Greetings and welcome to Prince of Peace!

Visitors and members alike may notice a theme to the happenings around here at POP today, and that theme is Camp. Specifically for us, Camp Wapogasset (or Camp Wapo) in Amery, Wisconsin. Prince of Peace has a rich history with Camp Wapo and we send over 100 students up there each summer to spend a week surrounded by nature, music, dancing, and usually about 300 other Lutheran youth. It's amazing. As someone who didn't grow up going to camp, I have to be honest, I was skeptical about the whole camp experience. But after 7 years of watching kids at Wapo I've become a firm believer in the power of a week at Bible camp. One of the perks of my job here at Prince of Peace is reading all the faith essays that our 9th grade students write in the summer before they are confirmed. The crazy thing about those essays is this:

Every kid who goes to camp writes about it in their essay. Every single one!

This more than anything has taught me what camp does for kids. It is a place of faith. It is a place where they can learn about and praise God surrounded by people who are there for the same reason.

Because of the profound impact of a week at Wapo on the faith lives of our young people, I would ask you to join me this Camp Sunday in doing whatever you can to get kids to camp. If you know a young person, encourage them to go. If you can help a student get there by contributing to our scholarship fund, please do so. Camp is amazing, and I hope you can join me in making sure every student at Prince of Peace can get there, experience God, and be changed.

Happy Camp Sunday!

Blessings

Natalia Terfa 

Fight hunger in Africa by joining forces with Feed My Starving Children and 1000 volunteers to package food for the Horn of Africa on February 25th. The Outreach Team has reserved space in the 11:00 am to 1:00 pm time slot. Our packing site is the Maple Grove Community Center. This event is part of the Hunger Initiative to package 1 million meals in one day. Stop by the Welcome Center to learn more & sign up.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him"

John 7:38

You may have heard that Prince of Peace is beginning to expand our global outreach by developing ministry partnerships with Lutheran Christians in Tanzania.  I am excited that Jack and Elaine Zimmer have signed on to be the first participants from POP (along with our family) in the Vision Trip to Tanzania that I will be leading this June 20 - July 5.  Ten travelers will head out on a life changing adventure to east Africa. 

I want to address one simple question ... WHY? My answer is on our webpage.  Go to the following link www.princeofpeacechurch.org and click Tanzania.

Interested in becoming a new member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. 

Join Pastor Chad and other members of the POP staff at the next New Member Orientation. There are two sessions each new member should attend: Sunday, February 12th, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm and Sunday, February 19th, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.  There will be a light lunch served and childcare will be available. For more information or to RSVP contact Lynell at lynellk@princeofpeacechurch.org or call the office at

763-560-8958 by February 7, 2012.

New members will be welcomed on Sunday, February 26th at both services. 

We are again seeking current members to be Fellowship Friends to "team up" with a new family or individual when they join Prince of Peace in February. As their Fellowship Friend, you would contact them now and then and offer support as they make connections and get involved in the church community. If possible, we'd like you to come for lunch, meet your family, and attend their new-member orientation with Pastor Chad on Sunday, February 19, from 11:30-1:00. Or you can make arrangements to meet them the following Sunday. For more information on Fellowship Friends, call Mary Gilleshammer at

612-987-6067.

As outlined in the Annual Report, more and more adults, youth, and children are using the Church Library.

Circulation Summary for 2011:  
        Books                                                562

        DVDs, videos, CDs, and audio books     203
        Total items checked out                     765

New resources through purchase and donations:

In 2011, there were 126 books and 29 other resources

catalogued and added to the shelves.

Be a part of the action--visit your Church Library today!

The WOFAL Bible Study is:

Lifeguide Topical Bible Studies

Forgiveness Bible Study

By: Douglas Connelly

This study started January 18th. 

We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month in the back office.  There will be a break during Lent (after the February 15th meeting) so members can attend the Evening Lenten services.  The study schedule will resume on April 18th.  

WOFAL Book Club will meet on the following dates:

Feb. 23rd-"The Invisible Wall" by Harry Bernstein will be discussed.

