Peace Talk November 2009

Peace Talk - November 2009

Apostolic Mission Congregation of the LCMS www.yourpeace.org Pastor Kristian Bjornstad 2506 N. Main Ave. 343-9828

JUDE vs. 24-25:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART:

Aligning with God’s Will

There really are a lot of problems and questions in the world and our lives today. Big and little, important and inconsequential, they seem to overwhelm us day in and day out.

This self discovery workshop will give you the insight and direction to live your life according to God’s purpose.

• Understand your unique personality and the personalities of others...

Universal health care? What might God have to say about that? How about the fact that a Muslim just massacred 13 soldiers? What would God have to say about that? What would he have us do about relating to Muslims in our own lives?

Unemployment? How about corrupted judges?

How about bad family relationships? How about a polluted environment?

How about my VERY own sin? How about my VERY own sickness or death? I tell you: I just get so very frustrated with the littlest things in life - even more than the bigger things... My desk just overwhelms me. Keeping my schedule for my four kids, the Academy and Church all straight is a major headache.

• Discover 3 distinct learning styles to help you communicate more effectively...

His purpose...

• Learn the specific skills that God created you with, and where they might best be used for

You will learn more about yourself in one day than in your whole lifetime!

But in the end, it all comes into perspective only when I join the heavenly choir. The heavenly choir is always singing around the throne of God. The Peace of God really DOES reign in Jesus our Savior. But I just don’t hear it. I just don’t stop and listen.

Date: Saturday November 14th, 2009

Stop. Listen. Join the song. Bring your thanksgiving to God this day. Know that great “Amen” of God.

Call Mike Mirarchi at 407-3997 to register!

Pastor Bjornstad

Time: 8:30am Registration, 9:00am-4:00pm Cost: Suggested donation of $15

CHRISTMAS BELL AND VOICE CHOIR! Please contact Pastor Bjornstad if you would be excited to serve God by playing the bells and singing!

Isabella Faith Praise God Isabella Faith was born October 13th. Parents Rachelle Evans and Mike Paulucci are eager to share God’s grace with Rachelle in Baptism!

PLEASE PRAY ALSO FOR THOSE FAMILIES “EXPECTING” SMALL BUNDLES OF JOY: Lisa and Bill Hoffman and Mary and Cliff Durkin.

Please pray for Cliff and Mary Durkin, military family In the light of the terrible events at Ft. Hood army base, let us please pray for Cliff Durkin who is presently in Boot Camp, and his wife Mary who is just now learning what it means to be separated from her husband. Mary has their 2 yr. old daughter Abbi and is pregnant with Emma. She is eager to have a beautiful church home for her family. They all need God’s love - and we can share it with them!

You can send a card to Cliff at: SPC Durkin, Clifford P FTC 43rd AG BN 200 Oklahoma Avenue Bldg 2107 Ft Leonard Wood, MO 65473

Attendance at Church has been increasing lately! You too will be blessed to be with the people of God on Sunday Morning! +++++++++++++ SEVEN NEW MEMBERS - TWO BAPTISMS! PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD! On October 25th we gained seven new members here at Peace Lutheran, TWO of them by baptism! Krysten Marie, 15 years old, was baptized at the beginning of the worship in a mostly conventional way, but immediately after the worship the congregation filled the neighbor’s yard as Pastor Bjornstad donned his waders and Chris braved the 57 degree pool water to be baptized immersion style!

There are pictures of this event, however we have yet to obtain them!

Hopefully soon!

PLEASE WELCOME INTO OUR CONGREGATION: Baptized: Christopher Robert and Krystin Marie Received by Affirmation of Faith: Mark Koenig, Laura Robold, Catherine Phillips, Delores Lee, Lisa Hoffman

+++++++++++++++++++++++ PLAN AHEAD to go with Pastor down to the March for Life in Washington DC January 22nd!

ELECTION OF A NEW CHURCH COUNCIL: On November 1st the congregation met after worship and elected much the same council as has been serving, with two important changes. We are very excited that beginning in January our new president will be George Price and our new Financial Secretary will be Eileen Duffy!

Thanks be to God we have such a beautiful team of servants for Jesus’ sake! We need to pray for them and support them in every way!

