Peace Lutheran Church 8240 Blue Ridge Kansas City, MO December Newsletter. Sunday Worship Services. Adult and Children Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Transcription

1 Peace Lutheran Church 8240 Blue Ridge Kansas City, MO December Newsletter Sunday Worship Services Traditional 8:30 a.m. Adult and Children Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Contemporary 11:00 a.m.

2 December 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Grow in Peace will be closed December 26 th and January 2 nd The Sewing Bee ladies will only meet on the 5 th of this month. They will meet resume in January. No Wednesday Night Bible Study until January 7 th No Book Club meeting in December. It will resume in January. 1 9:30 am John Knox 6:30 pm Choir Practice 2 Pastors day with family 1:30 pm Setup for Christmas Tea 3 3:00 pm LWML Christmas Tea 4 Heit s Point Christmas Celebration 8:30 am Traditional 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Contemporary 11 9:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Advent Choral Service 12:00 Confirmation Class 3:00 pm Children s Christmas Program 5 9:30 Sewing Bee 6:30 pm Music and Worship Board 6 10:30 am OWLS 10:00 11:30 Knit/Crochet 6:30 pm GIP Board Mtg :00 11:30 Knit/Crochet 7 9:00 am GIP Chapel 3:00 pm Advent Service 7:00 pm Advent Service 7:30 pm Church Council 14 9:00 am GIP Chapel 3:00 pm Advent Service 7:00 pm Advent Service 8 9:30 am John Knox 1:00 pm Bible Journaling 6:30 pm Choir Practice 15 Newsletter Deadline 9:30 am Pastors Conference 6:30 pm Choir Practice 9 Pastors day with family 16 Pastors day with family 9:00 am 7:00 pm Pre-K Family Christmas Party 10 9:00 am 1:00 pm Children s Christmas Program Practice 17 11:00 am 6:00 pm Benavides Birthday Food for Needy 18 8:30 am Traditional 8:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Contemporary :00 11:30 Knit/Crochet 21 9:00 am GIP Chapel 22 6:30 pm Choir Practice 23 Pastors day with family 24 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Service 25 10:00 am Christmas Day Service 26 GIP Closed 27 7:00 Elders Mtg. 28 9:30 am GIP Chapel 29 6:30 pm Choir Practice 30 Pastors day with family 31 3:00 pm New Year s Eve Service 2

3 Genealogy Looking at the past generations of our family tree can be quite intriguing. Some look up their ancestry because they think it will give them more insight into themselves. It has become such a popular thing today that there are many websites that can help you find past relatives. Some even have the ability to map your DNA and tell you what nationality you come from. But if we are trying to find out where and from whom we come, is looking at our genealogy the right place to go? The apostle Paul tells us that looking at genealogies is unprofitable. He wrote, Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (Titus 3:9) He also wrote to Timothy telling him the same thing regarding genealogy. Back in those days genealogical records were important to the people. But the Israelites missed the point of such records, and Paul explained to them in length why it used to be important but wasn t needed anymore. The purpose of genealogy back then was to point us to Christ. God promised to send a Savior from the seed of Abraham. It was through Him that all the nations of the earth would be blessed. So this is why genealogy was so important before Jesus was born. They were looking for that promised Savior from their own people. This is why God starts His Christmas story in the book of Matthew with the genealogical record of Jesus. It isn t mentioned because it s the Lord s hobby. The Lord told us the ancestry of Jesus because it demonstrates God fulfilling His promise of sending us a Savior. But now genealogy isn t important because God s promise has been fulfilled. We no longer need to know our ancestry to find out about ourselves because through faith we know from whom we come and to whom we belong. All things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16) The only ancestor we need to be linked to is Jesus, the Christ. Through faith we become heirs and children of God. For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galatians 3:26) Looking at our earthly genealogy is fine as a hobby, but if we are looking to our ancestry to find any deeper answers about who we are, then we are working towards things that are unprofitable and worthless as Paul tells us. We are children of God, and we know all we need to know about ourselves by knowing Christ. He is the answer to all of our questions about who we are and from whom we come. In the service of Christ, Pastor Rolf 3

4 Peace Lutheran Church 8240 Blue Ridge Kansas City, MO peacelutheranlcms.org Phone: Pastor: Rev. David Rolf Music Director Luke Nicolay Secretary: Debbie Baldwin Director of Grow in Peace Child Care Center: Carla Hamilton Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 am 3:00 pm Bulletin and Newsletter Items: Send bulletin items by Wednesday to the Church Office at peacelutheranlcms@att.net Send Newsletter items by the 15 th of the preceding month to Sheila Dalen sheiladalen6@gmail.com Prayer Chain Requests: Sheila Dalen at: sheiladalen6@gmail.com or You can also contact the Church office at: peacelutheranlcms@att.net Advent Services Wednesdays December 7 th & 14 th 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm Advent Choral Service December 11 th 9:00 am Education Hour, 10:00 am Blended Service Children s Christmas Program December 11 th at 3:00 pm Christmas Eve Saturday December 24 th at 6:00 pm Christmas Day Sunday December 25 th at 10:00 am (Blended Service) New Year s Eve Saturday December 31 st 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm (with communion) New Year s Day Sunday January 1 st 9:00 am Education Hour 10:00 am Blended Service 4

