This Week at Prince of Peace...

The First Sunday of Christmas                                December 27, 2015


This Sunday's Readings
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17 
 
GOSPEL:  Luke 2:41-52
Now every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.


Missed last week? Check out last Sunday's sermons, music and more by  clicking here! 

Please remember in your prayers this week...
 
Recently Added  
Paula Everitt (relative of Amy Rossmeisl)
Leonard Hepner (father of Donna Von Wald)
Rohanie Bacchus (friend of Sherry Schiebel)
Julie Stokes
Eardie Baka
Brittany Daniel (daughter of Cherie & Mike DeGeorge)
Bill Kratz (father of Laura Garretson)
Nancy Swanson

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
 
Children's Christmas Eve services will be held on Thursday at 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Christmas Eve services of Carols and Holy Communion will be held on
Thursday at 7:00 pm & 10:00 pm
Christmas Day service will be held on Friday at 10:00 am

This Weekend...
Saturday, December 26 - No Saturday service
Sunday, December 27 - One Worship service will be held at 10:00 am
No Sunday School - resumes on January 10 at 9:45 am

    Next Weekend...  
Saturday, January 2 - Worship will be held at 5:00 pm
Sunday, January 3 - Worship will be held at 8:30 & 11:00 am
No Sunday School - resumes on January 10 at 9:45 am

Looking Ahead...   

Thursday, Dec 24       Christmas Eve
                                    3:00 PM           Children's Service
                                    5:00 PM           Children's Service
                                    7:00 PM           Carols, Candlelight & Holy Communion
                                    10:00 PM          Carols, Candlelight & Holy Communion
Friday, Dec 25            Christmas Day
                                    10:00 AM         Carols & Holy Communion
Saturday, Dec 26                                 No Saturday Service
Sunday, Dec 27           10:00 AM       Worship (only 1 Sunday Service)
Saturday, Jan 2           7:45 AM          Men's Group
                                    5:00 PM           Worship
Sunday, Jan 3              8:30 AM          Worship
                                    11:00 AM         Worship
Tuesday, Jan 5           10:00 AM         Quilters
                                    12:30 PM          Women's Bible Study resumes
                                    7:30 PM           Social Ministry Committee meeting
Thursday, Jan 7          6:00 PM           Faith-Full Families
Saturday, Jan 9           6:00 PM           Holy Land Trip Presentation
Saturday, Jan 9           6:00 PM           Playgroup at BounceU (Clarksburg)
Sunday, Jan 10           10:00 AM         Gaithersburg HELP Speaker
                                    12:30 PM          Human Trafficking class
                                    6:00 PM           Bible Art Journaling
Thursday, Jan 14        7:30 PM           Women's Book Group
Sunday, Jan 17            6:00 PM           Racism Webcast & Discussion
Saturday, Jan 23         6:15 PM           Saturday Dinner Out at Hot Breads
Sunday, Jan 24                                   Casseroles for N Street Village
Sunday, Jan 31                                    Presentation of Bibles
Sunday, Jan 31            1:00 PM           Annual Congregational Meeting

Click here for a complete calendar

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Join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 & 5 pm (Children's service) and 7 & 10 pm (Carols and Holy Communion) and on Christmas Morning for worship at 10 am. Share the Good News: invite friends and neighbors!

Please note there will be no Saturday service on December 26th and one Sunday service on December 27th at 10:00 am.
   

There will be no Sunday School classes on December 27 and January 3. Sunday School will resume on January 10.

Thanks to those who supported our Giving Tree and special thanks to Joan Kowalik for organizing the project! Gifts of Hope are available year-round at: www.GiftsofHopeDC.org

Women's Bible Study will take a break for the holidays and resume classes on Tuesday, January 5, at 12:30 pm. All women are welcome to join us as we continue to study the Gospel of Mark.
 
Faith-Full Families' Epiphany event will be held Thursday, January 7 from 6-7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Families with pre-school - elementary age children, and their siblings, are invited for dinner, crafts, a Bible story and fellowship. Sign up in the narthex, email Judy Bruening or just come! We will provide a main dish. If you would like to bring a side dish/salad or a dessert sign up in the narthex or let Judy know. If you just have younger children, you are welcome to join us for fellowship, too. Questions? Contact Judy Bruening.  

