NEWS AND NOTES FROM PEACE WITH CHRIST 1412 W. Swallow Road Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-226-4721 Pastor Ralph Patrick www.pwchrist-fc.org
December 6, 2009 Second Sunday in Advent
WELCOME TO PEACE WITH CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH! We give thanks to God that you are joining us today! Many of our guests are seeking a home church where they can be part of the Fellowship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace with Christ is a congregation that is a family not an “organization”. We are small enough to allow people to know each other by name, and yet large enough to offer opportunities for growth and service. What we “specialize” in is not programs or productions, but simply The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus. Christ, His Word, and the Cross are what provide the foundation for faith and ministry. If you are interested in learning more about Peace With Christ Lutheran Church, please call the church office at 226-4721. Pastor Patrick would welcome the opportunity to visit with you personally.
2 THE TIME before the service may be used for prayer and preparation. Read through the worship bulletin and familiarize yourself with the service. A few moments spent this way will help make the service more meaningful. NEXT WEEK’S LUTHERAN HOUR MESSAGE: “Imagine No Religion!” Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus. What would the world be like without religion? We don’t have to imagine. The evidence from history is clear. (Luke 7:18-19) Listen to The Lutheran Hour Message on KOA, Denver (AM850) at 6:00 a.m. and KFKA, Greeley (AM1310) at 9:30 a.m. Peace With Christ Radio Broadcast: KCOL (600AM), at 9:00 AM Sundays. **Please note that the radio broadcast will not be aired on the following dates due to Bronco football: December 6, 13 & 27.
Missions & Ministry Our annual Christmas Party for the Good Shepherd Home residents will be at the church TODAY at 6:00pm. Everyone is invited to come join the fun and see the happy faces!
Poinsettia Orders A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex, $9.00 each, make check payable to PWC write poinsettia on memo line and give to Lu Buchholz by Dec. 13th. Please indicate which color you would like, Red or White. You may pick up your plant after Christmas Day service. If you’d like your plant to go to a shut-in or nursing home resident, please let me know. Thanks, Lu Buchholz
Musicians/Singers - If you are interested in preparing a piece for one of the Christmas services, please bring your ideas to Reena, and she will assist you in choosing a piece and in scheduling you.
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LWML will celebrate Christmas with a PARTY on Sunday, December 13th at 2pm at the home of Norma Thaemert. There is limited parking, so we’ll carpool from church at 1:30 PM. Remember to bring your Christmas “Dime Stocking” money, your mites, and a plate of cookies. Dime stocking money will support Crossroads Safehouse. Extra cookies will be used to make up holiday plates for shut-ins. Food, Fun & Fellowship all in one place! ALL ladies are welcome. ♦ LWML’s mite box for World Missions will be in the Narthex this morning. Thank you for your donations! ♦ Yearly pocket size 2010 calendars are available along with an assortment of Christmas cards in the Sunshine room. ♦ Including 2 weeks of late sales from the Sunshine Room, LWML’s Annual Craft Fair reached $6,300 in net proceeds. Including Thrivent’s supplement of $1,250, Stephen Heimer will receive support totaling $7,557! This event came together so beautifully with support from the entire congregation. Plenty of soup & pies were donated for the luncheon. Baked goods & pantry items were abundant and quick to sell. Crafts were creative and functional. Thank you for sharing your gifts with LWML and with Stephen Heimer. ♦ TWENTY TURKEYS were brought to church on November 22nd and delivered to Open Door Mission. Thank you for your generosity! ♦ The next LWML Executive Board meeting will be Monday, January 4th beginning at 6pm in the home of Bev Russman. All 2009 AND 2010 Board members are encouraged to attend. All ladies are welcome.
TAG (Tuesday Afternoon Group) It’s a Christmas Party! For a fun and relaxing afternoon let’s enjoy Christmas music and play Dubs Bridge. It’s easy and everyone can play. Bring cookies or snacks to share. All older adults are welcome to attend.
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Advent Devotional Calendars
Calendars are still available if you missed last Sunday. You can find them on the bulletin board in the Narthex. This is a great opportunity to read the prophecies of Christ’s birth as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. Christmas Caroling Plan to join the Youth on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2:00pm for caroling. We will be visiting shutins and other members of the congregation. Please plan to bring a Christmas snack to share. It should be a great time - sign-up so we can plan rides! Drivers are needed! Thanks Marilyn
Youth and Children’s Christmas Service For the next two weeks we will be rehearsing in Sunday school for the service. It will be very important for your student to be in Sunday school. Also, we will have a full run-through on Saturday, December 12 at 10am. The service itself is December 16 at 6:30pm, and we will need the children to arrive at the church at 5:45pm. The sign-up sheet is out on the bulletin board if you are willing and able to help with the Youth and Children’s Christmas service but haven’t had a chance to put your name down. We have a few people signed up to bring cupcakes or hors d’oeuvres, but we could use some more. Also, if you would like to help the youth make the gift bags, they would appreciate any donations of apples, Clementine oranges, and candy canes. Thank You! The King’s men study group continues to meet on Wed. evening at 6pm during the FED night study hour. If you are following along at home, or in case you would like to join us, we will discuss Chapter 9 of ‘The Measure of a Man’: living a life of moderation.
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YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Senior High Youth - Christmas Party TODAY at Kaiser’s at 4pm! Senior High Lock-in - Changed to December 22 beginning at 6pm. Sign-up! Cost of “Surprise Outing” is $8.00!! Confirmation Age Christmas Party - Saturday, December 12 after Children’s Christmas Service Rehearsal. Please sign-up and plan to bring a snack to share and a gift ($5 limit). Friends are welcome! Attention - Youth members are welcome to be a part of the Christmas Choir! Christmas Caroling - December 19th at 2pm! Please sign-up so we can plan rides!! Children’s Christmas Service - Plan to sign up to help, sing, read, or play your instrument at the Children’s Christmas Service December 16th. Rehearsal is Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 am.
Parents & Twos - A Sunday School class for two - three year old children and their parents will began last Sunday, and they had a great time! If you are interested in bringing your child to the class, please plan to attend the Sunday School Opening at 9:30 am in the sanctuary, then class will be held in the Nursery. If you have any questions, see Chad Hamilton, Robin Hamilton, Reena Linke or Marilyn Lasich.
The Lutheran Witness Subscriptions are coming due again. The cost for a one-year subscription, with the congregational discount, is $20.83. If you would like to receive the Lutheran Witness, make your check payable to Peace With Christ and give to Marcy in the office or to Wes Nierman or Dan Prevedel.
Reminder: If you have not returned your pledge card please put it into the offering plate by December 20th. Extra cards are available from the ushers. Thank you Larry Siegfried, Vice President
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ADOPT A SEMINARIAN REPORT: Advent offerings have been designated to support Stephen Heimer who is enrolled at Concordia University. Please use offering envelopes for Advent or mark a plain envelope for your contributions. Thank you for supporting this ministry with your prayers and generous gifts.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR As our choir director, Kelley, will be out of town for Christmas, we will have a “pick-up” choir. If you would like to join in singing with choir for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, please sign-up on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Youth are welcome too. The more the merrier! We have several services between the two days with choral pieces at each service: ♦ December 24 - 4pm and 7pm. Lessons and carols, 10pm Divine Service ♦ December 25 - 9am Divine Service. Contact Reena if you have any questions or if you would like to have the music early -
[email protected] Rehearsals: Wednesday, December 9 - after the Advent Service. Sunday, December 20 - Noon Wednesday, December 23 - 6:00pm
Our Prayers: We rememberThose who are ill, hospitalized, or recovering from surgery: Bernice Nansel, Gene Frank, Mac & Iris Bergen, Helen Leben, Art Pforr, Louise Tuchenhagen, Emily Irvine (great-niece of Angela Myers), Linda Groeling, , Zoe Jones (Infant daughter of Josh and Jamie Jones), Kevin Rodenbeck, Marilyn Craig, Marilyn Hudson, Evelyn Marweg, Jason Shedd and family Those who are not able to attend church: Margaret Ziehm, Carolyn Brown, Arline Young, June Schwarck, Marie Rubel, Jean Upham. The families of Peace With Christ U.S. Soldiers throughout the world
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A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD SMALCALD ARTICLES ARTICLE III: REPENTANCE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
But here comes the fiery angel of St. John [Revelation 10], the true preacher of repentance. With one bolt of lightning, he hurls together both . He says: "Repent!" [Matthew 3:2]. Now one group imagines, "Why, we have repented!" The other says, "We need no repentance." John says, "Repent, both of you. You false penitents and false saints, both of you need the forgiveness of sins. Neither of you know what sin really is. Much less your duty to repent of it and shun it. For no one of you is good. You are full of unbelief, stupidity, and ignorance of God and God's will. But He is present here, of whose 'fullness we have all received, grace upon grace' " [John 1:16]. Without Him, no one can be righteous before God. Therefore, if you want to repent, repent rightly. Your works of penance will accomplish nothing. As for you hypocrites, who do not need repentance, you serpents' brood, who has assured you that you will escape the wrath to come and other judgments?" In the same way Paul preaches, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Romans 3:10-12). And God now "commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). "All people," He says. No one is an exception. (pars. 30-34)
Condensed from CONCORDIA: THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS, copyright 2005,2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of CONCORDIA, call 800-325-3040.
