For Pentecost Sunday, May 31

To my fellow spirit filled followers of Christ,

Sunday Events
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday and we will be celebrating the great mission kickoff of the church when the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Christ and propelled them to preach the Gospel. We remember how the church exists because of mission and for the cause of mission. We don't have a choice. The Spirit never ever lets us off the hook. The title of my sermon is "The Guiding Spirit" and I will preach about how, as we travel the rocky road of faith, that Spirit continues to guides us to the truth of God's grace.
We will also be celebrating the baptism of Kaylee Baker, the daughter of Lyndell and Tracy Baker at the 8:30 service and at the 11:00 service we will be confirming 6 of our young people. We are excited about this Sunday and hope that you will come and share in the joy.

Blessing of Travelers, June 7
Summer is traditionally a time of travel for many and so on this Sunday we will offering a blessing to all those who will vacation this summer. We have put up a map in the narthex and ask that everyone place a pin on the spot they will be traveling this summer. If you can think to mail a post card to the church or bring back a worship bulletin from a church you visit, it would be appreciated.  We will bless the travelers at all three services.

Synod Assembly, May 28-30
We will have our annual gathering of Lutheran Congregation in Sugar Land. The theme is "Outrageous Scandal: Living like Jesus" and we will be learning about evangelism and being re-rooted in our communities. You can go to this link http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/SynodAssembly2009.htm for more information. We have 4 delegates and myself attending. Keep us and our assembly in your prayers.

Evangelism Workshop, Saturday, June 6, 9:00am -11:30
We will have a workshop on this Saturday to improve our outreach to the community. This is open to everyone. We need people to lead us in reaching out to others. Please come as we work on helping our church become alive with the joy of sharing the Gospel. 
We will be working on our bread minstry program, starting a sponsor ship program and brainstorming ways we can promote the Gospel in our community. Please consider helping. 

Pony Express;
So far we have collected $39000 in estimate of giving cards and donations with 29 bags returned and 10 bags left to collect. We have a goal of $100000 in order to complete all of the projects. We have prioritized our projects and we will only do projects for which we have funds. We will continue to invite people to give to this fund raiser even after we have completed the saddlebag process. 
We are very grateful for those who gave and we look forward to the results of your act of generosity toward the mission and purpose of our church to reach out to others. We also thank those who prayed for the success of this mission effort. 
If you have one of the saddlebags in your possession, please return it to the church office by June 7. We need to collect each bag. Also if you would like to change your estimate of giving, simply call the church office.  

Summer Sunday School Starts June 7

This summer, rather than canceling Sunday School for the summer or doing the "same old thing," we're introducing something new!  Starting June 7th, during the 9:45 Worship, Teachers and youth volunteers will lead a group "Word for Children" session. All children are invited to gather in the Fellowship Hall during the 9:45 hour for a fun lesson and special activities. Families attending the 9:45 service can attend worship as usual, with their young children leaving after the Children's Sermon and returning during the Offering. We are always looking for more adults and youth interested in helping too! If you have an idea for a lesson, craft, game, song, or just want to be there and help, please contact David Booher or Julie Shaw.

Pastoral Care Notes

Congratulations to Ed and Kim Buskirk and their families on the birth of Addison Nolan on May 26. He weighed 7.7lb. All are doing well. Proud grandparents are Ron and Judy Etzel. 

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

weekly email for May 24, 7 Sunday of Easter

Sunday Events

Today I write my email for Ascension Day. On this day we remember the great rising of Jesus to reign for eternity as Lord and Savior. The Lutheran churches in our area are gathering at New Life Lutheran in Pearland for worship, prayer and discussion about mission in our area. Pastor Kerry Nelson, our synod's mission developer, is the guest preacher. The worship will begin at 7:00. I am going to be unable to attend due to another commitment.

This Sunday my sermon is entitled, "The Great Sending" and I will be preaching about how God sends us into the the world to be agents of change. We are to bear and witness the saving grace and engage in active service to the other. We are lights of the world. We are sent with a message.

We will also be having Lutheran Process of Membership Sunday and as we journey with people as they grow in their discipleship and being apart of our community.  

Pony Express

We are still collecting the remaining bags. If you have not received a bag, please call the church office. If you have the saddlebag, please call your station agent to let them know that you have it. Some of the saddlebags, for whatever reason, have become stuck. 

We do not have the total estimate of giving yet, but it looks very positive. We thank everyone who is participating financially and those who are praying for the success of this outreach project. We also give a big thanks to all the station agents for managing the routes. I am excited about hearing the final results.

The next step is for those who have estimated their giving to send in their contributions. You may do so at anytime. You can do so online by choosing "outreach appeal".  You can also contribute by using a check and marking the envelope "outreach appeal".  Thank you for loving the future of our congregation. We would like all contributions to be in by July 30.

