A Look at What's Happening in  

Missional Communities:  

 --- Families Matter ---

Families Matter is a missional community focused on the Roselawn community. Our goal is to be a resource to families in the Roselawn area particularly in the areas of education and faith development. Our involvement in the community began this summer working with Roselawn Lutheran Church and the community meal they host every Wednesday. Our group provided this meal twice a month. We played games with the kids and worshiped with the community. With the start of school we have continued to offer meals twice a month and have added tutoring, kids' activities and a Bible study.

Why the Roselawn community? The Lutheran church in Roselawn is active but aging and their ability to stay in the community is diminished. There is a commitment in the greater Lutheran community to not let this church close its doors. The members have responded to the changing demographics and needs and have opened their church to house a food pantry, a dental clinic, an eye clinic and computer classes for the community. With help from the Families Matter missional community we hope to further boost the church's presence and relevance in this community.

We also gather once a month to grow together in grace, to support one another and to have fun as a family. Our group has been blessed to have a good number of active teens as part of every gathering so it's a good way to have families working together in service.

If you are interested in helping tutor kids, provide literacy support for adults, cook meals for the community, be a supportive presence to families, and grow in your own faith walk we encourage you to join us. While the schedule may change depending on the needs of the community, currently we are gathering at Roselawn Lutheran church the first Wednesday of the month and the third Saturday of the month.

Contact Eugene or Terri Rutz to learn more

(733-0825; eugene.rutz@uc.edu or  terrirutz@gmail.com).  

--- ZOE ---

ZOE is our newest missional community. ZOE is for people who have a passion to engage adults who are challenged cognitively, physically, or emotionally. ZOE will reach out to young adults who are in transition from school to community. ZOE will provide them with opportunities for socialization, service, and worship in Kingdom building activities.  

 ZOE Missional Community events: 

--- More Than Paws ---

Missional communities can develop in many ways. For example, leaders see a need and rally others around this "mission". Some are formed around an activity and relationships spring forth from this common bond. "More Than Paws" started from an awareness that people are naturally drawn into conversation when a dog is in their midst. Missional Communities are built on relationships with people. This group is just in its infancy and so we are trying out many types of activities to see where God is leading us. Please feel free to join us as we forge new territory for His kingdom!    

Saturday, October 13th:   

Clean-up day at Circle Tail in Pleasant Plain 10 am - 2 pm  

Thursday, October 25:  

Bring our Dogs to Trunk or Treat at P.O.P. 6 - 8 pm

Please give one or more of these activities a try to see if this is your Missional Community.  

When you choose an event to attend, please contact   

Scott or Marylu Torrison at torrison@fuse.net

 --- October Zumba® Fitness Classes

and Vamonos! ---

 

 

On Friday, September 14th, a group of volunteers from POP served a dinner meal at Christ Church in Glendale for guests in the IHN program. IHN is "the faith's community response to family homelessness". It is one of 171 local affiliates across the nation of the Family Promise organization. Over 20 years ago, a few local churches and synagogues established IHN in Greater Cincinnati. In 1988, someone realized that many Sunday School classrooms are empty a large percentage of the time and might be used to shelter homeless families. In Greater Cincinnati, 25 "hosts" congregations (two per week) provide shelter sites and meals, and 66 "support" congregations work with the host congregations to provide volunteers, meals and supplies. Up to four guest families are hosted for the week. Dinner, evening activities for children, overnight shelter, breakfast and the makings for packing lunches are all provided by the volunteers. During the day, guest families go to the IHN Day Center in Walnut Hills, where they work with the case managers and other professional staff, go to jobs and training, and in the case of the children, go to school or other programs.

The POP IHN volunteers will provide the Friday dinner and activities along with overnight supervision for 5 times each year for Christ Church, Glendale. The experience was such a blessing in that we got to meet the "guests" (program participants), serve dinner, eat with them and then "play" with the parents and children by shooting hoops, doing face painting, playing Monopoly, playing with Play-doh, and just relaxing while watching a DVD. We look forward to our next Friday night of service!

