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a monthly news publication
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Dates to Remember:
King's Domain
Senior High Youth Retreat
December 2
Advent Ring-a-thon and Family Breakfast
9:30 am
Advent Worship
& Soup Supper:
Supper 6:15 pm Worship 7:15 pm
December 9
Assisting Minister Training
9:30 - 10:45 am
December 9 Neighborhood
Christmas Caroling / Chimes 2 - 4 pm
December 12
Advent Worship
& Soup Supper:
Supper 6:15 pm
Worship 7:15 pm
December 16
Christmas Decorating & PLC Set-up
10:30 am - 1:30 pm
December 18
Rehearsal for those serving in worship in the PLC for
Christmas season
6:30 pm Acolytes,
7 pm all others
December 19
Advent Worship
& Soup Supper:
Supper 6:15 pm Worship 7:15 pm December 19 Musician Rehearsal for Christmas Eve 7 pm December 20
Seniors' Christmas Lunch 11:30 amDecember 23
Sunday worship
10 am in the PLC
No Sunday School Nursery Care ProvidedDecember 24Christmas Eve worship services 5 pm, 7 pm, 9 pm, & 11 pm December 25 & 26 Church Closed December 30
Sunday worship 10 am in the PLC - No Sunday School December 30
PLC Take-down / Move to Sanctuary after 10 am Worship January 6 Epiphany January 12 & 13 Baptismal Weekend (Baptism of our Lord) January 26 Women's Retreat January 27 Pastor Grant's farewell luncheon After 11 am worship service Click here for our online calendar.
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WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE
READINGS:
1 Advent
12/2/2012
Jeremiah 33:14-16,
Psalm 25:1-10,
1 Thesselonians
3:9-13,
Luke 21:25-36
2 Advent
12/9/2012
Malachi 3:1-4,
Luke 1:68-79,
Philippians 1:3-11,
Luke 3:1-6
3 Advent
12/16/2012
Zephaniah 3:14-20,
Isaiah 12:2-6,
Philippians 4:4-7,
Luke 3:7-18
Micah 5:2-5a,
Luke 1:46b-55,
Hebrews 10:5-10,
Luke 1:39-55
Isaiah 9:2-7,
Psalm 96,
Titus 2:11-14,
Luke 2:1-20
(early services),
John 1:1-14
(late services)
1Samuel 2:18-20, 26,
Psalm 148,
Colossians 3:12-17,
Luke 2:41-52
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FINANCIAL
October
2012
Fiscal YTD Giving to
Current Fund $466,642.46 Fiscal YTD
Actual Expenses
$476,861.46
Fiscal YTD
Budgeted Expenses
$492,873.06
October Only: Contributions to Designated Funds
not including
Building Fund
$3,325.07
Contributions to Building Fund
$120,742.91
Fiscal YTD
Building Pledges Received
$368,529.56
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Attendance
October
2012
Average Per Week:
423
YTD
Average Per Week:
407
October 2011
Average Per Week:
449
2011 YTD
Average Per Week:
428
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From the Pastor
Our time is a time of waiting; waiting is its special destiny. And every time is a time of waiting, waiting for the breaking in of eternity. All time runs forward. All time, both history and in personal life, is expectation. Time itself is waiting, waiting not for another time, but for that which is eternal. -Paul Tillich
It is Advent once again, and our season of waiting and expectation is made all the more poignant this week by the news that Pastor Grant has accepted a new call to serve as the Lutheran Campus Pastor at The Ohio State University. We will be grieving these next two months and begin to say goodbyes. We will be discussing what is next for Prince of Peace as we begin to contemplate the next Associate Pastor to serve Prince of Peace. We will be praying for our congregation, for Ohio State campus ministry, and for Grant, Tammy and Grayson as they make this move. We will also be anticipating with hope-filled expectation the new chapter of ministry that God is preparing for us at Prince of Peace.
In Advent we sing and we pray, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Come again in glory to reign in love and truth. Come now to fill us with hope and confidence. Come now to show us the way that you are preparing.