 After we have collected the money, we will begin the projects with a series of workshops. At the workshops we will review each project's "charter" that describes the scope, responsibilities, accountability and limitations of each project and begin planning and implementing the projects.  These workshops are open to all who have an interest and passion for the projects.  The charters will be approved at the June council meeting. 

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

We are taking June and July off due to scheduling difficulties and will resume in August. This is a great group of people and we are looking forward to getting back together already.  We study the upcoming texts for Sunday. 

Thanks to Rev. Gary Morgan-Gohlke 

We thank Pastor Gary for a wonderful Wednesday evening Bible study after Easter. Everyone who participated was blessed by some great study of scripture. We are looking forward to his next offering. 

Baptisms of Kiera and Ian Hance

I thought I would include this link to some pictures from last Sunday. The children were so excited about being baptized. I wish all of us could have the same joy all the time about the great gift of God's grace and new life. Hance Children's Facebook pictures 

Sunday May 10th Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sunday Events:

We will be blessing our mothers this Sunday and giving thanks for the gift of life for all. The title of my sermon is "Birthing Stories" and I will be preaching about the gift of life and how our church community has a birth story as well. I hope that you will enjoy it.

The parking lot project is slowly being completed. We will be able to drive on the some of the new section this Sunday. Parking should be no problem.

We will also be celebrating the baptism of Chloe Petty at the 9:45 service. She is the daughter of Sean and Jenny Petty and sister to Sammy. She comes from a family that is strongly rooted in our community and I know that her baptism will bring joy to all.

Saturday Workday.

We need workers if we are going to accomplish the tasks before us. Please consider coming to help. Many hands make light work. 

We are going to officially start at 8:00, but I will be on site before that because I am excited about how good the church is going to look after we are done. Meet me at 7:00 if you have something later in the morning to do.  I have lot of preparation to do in the offices for the painting that day. I could use some help. This is all about giving your time. 

As always I give the right to pass to people (no questions asked)  and I do in this case as well. Just because I am passionate about something doesn't mean others are. There are also very legitimate reasons for not showing up. People have guests in their house, health issues, or commitments to children, work, family and friends. Also, people give their time in many ways outside of a workday. We will make do if only a few show up. We will be very thankful for these few. However the work will not go away by itself and we will complete these tasks no matter how long it takes. Simply put, it's do them now or do them later.  Just think also of the pride we are going to have in doing these things together!

Pony Express

We had a number of bags turned in. We are hoping to have them all turned in by this Sunday. We are now aware that is not going to happen. If you have not received your bag, please call the church office. We are asking the station managers to make sure that the bags are not lost or stuck.  This is going to be wonderful and we are all looking forward to the final tally.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

Weekly Email for the 3rd Sunday after Easter, April 26,

To all the baptized and followers of the Risen One, Jesus Christ:

Sunday Events

What a great Sunday we had this past week! I enjoyed myself along with a packed church. The food, the games and fellowship was wonderful. Thanks to all who made it possible.

The saddlebags have begun their routes and I hope they are well received. This is not putting pressure on anyone, but discovering what everyone intends to give to this appeal to improve our congregation’s outreach. We also want members to get to know each other better and hopefully this passing of the bags will build connections.

The title of my sermon for this coming Sunday is “Easter Chickens” and will be about how the news of Christ resurrection makes us all different.

Opportunities for Service to Others

Care Team for Cindy and Sam Smith

One is for Cindy and Sam Smith. Cindy is waiting for a liver transplant and they could benefit from a “Care Team” that would help with errands, driving her to the doctor, visiting her, cooking a few meals or whatever their needs dictate. I have one person who has already agreed to help with driving. If you are interested in being a part of this team let me know.

Godly Play Ministry

Alycia Miller, one of our members, is interested in forming “Godly Play at Peace” Group that provides opportunities for families with young children ages 6 months to 5 years to play with their children and other parents and their children. There will also be Christian storytelling and crafts. It looks to be a lot of fun. The ministry is still in the birthing stage and if you would like to be a part of it, become a member of the Google Group at http://groups.google.com/group/godly-play-at-peace  The Google Group is a great means for online collaboration. We are now working on the charter and would benefit from your input.  You will need a Google account to become a member of the group.   You can use any email address to create the account.

Peace Property Workday

We will have a Peace Property Workday on Saturday, May 8 from 8:00am to 12:00pm to tackle some long overdue projects at Peace: mulching flower beds, cleaning carpets in hallways, closet cleanout and inventorying, power washing the sidewalks, cleaning baseboards and corners, cleaning kitchen, cleaning windows, repairing shed and the list keeps growing.  We have lots to do and think it would be fun working together at our church. This is a great way to give your time. Some maybe unable to give to the property improvement appeal and this is way for them to give their time instead. This is also for the whole family. We will begin signup to get the ball rolling this Sunday.

