This Week at Prince of Peace...

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost                     August 30, 2015


This Sunday's Readings
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15; James 1:17-27 
 
GOSPEL:  Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition."
            Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile."
            For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

 
Please remember in your prayers this week...
 
Recently Added  
Greta Kunkle
Kathy Tezla (relative of Sofi Yanevskyy)
Madelyn Berkeley
Brittany Daniel (daughter of Cherie & Mike DeGeorge)

Haris (friend of Greg Von Wald)
Lisa Adams, Emily Adams-Muhler, & Jim McNerney
Rose Simmerman  (grandniece of Sherry Schiebel)
Robert Gowing (father of Scott Gowing)
Mary Christine Hevner (sister of Judy Wooldridge)
Mark Miller (friend of Butler family)
Suzanne Szaloczi (friend of Sherry Schiebel)

Thanksgiving   
Birth of Kristabelle Clair Bruton (daughter of Rose Simmerman)  
 
Continuing Prayers
Click here for Continuing Prayer List located below. 
 
*Please notify the church office of anyone else needing prayers, or if the concern is resolved.    
 
Coming Up at Prince of Peace
  
This Weekend...  
Blessing of Backpacks at all services! Bring your backpack for a blessing!!
Saturday, August 29 - Worship will be held at 5:00 pm
Sunday, August 30 - Worship will be held at 8:30 & 10:00 am

    Next Weekend...  
Labor Day Weekend
Saturday, September 5 - Worship will be held at 5:00 pm
Sunday, September 6 - Worship will be held at 8:30 & 10:00 am
 
       Looking Ahead...
Sunday, Aug 30                                  Blessing of Backpacks
                                    8:30 AM          Worship
                                    10:00 AM         Worship
Tuesday, Sept 1          10:00 AM         Quilters
                                    12:30 PM          Women's Bible Study resumes
                                    7:30 PM           Social Ministry meeting
Wednesday, Sept 2     7:30 PM           Adult Choir Rehearsals Kick-off
Thursday, Sept 3         7:00 PM           Confirmation Parent Info Session
                                    7:30 PM           Confirmation Guide Huddle
                                    7:30 PM           Finance Committee meeting
Saturday, Sept 5          7:45 AM          Men's Group
                                    5:00 PM           Worship
Sunday, Sept 6             8:30 AM          Worship
                                    10:00 AM         Worship
Monday, Sept 7           Labor Day - Church Office Closed
Tuesday, Sept 8          6:00 PM           Youth & Family Ministry meeting
                                    7:30 PM           Church Council meeting
Thursday, Sept 10       7:30 PM           Women's Book Group
Sunday, Sept 13          Sunday School Rally Day & Day of Service
                                    8:30 AM        Worship
                                    9:45 AM        Sunday School Rally Day
                                    11:00 AM       Worship
                                    12:15 PM         Day of Service Projects
                                    1:00 PM           Youth Handbells Rehearsals Kick-off
                                    6:00 PM           Confirmation Theme Events begin
Thursday, Sept 17       7:30 PM           Men's Book Club
Saturday, Sept 19        10:30 AM         Empty Nesters - Md Wine Festival
                                    11:00 AM         PoP Playgroup at Hadley's Playground
                                    6:15 PM           Saturday Dinner Out at Cava Grill
Sunday, Sept 20          9:45 AM          Adult Sunday School begins
                                    12:30 PM          9th Grade Confirmation Workshop
Sunday, Sept 27          6:00 PM           Bible Art Journaling Class

                                   Click here for a complete calendar
****************************
KIDS OF ALL AGES: bring your backpack with you to worship THIS weekend! We will bless your backpacks during the children's message as you begin a new school year. If you don't attend school or daycare, please feel free to bring a coloring book or some other item that you do 'work' in at home.  BIG kids (middle and high school) - please bring your backpacks too and join the younger kids up front that day. The more the merrier! 

The Women's Bible Study will be studying and discussing the Gospel of Mark this Fall. Our first gathering will be Tuesday, September 1 at 12:30 pm. Please read Chapter 1 of Mark in preparation for discussion. This is an open, fluid group of women. All are welcome to join us. Feel free to bring a bagged lunch. If you have questions or want to be included on our email distribution list, please contact Pastor Christine.  

Please join the PoP Adult Choir for the Fall 2015 season! Adult choir is for people who want to praise God with great music and fun filled fellowship. We rehearse Wednesdays 7:30-9:00pm starting on Wednesday, September 2. We are preparing for a Christmas Cantata again this year, please join and be part of a musical celebration with us. For more info, please contact the Choir Director, Claire Cho.

Confirmation Parent Info Session! Parents of first and second year confirmation students are invited to hear more details about the Confirmation program and the plans for the upcoming year on Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. The 2015-2016 Confirmation schedule is on the website. Please contact Sherry Kienzle or Susan Hawley with any questions.

