Monday, August 24, 2009

weekly email for August 23, 12 Sunday after Pentencost

WEEKLY EMAIL FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

AUGUST 23, 2009

For a list of upcoming activities go to http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=G1K5L6N8L6I3N8

Be sure to check out our website http://welcometopeace.com

If you cannot attend this Sunday, you can still make an offering using our online service at Contribute Online. Thank you for your commitment to our mission and ministry.

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.

For the 12 Sunday after Pentecost, August 23

Sunday's Events:

Since August 24 is the first day of school we will have a special blessing for students, teachers, education staff and workers at all three services this Sunday. We will also recognize all children starting kindergarten and their first step toward graduation. We ask all the youth and children to bring their backpacks as part of the blessing. We will have a special gift for them.

This Sunday we will be concluding our reading of John 6, The title of my sermon is "To Whom Shall We Go" and I will be preaching about how turning to Christ is our only option.

We should have a lot of fun.

ELCA Assembly

This week our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is meeting in a churchwide assembly with voters from all the synods to conduct the work of our national church. The theme of the assembly is "God's Work, Our Hands". I encourage all of you to go to the ELCA website to read and watch videos of the weeks events. http://elca.org. Our synod's voters also have a blog at bishopmike.posterous.com.

The most controversial issue by far is the vote yesterday in support of the new social statement on sexuality called, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust". You can read about it at: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx

This teaching document allows the church to have a standing disagreement about the ethics of homosexuality and lifelong same sex relationships. The statement does not support any position, but just states the obvious that there is conflict on this issue in the ELCA.

Today and tomorrow the assembly will be voting on whether to allow ordination of clergy who are in lifelong, same sex relationships. You can read this statement at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Report-and-Recommendation.aspx

I have been following the assembly online and there is much discussion on these issues and one can see the conflict in the headlights, so to speak, among our people.

Even in our own congregation there is division on these sexuality issues. Here is my guidance.

First and foremost the church is always and forever local. What matters most in our congregation is our proclamation of the Gospel and our living out this evangelical mission in our community. God has sent us here and we stay focused on how we believe the Spirit is leading us to do mission and ministry in this community. What this means is that we do not let ourselves become distracted with issues that are not relevant to us. No pastor in a same sex publicly accountable relationship is seeking to serve our congregation. Same sex marriage is illegal in the state of Texas.

We have enough challenges as a church without adding controversy that is not directly relevant us.

Second, we affirm the great gift of baptism and the love poured out on all people. We do not preach condemnation, but John 3:16, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". What this means is that we respect everyone's conscience on this matter. We lay before people the teachings of the Word of God on sexuality and let them decide how they should respond. We do not excommunicate people about this issue.

Furthermore, I am not comfortable discussing sexuality in public and I leave it as a private matter as long as it is not abusive or exploitive of others. Because of my reluctance, I will not preach about this or have classes. If you want to discuss this privately, I am available.

The bottom line is this: God needs our hands to do his work. Let us roll up our sleeves and concentrate on the mission field before us. We have children to nurture. We have care to offer. We have the hungry to feed. We have prayer and worship to do. We have great truths from scripture to learn. We have a Gospel centered community to build. We have people lost in brokenness and despair all around us and we have a Gospel to share with them.

Remember: Stay focused on God's work, our hands.

Rally Day, August 30

We will begin our new Sunday School year with a kickoff Rally at 9:45. We will have a new curriculum this year called "Witness". Go to this website http://www.augsburgfortress.org/learning/sundayschool/witness/ for more information. The format goes back to the use of colorful handouts for children to take home with them.

We will be serving breakfast in the fellowship hall. We ask everyone to be there. We will be installing our 09-10 teachers during the 8:30 and 11:00 services.

Google Groups

Please go to this link for access to Peace Google Groups. Google groups is a new way for us to collaborate on our mission and ministry at Peace without depending on face-to-face meetings. All you have to do to join most groups is to just click on the link. Some you might need to have an invitation. To fully use the Google Group you will need to have a Google Account using your normal email address. Just go to google.com and click "sign in" on the top right corner and follow the instructions (I have a training video to help explain hi).

