M essenger. Diverse AND Unified. New Sunday Morning Schedule. Worship vvvv Connect vvvv Serve

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1 M essenger A Newsletter of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church & Preschool M y greatest hope for Prince of Peace has always been that we would be a radically diverse group of people who are unified on three things: 1. Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior and Friend. 2. God s love will change lives. 3. We are the hands, feet, voice and heart of Jesus. I believe that if we can come together on these three things, we will be wildly successful in changing the world. When push comes to shove, nothing else really matters. We are radically diverse in many ways. We are a community of different ages, political leanings, income levels, career tracks and backgrounds. We interpret the Bible differently, raise children differently, vote differently and think differently about nearly every important issue of the day. We are a community of rich and poor, male and female, married and single, young and old, gay and straight. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, even when we disagree about worship times, gay marriage or how to serve the poor. Let me explain (go with me on this). Our country has become intensely divided. We seem to have lost the ability to find common ground in anything. This is reflected in Washington D.C. where our politicians seem to grow more dogmatic and entrenched in their positions every day. Income inequality has never been more prevalent. Within five miles of Prince of Peace, we have Worship vvvv Connect vvvv Serve Diverse AND Unified people who live in opulent homes and families who live in substandard apartments. When we are at social events, there are so many topics that are off-limits because we don t want to risk starting an argument with someone. Sometimes I think we have become so accustomed to being defensive that we have lost the ability to listen and be respectful to each other. What if Prince of Peace became the one place in our lives where diversity is not only accepted but encouraged? What if we left behind the arguments and divisions of the past and moved to truly new ground? What if we respected each other so much that we could find common ground despite our politics? What a model we would be to our children and to the wider October 2015 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 community. On some level, most organizations (especially churches) demand unity on difficult issues and ultimately force people to make a choice: agree or leave. What if we were the church that embraced each other no matter what the issues of the day happen to be? What if our unity was in Jesus and nothing else? We would be radically counter-cultural. We would be a safe haven for people who are tired of fighting. We would be the church that the Apostle Paul envisioned long ago. If we can come together on the only truly critical tenets of faith and leave everything else behind, I believe we will be blessed beyond measure. This is what I will continue to strive for. One body. One spirit. One Lord. Grace and peace, New Sunday Morning Schedule 8:30 a.m. Traditional Lutheran Worship (Liturgical worship featuring organ, piano, choir and other classical music) 9:30 a.m. Coffee and Conversation (in the gym) 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Lutheran Worship (Prayer and praise worship featuring worship band, organ/piano and a variety of music) 10:00 a.m. Sunday School (Starts in the sanctuary) Adult Education with Laura Mitchell (Meets in Education Bldg., Room 13/14) Pastor Rick

2 Reformation/Confirmation Sunday October 25 Celebrate our Lutheran heritage while also celebrating with four of our young people Samantha Ayala, Jared Lara, Lauren Pineda and Abbey Weiss as they affirm their faith in Jesus. Music will include organ, bells, brass and more. The Rite of Confirmation will be celebrated at the 10 a.m. worship service. Prayers for Healing We believe that God can and will provide healing for our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. You can ask for prayer for yourself or someone else who you are concerned about. Join us for prayer around the altar directly following the worship services on a rotating schedule: October 4 and 18, following the 10 a.m. worship service October 11, following the 8:30 a.m. worship service No healing prayers on October 25 (Reformation Sunday) If you desire prayer at another day/time during the week, don t hesitate to call Pastor Rick or Pastor Paul at the church office and they can arrange a prayer session with you. Update: Director of Youth and Family Ministry Search While we don