Greetings from Church of Peace 04-09-2014

Greetings from Church of Peace,

Tonight is our final Andy Griffith sermon and it is one which will give us all lots to ponder.  The Lenten candle of commitment will be lit. Join us at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday is Palm Sunday, a festival celebrating the parade which welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem.  The day will be full of palms, music, and festivity. Little Jaxon Schmitz will be baptized.  Join us at 8:45 for this joyful worship experience.

Next week is Holy Week.  Here are the times and highlights:

          Palm Sunday – 8:45 a.m.

          Maundy Thursday – 7:00 p.m. Pew Communion

          Good Friday – 7:00 p.m.

          Easter Sunday – 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.  Altar Communion

                   Alleluia! Social Hour between services

This Sunday we will receive our One Great Hour of Sharing offering.  Please prayerfully consider a generous contribution to this offering which meets urgent needs around the world.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: What a lovely day this is, O God!  Through the natural beauty around me, I see your artistic hand at work. In the people around me, I see your loving heart beating.  In the work you call me to do, I know the fulfillment you intend for me. Thank you!  Bless me with a sense of your nearness and strength as I seek to live as a faithful disciple today. Amen.

Ushers this Sunday: Renee and Jack Kiefer, Brenda and Isabel Post, Theresa and Tom Schultz, and Ron Wilson.

Greetings from Church of Peace 04/02/2014

Greetings from Church of Peace on this sunny Lenten day!

Tonight’s Lenten service focuses on the theme of reconciliation.  Join us as Andy Griffith reminds us how important it is to be an agent of cooperation and harmony.  The service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday’s Scripture reading is the delightful story of Ezekiel prophesying to the Valley of the Dry Bones (“the head bone’s connected to the neck bone, the neck bone’s connected to the backbone…”). Join us at 8:45 as we praise the God who can bring life even from dry spirits and despondent lives. We will celebrate Holy Communion. The Chapel Choir will provide special music.

We are delighted to tell you that all of our hospitalized people have come home.  Thanks be to God for the gift of healing!

Sunday brings us an opportunity to have some fun together as a church family.  COP Day at the YMCA begins after worship and lasts for the day.  Pizza will be served at noon.  Come enjoy the pool, work-out room, racquetball court, or gym.  There is no charge.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, may this day offer me a new beginning: to experience anew the joy of hope, to rediscover the blessings of your presence, and to learn again the truth that in you, all things are possible.  If the tasks of the day seem daunting, remind me that you strengthen me for any task to which you call me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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.