Thanksgiving Greetings from Church of Peace

Greetings from Church of Peace on this Thanksgiving Eve Day!

As you are finalizing plans for your Thanksgiving celebration, don’t forget the Thanksgiving Eve Worship service which begins at 7:00 p.m. tonight.  Holy Communion will be served in the pews. The service will be serene and fill your heart with joy.

Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent!  The Worship Enhancement Team will transform our sanctuary into its blue and purple finery.  The Candle of Hope will be lit by the Hanke family. The Chapel Choir will provide us with an anthem of praise.

Don Kremer and Carol Moon are currently in the hospital.

The church office will not be open on Thursday or Friday of this week.

The Messenger will be on-line  -- www.uccchurchofpeace.org -- by the end of the day and will be available for pick-up in the narthex tonight.

Thanks the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, Giver of Every Good, I thank you for your lavish provision for my every need.  Especially in this season of thanksgiving, I find my heart filled with gratitude for your never-ending kindness.  I pray that I will remember to express this gratitude with my life.  And I pray that you will bless Don Kremer and Carol Moon with newly-found health and strength.  Amen.

  

Greetings from Church of Peace 11-20-14

Greetings from Church of Peace!

The children are singing in worship on Sunday. We are receiving new members.  What a joyful service it will be!  Join us as we celebrate Christ the Sovereign Sunday in sermon, prayer, and song.  Worship begins at 8:45 a.m.

Carol Moon is still a patient at St. Agnes Hospital.  Please pray for God’s healing light to continue to shine in her life.

This Saturday at 10:00 a.m., women with November birthdays will gather at the Rolling Meadows Restaurant for an hour of conversation and cake.  If you weren’t able to join us on your birthday month earlier in the year, please join us on Saturday.

Next Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. is the Thanksgiving Eve service.  This will be a serene and quietly jubilant service as we thank God for our many blessings.  Pew communion will be celebrated.

Building to Serve team members are finishing up their calls this week and next.  This means we will be able to announce the total amount pledged in December.  We will keep you posted!

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, my soul yearns to feel your deep touch of peace and my heart is eager to hear your guiding voice.  I pray that I may walk closely with you today, that my words and actions will reflect your loving care.  Bless Carol Moon with returning health and strength.  Keep in your warm love all who have to be outside, especially those who are homeless and show us how to help them.  Thank you, God.  Amen.  

Greetings from Church of Peace 11-13-14

Greetings from Church of Peace!

Jesus told stories called “parables” to teach valuable lessons about life and faith.  This week’s Scripture reading is one of those stories, a tale of a master and three slaves.  Come learn from its wisdom and be inspired to live faithfully. Worship begins at 8:45.

Carol Moon is a patient at St. Agnes Hospital.  Please remember her when you pray.

The Shawl Ministers will meet this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for a time of handiwork and conversation.

Our Building to Serve Campaign has reached the 76% mark in terms of households reporting!  Congratulations to our team members and those of you who have graciously welcomed them into your homes. We are hoping to finish up soon so we can announce the results in early December.

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: The chilliness of the weather calls to my mind the warmth of your love for me, O God.  Bless me with a keen sense of your presence today.  Show me how to share the compassion and generosity that I receive from you. Bless Carol Moon with healing and hope as she recovers from surgery.  These things I pray remembering Jesus.  Amen. 

Greetings from Church of Peace 10/30/14

Greetings from Church of Peace!

This Saturday night it will be time to set your clocks back or you will arrive at Church of Peace an hour early on Sunday!

This Sunday’s service will be an All Saints’ Day celebration.  As we take Holy Communion, we will rededicate ourselves to live as saints.  As we remember the people of our church who have died in the last year, we will give thanks for their lives.  Join us!

We extend our Christian sympathy to the family of JoAnne Steenberg who died this weekend.  When you pray, please also remember Carol Moon who is in the hospital, recovering from surgery. 

This Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. is outdoor work time at the church.  Bring a rake and help make our property look like we care (because we do care!). 

Have you talked with a team member from the Building to Serve Campaign yet?  If not, you can expect a call any day.  The campaign is coming well with over 60% of households responding thus far.

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 come to you asking for your help and for your blessing upon my day.  Soften my heart so I can live in peace with others. Grant me the patience and wisdom I need to make good choices.  Bless those who are sick or sad, especially Carol Moon and the family of JoAnne Steenberg.  I pray these things remembering Jesus.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace - Bazaar Edition

Greetings from Church of Peace!

