JANUARY Peace Notes Women s Christmas Luncheon

Transcription

1 JANUARY 2018 Peace Notes 2017 Women s Christmas Luncheon

2 THIS MONTH IN WORSHIP Grab Bag Sermons January 7 - February 5 Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you re gonna get. Forrest Gump You get what you get and don t throw a fit. Any Parent In the Epiphany season of light, we are going to lighten up and have some fun. In this series, you won t know what will happen from week to week. Will it be a me of holy humor or an improv? Will you get to see the pastors perform a skit, or sing a camp song? Maybe you will get to ask the pastors any ques on you have? Even the kids will get in on the ac on with Grab Bag children s messages. Come and find out in January! People s Choice Sermon Challenge Read the Bible enough and a person is bound to cross paths with an ancient text that doesn t make sense or a story that makes them giggle or a verse so buried in weirdness that it s just easier to skip over it. Passages like these only see the light of day in youth group but this January, Word of Peace is invited to choose from several Biblical odds and ends as part of the Grab-Bag Worship Series. Check Facebook and wordofpeace.org for more details. Vo ng begins December 31 and ends January 7. The She-Bears (2 Kings 2:19-25) Jeremiah s Dirty Underwear (Jeremiah 13:1-11) Jesus the Grouch (Ma hew 21:12-22) A Talking Donkey (Numbers 22:22-33) The Cruel Wager (Job 1:1-12) Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)) Seals and Trumpets (Revela on 8:1-13) 2 Pastor Rick Skare Senior Pastor Pastor Keith Long Pastor of Life & Growth Pastor Kris n Skare Pastor of Spiritual Care Pastor Tyler Strom Pastor of Faith in Ac on th Ave. N. Rogers, MN (763) (press 3 to leave an emergency message for a pastor) Office Hours Mon-Thurs 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Fri 8:00 AM-12:30 PM Our Vision Statement Our vision is to be a community where everyone knows Christ s Love and shares Christ s Love with all people. Our Mission Statement Christ works through us as we: Welcome all people to grow in faith, love and devo on, Share Christ through word and deed, Care for others and the world God made, and Work for jus ce and peace. NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Contact Jennie Priebe at (763) or jpriebe@wordofpeace.org February newsle er deadline: January 12, 2018 wordofpeace.org

3 Dear friends, Welcome to the new year! What important events do you already have scheduled this year? What are you most looking forward to? What surprises lie just around the corner? As far as the church is concerned, one of the most important celebra ons that happens at the beginning of the new year is Epiphany. On this day we celebrate the revela on of Christ to all people. We are reminded of the story of the magi s adora on of the baby Jesus, s ll swaddled warmly in his mother s arms. An epiphany is a manifesta on or a sudden realiza on. It is an illumina ng experience that causes us to see something in a new light. However, my favorite defini on of epiphany is A-ha! Isn t that a wonderful descrip- on? It is those moments in life when the light bulb finally goes off and instantly we have it all figured out. Can you imagine the A-ha moment the three magi had when they finally reached the end of their interna onal expedi on? They expected to find a powerful king only to find a homeless child. What?! The light they had been following in the night sky had led them to a lowly manger in Bethlehem. They had been following a light in the night sky, but now they would follow the true Light of the world. A-ha! That realiza on changed their lives drama cally. We con nue to be surprised by this glorious A-ha moment. Jesus, the light that shines in the darkness, is for YOU. Christ con nues to enter into our lives in unexpected ways, shedding light on our lives and illumina ng our world. In this season of Epiphany, may you come to the wonderful realiza on that Christ is with you and go forth to witness to that light that shines brightly in our midst. In Christ, Pastor Tyler Strom Pastor of Faith in Action Worship & Music Your talent is God s gi to you. What you do with it is your gi to God. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who par cipated in our Christmas worship celebra ons. From the choirs, cantors and instrumentalists to the greeters at the front door, you have helped make Christmas 2017 a memorable and meaningful experience for a lot of people. From the youngest singers to the oldest readers, you made a difference. TEEN CHOIR RE-BOOT Teen choir will meet on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM beginning January 16. Come and make yourself part of this great experience. We Need You! Happy New Year! May God richly bless you in Michael Sahlen Minister of Worship & Music VISION & MISSION 2018 Sunday, January 28 at 12 PM Thanking God for the Ministry We ve Done Looking Forward to the Future with Excitement! Come and celebrate Word of Peace s vision and mission at all worship services on January 28 & 29. There will be a special Vision & Mission Forum on January 28 following the 11 AM worship hour, which will include a celebra on of Word of Peace s ministry, the elec on of church leadership, and the approval of the 2018 vision and ministry resources. Year-End Financial Update and Budget Discussion Sunday, January 21 at 9:45 & 11 AM You are invited to come and review our 2017 finances and learn more about the proposed budget for Get all your ques ons answered prior to the Vision & Mission Forum so you are prepared in advance when it comes to vo ng on the budget. If you have ques ons in the mean me, please feel free to contact Linda Thomas, Director of Administra on, at (763) or lthomas@wordofpeace.org. 3