5 Christmas Program The annual Peace Lutheran Sunday School and Grow in Peace Preschool Christmas program will be December 11 th at 3:00 pm this year! Please come and join us and support our Sunday School and Grow in Peace kids. There will be a reception with fun activities and treats after the program. Sunday School kids will be working on the program in their Sunday School classes throughout the next few months. There will also be a dress rehearsal on December 10 th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. We will have a lunch provided for your ids. During this time you are able to drop off your children and get some much needed Christmas shopping done. If you have any questions call Taylor Stichler at (541) or him at taylorstich@gmail.com Annual Advent Choral Service The Annual Advent Choral Service will be on December 11, 2016 at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. Come join the Praise Team and Choir for this yearly special service. There will be only one service that Sunday at 10:00 am with the Adult Bible Study and Children s Sunday School at 9:00 am. Watch the December Newsletter for more information. Wanted Volunteers to help with the Children during their practice on Saturday 9 am 12 noon, Dec 10 th and during program on Sunday, 3:00 PM 4:00 PM Dec 11th. Please contact Cathy A SWEET THANK YOU A SWEET THANK YOU to all who baked and all who bought and donated! The Mini-Cookie Sale for Grow in Peace goes a long way towards the purchase of new cots for the kids. Only is needed for every child to have a new cot. Thank you Linda Curtis 5

6 LWML (Lutheran Women Mission League) Symbols of Christmas Through Christian Eyes LWML Christmas Tea and Candlelight Service will be held December 3 rd at 3:00 pm. Ladies of Peace you are cordially invited to attend the LWML Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 3 rd beginning at 3:00 pm. Refreshments, fellowship, and a gift exchange will be in the Fellowship Hall! If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a wrapped $5.00 gift. Candlelight worship service will follow the Tea. This year s theme is Symbols of Christmas Through Christian Eyes. Our Christmas offerings as follows: The sock offering will benefit Grow in Peace Child Care Cots. The freewill offering will support: Disaster apparel in Mississippi and Louisiana. Please plan to join us for this special time this Christmas!! If transportation is needed, notify the Church Office at FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN (Isaiah 9:16) Isaiah Foretold that Jesus would be born to a virgin and that she was to call His name Immanuel, it is a promise of incarnated Deity a prophesy that God Himself would appear as a human infant. The Christmas story in the Bible is first found in the Old Testament prophecies. Writing under divine inspiration, Isaiah was able to see across the centuries and give us an amazingly accurate picture of the Savior s birth. God promised it would be a miraculous event, unlike any the world had ever known. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Those are remarkable titles given for a baby. However, this was no ordinary child, but one whose coming had long been awaited. But when the fullness of time was come. God sent for the His Son made of a woman (Galatians 4:4). At the time of His birth, the Jewish leaders expected an earthling king who would reign over them and free them from the Tyranny of Rome. Yet God s plan was so much more. The birth of His Son has completely changed the history of the world. For unto us a child is born. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory (John 1:14) Ruth Oexman Communications Chairperson 6

7 THANK YOU Many, many thanks to all who helped make the LWML Bake Sale a great success! We had a variety of delicious homemade baked goods to offer, and were able to sell nearly everything! Thank you also for the many generous monetary donations. 100% of proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase Christmas gifts for the residents of Beautiful Savior Home. We brought in just over $900. What a wonderful blessing for our BSH residents MORE GOOD NEWS! We still have some loaves of the Povitica bread, which is a sweet dessert bread, lovingly made by a group of ladies at church. The wrapped loaves have been kept frozen to preserve the freshness and will be for sale for the next few Sundays until they re gone. Proceeds will also go to LWML. 7