Eat out September 2&3 to benefit Gaithersburg HELP! When you present the special fundraising flyer California Pizza Kitchen at Rio will donate 20% of your check to Gaithersburg HELP - ALL DAY 
on Wednesday, September 2 and Thursday, September 3. Flyers are available in the narthex and on the  GaithersburgHELP website.    

Would you like to have the excellent opportunity to praise the Lord in song and have fun learning some great music? Then come out and join the Prince of Peace Hand Bell Choir!
The Hand Bell Choir will begin rehearsals for the Fall 2015 season and we are looking for new members!! The Hand Bell Choir is for children in 3rd-7th grade and we will rehearse each Sunday afternoon from 1-1:45pm beginning Sunday, September 13. We need a minimum of 6 children to form the choir. Please signup in the narthex or contact Danielle Drobny for more info.   

You Made a Difference!  The good news keeps coming. After our historic July $200,000 principal payment, we were able to make an additional $4,000 payment in August. The decrease in principal so far this year means that with each new regular payment more than $800 that used to pay interest is now paying principal. We encourage folks to continue to make contributions to the Debt Reduction Fund, as every gift helps. Thank you to all who have contributed!

Something different to do this summer with the kids!!! Lutheran World Relief collects quilts to deliver all over the world. They also collect Personal Care Kits, Baby Care Kits, Fabric Kits, Fleece Tied Blankets, and School Kits. If you would like to make one or more of these kits, we can deliver them when we deliver the quilts in late September (exact date TBD). For complete directions, see http://lwr.org/personalcarekits.  

Tables for All is a fun adult fellowship program in which potluck meals are shared with other members of Prince of Peace. The meals are hosted at the homes of members; guests provide some of the food. The 2015-16 series will consist of three rounds: Oct-Nov, Jan-Feb, and March-May. The exact dates and times are determined by mutual agreement of the host and guests. The usual host and guest list includes eight people. This program is just for adults, but we can help identify potential babysitters. Those who sign up will be provided with a schedule showing hosts/attendees and food assignments: main dish (host), side dish, salad & bread, or dessert. Tables for All is a wonderful way to meet others at PoP and to reconnect with old friends. Sign up in the narthex or email Lisa Woodard.

PB&J for the Hungry ~ We are once again collecting peanut butter and jelly for Gaithersburg HELP to celebrate Back-to-School and to help restock their pantry. Donations can be left in the special collection box in the foyer of the church. The drive will continue through October, so please consider picking up something to donate each time you shop. The Sunday School will also be participating in this collection. If you have children, please encourage them to bring some to Sunday School.

The POP Women's Book Group will meet Thursday, September 10 at 7:30 pm to discuss On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman. The novel takes place on a quiet street in Sri Lanka, starting in 1979; the book tells the tale of what happens to the tranquility of the neighborhood when outside forces threaten. The group will also select books for the next few months (the rule is that you must have read the book to recommend it). Nancy Wolejsza hosts the gathering at her home at 104 Foxtrail Terrace, Gaithersburg. RSVP to Nancy. All POP Women are welcome to attend one or all meetings.

Our Fall Worship Schedule resumes on the weekend of September 12 & 13! Join us for:
Saturday Worship at 5 pm
Sunday Worship at 8:30 & 11:00 am
Sunday School at 9:45 am
 
Save the Date! September 13th is "God's work. Our hands." Sunday ~ Participate with PoP on this ELCA National Day of Service in any of the following ways:
1. During Sunday School, children will create blankets for Lutheran World Relief
After the 11:00 service...
2. Help put together 60 Breakfast Bags for the Men's shelter
3. Clean up the church property from the church to the creek
There is no need to sign up, just show up! There are ways for the whole family to serve.

Join us for Rally Day as we kick off our new season of Sunday School on September 13 at 9:45 am! For younger students we'll continue using a rotational model which provides an experiential approach similar to VBS. For Middle and High School students, we use cool and quirky workbooks and short films to explore relevant topics. A year-long adult study, Divine Drama, will begin on September 20. You and your kids won't want to miss it!! Click here for more details about our Sunday School programs (described below).
 
Divine Drama: Beginning September 20 at 9:45 am in BYC (conference room) we will be offering a year long, in-depth adult education class. This course will look at the Bible as a whole and its major themes. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has wanted to delve deeper into their faith and God's word. Questions? See Pastor Christine.
 
The Men's Book Club will meet Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 pm to discuss Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, a rollicking, fictionalized treatment of Freemasonry set in Washington DC. All men of Prince of Peace and their male friends are cordially invited to attend. Please RSVP to our host, Steve Von Wald.

