NEWSLETTER December 2018
Peace Talk
House of Prayer on Parker and Main
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30 “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Matthew 1:20
From the Deacon’s Desk Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God, Our Father and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. We look forward to Christmas with a great amount of anticipation. For
centuries, the prayer of every young Jewish girl was that she would bear the Messiah, the anointed one, the one that would save His people. This is the greatest news and honor any couple could ever have received! It may come as a surprise to us then to imagine that both Mary and Joseph had fears that needed to be calmed. An angelic messenger was certainly enough to startle and cause fear. The idea that your future wife may have been unfaithful or that following through with the marriage to a pregnant woman would cause a loss of reputation and respect in town would cause anxiety as well. I’m sure they didn’t expect that the child would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and not flesh and blood. Both of them in faith accepted the responsibility God had bestowed upon them. God calls on us as well, though usually it isn’t announced by an angelic messenger, to a special purpose in His kingdom. That purpose can be filled with apprehension and anxiety as well. However, God’s words to us are the same “Do not be afraid.” As we look at Mary and Joseph, we can see that God had everything planned. Though Mary and Joseph did not feel prepared, and weren’t for some of the things to come, God equipped and provided them with everything they would need as they took care of the child named Jesus. We receive many good gifts from God! On Christmas God’s greatest gift, His Son, is given to us. As we prepare for Christ’s second coming with anticipation, may He bless you this Christmas and all the year in the memory of His first coming. We also pray that He would inspire all of us to use our gifts to the fullest extent possible. That as we share our God given gifts with each other, every heart around us may be warmed and every life edified to the glory of God! Merry Christmas everyone!! SDG, Deacon John
If you find yourself unable to attend worship on Sunday, head over to Facebook and during the readings and sermon portion of the service we will go LIVE on “God’s Peace at Parker and Main”Facebook page. Now you can stay connected to God’s word and and Pastor message each and every Sunday. Past Sundays are available now on the “Video” section of the page.
News of The Lutheran Academy! Working in partnership with God's people to raise up a new generation of faithful Christian men and women!
Thank you to all who supported the academy this past month through the Pasta Dinner and Dunmore Candy Kitchen fundraisers. We are pleased to report the Pasta Dinner raised $785 and $225 was profit from the Dunmore Candy Kitchen fundraiser. Every little bit helps and we hope you found these both very “tasty” ways to support christian education in our area.
The students and staff are now well into the second quarter and getting into the routine of classroom life. We are grateful for the returning students and for new families this year. Please continue to pray daily for the spiritual lives of our students and staff. We can see God’s hand at work DAILY in and out of the classroom. There are two beautiful opportunities to spend time with our Academy families this month. The first is on Wed, December 12th at the Festival of Lessons and Carols, an advent service held up at Immanuel. The second is a day time event known as Christmas Tea at the Academy. Details are below on both events and we at the school hope you will be able to attend one or both and be blessed this holiday season. We are still looking for a volunteer to come spend an hour or two on Fridays assisting Ms McGuire in the 1st-3rd grade room. Please share with those you know. Finally, we thank Peace for faithfully giving to the school via a subsidy as outlined in the annual budget. Come any time and see the fruits of your giving to this important mission field just 1 mile away at The Lutheran Academy.
Students, parents, and staff on the recent educational field trip to Moka Origins in Honesdale. There they leared about the agricultural process to grow and harvest coffee and cacao beans in Cameroon, and then how they at Moka Origins process them into roasted coffee and silky smooth chocolate bars. For more information, visit their website at www.mokaorigins.com
Festival of Lessons and Carols Wed. December 12th Immanuel Lutheran Church (238 Reese St. Scranton 18509) Service begins at 7:00pm Please plan to attend this beautiful midweek worship service. Pastor Zimmerman will be reading the eight lessons and there will be hymns to complement each reading sung by the Academy students and/or the congregation. BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION Thank you for your support via the Box Top program. Each Box Top when turned in earns the Academy 10 cents. The fall collection earned the school over $66. We will continue to collect all year, and submit the second round in May. The collection box is located in the back of the church. Please save your Box Tops for the Academy and turn them in to the box regularly. Thank you.
Visit and share the Academy website at anytime at www.thelutheranacademyscranton.org
Pray without ceasing - 1 Thes. 5:17 Remember to ask: "How can I pray for you?"
CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES: + SPECIAL PRAYERS For Deacon John Babbitts as he awaits the confirmation of his interview results and status on ordination. For Grace Morris as she recovers from an intestinal blockage. For Frank Schulze as he serves the final year of his prison sentence. We pray for him and his family as they eagerly await his return home. For Beverly Gedrimas as she continues chemotherapy to treat her cancer. For Bonnie Cornog as she continues her recovery process. + THRIVENT CHOICE POINTS If you are a Thrivent member, you really CAN make a big difference to the Academy by directing your choice points to Peace Lutheran Church. If you don’t have a computer you can simply CALL Thrivent and they will help direct your “choice points” to Peace Lutheran Church.
