E-notes (Page 7)

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…

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…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, It’s Labor Day weekend (more about Labor Day in a moment) and I’m looking forward to worship this Sunday. Pastor Joe will conclude his sermon series on, “The Good Life” with a message on “joy.” I’ll have a children’s message, and we will celebrate God’s grace around the table with others in Holy Communion. A reminder: Gathering Sunday, the day that begins a full slate of ministry at Peace (including Sunday School), is next Sunday, September 10th. Mark it on your calendar! Yes, it is Labor Day weekend and on…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, Well, it’s State Fair time. And the ELCA posted this limerick on a Facebook page: Fair season is upon us so here is a Doxology:O Lord protect this festivalThe riders as they rise and fall.The jams and pickles and the pies. Competing for the first grand prize. O Lord we thank thee for this food,When we are in a cheese curd mood.For Pronto Pups and onion ringsDoughnuts and other deep-fried things.Praise God from whom all blessings flowPraise him…

Dear Peace Members, What makes a good life? How would you answer that question? Not just life in the abstract. But what makes your life good? Every day we are faced with stories and suggestions about how to live our best life now, so many of which are shallow at best and life-diminishing at worst. And yet; yet, there is something about how we live and the choices we make and the habits we nurture that point toward something meaningful. How do we live without…

Dear Peace Members, After some time away, I’m looking forward to being with you on Sunday. Before saying more about that, however, a word of thanks to Rev. Alan Loose for leading worship last week. I know that many of you share with me gratitude for Alan and his presence among us. Thanks, Alan! There’s a bit of a reunion this Sunday. I’m back and participating in worship and Pastor Joe also returns to worship following his paternity leave. A summer Peace Choir group will offer an…

Dear Peace Members, I am out of town this week and, while I’m away, Peace member Pastor Alan Loose will officiate and preach at Sunday worship (9:30). Pastor Loose will continue with our current sermon series, “The Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul” and sent along a preview for the day: “Have this mind among you,” counsels Paul in his letter to the Philippians, “which is yours in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to describe the attitude Jesus adopts in his…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, I hope that you’re staying cool this week! Even though it’s the middle of the summer, there’s a lot going on at Peace. This Sunday (9:30am), we have the joy of welcoming to the Church in baptism, Kaibigan Hawkins Del Rosario Thomson, the son of Jimmy Thomson and Arielle Del Rosario, and the grandson of Jim and Lori Thomson. We will continue with our sermon series, “The Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul” and I’ll read “A Letter from Paul to Kai on…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, First of all, I want to thank the many of you who last Sunday responded to VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) and their special request for contributions in filling the food shelfs due to the increased number of household requests for this basic need of life. The children did a great job in collecting up those offerings and you responded generously. I’ll announce that amount on Sunday!   We will also continue in worship (9:30am) with our sermon…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, I still remember it: my first computer. My wife, Marcie, had schemed with our nephew and there in the living room, on Christmas morning, sat a new computer. In that moment, a new world was born for me. Now I had access to a whole new unseen universe (“the world-wide web”!). And there was a whole new way of living that went along with this new contraption. No more typewriter. No more carbon paper.…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, Sometimes life can change with only a few words. You hear the words, “I love you,” and your life will never be the same. Or you hear the announcement, “you have a new baby daughter (or son)” and your life changes immediately. And, as we discovered last week in church, the St. Paul’s life changed dramatically when he was interrupted by God and heard the words, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  His life was…

Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace, We heard good news from Pastor Joe yesterday morning. Here it is: “Cameron Joseph Orner was born at 3:59am this morning (6/29/2023) at 7 lbs, 8 oz. He and Reilly are both healthy and well. Thank you for your prayers.” Congratulations to Pastor Joe, Reilly, and brother Lucas! As I thought about this summer’s preaching, I wondered about these questions: Is there something in your life that you would like to change? So what is it you would like to change?…