The Book Club meetings are held at 6:45 pm at the home of Char Korn, 5700 Boone Ave. North, #208, Brooklyn Park, MN, 763-561-7233.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS

Children's Ministry Events, here are a few updates/notes for all to know:

• February 10th - we will be having our Valentines Banquet!  This event is for the entire Congregation. See information towards the beginning of E-News
• DIGGIN IN - will be returning during Lent!  This is for all Sunday School age kids and will be from 6:15 - 6:45 pm on Wednesday evenings.  We will begin on Ash Wednesday - February 22nd.
• POPpers - Events for the Winter are as follows (dates and times subject to change).
    a. This Sunday, January 29th - Tubing @ Elm Creek (more information by request or on the Prince of Peace website www.princeofpeacelutheranchurch.org)
    b. February 26th - SKYZone 

SUMMER DATES: Even though Summer seems like a long way away, here are some important dates to put on your calendars:

• POPS Camp (formerly known as Veggie Camp)

  June 11th-15th AND July 16th-20th

• WAPO Dates for 2nd-6th Graders
  1. SEEDS Weekend (Completed 2nd and 3rd Grade):
  July 27th-29th
  2. YOUTH Week (Completed 4th-6th Grades):
  July 29th-August 3rd  

For more information on the information in this section contact Katie Rykal, Director of Children and Family Ministry, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 763-560-8958.

YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

• February 1: 7th/8th Prophets overview, 9th Lutheranism and Luther
• February 8: 7th/8th Minor Prophets, 9th religions
• February 15: 7th/8th Major Prophets, 9th What do I believe and why?

• February 1: Dodgeball
• February 8: Open Play
• February 15: Dodgeball

Youth Event - February 20:

Our next event is coming up soon! The hills are alive with the sound of boarding (sing it with me, aaaaah!) We're headed back to Afton Alps for a day of sking.  You have Monday the 20th off anyway, so come, bring some friends and enjoy a day on the slopes with a snowboard or skis!  Forms available now.

 

Youth Ministry Questions?   

For basic youth ministry information the web is updated often and the facebook pages are a constant flow of information too!  If you need dates, times, future events, etc., just check there.  For information sent right to your facebook feed "like" any of our groups (Revolution or Axis) on facebook, or from the POP Youth webpage!  If you are interested in joining Axis, Revolution or iRev stop by and talk to Natalia on a Sunday morning!     

  

 

Sunday School News: 
  

• Sunday School is back in FULL SWING with regularly scheduled classes during BOTH WORSHIP SERVICES.  We are diving right back into the Bible with our PreK-K classes learning the story of Daniel, Mary and Martha, Feeding the 5000, Good Samaritan, and ending with lessons on LOVE.  Our 1^st-6^th Graders are covering the stories of
  Joseph, Daniel, Psalm 23, Feeding the 5000, Doubting Thomas/Holy Week, Good Samaritan and ending with lessons on LOVE.   
• If you are ever interested in working with our young people, we are always looking for more hands to help out in Sunday School. Sometimes we need extra adults for projects or special events, while other times we need last minute subs to fill-in on Sunday mornings.  Please contact Katie if you are interested.

Mission Jamaica Dinner

Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Join the Mission Jamaica 2012 Team for a fun evening of great entertainment and Jamaican inspired food on Saturday, February 4th. Duayne Malewicki will once again share his musical talents. The menu includes all things Jamaican. The event starts at 6:00 pm. You will be able to preview the February 5th Silent Auction items and make bids. Tickets will be on sale in the Welcome Center Sunday, January 29th between services. Cost is $20 per person. See you there!

Global Missions Silent Auction

February 5, 2012 in the Welcome Center

Global Missions will be holding a Silent Auction on February 5^th in the Welcome Center from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. This event will help support our Mission Jamaica trip in March.

You can serve this ministry by donating to the silent auction. If you have items to donate, you can drop them off at the church on Saturday February 4^th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or leave them at the church office during the week marked for the Global Missions silent auction.

Contact Lori Clausen, 763-566-3481 if you have any questions. See you at the auction!!

For more information on the above events and or other activities/events at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church visit: