Weekly Email for the Third Sunday in Advent

December 13, 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 away 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 had a great farewell for David and he left us knowing just how much his ministry meant. Thanks to all who made it so very special.

This Sunday, the big events are the annual meeting in the fellowship hall after the 11:00 service and the Sunday School Christmas program at 5:00 pm.

The Lunch Bunch will meet following the annual meeting at Tequila Boom in Clear Lake.

Our annual meeting is required by law and we must approve the budget and elect leadership. Please make every effort to attend. We need to have a quorum. This is everyone's responsibility.

The title of my sermon is, "What Are We to Do?", and I will be talking about how repentance is really a great thing in our lives and how God helps us to change destructive attitudes and habits. Repentance is always about action. But the great thing is that the end of repentance is the joy of Grace and new beginnings. I hope you enjoy it.

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

On December 16, 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.

This will be our last Advent Soup Supper. We thank the men of Peace, the women of Peace and the Council for bringing soups to share.

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/

Christmas Eve Services:

Our Christmas Eve services are:

4:00 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 Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Spirit of Peace and communion.

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

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

Pastoral Care Notes
Cindy Smith: Methodist Hospital
Dorothy Wilson: Triumph in Clear Lake
Helen Shoppa: Bayshore
Jason Elliott continues his treatment for cancer.
Vickie Hildebrandt continues treatment for cancer.

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

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

Worship Assistants Needed for Christmas Eve Services
We’re still looking for some volunteers to serve at our Christmas Eve services at 4:00 pm, 7:30 pm and 11:00 pm. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the narthex. We are also still in need of assisting ministers and lectors. Thanks for all of your hard work.  Jan Woodard Smith

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.

LWR Fair Trade Coffee Project - Sunday
The midweek Bible Study group continues to sell coffee, tea and hot cocoa mix through the Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Coffee Project. Micah 6:8 calls us, as Christians, to do justice, love, mercy and walk humbly. By using Fair Trade coffee and other products in our congregation and homes, we are helping farmers receive a fair price that covers their cost of production and guarantees them a living wage for their labors. Be sure to stop by the table in the narthex and support this project.

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.

Poinsettias
Sunday is the last day to sign up for 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.

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.

“To all the Peace Lutheran Family...

On Monday, December 7, I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska to be close to my fiancée, Brenna, and pursue a new and exciting chapter in my life. I appreciate all of your prayers, well wishes, support and even your friendly teasing. I am incredibly lucky and blessed to have so many people surrounding me with love and support. These past four years serving you and being a part of this church have shown me the love of Christ in new and enlightening ways. I am truly thankful for the opportunity God has given me to teach and serve the people in this community. May God continue to bless you and stir up this community of faith with the Holy Spirit.

A few things I want to make sure you know:

1. My email address and cell phone number will remain the same. (davidbooher@gmail.com, 832-863-6447)

2. My new mailing address is

David Booher
PO Box 750610
Fairbanks, AK 99775”