F r o m P a s t o r K a r e n

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1 W h e r e t h e W o r d o f G o d i s p r e a c h e d a n d p e o p l e c o m e t o k n o w t h e L o r d APRIL 2016 Special Points of Interest: Pastor Karen s Article Bishop Eaton s Easter Message I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : Bishop Eaton s Ministry Stewards Committee News Peace Endowment Food Bank/ Soup Cook Off Birthday/ Anniversary Celebrations! Calendar 8 T H E T I D I N G S O F P E A C E P e a c e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h A s h l a n d, O h i o F r o m P a s t o r K a r e n VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. ~Luke 24:5 Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed, alleluia! Here we are at the beginning of our Easter season ready to celebrate the risen Christ, ready to welcome the return of Spring, and ready for the promise of new life in both. We find hope in that promise and in the return of plant and animal life in the world around us. We exclaim with joy that Christ has conquered death and, because of this, we no longer have to fear death. We explain with joy the grace that God has freely given and we have freely received. We exclaim with joy our call to share God s grace and love with the world. The resurrection is real. Alleluia and amen for that. And yet, as much as we are joyous, and hopeful, and filled with Christ s love, as much as we proclaim the resurrection and an end to sin and death we still are very much surrounded by sin and death. There is still pain and suffering in this world. People are oppressed and marginalized at the hands of others. We hurt one another without regard. We hear loud voices that fuel hatred and fear. We scapegoat the other. Christ has already come to bring us the promise of forgiveness and everlasting life with God, but that promise has not come to its fullness yet. So we must live in this world of already/not yet. Already saved/not yet holy. And we, as Christians, must seek God s kingdom in the midst of it all. We have to look for the places that are the most dark, the people that are the most lost and we must proclaim loudly and with joy grace, love and resurrection. That is our call. That is our mission as the body of Christ. So when you hear words of hatred and fear, meet them with words of love. When you see persecution, meet it with grace. When you see pain and suffering, bring resurrection. That s how we truly proclaim the good news. That s how God s will is done. That s how God s kingdom will come. the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guide your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. In Christ, Pastor Karen

2 Page 2 P r e s i d i n g B i s h o p s E a s t e r M e s s a g e Easter is early this year, and in many places across this church trees will still be bare and fields barren. It might even snow. But on Easter morning we will gather to greet the risen Son and give thanks to God for the new life we have in Jesus Christ. Two things come to mind this Easter when there is still only the hint of spring: Jesus words to his disciples just before his crucifixion and a hymn. Jesus said, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Jesus was talking about his death, but he was also assuring his disciples and us that death is not the end, that, though it might seem impossible and even terrifying to step into the void, God brings life out of death. The hymn is ELW 379. Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; love lives again, that with the dead has been; love is come again like wheat arising green. The tune is actually a French Christmas carol. How perfect that, in the bleak midwinter, the promise of spring was planted. St. Paul wrote, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We have already fallen into the earth and died. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We will not remain alone. We will bear fruit. The seed has been planted in all the barren places in the world and in our lives. That gives us the power and the hope especially in the face of our brokenness to see life where the world only sees death... in refugee camps and hospice units, in parched earth and in floods, in oppression and denied justice we are bold to confess. Now the green blade rises. Now love lives again. Now love comes again like wheat arising green. Christ is Risen. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Pastor Karen will be out of the office March 28th 8th (on a vacation). Pastor John Wanamaker will be covering the day to day needs of the congregation and preaching on 4th, in her absence. If you need Pastor Wanamaker, you may call the church office during office hours or directly at /

3 Peace Lutheran presents its Annual Dinner Theater presentation: Page 4 Murder, Country Style When: 22 at 7pm Where: Peace Lutheran Gym Cost: $10 per ticket. Tickets available from Dave Kowalka after Church or in the Church office during the week.

4 Page 4 A P R I L & M AY M I N I S T R Y S T E WA R D S USHERS Robert Forbes, Skip Hamler, Dave Kowalka, Eric Akers Larry Oberholtzer, Joe Sparr, Ed Oberholtzer, Dick Armstrong, ALTAR CARE COMMUNION PREPARER Kathy Wharton Lucille Vaas ACOLYTES 04/03 Darby Warren 04/10 Paige Swanson 04/17 Mason Myers 04/24 Mikayla Myers 05/01 Will Long 05/08 Bethanee Bishop 05/15 Luke Blackley 05/22 Kaylein Ziehm 05/29--Ty Bolen LECTORS 04/03 Cindy Twining 04/10 Amy Long 04/17 Lisa Blackley 04/24 Larry Oberholtzer 05/01-Wendy Wasnich 05/08--Natalie Anderson 05/15-Chris Swanson 05/22-Marcy Myers 05/29-Eric Akers Freda Cook Barb Dreher COMMUNION ASSISTANT Sandi Carpenter Lillian White Emily Anderson Dan Bishop CHANCEL FLOWERS 04/03 Diane Cook 04/10 Lillian White 04/17 04/24 Sheryl Budd 05/01 Marcy Myers 05/08 Wanamakers 05/15 05/22 Betty Harper 05/29 Dave & Diana Kowalka GREETERS 04/03 Mona Morrison & Sharon Johnson 04/10 Dick & Connie Armstrong 04/17 Karla Pagano & Karen Cook 04/24 Tom & Sheryl Budd 05/01 Dave & Diana Kowalka 05/08 Karla Pagano & Karen Cook 05/15 Skip & Jill Hamler 05/22 Lucille Vaas & Jean Boreman 05/29 Shirley Beck & Barb Dreher FLOWER ARRANGER Diana Kowalka Jill Hamler FLOWER DELIVERER Barb Dreher Kathy Wharton WORSHIP TAPE DELIVERER Sharon Johnson

