For the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Week of March 14, 2010

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 Sundays Events
This Sunday we will get to enjoy reading one of the most powerful and cherished stories of the Bible, The Prodigal Son. The title of my sermon is "the Prodigal Community" and I will be preaching about how this story invites us to see the depth of God's love that heals our broken relationships. Our mission as a community is to be "prodigal" or extravagant. We look without judgment on others and see our common human need for healing. We are extravagant in our compassion for others.

Reminder We Have Two Services During Our Remodeling of the Sanctuary
Due to remodeling the sanctuary and the logistical issues with worshiping in the Fellowship Hall, we will be having only the 8:30 and 11:00 service with Sunday School at its regular time. After the remodeling, we will resume our three service routine. Due to a delay in the carpet order, we will be in the fellowship hall through March. Thank you for your patience and understanding. The painting is done, the lights should be up soon. We are just waiting on the carpet.

Great News from the Council
Ben Remmert accepted our offer of becoming our Director of Youth and Family Ministry and will begin June We are all very excited and thankful for the spirit leading us together for the ministry set before us.

Playground Update
The front playground is up and ready for action. We are working to complete the back piece.

Congregation Survey
Church Council is conducting a brief survey to better understand your needs and concerns in our continued Mission at Peace Lutheran Church. We are asking for your prompt and honest feedback in a few key areas to insure that we are providing the right leadership to build a stronger Church Community and enable you to grow spiritually and emotionally.

The survey is available at the following link for online responses. Council will also be handing out the survey at Sunday services for several weeks. A secure slotted box in the Narthex is provided for return of the surveys. Please fill out the survey only once so that we have an accurate reflection of member responses.

The online survey is available at http://www.quia.com/sv/378942.html

Council will provide feedback on member responses shortly after Easter. Where appropriate, Council will review areas of concern with the congregation. We may try to gain further clarity on the issue as we look for solutions to your concerns.

If you have questions, please contact any member of your Church Council.

We thank you in advance for your participation. Please prayerfully consider your responses to help us build a stronger Peace Lutheran Church.

Wednesday Lenten Journey
My preaching themes will center on the Epistle readings from Sunday morning. These text have wonderful images and messages to help us in our journey to Easter. I hope you will enjoy them. This week I will be preaching on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and Paul's wonderful words about how Christ makes all things new.

We will have noon Soup at 11:45 am and a midday service at 12:30 pm. We will also have Lenten Soup suppers at 6:00 pm, with a prayer service following at 7:00 pm.

Pasadena Faith In Action, March 27, 7:30am at IBEW at 4345 Allen Genoa
We continue to encourage you to sign up for a united effort by churches in the Pasadena area to serve our community with minor repairs, light construction, painting, clean-up, yard work, and basic landscaping.

You can register at Peace by filling in a form or going online at http://www.pasadenafaithinaction.com and download the form and send it to our church office.

The cost is $10 and will include a lunch and t-shirt. The work should be completed in the afternoon.

We are encouraging families to serve together. Youth can also serve, but they will need an adult sponsor.

Also, if you know any home owner in need of any of the above work around their home, please contact the church office for an application.

Habitat for Humanity Service Opportunity
Habitat for Humanity Pasadena is building a house in Pasadena on Ann Street. Thrivent for Lutherans and Churches in the Pasadena area are supplying volunteer labor and funds to build the house. Peace Lutheran Church is part of that effort. We are currently soliciting volunteers to participate in the build. We are also beginning a fund raising effort. Our goal is to raise $1000 by the end of February. The other participant churches are also raising funds.

There is a sign up sheet in the narthex for volunteers. If you have not signed up you may continue to do so. Your time commitment is for whatever you can manage. We will keep you posted about volunteer work times as we get closer to the build date.

You can participate in the fundraising by purchasing a virtual board of siding or box of siding nails. A board of siding costs a $10.00 donation and a box of nails costs a $5.00 donation. You will receive a certificate documenting your donation and we will post a “board” or “box” with your name on the bulletin board as we track progress toward our goal (you may remain anonymous if you wish). I will be in the narthex starting on February 21 to collect donations. Ted Brenneman – Peace Habitat Champion.

Midweek Bible Study: "Respecting Our Neighbor's Faith"
On Wednesday mornings, Pastor Tart is leading the Wednesday Bible Study group with a overview study of the other denominations and religions. The study should continue well into May. Feel free to come on any Wednesday from 10-11:30. We always have a great time together. (Once a month we take a break for the Senior Fellowship Wednesday.)

Pastoral Care Notes
Hospitalized:
Ruth Petty, Patients
Cindy Smith, released
Ruby Skoog, released
Carolyn Wallace, released
Carol Morgan-Gohlke, St. Lukes

Sympathy to Jerry and Mavis Greif and their family on the loss of Linda Maurer, sister of Jerry.
Jason Elliott continues his treatment for cancer.

Notes from the Treasurer
General Operating Fund deposits February 7th through February 28th
2-7-10 $11,548.75
2-14-10 $10,491.63
2-21-10 $8,948.65
2-28-10 $8,205.00

The above amount for February 14th, 2010 includes three Simply Givings from February 7th , February 14th and February 15th.

To meet our budgeted income, we need $10,673.00 a week. For February, we have a total of $39,194.03 actual income. The estimated income for February was $42,692. We are under our budgeted income by $3,497.97 for this month.

