NEWSLETTER October, 2014
Peace Talk
House of Prayer on Parker and Main (Left) A beautiful picture of the 1923 Confirmation Class of Peace Lutheran Church was recently recovered from the home of the late Elwood Korban. Pastor Camin had been the pastor for two years and Katherine Korban (sitting next to Pastor on the left?) was confirmed with Albert Erkow, Edward Eidinger, Vesta Klees, Elizabethe Kline, Esther Steckiel, and Anna Morritz. It is such an encouragement to know that our faith is not ours alone, but a faith that has been passed on through the generations. We praise the Lord for the faithful confession of those before and we pray for our current generation, that it too may be faithful in our witness and life.
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The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. - Psa. 111:7 WHO SAID MIRACLES DON’T HAPPEN? This week I witnessed several moments which can be understood as nothing less than miracles of faithfulness! I am encouraged mightily in the Lord. I hope you are too. This is only the TIP of the iceberg: Today: The doorbell rings and the person at the door hands me a hundred dollar bill and says “Pastor, I need to make a difference today and give something back. I want the first 10 people who come through the door at the Pot Roast Dinner have their dinners paid for.” The day before: “Pastor, I can’t work a real job right now for a lot of reasons, but I need you to put me to work. Can I help with Youth Night?”
The day before that: “Pastor, I heard that there is someone who is in desperate need of help with their rent. How much do they need? I have been blessed and I want to share the blessing.” I say: “They owe $1400 in rent.” “OK, I will come by with a check. If you ever need anything, Pastor, know that I am ready to help!” The day before that the door bell rings: “Hey Pastor, just letting you know that Jim came by the house yesterday and we worked out all the details of the Pot Roast Dinner. Everything is set!” Last Sunday I put a note in the bulletin that the Academy was stuck with a huge $3000 bill that was putting us in a bit of a difficult situation. At the end of the service a dear member let me know that it was going to be paid. They were just a bit upset because it was going to take a few days.
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What the Lord does continually in our congregation is so incredible. So many of us are discovering that it IS so blessed to give! Are you blessed with time? Are you blessed with talent? Are you blessed with treasure? Yes, Yes, and Yes is the answer. Every one of us. And every one of us is called to love our God and our neighbor with what He gives us - not just at “church”, but in every aspect of our lives. As we put on the nature and mind of Christ these things become more and more our nature. We are glad to do these works of love because of all that Christ has done for us. Praise the Lord! Are you still struggling with counting and keeping close what you think is “yours”? Join the party of loving, living, and giving… nothing is ever ours anyway! In Jesus, Pastor Bjornstad
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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!
CONGRATULATIONS TO TLA FIFTH GRADER NORA BETTS! Her entry into the Lackawanna anti-drug calendar/poster contest last spring was given “honorable mention” and was displayed on a Main Avenue bill board in September! We would encourage all our parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drugs. From a Christian perspective we avoid the use of drugs because they do harm to our bodies (against the 5th commandment not to murder or hurt our bodies), and because drugs can become like a “god” to us, where all our actions and cares are directed toward supplying the next necessary dose, instead of toward doing the true will of God.
TRIBUTE TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! It is important for families and students to give thanks to God for the many people who contribute to the work of the Academy throughout the year. To the right is a picture of only one of them, our faithful Bonnie Cornog, office assistant and treasurer. Every week she comes into the school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings - and then often takes work home with her! Also coming in every week to help teach (sometimes more than once) are Sharyn Martucci, Mrs. L (Ms. L’s mother!), Kathy Villella, and Jane Borchin. God is good! It is important to remember that we have a volunteer board of directors that are made up of church members from both Peace and Immanuel Lutheran Churches: Roger Borchin, Jane Johnson, Lisa Hoffman, Susan Crosbie, Pastor Bjornstad, Sharyn Martucci, and finally we hope that Amy Betts will be replacing Monica Bjornstad (who has served from the beginning of our school.) Of course this listing does not include all the more casual volunteers and parents who help out with many of our events and field trips, etc. When you have a chance, please say thank you to these most blessed individuals! We always need encouragement in the Lord! And most of all, please pray for all our staff, students, and families! To God be all the glory! DID YOU KNOW? + The tuition for a year of education is: $2500 (less than $14/day/child). + We have 13 students this year, each one is a gift from God! + Our family of students ranges from 1st to 6th grade! + This is our 8th Academic Year! + We practice and teach Virtue and Godliness and Forgiveness. + We pray and read the Bible. + Before and after school care is available. + We work very closely with the Immanuel Preschool across the street. + Our web page is: www.thelutheranacademyscranton.org + The Academy is SUCH a blessing to the families we serve. + We really do LOVE our students. What else do you have to know to love and pray for our school?
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.
- C.S. Lewis
church website: www.yourpeace.org.... email: yourpeace@verizon.net
Pray without ceasing - 1 Thes. 5:17 Remember to ask: "How can I pray for you?"
HAPPY NEWS AND NOTES: + SUSAN CROSBIE is praising the Lord that in the last couple of weeks her late mother’s house has sold, her house in New Jersey sold, she bought a house in Moscow right near her sister’s house, and she quit her job in New Jersey and is now looking for a job here in Scranton. After MANY years nursing she is looking for something different, even something like flipping hamburgers. :) All this happens on top of a most BLESSED week-long medical mission to a remote Navajo community in Arizona! She would love to have your prayers as she settles down into a new life! + MIKE EVANS HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH A NEW, EXCITING JOB!: October 18th he reports to duty as a youth director on a Carnival Cruise Ship! Wow! We pray that God blesses him and he has a great report to share when he comes back in the spring! + ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES continue every Thursday evening - and we have so much fun! If you are available to volunteer please let Pastor know! The friendships with the Nepali Community are so precious! + CHOIR IS SSSLLLOOWW to start up!!! We tried Tuesday evening practices but that wasn’t working for people, so we are trying after church on Sundays! Check the calendar for days we practice and JOIN US! :) + HANNAH WRITES: Dear Family of Peace Lutheran church, I am past my month marker away from home and in the full swing of things at Concordia. My time here is spent between daily chapel hours, the Honours program, music theory, organ and piano lessons, and the study of the Old Testament. As you can probably guess from my schedule I am very busy and having the time of my life! I love it here at Concordia and cannot thank all of you enough for helping me on my way here! With All of God's Love, Hannah Bjornstad. + Our member Brenda Colbert is an Elder Law lawyer! If you ever need the services of a laywer, especially when it comes to wills and estates and caring for your loved ones, please give her a call at 570-299-7909!
PLEASE PRAY FOR: + Betty Rohmann as she struggles with health issues. + Mark Koenig as he undergoes surgery on his foot later this month. + Edith Korban as she moves to the Tunkhannock Manor Assisted Living and adjusts to her new life there! + For Immanuel Lutheran Church (without a pastor) + For Pastor Vomhof of St. Stephens Lutheran Church FRIDAY NIGHT YOUTH GROUP: Let us pray for our youth and the efforts to bless them on Friday nights. This last month we have visited the elderly in the neighborhood and blessed them with songs and happy smiles, baked brownies for the Pot Roast dinner, taken a nature walk by the river, and learned how to make paper airplanes! We DO miss Hannah and her choir direction, but we are looking forward to the day we can have a BELL CHOIR! Don’t miss it! 6:30 - 8pm every Friday! FABULOUS POT ROAST DINNER! 105 meals were served October 4th and Jim Calpin did an AWESOME job cooking again (started at 7am and worked almost 12 hours. Lots of help made it all very fun! We had to shut the doors at 5:30 because we ran out of food! The craft and white elephant tables made over $170 and altogether we netted over $1000 - and we hope to share the proceeds with those in need in our congregation! What a labor of LOVE! CONFIRMATION CLASS has started up and we have five students: Joel Kriger, Kerilyn and Kristian Pon, Andrew Harsche and Kobe Sauter. They all truly love the Lord and really enjoy being with each other. (and of course Pastor Bjornstad is their favorite pastor!) Do you know of someone who should be in Confirmation Class (even not a member of the congregation?) Invite them!!! Please pray for all our young men and women of God! THEY ARE PLANNING TO GO TO CAMP PIONEER this coming October 17 for the weekend! We are looking for another volunteer driver! If you can help please let Pastor know!
+ NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY NEEDS TO COME OUT! If you have moved and neither Elsie Schweitzer or Pastor Bjornstad has your correct address, please email Pastor at yourpeace@verizon.net. Also, Pastor will try to take some pictures for the directory after church, but it sure would help if you can email him a picture YOU have and like. + NEEDED: DRIVERS on Sunday mornings to pick up for Sunday School and Church!!!
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DISASTER CONFERENCE THOUGHTS: Pictured at the right is Bishop Rakotonirina of the Lutheran Church in Madagasgar (large island nation off of Africa). Pastor Bjornstad met him at a Disaster Relief Conference in Fort Wayne, IN this past month and was delighted to get to know him! His nation is very poor in some ways, but rich in others! His Lutheran Church has a membership of 3.5 million people! That is larger than our LCMS (at 2.3 million congregants!)
Pastor didn’t wear any purple to the fabulous LWML Fall Retreat at Camp Pioneer this past month (he won’t EVER forget again!) They women had to buy him LWML socks, which he is proudly showing off here!
Please pray for all our sisters and brothers around the world who stand in need of the mercy of the Lord. There was testimony at this conference about how in many countries around the world the word of the Lord is being spread in the midst of every clamity and trouble!
WORSHIP AT PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH: 8:15 am Worship with Holy Communion every Sunday. (We encourage you to come to this auxiliary service if you are unable to come to the 10:30 worship.) 9:20 Education Hour - for all ages! 10:30 The Main Worship Service with Holy Communion twice a month (usually on the 1st and 3rd Sundays) OCTOBER SERMON FOCUS: THE JOY OF GODLY STEWARDSHIP
Psa. 27:4
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
SUNDAYS are blessed in many ways! Chiefly our Lord is the host at His very own table, and He Himself is our sacramental food - the indwelling of the divine in us! We are gathered at the altar with all the saints in Heaven and have fellowship with each other as dear brothers and sister in the faith. We hear His most blessed voice and heart in the reading of His Word. We pray for each other, rest our souls in our Lord Jesus' mercy and forgiveness, and are strengthened for service in His name. What more could we ask for in life other than to worship the Lord? JOIN US FOR 9:30 BIBLE STUDY: We are still working our way through “The Challenge of Islam” In this video/Bible study, Sam Shamoun, an Arab Christian, presents an eye-opening perspective on Islam. Estimates put Muslims at well over one billion throughout the world, yet their beliefs, religious practices, and social philosophy remain confusing to non-Muslims. Shamoun sheds valuable light on Islam’s historical development and explains in layman’s terms how this faith, born on the Arabian Peninsula 1,400 years ago, is practiced by modern Muslims today. Throughout this study, Shamoun clearly articulates the hope Christians share in the saving grace of Jesus against the works-based futility inherent in Islam’s message. FELLOWSHIP COFFEE HOUR: Our October Coffee Hour is on the 19th! Plan to join us! We still need someone to sponsor this month’s “goodies”! Please volunteer to be our hosts if you have not done so before! HYMN SING and PICK UP CHOIRS: ALSO SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 19TH! Please come for a short “Pick up” choir practice at 10:15 - all ages and skill levels - to learn an easy song! It is for the JOY of the Lord! BIG THANK YOU TO CHAD TYK AND CHUCK MERCER for leading the congregation while Pastor Bjornstad was gone this past month! It was SUCH a blessing to have such leaders in our congregation! NEPA LUTHERAN REFORMATION SERVICE! Our third annual Reformation Service will be October 26th at 7pm! Our Circuit Visitor (used to be called “Circuit Counselor”), Rev. Murray Brindle of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tunkhannock, will be our preacher! We hope to have representatives from many area congregations present with us. Join our special choir! Don’t miss it!