For the Second Sunday in Advent


December 6, 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.

We invite you to wear something blue on Sunday as way to clothe ourselves in the hope of Christ that the Advent season celebrates. Blue is the color of the Advent season.

This Sunday's Events

We will bid farewell to David at all three services. He will be preaching at all three services on that day. Also, we will have a special card basket and encourage everyone to drop him a card and personal note. David has meant a lot to our congregation and we are sad about his leaving, but we are excited about his future.

At the 11:00 am service, Joy Moore will be baptized as well as receive her first communion along with Christeen Gaspard and Samantha Watt.

Wednesday Advent Soup Suppers and Holden Evening Prayer continues. 6:00 pm Soup Supper, 7:00 pm Service

I will be having the devotion next Wednesday. We thank Martha Digges for her wonderful and touching story about generosity.

On December 16th I have invited, the Norwegian Lutheran Seaman's church pastor to have the devotion for us. Her name is Rev. Ingrid Fallegard. I promise you will not want to miss her. Since I speak Norwegian, we have set up a reciprocal pastoral care relationship between our church and theirs. They will minister in my absence and me in theirs. This is a great benefit to the members of both of our churches. They speak excellent English by the way.

We will also be decorating the Christmas tree each Wednesday. We always have a lot of fun with this.

Playground Update

The playground is taking shape. What a great thing it will be for our children and the children of our community. It should be done in a couple of weeks.

Annual Meeting, December 13 after the 11

Our annual meeting is set for December 13 after the 11:00 service. At the meeting we will conduct any business of the church, elect leadership and voters to the church assembly, and approve our 2010 budget. We will also approve our annual report. Copies of the 2010 budget are available in the narthex.

Opportunity for Generosity

As our church heads into the final months of 2009 you 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. 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 $30000 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 hid, I have also created a 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/

Christmas Program

On December 13 we will have our annual Sunday School Christmas Program at 5:00 pm. Be sure to come and support our kids and teachers. Refreshments will follow.

(Reminder to parents: There will be a Christmas Program rehearsal on December 12th at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Christmas Party in the Fellowship Hall.)

Christmas Eve Services:

Our Christmas Eve services are:

4:00 pm - Family Service with candlelighting, bells, and special spontaneous acting out of the Christmas story by the children. They will also be leading the congregation in singing "Away in the Manger". Communion will also be celebrated.

7:30 pm - Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with communion

11:00 pm - Candlelight communion service with special music by the choir and musicians

Pastoral Care Notes

Dalton Denny: Bayshore
Cindy Smith: Methodist Hospital
Dorothy Wilson: Triumph in Clear Lake
Kent Schultz: Released from St. Joseph's
Jason Elliott continues his treatment for cancer
Vickie Hildebrand continues treatment for cancer

Our Christian sympathy to:
Ruth Petty on the death of her sister, Velma Shuff
Steve & Myra Petty on the death of Myra’s sister, Pam McClung
Don & Janette Knutson on the loss of Don’s uncle

Please let us know if you have a pastoral care issue or concern.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart


Poinsettias
If you would like to donate a poinsettia plant to place in the church for Christmas Eve, please sign the sheet in the narthex. We ask that you bring your plant to the church during the week of December 13th. You may take your plants home on December 27th. Any questions please call Pam Cronan at (713) 492-2811.

Women of Peace Christmas Party December 6

The Women of Peace Christmas Party will be held on Sunday afternoon 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” located in La Porte. Invite your family (spouses and children, too!) and join us for a great afternoon.

Light of Hope – Cathy’s Angels

The Women's Board has elected to support a program run by Light of Christ Lutheran Church in La Porte called Light of Hope - Cathy's Angels. It is home for women addicted to alcohol and drugs. Many of these women have lost their families and are homeless. The home has rooms for 18 women. They also have a pantry and resale shop, and are in need of many items. We ask that you prayerfully consider donating some of the following items:

Items Needed:

Non Perishable Food Items for the Pantry
Paper Products
Clothing for the Resale Shop (All clothing must be Clean, Pressed, and On Hangers)

Toiletries such as:
Feminine hygiene products
Shampoos
Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
Bars of Soap, & Shower Gel

A basket and clothes rack for your items can be found in the hallway by the Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions please call Carol Young at 713-946-3680

Salvation Army Stocking Stuffing Program

Just a reminder: If you took a stocking home to stuff, please make sure to bring it back sometime during this week. Special thanks to all who helped make Christmas a little brighter for some needy children.

PCM Food Drive December 6

On Sunday we will hold our monthly food drive for Pasadena Community Ministries. You can place your donations in the hallway by the Fellowship Hall. Of course, monetary gifts are also accepted. Please make your check payable to Peace Lutheran Church and write “PCM” in the memo section. Thank you for caring and sharing.

Sr. High Youth Meeting December 9

Pastor Tart is planning a meeting with the senior high youth on Wednesday, December 9 at 6:00 pm. All senior high please come. We will be discussing the winter, spring and summer activities.

Advent Card

Each year the Women of Peace provide us with an Advent Card. In lieu of sending Christmas cards to everyone in our congregation, we combine our money toward a special project. The 2009 Advent Card can be found on the table in the narthex through December 13th. Please use the blue envelopes for your contribution. (Make checks payable to Women of Peace.) You may place your envelope in the weekly collection plate.

This year the money collected will go towards the Confirmation Scholarship Fund. The Advent Card is published and available at our Christmas Eve services. If you have any questions, see Becky White.

Friendship Circle Christmas Party

The women of the Friendship Circle will have their Christmas party on December 10th at 6:30 p.m. at Willie’s, located just north of Vista on Beltway 8. We hope that you will bring a friend and join us.

Godly Play Group Meets December 7

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. Plan to bring a sack lunch and join us in the nursery on Monday, December 7th, at 10:00 a.m. If you have any questions contact Alycia Miller at (281) 478-6070.

Sr. High Youth Meeting December 9

Pastor Tart is planning a meeting with the senior high youth on Wednesday, December 9 at 6:00 pm. All senior high please come. We will be discussing the winter, spring and summer activities.

Martha Circle Holiday Party & Meeting

The Martha Circle will meet for their December meeting at the home of Barbara Digges, 6615 Trimstone Drive, Pasadena, on December 10th at 10:00 am. We ask that you join us for some fun and fellowship. Please bring a dish to share. Hope we see you there! RSVP (281) 851-2575.

Don’t Forget Your New Years Plans

If you haven’t made your New Years Eve plans yet, why not plan on joining us! We will go out to eat at Pepper’s Beef & Seafood, 3604 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, at 5:00 pm, and then return to the church at 7:00 pm for an evening of games. At midnight we will ring in the new year with a glass of non-alcoholic bubbly. Any questions, please contact Lin Peterson at (281) 476-0632.