Posts from September 2023
E-Note September 29, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, I’m looking forward to Sunday! In worship we begin a new sermon series, “Hard Sayings of Jesus.” Jesus was a teacher and, often, he got a strong response. He told stories and one-liners that turned the common views of God and us upside down. As a result, Jesus offended some people…or just left them more than a little confused and puzzled! So, over these next weeks, we’re going to look at some of those hard sayings of Jesus and unpack…
CYF Blast September 28, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, On Sunday, Sandy Mortensen led our education hour and discussed the subject of values and mental health. Her primary thesis was this: When life presents challenges, when you experience self-doubt and low self-esteem, or when you’re experiencing mental health issues like anxiety or depression, there are steps we can take to manage them well. First, we can reflect on our values to remind ourselves of what’s most important. Second, we can take value-based actions to recenter ourselves. Third,…
E-Note September 22, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, A blessed and good fall Friday morning to all of you! I’m looking forward to Sunday…..for many reasons. There’s worship, for one. Worshipping together is at the center of everything we do at Peace. It is, simply, why we exist. Taking time to thank God for all our blessings, refresh our faith for the week ahead, and be in community with one another sustains both you as an individual and all of us as a congregation. The time…
CYF Blast September 21, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, I’m so grateful to those of you who attended Sunday’s education session on teen mental health. As someone who has worked with students for over a decade, I can’t emphasize enough how important an issue it is for them and needs to be for you. For those who weren’t able to attend, mental health has been declining in the United States—across all ages and demographics—for decades. But it has been particularly poignant among American teenagers. …
E-Note September 15, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, It was terrific to see so many of you last Sunday! Children and families gathered inside and outside as we began the Sunday School year. The Peace Choir blessed us in worship. The smiling faces! All in all, a great Sunday; thank you to all! This Sunday, we continue the sermon series, “Church and Community.” As you know, when Jesus called the disciples to “follow me,” he called them not just as individuals, but as a group. You and I have been…
CYF Blast September 14, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, Thank you to everyone who made Gathering Sunday and our Fall Kickoff Festival so fun! It warmed my heart to see all the smiling faces, hear all the laughs and good conversations, and feel all of the positive and Spirit-filled energy. As we look ahead and move forward into the fall, there will be plenty more opportunities to grow in faith and community—for all ages. On Sundays we have worship, fellowship time, adult education, Sunday…
E-Note September 8, 2023
Dear Peace members and friends, Kids are back to school, vacations are ending, and we’re getting ready for an exciting fall at Peace! We celebrate this weekend with Gathering Sunday! Following worship (9:30am), adults can make their way to Parish Hall for an extended time of fellowship and a preview of fall ministry. And, after a brief welcome and introduction to Sunday School in the Sanctuary, families and children will head outdoors for a Fall Kickoff Festival. We’ll have walking tacos, snow cones, games, and activities. I’m also excited to be back in…
CYF Blast September 7, 2023
Dear Peace Parents and Families, Gathering Sunday is this weekend, and I am so excited to begin the new year of ministry together. We will kick it off with worship at 9:30am, a brief Sunday School Preview immediately following worship, and a Fall Kickoff Festival in the upper parking lot at 10:45am. We’ll have snow cones, walking tacos, and plenty of games. Everyone is invited—we hope you can make it! And as we move into the fall season, I want…