t have any promising candidates as of today, the search team has been working hard to get the word out about our open position. Pastor Rick has met with a group of pastors and youth directors from around the Valley to get leads and refine the position description. He has also had meetings with local youth directors and has been networking with youth leaders, college professors, camp directors and seminary staff from around the country to recruit candidates. We believe that God will deliver us a person who will do great ministry at Prince of Peace. We hope to have news for you next month. Until then, please continue to pray for the right person to come our way. Your Help Needed as Annual Stewardship Drive Approaches Watch your USPS mail in mid-october for a letter with details about the 2016 Stewardship Program. If any members who tithe wish to share an anonymous note on "Why I Tithe," please leave it in the mailbox for Les Holland in the copy room of the church office. These notes will be read to the congregation and/or included in the mailing. THE MESSENGER is printed monthly for the purpose of informing members and friends of upcoming events, for sharing good news about our members and for sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through word and action. OFFICE popphoenixoffice@gmail.com FAX AMA PRESCHOOL Website, Rev. Rick Sherrill, Lead Pastor Rev. Paul Nelson Visitation Pastor Angela Sherrill Children s Ministry Coordinator Maria Renovato, Office Manager Sara Rushlo Preschool Director Dr. Allen Quie Organist/Choir Accompanist Lynne McGinley Pianist & Choir Director Kay Cook, Bell Director tcook@desertbells.org Glenda Rauscher, AMA Director Keri Herding, Accountant Verna Lauritsen, Assistant Financial Secretary Herman Vergara, Custodian Marge Mayes, Messenger Editor , mtmayes@cox.net CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Craig Myrmel, President; Teri Traaen, President-Elect; Gail Andrews, Vice President/Personnel; Joy Johnson, Secretary; Greg Welch-Rowland, Treasurer; Nancy Stevens, Financial Secretary; Steve Edgar, Les Holland, Carrie Goodman, Brad Beebe, Anita Thorne, Members-at-Large Please see the website for individual staff addresses. Page 2

3 Passion Project for October PJs and Books Drive Books and pajamas (complete set, top and bottom, or nightgown) need to be new. All ages, infant through 18 yrs. (more need for older children). Monetary Donations accepted! The Pajama Program was founded to help children who have been removed from their home, and who are often shuffled between temporary homes. The pajamas have come to represent people who care, and they offer security and love for a child abandoned in a shelter or waiting for a foster home. The program has grown to help wherever there is a need, and in most cases the children they help have never owned their own pair of pajamas or their own book. This organization relies on donations and fund-raising in order to assist these very special children. The Arizona Chapter was started in 2007 and there are currently 50 receiving organizations throughout the state. Thank you to the congregation for food and water donations this summer. Donations were given to Mount of Olives. Home for Dinner Project Success Thank you for all the donations to this summer s Home for Dinner project, where we collected plates, bowls, and silverware for UMOM homeless families moving into new housing. Our goal was to collect enough dishware and silverware for 50 families of four. We far surpassed our goal, and ended the project with 209 large plates, 358 salad plates, 263 bowls, 202 glasses, 105 mugs, 1,033 butter knives, 144 steak knives, 36 sharp knives, 664 forks, 1,437 spoons, 21 storage containers and 87 miscellaneous objects. We collected this large amount of items thanks to your donations and help from a National Charity League grant, which we used to acquire items at an auction when Bill Johnson s Big Apple restaurant closed. UHAUL also kindly supplied us with a $100 donation for packaging materials. Thank you all for your help with this project! Caitlin and Sydney Hartman Sunday Worship Plan Worship Schedule Traditional Worship, 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship, 10 a.m. October 4 19th Sunday after Pentecost Restoring a Childlike Faith Job 1:1, 2:1-10 Mark 10:2-16 Pastor Rick Sherrill, preaching October 11 20th Sunday after Pentecost Job 23:1-9, Mark 10:17-31 Deborah Hutterer, Lutheran Social Services, guest preacher October 18 21st Sunday after Pentecost Job 38:1-7 Mark 10:35-45 Pastor Paul Nelson, preaching October 25 Reformation/Confirmation Sunday Confirmation: A New On-Ramp Psalm 46 John 8:31-36 Pastor Rick Sherrill, preaching Page 3