Designated deposits for January 3rd through February 28th
Memorial Fund $1855
Pasadena Community Ministries $795.34
Souper Bowl $454.70
Youth Expense $25.29
Adult Education $20
Sheet Music $200
Haiti Relief Fund $1,340
Habitat for Humanity $1240
Youth Mission Trip $30
Lutherhill Camp Registration $170
Loose Offering $1510.48
Sunday School $104.66
Fair Trade Coffee $120
Pony Express $480
Wedding Deposit $350

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

The Krause Center
We are still collecting items for the teens at the Krause Center (Lutheran Social Services). Each girl's package and each boy's package will be alike. The Center always has 30 girls and 30 boys. We still need some of each of these items and we do thank those that have donated. They will be assembled and mailed in time for Easter.

Items need: Ladies Size Fun Socks, Men's' size sport socks, decks of cards, beanie babies size plush toys, travel size deodorants & toiletries, and chapsticks. There is a basket under the WOP table in the Narthex for your donations.

The Krause Center also needs formal wear for their annual prom. This is a very special event for the teens. The dresses need to be in good taste, current styles and gently worn. If you have a prom dress that you are willing to part with they will be greatly appreciated. Sherri & Jany will deliver these around the third week in April.

Join Us At Camp!
The time is here to begin registering for summer camp at Camp Lutherhill in La Grange. Summer camp plays an important role in a child’s spiritual formation. We hope that you will make every effort for your child to attend. Summers can be busy with activities, but this opportunity for your child’s growth in faith is important. Scholarships are available if needed. (Please contact Pastor Tart personally.)

2nd through 5th Graders: The dates for 2nd through 5th graders are July 18-23. You can attend other weeks if you desire, of course. The 2nd and 3rd graders will only be attending Sunday-Wednesday.

Confirmation Students: Dates for confirmation students are set for July 11-16. Attending summer camp is part of the confirmation experience.

Registration forms are available on the table in the narthex, or you can go to www.lutherhill.org and register this week. Forms should be turned into Pastor Tart or the church office as soon as possible. Either Pastor Tart or the new youth minister will be attending with them.

Holy Week Volunteers Needed
On Palm Sunday, March 28, we will be using the “The Passion According to Luke” and are looking for volunteers to read parts. (A sample is located on the bulletin board in the narthex.)

The Maundy Thursday worship service on April 1st will include the rite of foot washing. We will need 12 volunteers (children and adults) to participate. If you would be interested, please call Jan Woodard at (713) 206-7132, or the church office. Sign-up sheets are also available on the bulletin board in the narthex.

LWR Fair Trade Coffee Project
The midweek Bible Study group is a “partner” in the coffee business and sells 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.

The LWR Coffee Project helps Lutherans answer that call by righting the injustices faced by small-scale farmers around the world. 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. Look for the table in the narthex on Sunday.

Graduating Seniors
Do you have a child or relative who is a member here at Peace Lutheran and is graduating from High School in May, 2010? Please call the church office or email Judy as soon as possible with their name, name of high school and where they will be attending college so that they can be honored at our High School Recognition Sunday on May 2nd.

50+ Bus Trip for March
On April 8th, it is off to Chappell Hill, Texas to see the beautiful bluebonnets. While in Chappell Hill you can shop at several of the stores along a wooden sidewalk. Pick up time at Peace will be at 8:00 a.m. Cost of the trip: Free + Lunch money + Program donation ($3.00). For more information on the trip, times of departures, and prices, please call Virginia Rodriguez (281) 487-4961 or Judy Speck (281) 470-0407. Remember: If you are signed up for a trip and won't be able to go, please call Virginia or Judy and let them know as we have people on waiting lists for our trips that would like to have your spot.

Bazaar Committee
Please join us for fun and fellowship on Tuesday, March 16th at 10:00 a.m. We will be working on our hand tied throws and flower arrangements in baskets. There will be something for everyone to work on.

The deadline for all raffle items will be June 1st. Anyone working on Raffle items please keep this date in mind. If you are working on items suitable for the Silent Auction or the Raffle please let someone on the bazaar team know. Have a blessed day.

Carol Young - Bazaar Team
Lin Peterson - Chair
Pam Cronan - Co-Chair

Creative Hands Ministry
Let’s Zentangle and Zen Doodle on Tuesday night, March 16, 6:30 pm. Cost is $2.00.

This is a fun and relaxing project. We will finish crosses from last month’s class. There will be additional crosses for each. On this cross you may use any technique you want. We will have paints, stencils, foil, and etc. as well as a choice of crosses. We hope each will help us by doing a little cross that we will use with the cards that we mail. See your Tuesday. Refreshments will be served.

PCM Food Pantry Collection
Thank you to Bob & Jany Reeves for delivering the donations to the food pantry last Tuesday. Pasadena Community Ministries personally thanks all who donated. We delivered 27 bags/boxes of cereal and 30 jars of jams and jellies, 40 canned goods, 15 assorted items including peanut butter, dried soups, etc. and 2 large bottles of juice. For April let’s double our collection. We can do it and we have a great start as we have already collected more cereal, jelly and peanut butter. Remember to put your donations in the cabinets in the hallway by the fellowship hall.

Cathy's Angels
Cathy’s Angels has lost their lease and is no longer accepting any kind of donations. Thanks to everyone who made a donation to this project. Have a blessed day!