March 1, First Sunday in Lent

We invite you to become a friend of Peace on the Peace Facebook webpage. Facebook is an online social networking site that helps communities of friends stay connected on an on-going basis. The cost is free. Facebook is a lot fun and you will enjoy the connections. You will need a Facebook account to join.  Go to http://facebook.com for more information and search Facebook for Peace Lutheran Church, Pasadena Texas. We look forward to you joining.

 Our Lenten Journey has begun with the imposition of ashes this week. I am moved by placing this mark of death and mortality on so many people. Yet our mortality is reality and by facing it, we become more open to the power of the cross and empty tomb.  This is only the first step and we will end up with Peter and disciples peering into the empty tomb in amazement.

This Sunday my sermon title is “Tigers, Lions and Bears” and I will be preaching about the power of temptations and evil that prowls around us.  Yet we know that Grace and Faith are more powerful and that Jesus fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit.  I hope that you will be blessed by it.

This Sunday is Pasadena Community Ministries Food Collection Sunday and we ask people to bring a canned food item to share with the hungry. The collection center is by the kitchen.

Our Wednesday Lenten lunches and service will begin this next Wednesday at 11:45 for the lunch and 12:30 for the service.  Our evening soup supper begins at 6:00 and the service is at 7:00.  I will be preaching on Martin Luther’s catechism. This Wednesday we will begin with the 10 commandments.  We will be distributing free pocket catechisms to all who attend.  I am hoping that the series will re-root us in our Lutheran identity.

On Saturday March 7 we have Lay Leadership Workshop to work on identifying, supporting and recruiting lay leadership at Peace. As will all of our workshops, this is an open workshop and we invite you to come and participate. The time is from 9:00am-12:00. Our church lives and thrives on the leadership of our members.

 

Pastoral Care Notes:

We extend our sympathy to Mark Beinvenu and Susan Chappell and their families on the loss of their father, Warren. His service will be Tuesday at 12:00 at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Deer Park.  

Prayer Intercessions for this week:

For our Lenten Journey to continue to grow our church in the power of the Spirit and enthusiasm for reaching out to others by inviting them to the Gospel

For our Lay Ministry Workshop that we will find new and exciting ways to call people into leadership in our congregation and give encouragement to those who serve.

Thanks for a safe construction of our new roof and guidance as we continue to repair and improve our property.

For our Pony Express Sunday Leadership and that this appeal will awaken generous support for outreach to our community.

For our national church:

March 1   First Sunday in Lent

Holy God, we give you thanks for the witness of Christians in Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino.  Grant renewal and strength to the churches in these countries, that the Gospel might reach those who have not yet heard the words of our Lord.

March 2   Thank God for the pastors and people of St.  Peter Lutheran Church, Marble Falls, Texas, and Shepherd of the Hills, Austin, Texas.  They are sharing their pastors, people and resources to start a new congregation -- Spirit in the Hills -- in a growing area west of Austin.  Pastor Danielle Casey and Pastor Heidi Schwerdtfeger-Jones are the developers.

 

March 3   Thank God for Claudia Bergmann and Scott Moore, who serve the congregation of St. Andreas-Nicolai-Petri in Lutherstadt Eisleben, Germany, where Martin Luther was baptized and where he preached his last sermons.  May Claudia's and Scott's ministry help strengthen the church.

 

March 4   Let us pray for Pastor Jensen Seyenkulo and Pastor David Muench as they continue to work with the Inter-Lutheran Committee on Health and Wellness.  May this ministry help the church and its leaders live health lives.

 

March 5   We pray for Pastor James Foster and the people of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Holland, Mich., as they construct a new facility.  May their church building and faith community be built with Christ as their cornerstone.

 

March 6   Pray for the 10 young ELCA members who are serving in the United Kingdom this year through the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program, including Kandisa Skaff, Tyler Moe-Slepica and Jacqueline St. Pierre.