4 Sunday Morning Adult Education The Gospel of John, begins Sunday, October 4 With a new worship schedule comes a new opportunity: adult education! During the 10 o clock hour, we will meet in Room 13/14 to study the Gospel of John. Renowned New Testament scholar William Barclay says this of John: Of all the New Testament writers, John has the most penetrating gaze into the eternal mysteries, the eternal truths and the very mind of God. It is a rich and beautiful gospel. We will begin our study with a brief overview of John: when it was written, its historical context, and its outline. From there, we will study one chapter per week until Advent, when we will break for the holidays. Our study will resume after the first of the year. The schedule is as follows (all on Sunday): October 4 Introduction and John 1 October 11 John 2 October 18 John 3 October 25 John 4 November 1 John 5 November 8 John 6 November 15 John 7 November 22 John 8 November 29-December 27 break for Advent and Christmas Laura Mitchell will lead this study most Sundays, with Pastor Rick substituting on October 11. Please bring a Bible and something to write with. All other materials will be provided. See you on October 4th! Wednesday Bible Study Are you looking for an opportunity to meet new people? Are you looking for a good cup of coffee? Are you wanting a bit more learning in your week? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then the place for you to be is at Prince of Peace each Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. as we gather with friends, a cup of coffee and our Bibles time for our weekly Bible study! We gather in the choir room and share together how God is speaking the Word to us. Here is your opportunity to share, with previously known and new friends. October 7 Mark 10: 2-16 October 14 Mark 10: October 21 Mark 10: October 28 Mark 10: Theology Pub Tuesday, October 20 7 p.m. at OHSO (4900 E. Indian School Rd.) Back by popular demand! Join Pastor Rick for an adult beverage and discussion centered on a story from the Bible. The discussions are free flowing, insightful and often humorous. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP by to Pastor Rick (pastorrick@ popphoenix.org) so we can make sure you have a seat at the table. We will begin our Arcadia Music Academy 2015/16 term with two recitals (one at 6 p.m. and one at 7 p.m.) in the sanctuary on Monday, October 19. Come hear how we re doing. Also, we still have openings for piano, guitar, violin, and viola. Contact us at ama@ popphoenix.org. Bring used printer cartridges to the church office for recycling! President s Column Craig Myrmel, Council President Romans 13:1. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. In the world in which we live, it is a rare day when we do not see or read about someone who is fighting against a law in our country. There seem to be few laws written that someone will not find fault in and proceed to disobey it or fight to have it removed. Jesus told us that his kingdom is not of this world, yet some try to justify civil disobedience by declaring that they are Christians and that justifies their stance. I guess that they do not read the same Bible that I read. My Bible is pretty clear that God has a hand in putting governments in power and that I am supposed to subject myself to their authority. My prayer is that we all remember that God s kingdom is not of this world and that we give Caesar his due while we worship God. It is not a choice between the two. Page 4

5 . Bashas & Fry s Programs Our rebate for August from reloading Bashas cards which are also accepted at AJ s Fine Foods and Food City was $40, bringing our 2015 total from Bashas to $555. Our quarterly rebate from Fry s for June through August was $181, giving us $592 this year. Thank you to all the members and friends of our church who participate in the Bashas and Fry s programs!! If you need a Bashas card that is linked to Prince of Peace, please contact me. Register with Fry s to Generate Free $$$ for Prince of Peace!! Participating in the Fry s program requires re-linking your V.I.P. number to our church every year, effective September 1. To sign up online and generate rebates for Prince of Peace for the 12-month period ending on 8/31/2016, see the instructions posted on the church s website ( under the Giving tab. Check the bottom of your next receipt from Fry s to make sure it refers to donating to Prince of Peace. Steve Crofton, Coordinator Bashas & Fry s grocery store programs ; sec@slwplc.com Pastor Rick & Pastor Paul Office Hours Monthly Attendance and Revenue Report as of August 31, 2015 Monthly Attendance Monthly Offering Monthly Budget Variance August 2015 (5-week month) August 2014 (5-week month) 679 $37,323 $29,450 $7, $28,918 $30,135 ($1,218) Page 5 Your pastors would love to talk with you, laugh with you or pray with you. However, neither will have set office hours this fall as the church calendar grows more packed with events. If you would like to make an appointment to meet, call or them: Pastor Rick: cell, , pastorrick@popphoenix.org Pastor Paul: cell: , pastorpaul@popphoenix.org

