Weekly Email for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

December 20, 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 celebrate our last Sunday in Advent with the great reading of Mary's song to Elizabeth. Her song speaks of the humbleness of being used in such a way by God, but also it celebrates the way God "lifts the lowly" and "brings down the mighty".

I will be preaching from the Old Testament reading from Micah and will be exploring the importance of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus and as an image of the Gospel. I hope that you enjoy it.

On Sunday morning we will also welcome the following people into the family of Peace Lutheran Church:

Jennifer Holland, Drew and Paige
(Affirmation of Baptism)

Tony & Rhonda Pena and Bianca
(Transferred from Christ Redeemer Lutheran Church, Deer Park, TX)

Jay & Sandy Tillis
(Transferred from Faith Lutheran Church, Dickinson, TX)

Please be sure to introduce yourself to these families after the service.

Lesson and Carols Service, Sunday, December 27 at 10:00.
ONE SERVICE ONLY, NO COMMUNION AND NO SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Christmas Eve Family Service:
We are searching for a boy and girl to play the parts of Mary and Joseph (no speaking parts).

We are also searching for children and youth who would be willing to play Christmas music (religious only) during the service. We want this service to highlight the many gifts of our children and young people.

If you have someone contact, Jan Woodard

Christmas Eve Family Photos:

One of the great traditions is that David Slater in years past has offered to take picture of worshipers in front of the Peace Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Due to health concerns, he will be unable to offer this.

Is there anyone who can offer to take pictures before and/or after a service? We can provide a simple camera to use. The church will pay for the processing of the pictures. Contact Jan Woodard or Pastor Tart if you can. This is a great way to serve others.

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 Spirit of Peace and communion

11:00 pm Candlelight communion service with special music by the choir and musicians. (The choir will also sing the Bach cantata, “To Us a Child Is Born” with soloists, flute, violin and organ.)

Extra Parking Spaces Available
For your convenience during the holiday season, if our church parking lot is full, we have permission from the Dentist and CPA offices (located next door) to park in their lot.

Playground Update
Due to weather and the time of year, the playground will not be completed until after January 1.

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 $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 hid, 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/



Pastoral Care Notes
Cindy Smith: Methodist Hospital
Dorothy Wilson: Triumph in Clear Lake
Jason Elliott continues his treatment for cancer
Vickie Hildebrand continues treatment for cancer

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

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart


Blood Pressure Screening Today
On the third Sunday of each month the Parish Nurses offer free blood pressure screening. They will be available on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Library. This is for all ages – children, too!

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. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex. Any questions, please contact Lin Peterson at (281) 476-0632.

End of Year Giving
According to IRS requirements, checks must be dated and postmarked December 31, 2009 in order to claim a charitable deduction for 2009. If you are considering a donation to the church before the end of the year, please keep this in mind.

No Brotherhood Meeting in January
The Brotherhood will not meet in January. Mark your calendars, bring a friend and plan to join us on February 6th for breakfast in the Fellowship Hall.