NEWS BLOG

Missional River Reflections

This past weekend, March 2-3, six Peace folks traveled to Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Maxwell, Texas for the first of three learning gatherings that will be a part of the Missional River process which we are just beginning.
 
The Missional River is a journey guided by Southwestern Texas Synod Staff and trainers from LEAD (Living Every day As Disciples). Peace’s core LEAD team will be inviting participation in many forms from everyone at Peace, and we have a great journey of listening and learning ahead of us.

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Monthly Night Prayer Service

On Easter evening, April 1, at 7:00 PM, we will begin a monthly practice of joining for a contemplative Night Prayer Service. It seems that there is so much heartache in the world, so much that needs our prayer, that we are going to begin to gather monthly to gather up the concerns and joys from our lives and the world around us and offer them up to God at the close of the day. 


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Easter Lily Donations

With rising shoots of green piercing though the ground to find the sunlight, we continue our Lenten journey into spring. Soon we will wave palm branches to celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Donations for Easter Lilies will be collected on March 11 and 18, following the 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM services.  You may honor or memorialize someone with a $10  donation for a lily plant to beautify Peace’s sanctuary at Easter.  Plants may be taken home after Easter to plant in your garden or may be left at the church to add to Peace’s gardens.


Book Discussion: Enlightenment Now

… and sometimes the book reads you.
A Community Connections cluster for March 11 and 18: A modern christian’s reflections on Steven Pinker’s new bestseller “Enlightenment Now”  led by Walid Nasrallah.

The supposed conflict between religion and science seems to be heating up again in the popular conscience with a new book, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress, trending in the news and on the best seller charts. 


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Super Bowl Sub Thank You

People of Peace: You are SUPER!  Thank you to all those who bought a Super Bowl Sub and enjoyed pancakes at the Transfiguration Breakfast!  The sub sales raised $719, which will cover the van rental for the National Youth Gathering. Though we don’t know how many pancakes were eaten, we know $520 was raised to go towards scholarships for summer camp.  On behalf of the youth, thank you!
In gratitude,  Board of Spiritual Development members


Work Day -Thank You

A big thank you to all who participated in the Spring Workday. We had plenty of fun, fellowship, and food. We were blessed with a beautiful morning, blooming flowers, and plenty of leaves. In case you missed the Spring Workday, planning has started for a Summer Workday on June 30 so save the date.


CROP Walk 2018

CROP Hunger Walks (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) are sponsored by Church World Service, a national ecumenical and international relief organization.  Peace Lutheran Church is excited to be joining again with the Leander-Cedar Park CROP Hunger Walk to raise money for combating hunger. This year the Walk will be held on Sunday afternoon, April 15, at the Twin Lakes YMCA in Cedar Park. Walkers last year enjoyed the shady paved path along beautiful Brushy Creek. The path is stroller and pet friendly, too. 

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Adopt a Garden Plot

Did you notice our landscaping improvements last spring? Did you see some donated annuals as you entered the parking lot? MANY THANKS to those who have worked on beautifying the Peace grounds to date.
As Spring 2018 approaches, consider giving these folks a hand by adopting a garden area on our church grounds as we re-vitalize our ADOPT A PLOT for 2018 program:

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Thrivent Choice & Amazon Smile

Thanks to member recommendations, we received $1,283 in 2017 from Thrivent Choice. If you are a member of Thrivent Financial, please remember to designate Peace for your Thrivent Choice dollars. If you shop Amazon, you can designate Peace as the recipient for Amazon Smile. Just use this link to sign in: smile.amazon.com/ch/74-1898677.


Children’s Communion Classes

Elementary school-aged children and their families are invited to join us for a two-session Communion Class on February 25 and March 4, from 12:30 to about 3:00 pm. We will begin each session with lunch. One week we will visit a local ceramics studio, and the other we will explore the stories and ritual of communion here at church. A suggested donation of $25 per child, or $40 per family.
Facilitators: Pastor Carolyn and Jacob Thogmartin
Location: Narthex (with offsite elements)


Paschal Candle Creation Event

On: Sunday, March 4, beginning at 3:30PM, come help create our 2018 Paschal candle on March 4. We will have snacks and bible study as the wax melts. Come whenever you can and stay as long as you are able. The event will continue through the dinner hour, and you may feel free to bring food to share. 

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Lent at Peace

February 21 through March 21, we will worship with Holden Evening Prayer at 7:00 pm, preceded by a potluck dinner at 6:00 pm. As part of our worship services, Judy Olson will be directing short dramas around themes from the life of Martin Luther and the theology of the Reformation.


Thank You: Souper Bowl of Caring

 On February 4, 2018, members of the Ladies Wednesday Morning Bible Study Group received a special offering in the narthex after the Sunday morning worship services, on behalf of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, as Peace Lutheran Church’s participation in the Souper Bowl of Caring.   The total amount received was $1,235.  Thank you for your generous response!