6 Elderberries Outing to Grace Lutheran All are welcome to join the Elderberries on Wednesday, November 18, for a visit to Grace Lutheran Church. The Mother Church of the Grand Canyon Synod, Grace was founded in 1914 and has given birth to five other Lutheran congregations in Phoenix over the years. One of the few examples of Gothic architecture in the State of Arizona, the recently remodeled sanctuary, with its beautiful stained glass windows and newly renovated pipe organ, dates from We will visit their sanctuary and homeless ministry facilities then on to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, 2402 E. Camelback Rd., at approximately 11:30 a.m. Meet in Prince of Peace s south parking lot to carpool, departing at 9:30 a.m. If you plan to drive on your own, Grace Lutheran is located at 1125 N. 3rd St. Visit the Greeting Card Rack We have Halloween cards, plus a variety of cards such as birthdays, getwell, sympathy, anniversary and more. The price of the cards is $2 each or three for $5. All monies raised are returned to the church in the form of donations or gifts to various Prince of Peace groups. We are looking for people to join us in this ministry we meet the first and third Tuesday mornings of each month. You don t have to be a crafter! Christmas Card Packets We have made changes in our Christmas card packets this year. Each packet contains 15 cards instead of 10 while the cost remains the same at $10 per pack. We have also added a fun drawing, Every time you buy cards at the card rack between now and the first week of December, your name will be put in a bag; on December 6, a name will be drawn and the winner will receive a free pack of Christmas cards! We look forward to seeing you at the card rack on Sundays! Women s Retreat Prince of Peace women are invited to a relaxing and inspirational retreat at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree on October (7-9 p.m. on Friday and 9-4 p.m. on Saturday). The theme, "Garden Getaway: Where Women Walk with God," is based on Ecclesiastes 3, focusing on the seasons of our lives. This is a great opportunity for you to have meaningful time with God and connect with your sisters in faith, while enjoying small group activities, laughter, song, worship, and a service project, all in the beautiful setting of Spirit in the Desert's Retreat Center. Advance registration is required and must be received prior to October 9. Complete details about the retreat and registration are available at (under events/spiritual retreat) or talk to Martha Weld, , for more information. The POP food pantry is getting low. Please help replenish our supplies suggested supplies include canned goods with poptops, peanut butter, granola bars, fruit, and crackers. Prince of Peace Foundation Scholarships Application Deadline, Oct. 23 The Prince of Peace Foundation is accepting applications for tuition scholarship grants for the 2015/16 college year. Grants will be awarded to members of Prince of Peace who will be incoming freshmen or Prince of Peace members already attending college. The grants will be based on the information, records, grades, etc. contained in the completed scholarship application. Forms are available in the church office and on our website ( and must be returned to the church office no later than Friday, October 23, 2015 (mark Attn: Foundation Scholarship Committee). For more information, contact the church office ( ). Care Packages for College Students The first few months of college can be an equal mixture of wonderful and tough. Our Sunday School children will be putting together care packages for our college students in early October. If you would like to include a note of encouragement or a candy bar or other small gift, please contact Angela Sherrill (acsherrill@aol.com) or drop them off in the church office in early October. Page 6

