PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 9320 Meadow Way Everett, Washington 98208 425-337-6663 E-mail: pplcmain@frontier.com Web Site: www.pplc.org Summer has arrived and many are preparing to take their vacation road trips. I have a new smart phone and, when I m driving, the GPS app will tell me if there are obstacles on the road. It knows, for example, when there is a traffic accident coming up on my journey. No one has ever explained to me how my phone knows this, so I attribute it all to magic. Nevertheless, my phone will then suggest alternate routes to avoid delay. There are times, however, when there is no way around an obstacle and you just have to deal with it like the time we got stuck in traffic coming down Hwy 2 from Stevens Pass after a long weekend. No one explained to me that half the state would be on that two lane road at the same time. It took hours to get home. It was an obstacle we could not avoid. In this article I want to write briefly about a potential obstacle to both personal spiritual growth as well as church health: conflict. Conflict is something we cannot avoid nor should we. Actually, conflict itself can turn out to be a good thing. If managed well, conflict can bring clarity to issues and problems. It can even strengthen relationships! This week, as I prepare for my monthly book chat with the council, the chapter we are studying is about the challenges of dealing with conflict. The author challenges church leaders (and all members of the church) to handle conflict in a mature and biblical manner. For the health of the body of Christ, we must face conflict together. Dealing poorly with conflict has damaging consequences. Blame is a poor way to deal with conflict. One of the greatest barriers to managing conflict well is the tendency we all have to place blame on others. It is very difficult for us to be responsible for our own actions, words, and feelings. It s easier to blame. (Continued on Page 4) STAFF: Pastor: Gib Botten Music Director: Rob Gillespie Director of Children s Ministries: Lauryn Smith Organist: Carole Hansen Office Administrator: Berlin Vance Preschool Director: Michelle Nilsen Preschool Secretary: Melanie Zamora Custodian: Pam Vien Worship Schedule Sunday at 9:30am Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month Church Office Hours: Monday Thursday: 8:30am 4:00pm Friday: 8:30am 3:00pm Important Dates: July 1 July 4 Canada Day Independence Day May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right. Peter Marshall 1
MEN S FELLOWSHIP JULY 15 8:00-9:30 AM Join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, doughnuts, and a devotion time. This will be followed by a mission-oriented business meeting, a Bible study, and a discussion. We will close in prayer at approximately 9:30 AM. Dan Chadrow, President Tom Bannister, Recorder Dave Ramsey and his teaching team will walk you through the basics of budgeting, dumping debt, planning for the future, and much more. Local classes are made up of small groups of people who live in your area and are a great way to share ideas, be encouraged, and stay motivated. Classes meet for nine weeks and are led by a volunteer coordinator. One Financial Peace University membership per family is all you need to get started in a class. Mark September 14th on your calendar! 2
PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS All items to be included in the announcement insert of the Sunday bulletin must be submitted to the office by noon on the Wednesday preceding the worship service. PRAYERS Please call the church office to request prayers or to be added to the prayer chain. You may also email Char: charkaiser@comcast.net. Thanks to everyone who contributed personal hygiene products for the annual Project Homeless Connect, coordinated by the Everett YWCA. A special thanks to the Men's Ministry group who donated $200, and to the Women's Ministry group who donated $100. Your generosity is much appreciated. MUSIC AT PRINCE OF PEACE Regular rehearsals will resume in September. If you would like to perform some special music during the summer months, please contact: Rob Gillespie 425-501-1505 robgillespie@comcast.net PRAYER CHAIN GUIDELINES Names in the bulletin remain for one month unless renewed by either calling the church or Char Kaiser at 425-338-2874. Submit newsletter articles to Sue Rowell at sushirowell@gmail.com by the 17th of each month. Another option is to place information in the Newsletter mailbox in the narthex or the church office. 3
(Continued from Page 1) We all tend to see ourselves as better, or as more righteous, than we really are. We all place our motivations and intentions in the best light, while we see others and their actions in the worst light. Often, being honest with our real selves is just too painful. Instead, we raise our own self-estimation by laying blame on others. If we blame we can avoid the guilt and shame we feel deep inside. But we blame at great cost to ourselves and to our Christian community. Blame keeps us from making the changes that need to happen within us. This is really an old problem. After the fall into sin, Adam learns the bad habit of blaming very quickly: God: Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? Adam: The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. Translation: This whole thing is the woman s fault. And by the way, it s also your fault, God, because you were the one who put her here in the first place! Brave man that Adam. He was a long way off from taking full and complete responsibility for his actions, words, and feelings. The world has been a difficult place to live ever since because Adam (meaning Man or Mankind in Hebrew) is all of us. One of the things that helps us not to fall into the blame game is the gospel. While there was no blame in him, Jesus took the blame, and its consequences, from us on the cross. The fact that Christ took our judgement by being judged in our place means that we can look at ourselves more honestly, without fear of judgement. And, if we can look more honestly at ourselves, we can see those areas of our character where the Lord would like to bring peace. This can t happen if our focus is always outward in an attitude of continual blame. Blame is a robber of peace. On our journey of faith we can t avoid the conflict that will come our way nor should we. But for the sake of our personal walk with Christ (as well as our Christian community), we can and must avoid the attitude of blame. Something to think about on the road this summer. Joy and Peace to you, Pastor Gib Botten PRINCE OF PEACE WEBSITE If you missed a Sunday service, or would like to listen again to the most recent message, visit our website at www.pplc.org. On the home page click Listen to last week s message. Web Page Manager: Steve Peterson steveandvictoria@comcast.net 4
PARISH NURSING NOTES by Linda Whitesell, RN/NP Seven Ways to Walk to Well-being Walk more mindfully. It s not how far you go. Be aware of each step, each breath. Notice the sights and sounds around you and how you feel. Make it meditative. Use your walk as a time to reflect and grow closer to God. Anchor it with a Bible verse and let the Spirit guide the rest of your thoughts. If your thoughts start to wander, just keep coming back to that verse. Get outside. Nature walks relieve stress and ease both depression and anxiety. Pray along the way. Go through names on your prayer list. Say a prayer for those you pass or each neighbor. Give thanks for what you see---flowers, birds, trees. Go with others. Building relationships enhances social and emotional wellbeing. It makes walking more fun. Take your dog! Try a new route. Your brain needs exercise too. New sights and experiences will keep you mentally engaged. Step out for a cause. It feels good to use your gifts to help others who raise money for good causes. Enjoy the beautiful summer sunshine and your walking! For the months of July and August, I will not have set dates to monitor your blood pressure but, if I am at the service, I will be glad to take it after the service. Please see me. PRIMETIMERS The over 50 group On vacation for the summer and will resume meetings in September. 5