I have been blessed with more time to digest this news of Grant's departure. We have spent many hours over the last couple of months discussing and praying for his future. I believe whole-heartedly that Pastor Grant is going where God is calling him at this moment. I think it will be a tremendous opportunity for him to grow in his leadership and to share his gifts in ministry in a setting that suits him well. I will miss him greatly as a friend and colleague that I see every day. I am also confident that our friendship will continue for many years to come, and for that I am very grateful.
This time of discernment for Grant has also afforded me time to begin to think about our future at Prince of Peace. I have been discerning the gifts that are most important for a new associate to bring to complement my strengths and offset my weaknesses. I have also been praying about how our congregation has changed since we called Pastor Grant, and how the gifts of a new associate might be used to embrace new opportunities for our congregation. Now that you are all aware of this new reality I will be looking for your counsel as we begin this discernment together.
With all that is happening right now at Prince of Peace, this does not feel like a time for a protracted interim, so we will begin the process of identifying a new associate with all due haste. Kathy Weimer will present a slate of names for a call committee to be approved at our Council Meeting next week. I will be meeting with Ed Williams, our Assistant to the Bishop in two weeks to discuss the process. I am already beginning very tentative exploratory conversations with several candidates that might be interested in the position. These decisions always take time, as they should, so that we can make the best decisions possible for our congregation, but please know that we will make every effort to make the transition time as short as possible as we continue moving forward together.
We are also making plans for Pastor Grant and Tammy's final Sunday on January 27. Please mark your calendars for a special luncheon on that day following the 11:00 service. We will share many more details with you in the coming weeks, but we want to be sure that everyone can set aside that date now.
A pastoral transition for our congregation, a new building on the horizon, a fiscal cliff in the news, it is certainly a challenging time. But even now, especially now, we pray, "O come, O come Emmanuel." We pray and we trust that Christ will come in love to show us the way.
In Christ,
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By now you have all received the letter in the mail announcing our new call to college ministry at Ohio State. Tammy and I will be moving to Columbus sometime in February. Tammy will continue to work with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship as a Regional Coordinator for Asian American Ministries after her sabbatical is over at the end of February. If you would like to keep up with what Tammy is doing you can send her an email (tammychi@gmail.com) so that she can add you to her monthly prayer letter. Grant will serve as Pastor at Jacob's Porch (www.jacobsporch.org), which is the Lutheran Campus ministry at Ohio State.
We both have been extraordinarily blessed to walk with you in ministry. You all have been loving, generous, thoughtful and tenacious partners in the gospel. We truly feel as though our ministry at Ohio State will be an extension of our ministry in this place, sent as missionaries into a new place, while remembering our time with you fondly. The apostle Paul says in the first chapter of Philippians," I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
When we think back upon the love and care that you all have shown us it is overwhelming. With the wedding and baby showers, gifts and letters, meals and prayers and encouragement in our marriage and ministry, you have exemplified Christ's love for us.
So, while it is for us very hard to say goodbye, we trust in God's call and provision for this congregation and for our family as we make this move. We will continue to pray for you and for this congregation and would greatly appreciate your continued prayers for us in the years ahead. We love you and will truly miss this place.
With love,
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A Key to Newsletter Articles
We are called to live balanced lives of discipleship. UP in relationship to God, IN in relationship with each other and OUT in witness and service to our community and world.
The articles in this newsletter are coded to show which ones are about UP, IN, and OUT. The image above shows you how we will be coding each article.
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Advent
December 5, 12, & 19
Wednesday Midweek Worship & Soup Suppers
Supper at 6:15 pm & Worship at 7:15 pm
Join us for a great time of fellowship followed by prayer.
!!! Soup Suppers Volunteers Needed !!!
Please sign up on the bulletin board to bring soup, bread, desserts, and beverages or to help with clean-up. Your help is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions, please contact Kim Donaldson at
Christmas Eve
December 24
Family Worship at 5 pm & 7 pm in PLC
Gather with us for Holy Communion and singing of our favorite carols. This family service is perfect for those with young children. A special Christmas drama will be shared.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship - 9 pm & 11 pm
This traditional service includes a Christmas message, Holy Communion, music from our adult choir, and ends with singing
"Silent Night" by candlelight.
