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Words of Peace
December 2016
Peace Lutheran Church
The Words Inside: Christmas Service
Schedule 2
A Word from Council 3
Thank You/Transitions 4
Announcements 5
Christmas Pageant Gifts of Hope
6
Christmas Preparation 7
Women’s Retreat 8-9
Faithful Families Wreath Making
10-11
Brothers of Peace 12
Serving Schedule 13
December Calendar 14-15
Words of Peace
December 4 Advent Carol Festival December 7 Brothers of Peace Discussion Group December 11 Children’s Christmas Pageant December 17 Greening of the Church December 24 Christmas Eve Services at 5pm and 8pm December 25 Christmas Day worship with House of Faith International, 10:30am
The Rev. Sarah Scherschligt Pastor [email protected]
The Rev. Brian Erickson Pastor Emeritus [email protected]
Dr. Adela Peeva Music Director [email protected]
Cathy Kroohs Council President [email protected]
Nadia Fitzcharles Children, Youth and Family Ministry [email protected]
Kris Rinnert Parish Administrator [email protected]
Paul Sticha Director, Messengers and Bell Choirs [email protected]
The Rev. Nana Opoku House of Faith International [email protected]
Electronic giving is now at Peace! To make an online gift through our secure site, scan the code with your smart phone.
Annual Advent Carol Festival Sunday, December 4, 2016
4:00 pm Come and celebrate the beginning of the Christmas Season! Peace Lutheran Church is holding their annual Advent Carol Festival on SUNDAY December 4th, 2016 at 4 pm. There will be a Bell and Choral Concert followed by delicious food in the Fellowship Hall! All are welcome!!
There will be a freewill offering benefiting ACCA (Annandale Christian Community for Action) and the Peace Lutheran Music program
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Words of Peace Page 2 December 2016
Pastor Sarah continues her maternity leave. The family continues to enjoy getting to know Lydia Ruth. We wish her a restful and meaningful time with her family.
From Pastor Sarah
Christmas Services
CHRISTMAS SERVICES Christmas Eve:
5:00 pm - Family Worship Service with communion and candlelight 8:00 pm - Traditional Worship Service with communion and candlelight
The Rev. Bishop Richard H. Graham presiding
Christmas Day: 10:30 am - Traditional Worship with House of Faith International
Pastor Nana Opoku presiding
First Sunday after Christmas, January 1, 2017: Informal Worship with communion, 8:00 am
Lessons and Carols Service, 10:30 am The Rev. Terry Hannon presiding
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Words of Peace December 2016 Page 3
Council News
So, here we are coming into one of the most hectic times of the secular year, which sometimes (always?) means that while we might want to quietly prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth, what we are actually doing is shopping, baking, plan-ning, wrapping, and generally going nuts. I frequently have to be reminded that Christmas will come, whether I am "ready, or not!" Sometimes it helps. In this newsletter, in the weekly blast and in the bulletins you will see notices of what will be going on at Peace this month. Please participate in as many of the ac-tivities at Peace as you can without burdening yourself. Skip the ones you cannot get into your schedule (or simply aren't interested in) without guilt. Give yourself the opportunity to feel the joy - Christ is born for you !
From Council President, Cathy Kroohs
"Consider observing Advent by filling an Advent calendar box. Rather than opening an Advent calendar (or in ad-dition, if you prefer) put a box some-where in your home, and add some-thing to that box every day. It could be clothing for a homeless person, food for a food bank, money to be donated to charity, something else you think of. Then during the season of Christ-mas (which, of course, lasts 12 days) distribute the items in the box."
An Alternative Advent Calendar!!!
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Words of Peace Page 4 December 2016
Liesa Kirste’s son Manfred Kirste passed away in November. Click here to visit his online obituary.
THANK YOU!! / FLOWERS / TRANSTIONS
Year End Gift Reminder
For proper accounting of your year-end gifts, please have your of-ferings to the church office by Tuesday, December 27th so they can be deposited in 2016. Ray and Debbie Marquardt will be in to count and summarize all the last minute donations on Wednesday, December 28th.
Thank you to everyone for the prayers, cards, phone calls, and meals. They have been greatly appreciated. And if you want God to laugh, tell him your plans, because I said I was going to stay out of the hospital this year.