7 Global Connections ELCA Global Church Sponsorship God s Work. Our Hands. Thank You! As a sponsoring congregation, this summer we raised we raised approximately $2,000 to help the Eller family pay their living expenses while serving as missionaries in South America. Thank you for your donations!! Ellers Home Assignment Brief summaries and photos of the Ellers trips across the United States during their home assignment this summer including to Arizona are posted on karieller.weebly.com. Only for such an amazing congregation, would we brave the 1150-plus weather. Thank you. Prince of Peace. for showing us around Phoenix and letting us into your hearts. Big hugs, Kari. Follow in the Footsteps of Martin Luther We have a unique opportunity to visit the birth place of the Reformation, an event that changed Western history, as almost no other. Pastor Paul Nelson will lead an 11-day trip, beginning October 15, 2016, to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Following in the steps of Martin Luther, the tour will visit Eisenach, Luther's refuge during the stormy days prior to the Reformation; Erfurt, where Luther was ordained; Wittenburg, where Luther nailed his 95 Theses; Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Augsburg, all points in Luther s journey. The trip ends in Munich, capital of Bavaria. Pastor Paul will host an informational meeting on Sunday, November 8 at 11 a.m. Bring a friend and meet with other intrepid travelers. You may also contact him at or talk to him on Sundays! Jackline, Namayani and Naomi Need Your Support! For the past four years, Prince of Peace has sponsored these three exceptional girls as they have pursued their dreams at the Massae Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) in Tanzania. We have just received a report on their progress and it is great news! Jackline and Namayani were two of the 25 girls in their graduating class of 50 who excelled on their national exams and will continue on to Forms 5 and 6 at MGLSS. Only 20 percent of students in Tanzania excel on their exams and qualify to continue in school. Both Jackline and Namayani are one step closer to qualifying for college or training for high-quality careers. Naomi passed her Form 5 exam but will not be continuing at MGLSS. She has chosen to continue her education by studying animal husbandry through Bacho Vocational School. We can continue to support all three girls in 2015/16. The total cost is $2,700. As of today, we have raised just over $1,200. Please consider a special gift to help these special girls. Jackline John Namayani Loihoruaki Naomi Musa Page 7

8 Youth, Children and Family Ministries New Hours for Sunday School Sunday School will run concurrently with the 10 a.m. contemporary service. Sunday School children: begin the morning in church and then be dismissed to Sunday School after the Children's Sermon. Sunday School Kick-Off We had a great Sunday School Kick-Off event, with lots of kids, lots of food, a carnival and lots of fun!. Sunday School in October October 4, 11, 18 & 25 Two-service schedule with Sunday School at 10 a.m. Children begin in church and are dismissed to Sunday School after the Children s Sermon October 11 Christmas Program CDs go out October 18 Children will make care packages for college students; Christmas program practice begins during Sunday School Dates to remember Saturday, December 12 Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, December 13 One service with the Christmas program, 9:30 a.m. Youth News Confirmation Classes, October Confirmation Camp 2016 (Classes on October 4 and 18) Hello, parents of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade kids! We are evolving our Confirmation program to make it more familyfriendly and to give you back your Sunday nights as family time. Confirmation classes will now be held on Sunday mornings from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the youth room (Education Bldg. Room 17). We will meet approximately every other week (14 sessions total from September 2015 to May 2016). Learning, check-ins, games and prayer will all be put together to make for great sessions. Lunch will also be served. This year we have added Worship Experience Forms" as part of the Confirmation program. Students are invited to complete one form per month at the 10 a.m. service. Forms are available on the Confirmation page on the POP website. Mark Your Calendars Now! June 26-July 1, 2016 Lutheran Campfermation Tonto Rim Christian Camp in Prescott, AZ Over 120 Lutheran young people from Arizona Led by Lutheran youth leaders, counselors and support staff Hikes, canoeing, natural water slides, fun at the lake, archery, campfires and Bible study, ropes course and zipline, big group games, arts and crafts, etc. Cost is $150 per person Young Parent Growth Group We are forming a growth group for parents with young children and have a few more spaces available. The group will meet once a month for dinner, Bible study and prayer. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Pastor Rick (pastorrick@popphoenix.org) for initial details. Page 8

