Peace Talk April 2012

April 2012

Peace Talk

Peace Lutheran Church

570-343-9828

www.yourpeace.org

The Power of Holy Week

The Re-enactment of the Crucifixion scheduled Last year actors and participants re-enacted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the front lawn of the church. It was a very powerful experience and we hope to keep this observance as a beautiful testimony to our Lord that is very devotional, meaningful - and very public as well.

We invite you and the whole community to this holy observance. It begins at 11:30am Good Friday on the front lawn and ends in the sanctuary. Call Pastor or Beverly Gedrimas if you would like to play a specific part!

Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection.

Let him say not merely, "Christ is risen," but "I shall rise." ~Phillips Brooks

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE: + Palm Sunday: 8:15 Worship 9:15 Palm Sunday Brunch 10:30 Worship + Good Friday: 11:30am Re-Enactment of the Cruicfixion 7pm Tenebrae Worship + Holy Saturday: 5:30pm Seder Meal at Immanuel Lutheran with a special presentation by Jews for Jesus. Please let Pastor Bjornstad know you are coming.

Bring a dish to pass (Jewish if possible!) + Easter Sunday: (NO 8:15 worship or S. Sch) 10:30 Celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord!

Yes! This is the day of Salvation! Let every Christian rise and worship the Lord! It is upon this work of the Lord that any of us live! Praise the Lord!

An Ap o s t ol ic Mis sion Co ngregation of Th e Lutheran Ch urch Mi s souri Sy n od

Praise God for the blessings of March!

Youth Activity Nights every Friday have been a LOT of fun for neighborhood and church kids!

Once again we didn't win a St. Patrick's Day parade prize, but we DID have a great float and it was fun for all who helped make and man it! Once again we were the only float with a Christian message!

FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL "MODERN DAY" CHURCH CLEANUP DAY! We had a great day!

The church van was used for a mission trip to Philadelphia March 24 where we met with and walked a bit in the way of the homeless! Above was our host Pastor Gale, who will be our Mission speaker at the mission festival coming April 29th!

On the left Mark Koenig and Jim Calpin are taking apart the old pipe organ blower in the basement. TOUGH job! It is difficult to see, but the picture on the right is of the top of the balcony stairs where the vestiges of the old pipe organ was taken down and the new organ speakers were put in their new places. They should sound much better now, although there is still work to do on new shelving.

PEACE NEWS AND NOTES CARSTEN BJORNSTAD NEWS:

was getting to know the family. The father, Juan, is the associate director of the World Mission Prayer League's Latin American Mission and an extraordinarily caring and gifted pastor, husband, and father. His wife, Ann, is his loving support, a gifted homemaker, and mother. The children are intelligent, curious, talented, and devoted to one another. It is a family living in the knowledge that God cares for them and will provide for their needs. What more could a retired teacher want? I had good conversation, love all around me, laughter, and dedication to the mission of God - all in one family.

The second blessing was getting to know something of the "Church" in Bolivia - the people of God in this place. Through conversation and participation in worship and Bible study, I came to learn something of its history, its problems, its vision, and its energy. I came to know these things through individuals and experiences, not through books. Because of them, my world has expanded, and my understanding of the Good News in Christ has been heightened.

The third of the blessings was getting to know my own needs. My walks alone in the city were instrumental in this. I loved those walks. They were time alone with God in the midst of people, a time to breathe deeply, a time to feel freedom, a time to be part of the world and yet apart. I walked at least two hours every day. Sometimes I stopped to feed the birds or enjoy a good cup of coffee.

God's world its many forms,and its mysteries are precious to me. I need them.

Could I encourage you, if you are able, to consider short-term volunteer work for yourself? Check out WMPL's website, become a part of God's mission in the world.

There is a place for you. Problems? Of course. Language will be one of them, but you'll learn to take the difficulties in stride. If you can't do work, consider becoming a praying partner in the mission and contributing to the work of others. Prayer is the key in WMPL's ministry. Thank you for your prayers for me. May God bless you.

Dear friends and family, By the time you read this, I may very well have returned to the States. No problem. I just want you to know that my work as a short-term volunteer in Bolivia with the World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) was a great blessing to me and seems to have been appreciated by those I served. I praise God for his loving care, my continued good health, the good work, and the growth I've enjoyed both spiritually and intellectually during these last three months. I'm still very much excited about God's work here in Bolivia and thankful for the privilege I've enjoyed of observing it and supporting it in a small way.

My support was as a tutor to the children of a missionary couple, Juan and Ann Fernandez. They needed the help in order to free themselves for Christ's work outside the home. Their situation was difficult. The English-medium private school in the area was too expensive to consider. Local public schools were unattractive for a number of reasons, and the computer-based homeschool curriculum they were using was becoming more of a burden than a joy. The two boys - Jordan and Joshua, ages 14 and 10 - needed new challenges and experiences.

The daughter, GatIf you're old like me, you'll remember the TV hero, Paladin, and the theme song "Have Gun, Will Travel."

Well, for me, it was "Have books, will travel." With two suitcases of books and lots of memories, I taught the boys world geography, US history, creative writing, study skills, physical fitness, music and art.

Our time in science and math was, unfortunately, minimal. In the end, they showed their parents how much they had learned by giving demonstrations, readings, and a concert. At the end, as well, I like to think that they knew something more about the purposes of learning and what it meant to be a "world citizen" and a Christian. On the fun side, my hours spent drawing pictures with Gabriela were especially precious to me. Ann handled almost all of her other needs using the "Hooked on Phonics" books Your friend, Carsten I had brought and math books she already (Carsten is Pastor Bjornstad's father) had.. The first of the blessings I enjoyed

UPCOMING EVENTS: Remember that there is a calendar on line at our church website that is usually up to date!

April 4, 7pm Choir Practice April 14, 6pm Marriage Invitational! All married couples are invited to join us!

April 22, 3pm "Gifts Shared" Bjornstad family concert April 28, 9am Men's Breakfast at Panera Bread, Dickson City.

April 29, 3-7pm Mission Festival!

St. Stephen's Lutheran, Dickson City! Be there!

May 5th, 9:30am LWML Spring Rally at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Wilkes Barre.

Special guest speaker and author!

May 11-13 Youth Weekend at Camp Pioneer!

May 19 Chili Cook Off! OTHER NOTES: PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Grace Morris recovering from foot surgery; Judy and Mark Herie, Liesl Fields, Michele Wilson, Lillian Wheeler, Anita Holzman WE PRAISE GOD that He has provided Meredith Woolverton a new job! But unfortunately for us it is in Harrisburg and Kevin and Meredith will be moving there sometime next month. They still plan on being around as much as they can as they visit their children and grandchildren (and us!) here in Scranton!

SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO CHOOSE WHAT YOU CAN ATTEND. There are so many things happen that are wonderful in the church. No one expects that any individual can support and attend all the events of the church. But make SURE that you don't find that weeks go by without experiencing the good friends and support of God outside of regular worship. We need to support each other as the Body of Christ!

Inside of a new Academy/Preschool brochure.... coming soon in color! Spread the word!