Susan and Stewart DeHaven
Altar Flowers Please check the Fellowship Hall for the 2017 Flower Chart. To sponsor the Altar Flowers for Sunday morning worship please choose an available date and then fill in your information. You may dedicate the Altar flowers in honor or memory of loved ones or to the Glory of God. The suggested donation for Altar Flowers is $55.
Church Office Help Needed Volunteers needed to help cover the office January 11-13, January 19-20 and January 23. Duties include answering phones, sort-ing mail and email and greeting visitors along with some light clerical duties. Contact Kris in the office if you’d like to help.
Many thanks to all who have donated yarn to the Peace Prayer Shawl group this year. We truly appreciate it. Due to your generosity, our yarn baskets are overflow-ing. "
The Prayer Shawlers
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Words of Peace December 2016 Page 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Programming Schedule Changes There will be NO Adult Forum until January 8, 2017. The Rev. MaryAnn
McKibben Dana will lead an adult forum on January 8, 2017 when she returns to preach at Peace Lutheran. Watch the weekly Blast email for updates.
Sunday School and Confirmation will not meet December 25th and January 1st
Lunch Bunch The Lunch Bunch will meet on the SECOND Tuesday of this month, December 13, 2016. We will meet at 12 noon at the Samurai Hibachi located in the Foxchase Shopping Center , 4603 Duke St. in Alexandria, Va. Lunch Bunch is a group of individuals who meet monthly for fellowship and food. A sign up sheet is located in Fellowship Hall. This will be the last
luncheon for Lunch Bunch. It has been an honor and pleasure during the past ten years to arrange a monthly lunch for Peace members and friends.
The Family Meeting scheduled for December 4, 2016 has been CANCELLED. The topics will be covered at the January 22, 2017 meeting.
Pastor Brian continues his sermon series, titled “Why Christian?” In a world and society in which church is on the decline, why would one still choose to be Chris-tian? Pastor Brian will share his biblical and personal reflection on why one might choose to be Christian today, and what that means. Dec. 4: “What Difference Does Following Jesus Make?” Dec. 18: “Why Church and Why Hope?"
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Words of Peace Page 6 December 2016
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT/GIFTS OF HOPE
Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 11, 2016
10:30 Service Calling all families interested in participating in this year’s spectacular Christmas pageant. Parents, youth and others young at heart are welcome. December 4th - Rehearsal during Sunday School December 11th - Pageant - during the 10:30 service. Contact Kara Danner for more information.
GIFTS OF HOPE Give more hope to children. Give more hope to the homeless. Give more hope to those who seek work. Give more hope to those who need sustenance. Give more hope to those who need medical or dental care. Give more hope to those who want to improve their daily lives. YOU can give hope by purchasing Gifts of Hope cards and giving the cards as gifts. An insert in the card explains how hope is given and describes the or-ganization distributing the gift. The catalog is available soon on line at www.GiftsofHopeMetroDC.org and will be available in the fellowship hall be-ginning Sunday, Nov. 27 following both services. If you are willing to monitor the Gifts of Hope table one Sunday in Dec., please contact Sue Clark, [email protected].
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CHRISTMAS PREPARATION
Poinsettia Order Form Description: 6” pot with multiple blooms
Price: $10 each
Order deadline: Thursday, December 15, 2016
Make checks payable to Peace Lutheran
with “poinsettia” in the memo.
Order totals: ________ X $10 = ________
Name:__________________________________
Email: __________________________________
Dedications will appear in the
Christmas Eve Bulletin
________________________
________________________
Greening of the Church
Saturday, December 17th 8:30 am - Noon
We will gather to get the church ready for Christmas Eve. Much fun is to be had—crawling into the attic to find the decorations, assembling the trees, ar-ranging poinsettias on the altar and more! If you have an electric screw driver, wire snips or clippers for greens, please bring them. With your help, the church will be beautiful by noon.
All Are W
elcome
The More the Merrier!
Poinsettia order forms are available in the Sunday bulletin or on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship hall.