9 Preschool News by Sara Rushlo, Director Director Change We officially, with sadness, said our final good-byes to Laura Van Klaveren on Thursday, September 3. The new director, Sara Rushlo, joined the preschool team on Monday, August /16 School Year School is off to a wonderful start! We are so excited to begin another year of learning and fun in the preschool. We are blessed to have many new and returning families. Our school is full of children who are eager to learn... and our hearts are full of love for them! We have added some great new teachers to our teaching staff. They are dedicated and passionate about early childhood education. Our hearts are set on making a difference in the lives of the children who enter the preschool. We know that preschool years help shape the children as they grow up in the future. Because of this, we take our role in their lives seriously and we ask for your continued prayers for our school, staff and families throughout this coming school year. Thank you! Trunk or Treat Our next big event, coming in October, is Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 23 at 6 p.m. We look forward to having you join us while we enjoy fun, food, treats and more. Curriculum Night The Preschool hosted its annual Parent Night on Wednesday, September 2. Preschool parents gathered to meet the preschool teaching staff, welcome the new Preschool Director and learn about the parent team and fund-raising opportunities for the school year. Following introductions, parents returned to the classrooms to learn about the curriculum, review plans for the school year and discuss what the preschoolers do in class each day. Following the classroom visits, parents had the opportunity to attend the Scholastic Book Fair to purchase books for their children or donate books to the children's classrooms. Preschool Sunday We were geared up for Preschool Sunday, September 27, and excited to join the POP Preschool and POP church families together in worship. The students were busy practicing their song, King of the Jungle, and preparing their feet for the Jumpy Castle which followed the service. We will have pictures from the morning in next month s newsletter. Katie Wunch Memorial Scholarship Fund The Katie Wunch Memorial Scholarship Fund provides short-term tuition assistance to preschool families who are going through financial difficulties. The scholarship fund is a tremendous blessing to families and allows children to continue to attend preschool while the family goes through difficult economic months. The scholarship account is funded through individual donors and fund-raising events. If you would like to contribute toward this fund or sponsor a family for a few months, please designate your check to the Katie Wunch Memorial Scholarship Fund. Thank you! Page 9

10 Wellness Committee Guidelines for Riding a Bike Safely by Beth Schneider Each year 300,000 kids are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to riding a bicycle, and 10,000 have injuries severe enough to require a hospital stay of several days. With the arrival of cooler temperatures and the beginning of school, more kids are riding bicycles. Bicycles are an enjoyable and economical form of transportation but safety rules need to be followed. First, make sure that the bicycle is the correct size. The seat should be level front to back and seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. Handlebar height should be at the same level as the seat. Keep tires properly inflated and regularly check that the brakes are working. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Books or other items should be in a backpack or bicycle carrier. Never ride a bicycle without a helmet. When purchasing a helmet, not only look for one that fits but also one that has a sticker indicating that it meets the standards established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Always keep the straps fastened and never wear a hat under the helmet. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a pamphlet, Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet. It is important to be seen when riding a bike. Wear bright-colored clothes. Studies have shown that white is not as visible as bright colors. For extra safety, put reflectors on the bike. Avoid loose pant legs, backpack straps, shoelaces, or anything else that might get caught in the bike chain. Sandals, flip flops, cleats, and high heels make it difficult to grip the pedals so wear sneakers or flat-healed shoes when riding. Never ride a bike barefoot. Bike riders are expected to follow the rules of the road. When possible, try to avoid major roads and busy streets. Always ride on the right side of the street so you are traveling the same direction as the motor