 

March 7   Ask the Holy Spirit to guide newly-appointed mission developers Newman Chu-Sheng Chiu, Torrance, Cal.; the Rev. Kristina Johnson, Greensboro, N.C.; Nadia Bolz-Weber, Denver, Colo.; the Rev. Benjamin Ingelson, Channahan, Ill.; Andres Leone, West Columbia, S.C.; Doris Ng, Richmond, Cal.; and the Rev. Mark Borseth, Harvest, Ala.

for Feb 22

Weekly email for Sunday February 22, Transfiguration Sunday

We end our Epiphany Season this Sunday with a bang as we remember and ponder the meaning of Jesus “Mountain Top” experience when he was ‘transfigured’ before the eyes of 4 of his disciples. This story functions as a foreshadowing of the resurrection and the identity of Jesus as the Son of God to whom we should listen.

My sermon title is “Good to Go” and will I will be talking about how our religious encounters with Jesus become the motivation for us to witness and serve in the world. God does not just encounter us in the great moments when God’s presence and goodness are in bright evidence, but in the challenges of daily walking with Christ.  Listening to Jesus is hearing his call to serve others in the real world.

We will be celebrating the baptism of Thadin Lewis Sanders this Sunday at the 8:30 service. His parents, Kenny and Jennifer, and their families are very excited about this great event.

I am glad to announce that the confirmation class at their bake sale raised $844.00 for Lutheran World Relief. With matching funds this total will go to $1600 for serving those in need throughout the world. They want to thank all who contributed and gave to their cause. They will now begin the work of choosing which LWR projects they want to support.

For fun we will have a “Fat Tuesday” pancake and sausage/ham dinner of Feb 24 from 6:00-8:00pm. The choir will be providing the entertainment. We will have a free will offering to help pay for our special musicians on Easter and Good Friday services.  The cost for these musicians could be as high as $800.00. (It’s a popular Sunday for hiring special music)

On Wednesday will begin our Lenten journey with two Ash Wednesday Services at 12:30 and 7:00. Communion and the opportunity for the imposition of ashes will be at both services.

Our Lenten services will continue at each Wednesday until the week before Holy Week. I will be preaching and teaching about Luther’s catechism and we will be distributing pocket catechisms.  I encourage you to keep one in your Bible as a way of understanding the Gospel contained in its pages.

We will have soups available before each service, 12:30 and 7:00. Be sure to come for the fellowship.

I am adding “Ministry and Mission Prayer Intercessions”  to my weekly email as a way to draw us into conversation with God about the mission and ministry of Peace. This came out of our Stewardship Workshop yesterday. These intercessions are not personal in nature but call upon God to engage us in mission and ministry in our congregation and with the wider church.

“Ministry and Mission Prayer Intercessions”  

We pray for……

• Generous hearts as we seek to collect enough offering to support our synod and national church. (Currently we are withholding support until offerings increase)
• Our Lenten Journey that it will call us all back to the great Gospel of the cross of Jesus and that faith and love will increase.
• Our confirmation class as they grow in faith and love and we give thanks for the parents and families who are so faithful in supporting them.
• God’s guidance for Pastor Timothy Pan and Pastor Newman Chiu in Los Angeles, who are reaching out to the Mandarin-speaking populations in their communities in two new mission starts.
• For our Bishop Rinehart and the synod staff as they seek to guide and support the ministries of our congregations.
• For New Life Lutheran in Pearland as they meet this Sunday to discern their ministry and mission.

 

Pastoral Care Notes:

Hospitalized and Released: Sammy Jorgenson,  Jason Elliott, David Beck

Hospitalized:

 Warren Bienvenu  Bayshore

Louis Nicholson at Bayshore

 

Finally, a little humor…………..

 

Hymn #365

A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, 'If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' 

With even greater emphasis he said, 'And if I had
All the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he
Said, 'And if I had all the whiskey in the world,
I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced
With a smile, nearly laughing, 'For our closing song,
Let us sing Hymn #365, 'Shall We Gather at the River.