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Words of Peace Page 8 December 2016
WOMEN’S RETREAT
Women’s One Day Retreat at Bon Secours
Kari and Anne enjoy some conversation
Nadine, Karen and Chris are all smiles
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Words of Peace December 2016 Page 9
WOMEN’S RETREAT
Carol models her completed hat
Maria does a little bird watching
Cathy keeps count of her stitches
Marcia, Maria, Karen and Carol
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Words of Peace Page 10 December 2016
FAITHFUL FAMILIES
Making Advent Wreaths
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Words of Peace December 2016 Page 11
FAITHFUL FAMILIES
Getting ready for Advent means making your own Advent wreath. Faithful Families gathered on November 20th to do just that.
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Words of Peace Page 12 December 2016
Brothers of Peace Wednesday, December 7, 2016
7:00pm
This new men’s group meets in the church narthex on the first Wednesday of each month for fellowship, discussion, support and prayer, from 7pm to 8:30 pm. Our next gathering is December 7. We had 10 men at our first gathering in October. This is your opportunity to get to know other men at Peace better, and to participate in discussing the significant issues and challenges men face in our world today. Please join us! For more information, talk to any of our leadership team, Jim Nice, Ron Maree, Steve Rinnert, or Pastor Brian Erickson or contact Pastor Brian for more information.
BROTHERS OF PEACE
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For December DECEMBER SERVING SCHEDULE
December 4 December 11 December 18 Christmas Eve December 24th
Assisting Minister Mary Malmberg Laura Maul Alison Samuels
5:00pm TBD 8:00pm TBD
Acolyte TBD TBD TBD 5:00pm TBD 8:00pm TBD
Lector Judy Gallagher Kara Danner Ray Marquardt 5:00pm TBD 8:00pm TBD
Communion Assistant
Lynne Fishburn TBD TBD 5:00pm TBD 8:00pm TBD
Ushers Bill Mitchell
Alan Byroade
Michael Stumpf
Bill Mitchell
Alan Byroade
Michael Stumpf
Bill Mitchell
Alan Byroade
Michael Stumpf
5:00pm TBD 8:00pm TBD
Altar Care Christine Howlett TBD TBD 5:00pm TBD 8:00pm TBD
Serving on Sundays
Alison Samuels Kristin Stone Jacque Hill ---
Tellers Ron Porten* Linda Porten
Donna Thiessen Jacob Thiessen
Ray Marquardt* Karen Grubbs
Ray Marquardt* Tammy Heppner
Bill Duerre
Ed Axthelm* Kathy Nice
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Words of Peace Page 14 December 2016
DECEMBER 2016
Sunday Monday Tuesday
4 First Sunday in Advent 8:00am Informal Worship with Holy Communion 9:15am Sunday School and Confirmation 10:30am Traditional Worship with Communion 12:15pm House of Faith International (HOFI) 4:00pm Advent Carol Festival 7:00pm Brass of Peace
5 12:00pm First Monday Lunch at Greensprings 10:00am Beading for Haiti 7:00pm Voices of Peace 8:15pm Bells of Peaces 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 7:30pm Al-Anon—Lauxman House
6 10:00am Morning Bible Study 6:30pm Cub Scouts 7:00pm Spirit and Scripture Group 7:00pm Bells con Brio 8:00pm Haiti Mission Trip Packing 8:15pm Messengers of Peace 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School
11 Second Sunday in Advent 8:00am Informal Worship with Holy Communion 9:15am Sunday School and Confirmation 10:30am Traditional Worship with Communion and Children’s Christmas Pageant 11:45am Liturgy Planning Meeting 12:15pm House of Faith International (HOFI) 7:00pm Brass of Peace 3:00pm Bethany House Event Set up
12 7:00pm Voices of Peace 8:15pm Bells of Peace 10am - 4pm Bethany House Facility Use 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 7:30pm Al-Anon—Lauxman House
13 10:00am Morning Bible Study 12:00pm Lunch Bunch - Samurai Hibachi 7:00pm Spirit and Scripture Group 7:00pm Bells con Brio 8:15pm Messengers of Peace 10am - 4pm Bethany House Facility Use 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School