Called to Serve: Openings on Your Church Council: The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for four seats becoming available on Council in January - three adult and one youth member - to be elected at the POP Annual Congregational Meeting on January 31. Being on the POP Council is a great way to learn more about how Prince of Peace works, make new friends, and serve God and community. If you are interested in being on Council, know someone who would be a good candidate, or need additional info, please contact Shafer Smith by January 7.
   
Pastor Steve will be leading a trip to the Holy Land in September of 2016!
Many of you have seen pictures and heard Pastor Steve speak about his last two trips, but this time, Pastor Steve is leading the trip and inviting PoP members and friends to join in! If you'd like to learn more, Pastor Steve will be offering an info session at 6 pm on Saturday, January 9 (right after the Saturday service). If you can't come, you can click here to read the brochure or email Pastor Steve. This will be a great trip and an excellent opportunity to deepen your faith and to learn more about the Bible and biblical history in a hands-on, experiential way!

Hold the Date for our next Social Ministry Learning Event... Sunday, January 10 we will host a speaker, Linda Hanson, from Gaithersburg HELP. Join us in the Sanctuary at 10:00 am to learn about the organization!

Beginning January 10 at 12:30 pm, the Safe Haven curriculum which addresses the problem of human trafficking will be presented. This is a four session course which covers the issue of human trafficking, ways to identify those at risk or already in dangerous situations, and what we as a community can do about it. Course dates: 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 2/7. Meet in BYC conference room. If you have questions, please see Pastor Christine.  
 
Many thanks to all those who donated gifts and gift cards for our Giving Tree and Adopted Family. Special thanks to Bertha Carreras for coordinating the Giving Tree project and to the Confirmation students for their work on putting together the Tags for the Tree!

Join us on January 17 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary to view the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA's newest broadcast entitled, "Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning." The January webcast will raise the question of the racial disparity in the U.S. criminal justice system. Prince of Peace's Racial Justice Team is hosting this event. Potluck dinner will be served. Please bring something to share. We plan to eat during the broadcast and discussion.

Parents: Bible Presentation Weekend will be January 30-31. Second graders and older children through 6th grade who have not yet received a Bible from Prince of Peace will receive their Bibles during worship. If your child is between 2nd and 6th grade and has not yet been presented a Bible, please contact Janet Levine so that we have an inscribed Bible ready.

Do your preschoolers have the post-Christmas January jitters? Bring them to PoP Playgroup on Saturday, January 9 from 6-8pm for preschool bedtime bounce at the Clarksburg BounceU (http://www.bounceu.com/clarksburg-md, 22530 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871). This bounce time is for children age 5 and below only - parents and non-walkers are free; bouncers are $11. To ensure a spot, make a reservation using their online calendar or by calling the store at 301-515-5665. Payment can be made when you come in to bounce. 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!

In January, the Women's Book group will meet to discuss The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan. Gina Linton hosts the meeting on Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 pm. RSVP to Gina.

Our next Serving opportunity is making casseroles for N Street Village. Please bring frozen casseroles to church on Sunday, January 24 by 11:00 am. They will be used in their Bethany House Day Program for lunch or in their night shelter for dinner. We will hand out aluminum pans in the preceding weeks.

Mark your calendar for our Annual Congregational Meeting on January 31 at 1:00 pm! At our annual meeting, we approve our budget, elect Church Council members and make other important decisions about our ministry together in the coming year. A Potluck lunch will be held prior to the meeting (following the late service).
 
The Flower Chart for 2016 has been posted. Flowers can be given in memory or honor of a person or special occasion. A donation of $30 covers the flowers for a week, and they are yours to take home after the late service. Sign up on the Chart posted on the bulletin board in the narthex and place your donation (marked "Altar Flowers") in the Offering. Thanks for adding to our worship experience!

