WEEKLY EMAIL FOR THE 24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NOVEMBER 15, 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.

This Sunday's Events:
We are going to bring to a conclusion our journey through Mark this Sunday. We will bid him goodbye and we look forward to returning to his story of Jesus in two more years.

I look back at our readings, I am left with a couple of impressions. First and foremost, I think now of what it means to live with a commitment to the first being last and the last being first. This to me is a great statement about the equality of all people. In the reign of God, no one is more important than anyone else.

I also leave Mark with a great sense of the life of service. Mark lifts up the freedom and goodness that being the one who serves brings to our lives.

Finally, I leave Mark with the power of the cross. Jesus gives his life as a ransom for many and buys us out of slavery to guilt, shame and death. We live as a people freed from the powers that enslave and destroy.

We can now begin to look forward to a journey through the Gospel of Luke. I am very excited to read his stories again and be enriched and spiritually challenged by them.

The title of my sermon this Sunday is "Birth Pangs" and is about how, as Christians, we believe in God always bringing something new.

Special Called Congregation Meeting: Nov. 15, 12:15 - Nave.
The council has called for a special meeting to approve the bid by Northwinds Construction for repairs and improvements to our nave and sanctuary.

We have the following motions: (The exact dollar amount will be available by Friday due to delays by Northwinds Construction.)

The motions by the council reflect the rationale that since the pews have to be removed to do the painting and repairs, then the choir loft addition, lighting and floors should also be done to avoid having to pay extra in the future for pew removal. Placing vinyl tile under the pews will also avoid pew removal in the future to replace carpet. The majority of the council did not want to spend money on the monitors and so this motion will need to come from the floor.

Option 1: To not use the unused funds and return them to the mortgage company in order to reduce the mortgage. (This motion will have to come from the floor)

Option 2: Council moves to accept the bid from Northwinds Construction Inc. to make all repairs to the sanctuary to include drywall, prime paint and texture the ceiling and walls, raise a new choir loft and to replace the carpet in all areas while installing a vinyl tile under the pews. The amount will not exceed “X” amount of Dollars.

Option 3: Council moves to accept the bid from Northwinds Construction Inc. to replace and improve the lighting and controls within the sanctuary at an estimated cost of $35,000.00.

Option 4: Council moves to accept the bid from Northwinds Construction Inc. to make the alter rails removable at a cost of "X"

Youth Minister Transition Update

We have begun the process of posting the position. The "Do Team" is meeting to begin working on continuing the ministries if we fail to have someone in place.

Playground Update
The council approved a bid from Playgrounds by Worth. The bid is for 40,000 and will use money collected from memorials and from the Pony Express.

The playground will be fantastic. It will be made of wood and feature many activities for children. We will have a special display in the narthex of the plans and some pictures of other playgrounds. We will also have a wish list for items we would like to add: Benches, picnic tables and other items. More information next week in the email.

We are all very excited about this project. Construction will begin on Monday.

Joint Methodist-Lutheran Thanksgiving Communion Service 6:30 Wednesday November 18, Pot Luck Following. Bring Your Favorite Dish To Share.

The service will feature combined choirs of Peace, First Methodist, Asbury, and Golden Acres Methodist. I and Pastor Steve Woody will be sharing a sermon. The service will last only one hour.

In August our national church assembly voted to have full communion with our Methodist brothers and sisters. What this means is that we found enough common agreement in our beliefs about communion to allow Methodist pastors to preside at Lutheran communions and Lutheran pastors to preside at Methodist communions. This full communion is a great achievement in church unity. It does not mean that either gives up anything, but we have enough agreement to find common ground.

So, on Wednesday, November 18, the Methodist churches in Pasadena and Peace Lutheran are having a communion service at Peace at 6:30 pm. Afterward we are having a pot-luck in the fellowship hall for conversation. Please bring a dish to share.

The evening looks to be a lot of fun. For more information, contact Pastor Tart. Babysitting will be available for the service.