4 Thank You for GIVING BIG Over the Holidays! Thank you for your overwhelming support of the many wonderful opportuni es to give this Christmas at Word of Peace. In giving to programs such as Opera on Christmas Child, Adopt-A- Family, CROSS, God s Global Barnyard, the Fair Trade Fair, and local Christmas relief, you were able to share in the hope, peace, joy, and love of the season with others. May God bless you greatly in 2018! Thank-You Notes: Dear Members of Word of Peace, Thank you for your gi of $4,567 to Lutheran Disaster Response. With this gi you are providing emo onal and spiritual care, supplying emergency relief, and addressing long-term recovery. With your gi s you are making possible the support of unmet needs, the coordina ng of volunteers in the United States through our local affiliates, and the promo ng of disaster risk-reduc on interna onally, expanding knowledge and ability. Thank you for this gi and all your faithful generous gi s. Thank you for encouraging others to learn, act, pray, and give with you. Thank you for living into God s words of jus ce and mercy and for joining with the whole church to love and serve one another. In God s Grace, The Rev. Daniel Ri Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal Ministry Teams Now there are varie es of gi s, but the same Spirit; and there are varie es of services, but the same Lord; and there are varie es of ac vi es, but it is the same God who ac vates all of them in everyone. To each is given a full por on of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Help others to encounter Christ through offering your me, talent and passion for service to and through your church home. With a wide array of ministry teams to choose from, you are welcome and encouraged to plug yourselves in with others as we carry out our vision to know Christ s love and share Christ s love with all people. Ministry Teams Include: Care (membership and hospitality) Children, Youth & Family Endowment Fund Global Ministry Life and Growth (fun & fellowship events) Property Social Ministry Stewardship Worship and Visual Arts Visit wordofpeace.org/adults/leadershipopportuni es for more informa on about Word of Peace ministry teams. Dear Word of Peace, On behalf of the Carrie On 5K Race Commi ee and the Lorman Family, this note is to sincerely thank you for your financial support of our 8th Annual Memorial Race and Kiddie Run. We are truly grateful to you. We certainly had a wonderful event in Carrie s memory. Thank you again for partnering with us in our endeavors. Sue Stensrud, Race Director, Carrie On 5K 4 JOIN A MINISTRY TEAM! Share your gi s and talents while you get to know others and take part in the leadership of the ministry of Word of Peace. For more informa on or to volunteer, please contact the church office at (763)

5 SPECIAL SUPPLIMENT ADULT MINISTRY Winter/Spring 2018 Sunday Morning Adult Studies Sundays at 9:45 AM in Room 120 Grab Bag Bible Study: Exploring the Weirdness of Scripture January 7, 14 & 28 Talking animals, holy tantrums, streaking prophets, wild dreams and much more! If the Bible has ever made you scratch your head, giggle or skip ahead then this study is for you! All are welcome to explore the bizarre world of scripture! NEW Online Component! Can t make it Sunday morning? Read a reflec on of the Sunday morning Bible study material online (Adult Learning Blog) LENT Wilderness Survival Training Exploring Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy February 18-March 18 (5 Weeks) At the core of Jewish iden ty is the great narra ve of libera on, a process of social transforma on brought about by the revolu onary interven ons of God. And then? Wilderness. And lots of it! For forty years post-libera on, the Hebrews wandered in the desert, grumbling and whining and wondering over and over: Are we there yet? Surviving is one thing, thriving in the wild is another. Let s dig deep beneath the arid soil of the Israelites ancient trials in the wilderness and see what we can learn for today. AFTER EASTER And Who is My Neighbor? An Introductory Exploration of Racial Equality Dates and Times to be Announced A conversa on on race is not easy it never has been. The subject brings up our deepest held beliefs about who we are and who we should be. It brings up anger, pain, fear, guilt, shame, and even hopelessness. And it is way past me we all pressed into it. This study was authored by Dr. Eric Barreto, professor at Luther Seminary when he started the work, now on the faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. This is not the defini ve study of race or racial equity. It is not even the first chapter. It is more like a trailer that we hope will cause more of our neighbors to want to read, listen, and understand more. Jodi Harpstead, CEO, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota 5

6 SPECIAL SUPPLIMENT ADULT MINISTRY Winter/Spring 2018 SUNDAYS January 21 - March 18 2:00-4:00 PM We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University is that plan! It teaches God's ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interac ve small group ac vi es, Financial Peace University presents biblical and prac cal steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more. The average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 90 days! Lesson 1: Super Saving Common Sense for your Dollars & Cents Lesson 2: Rela ng With Money Nerds and Free Spirits Unite! Lesson 3: Cash Flow Planning The Nuts and Bolts of Budge ng Lesson 4: Dumping Debt Breaking the Chains of Debt Lesson 5: Buyer Beware The Power of Marke ng on your Buying Decisions Lesson 6: The Role of Insurance Protec ng your Health, Family, and Finances Lesson 7: Re rement and College Planning Mastering the Alphabet Soup of Inves ng Lesson 8: Real Estate and Mortgages Keeping the American Dream from Becoming a Nightmare Lesson 9: The Great Misunderstanding Unleashing the Power of Generous Giving Word of Peace members Thom & Angie Grubbs will facilitate the Financial Peace University course. They have taken the course and they are living it! If you have any ques ons, contact Angie at (612) or angie.grubbs@yahoo.com or Thom at (612) or tg@pentagoninsuranceagency.com. Register Now! The course fee is $90 per household. You will receive a copy of Dave Ramsey s book and numerous resources in addi on to the course manual and DVDs. (We will not turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Please contact Pastor Keith for more informa on.) Child care is available upon request. Please register online at wordofpeace.org/fpu or pick up a registra on form at the Informa on Desk. Payment is due at the me of registra on. 6

7 SPECIAL SUPPLIMENT ADULT MINISTRY Winter/Spring 2018 Divorce Care Support Group Thursdays from 6:00-8:00 PM Beginning January 4 Most people will tell you that separa on and divorce are the most painful and stressful experiences they ve ever faced. It s a confusing me when you feel isolated and have lots of ques ons about issues you ve never faced before. DivorceCare groups meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Each session has two dis nct elements: A Seminar with Experts During the first minutes of the mee ng, each DivorceCare group watches a video seminar featuring top experts on divorce and recovery subjects. These videos are produced in an interes ng-towatch television magazine format featuring expert interviews, reallife case studies and on-loca on video. A Support Group with Focus A er viewing the video, DivorceCare group par cipants spend me as a support group, discussing what was presented in that week s video seminar and what is going on in the lives of group members. This group will be facilitated by Word of Peace members, Mario Olson and Jennifer Harlan. Pre-registra on is not necessary and all are welcome. Ques ons? Contact Mario at mario.olson@yahoo.com or Jennifer at jharlan716@gmail.com. Subscribe to the Adult Ministry List! NEW wordofpeace.org/subscribe Sunday Night Men s Group New Study from the Master Builders Bible for Men 2nd & 4th Sundays of Each Month 7:00 PM Begins January 14 Which areas of life do you need to work on to become a whole person? Your physical life? Rela onal life? Spiritual life? Does anyone else struggle with focusing on all these at the same me? For more informa on and/or to order a Master Builders Bible for Men, contact Pastor Rick Skare at rskare@wordofpeace.org. Christ in Cinema Dates and Times Vary Join Pastor Keith and friends for Christ in Cinema! The group meets at the St. Michael Movie Theater for a movie, then gathers to talk about it upstairs in the bar. Check the weekly bulle n for movies and dates. For more informa on, contact Pastor Keith at (763) or klong@wordofpeace.org. 7

8 SPECIAL SUPPLIMENT ADULT MINISTRY Winter/Spring 2018 Encounter Stillness: Adult Hermitage Retreat Spring Dates Coming Soon! Situated in some of the most beau ful acreage of Minnesota, Pacem in Terris is a facility and organiza on dedicated to providing guests with an opportunity to encounter s llness in its sanctuary of silence and solitude, where riches beyond the human imagina on await the open heart. It is here that you will detach from the busyness of the world for a while and become one with Christ. Each guest is prayerfully assigned a cabin, or what is referred to at Pacem in Terris as a hermitage, in which they will unplug, unwind, and be changed through silence and solitude, or what author Henri Nouwen called the furnace of transforma on. Learn more about Pacem in Terris at paceminterris.org. Topics on Tap The Fourth Thursday of Each Month 7:00-9:00 PM at various locations Topics on Tap is a monthly discussion group for adults, designed to be an informal discussion that leads to deeper thinking. Along with other curious and open-minded learners, we ll gather for a cold one and some good old-fashioned table talk. We ll tackle the challenging and the lighter-fare subjects; The possibili es are truly as diverse as whatever is on tap. Facilitated by Pastor Keith and Word of Peace member, Greg Heinecke. For recommended reading, contact Pastor Keith at (763) or klong@wordofpeace.org. 8

9 2018 Lead, Follow, Just Get Out of My Way! A Leadership Workshop for 9 th -12 th Grade Girls Wednesdays 7:30-9:00 PM in the Youth Room January 17, 24, 31, and February 7 All High school girls with or without leadership experience are invited! Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, Pam Johnston will take you on a four week journey where you will learn what a leader is and isn't, examine important leadership characteris cs, help you discover if you are a follower, a leader, or both; and give you tools to develop your own leadership skills. Pam Johnston is a Word of Peace Member, leadership expert, confirma on guide, and youth sports coach. She has spent her life leading, coaching, and teaching. Project Wrap-up: April 2018 (op onal) Space is Limited, Register Early! Contact Pastor Kris n Skare at kskare@wordofpeace.org or (763) CROSS CORNER Looking for an opportunity to serve? KidPack is a Weekend Food for Kids program organized by CROSS and supported by area churches and organiza ons. This program was established to help food insecure families with a twice monthly KidPack snack bag that goes home with children on a Friday to provide some healthier snack op ons for the weekend. Word of Peace is a sponsor for Dayton Elementary School and we fill approximately 100 snack bags a month that include 7-8 provided food items that are easy to open, easy to heat, enjoyable and healthy. We are always looking for volunteers. It takes an hour for 10 volunteers to fill 100 bags. Watch for more informa on in the church bulle n. Everyone can be a part of Mission Jamaica! Word of Peace is preparing to send another missionary team to serve the people of Jamaica February They will operate several medical clinics and construct a home for a local family. You can support this mission with prayers, financial gi s, or any of the following items: Large suitcases with wheels 20 volt Dewalt impact drills Hammers Hand saws Wood chisels Tape measures Squares Levels (2. and 4.) Construc on aprons Construc on pencils Safety glasses Work gloves 7 1/4 circular saw blades U lity knives Paint brushes, rollers and trays Small plas c containers (cool whip sized) Storage containers with lids that would fit in a regular sized suitcase Tapcon (brand) fasteners Drill bits 5/32 & 3/16 (for cement) Wood spade bits Metal bits (assorted sizes) Cement bits Non-latex gloves (all sizes) Snack-sized Ziploc bags ACE wraps Dandruff shampoo Toothbrushes and toothpaste Travel sized shampoo, condi oner, lo on and soap Hand sani zer (large bo les) Monetary dona ons for wholesale supplies Dona ons may be dropped off at the Informa on Desk from January 21 through February 4. Please limit dona ons to the items on the list. If you prefer, financial gi s may be given online at wordofpeace.org/give or by tex ng woplc to to give via mobile. Please designate Mission Jamaica when you give. Giving envelopes and a credit card reader are available at the Informa on Desk for your convenience. Thank you for your help in serving the people of Jamaica! 9

