E-notes (Page 6)

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  This is Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day was officially declared a national holiday in 1971, but, in practice, dates back to shortly after the Civil War. It is a time to remember and honor those who have died in service to their country (All Saints in November is the church’s commemoration of all those who have died). Memorial Day is also a time to allow the stories about the sacrifices of our fellow citizens to…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  I’m already looking forward to Sunday!  In worship (9:30am), we will be blessed by the Peace Choir and the Sunday School Singers for the last time before the summer break and give thanks for their ministry to us throughout this last year. It is the 5th Sunday of Easter and once again we will hear a story of new life given by the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit; this time to the apostle Peter…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  I’ll get to our exciting Sunday in a moment but first, let us join with those around the world in rejoicing with our fellow Christians in the Roman Catholic Church, especially those in our area, on the election of Pope Leo XIV. Yesterday, we witnessed the historic election of the first Augustinian and the first U.S.-born Pope—only the second to come from the Americas. We share with him both geographic and historic roots (Martin Luther…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  What might happen if every Easter we celebrated—not only the resurrection of Jesus 2,000 years ago but more—the ongoing resurrection of the whole world through Christ? Well, that’s exactly what we do during the 50-day season of Easter. This Easter season is the affirmation of our continuing resurrection from fear to faith, from violence to peace, from self-gratification to generosity and—in all these ways and more—from death to life.   This Sunday in worship (9:30am) Easter…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  What a joyful Easter we had last week! It was a wonderful morning! In worship this Sunday (9:30am), the season of Easter continues. Yet, oddly, it doesn’t always feel that way. This Sunday’s preacher, Rev. Alan Loose, describes our situation well: “Easter day—an occasion for cheering and celebration and sharing the good news. “He is risen!” And yet, we hear in John’s gospel that that same evening, the disciples were cowering in fear behind locked…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  What a week ahead! Holy Week begins this Sunday with a festival that has two traditional titles: Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion (9:30am). Not one or the other, but both. With palms in our hands; with our youth singing; with hymns and Scripture—we will remember when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last week of his life.  In this same service, we will also take part in the Passion (“to suffer”) of Jesus. Someone…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  We have an exciting Sunday coming up as we prepare to celebrate Easter. This is the last Sunday before the beginning of Holy Week: Palm/Passion Sunday on April 13th. This Sunday in worship (9:30am), we’ll hearSt. Paul preparing us for what lies ahead these next two weeks. Let me explain. Over the years, I’ve met Christians who avoid Palm/Passion Sunday and Good Friday worship. “Too much of the Cross,” they say. And yet, without the…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,    I opened up the newspaper this morning and read the weather forecast; a prediction of a possible high today of 78 degrees! Maybe—just maybe—spring weather is here to stay! I hope all of you are getting a breath of that fresh air today.This weekend we have the 4th Sunday in Lent. In worship (9:30am), we will hear one of the most famous parables of all. But what to call the story Jesus tells about…

March 21, 2025   Dear Peace Members and Friends,    As most of you know, we are in staff transition here at Peace. Last Tuesday, there was the regular monthly meeting of the Church Council and I have a brief report and reminder from that meeting at the end of this note.   But first, it’s always terrific to hear good ministry news and I heard some again this week from our Communication’s staff member, Daina Sivanich, who, along with…

March 14, 2025   Dear Peace Members and Friends,    It was really fun to see so many of you turn out for Wednesday night’s midweek Lenten activities; dinner, Holden Evening Prayer; rehearsal for the Peace Choir and Confirmation students gathered. A good night and so good to see you all!   Lent continues with worship on Sunday (9:30am). It is the Second Sunday in Lent and our Gospel reading describes one of the most memorable scenes in all the…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  Just a reminder: clocks jump ahead one hour early Sunday morning! On Ash Wednesday we began the season of Lent. Many see this season in the church as year as a grim, merely-to-be-endured time in the church year and understandably so. Lent begins with ashes on our foreheads, reminding us of life’s limits….and our own. Yet that’s exactly why I also see Lent as an opportunity not to be missed; a time to reflect, to…

Dear Peace Members and Friends,  This past Sunday we bid “Farewell and Godspeed” to Pastor Joe, who resigned as our Associate Pastor and now will be “taking some time to spend with my family as we consider and discern next calls and opportunities.” We wish him well!  And now this puts Peace in a bit of a transition. The mythical Roman god Janus was said to have been “two faced.” The god had one face with which to look backward…