For more information, contact Sigrid Kluender at 513-677-1463.   

A mysterious phenomenon takes place in our church each week. That bulletin stuck inside the hymnal to mark the next song - it disappears. So does the stick-figure portrait with big ears that your little one drew. Offering envelopes are restocked; missing pens replaced; and attendance folders are filled and repositioned at the end of each pew. Divine miracle? No, this integral work of readying the sanctuary for weekly worship is a result of the behind-the-scenes ministry called the Pew Crew.

Pew Crew isn't a service choice for those seeking accolades and attention. And it's true, Pew Crew can become mundane. However, there are interesting moments - like the time a spider crawled out of the welcome folder we were handling. And interesting things are left behind too. We recently found three paint chips in the pew rack in the following colors: "Presidential Suite," "Bottle Blue" and "Yacht Club Blue." We also found an offering envelope filled out for $500 - but empty inside.

Over time we've obtained quite a collection of notes and artwork, including a piece titled "Fluffy the Hippo." Most are drawn on little yellow sheets of pew paper that our church provides with the heading "Scribble Sheet for Little Lutherans." And it's not just the little ones who doodle. We found a detailed sketch of the floor plan for the new sanctuary addition. Apparently somebody was taking good notes at the informational meeting.

So what does all this mean? Does it mean parents are purposely choosing to ignore what happens to their kids' notes, drawings and paper airplanes? Does it mean worshipers are blatantly trying to show disrespect for the sanctuary when they leave a bulletin behind or put a hymnal back in the wrong direction? Does it mean parishioners should be scolded for their inattentiveness and carelessness? It's easy to become callous to the clutter and miss the meaning beneath the mundane.

For example, less-than-perfect pew racks mean our church is alive. The messiness means families are worshiping. Misplaced hymnals mean people are singing. Children's activity sheets left in the pews mean kids are learning. Envelope slots in need of restocking mean people are giving.

Yes, sometimes the sanctuary looks well-lived-in. But that's just what one would expect from an active congregation. After all, a church building should be more of a house rather than a museum. The clutter is just an indication that the family's been home.

Special thanks to the "Pew Crew" and all the other people who serve quietly behind the scenes to make the many gatherings in our congregations welcoming and memorable. Your contributions are valued.

POP Kids Update  

a ministry of Prince of Peace

by Angie Seiller

 

 

And we're off! School has started and the halls are again filled with laughter and song. We have only had a few, small tears. One of the seniors who attends Bible Study on Wednesday said she heard someone crying very hard...he was crying because he didn't want to LEAVE school. We are blessed!

This year, we are so happy to add Amy Dakoske as our 3's teacher and Chelsea Platter as another Pre-K 1 teacher. Their enthusiasm and love for the children is contagious. Our experienced staff has welcomed them with open arms. We are looking forward to a great year!

We are incorporating a new program in school, "Hand Writing without Tears". It is the program that Loveland and Kings uses to start forming letters in kindergarten. It is an exciting, age-appropriate way to learn to read and write the letters of the alphabet.

We still have a few spaces in our Pre-K Class which is so important before kindergarten and one more space in our 2-1/2 year class. Please pass the word!

Serving in Him,

Angie Seiller

Program Manager

POP Kids Silent Auction is coming!   

 

 

POP Kids works every year on a tight budget so that we can keep tuition low and affordable to everyone. With the economy so tight, we were also able to give 3 children scholarships. The funds raised from the Silent Auction help us with large equipment purchases, special programming and teacher appreciation.

We need donations! We would appreciate any items:

• event tickets, autographed sports memorabilia, jewelry, toys, time share or lodging
• gift certificates (restaurant, movie, spa service, favorite store, etc.)
• service (personal trainer, lessons, painting, photography, etc.)
• hand-made items (scarves, jewelry, hair accessories, etc.).  

Donation forms are available in the main POP Kids room on the right counter mid-October.