The other members of the church council that were elected: Vice President: Charles Mercer; Treasurer: Debbie Price; Elders: Rick Hellard, Kevin Woolverton and Chad Tyk; Secretary: Adella Decker; Trustees: Elsie Schweitzer, Jim Calpin, Meredith Woolverton. +++++++++++++++++++++

The local Thrivent Chapter COOK BOOK is available for $12! All proceeds go to buy Christmas presents for the kids at Friendship House! +++++++++++++ Peace Lutheran Christmas Cards available at 2/$1. All proceeds go to The Lutheran Academy

A NEW DAY OF MISSIONS AT PEACE! At our October ’09 Congregational Voter’s meeting God led the congregation in a new and exciting way! After considering our present financial situation, it was decided that God’s will is not Peace should not use the resources that have been given us. Besides gifts to The Lutheran Academy, the major initiative was to become a financial supporter of our Synodical Ablaze! mission movement through the funding effort called “Fan the Flame”. The church committed to supporting “Ablaze” with gifts of $5000/yr for five years! How might we ever afford such an amount, you might ask? The Lord blesses those who step out in faith with great joy! In the month of October we had two Sundays with offerings over $4000! This congregation has been blessed so richly. And YOU are willing to share those blessings.

God’s miracles happen day in and day out! Stay tuned for more information as we delve more and more into the Ablaze! mission movement. You can find more information about Ablaze at www.LCMS.org!

MISSION NEWS/PRAYERS! PLEASE PRAY FOR CARSTEN BJORNSTAD (Pastor’s father), short term missionary in Macau, China.

Dear friends, It's my last week here. As you might be able to guess, I'm leaving something of my heart here. It's going to be hard to say goodbye. I've learned so many things.

I've learned, for example, how much God in Christ still keeps me close (Isaiah 40:11). Here in Macau, he introduced me to wonderful people and a rich culture in transition. He provided me with supportive colleagues, enthusiastic students, and interesting challenges of many kinds. He led me into new understandings of myself. He listened to my often unspoken needs and guided me in my decisions.

By his grace, He made me instrument here as well. I shared my faith in ways that surprised me at times. As the leader of a "mixer," for example, I shared an understanding of God's action in history in song. The Gospel as such takes my breath away. Church doctrine and practice has excited me as well. What is baptism, for example? It is God making us his children. What is the Lord's Supper? It is God in Christ coming down and saying "I love you" in bread and wine. What is the Lord's Prayer? It is our Father's reaching down to us. What are the Creeds and the biblical canticles in Sunday's liturgy?

They are the story of God acting in history. I am excited to share this good news. Biblical verses come to me easily in conversation. I never knew I was so familiar with them. Praise God. It seems that the Center has a place for me in January and February. My skills and my faith seem to have a place here. I feel comfortable and needed, and I enjoy the Chinese people and my colleagues very much. I have decided to return.

Would you to consider serving as an ESL volunteer?

You could do it here, at home, or in another place in the world. English as Second Language is a marvelous springboard to peoples' hearts, to relationships, and to sharing the Gospel. Since practice in conversation is the focus, it doesn't demand a lot of skill, and time requirements are flexible. The Concordia English Center is an outreach of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

If you would like information about serving as an ESL volunteer with the LCMS, check www.lcms.org and click on the "opportunities" section. If you would like to volunteer with an organization other than the LCMS, I'm sure there are opportunities with them.

God willing, I will be back in the U.S. on Nov. 18. On Nov. 3rd, I should be in New Zealand meeting with an old friend I haven't seen in over thirty years. I praise God for this blessing. Thank you all for your interest.

May God bless you in every way. Please let me know how you are.

Yours in Christ, Carsten ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW ORLEANS MISSION TRIP! PRAISE the Lord that a solid mission team is coming together! We have 8 team members so far and potentially a few more are considering still! We know God is wanting this to happen also because we just received a $3500 check from the Eastern District disaster relief fund! This should finance almost the entire trip!

NEPA MISSION PARTNERSHIP MEETING. If you have a heart for sharing the Gospel, please come to the next Mission Partnership meeting on Saturday, Dec. 5th at 10 am at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, WB! We will be planning for New Orleans, Alaska and the Mission Fest!

Christian History Notes: [C] Johannes von Staupitz, Luther's Father Confessor When Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 Description Johannes von Staupitz (ca. 1469– 1524), vicar-general of the Augustinian Order in Germany and friend of Martin Luther, was born in Saxony. He studied at the universities in Leipzig and Cologne and served on the faculty at Cologne. In 1503 he was called by Frederick the Wise to serve as dean of the theological faculty at the newly founded University of Wittenberg. There he encouraged Luther to attain a doctorate in theology and appointed Luther as his successor to professor of Bible. During Luther's early struggles to understand God's grace, it was Staupitz who counseled Luther to focus on Christ and not on himself.

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SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES ARE NOW BROADCAST OVER THE INTERNET! Just go to www.yourpeace.org during our 10:30 worship hour and join in our worship! Thank you to Chris Jones who is helping keep it all running! This service is not only a way in which we can serve those members who cannot attend, but we are also sharing God’s Word with individuals who “drop in” as they are “cruising” the net.

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Chris Jones Testimony delivered at his Baptism Oct. 25, 2009.

"Christopher - it's a Roman name, it means 'He who carries Christ in his

heart.' Being mostly Native American, I've always had a slightly different view of life & of the world than most other people - a view given to me by God LONG before I understood it. I was raised on Native beliefs and values - ways of life strikingly similar to Christianity itself.

In my younger days, I did not know who I was or where I was going. I was just living for the moment every day, taking chances and being adventurous. I went through a lot in those days - survived quite a few things, too. I have seen and done a lot of things in life, and I still have a pretty big to-do list. All I know is, I've spit in the devil's eye and lived to tell the tale a few times now, all because God grabbed me by the shirt collar and said 'Hold it buddy, I'm not done with you yet...'. I rightfully should have taken a dirt nap several times by now, but because of God I have become proof myself that people with physical disabilities and limitations really CAN be some of the most unstoppable people in the world.

After all I've been through, I finally figured out that God has put me here and protected me to serve Him by

uplifting, helping, and protecting all those he brings into my life. It was only after I had learned this that I received the two greatest gifts I ever have. I now have someone I finally get to keep (Laura) , a renewed and finally understood faith, and a new family that I have found in all of you - all of these great gifts, thanks to our great and glorious God, and our beloved Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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PRAYER CORNER: PLEASE PRAY for Catherine Tugend as she is in hospital and failing in her health, just a few weeks past her very lively and healthy 100th birthday!

Pray also for Mark Koenig who is needing a Kidney transplant.

GIFTS TO TLA STAFF. At the October voter’s meeting it was voted to give a $1000 to our teacher Angela Scheller and $4000 to our Principal Roger Borchin (who receives NO compensation for his position). These were gifts simply to show our appreciation of all that they do in partnership with us in ministry.

THE LUTHERAN ACADEMY, SCRANTON + The Lutheran Academy was privileged to perform at the annual Luther Day Dinner at the Melting Pot this past October 18th. It was a great day indeed and everyone enjoyed it! + Please pray for the Academy and its students. We just went through a difficult period of adjustment as it seems that our vision of serving older students through a PA cyberschool is just not feasible. The students did not adjust well to the internet school and after one quarter of classes all of our older students have transferred out to a regular school setting. That leaves us with a VERY happy 14 students from 1-8th grade - now with some room to grow again, as we had run out of space previously! + We praise God for the sponsorship of one more student through the “Adopt a Student” program! (that makes four all together so far this year!)

Yes! Sunday School and Youth Group COUNT! THE SUNDAY SCHOOL AFTERNOON AT MILLER’S ORCHARD OCTOBER 25TH TOTALED ABOUT 10 kids plus a few crazy adults! It was a beautiful day for all!

CONFIRMATION STUDENTS: WE ARE MEETING ON MONDAYS AT 7! Please notify Pastor Bjornstad if you know someone who would like to join our class of FIVE confirmands!

PLAN AHEAD FOR CHRISTMAS PAGEANT ON DEC. 13th! There will be a practice on Sat. Dec. 12th at 10 am with a Birthday party at 12 noon!

LCMS YOUTH GATHERING IN JULY, 2010!

NEW FUNDRAISER planned! There will be a takeout Pasta Lunch on DECEMBER 13TH! We need youth to help out at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church on Dec. 12th to put the meals together! If you haven’t gotten your registration information in, please see Pastor Bjornstad! Check out www.lcmsgathering.org.

BANANA CRAM YOUTH LOCKIN is Nov. 20-21! PLEASE BRING A FRIEND! We could always use some parental chaperones! ALL ABOUT HEAVEN - AND HOW WE GET THERE! We will tour Snowdon’s Funeral Home and find out all about the ministry to bereaved families!

ADULTS: SEE IF YOU CAN COMPLETE THIS CONFIRMATION QUIZ PRINTED TO THE RIGHT!

THANKSGIVING WORSHIP SERVICES! WED., NOVEMBER 25th at 7 pm! - NEW!!!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26th at 10:30 am!

PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Apostolic Mission Congregation of the LCMS 2506 N. Main Ave. Scranton, PA 18508

To a special person whom God Loves: