Dear Peace Members and Friends of Peace,
I hope you having a good July 4th holiday week/weekend!
This Sunday in worship (9:30am), we’ll conclude our current sermon series, “Following Jesus in Mark’s Gospel.” In the early chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has been teaching Discipleship 101 to his followers. Lessons have included the importance of both resting and remembering we belong to God; that we have, not only our own family but God’s family to bless and support us along the way; that goal of our following is God’s Kingdom, that comes in ways both large and small.
In this final lesson—as Jesus prepares to take the training wheels off and send the disciples out on their own—Jesus has one last word. We all know that we can overpack and Jesus knows that too. As you live out God’s Kingdom in your life, there are things to leave behind, he tells us. I’ll say more about heavy baggage and freedom in following Jesus in a message, “Traveling Light.” We’ll also sing a holiday hymn, “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,” Pastor Joe will offer a children’s message, we’ll share in Holy Communion, and pray for God’s strength and guidance as we follow.
As some of you know, VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of service to our community by presenting a series of challenges. July’s challenge is school supplies for those in need. Yes, we continue to offer food and other essentials every Sunday but, if you are able, let’s add some of these things too: backpacks, scientific calculators, and wireless headphones/earbuds. Traditional items such as spiral notebooks (wide ruled and college ruled), folders, #2 pencils, erasers, post it notes, index cards, small glue sticks, colored pencils, scissors, dry erase markers, washable broad tip markers, highlighters, loose leaf ruled paper, school supply boxes, rulers, reams of paper, etc. Or you can help by making a check out to Peace Lutheran Church and write “VEAP” in the memo line.
Drop off your donations in the VEAP bin in the narthex on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings or anytime during the work week. Thank you!
Have a good week! See you Sunday!
Mark