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ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK Today December 6
Worship Services (Communion) Education Hour Senior High Youth Christmas Party Good Shepherd Christmas Party
8:00 am & 10:45 am 9:30 am 4:00 pm 6:00 pm
Monday December 7
Missions & Ministry Youth Board
5:30 pm 6:00 pm
Tuesday December 8
College/Young Adults Bible Study
5:00 pm
Wednesday December 9
Bible Study Advent Services Soup Supper Confirmation Class Adult Choir
Thursday December 10
Morning Doves RMHS
9:00 am 10:50 am
Children’s Service Rehearsal Confirmation Age Youth Christmas Party
10:00 am 12:00 pm
Worship Services (Communion) Education Hour
8:00 am & 10:45 am 9:30 am
8:45 am 4:30 - 7:15 pm 5:15 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm
Friday December 11 Saturday December 12
Sunday December 13
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THOSE SERVING TODAY
December 6 Materials: Greeters: Guest Book: Reader: Ushers:
Nursery: Acolytes: Crucifer: Audio Support: Organist: Youth Choir Director: Elder of the Month:
8:00 am Millie Miller Bill & Fran Watson Connie Jurischk Ray Kaiser Ed Jurischk Randy Fiscus Sandy Fiscus Chris Dunker Jenna Withee Krissy Petago
Millie Miller Julie Ward Michael Rohlfs Dan Prevedel Chris Prevedel Chris Dunker Paul Carlson Angela Neuhaus Zachary Prevedel
Reena Linke Reena Linke Art Pforr
December 9 - 4:30pm Greeters: Millie Miller Guest Book: Nadine Lueker Ushers: Ken Keeney Reader: Acolytes: Organist: Violinist:
10:45 am
7:15pm Connie Jurischk Barb Prenzlow Chris Dunker Ed Jurischk Mackenzie Cheuvront
Shawna Prevedel Marilyn Lasich
THOSE SERVING NEXT SUNDAY December 13 Materials: Greeters: Guest Book: Reader: Ushers:
Nursery: Acolytes: Crucifer: Audio Support: Organist: Choir Director:
8:00 am Chris Dunker Fred & Pam Kropp Connie Jurischk Ray Kaiser Ed Jurischk John Jesser Austin Jesser Chris Dunker Adele Ahnstedt Zach Diem Keller Foster
Kelley Pichel
10:45 am Chris Dunker Julie Ward Dan Prevedel Dan Prevedel Chris Prevedel Chuck Black Prevedel Rachael Bernhardt Julie Roth
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Prayer and Study Date: December 6 - December 12 Luther Quote: “Although we are moved to suspicion and displeasure, we should beat these back and remember not to allow them to sever the bond of love and extinguish its fire; be we should cling firmly to our friendship in the face of them.” Bible readings for the week: Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday:
Psalm 5; Revelation 15-17 Psalm 6; Revelation 18-20 Psalm 7; Revelation 21-22 Psalm 8; Isaiah 1-3 Psalm 9; Isaiah 4-6 Psalm 10; Isaiah 7-9 Psalm 11; Isaiah 10-12
Taiwan – Dec. 1-15 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began work in Taiwan in 1951. The China Evangelical Lutheran Church Taiwan (CELC) became an LCMS partner church in 1966.
Daily Prayers: Sunday: For the witness of the missionary teachers and Taiwanese Christian staff of CMS to the students’ families. Many unbelieving and unreached parents choose to send their children to CMS for its academic strength, but may God also use this setting to open their hearts to the Gospel.
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Monday: For the ministry of Concordia English Language Academy (CELA), which is an after-school English program for elementary students conducted on Concordia Middle School’s campus. Pray for the many relationships that are built through this ministry. Tuesday: For the ministry of the partner church body in Taiwan—the China Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC). Ask God to bless the CELC’s leadership and members as they continue to shine His light in a country where believers are a small minority. Wednesday: For the president of the CELC, Rev. Richard Yi. Ask the Lord to grant him continued wisdom and discernment and that He would mold Richard into a servant for the calling he has received. Thursday: For China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu, Taiwan— may the Lord bless those who come from all over Asia to study theology and ministry. This school year, there are 60 resident fulltime students and 300 part-time students studying by extension. Friday: Give thanks for the Fan into Flame funds committed to the total fund that made the expansion of the China Lutheran Seminary possible, in order to accommodate more students and continue to provide a high-quality, Christ-centered education. Saturday: For missionaries Rev. Stephen and Maggie Oliver and their sons, Isaac and Gary. Stephen provides theological education at China Lutheran Seminary in Hinshu, Taiwan, where laypeople and those training for professional church work are trained and equipped to serve throughout Asia.
www.lcmsworldmission
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November 29 ATTENDANCE Worship Attendance: 125(8:00) 80(10:45 am)
Total 205
Education Hour Attendance: Adult Bible Study: 61 Sunday School: 27 Financial Update As of October 31, 2009 Budget - 2009
Income
Expenses
Net Income
$359,000.00
$274,469.17
$282,691.23
-$8,222.06
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION HOUR: 9:30-10:30 a.m. ADULT BIBLE CLASS. .. Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN . . . . Preschool Rooms GRADES 1- 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter GRADES 3-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abraham GRADE 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isaac JR. HIGH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob SR. HIGH . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . Youth Room
NEXT WEEK'S SCRIPTURE READINGS (ESV) First Lesson: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Second Lesson: Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel: Luke 7:18-28
PRESS DEADLINES Green sheet articles are due by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Broadcast articles are due December 20