10 There are many ways to give. Choose an option that works best for you: Pastor Keith Long Pastor of Life and Growth Did you know that when you give an offering to your congrega- on, a percentage of that financial gi is shared with your synod and churchwide organiza on? In the ELCA, we call these funds Mission Support. Mission Support enables the ELCA s 9,300 congrega ons and 65 synods to pool resources to love and serve our neighbors in ways that no individual, congrega on or synod can do alone. Through our offerings, which are shared with the wider church, we par cipate in God s life-changing work in our communi es and around the world. In 2016, ELCA members gave $1.75 billion in unrestricted offerings to support the three expressions of the ELCA: Congrega ons (94.4%), Synods (3%) and the Churchwide Organiza on (2.6%). Thank you for your generosity! It can be easy to forget that we are part of something much bigger and beyond ourselves as a congrega on. Giving to support our monthly and annual expenses is a big task, but when we understand that all of our generosity is helping to literally feed and nourish thousands of others both na onally and globally, it helps to put things in perspec ve. Thank you for all the ways you remember the poor and brokenhearted, knowing that what you give in the offering plate or electronically is put to great use. You are the hands and feet of The Good News of Jesus Christ, and your though ul gi s given out of gra tude and joy are helping make this world a be er place. On behalf of the Stewardship team, pastors and staff, thank you and Happy New Year! In Christ s Peace, 10 Text Give to Online wordofpeace.org/give Card Reader at the Information Desk Envelope by mail or in the offering plate THANK YOU for Giving to the Ministry of Word of Peace!

11 CHILDREN S MINISTRY CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY It s that me of year again when we start looking forward to campfires, gaga ball, and swimming in the lake is shaping up to be the most exci ng summer yet! Summer is a busy me for everybody and it seems like there are always five different things happening at the same me. Summer is also the most beau ful, joyful me of year in CYF ministry, because we have so many opportuni es to spend me in God s crea on, grow in faith, and play together. As our children and youth grow up, they o en say that their experiences in summer ministries were some of their best memories at church, and we re excited to con nue to grow those ministries! Sheldon Way Director of Youth Ministry UPCOMING YOUTH FUNDRAISERS: February 4 Super Bowl Subs February 10 Parents Night Out March 4 Plant Sale Begins On Camp Sunday, January 21, join us in celebra ng our summer ministries, learn more about opportuni es for this summer, and pick up a registra on form! There s something for everybody in the summer Vaca on Bible School for the younger ones, Summer Stretch for the older ones, Gaga Ball, summer camp, and more! We ll be celebra ng camp and summer ministries both in worship and outside of worship on the 21st, so wear your favorite Word of Peace t-shirt, camp shirt, VBS shirt, Summer Stretch shirt, or volunteer shirt! We ll need some bright colors in January! April 1 Easter Breakfast Registra on for all of the summer programs opens on Camp Sunday, and the CYF staff will all be around to answer your ques ons. We re looking forward to another exhilara ng summer full of faith forma on, friendship, and some great camp food! SENIORS Rogers Senior Center Main Street. Open 9 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Thursday and 9 AM-3 PM Friday. Volunteer Desk: (763) Coordinator, Liz: (763) /edirks@rogersmn.gov. Senior Shop Rogers Bus Thursdays at 10 AM, $1.00 per rider. Assistance provided with groceries. Contact Judy: (763) Jammers Potluck & Music Sunday, January 7, 1-5 PM (eat at 4 PM) at the Rogers Community Room (21201 Memorial Drive). Bring a dish for potluck and enjoy free entertainment from local musicians. There will be a collector car show in the parking lot. Bring yours if you have one! Contact Dave: (612) Word of Peace Kids-Care Bus takes seniors shopping at Ridgedale on Tuesday, February 13. $1.00 round trip. Call Judy to sign up, (763) Community Bingo: Monday, Jan. 8 from 1-3 PM at the Senior Center. A variety of bingo games will be played with cash prizes awarded to the winners. 6-card limit per game at $.25 per card each game. Usually 10 or more games are played with a break for refreshments in the middle of the 2-hour session and a coverall to end the a ernoon. This is a fundraiser for the Rogers Seniors and is open to the public so bring your friends for a fun a ernoon! Coffee Club: Every Monday & Tuesday from 9-10:30 AM. Come to the Senior Center to enjoy complimentary coffee and conversa on to start the day off right! Chili/Soup Supper: Thursday, Jan. 11 from 4:30-7 PM at the Rogers Community Room. This is a fundraiser for the Rogers Seniors. Watercolor Pain ng Class: Thursday, Jan. 18 at 10:00 AM. Join us for a winter themed pain ng class! All supplies will be provided and Jean McFarlane will be instruc ng the class at Rogers Senior Center for only $5.00. Call Liz at to sign up by Jan. 12th. Please contact Judy Hanson at (763) for resource, community or general informa on for seniors. To subscribe to the Rogers Senior Newsle er, call (763) Or, read it online at 11

12 Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID ROGERS, MN PERMIT NO. 9 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sundays at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 AM Mondays at 6:30 PM SPECIAL ADULT MINISTRY SUPPLIMENT INSIDE!