8 Book Club There will be no Book Club Meeting in December. We will resume in January with information regarding the book in January s Newsletter. Congregational Christmas Card Send Christmas Greetings to your fellow members at Peace without addressing and mailing cards. Sign you name on the Congregational Christmas Card that is in the entryway. You may place your offering in the wooden box by the card. All offerings will be sent to Beautiful Savior Home in Belton. Make your check payable to Peace LWML. CALLING ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO HAVE FUN! Are you hungry? Are you bored? Do you go to early service? Do you go to late service? Do you wish you knew someone new at church? Has it been some time since you had some knee slapping fun? Then by all means, be looking for more information about a February event you won t want to miss. It s not known if it will be critiqued for Broadway production or mentioned in the latest gourmet magazine, but you ll have to be the judge of what happens and how things taste. Stay tuned for more information in January. SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!! The themes are chosen, the menu is delightful, and the atmosphere is glowing. Would you believe the punch will have a punch! Hmmm, what does that mean? You ll never know unless you reserve Dec. 3 rd at 3 pm to enjoy an ALL NEW CHRISTMAS TEA just for us girls! Do you need more enticement? How about a dessert table featuring Yule logs, date pudding, cheese cake and mouse! Whoops, it s really mousse. Just seeing if you were reading this! Besides all the fun, laughter and singing, there will be a real reason for this celebration a time set aside to join with fellow Christian women to worship the Savior s birth. From Thanksgiving until January 1, we women seem to have more than enough to do. We are truly Marthas. Let s make an effort to be Martha s sister on December 3 rd. Let s be a Mary for a moment or two! 8

9 On the Spinner It's rather difficult to peruse the Lutheran Hours Ministries Spinner right now, but whenever you have the opportunity, you might just find something that would be useful for you or a friend's walk through this earthly journey. This month, we will highlight a pamphlet that has been on the spinner before plus a new pamphlet offering. The Mormons, Who They Are, What They Believe: The Mormon Church (aka The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is an intriguing-and perplexingreligious movement. From its feel-good, family-oriented TV commercials to its Grammy-and Emmy-winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir to its earnest bicycling missionaries, the Mormon Church is high profile all the way. Founded in the early 19th century, this religious group boasts more than 15 million members and 85,000 missionaries, ranking it in the top five of "Christian denominations" in the U.S., according to the National Council of Churches. This Project Connect booklet by Rev. Wayne Palmer supplies essential information on the basics of this religious sect founded by Joseph Smith. Here you'll find fascinating details shedding light on Mormon history, including their particular beliefs and teachings on Jesus, the nature of God, pre-mortal existence, heaven, hell and Satan. Also provided are tips for engaging in meaningful and respectful conversations with your Mormon neighbors or their missionaries who may arrive at your front door. Great Deceiver The battle we wage in this life is not one "against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" as the apostle Paul tells us in his letter to believers in Asia Minor (Ephesians 6:12b). And what was true in antiquity is evermore so today. In this instructive booklet from Project Construct, Pastor Michael Newman gets to the heart of the matter. "If you believe in Jesus or are even contemplating a walk of faith, Satan has you as his target. He has declared war on your life. His aim is to take aim at you." Using Scripture as his guide, Newman shows us Satan's - the great deceiver's-true colors: he's a liar, he's a ravenous beast seeking to maim or destroy; he's hell-bent on our destruction and undermining works of righteousness whenever and wherever he can. His best intention is our worst nightmare. If this is somehow still too vague, Jesus sums it up: "He was a murderer from the beginning" (see John 8:44). Grievous as this sounds, our position - though vulnerable in this world due to sin and our sinful flesh is not one of crushing dismay. Rather, as believers in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we have victory over the prince of darkness, even as Christ demolished the works of the devil through His death, resurrection and exultation at the right hand of God. 9

10 Altar Flowers Thank you to everyone who has donated or will be donating flowers this year. The 2017 Calendar is on the wall. Reserve your special Sunday now. Please contact Cheryl Enke with any questions or concerns (cell) Religious Display Christmas Cards Christmas cards are for sale A Christmas cards have arrived and are $5.00 per box. Check out the display cases between services. Your purchase helps support the LWML. Thank you. Sewing Bee The ladies plan to meet only the first Monday in December. We will begin meeting in January to continue making quilts for the next year. On November 14 th we went to the Ozanam Home to present 24 quilts to the girls residing there. Ten quilts were taken to the LUMAA meeting in November Please save your Best Choice UPC s. Many more are needed before they are sent in for redemption the end of December. Also save the Box Tops for Education which are on many General Mills products. These are given to Calvary Lutheran School. Save your canceled postage stamps (leaving a ¼ inch margin of envelope around the stamp). These are taken to Stamps for Mission in St. Louis to be sorted and sold. Containers for these are on the shelf in the Narthex. It is no longer necessary to save the Labels for Education from Campbell products since the company is no longer redeeming them. 10

11 Liturgy Ushers 8:30 11:00 Peace Lutheran Church Sunday Worship schedule November 2016 December 4 December 11 December 18 December 25 Second Sunday Third Sunday Fourth Sunday Christmas Day in Advent in Advent in Advent Divine Service One Divine Service Three Page :00 am Page :00 Christmas Day with Communion Joint Choral Service with Communion Blended Service Contemporary with Communion Contemporary with Communion Robert Brown, Kent Pritzel, Dennis Rapp, Elijah Truelove Elders Greeters 8:30 Gary Thurnau, Jim Ewart, Ron Johnson, Reed McCubbin 11:00 Keith Kirchhoff Jeff Gardner 8:30 Dennis/Carol Head 10:00 am Joint Choral Dennis/Carol Head Service 11:00 Punky McDaniel Gary/Wanda Thurnau Homer/Ruth Oexman 10:00 Christmas Day Blended Service Punky McDaniel Altar Guild Alter Care 8:30 Peggy Noah Reed/Cindy McCubbin New Year s Eve 11:00 Homer/Ruth Oexman Nita Runge 11

12 December 1 Bill Whitaker 2 Collin Christopher 2 Marcella Ellison 2 Toby Gilham 3 Dee Rice 4 Ryan Gaulding 4 Mark Gieseke 4 Julie Kleeschulte 4 Jenny Schultz 4 Jennifer Scrivener 5 Soly McDaniel 5 Juli Seutter 6 Matt Clemons 9 Emilee Clay 9 Jake Gish 9 Jeff Woodward 11 Christine Grace 11 MarQuan Shelby 12 Dave Loesch 17 Hayden Selbe 17 Deanna Staehling 18 Dean Huth 18 Joe Rice 21 Laurence Bellach 23 Mary Turos 24 Cindy Thurnau 24 Mae Walter 1 Brenda Cody 1 Chelsea Cooper 2 Marcella Ellison 2 Gary Thurnau 5 Soly McDaniel 7 Jennifer Baker 7 Jim Ewart 7 Bob Gilham 7 Tracey Hufferd 8 Laura Johnson 9 Nita Runge 10 Judy Bray 10 Patti Nutt 11 Lisa Thornton 12 Brionna Hamilton 12 Jasmine Love 12 Jermaine Love 14 Darla Wolters 15 Mark Harms 15 Carol Head 15 Julie Kleeschulte 15 Margaret Koontz 16 Daniel Hungerford 16 Miles Hungerford 17 Rick Ledgerwood 18 Mark Gieseke 19 Kent Scott 20 Jayrone Shelby 21 Toby Gilham 25 Jennifer Scrivener 25 Lisa Vachalek 28 Kyrah Schroeter 28 Zoey Schroeter 30 Collin Christopher 30 Iona Ralls * Kevin Cochran * Exact date unknown 2 Jim/Lisa Thornton Dennis/Ruby Rapp Richard/Brenda Cody Dave/Cathy Kuhn Gary/Wanda Thurnau Kevin/Tracey Hufferd Ed/Wilma Seutter Dennis/Carol Head

13 Grow in Peace Child Care Center News LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD Sweet Baby Jesus, We celebrate your birth each December. We ask you to enter our hearts and minds every day and remind us of the sacrifice you gave to each of us! Thank you for loving us THAT MUCH and more. AMEN! Welcome to Grow in Peace New Enrollments Samantha Holliday Toddler Kylie Tibbs Toddler Charlotte Smith - Toddler Channola Dawkins - Preschool May God bless the early learning you will receive while with us! Christmas Program Practice for the program is on Saturday, December 10 th from 9 to Noon (Pizza served) and then the Program will be on Sunday, December 11 th at 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Upcoming Dates to Remember December 25 Christmas Day GIP to be closed on Monday, December 26 th for the Holiday Future Dates January 1, 2017 New Year s Day GIP to be closed on Monday, January 2 nd for the Holiday Christmas Services: 12/24 at 6pm and 12/25 at 10am December, main ( )2 nd line GIP is asking for donations of items for classroom usage: Red, pink, white tissue paper, valentines stickers, pipe cleaners, and paper doillies. ***We would gladly accept monetary donations! Grow in Peace can give you a tax exemption! Donations are always welcomed and very much needed for Grow in Peace Child Care Center! GIP Philosophy Statement Grow in Peace Child Care Center shall provide a safe Christian environment with loving, experienced, and professional staff that recognize parents have the primary responsibility in skill development and Christian training for their children. As an outreach ministry of Peace Lutheran Church, we strive to set an example of Christ's Love through God's Word and assist in the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical development of the children entrusted to our care. Helping children grow in wisdom and in grace. Open Invitation to Attend Church Services We extend to you a standing open invitation to come and explore Peace Lutheran Church and the ministries it serves. Listed below are the times for services. If you would like more info, please ask Ms. Carla or call the Church office at Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at GIP!! Opportunities for worship and Bible Study include: Traditional Service at 8:30am on Sunday's Contemporary Service at 11:00am on Sunday's Sunday Bible Study 9:45 to 10:45am on Sunday s Midweek Bible Study 6:00 to 7:15pm on Wednesday s Look for the Church on the web at and on facebook at or visit in person during one of the service times or Bible Study times. Peace Lutheran exists to encourage and equip Christ followers to grow their faith, live their faith and to share their faith. 13