On Saturday, September 19 at 11:00 am it's time to bring out the trikes and meet us at Falls Road Park (12600 Falls Rd). We'll be at Hadley's Playground, a unique and fully accessible playground that allows children of all ages and abilities to play together. PoP Playgroup is a great way for families and their babies/toddlers/preschoolers to connect with each other. Please contact Jamie or Lauren with any questions!

Our Saturday Dinners Out after the Saturday service have been great fun! 
Mark your calendar for the next meet-up Saturday, September 19 around 6:15 pm at Cava Grill in the Kentlands. All are welcome!

The Empty Nesters group heads to the Maryland Wine Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster, MD on Saturday, September 19. For details see http://www.marylandwinefestival.org/. Tickets can be purchased online for $27 or $30 at the gate. A car pool will be leaving from the church parking lot at 10:30am. If you can join us, please sign up in the narthex or RSVP to Nancy Wolejsza. Those attending will receive an email a week before the event with details including a map shwoing our meeting place in the fair grounds. At PoP, you're an Empty Nester if your children (if you have any) are all over 18. It doesn't matter whether you have children, where your children live, what your marital status is, or what your retirement status is. If you want to socialize with this diverse and interesting group, join us!     

Bible Art Journaling: This year we will be offering a devotional class which encourages you to engage actively with the word of God through doodling, illustration, and note-taking in your Bible. We will meet once a month, with our first meeting on September 27 from 6-7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a 'journaling Bible' with you to the first class. Questions? See Pastor Christine (or google 'bible art journaling - you'll see how very cool it is).

The Social Ministries Committee would like to thank the congregation and community for their generous donations to the 2015 School Supply Drive. Donations from Prince of Peace included 39 backpacks and over 680 school supplies including items such as composition books, scissors, highlighters, and crayons. The Interfaith Clothing Center was thrilled to receive our donations and it was a big help towards their goal of equipping 2,500 children with backpacks and school supplies needed to begin the school year. A special thank you to Lisa Woodard for coordinating the drive and to Judy Bruening for incorporating it into Vacation Bible School!
 
We are experiencing phone problems in the Office and voicemail is not working.  If possible, please send an email instead of calling. 
      
The Serving in Worship schedule for August & September has been posted
on our website and the bulletin board in the narthex. Please review it and make arrangements for any conflicts. Thanks!    
 
Pastor Steve will be leading a trip to the Holy Land in September of 2016!
Brochures are available online and in the narthex. Contact Pastor Steve for more info.      
 
The July/August Glad Tidings is available on our website!
   
SundaySchool
Youth Sunday School This Fall
 
Rally Day kicks off our new season of Sunday School on September 13th at 9:45 am. Preschool through elementary age kids and their families will meet in the sanctuary for Opening as they register for Sunday School. Older students will start in their classrooms in the Besecker Youth Center (BYC). Sunday school meets weekly from 9:45-10:45 am.  
 
All classes will celebrate ELCA's Day of Service (September 13th) by completing service projects in their classrooms in conjunction with the day's lessons. Preschool/K will decorate cards and placemats, while older students tie fleece blankets.
 
Preschool - Elementary School will once again use the Spark Rotation Sunday School curriculum. Preschool learns through workshops such as Bible story, crafts, games, and even snack, while Elementary classes use workshops such as drama, cooking, video, and science. All classes explore each Bible story from multiple perspectives and in greater depth with an experiential approach similar to VBS.
 
Middle School will use the Sparkhouse re:form curriculum which teaches foundational theology in a fun and thought-provoking way. Students will use cool and quirky workbooks and short films to spark interest in fun yet contemplative topics.
 
High School will explore the New Testament ancestors of our faith: "Unlikely people called by God to do amazing things." Using more cool and quirky workbooks and short films, we'll discover similarities between ourselves and the many unlikely people chosen by God to do the extraordinary.
 
Contact Sunday School Superintendent, Janet Levine, with any questions or comments.
See you on Rally Day!
 


VolunteerSpot is our new way to stay informed and sign up for volunteer opportunities at Prince of Peace. An email is sent for each need, as it is identified. The message contains a link that makes it easy to add your name as a helper. Here are our current volunteer requests:

 

Volunteer Need    

Social Ministry Volunteers  

Worship Volunteers (Ushers, Snack volunteers, Prayer Writers, Acolytes, etc.) 

 

There is a button with a link to current volunteer opportunities on our church web page; you can also click on the specific Volunteer Need above or here to see the complete list. Thank you for sharing your time and talents!!  

 ContinuingPrayers
Please remember in your prayers this week...
 
