Rev. Christopher Lockie, Pastor A much needed rest July, 2016 This month, my family is going on some vacation. It is that chance to get away and get some much needed rest. I am definitely looking forward to it, however if your vacations are anything like ours, they usually aren t that restful. For one, it never fails that the kids always wake up earlier than what you would like on vacation. You finally get the opportunity to sleep in and they won t let you, not that my body clock usually lets me sleep in anyway. You also usually stay up later on vacations, or don t sleep as well because you aren t in your own bed, so you lose sleep. There are also the hours on the road, which can be exhausting, if you are taking a trip. Yea, vacations aren t usually that restful. Now don t get me wrong. I like my vacations as much as the next guy. Just getting the chance to take a break from work for a while is always nice, so I am certainly not complaining. But there is certainly something to be said about getting some rest. With that in mind, I thought I would say a word on rest. A word on God s rest or the Sabbath. It is a topic of the Bible that can be confusing because we might wonder why the Sabbath day isn t observed in the same way today as in the past. Well, the answer is the difference between living as Christians under the New Covenant established through Christ versus the Old Covenant through the Law. As you know, God did include keeping the Sabbath Day holy in His Law given to Moses. God said to Moses on the mountain, Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it, you shall not do any work For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. - Exodus 20:8-11 Now the word holy means to set apart as sacred or special. The Sabbath, which means rest in Hebrew, was to be a day set apart to the Lord. Now how was it to be set apart? By not working, so you could devote yourself to the worship of the Lord. The idea was, if you weren t allowed to work, it would free you up to concentrate on your worship and prayer. It is why God insisted upon it in His Law. It was also to be a reminder to them of how God rested on the seventh day, meaning He ceased from His creative work, and how it was good for them to rest as well. In that
respect, God gave us an excuse to rest, in fact he commands it. It is God knowing what is best for us that we need rest and refreshment for our bodies. Now we don t today as the Christian church keep the Sabbath Day as they did in the past with all its strict restrictions on work because Christ is actually our Sabbath rest. Now what do I mean? Well, Jesus came to fulfill the Law of God, perfectly keeping it when we could not, in order to then spill His innocent, sin-free blood in death as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is our Sabbath rest in that He satisfied His Father s wrath upon our sins, so that we could be reconciled with God and be at peace with Him. We can rest secure in our salvation as we rest secure in Christ as our Savior by faith. It is the message of Hebrews Chapters 3 & 4. Therefore, the apostles as they were inspired by the Spirit saw the Sabbath and not working on it, as a work of the Law that we were set free from through Christ. Therefore, the early church began to worship on Sundays as the day of Jesus resurrection rather than Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, because as they worshipped Christ, they were keeping the Sabbath day holy by worshipping Him. It is why it says in Colossians 2:16-17, Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things to come, the reality, however is found in Christ. It is telling us the Sabbaths of the Old Testament were just shadows, pointing ahead to Christ, who would come so we could experience perfect rest and communion with our Lord in heaven one day on account of Him. They were pointing to Him and His coming. Therefore, while not working on Sunday would not be a bad thing as a way to keep the Sabbath day holy, as God set it aside for our rest and refreshment, we really keep the commandment holy when we set aside time to worship Christ and hear His Word, whether it be Saturdays or Sundays or any day. It is why Martin Luther says in His Large Catechism we should observe this commandment for two reasons. For one, because our bodies need rest. The other reason is to make sure we set aside the time and opportunity to attend worship