Opportunity For Generosity
As our church heads into the final months of 2009 you recently received a letter explaining our financial situation. The bottom line is that giving needs to improve. We ask for you to give according to your faith and we respect everyone in their faith journey. Just remember our church depends on the generosity of our members. The bottom line is this: we are giving far below our potential. Our challenge is creating a climate of generosity that gives out of faith and joy, not out of guilt and duty.

For us to continue our current ministries we are asking each giving unit to contribute an extra $100 to our general fund. This would give us $30,000 to meet our mission and ministry goals.

We have a lot of growing to do in this area. I would like to invite you to email me and let me hear what the barriers are to your giving. Or if you want your identity hidden, I have also created an blog where you can comment without being identified. We need to hear the barriers that we need to overcome to grow our church where it needs to be. Please be honest. Go to http://givinghangups.blogspot.com/

Open House Reception For James and Arial Tart and Paul and Alyson Tart.
Sunday, Nov 15 from 2:00 pm -5:00 pm at Peace Fellowship Hall. Kathryn and I are hosting a reception for our sons and our new daughters-in-law. Please feel free to drop by and meet them. Refreshments will be served.

Pastoral Care Notes

Dalton Denny: Bayshore
Cindy Smith: Methodist Hospital
Dorothy Wilson: Southeast Memorial
Jason Elliott continues his treatment for cancer.
Vickie Hildebrand continues treatment for cancer

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart


Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Bring your family, a dish to share and join us for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner next Sunday, November 22nd. Our first seating will be at 11:00 am and the second will follow the 11:00 service. Sign up sheets for food items can be found on the table in the narthex.

Nominations For 2010 Council
We are collecting suggestions for nominations and the nominating committee asks for your help. Only one person will be selected to run for each position with nominations open from the floor at the annual meeting (as long as you have the person’s prior consent). Please suggest your names by filling out one of the Nomination ballots that can be found in today’s bulletin. Deadline for suggestions is SUNDAY!

World Relief Update
We have assembled 31 health kits at this time. Last year we completed 32 health kits. Since there is a shortage of health kits, I would like to send in more this year than last year. We are still in need of the following items.

Wash Cloths (dark colors)
Hand Towels (dark colors)
Wide Tooth Combs
Adult Toothbrushes (no toothpaste)
Nail Clippers with File or Nail Files

We are especially in need of the nail clippers with files or nail files. We have plenty of Band aids and soap. Please prayerfully consider donating some of these items. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Please continue to save your cancelled stamps and soup labels.

Carol Young, Mission Community & Action

Women of Peace Christmas Party
The Women of Peace Christmas Party will be held on December 6th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Liturgical dancers from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hitchcock will perform. Think about a memorable Christmas from the past that you would like to share. Also, we ask that you bring household items and cleaners, toiletries, and women’s clothing for “Light of Hope - Cathy’s Angels”, a 12 step program for recovering alcoholic women located in La Porte. Invite your family (spouses and children, too!) and join us for a great afternoon. A sign-up sheet is located on the table in the narthex. If you have any questions, see Geri Warren.

Good Samaritan Fund
Peace for many years has a special fund for members of Peace in financial crisis. Over the years this fund has been depleted to the point when only $100.00 is left. Please consider making a donation to this fund so that we can help people struggling to keep their homes and feed their families. The policy for the fund is currently being revised to improve administration and communication. If you would like to help in this fund’s administration, please contact Pastor Tart.

Sunday School Christmas Program Planning Meeting
A planning meeting for the Christmas Program will be held on Sunday, November 15th at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions please call Jennifer Sanders.

Lunch Bunch
Due to the special Congregation Meeting on Sunday, the Lunch Bunch has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 13th, at Tequila Boom’s, 3138 Nasa Pkwy, Seabrook, TX. Bring your family and join us any time from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. A sign-up sheet can be found on the Parish Life bulletin board.