PLEASE NOTE: Historically, the 5 and 9 pm services have had the highest attendance. Please come to worship in as few cars as possible. If there is not any more room in our parking lot, you may park in the Safety Center lot.
All worship services Dec 23 - Dec 30 will be held
in the Parish Life Center.
All Sunday morning services will be held at 10 am.
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We need your help!
Decorate and set-up for Christmas
Dec. 16 & 30
All ages are welcome!
We have been moving our Christmas worship services to the Parish Life Center (PLC) to provide more room until our new sanctuary is built. It takes many volunteers to make this happen.
And what is more festive than serving together with our church family to decorate our "house"? We will put on some Christmas music just like you might do at home to add to the festivity and share in some hot chocolate!
We need many hands to help set up (Dec 16) and take down
(Dec 30). All ages welcome to help! You can sign up for a specific area (e.g. manger set-up, Christmas tree purchase / delivery) or sign up to be available to help wherever there is need.
Here are a few of the activities we need help with: *Moving Musical Instruments (e.g. Organ, Drums) *Taking down the Sunday School rooms in the PLC *Bringing down the stage from the loft *Moving Altar Furniture *Setting up the Mangers *Helping set up the stage *Pick-up/Delivery of the Christmas Trees *Moving the Altar Care items from the Sacristy *Decorating the Christmas Trees If you are able to help, please sign up on the up bulletin board. Set up & Decorate the PLC Sunday, December 16 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Take Down Sunday, December 30 after the 10 am service If you have questions, please contact Karen Skarda at kskarda@popluther.org or 683-4244.
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Adorn the PLC
with Poinsettias & Christmas Trees
Christmas Poinsettia/Christmas tree order envelopes are in the narthex, on the UP bulletin boards.
Orders can be made in honor or memory of loved ones and will adorn the PLC for our Christmas services.
The poinsettias will be $10. Small Christmas trees will be $25.
The deadline for orders is Sunday, December 16, 2012.Order envelopes need to be placed in the offering plates or mailed directly to the church office.
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Advent Ringathon & Family Breakfast
December 2
9:30 am - 10:30 am
We will have a time of celebration and planning as we prepare our hearts and our homes for the coming of Christ.
This program is open to all! This will replace Sunday School classes, so parents are asked to attend with their children.
Please join us!
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Advent Family Wreath Lighting
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
During Advent, we have a special time during our worship services to ponder the light of Christ by the lighting of the Advent Wreath. Are you able to help? Individuals, families, and couples are needed to light the wreath. Sign up below and speak with the pastor 10 minutes before the service to receive instructions.
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Rehearsal for PLC
"Serving in Worship"
Tuesday, December 18
Are you scheduled to volunteer to serve in worship for any of the worship services from 12/22 - 12/30 in the PLC?
If so, we are holding a rehearsal on Tuesday evening, December 18 in the PLC to provide guidance on how things change in the PLC verses a regular Sunday in the sanctuary.
Last year, we had over 100 worshipers here on Christmas Eve, so it does take some coordination to support these celebratory worship services. Even if you have attended in the past, please join us to be debriefed on the plans for this year.
6:30 - 7:00 pm: Acolytes
7:00 - 8:00 pm: Assisting Ministers, Ushers,
Communion Assistants, and Crucifers
If you cannot attend or have questions,
please contact Karen Skarda
kskarda@popluther.org or 683-4244.
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Build a Well & Save Lives
and get your holiday "shopping" done
at the same time!
Community & Global Ministries Committee's global ELCA focus for 2012-2013 is clean and safe water.
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Water is a basic necessity of life. Helping a community construct and maintain a water well opens a world of opportunity. With each working well, ELCA estimates that as many as 500 families gain access to clean and safe drinking water. The cost of a water well is $2,500. During Advent, our goal is to collect enough funds to construct a well.
There are two ways for our congregation to contribute:
(1) Sunday School offerings during Advent will be contributed toward this cause. Come to the Family Advent Program on Dec 2 during the Sunday School hour to hear more!
(2) You can also donate toward well construction by making a contribution. Community & Global Ministries Committee members will also be in the narthex before or after services to accept your donations. Watch the bulletin board by the mailboxes to see how we're doing. Each brick of our construction means 10 families will have access to clean and safe water!
How, you might ask, will this help me with my Christmas shopping???
Consider giving a donation to this cause in honor of someone on your Christmas list. You won't find anything more useful! We will have specially designed cards that you can use that acknowledge that the gift of water has been made in their honor.
Stop by our table to make a donation during Advent!
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Don't miss the Silent Auction
to benefit POP Kids School!
Friday, November 30 - Thursday, December 6
The POP Kids Auction is going on now in the hallways of Prince of Peace.
There are great items to bid on:
*UC basketball tickets
*Red's tickets
*King's Island tickets
*Hocking Hills weekend cabin
*Photography sessions
*Handmade - American doll clothes, jewelry, scarves, etc.
*Autographed books
*All kinds of gift cerificates
And so much more!
It is worth your time to come and look. Bidding starts on Friday, Nov. 30 and ends at 7:00 pm on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Stop by anytime to shop.
All proceeds go to POP Kids School to purchase large items and school enrichment programs which keeps our tuition low and affordable for everyone.
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Still looking for the perfect gift
for a special child in your life?
Consider CAMP!
"I plan to go back again and have another week of a lifetime. There was no drama there, everyone was nice to one another, and I felt closer to God. Camp had a big impact on my relationship with God. I became so caught up in the Holy Spirit that I had forgotten about the outside world"
"How can I be unhappy here? Camp is amazing!"
"I don't know - I can't explain it, I just felt God [during camp devotions]. It was peaceful and I knew God was there."
"There is something very special about this place"
These sound like quotes from a camp brochure or commercial but they are not! They are direct quotes from students from Prince of Peace.
Matt Truesdell, Johnny Schaller, Margaret Eilert, and Katie Fackler joined with over twenty other Prince of Peace students last year to give camp a try. Many of them had faith forming experiences!
Give the gift of CAMP this year!
Prince of Peace will be sending campers (and hopefully providing transportation) to Camp Mowana in Mansfield, Ohio the week of July 21-26.
Mary Ellen Helms will spend the week at camp as we work with the camp staff to provide opportunities for children in K-8th grade to grow their faith at this special place.
Summer Registration for 2013 programs begins on Saturday, November 17, 2012.
Discover your place apart where memories are made and the natural beauty of God's creation, laughter, friendship, and love abounds! Your unforgettably fun, faith-filled experience will include games, swimming, campfires, creative Bible discovery, crafts, songs, celebratory worship, nature activities, new friends and well-trained counselors who care.
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LOMO Community Outings
"Festival of Lights" at the Cincinnati Zoo. Join us from 5:00 - 8:00pm on Tuesday, December 11.
LOMO will be hosting "Community Outings" in the greater Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, or a location near you, through-out the year.
This is an opportunity for camp supporters (YOU!) to get together, catch up, have fun, and show your support of our camps. There is no need to register or RSVP; just show up, wear your favorite camp apparel and enjoy the day.
*Our first community outing will be the "Festival of Lights" at the Cincinnati Zoo. Join us from 5:00 - 8:00pm on Tuesday, December 11.
This is a "half price night", so make sure you pick up your half off coupon at your local UDF. A LOMO staff member will be at the gate greeting you and providing you with "I LOVE CAMP" stickers to wear on your coats. We hope you will join us for our first (of many) LOMO Community Outings!
For more information on the Festival of Lights, please visit: http://cincinnatizoo.org/events/festival-of-lights
*Please note that this is strictly a social gathering;
LOMO is not providing admission, supervision, or programming.
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All are welcome to the
"Ninth Annual Nativity Festival"
Saturday, December 8, 11 am - 5 pm
Sunday, December 9, 12 pm - 4 pm
Maysville, KY
Trinity and St. Paul Lutheran Churches in Maysville, KY are having their "Ninth Annual Nativity Festival" on Saturday, Dec. 8 from
11 am - 5 pm and Sunday, Dec. 9 from 12 pm - 4 pm. Groups can contact Martha Fryman (606-564-3269) to make an appointment to view the display on Friday, Dec. 7.
*Come see over 200 nativity displays from around the world.
*Highlighted this year is a unique display of nativity sets made from paper.
*A beautiful collection of angels is shown through out the exhibit.
*Have your children's pictures taken free of charge in our full sized nativity scene.
*Listen to beautiful holiday music while you enjoy the sights.
The display was featured in December 2010 on KET's "Kentucky Life Chrismas Program".
The Festival is fee, but canned goods are being collected for the local food bank. Any donation will be appreciated.
The church is located at 621 Parker Road, Maysville, Kentucky, across the street from the Maysville Nursing and Rebhailitation Facility.
Contact Martha Fryman (606-564-3269) for more information.
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"Notes from the Edge"
Happenings from the Edge House at UC
The Edge House is the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM)
on the edge of UC campus led by Pastor Alice Connor.
NOSH is our Sunday evening dinner and worship mash-up. We begin in the living room at the Edge House with announcements of upcoming events and an admonition to turn cell phones off. We continue with a song (in parts!), prayer, a reading from scripture, and some questions to inspire conversation. Then we move to the dining rooms to eat and talk, our conversation being the sermon for the evening. Eventually, we change gears and celebrate Eucharist around the dinner table, again singing, and closing with dessert. Attendees have ranged from committed Lutherans to devout atheists and the conversation is lively. Our most consistent participants have come because a friend shared their experience.
--Pastor Alice
How You Can Get Involved at the Edge House:
* Offer an hour or two a week as a greeter-particularly over lunch, we need folks to welcome students, answer the phone, and just relax in a fun environment.
* Donate tulip bulbs or mulch for the curb appeal of the house
* Donate a simple tool kit: hammer, screwdrivers, picture hanging stuff, measuring tape, etc.
Thank You!
Marylu Torrison brought us dinner for NOSH the other week, and it was delicious! The students really appreciate homemade meals.
Email Pastor Alice at aconnor@goodshepherd.com for info.
See what we're doing at the Edge House and get more information about how you can get involved at
www.edge-uc.org.
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Our next women's retreat is Friday, January 25 & Saturday, January 26th, 2013 at King's Domain Camp, Conference & Retreat Center.
We are excited to have Pastor Alice Connor, from the Edge, Lutheran Campus Ministry, UC as our presenter on the topic "Women and Spirituality." Mark your calendar and watch for details after Christmas!
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Adult mission trip to
the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Arizona
March 23-30, 2013
I would like to invite you to travel with members of Ascension Lutheran Church and friends from our community to Arizona this spring, March 23-30, 2013 for a week long mission trip to support an ELCA mission that includes a school, a clinic and a church in the Navajo Nation. We have much to offer, as do they.
I have included a link to a video site of the mission so that you can see a bit of what their world is about! Click here to view the link.
Once we have an idea of who can join us we can focus what we will do when we get there but every one of us has a skill that can be used.
Personally, I am not the handiest guy but I can clean, and sing and usually follow directions.
Please respond to this note with some contact information and we will get in touch with everyone in the near future.
'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
Joel Mortensen
Contact Joel Mortensen: joelmortensen@gmail.com.
Also, contact Debbie Heidrich: debbie.heidrich@gmail.com
POP council representative from the Community and Global Ministries Committee.
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POP Serving the Homeless
Prince of Peace has recently become a Support Congregation for the Interfaith Hospitality Network at Christ Church in Glendale. IHN serves homeless families. There are 27 Host Congregations in the Cincinnati area and 67 Support Congregations. Each Host Congregation furnishes meals, private sleeping quarters and fellowship from Sunday night until Saturday morning, five times throughout the year. Prince of Peace furnishes the Friday night meal and fellowship for families at Christ Church in Glendale. Recently Christ Church lost their Sunday night Support congregation. We are asking if any more of you would like to join this mission now that there is another opening. There will be a sign-up sheet on the Out bulletin board. If you think you would be interested, please sign up. If there is enough interest, we will have a meeting and explain more about how we function as a support congregation. If you have questions, call Sigrid Kluender at 677-1463. If you would like to learn more about IHN, go to
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Christmas Luncheon
Thursday, Dec. 20, 11:30 am
Young at Heart Seniors will have a Christmas luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 11:30 am in the POP atrium.
Our program will feature ventriloquist Gary Lare.
The cost for lunch and entertainment is $15.
Check the Senior Board for the menu. Enter your name on the sign-up sheet or fill out the tear-off sheet in your mailbox.
For more information call Zielke's at 489-3049 or Pastor Ken.
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Women's Bible Study
December 9, 7-8:30 pm
The Women's Bible Study meets the 2nd Sunday of each month in the Parlor at 7:00 - 8:30pm.
On Dec 9, we will be discussing the Bible study from the November issue of Gather magazine. All are welcome to join us as you are able! It is helpful, but not necessary to read the materials ahead of time.
Contact Debbie Heidrich at debbie.heidrich@gmail.com for copies of the November or December issues of Gather Magazine. This magazine is the official magazine of the Women of the ELCA. It contains other great articles in addition to the Bible study!
Those who would like to join us in 2013, or those who are just interested in the magazine, are encouraged to subscribe to Gather Magazine by clicking here.
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 A Look at What's Happening in
Missional Communities:
*Are you out of high school, entering adulthood, looking for friends, seeking a place to belong?
*Are you facing challenges or disabilities without the support of school and its routine?
*Do you wonder if God is there for you?
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, providing them with opportunities for socialization, service, and worship in Kingdom building activities.
We gathered last month for their second social event at Book Bums in West Chester. All experienced the wonderful ambiance that included the music of jazz musicians Rue 54, delicious pizza, and large mugs of hot chocolate, irish creme, or mocha cherry beverages.
December calender of events:
Friday, December 7, 5:30 pm:
ZOE missional community and More than Paws missional community will meet at church at 5:30pm to carpool to US Bank Arena for Cyclones Annual "Pucks & Pups" event which allows you to bring your dog to the game. At half time, there will be "weiner races" on the ice. Reservations were made on November 28; however, extra seats were held for folks who may just learn through of this activity via newsletter. It is not too late to be included. Contact missional community leaders: Linda Paduk, Marti Lemond or Marylu Torrison for details.
Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 7:00 pm:
ZOE missional community welcomes you to attend a Christmas/Birthday party at the home of Linda & Mark Paduk.
Come and celebrate the joy of our Lord's birth.
ZOE participants who have December birthdays will also be honored.
Please contact either Linda Paduk (683-7188) or
Marti Lemond (777-0042) for more information.
ZOE missional community continues to evolve since its inception in October. Your ideas, stories, and input are welcome.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More Than Paws "The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." This is Advent, so why write about harvest time now? Isn't Advent the time when we draw closer to God? Look at the rest of the quote from Matthew 9:38,"therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest". The members of our missional communities here at Prince of Peace are the laborers. We are going where ever God is calling us. More than Paws mission field is the local dog parks. This month we will be at Schappacher Park. Please join us. Bundle up, bring your cup of warm cheer and an old blanket to keep you warm. The fresh air will do you good!! We hope to see you on Sunday, December 16 at 4:00 pm Schappaccher Dog Park.
More Than Paws is lead by Scott and Marylu Torrison.
For further information, please contact us at
Other scheduled events and details are regularily sent out via e-mail and member mail boxes.
We can also be reached by phone at
513-774-0617 (H) or 513-477-3264 (C).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December ZumbaŽ Fitness Classes and Vamonos! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Get movin' and burn off some of those Christmas cookies!
ZumbaŽ Fitness classes
Monday and Thursday Evenings in the PLC
Mondays at 6:30 pm Thursdays at 6:30 pm (new time) No classes 12/17 - 12/31 Classes Resume 1/3 Guest instructors are helping Karen while she recovers from surgery.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vamonos!
Get Moving!
All are welcome to gather with Vamonos!, a missional community that is focused on staying healthy so we can do the things that God wants us to do! Come to Zumba Fitness classes to get moving and connect with others from Vamonos!. We gather monthly in addition to Zumba fitness to connect together (food / faith / fun) and serve in mission. Gathering and service nights on:
Friday, December 14 at 7 pm: Christmas party at Michelle Miller's home. Bring an appetizer or treat to share and a $5.00 wrapped gift for exchange. Email karenskarda@gmail.com for directions.
