ways so that my life can reflect your love more faithfully.  I yearn to follow Jesus closely and to be a source of hope and joy to others.  Please bless the family of William Smith with comfort.  Be with Matt Ewerdt and the doctors treating him that he may be brought to full health and strength soon.  I pray these things in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace!

This Sunday’s service will feature the story of the Transfiguration, a New Testament story of mystery, light, and wonder.  We will celebrate Holy Communion.  Liz and Hannah Koechel will sing a duet.  Join us and let God refresh your spirit.

There will be no Thursday NEW Worship tomorrow night. Beginning next week, our evening worship will be on Wednesdays because it will be the Lenten season.

Harold Kryzyanowski and Leo Lefeber are hospitalized.  Please pray that they will each experience the healing power of God.

At 9:00 on Saturday morning the Prayer Shawl Ministry Group will meet in the Upper Room of Gammert Hall.  Come and help bless shawls, even if you do not knit or crochet. You will be blessed in the task.

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  We will worship together at 7:00 p.m.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, you bedazzle me with your wondrous love and power.  Shine your light into my heart and through my life.  Let me illuminate the lives of those around me with love and joy. Bless Harold Kryzyanowski and Leo Lefeber with your healing power.  Thank you, God.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace 02/20/14

Greetings from Church of Peace,

Three cheers for our Chapel Choir!  They are heading up to Immanuel UCC in Kaukauna Sunday morning to sing during worship there.  In mid-March, the musicians from Immanuel will come here to grace our service with their songs.  Godspeed, choristers!

Our worship service this Sunday will be blessed by the music of our youngest Sunday School singers.  That is always a treat.

We extend our Christian sympathy to the family of Pat Pratt.  Pat’s funeral will be held at the church on Saturday.  We also remember in sympathetic prayer Bernice Resop and her family, including her daughters Brenda Roehl and Bonnie Resop -- their son and brother, Bob, died late last week.

Saturday at 10:00, all women of the church who have birthdays in January and February are invited to a birthday gathering with Pastor Jenny at the Commonwealth Coffee Company on the corner of Macy and Merrill Streets.

If you are interested in the ancient native peoples who lived near Fond du Lac, here’s your opportunity to learn more – Dwight Weiser, a retired anthropologist from Marian University, will be speaking here on Tuesday morning at 11:00.  Join the Golden Fellowship bunch for this interesting program and then for lunch.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: On this day of threatening weather, I pray for all who will be negatively impacted by it: travelers, people who work outside, folks for whom a power outage would present hardship. Bless everyone with carefulness and calm.  I also pray for those who are grieving on this day, particularly the families of Pat Pratt and Bob Resop.   May your healing solace be active in their hearts.  For myself, O God, I pray for a keen sense of your presence with me, a deep commitment to your ways, and peace of heart when the day is done.  Thank you!  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace 02-13-14

Greetings from Church of Peace!

This Sunday we’ll reaffirm the importance of keeping our commitments to God and to one another. As a part of the service, we will honor those couples who have been married for twenty-five years and longer.  The choir will sing a snappy new song.  There will be a prayer journey.  Join us at 8:45 Sunday morning for a time of refreshment and grace.

Tonight’s NEW worship begins at 6:30 in the Youth Room.  We’ll chuckle and grow in faith together, led by the gentle guidance of Andy Griffith.

We met our goal! Over 1100 cans and boxes of food and toiletries were collected in the past week for the Souper Bowl of Caring.  Thank you! Many lives will be blessed in the days to come by your generous gifts.

On Tuesday night, we convened the new Church Council for the year.  Please remember to pray for the Council as they lead our congregation.  Newly-elected officers are: President Victor Abitz, Vice-President Brenda Hackbarth, Secretary Renee Kiefer, Treasurer Karen Babler, and Custodian Jim Hackbarth.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: Promise-Keeping God, I lean upon you  day by day. Knowing that you will always care for me gives me courage and hope.  I pray that you will remind me of the promises I have made and give me the strength to keep them faithfully, not only the ones I have made to you, but also the ones I have made to other people. Bless our congregation and its leadership; show us how to bring healing and hope to one another, to the neighborhood, and to the world, all in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace 02/06/14

Greetings from Church of Peace,

This is Epiphany, the season of light, in the Christian church.  Our service Sunday will be filled with the images of light and salt.  The Scriptures point us to a life of shining love and show us how to season the world with joy.  The Youth Choir will sing.  Our elected leaders will be blessed. Join us at 8:45 for this “delightful” and “salty” service.

Tonight’s NEW worship will feature Holy Communion and a sermon on the meaning of grateful service, given by Andy Griffith and friends. We’ll meet in the Youth Room at 6:30.

Please remember in your prayers the family of Elfrieda Melchert.  Mrs. Melchert died yesterday. Her funeral will be held at the church on Tuesday.

The great news: we received over 875 items during our Super Bowl of Caring collection for our food pantry.  The need yet: we are about 125 items short of our goal. We will continue to count toward our 1000-piece-goal items which are received through next Thursday. Thank you! 

Saturday at 9:00 a.m. those of us with nimble fingers will gather to crochet and knit the gifts of Christian comfort that we call “prayer shawls.” Experienced crafters as well as newbies are welcomed to this heart-warming gathering.

Sunday is the last day to sign up for the Sweetheart Dinner which will be held on Sunday, February 16^th at 5:00 at Sunset on the Water (formerly Sunset Supper Club).  It will be a fun time.  Join us!

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: Don’t let me a complainer today, O God, for I have so much for which to be thankful.  Don’t let me be stingy, for I have so much to share. Don’t let me be grumpy, for I know the joy of your companionship.  Bless me with gratitude, generosity, and peace.  Please be with the Melchert family as they grieve the death of Elfrieda.  Thank you, God.  Amen.