services, so that he says, we may assemble to hear and discuss God s Word and then to offer praise, song, and prayer to God. Therefore, don t ever feel guilty about taking the time for some rest and refreshment. God has given you permission. In fact, He gave you a whole day, but as it was also given as a day not just to sit around and do nothing, but to take time out for Him. By this, we observe this commandment, for as Martin Luther wrote in his explanation of this commandment, We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it. God bless you in the month of July and may you find some time for some rest. Pastor Chris Our Worship & Our Gifts to the Lord Give, and it will be given to you. Luke 6:38 Worshipped Communed Offerings** 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 May 29 122 109 91 3077 3590 June 5 159 109 121 78 6521 3943 June 12 135 124 103 94 5425 5156 June 19 151 101 111 79 3484 3029 Averages 141 110 111 85 $4626 $3929
~~~~~ FOURTH ANNUAL CAR SHOW Please join us on Saturday, August 20, 2016 from 8:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. for our fourth annual car show. There will be food, fun, entertainment and a lot of great vehicles. Additionally, there will be a bake sale and silent auction. If you are interested in showing a vehicle, there will be registration forms in the narthex within the next few weeks. You can also visit our church website at www.princeofpeace.com and download a PDF version of the registration form. As in the past, there will be trophies, ribbons, and goody bags. We are in need of about twenty volunteers to help with grilling food, food sales, parking, etc. We are also hoping some of our teens will volunteer to help distribute goody bags and other items to participants. There are forms on the table in narthex and there will be a sign-up sheet soon for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer or need more information. Please contact Julie Maiwald either by phone at (262) 488-1259 or (262) 884-8693 or by e-mail at jlmwld@yahoo.com ~~~~~
Preschool Childcare PRESCHOOL-CHILD CARE Registration for 2016-2017 We are pleased to date, but still have openings in both classes. If you have not registeres your child yet, please so aso as soon as possible. Registration forms are available on the hallway table downstairs or on the table just off the narthex. POP YOUTH OUTING Sunday July 17 th at 6:00 all youth are invited to meet at Mulligan s Mini Golf and Driving Range6633 Douglas Ave. for a round of mini Golf. If you plan on attending this event, please let either Pastor or Natalie Bissegger know by July 14 th. SAVE THE DATE Youth grades 5th and up, please join us for a game of Slip and Slide Kickball here at Prince of Peace on Sunday August 14 th from 2-4 p.m. Mark it on your calendars, and bring a friend! Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Rev. Christopher Lockie ~ Pastor SW District-LCMS Assoc. Member of RLHS 4340 Six Mile Rd, Racine, WI 53402 Tel: 262-639-1277 Fax: 262-898-2088 On-line: www.princeofpeaceracine.com Congregation President Tom Guziewicz Head Elder Steve Shaffer Director of Child Care Center S.S. Superintendent Leah Polack Music Dianne Luedtke, Barb Miller Website Manager Dena Guziewicz Saturday July 2 Monday July 4 Tuesday July 5 Wednesday July 6 Thursday July 7 Saturday July 9 Monday July 11 Wednesday July 13 Thursday July 14 Saturday July 16 Sunday July 17 Saturday July 23 Sunday July 24 6:30 Bd/Metings HAPPY 4 TH OF JULY Church office closed 6:00 SM Meeting 6:00 pm Youth mini golf at Mulligan s VBS SET-UP VBS SET-UP MONDAY JULY 25 TH FRIDAY JULY 29 9a.m.-11:30a.m. CAVE QUEST VBS 6:00 SM Meeting AUGUST NEWSLETTER DEADLINE CHEMO CAPS The Ladies of the LWML would like to thank all who knitted or crocheted chemo caps for June s convention. In all, 68 caps were made and donated. THANK YOU!!!!!! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Hard to believe that Vacation Bible School is right around the corner, but it is. We have many dates set aside for building our VBS set. Our theme this year is Cave Quest, and there is much to get done to make this year as those of previous years. If you can lend a hand painting, tracing etc. there is no skill involved for you to help. Just show up. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex, so take a look and see what is needed, and when you can help. Build Dates: Please see calendar above.
