E-notes (Page 3)

January 5, 2024 Dear Peace members and friends, Today is the twelfth and final day of Christmas. Tomorrow—January 6th—the Christian calendar turns to a new season: Epiphany. On Sunday, we will celebrate this new season with—a day after—“The Epiphany of Our Lord.” The word “epiphany” can mean manifestation, revelation, appearance, insight, enlightenment, or a shining forth. Epiphany begins with the story of the Magi. You know it. These astrologers, magicians follow a brilliant star to the place of Jesus’ birth…

Dear Peace members and friends, The excitement and festivities of Christmas are largely over. Even some of those Christmas decorations are already put away! Now is a good time for us to ponder the meaning of the coming of God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. Christ has been born in Bethlehem. But what has changed? We go back to our routines. And yet, in the world, it’s New Year’s Eve weekend. As the old year ends and the new year…

Dear Peace members and friends, “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” —Psalm 16:11 When I went to the Shrine Circus in grade school there were, of course, clowns. I remember the clown car pulling into the main ring. And the clowns would come piling out, one after another after another after another. How many clowns can fit inside of a tiny clown car? Enough to…

Dear Peace members and friends, I’m looking forward to Sunday and one of the highlights of the year: the Children’s Christmas program (9:30am). Actually it’s more than that! It’s less a program than it is worship. The participants are not only children, but the Peace Choir and all of us gathered together. Though it is still Advent, we will get to hear the Christmas story told and sung about by the children of the congregation. They have been working hard on their parts and they are excited! Join us for a wonderful…

Dear Peace members and friends, It was terrific to see so many of you at Advent worship on Wednesday. To gather this time of year in the evening; to share a meal and conversation; to worship quietly—well, it was wonderful, thank you! Advent evening worship (6:30pm) and a light meal (5:30-6:15pm) continue this coming Wednesday, December 13th. Join in! Coming up this weekend is the Third Sunday of Advent. In the Gospels, there are two main Advent characters: John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Last Sunday, John the Baptist was…

Dear Peace members and friends, Coming up this weekend is the Second Sunday of Advent. We will mark the progress of Advent by lighting a second candle on the Advent wreath. The candles represent the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World. Zechariah says as much in the Gospel: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness…..” We will continue our sermon series, “Heaven to Earth” with that theme of light.…

Dear Peace members and friends, Thanksgiving Day is past and, all of sudden, Advent and Christmas are upon us. This year, with the 4th Sunday of Advent on Christmas Eve Day, we decided to jump ahead on many church calendars and begin Advent this coming Sunday. I love Advent; the promise and hope in it. I love the weeks of preparation. I love the anticipation of the celebration of Christmas. Advent in church begins with the hymn, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” The hymn has a deep,…

Dear Peace members and friends, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I hope this holiday is a blessed one for you; even in the midst of whatever challenges you are facing. As I write that, I think of Paul’s words: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).” My response? “Really, Paul? Really?” Every day there are reasons not to feel grateful and not to give…

Dear Peace members and friends, It’s hard to believe but it’s Thanksgiving week just around the corner! And what better way to begin the week than to join us in worship on Sunday and our second Sunday in a two-week stewardship emphasis. What is stewardship, anyway? Stewardship begins with God. From the Psalmist we hear: “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” It’s God’s, all of it! Sometimes I slip into thinking that says, “I have stuff and time and I give…

Dear Peace members and friends, I have many things to share with you today; things about Sunday’s worship, Harvest Pack, and Veteran’s Day. But first, a word about grace. As Lutheran Christians, we hear the word “grace”……a lot. What is grace? Frederick Buechner defines the word in this way: “Grace is something you can never get but can only be given. There’s no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream…

Dear Peace members and friends, First of all, don’t forget to turn your clocks back on Sunday! Here’s one reason why: it’s All Saints Sunday, one of my favorite days in the life of the church…..and you want to be in worship. Every year this festival calls us to remember that Jesus Christ has made all the world a thin place between the living and the dead. Saints are not simply the dead in Christ. Saints, according to the New Testament, are any believers who…

Dear Peace members and friends, Sunday is Reformation Sunday. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace in Jesus Christ that the Apostle Paul discovered and wrote about in the book of Romans and that Martin Luther rediscovered in his life; good news that changed him, the church, changed history, and still transforms us. I’ll say more in a message, “But Now…..” Also on this festival Sunday, the Peace Choir sing, Pastor Joe will have a Children’s Message, and, of course, we will gather together around the altar in Holy Communion. Reformation: a great day in…