vehicles. Never ride against traffic. Drivers preparing to turn right are looking left for traffic and won t see you when you are riding against traffic. When available, use bike lanes. Cross at intersections and obey traffic signals, especially red lights. To avoid being struck by a suddenlyopened car door, don t ride too close to parked cars. Ride single file. When passing pedestrians or other bikers, always pass on the left. Do not weave in and out between cars. Signal before turning. These rules apply not only to kids. The same rules apply to adult riders. Following the rules, combined with a dose of common sense, decreases the chance of injury and increases the enjoyment of bike riding. Roses to Soup Labels Dorcas Circle continues to collect Campbell s Soup labels to support the Navajo Mission School in northern Arizona. Drop labels off in the container on the cart in Gangsei Hall or in the tin container in the office workroom. Remember, we just need the bar codes! Thanks for your support! A Prince of Peace member is looking for a ride home from church following the 10 a.m. service, to the area of Country Club and 10th Ave. in Mesa. If you are able to help, please contact the church office, F Kay McCartney, Marge Mayes and Anita Thorne for serving on Altar Guild in September. F Laurie Peterson, assisted by Jan Beebe, Sherrye & Tom Smith, Alexandra Smith, and David Dobson for a Saturday cookie-baking extravaganza to insure that we always have cookies for Sunday morning coffee. F Suzy Steinmetz & Ellen Schoeneman for preparing and serving a delicious lunch to the staff at their recent study session. F Alice Fuchs, Bob Pachman and Jack Ranby for running the sound system on Sunday mornings. Page 10

11 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday October 2015 AA meets nightly, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Room 11/12 Survivors of Suicide 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., Room 11/12 Sew & Tie Traditional Worship - 8:30 am Coffee Fellowship- 9:30 am Contemporary Worship- 10 am Sunday School/Adult Ed- 10 am Confirmation- 11:15 am Kid s Bells- 4 pm Adult Bells- 5 pm Traditional Worship - 8:30 am Coffee Fellowship- 9:30 am Contemporary Worship- 10 am Sunday School/Adult Ed- 10 am Kid s Bells- 4 pm Adult Bells- 5 pm Dorcas Circle- 1 pm Women s Bible Study- 6:15 pm Boy Scout Troop #6-7 pm Columbus Day Church Office & Preschool closed (Day Care Available) Boy Scout Troop #6-7 pm Grant s Partners- 7 pm Preschool Chapel- 9 am Greeting Cards- 9:30 am Library- 10 am Knitting Group- 1 pm Preschool Chapel- 9 am Library- 10 am Knitting Group- 1 pm Preschool Board- 6 pm Bible Study- 9:30 am Men s Brown Bag Lunch- 11 am Staff Meeting- 11 am Voices of Praise- 7 pm Bible Study- 9:30 am Men s Brown Bag Lunch- 11 am Elderberries/US Egg- 11:30 am Voices of Praise- 7 pm Book Club- 11:30 am Church Council- 7 pm November Messenger Deadline Sew & Tie Sew & Tie Traditional Worship - 8:30 am Coffee Fellowship- 9:30 am Contemporary Worship- 10 am Sunday School/Adult Ed- 10 am Confirmation- 11:15 am Kid s Bells- 4 pm Adult Bells- 5 pm Women s Retreat October Reformation/Confirmation Traditional Worship - 8:30 am Coffee Fellowship- 9:30 am Contemporary Worship- 10 am Sunday School/Adult Ed- 10 am Kid s Bells- 4 pm Adult Bells- 5 pm AMA Recitals- 6 & 7 pm Women s Bible Study- 6:15 pm Boy Scout Troop #6-7 pm Boy Scout Troop #6-7 pm Preschool Chapel- 9 am Greeting Cards- 9:30 am Library- 10 am Knitting Group- 1 pm Theology Pub- 7 pm Preschool Chapel- 9 am Library- 10 am Knitting Group- 1 pm Bible Study- 9:30 am Men s Brown Bag Lunch- 11 am Staff Meeting- 11 am Teacher's Meeting- 4:30 pm Voices of Praise- 7 pm Bible Study- 9:30 am Men s Brown Bag Lunch- 11 am Voices of Praise- 7 pm Foundation Scholarship Applications Deadline Sew & Tie Preschool Trunk or Treat- 6 pm Sew & Tie CRAFT & BAKED GOODS BAZAAR- 8 am-2 pm Page 10

12 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 3641 North 56th Street Phoenix, Arizona Return Service Requested NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SCOTTSDALE, AZ PERMIT NO. 77 [ ] [ ] Table of contents Pastor Rick s Message/New Sunday Schedule... 1 Reformation,Confirmation Sunday/Prayers for Healing/Stewardship Drive Help Needed Search for Director of Youth & Family Ministry... 2 Passion Project/ Home for Dinner Project/Worship Schedule... 3 Wednesday Bible Study/Theology Pub/Sunday Morning Adult Class President s Column/AMA... 4 Craft & Baked Goods Bazaar/Attendance & Revenue Report Bashas and Fry s Programs/Pastors Office Hours... 5 Greeting Cards/Elderberries Outing/Women s Retreat/Food Donations Foundation Scholarship Deadline/Care Packages for College Students... 6 Global Connections/Massae Giving Support/Trip to Germany in Youth, Children & Family Ministries/Young Parent Growth Group... 8 Preschool... 9 Roses/Wellness: Bike Safety/Soup Labels/Ride Needed Calendar Five Initiatives to Vitalize POP Ministry...insert