Lutherans for Life July 3 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Our God Jesus has set us free from sin, death, and the power of the devil (Luke 10:17 20). He also gives us the gift of dependence, to depend upon Him in faith and upon one another in love and service (Luke 10:1; Galatians 6:2). Rather than diminishing our humanity, mutual dependence dignifies it. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to depend upon You with Your people and defend those who depend on me. Amen. July 10 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost The compassionate Samaritan does not euthanize or terminate the already halfdead traveler. He treats this stranger and rival not as less human but as a dear neighbor and trades his own convenience, cost, and comfort to gain a brother (Luke 10:33 35). Our Savior showers us with just such grace so that we may share it as well. Prayer: Dear Savior, grant me fully to appreciate Your grace to me and freely to extend it to all in need. Amen. July 17 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost The Almighty who made us wills life even in circumstances appearing impossible and otherwise hopeless (Genesis 18:9 14). Jesus miraculously invades our prideful boundaries and interrupts our other priorities with promises and relationship (Luke 10:38 42). Prayer: Holy Trinity, by Your Word bring Your communion life into my strangled selfishness. Amen. July 24 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Lord God lovingly adopts each of us by baptism into Christ Jesus. Though earthly fathers often fail, He perfectly provides and protects (Luke 11:11 13). Participating in these uplifting labors, even by caring for bodies and spirits that are not our own children, becomes our highest privilege. Prayer: Heavenly Father, let Your fatherly, divine goodness and mercy live in me. Amen. July 31 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost God reserves for Himself both the privilege of providing life and the responsibility for deciding death (Luke 12:20). Life is His gift, even amidst afflictions (Ecclesiastes 2:22 23). It always arrives in His time and on His terms (Ecclesiastes 2:24 25; Colossians 3:2 4), wonderfully better terms than we would outline for ourselves. Prayer: Good Shepherd, lead me to abandon my demands and enjoy life as You deliver it. Amen.
Cave Quest VBS July 25 th to 29 th, 2016 9 am to Noon Lets travel through the caves together! Cave Quest VBS is filled with incredible Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, touch, and even taste! Team-building games, cool Bible songs, and tasty treats are just a few of the standout activities that help faith flow into real life. (Since everything is hands-on, kids might get a little messy. Be sure to send them in play clothes and safe shoes.) We help kids discover how to see evidence of God in everyday life something we call God sightings. Parents, grandparents, and friends are invited to join us at Summit Celebration for each day at 11:30, a daily exploration of God s mighty power you won t want to miss! Register today with the attached form or online at www.princeofpeaceracine.com (click on the VBS 2016). Registrations received by July 8th with $12 requested donation will receive Cave Quest t-shirt. Please consider volunteering to help that week. Sign up is in the narthex.
Registration Form (one per child) Register by July 8th and your child will receive a Everest t-shirt to wear for the week! Child s Name: Gender: M / F Child s Age: Date of Birth: Last school grade completed: T-Shirt Size: (circle one) Youth XS Youth S Youth M Youth L Name of Parent(s): Street Address: City: State: Zip: Contact Phone Number: ( ) - Home Email: Home Church: ALLERGIES or OTHER MEDICAL CONDTIONS: In Case of Emergency, contact: Phone: ( ) - Relationship to child: **If you child has a food allergy you will need to supply a daily snack for him/her. $12 donation is requested, but not required per child. Due to the cost of purchasing the t-shirts, registration fee must be paid at the time of registration in order to receive one. Limited Stock Available after July 10 th.
JULY 2016 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 4340 SIX MILE ROAD RACINE, WI 53402 262-639-1277 REV. CHRISTOPHER LOCKIE~PASTOR SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 5:00 Worship 3 9:00 Worship/Communion 10:00 Fellowship 10:15 Adult Bible Study 10 9:00 Worship/Communion 10:00 Fellowship 10:15 Adult Bible Study 17 9:00 Worship/Communion 10:00 Fellowship 10:15 Adult Bible Study 6:00 Youth Mini Golf Outing at Mulligan s 24 9:00 Worship/Communion 10:00 Fellowship 10:15 Adult Bible Study VBS SET Up 31 4 Church Office Closed 11 6:00 SM Meeting 5 6 12 13 5:30 Prayer Night 7 14 8 9 5:00 Worship 15 16 1:00 3:00 Neighborhood Canvassing 5:00 Worship 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 AUGUST NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 26 27 5:30 Prayer Night 28 29 VBS Set Up 5:00 Worship 30