The Serving in Worship schedule for December & January has been posted on our website and the bulletin board in the narthex. Please review it and make arrangements for any conflicts. Thanks!     
 
The December/January Glad Tidings is available on our website!    
 
Join us for Sunday School each week at 9:45 am!  For younger students we continue to use 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. Your kids won't want to miss it!!  
 
Please consider giving to the ELCA Disaster Response to assist with the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe. Visit the ELCA Disaster Response webpage to donate or learn more about how you can help.   
             
We are experiencing phone problems in the Office and voicemail is not working.  If possible, please send an email instead of calling.     
Please remember in your prayers this week...
ContPrayers 
Continuing Prayers
Lisa Adams, Emily Adams Muhler, Scott Baka (son of Eardie Baka), Becca, Jeremy, & Shea Baldwin, Carol Barotti (former PoP Administrator), Margaux Bereston (friend of Cherie DeGeorge), Madelyn Berkeley, 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), Rosemarie Blanco (mother of Judy Bruening), John Bokor (grandfather of Michelle Cockerham), Carol Buck (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Joanne Catteltt (friend of Sherry Schiebel), The Rev. Jeong & Nam Cho (parents of Claire Cho), Elizabeth Langum Chung, Sydney Clark (friend of Cathy Berninger), Jaimee Clarke (daughter of Sherry Schiebel's friend), Joanne Claycamp (mother of Gregg Claycamp), Susan Collis (mother of Jill Spivak), Gilda Damiani (friend of Tonya Meyer & Amy Ceralde), Amanda Dantus (friend of Tracy Barr), David family, Donica (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Kathy Drake (friend of Dave & Nancy Swanson), Andrianne Emmons (friend of Sherry Schiebel), 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, Sarah Gowing, Karen Griese (mother of Kari Oakes), Joni Hanley (friend of Jean Bernstein), Rob, Lucy, & Luke Harbert (friends of Megan Bruening), Haris (friend of Greg Von Wald), Ralph Heckel, Mary Christine Hevner (sister of Judy Wooldridge), 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), Greta Kunkle, Mike Langum, Remi Langum, Roberta Lucas (friend of Forish family), Margaret & Tom Mahan (parents of Julie Boyce), Carole Mattis (friend of Donna Von Wald), Jim McNerney, Mark Miller (friend of Butler family),
Sandy Moore, Debbie Mulhern (friend of Martha Rogers), Jayson Musser (friend of the Butler family), Ray Nopper (friend of Andrea Goble), 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, Martha, David and James Rogers, Kathy Rossmeisl, Richard Sawyer (father of Sarah Bolek), Wilma Schambura (friend of Forish family), John Shay (friend of Mike & Cherie DeGeorge), Pauline Shumaker (mother of Lisa Conary), Kathy Tezla (relative of Sofi Yanevskyy), Lindsay, 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), Stacey Zeller (niece of Gordon Gipe) 
     
*Please notify the church office of anyone else needing continuing prayers, or if the concern is resolved.   
 
   
Attendance Last Weekend
 
Saturday                          5:00 PM                     30                     
Sunday                             8:30 AM                    52
                                           11:00 AM                   76  
Total:                                                                    158
 
Serving in Worship Sunday
                                    
10:00 AM
Team Leader                    Nancy Swanson              
Altar Guild                        Melanie Zobel
Communion Asst.          Becky Carr
Lector                                   June Herron
Acolyte                                 Sean Thompson
Ushers                                  Dave Swanson & John Zobel
Greeters                               Sherry Schiebel 
Snacks                                  Becky Carr
Prayer Writer                     Dick Moore
Counters                              June Herron & Bob Butler
Cookie Brigade               Susan Potemra (Bake); Nancy & Dave Swanson (Deliver)

              Click here for a complete Serving in Worship schedule.          
 


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   
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!!  
Contact Information

Church Office:

office@poplutheran.org

301-869-3666 

Church Council:
council@poplutheran.org

Pastor Steve
:

pastor@poplutheran.org

301-980-0160 (cell)

Pastor Christine:

pastorchristine@poplutheran.org

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


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