A Discernment Journey

Peace is Jumping into the Missional River!

Peace is at an exciting moment in our life together, with many possibilities before us. And this year, we are entering a process with other local congregations to listen for where God is at work in our neighborhood and how we are called to be a part of kingdom’s work in this chapter of our life!

This December, the Congregation Council voted to join in “Leading in the Missional River,” a program of LEAD (www.waytolead.org). This year-long process will focus on “resourcing congregational leadership with new behaviors and tools to tune in and connect with God’s mission for their neighborhoods and lead courageously in a changing world and a changing church. 

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Posada Esperanza

On March 18th at 4:00 PM, volunteers from Peace Lutheran Church are welcome to join us at Posada Esperanza, the family shelter of Casa Marianella. they are a full-service transitional housing program for immigrant mothers and their children, escaping domestic or cultural violence. Occupying four homes in East Austin, they currently house 14 mothers and nearly 30 children!
 
Youth and adults are welcome to help out. We will be doing anything they require of us, which differs depending on the day.

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Budget Update 2017 Year End

THANK YOU! DANKE! GRACIAS!
Our generous Peace congregation helped us end 2017 on a positive note. We exceeded our budgeted income in both the General Operating and Building Funds, and ended the year with a surplus. This will help us support more outreach and programs in 2018. High five to all donors!


Spring Work Day – March 3

Have you ever heard the saying “Many Hands make the load light?” This is especially true in maintaining our property, both inside and out. The Peace Property Board is hosting a Spring Workday on Saturday, March 3 from 9 AM to 12 PM. We are asking all who are able to roll up their sleeves and help with projects that range from spreading mulch to changing light bulbs. Plan to stop by the Narthex around 9 AM on Saturday, March 3 for hot coffee and snacks, fun and fellowship, and a task for the morning. Your service to Peace is appreciated.


Family Promise has ended in Austin

This past December, Foundation for the Homeless gathered the coordinators from the churches and synagogues that participated in Family Promise to announce that their participation in this program was ending, effective January 1.

The new leadership in Foundation for the Homeless felt that they needed to find better ways to support the clients. With the loss of the Day Resource Center a couple of years ago, the clients no longer had any place to go during the day and were left to figure things out on their own. This often meant trying to find a recreational center or some other place where they could stay until they could return to the church. There were several other concerns brought up including driving distance and frequently changing work schedules which made it difficult for the families.


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Preparing to Elect a Bishop

Preparing to Elect a Bishop
Capital North Conference Gathering
Sunday, February 18 at 3:00 PM
Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pflugerville
 
All Peace congregation members are invited to a gathering of congregations in the Capital North Conference in preparation for the synod assembly in May when a new bishop will be elected. There will be a “Pre-identification Ballot” at this gathering where anyone who wishes may submit a name of someone they think should be nominated in May.
 
They are preparing a barbecue meal for all who are attending, so please RSVP to Pastor Carolyn as soon as possible, so she can pass along numbers for meal planning!


7 Healthy Spiritual Practices

Cultivating our faith life is an important part of wellness. Here are a few ways to gain new perspective of yourself, others, and God throughout this new year of 2018.
1. Try praying at different times during the day. You may notice that you pray differently at different times of the day.
2. Laughter and rejoicing need to be a part of our faith life. Think of something funny that has happened, and thank God for giving us humor in our lives.
3. Loving yourself is the first step in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Spend a few minutes writing about what it means to love yourself. Remember that God loves you.

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Keeping Lent at Peace

At 7:00 pm on February 14, Ash Wednesday, we begin our holy journey through the season of Lent with worship with imposition of ashes. Wednesdays, February 21 through March 21, we will worship with Holden Evening Prayer at 7:00
pm, preceded by a potluck dinner at 6:00 pm. As part of our worship services, Judy Olson will be directing short dramas around themes from the life of Martin Luther and the theology of the Reformation.


Kitchen Clean-Up for Lent

Let’s Get Ready! It’s almost time for Lent and our kitchen is in need of some TLC. Besides a good scrubbing, there is a need for more organizing. Saturday, February 3, we will be cleaning ovens, refrigerator, floors, and whatever else is needed. Please join us at 9:00 a.m. if you are able. With many hands it should not take long. There will be coffee and snacks (but please don’t make a mess). Contact Ernie Klatt or Jan Massa with any questions.



Pancake Breakfast, February 11

Peace’s traditional Transfiguration Sunday Breakfast will take place during Community Connections (9:45am) in the Education Building. Tickets for the breakfast are $6 for adults, $3 for children with a max of $20 for family. The money raised will go to our Camp Scholarship Fund.



Reconciling in Christ Celebration

This Sunday, January 28,  join Peace Lutheran for a rainbow breakfast celebration at 9:30 AM of our LGBTQ siblings. We’ll mark the occasion by officially announcing our membership in www.reconcilingworks.org, which advocates for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community. All…all…all…all are welcome!