Monday, December 17 (POP) at 6:30 pm: Help us set up chairs in the PLC that we need for Christmas services. Many hands make light work! Come burn some calories!
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Questions for Zumba Fitness or Vamonos!,
Please contact Karen Skarda (312-9498) or karenskarda@gmail.com
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POP Kids Update
a ministry of Prince of Peace
Popsicles or Popcorn?... and what's going on in December You may have noticed the "Vote for Popsicles" and "Vote for Popcorn" signs around the church. We had great fun at POP Kids holding our own election. I was the campaign manager for popsicles and CJ Savage was the campaign manager for popcorn. Both were clean, well-executed campaigns but popsicles won. The children had to show their picture ID's, go into the voting booth and they knew that they could only vote for one choice. We talked about respecting everyone's choice and even if our choice wasn't picked by the most people, we didn't complain. It's never too early to learn the importance of voting! Look for angels around the school in December. Robin Stevenson has been busy creating our Christmas program. As always, if you would like to see the joy of Christmas in our precious children, All are welcome at the Christmas Program Thursday, Dec.13 at 9:15 am & 12:45 pm and on Friday, Dec.14 at 9:15 am. It comes so fast every year but we register for 2013-2014 school year in January. Our classes are for 2-1/2 to 5 year olds. Our classes blend a loving, Christian environment with a curriculum that gets them ready for kindergarten. Look for more information mid-December at www.popkidsschool.com. May the joy of Christmas be yours!
Angie Seiller Program Manager |
The card making group will meet on
January 3, 2013 at 10 am.
No December meeting.
We will be making Valentines for the senior clients of the LIFE Food Pantry. Supplies are furnished and no experience is needed.
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Timing.
As of mid-November the architects have reached the 75% completion point in the design of the new Sanctuary and education area, the point when the Building Committee is asked to look at it very critically to be sure it includes all we expect. Following any needed changes, the drawings will be given to potential contractors for cost estimates and suggestions for cost savings, and by then we'll have a good idea of the final cost and can add items or make cuts as necessary. The design then is brought to the 100% point, we do another review, and is submitted to contractors for bidding. When we receive the bids in mid-December we'll know the final cost and can schedule a congregational meeting to formally approve the amount, a step required by the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, which is providing the mortgage loan. We expect the start of construction around the first of February, call it Groundhog Day.
Here's some highlights of the Sanctuary design so far:
Chancel.
This will have four rounded steps up so that the pastors can be seen by the whole congregation, and a ramp is provided for those needing it. Communion will be distributed without a communion rail as we presently do occasionally, to emphasize the openness of the Sacrament.
Pews and seating.
We'll reuse all the pews and blue-upholstered chairs from the existing Sanctuary, will re-upholster them, plus buy new pews and chairs of the same design for the new Sanctuary. The front and rear rows will be these chairs instead of pews to give flexibility. The baptismal font will be moveable from a location in the rear to a place right in the center of the assembly, with several portable pews being moved to give it room.
Music and sound.
The Sanctuary is being designed with the guidance of an acoustic engineer and sound professionals and will have a speaker rack on the wall behind the musicians, partially hidden by a slash of fabric. Wall treatments are being designed in sync with acoustical needs. The musician area provides seating for the choir plus room for the bell choir as well as the instruments we are familiar with, and is flexible to cover changing needs and musical styles.
Stained glass.
The stained glass from the three windows on each side of the existing Sanctuary will be moved to the front of the new Sanctuary, be supplemented by a few additional panes, and will direct your eye with its upward sweep to the cross. The center beam of the ceiling will direct your eye from the baptismal font to the cross up front.
Entry.
Glass doors are featured at the main entry from the Narthex, approximately where the musicians are now, and will be made foldable to open up for overflow into the Narthex. There will be two other sets of entry doors as well, one of which will lead through the education hallway to the covered sidewalk to the parking lot. The main entry into the Narthex will be a new covered drop-off coming in where the stained glass windows are now, and will lead past a new coat room and welcome desk.
There are a whole lot of additional details to share with you about the Sanctuary, education area, Narthex, and the grounds outside, so the minutes of Building Committee meetings are posted on the bulletin board with important items highlighted to keep you informed.