5 Page 5 PEACE MAKERS Meet on the 3rd Saturday of the month 9am. Anyone who is interested in wood working please contact: Dick Armstrong. M E N S M I N I S T R Y MEN S BREAKFAST 1st Saturday of every month! Men of ALL ages are invited to the monthly fellowship breakfast. 7am at Buehler s Come and enjoy good food, good conversation, and share the Good News for our lives. We are on our way for our busy lives by 8:00am FAITH CIRCLE Faith Circle meets the 3rd Thursday of the month in The Meeting Room at 2:00 p.m. Our next meeting will be on 21 with Lucille Vaas as study leader. This month's topic will be, "Keep On Keeping On", from the series, "Christian Citizenship 101". Fellowship time is enjoyed following the study with individual snacks. All are welcome to join us for study and fellowship. W O M E N S C I R C L E S DORCAS CIRCLE Dorcas Circle meets the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month in The Fellowship Hall at 1:00 p.m. In, we will meet on the 13th and the 27th as we continue to knot quilt layers together for distribution by Lutheran World Relief to those in need. We appreciate donations of flat sheets and fabric for our quilt project.

6 Page 6 F o o d B a n k Needs: Grape and Strawberry Jelly Pancake Mix Syrup Tea bags or Coffee Mustard or o VEGETABLE SOUP! Canned Chicken Juices of any kind ~January 2016: 37 new families visited us in January... served 236 families for a total of 593 people ~February 2016: 23 new families visited us in February.. served 156 Families for a total of 335 people Sunday, 10 following worship. Bring a kettle of your favorite soup, or just come and enjoy. Tell Dan Bishop ( ) if you plan to bring soup. Cost to come is by donation of cleanliness items for the Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry or cash. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is providing supplemental funding. Everyone is welcome. P E A C E E N D O W M E N T.Request forms for the 2016 grant distributions are on the table in the narthex. This year we have $11,214 available to give away in the following categories: Capitol Improvements, Education, Missions, Special Ministries, Worship Life, Scholarship, and Youth. The applications must be returned to the church office by 17th. The grants will be distributed in August. Contact Dan Long if any questions. We want to recognize any high school or college graduates this spring. Please notify the church office if you or a family member will be graduating.

7 Page 7 Together, we can safe a life Blood Donors Must: Be in good general health and feeling well* Be at least 17-years-old in most states, or 16-years-old with parental consent if allowed by state law. Weigh at least 110 lbs. Additional weight requirements apply for donors 18-years-old and younger and all high school donors. Peace Lutheran s Next Blood Drive is 7th Birthdays: 04/01 Peggy Selvage Dan Long 04/02 Cohen Spotts 04/05 Lisa Blackley 04/07 Kathy Shearer 04/09 Rev. Ted Grotjohn Bev Stiner Cori Schiemann 04/10 Lillian White 04/15 Barb McCrea APRIL BIRTHDAYS 04/20 Shelbe Oberholtzer Kelly Keating Kassandra Keating 04/21 Lucille Vaas 04/23 Cathy King 04/25 Karen Cook 04/26 David Bishop Chris Swanson 04/28 Sheryl Budd Birthday Highlight : 04/09 Pastor Ted Grotjohn 1633 St. Rt. 603 Ashland 04/09 Bev Stiner turns 81! Shower her with a card! 1132 Fox Run Dr. Ashland

8 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 9am S.S. Classes 10-Worship/Comm. 10 9am S.S. Classes 10-Worship 11:30 Confirmation SOUP COOK OFF 17 9am S.S. Classes 10-Worship/Comm. 24 9am S.S. Classes 10-Worship 11:30 Youth Group 4 5 Pastor Karen on vacation Council Mtg. 5:30pm pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm Choir Rehearsal 20 7pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm Choir Rehearsal 1 2 7AM Men s Buehler s am Bible Study 6pm Beer & Bible Study 21 11am Bible Study 6pm Beer & Bible Study 28 11am Bible Study 6pm Beer & Bible Study 15 Pastor Karen s Day Off 22 7p, Murder, Country Style 29 Pastor Karen s Day Off 16 9am Peace Makers (woodworkers) 23 30

9 Page 9 I N O U R P R AY E R S Linda Pittinger, Bev Stiner, Pat Daniels, Jim Daniels, Steve Kolacz, Dave Winger, John Mahl, Ricky Wynn, Jamie, Nick Pagano. Staff of Peace Lutheran Church, the Congregational Council and the members of the standing committees. Those serving in the Military, those who have been injured, those who have died, and their family and friends. S t a ff P h o n e N u m b e r s Pastor Karen Liddy (Cell) Dennis Krucinski, Council President Ron Blackley, Director of Music Cell Tabatha Wagner, Office Manager (church phone) Skip Hamler, Custodian Cell Larry Oberholtzer, Property/Grounds

10 Peace Lutheran Church 1360 Smith Road Ashland, Ohio Office Website: Where the Word of God is preached and people come to know the Lord