Do you know what Jesus said are the most important commandments?  Come find out on Sunday morning as we sing, pray, worship, and learn together.  The service begins at 8:45 a.m.

This Saturday from 9:00 – 3:00 the church building will be hopping with people eating, shopping, and chatting with one another -- it’s the Autumn Blessings Bazaar!  We need your help in several ways: set-up tomorrow, kitchen and lunchroom on Saturday, and donations like baked goods, “yesterday’s treasures,” desserts for the luncheon, and/or handiwork to sell.  In order to make this bazaar a financial success, we need YOUR help. Be a part of the fun as we extend Christian hospitality to our neighbors and friends.

Sunday after worship we are hosting our first Sabbath Health Fair.  During Social Hour, there’ll be flu shot for all ages (free if you have no insurance), blood pressure readings will be taken, and there’ll be information on being a bone marrow donor.  Parents and grandparents, learn about correct use of child safety seats. Take advantage of these healing ministries at your church this Sunday.

Tuesday morning the Golden Fellowship invites you to a fun hour of “show and tell.”  Bring something from your past to show the group.  Lunch will be served at noon.

The November Messenger is now on line (www.uccchurchofpeace.org) and available in the narthex.

That’s the news from Church of Peace!

We’ll see you in church (and at the bazaar)!

      Pastors Jenny and Jim

A prayer for today: What a lovely day to enjoy your many blessings, O God.  Thank you! Please fill me with strength and wisdom as I seek to be faithful during its hours. Bless our bazaar with your joy. Amen.  

Greetings from Church of Peace

Greetings from Church of Peace!

Is there any one of us who wouldn’t befit from a generous increase in inner peace? This Sunday’s service will focus on God’s gift of peace and how to be open to it.  Little Joshua Olesen will be baptized.

Today the Visitation Ministers will gather at 10:00 a.m. to discuss their visits with our home-bound and institutionalized members. If you are interested in becoming part of this heart-warming ministry, please let one of the pastors know. 

YOUTH AND PARENTS: This Saturday the youth will be making applesauce for the bazaar from 9:00 – noon.  That evening, we’ll meet at 6:30 at the COP parking lot to travel to Conger’s home for pizza, a hayride, a bonfire, and walk through the woods.  Wear old shoes and bring a flashlight!  Kids (aged 6^th grade – 12^th grade) can bring a friend to either event.  Permission slips for the hayride are available at the church or email us and we’ll send you one.

The Autumn Blessings Bazaar is a little over a week away – Saturday, October 25^th.  Have you signed up to help? 

A Sabbath Health Fair will be held on Sunday, October 26^th, during Social Hour.  Free flu shots will be available to anyone from our church family who does not have insurance; if you have insurance, please bring your card.  Other interesting opportunities will be available.  Plan to attend!

That’s the news from Church of Peace!

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

A prayer for today: O God, on this dreary day, remind me that the sunshine of your love surrounds and upholds me.  Let me bring cheerfulness into every conversation and a spirit of hope into each decision that I make.  These things I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Greetings from Church of Peace 10-09-14

Greetings from Church of Peace!

This Sunday is Harvest Home, the Sunday when we celebrate the fruits of the harvest and give thanks for all that God has provided. The sanctuary will be resplendent with the signs of the season.  The Chapel Choir will add their anthem to the celebration.  Meg Kiefer and Isabel Post will be our Witnessing Stewards.  Jazlyn Elizabeth Beau-Champ will be baptized. 

If you would be willing to contribute produce to the Harvest Home display, please bring it to the church before Saturday.  You may reclaim it after the service. Thank you!

Please remember the family of Jane Merten.  Jane died early this week.

The confirmation class will leave for their annual retreat on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and will return Saturday by 4:00 p.m.  This year’s theme is prayer.

Have you had your flu shot yet?  On Sunday, October 26^th, we will be hosting a Sabbath Health Fair in Gammert Hall during Social Hour. Walgreen’s will be there to give flu shots (free if you have no insurance) and other health-related information will be available.  Stay tuned for more information.

The Building to Serve team members are busy making phone calls and visiting church members. Please make every effort to welcome them when they call you.  You’ll enjoy your conversation. 

That’s the news from Church of Peace.

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

A prayer for today: O God, Source of all that is beautiful and good, I thank you for taking such good care of me.  I have been blessed beyond measure and I am deeply grateful.  I pray that you will be able to see my gratitude reflected in the way that I live.  Please shine your light of comfort upon the family of Jane Merten. Please bless the confirmation retreat with faithfulness and growing friendships.  I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.