NEWS BLOG

June is National Safety Month

I encourage you to learn more about important safety issues like preventing poisonings, transportation safety, and fire safety.
  • Tornado preparedness- Not one state in the continental U.S. has escaped the wrath of tornadoes. While the main tornado season is from Late April to July, tornadoes can strike at any time of the year.

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How Peace Serves

The four or five-year-old boy stood staring with his big brown eyes under the fringe of dark hair at the shelves of fruit, sandwiches, cookies and chips. This was not his first trip to the Mobile Loaves and Fishes truck that afternoon. He and his brothers had gotten their bags of food at our first stop in the sprawling apartment complex. They’d followed the truck to the next stop, and while the older boys looked at the clothing on the other side of the truck, the littlest stood staring at the food. “Are you still hungry?“ I asked him. He solemnly nodded yes. I gave him an orange and a bag of cookies. A few minutes later, he was back staring again. This time he got a sandwich and some chips. He smiled, said thank you, and ran away.


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Stewardship Notes for May, 2018

This monthly installment of “Stewardship Notes” emphasizes that we are Stewards of Money and Wealth. By definition, a steward is someone who manages another person’s property, finances, or other affairs. Now, you may be thinking that you are barely able to manage your own money and wealth, and much less able to take responsibility for someone else’s finances. Nevertheless, God has called you to take care of the financial resources that He has entrusted to you. So, what are those financial resources that God owns, and for which you are accountable to Him?


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Missional River – A Report from the Listening Team

Peace has embarked on a yearlong journey in the Missional River, following the Tune-In Guide, a 10-step process led by a listening team that emphasizes three different phases of listening:  Listening to God in Scripture and Prayer, Listening to God in the Congregation, and Listening to God in the Neighborhood. Deep listening means tuning in to God more clearly, with a firm belief that God is working in others just as surely as God is working in our own lives. The purpose of this kind of listening is to lead the congregation into new partnerships, participating in God’s mission in new ways. Peace’s core listening 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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Synod Assembly 2018 Recap

From May 4 to 6, over 400 members of the congregations across the Southwestern Texas Synod gathered in San Marcos to consider the business before our synod this year…including voting members from Peace Lutheran Church: Matt Bloom, Emily Castillo, Katie Van Gulick and Pastor Carolyn (with a siting of Amanda Castillo and Carter Wiseman at the campus ministry display table). Though the voting membership of the synod was overwhelming over the age of 50, we did our best to represent some of the younger members of the church!


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May is Arthritis Awareness Month

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Actually, “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.


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How Peace Serves

I started delivering meals during my lunch hour while working for IBM in 2000. It was super simple. When someone is trying to dip their toe into volunteering, Meals on Wheels delivery is a perfect start. The commitment can be as little as once a month delivery for an hour. We all have an hour!


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2018 Ladies Night-Out Banquet & Service Project 


Saturday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m., at Peace Lutheran Church

Ladies Night-Out is a project of Lutheran Men in Mission of Peace, to honor the women and young ladies of our congregation by providing a free, delicious dinner and musical entertainment, in conjunction with a service project to benefit needy families served by Hill Country Community Ministries, by collecting non-perishable food items on their behalf.

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2018 Leander-Cedar Park CROP Hunger Walk

The 2018 Leander-Cedar Park CROP Hunger Walk is now behind us and Peace Lutheran Church has raised about $9,110 to help end hunger. 25% of the proceeds from the Leander/Cedar Park CROP Walk will go to Hill Country Community Ministries, we wouldn’t have been able to collect this much without the help of friends and family.


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Fifth Sunday Giving

Fifth Sunday Giving for April will go towards the offering shared by Peace at the Southwestern Texas Synod Assembly. This year the Assembly will support the ELCA Fund for Leaders program.

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, Peace Parish Nurse encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.


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Guest Preacher

April 8 we welcome guest preacher, Jarell Wilson. Jarell is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a Social Media addict, and a blogger. He attended Baylor University and graduated from the University of North Texas. He’s a proud Austinite; a Reconciling Ministries Board Member and a scented candle aficionado.



Stewardship Notes for April, 2018

This initial installment of “Stewardship Notes” marks the beginning of Peace Lutheran Church’s new Stewardship Planning Committee, whose current members are Tom Winn, Bob Van Gulick, and Darrell Bailey.  The purpose of the Stewardship Planning Committee is to plan, recruit, organize, and coordinate a year-round program of Stewardship themes at Peace.  

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2018 Ministry Plan Update

It is great to report good news! At our November 12, 2017 meeting, Peace passed a “bare bones” ministry plan for 2018 based on 2017 projected giving. Because of the uncertainty about our projected giving levels and available income, the Finance Committee recommended we reevaluate the ministry plan during the 1st quarter of 2018 based on actual income for 2017 and revise estimates for 2018 if needed. The Finance Committee has completed this reevaluation and we are happy to report that 2017 General Operating Fund income exceeded the forecast by 19%. 


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CROP Walk

April 15, 1:30 PM,  Twin Lakes YMCA
Team Captains: Laura Eichner, Rodger Ericson,  Linda Parsells
 
If you can, please join the Leander-Cedar Park CROP.   Give and invite friends, to donate and walk in the CROP Walk to fight hunger.  The reported total from all walkers as of March 28 is $4,221. Inviting others is our opportunity.  Friends from far and near.  Gifts have come from Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Leander.  Members have donated and others have yet to donate.  Small donations and large ones all matter. Please send this link to friends and past and present and invite them to join the unselfish cause, BECAUSE it is important. 


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Congregational Meeting April 15

10:00 AM (between services)  Agenda items include election of voting members of the Synod Assembly, election f Preschool Board members, approval of the 2018-2019 Preschool Budget, and consideration of revisions to the congregational budget for 2018. ​ To view the meeting materials, please click the Congregation Meeting link.


Holy Week Evening Worship Opportunities

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Night Prayer Service 7:00 PM
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY Thursday, March 29 at 7:00 PM
 
We Remember. At the heart of this night is Jesus’ commandment to love one another. At the Lord’s Table we remember Jesus’ sacrifice of his life, even as we are called to offer ourselves in love for the life of the world. Worship offers the opportunity to receive individual forgiveness of sins, to share in the loving service of foot-washing and to witness as the altar is stripped bare…as worship ends in silence. 
 
GOOD FRIDAY Friday, March 30 at 7:00 PM

It is finished. At the heart of Good Friday is the passion story of Jesus, which proclaims Jesus as a triumphant king who reigns from the cross. In the ancient bidding prayer we offer petitions for all the world that Christ loves. Worship begins and ends in silence 

EASTER VIGIL Saturday, March 31 at 7:00 PM

This is the night! This is our Passover with Christ from captivity to freedom, from death to life. The resurrection of Christ is proclaimed in word and water, bread and wine. We gather around a pillar of fire, hear ancient stories of our faith, affirm and celebrate the gift of Baptism, and share the food and drink of the promised land. Raised with Christ, we go forth into the world with the good news of the resurrection.

NIGHT PRAYER SERVICE Sunday, April 1, at 7:00 PM
 
Even as the promise of resurrection is proclaimed, we live surrounded by death, in lives of conflict and struggle. We pray this Easter Night around the story of the disciples who were walking away in despair after Jesus’  death…wondering what they would do next. We gather for reflection, healing prayer, and simple music.


Chili Cook-Off & Talent Show

Saturday, April 28:  Dinner 6:00 PM, Show  7:00 PM

The Peace Talent Show will benefit the youth attending the National Youth Gathering! This year we will also be having our Chili Cook-off as the meal! Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children under 13, with a family max of $40. Tickets go on sale Easter Sunday! Mark your calendars, and if you have a talent or a chili recipe, we hope you’ll show it off at Peace’s Talent Show! 



Resuming Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves and Fishes provides meals and clothing to the homeless and working poor. Peace will be supporting the truck from St. Thomas More Catholic Church. We will be providing the truck team on the second Saturday of each month beginning April 14 at 5:00 PM. 

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2018 Vacation Bible School

June 11th-15th  VBS will be “Babylon: Daniels Courage in Captivity”.  Registering Now, at $35 per child, in cash or check. Children from 4-12 years are invited to participate, and each day of VBS is from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM. We are also recruiting volunteers! Contact Jacob Thogmartin with any questions.  Download Registration Form here.



2018 Spring Congregational Meeting

Spring Meeting: April 15 10:00 AM (between services)
Agenda items include election of voting members of the Synod Assembly, election of Preschool Board members, approval of the 2018-2019 Preschool Budget, and consideration of revisions to the congregational budget for 2018 



2018 PreSchool Carnival

April 7:  11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Rain or Shine
All funds raised from the carnival will go towards meeting the preschool’s 2017-2018 budget goals as well as support goals of Peace Lutheran’s Youth. Come out and support our preschool and youth!


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March is National Kidney Month

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 1 in 3 American adults is at risk for kidney disease. What puts you at risk for kidney disease? Major risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of kidney failure, and being age 60 or older.

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IHM – March 25

High school youth are invited to join us for some food, fun, and fellowship at Becky Reinhart house  on March 25th at 6:00 PM. These meetings are held regularly by members of the congregation. Contact Jacob Thogmartin if you’re interested in hosting!


Movie Matinee – Coco

All are welcome to join us for a screening of the movie “Coco” which won an Oscar for Animated Feature Film, and was nominated for a Best Original Song. Join us on March 25th at 2:00 PM in the Sanctuary for the viewing and stay afterward for a group discussion on the film’s themes. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks!