NEWSLETTER August 2017
Peace Talk
House of Prayer on Parker and Main
From the Pastor’s Heart (a recap on the Summer Challenge) SUMMER CHURCH VISITATION CHALLENGE! While traveling in the summer and away from Scranton, the worship of God should not feel impossible! I can assure you that WHEREVER you go in this country there really IS a church near to you, that would be glad to welcome you into God’s house to sing and pray and hear God’s Word with them. This is the fun challenge for us all this summer: visit as many churches as we can when we are away from Peace and report back to us! •
Take a picture (or two or three) of the church.
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Take a mental note of what it felt like to come into a church as a visitor. How did you feel? How were you welcomed?
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Take note of the worship service. How was it the same as, or different from, our worship at Peace? Most importantly, note if Jesus Christ crucified for sinners was a focus.
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Consider: “How did I grow in faith?” through this experience.
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Finally, was there something in the church that you felt we could learn from at Peace?
After your experience, post your pictures and any reflections you want to share on our “God’s Peace at Parker and Main” Facebook page. We will put a big map of the country on our church bulletin board noting all the churches our members have visited, and maybe we can give away a few Peace t-shirts to the folks with the best entries!
_______________________________________ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8
PLEASE NOTE: Although you might attempt to look for the nearest Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation and be happy to attend Holy Communion with them, if there is not one nearby, it is GOOD to attend OTHER churches as well! Feel free to call up me up afterwards with any questions about the theology and practice of that church denomination! May God bless our worship visitations!
Your servant in Jesus, Pastor Bjornstad
Dance Lessons this Fall In preparation for the Walther League Dance on Sunday, October 8th, Ramona Brown will be leading dance lessons to get us ready to strut our stuff. For 6 weeks beginning September 1st from 7:00-8:00pm she will be teaching line dance lessons in the fellowship hall of the Lutheran Ministry Center. Join us every Friday evening from Sept 1-October 6th for family-friendly fun. A small donation to the 100th Anniversary fund is requested for the lessons. More information coming soon. . . .
Pastor and Monica attended worship July 23 at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University in Indiana.
The Immanuel Preschool and The Lutheran Academy! Working in partnership with God's people to raise up a new generation of faithful Christian men and women!
ACADEMY MUSIC UPDATE A Grant Application has been made to make the Academy an even more unique and attractive school for students to thrive and grow! Right now we are asking for prayers as we go through this process. With recent donations to the school, and a successful rummage sale, we are on track to begin rennovations to create a music studio/room in the lower level room currently known as “the lounge”. If you are interested in helping finanically in any way with the room renovation, or with manual labor when the time comes, it would be greatly appreciated. This rennovation will not only improve the music program at the Academy it will also help launch the new School of Fine Arts, kind of like a “school within a school”. The School of Fine Arts will be offering an enhanced musical education to Academy students (as always) - AND opening up music instruction to area homeschool families and the general public. Please pray for all this to be blessed by God in HIS own way! We are still working out the details to begin the School of Fine Arts piece as we hit the ground at the end of August for a new school year. We envision the Academy to be a glorious hub of all things FINE ARTS!
New look to the Academy website. Visit anytime at www.thelutheranacademyscranton.org
First Friday Scranton On Friday, July 7th, eight of our Academy students participated in the Frist Friday experience in downtown Scranton. From 6:00-8:30pm these students, along with Pastor Bjornstad on guitar, presented a selection of folk and christian songs. Grace played violin, Trent took a turn on guitar, Lara, Lilly and Alfred played the recorder, while Nora, Nathan and Malia sang.
A young boy and his family stopped to enjoy the music.
The passing crowds thoroughly enjoyed the music and many stopped and listened and gave postive feedback. While the students played and sang, Miss L and the parents on hand distibuted school brochures and information on the Academy July 18th Open House. Their spot on the First Friday map was located outside Buona Pizza, 504 Lackawanna Ave. Special thank you to those members of the congregation who stopped by to offer support to the students. This was such a fun experience they may do it again this fall.
Wednesday, August 30th Please pray for the students and staff as we approach the exciting first day of the 2017-18 school year.
Thank you to those who continue to support our school financially and in prayer. Please help us spread the word about the Academy to all you know who might be looking for an alternative to public school. They can call anytime to schedule a tour of the school and to meet with our principal.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION Supporting The Lutheran Academy can be as simple as saving Box Tops for Education. Box Tops are found on almost 200+ items. Each Box Top when turned in earns the Academy 10 cents. These Box Tops can really add up. A collection box is located in the back of the church. Please save your Box Tops. Spread the word and turn them in!
Pray without ceasing - 1 Thes. 5:17 Remember to ask: "How can I pray for you?"
CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES: + SPECIAL PRAYERS For Frank Schulze. Frank remains in prison with no scheduled trial date. For Connie Perry and her strength as she is battling cancer. For Brooke Cherney who PASSED her state liscensing exam in July and has begun a stylist position at LWR Hair Expressions. For safe travels for Carsten Bjornstad and Pastor Bjornstad who are traveling to Norway July 24th through Aug 10th. For safe travels and relaxation for Monica and Sarah Bjornstad who will be in Minnesota on vacation. + BEING SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY Take a moment to “like” and “share” the church Facebook posts. Please ALSO once in a while "check in" to church... Just like you "check in" to a restaurant... This is an exercise in not being ashamed of our Lord Jesus Christ. + While Pastor is away, July 20-Aug 16, please refrain from calling his cell phone. Please call the church office at 570-703-0607 for all pastoral or general church needs. Amy will be sure to coordinate.
WEDDING What a blessing to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Richard and Paulette Frederickson, who were married here at Peace in 1967. They renewed their wedding vows on Saturday July 15th at Peace.
On July 10-14 over 30 area children (and a handful of pre-teen/teen volunteers) attended VBS at the Lutheran Ministry Center. The sessions ran from 5:30-8:15pm and included LOTS of music, bible stories, crafts, games and snacks. Thank you to Michelle Cherney for serving as director and for ALL the amazing helpers that made the event a huge success. A LOOK AHEAD . . . September 17th Sunday School Picnic following the 10:30 am worship service (location to be announced soon) ATTENTION MARRIED COUPLES: Sign up has begun for the Fall Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend. The September Weekend (September 15-17 Weekend at Spruce Lake Retreat Center in the Poconos) has only a very few openings remaining. The October 6-8 Weekend is to be held at a beautiful location in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains overlooking a lake--the Black Swan Inn in Lee, Massachusetts- has a few more openings.
+ RUMMAGE SALE THANK YOU Thank you to all who helped set up and run the rummage sale on Saturday, July 22nd. To date $440 was raised and we have 2 large items still to sell. Proceeds will help pay for the music room rennovation at The Lutheran Academy.
EMAIL UPDATE yourpeace@verizon.net has been phased out.To reach Pastor please us the email: pastor@yourpeace.org Church website: www.yourpeace.org
Vacation Bible School - MIGHTY FORTRESS
Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all supplies are included with your $100 per couple registration fee, plus toward the end of the weekend you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward the continuation of the program. Sign up today by going to the website: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and paying the registration fee with your credit card, or marking the option to mail a check. For questions, or if you would like a brochure with registration form mailed to you, contact Northeast US Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at: fjschamber@comcast.net or 724-325-3166.
email: pastor@yourpeace.org, amybetts@yourpeace.org
LMC: 570-703-0607
WORSHIP LIFE AT PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH: SUMMER WORSHIP HOURS We have ONE Sunday Morning Worship Service at 9:30am
SPONSORING FLOWERS If you would like to sponsor the flowers for a particular Sunday, please note that it is the sponsor’s responsibility to provide/order the flowers. Please sign up on the calandar at the back of the church to indicate your sponsorship! To order from McCarthy’s Flowers, please call: 570-507-9441 or 570-343-1179 and ask to speak with Carol. Or you can stop by the 1001 N. Main Ave, Scranton store and order from there!
Disaster Relief Volunteer Training
Trumpet Player John Maurer will perform a concert at the Lutheran Ministry Center on Saturday Sept 9th at 7pm. Mr Maurer is a trumpet artist and music educator. He will spend some time with our Academy students on Friday and will be hosting a concert open to the public.
The next Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) training will be a one day, six hour training class and will equip volunteers to help out in For more information on the artist visit disasters such as those on the shores of New Jersey and earlier last year www.trumpetjm.com in Baton Rogue, Louisiana. It will be run by our very own Pastor Kristian Bjornstad, Eastern District Disaster Relief Coordinator. Attendees will receive an LCMS Disaster Relief wallet card that will allow them to participate in relief efforts with our Eastern District Disaster Relief Teams. Date: October 7, 2017 Time: 9:30 AM Location: Grace Lutheran Church Peace Anniversary T-Shirts Available 736 Cayuga Drive, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Current price only $10 for adult sizes and $8 for youth sizes and come in four colors: light grey, dark The cost is $20.00 per person to cover the lunch/other costs. While it may not be till October, review your schedule and if possible, register and grey, black and pink. The hope is with the warm weather you will want to wear one of these great plan to attend. You can call the church office at 570-703-0607 or email anniversary shirts all year long to the various events Pastor at pastor@yourpeace.org for more information or to sign up! and outings being planned.
Founder’s Day Worship Service & Picnic
Sunday July 9th over 75 people joined together in worship at 10am at Ransom Valley Lutheran Church. The service was followed by a picnic and summer time fun. LOTS of food and fellowship, plus the kids enjoyed flying kites and blowing bubbles, catching bugs and it was topped off with a short hike and an exploration of the old cemetary. Around 24 members of the Nepali congregation that meets at the Lutheran Ministry Center each Sunday afternoon joined in on the worship and food and fellowship. The worship and picnic was such a lovely time it is recommended we schedule it annually each summer. Thank you to all who came, and brought food, and helped clean up at the end.