Worship Workshop This Sunday

We will have a Worship Workshop this Sunday after the 11:00 service. Lunch will be provided. We will be discussing some our Summer Worship plans, evaluating our current program, looking a proposal to do some sanctuary remodeling, starting banner purchasing program with money donated for this purpose and other items. It should be a lot of fun and worthwhile. We will be done by 3:00. Please come if you can.

 

weekly email for April 19

Weekly Email for the second Sunday of Easter

We have a big Sunday planned! We will have one service at 10:30 and Sunday School at 9:00. We will have a bar-b-que dinner afterward. We are asking people to bring a side or a desert to go with the dinner. All the meat will be provided.

We will also have games for all ages and pony rides for the children.

Why are we doing this? To launch an appeal for funds to have property improvements to reach out to our community. Our goal is $100,000.

We will be sending saddlebags on routes to the homes of our members. When the saddlebag reaches you, we ask that you prayerfully consider what you estimate you will share with the appeal, check your name and call the next person on the list. If the person is not at home circle the name and go to the next person. If the person refuses the bag, place an X through the name. The instructions and more information about the appeal are in the bags. The return of all saddlebag is set for Sunday, May 10.

Thank you for your participation. We are all looking forward to a great Sunday and a successful appeal.

The title of my sermon is “Unlocking the Vault” and will be about the freeing power of the risen Lord and how this freedom frees us for a life of generosity.  We need to choose faith over fear.

Pastoral Care Notes:

No one in the hospital, but we continue to pray for the family and friends of Jeff Butler, a former member of Peace, who passed away from cancer at the age of 49.

 

See you on Sunday!

Pastor Tart

 

Weely Email for April 12, Easter Sunday

Weekly Email for Easter Sunday, April 12^th

The tomb is empty! He is risen! Such news quickens our hearts with joy and calls us forth as messengers of new life. I hope you are planning the celebrate with the faithful this Sunday.  The title of my Easter sermon is “Who will move the Stone?”. I will be talking about the Easter message moves the stones of death from our lives. I hope you will be blessed by this Word.

Service times

6:45 Sunrise Communion Service outside weather permitting, David Booher will be sharing the message

7:30-8:30 Easter Breakfast

8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 Festival Communion with special music.

NO Sunday school, but we will have “Word for Children”  at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 services

Also don’t forget about our Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 and Good Friday at 7:00. Both are very powerful services.

April 19 we will have one service at 10:30 with Sunday School at 9:00. We will have our Pony Express Bar-b-Que following the service. Pony rides for children and other games will also be available.  We ask everyone to “dress western” for the day.

The Pony Express is a property outreach fundraiser to raise $100,000 for a new sign, new playground and audio visual enhancements to our sanctuary and narthex.

We will be passing saddlebags from home to home asking people to prayerfully consider how much they estimate they will give toward this appeal.  A member will drop off the saddlebag to your home and then you will pass the saddlebag to the next home on the list. If you can not reach that person, circle the name and go to the next address.  The addresses will be in your area.  We also see this is a great way for us to connect as a congregation.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

For Sunday March 29

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.

 

Facebook invitation

Be sure to check out the Peace Lutheran Facebook. It’s a great way to stay in touch with your church friends and it’s a lot of fun.  You need a Facebook account to become a “friend of Peace”. Just do a search on Facebook and you will find us.

 

Sunday Events

This Sunday the title of my sermon is “Greeks (not geeks ha ha) at the Door”. The story from John is a group of Greeks wanting to see Jesus at the festival of the Passover. This scene is very startling because the Greeks at the time were enemies of the Jews. They had been responsible for the desecration of their temple during a long reign of terror.  Why did they want to come and would they be accepted?  Jesus then goes into his great words about a single grain being planted in the soil so that it might bear much fruit. By going to the cross and buried in death on the cross, his love and his great compassion for the world bears the fruit of the beloved community where all are accepted  and where all can come to the party.  We at Peace are the fruit of the death of Cross and we gather to be the community where all can know of his great love.

 

We will also be celebrating the baptism of the daughter of David and Donna Greif,  Erin Michelle,  at the 9:45 service.  She is also the granddaughter of Jerry and Mavis Greif.  Mavis’ brother, Rev. Danny Koenig, will do the baptism. At the 11:00 service we will welcome David & Regina Hayek and Rebecca & Katelyn Turner into the family of Peace.

Last Wednesday Lent Service

11:45am – Lunch, 12:30pm - Worship

6:00pm – Soup Supper, 7:00pm - Worship

We have one more Wednesday Lent service, so this is your last chance if you haven’t attended any. We have had good attendance and the food has been great. Thanks to all who have brought soups and stews.  If you would like to bring a pot of soup for Wednesday night, contact Jennifer Sanders or the church office. 

 

Pony Express Fundraiser, April 19 at 10:30 Sunday School at 9:00, Bar-b-que Roundup Afterward (Be sure to dress in western wear on the 19^th!)

Pony Express Fundraiser and Bar-b-que cookoff is going well. We still would like to have a few more teams. Please stop by and sign up on the board.  We are going to have pony rides for the children and other games for both adults and youth.

 

The saddlebags will be passed from home to home and we ask people to give prayerful consideration to give an estimate of what they will give to the property outreach fundraiser for a playground, new sign, and technology for the sanctuary and narthex. Please pass the bag to the next person on the list in the bag and if they are not home make a note and pass it to the next person. We have 36 routes made up of people in your surrounding area.

 

April 19 Bar-b-que tickets

We are asking people to buy a ticket so that we can estimate how many are coming. The cost is $5.00 for adults,  $3.00 for children under 13 and free for those under 5.  Tickets are in the narthex and we are using the honor system. Just put your money in the box and pick up your tickets. You can also call the church office.

 

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday – Sunday of the Passion, April 5

            8:30, 9:45, 11:00 am  Procession of palms at all three services. We will also have congregation reading of the passion according to Mark.

 

No Wednesday Seder Meal

 

Maundy Thursday, April 9  12:30 and 7:00pm  Both services have communion. Foot washing will be at the 7:00 service only. Stripping of the altar will be at both services. Spirit of Peace will serve the music ministry at the 7:00pm service.

 

Good Friday, April 10

7:00pm Special Tenebrae service with a combined choir of La Porte Methodist and Peace. They have prepared some wonderful music from Handel’s Messiah. We will also have special musicians.

 

Easter  Saturday, April 11

            10am Easter Egg hunt and flowering of the cross. Have children bring flowers.

 

Easter Sunday, April 12 No Sunday School, but we will have the Word for Children Program at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 services

            6:45am Easter Sunrise Service outdoors with communion

            7:30-8:30 Easter Breakfast

            8:30 Easter Festival Service

            9:45 Easter Festival Service

            11:00 Easter Festival Service

 

Pastoral Care Notes 

●Congratulations to Lyndall and Tracey Baker and their families on the birth of Kaylee on March 25. She weighed 7.8oz.  Proud grandmother is Gwen Taylor.

●Congratulations to Andy and Natalie Blair and Trenton and their families on the birth of Nathaniel on March 18. Proud grandparents are Robert and Joann Blair.

●Sympathy to the family of Louis Nicholson, husband of Ann Nicholson, who passed away on March 18^th. A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 30^th at 7:00 pm here at Peace. 

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tart

 

30 Hour Famine Today

Our Sr. Hi Youth will be fasting for 30 hours straight and participating in a Lock-In at Kinsmen Lutheran Church tonight and tomorrow to raise awareness for World Hunger. Please keep them in your prayers and ask them to tell their stories on Sunday morning! It’s not too late to give money to help fight World Hunger. Thank you for all your support!

 

HOLY WEEK HELP

With our Holy Week services soon upon us we are in desperate need of people to help as readers, ushers, crucifers and acolytes. Please stop by the sign up in the narthex to participate.

 

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY UPDATE

We are in the process of updating our membership information and would like your help. Please stop by the table in the narthex and check to make sure that your family information is correct. If you have moved or changed your phone number you can also call Lin Peterson.

 

EASTER LILIES

If you would like to donate a lily to be used for our Easter services, please be sure to write your name on the sign-up sheet in the narthex. Lilies should be brought to the church during Holy Week, and can be taken home following the 11:00 worship service on Easter Sunday.

 

CHORAL LENTEN CANTATA

Our Peace Lutheran Sanctuary Choir is combining with the choir of La Porte United Methodist to present a Lenten Cantata at both churches. We will be singing the Passion portion of Handel’s “Messiah” with organ, string quartet and soloists from our choirs. On Palm Sunday evening, April 5^th, we will present the cantata at First United Methodist of La Porte (time to be determined). On Good Friday, April 10^th, we will present the cantata at Peace Lutheran as part of our Tenebrae service at 7:00 p.m. Mark your calendar now to experience this moving music and worship during Holy Week.

 

50+ BUS TRIP

On April 2^nd, we're going to Old Town Spring for a day of shopping and fun.  Bus will leave Peace parking lot at 9:00 a.m.  Call Sharon, 281-489-9790, or Virginia, 281-487-4961 if you would like to go on this trip.

 

THE PRAYER GROUP IS NOW ACCEPTING CROSSES

These crosses will be used to adorn the walls of our chapel. Crosses may be given in memory of a special someone. They may be given because they have a special story. They may be given because they are different, interesting, or unique. Crosses can be made from all kinds of materials, shapes and sizes. Please write a brief history, story or special meaning about the crosses and place them on the altar in the chapel. If you have questions please contact Ruth Petty or Carolyn Calley.