Rich Peters,
Chairman, Building Committee
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Chili Cook-off
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Lent Soup Suppers
Wednesdays, February 13, 20, 27
March 6,13 & 20
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Important information about
Year End Giving!
This year December 31 falls on a Monday. According to IRS regulations, money is credited to the year
in which it is received.
Therefore, any money physically received through
December 31, 2012, will be posted on your 2012 offering statement. Money physically received at the church on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 or after, will be credited to the year 2013. Members are urged to make their final contribution(s) as early as possible. Signing up for electronic giving will ensure that your funds are received on the day designated. The form for the Simply Giving electronic contribution program is available on our website for you to download. Please click here or see Sue McIlvoy for the form. Anyone considering making a donation through stock transfer should make certain the stock is in our account by December 31. Please see Sue McIlvoy for further information.
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Click here to download a pdf of the prayer list
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Closing Thoughts from our President
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. The anticipation of Advent season and the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is upon us. For Prince of Peace, there is much to prepare for in the coming year! We have been working hard to grow ministries such as our missional communities and make plans to expand our facilities and now we must prepare to say goodbye to Pastor Grant and his family as they answer God's call to work in campus ministry at OSU.
While I am saddened by Pastor Grant's decision, I am comforted to know that he is responding to God's plan for him and his family, which gives me peace. When we called Pastor Grant about six years ago, we knew that this day would come at some point. While Pastor Grant will hold a special place in our hearts; I am sure Prince of Peace will also hold a special place in his heart as we have served as his first call to a church. Some of us were present for his ordination and we have rejoiced with him, as he became a husband and father while serving here. This family of faith has helped to shape him into the fine pastor that he is today. The church as a whole will never grow as God wants it to if we do not have pastors reaching out to our young adults to support them in their faith journeys. I can't imagine anyone more capable of doing this important work than Pastor Grant, with the help of Tammy and Grayson! So, in this Advent season, I hope we can joyfully anticipate this new chapter of the Eckhart Family's life and express our appreciation for all that they have met to us in the past several years. Please plan to join me on Sunday, January 27th (more details to follow) to say goodbye and thank you to Pastor Grant, Tammy and Grayson.
As your council president, I can assure you that I value the importance of having a full pastoral team in place. The council will have a proposed slate of call committee members to review at our December 3rd meeting. I hope to have the committee approved and in place by mid December. In addition, we have a very fine staff that has answered the call many times in the past when a team member was missing and I know that we can count on them again. We will be in regular contact with the Southern Ohio Synod as well to assist us with the call process. Our call committee's first charge will be to have a complete job description in place with our current and future needs for an associate pastor in mind. I will do my best to keep this congregation apprised on how the call process is going. Please look for updates in the weekly announcement folders as well as in this newsletter.
There is much to be accomplished in the coming month as we look forward to our Lord and Savior's birth. Please consider joining us for midweek Advent soup suppers and worship. It can be the needed "oasis" in the midst of a hectic week! Our musicians and staff will be hard at work preparing for the many services during this joyful season. Please consider lending a hand to help as you can. We can also anticipate the announcement of a congregational meeting on the building plan to approve the final cost of the building project once all bids have been received (see the Bold Together In Christ building update). Thank you to all of you that have pledged for the upcoming year during our Growing and Giving Together In Christ stewardship campaign. It is never too late to prayerfully consider your pledge to our regular operating budget for the coming year. Pledge cards are available at the welcome center at church. Thank you!
O Come, O Come Emmanuel! I pray that the Lord's light will shine within you and give you peace. I ask that you pray for Pastor Grant and his family as they begin this new journey with Christ and that we pray for Prince of Peace as we look to new opportunities for pastoral leadership and to follow God's will with all that we do in the coming months. Merry Christmas!
God's Grace and Peace to you,
Kathy Weimer
Church Council President
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REMINDER!
All news articles for next month's newsletter are due to Cary Rohrer by the 15th. Email stories and photos to crohrer@popluther.org or drop it in my mailbox or by my office.
Contact info for our church:
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
101 South Lebanon Rd.
Loveland, OH 45140
513.683.4244
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