13 POP s Mission: Experience God / Change Our World Five Initiatives to Vitalize Our Ministry in Deepen Our Connection With God God can change us. In fact, God will enliven, embolden, empower and encourage us. As a community of faith, we will create opportunities for spiritual growth and consistently ask for an outpouring of God s spiritual power: Healing Prayers (directly following worship at the altar) 2 nd and 4 th Sundays first service 1 st and 3 rd Sundays second service Training Prayer Ministers (beginning January, 2016) Adult Education Experiences Sundays, 10:00am (beginning Oct. 4) The Gospel of John with Laura Mitchell Wednesdays, 9:30am (underway) Lectionary Readings with Pastor Paul Monthly (beginning Sept. 22) Theology Pub with Pastor Rick Redevelop confirmation and high school youth ministry (underway) 2. Renew Sunday Morning Worship (Launching September 26) Thank you for the feedback you provided during the worship survey process. Overall, you delivered many good ideas but no clear consensus. We did learn two important things. First, we still want two distinct worship styles (traditional and contemporary). Second, we prefer to worship in the earlier timeslots on Sunday morning. In order to grow, I believe we need to refocus and enhance our two-service structure: 8:30am Traditional Lutheran Worship Target: Longtime Lutherans, classical music lovers (Liturgical worship featuring organ, piano, choir and other classical music) 10:00am Contemporary Lutheran Worship Target: Families with children, preschool & neighborhood families, modern music lovers (Prayer and praise worship featuring worship band, organ/piano and a variety of music) Additional Goals: Incorporate soloists/special musicians whenever possible with a special emphasis on the Arcadia Music Academy and outstanding community groups Develop children s church concept at 10:00am (children begin in worship for first 15 minutes before going to Sunday School classes)

14 3. Create Mission Hour on Sundays at 10:00am We throw open the doors to our community with one hour of Sunday morning offerings that deliver spiritual growth for all ages. I believe this will help us increase our outreach impact with preschool and neighborhood families. I also believe this will give 8:30am worshippers the opportunity to invest their time and energy in outreach during this hour. Contemporary Lutheran Worship Sunday School (key to reaching preschool and neighborhood families) Adult Education (taught by team of Pastor Rick, Pastor Paul and Laura Mitchell) 4. Staff Development / Restart Pastoral Internship Program God has blessed us with an amazing staff including newcomers Maria Renvovato (office manager), Sara Rushlo (preschool director) and Pastor Paul Nelson (visitation and teaching pastor). We have one more staff position to fill and an exciting opportunity to come in 2016: Hire full-time Director of Youth and Family Ministries Under the direction of Roger Behrens and Gail Andrews, a hiring team is awaiting candidates to interview. The process is moving slower that I imagined. I have faith that God will bring us the right person at the right time. Pastoral Internship Program (possible start date August 2016) Under the direction of Teri Traeen and the church council, we are exploring the approval and funding requirements to become an internship site through the ELCA. A pastoral internship is a 12-month, full-time learning opportunity that has the potential for huge blessings for both the intern and the congregation. Interns can bring fresh energy and perspectives each year. At the same time, POP would help train and empower a new leader each year. 5. Serve Each Other / Serve the World As we grow deeper in faith, we are driven to serve. This is our opportunity to answer the question, what are you doing to make your community glad that you exist. Food Angels A new ministry designed to provide meals to individuals and families who are in crisis or who have new babies. We will utilize a user-friendly website for sign ups. Taking care of our people has never felt so good. Arcadia Cares Packathon (February 2016) I would love to see a leadership team come together and move ahead with the Packathon in This can be a vital link to our community and a signature POP event. Passion Projects Under the direction of Kathy Flores, opportunities for involvement with community and global service agencies are presented each month. Composed by Pastor Rick Sherrill, September 13, 2015