Continuing Prayers
Carol Barotti (former PoP Administrator), Margaux Bereston (friend of Cherie DeGeorge),
Allen Bernstein (father-in-law of Jean Bernstein), Micah Biello (grandson of Vickie & Brad Smith), Becky & Nick Biello (daughter & son-in-law of Vickie & Brad Smith), Marjorie Blackburn (sister-in-law of Nettie Horne), John Bokor (grandfather of Michelle Cockerham), Joanne Catteltt (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Mary Chamblin (grandmother of Cassidy Solomon), The Rev. Jeong & Nam Cho (parents of Claire Cho), Elizabeth Langum Chung, Sydney Clark (friend of Cathy Berninger), Joanne Claycamp (mother of Gregg Claycamp), Leon Crookshank (father of Steve Crookshank), David familyDonica (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Kathy Drake (friend of Dave & Nancy Swanson), Nathan Farrar (nephew of Richard Farrar), Stephen Farrar (brother of Richard Farrar), Terry Forish, Ruth Garretson (grandmother of Kelly Garretson), Torie Gensch (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Kelly Gibson (sister of Dan Gibson), Andrea Goble, Goodwin family, Joni Hanley (friend of Jean Bernstein), Rob, Lucy, & Luke Harbert (friends of Megan Bruening), Ralph Heckel, Leonard Hepner (father of Donna Von Wald), Steven Hill, Lisa Holmes (friend of Lisa McGurgan), Wes Horne (brother of Nettie Horne), Janet Howard (friend of Nettie Horne), Mario Ierardi and family (friend of Debra Aplan), Jessica Jeffery, Christopher Johnson (son of Roy Johnson), Doris Johnson (mother of Donna Nelson), Roy Johnson, Pat Juhrs, Brenda Kapp (friend of Cynthia Watter), Kim (friend of Donna Von Wald), Dan Kohler and family (friends of Valerie Corbin), Bill Kratz (father of Laura Garretson), Mike Langum, Remi Langum, Carole Mattis (friend of Donna Von Wald), Ray Nopper (friend of Andrea Goble), Jim Oliver (husband of Sherry Schiebel's friend)Bridget Pavlak, Bill Prueter, Linda Prueter, Ted Prueter (father of Bill Prueter), Greg Rayman (uncle of Julie Stokes), Ed Rebisz (relative of Dick Weis), Diane Rench (friend of Richard Farrar), Heather Robinson, Jessica Rogers (friend of Pamela Cook), Martha, David and James Rogers, Zach Rogers (friend of Pamela Cook), Kathy Rossmeisl, Sally & Richard Sawyer (parents of Sarah Bolek), John Shay (friend of Mike & Cherie DeGeorge), Pauline Shumaker (mother of Lisa Conary), Pastor Les Stano, Matt Stokes, Nancy SwansonLindsay, Chris, & Carson Vidler (niece of Madelyn Berkeley), Liz Wagner (aunt of Lisa McGurgan), Howard Weidemoyer, David Weis (son of Dick Weis), Joy Weis (daughter-in-law of Dick Weis), Dianne Werley (friend of Ann Callahan), Dan Whithaus (friend of Joan Beeler), Harold Wilkey (husband of Cynthia Watter's aunt), Kathy Williams (stepdaughter of Ann Callahan), Laura Wilson, Matthew Wolejsza (son of Nancy & Chet Wolejsza)
 
 
*Please notify the church office of anyone else needing continuing prayers, or if the concern is resolved.  
   
Attendance Last Weekend
 
Saturday                          5:00 PM                     32      
Sunday                             8:30 AM                    51
                                           10:00 AM                   47
Total:                                                                   130
 
Serving in Worship Sunday
                                    
8:30 AM                              10:00 AM
Team Leader                    Elizabeth Cockerham      Debbie Chan
Altar Guild                        Susan Victor                      Debra Aplan
Communion Assts.        Susan Victor &                  Debra Aplan &
                                                Gregg Claycamp               Pamela Cook
Lector                                   Judy Logeman                   Chris Michel
Acolyte                                 Vincent Bornhorst           Sean Thompson
Ushers                                  Susan Victor &                  Chris Michel & Tracy Barr
                                                Joan Kowalik
Greeters                               Jean Bernstein &               Malmgren family
                                                Alice Baur
Snacks                                  Judy Logeman                   Lisa Woodard
Prayer Writer                     Pastor Christine
Counters                              Bob Butler & David Rogers
Cookie Brigade                 Sherry Kienzle (Bake & Deliver)

              Click here for a complete Serving in Worship schedule.          
 
Contact Information

Church Office:

[email protected]

301-869-3666 

Church Council:
[email protected]

Pastor Steve
:

[email protected]

301-980-0160 (cell)

Pastor Christine:

[email protected]

703-517-0728 (cell)
Visit Pastor Christine's blog at:

http://tinydartfrog.com 

 

Sermon mp3 downloads are available at:
http://poplutheran.org/sermonsmusic/sermonsandmusic.html

Monthly Newsletters ("Glad Tidings") are available at:

http://poplutheran.org/newsletters.html


Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter:  @PoPGaithersburg
 Subscribe to us on  YouTube