Know someone who can’t make Sunday morning worship because of work, sports, or even just not a morning person? Maybe that someone is you. Please tell them to join us or join us yourself on Saturday’s at 5 p.m. These Saturday services will incude Communion. Following the service is an optional a time of food and fellowship. If you plan on staying after service, please consider bringing something to share. See you there!
New Member classes are beginning soon. Be watching
+ CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
bulletin, Facebook, and email blasts for details.
The youth will be practicing the readings and songs for the Christmas program during Sunday School hour on Dec 2nd and 9th. Parents please do what you can to get your child to church for 9:30 those Sundays. The program will occur at the 10:30 worship service on Sunday, December 16th.
Looking Ahead . . .
+ POINSETTA SPONSORSHIP
Sunday, December 16th
Order forms are in the bulletin over the next couple weeks, as well as at the back of church. If you would like to sponsor a poinsetta in honor or memory of someone, please fill out the form and place it in the box at the back and $8 in the offering plate. If you have any questions or want to call in your information, please call Amy in the office at 570-703-0607.
Wed, December 12th
Mon, December 17th Monday, December 24th
Tuesday, December 25th Have a special prayer need? How about a praise? Please share with Amy in the office so it can be included in the bulletin on Sundays.
Bjornstad’s Minnesota Address: 120 Palmer Path Mankato, MN 56001
Festival of Lessons and Carols 7pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church Christmas program during the 10:30am Worship Service Christmas Tea at The Lutheran Academy 1:00-2:30pm Christmas Eve Services 5:30pm Family Service 8:00pm Tenebrae Service Christmas Morning Worship at Immanuel Lutheran at 10:15am
2019 is right around the corner!! Please mark these dates on your calendar for next year. March 17 Prayer Vigil - plan to sign-up for some time to pray!! October 5 Blessing of the Animals - Plan to bring your pet! October 26 Block Party - come meet the neighbors!
To reach Deacon Babbitts: 570-409-6323 or deacon.babbitts@yourpeace.org Remember you can call the church office to speak with Amy for many of your questions or to RSVP to events, and to pass along needs or requests to either a local Pastor or Deacon Babbitts. Church website: www.yourpeace.org
Office email: amybetts@yourpeace.org
Phone: 570-703-0607
The Gathering Hall
at the Lutheran Ministry Center is available for rent various times each month. Rental agreements are available at the back of the church and at the Lutheran Ministry Center. Talk to Amy Betts if you have any questions or would like to reserve the space.
We are still hoping to begin a Women’s Bible study. Would you be willing to lead one during the day on a weekday? Or would you be willing to co-lead one? We are looking to get a study for the women of Peace the mothers of our academy children and the friends of both together each week. If you’re interested please see Amy Betts or Deacon John.
Most of us have people in our past, that we remember fondly. That adult who was a mentor for us. Who took the extra time to see the diamond in the rough and do their part to polish us. The children of today need those people too. We look at the headlines and the talking heads on the news and shake our heads at what’s happening to our society. If we are content to shake our heads I’m sure the situation will continue to get worse and give us even more opportunities to talk about how much better the world was when we were growing up. The other alternative is to share our knowledge, stories and interests with children. Just an hour of your time will make a huge difference. If you can spare some time to help tutor a student, to assist the academy in the classroom, to teach children how to throw, golf, hit a baseball, or maybe toss a horseshoe. Maybe you have a favorite board or card game you could teach. Already I have so many requests from those who would love to have activities like this available to children it is almost difficult to know where to start. However, it has to start with you. If you can spare any time at all please contact Jan Wells, Amy Betts, or Deacon John and may God bless your day
Thank you to those who attended the TGI Fridays or Panera Bread fundraisers this past month. We are slowly but surely raising funds to help four youth and two chaperones attend the National Youth Gathering coming up in July 2019.
Are you a Computer Wizard or willing to learn how to be one? Peace needs your help!! We need someone who would be willing to spend an hour or two a week upda=ng our website. If you would be willing to help us with this please let Amy BeBs or Deacon John know! We can’t wait to see you work your magic!!
Do you have a great aBen=on to detail? Or are you an OCD person? If you are you are the perfect person to help with altar guild! Right now we have one ac=ve altar guild person. Especially with the addi=on of a Saturday evening service it would be nice to have several women (no age requirement) trained and ac=ve. If you would be willing to learn the proper way to set up the altar and prepare the elements for service please see Deacon John, Amy BeBs, or Judy Evans.
Merry
Midweek Church Family Devotions at Immanuel Lutheran Church Come and join your fellow brothers and sisters in Christmas Christ for a time of prayer and meditation at Immanuel (238 Reese St, Scranton). Devotions will be led by Pastor Zimmerman weekly on Wednesdays at noon and 7:00 p.m. The Sacrament will be available for those who desire it afterwards.