The model for leading our ministries will be workshops and Google Group online collaboration. Of course, ministry and mission at Peace is always more about the Indian than the bow and arrow. What matters most is your willingness to do the mission and ministry at Peace. We are moving away from a Pastor and Staff led church, to a mission and ministry led church. We are trying to establish a collaborative environment for ministry when lay people work together in doing the work of God. Collaboration is fun and exciting and I hope that you will give it a try. You can now do the work from the comfort of your home.

Property Outreach Improvement Projects

Playground Project: We are in the design stage and have met with a playground company for insight and direction. We have a bulletin board in the hallway by the offices for your input and ideas. We are asking especially for children to draw what they think the playground should look like. If you would like to be involved with the project, join the Google Group. The playground will be located on the education building side of the big lot in the back. We are looking to accommodate up to 30 children, ages 2-12. We are moving slow because we want to do a thorough job.

Labyrinth Project: We are still in the design stage. We are looking to place the labyrinth on the grass behind the fellowship hall with removable stone pavers. If you would like to be involved, we have a meeting on Tuesday. Feel free to come.

Sanctuary Repairs and Improvements. We are look at contractors to do the work and producing bids that have the improvements and repairs cost individually listed.

Vocational Sunday, September 6

On this Sunday we will be recognizing the ministry of our vocations as part of our Sunday worship. We ask that you wear your work clothes if want and we will have a bulletin board for you to share what you do during the week. Special note: This includes homemaker or those staying at home. Martin Luther teaches us the biblical truth that all vocations are callings from God and holy work. We practice our Christian service to others in daily work. We will have a special blessing as part of the service.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

Inquiry Luncheon

Come and welcome our visitors who are interested in learning more about Peace! We are having a luncheon Sunday, August 30 at 12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. If you are new to Peace, you are more than welcome to come to this informal and relaxed lunch where we welcome you to ask any questions you may have about our church family. This is a great opportunity for our members to meet with our visitors and share what Peace means to us! Please RSVP, if able, by calling the church office or emailing Judy Griffin at jgriffin@welcometopeace.com.

Bullyingproofing Your Child

There will be an educational session on preventing bullying at home, in school and online next Thursday in the Fellowship Hall at 7 pm. People of all ages should plan to attend this valuable opportunity. Babysitting will be available. Please invite friends and neighbors and RSVP David Booher at 281-487-1635.

Godly Play Group at Peace

The Godly Play Group at Peace is for young children and their parents to enjoy free playtime and fellowship in Christ. It is geared for infants to 5 years old, but siblings are always welcome. What we do… usually we begin with free play time, have story and song time with David Booher then close with a coloring/art activity. We then move to the Fellowship Hall for prayer and lunch. (Bring a sack lunch.) This is a loosely structured play group where parents participate in play with their children. We meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. If you have any questions please contact Alycia at (281) 478-6070. We hope that you’ll join us on Tuesday, and bring a friend!

Stop the Choking Game

There will be an educational session on stopping the phenomenon of kids and teenagers harming themselves through the “Choking Game” tonight in the Fellowship Hall at 7 pm. Adults and youth are invited and encouraged to attend. Neighbors and visitors are (as always) welcome too!

Summer Trips Thank You Dinner

This Wednesday (August 26) at 7 pm there will be a special “Thank You Dinner” for all those who purchased Stock at our last fundraiser. Attendees will also receive a special DVD chronicling our Mission Trip and our Lutherhill Summer Camp weeks. It is not too late to purchase a DVD or a ticket to this dinner!

Jr High Lock-In

There will be a beginning of the year kick-off Lock-In for all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on Friday, August 28. We will meet here at the church at 8 pm Friday night for games, activities and a Bible Study. Saturday morning we will have breakfast and then head to the Wave Pool! For more details contact David Booher.

Sr High New Braunfels Trip


All Sr Hi are invited to join us for a trip to New Braunfels and the original Schlitterbahn! We will be leaving Sunday, September 6 after church, spending all Monday at Schlitterbahn and returning Monday evening. Discount tickets are available. Please contact David Booher.

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