18 Third Sunday in Advent 8:00am Informal Worship with Holy Communion 9:15am Sunday School and Confirmation 10:30am Traditional Worship with Communion 12:15pm House of Faith International (HOFI) 5:00pm Faithful Families 7:00pm Brass of Peace
19 10:00am Beading for Haiti 7:00pm Voices of Peace 8:15pm Bells of Peace 7:30pm Al-Anon—Lauxman House
20 7:00pm Spirit and Scripture Group 7:00pm Bells con Brio 8:15pm Messengers of Peace
25 Christmas Day 10:30am Worship led by House of Faith International (HOFI)
26 10:00am Beading for Haiti 7:00pm Brass of Peace rehearsal 7:30pm Al-Anon—Lauxman House
27 5:00pm Brass of Peace Alumni Concert and Dinner 7:00pm Spirit and Scripture Group
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DECEMBER 2016
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 8pm AA Meeting in Lauxman House
2 1:00pm Prayer Shawlers 10:00pm Late Night Prayer Service (HOFI) 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 6:00pm Facility Use—Watchmen Holistic Ministry
3 10:00am HOFI Prayer Meeting
7 1:00pm Project Boomerang 7:00pm Brothers of Peace 7:00pm Girl Scout Daisies 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 4:00pm Yoga—Lauxman House
8 9:30am Quilters 12:15pm Women’s Renewal at Peace (WRAP) 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 8pm AA Meeting in Lauxman House
9 1:00pm Prayer Shawlers 10:00pm Late Night Prayer Service (HOFI) 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 6:00pm Facility Use—Watchmen Holistic Ministry
10 9:30am Senior Quilt workshop 10:00am HOFI Prayer Meeting
14 1:00 PM Project Boomerang 10am - 4pm Bethany House Facil-ity Use 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 4:00pm Yoga—Lauxman House
15 7:00pm Council Meeting 12pm - 10pm Bethany House Fa-cility Use 8am - 4pm Pinecrest School 8pm AA Meeting in Lauxman House
16 1:00pm Prayer Shawlers 10:00pm Late Night Prayer Service (HOFI) 6:00pm Facility Use—Watchmen Holistic Ministry
17 8:30am Greening of the Church 10:00am HOFI Prayer Meeting 6:00pm Parents night out Babysitting
21 1:00pm Project Boomerang 7:00pm Girl Scout Daisies
22 8pm AA Meeting in Lauxman House
23 1:00pm Prayer Shawlers 10:00pm Late Night Prayer Service (HOFI) 6:00pm Facility Use—Watchmen Holistic Ministry
24 Christmas Eve 10:00am HOFI Prayer Meeting 5:00pm Christmas Eve Family Service 8:00pm Christmas Eve Late Service
28 10:00am Brass of Peace Rehearsal 1:00pm Project Boomerang
29 8:00pm AA Meeting in Lauxman House
30 1:00pm Prayer Shawlers 10:00pm Late Night Prayer Service (HOFI) 6:00pm Facility Use—Watchmen Holistic Ministry
31 10:00am HOFI Prayer Meeting
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Place Stamp Here
Address Correction Requested
Peace Lutheran Church 6362 Lincolnia Road
Alexandria, VA 22312
www.sharingpeace.org
Contact Info
[email protected] Phone: 703-354-5233
Fax: 703-750-6773
Sunday Services 8:00 a.m. Informal Worship and Holy
Communion 10:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
12:15 p.m. House of Faith International Service Nursery & Preschool Care Provided from 10-12
Weekly Services
Friday Prayer Service (HOFI) 10:00 p.m.
Editor: Kris Rinnert Contributors: Cathy Kroohs, Sue Clark, Nadine
Krutzky-Mitchell, Ray Marquardt, Elaine Peoples, Pastor Brian Erickson
Peace Events
December 4 Advent Carol Festival December 7 Brothers of Peace Discussion Group December 11 Children’s Christmas Pageant December 17 Greening of the Church December 24 Christmas Eve Services at 5pm and 8pm December 25 Christmas Day worship with House of Faith International, 10:30am
www.facebook.com/PeaceLutheranAlexandriaVa
THE NEXT DEADLINE FOR “THE WORDS OF PEACE” ~ DECEMBER 22, 2016 (Inputs should be emailed to: [email protected] or leave in secretary’s mailbox)
Electronic giving is now at Peace! To make an online gift through our secure site, scan the code with your smart phone.