This Week at Prince of Peace...

The Sixth Sunday of Easter May 1, 2016

This Sunday's Readings

Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22 - 22:5

GOSPEL: John 5:1-9

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids - blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

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

Please remember in your prayers this week...

Recently Added

Roberta Stover (aunt of Tracy Solomon)
Pete Corbin (father of Laura Hurst)

Lisa Law (friend of Lisa Adams' friend)

Cindy Shaw (cousin of Lisa Adams)

Jo Ann Oddo (grandmother of AJ Oddo)

Sympathy

Family of Norcie Green (former PoP member)
Family of John Bokor (grandfather of Michelle Cockerham)

Thanksgiving

Baptism of Eric & Kevin Ely (sons of Clara & Ron Ely)

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...

Saturday, April 30 - Worship will be held at 5:00 pm

PoP Playgroup will meet at the PoP playground at 11:00 am

Sunday, May 1 - Worship will be held at 8:30 & 11:00 am

Sunday School will be held at 9:45 am

Mar-Lu-Ridge presentation will be held at 10:00 am

The Youth Handbell Choir will perform at both Sunday services!

Grace Notes will play at both Sunday services!

First Communion Class will be held at 2:00 pm

Next Weekend...

First Communion will be celebrated at all services!

Saturday, May 7 - Worship will be held at 5:00 pm

First Communion Class will be held at 9:00 am

Saturday Dinner Out at Moby Dick's after the Saturday service!

Sunday, May 8 - Worship will be held at 8:30 & 11:00 am

Sunday School will be held at 9:45 am

Adult Study "Divine Drama" at 9:45 am

The Adult Choir will sing at the 11:00 am service!

PoP Playgroup will meet at Constitution Gardens Park at 4:00 pm

Looking Ahead...

Thursday, Apr 28 6:30 PM Body & Soul Group Exercise

7:30 PM Grace Notes

Saturday, Apr 30 7:45 AM Men's Group

11:00 AM Playgroup at PoP Playground

5:00 PM Worship

Sunday, May 1 8:30 AM Worship

9:45 AM Sunday School

10:00 AM Mar-Lu-Ridge Presentation

11:00 AM Worship

1:00 PM Youth Handbells Rehearsal

2:00 PM First Communion Class

Tuesday, May 3 10:00 AM Quilters

12:30 PM Women's Bible Study

Wednesday, May 4 7:30 PM Adult Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, May 5 6:30 PM Body & Soul Group Exercise

7:30 PM Grace Notes

Saturday, May 7 7:45 AM Men's Group

9:00 AM First Communion Class

5:00 PM Worship

6:15 PM Saturday Dinner Out at Moby Dick's

Sunday, May 8 First Communion

8:30 AM Worship

9:45 AM Sunday School

9:45 AM Adult Study "Divine Drama"

11:00 AM Worship

1:00 PM Youth Handbells Rehearsal

4:00 PM Playgroup at Constitution Gardens Park

in Gaithersburg

Tuesday, May 10 7:30 PM Church Council meeting

Thursday, May 12 7:30 PM Women's Book Group

Friday, May 13 6:00 PM Selma Showing & Discussion

Sunday, May 15 6:00 PM Confirmation Theme Event

Sunday, May 15 6:00 PM Bible Art Journaling Class

Thursday, May 19 6:00 PM Faith-Full Families

Thursday, May 19 7:30 PM Books & Beer Men's Book Club

Saturday, May 21 9:00 AM Habitat for Humanity Work Day

Sunday, May 22 Bake Sale

Sunday, May 22 1:30 PM Pr. Christine's Baby Shower

Sunday, May 22 6:00 PM Confirmation Theme Event

Sunday, May 29 Yard Sale Prep begins

Saturday, June 4 7AM-2PM Yard Sale

Click here for a complete calendar

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Join us on May 1st at 10:00 am in the sanctuary, for a presentation by Karl Muhlbach, the Associate Director of Mar-Lu-Ridge. Mar-Lu-Ridge is an outdoor ministry of the ELCA featuring summer camp, retreat/conference center and year-round programs. Come and learn more about what they do, who they serve, and how we may get more involved in their ministries!

Join us for our next Saturday Dinner Out on May 7 around 6:15 pm at Moby Dick's in the Kentlands (105 Market St). All are welcome!

The Racial Justice Team will be presenting a showing of the movie 'Selma' on May 13th in the Sanctuary. The issue of race relations, legislation, and the response of the church is critical in today's societal climate. We have invited other congregations in the area to join us to broaden our discussion and understanding. Please make plans to join us. Teenage youth are especially encouraged to attend. Pizza dinner 6pm; movie showing 6:30pm with discussion following. Childcare will be provided. Questions? See Pastor Christine.

Join Body and Soul each Thursday beginning April 28 with new hours and a new format! Group exercise will be from 6:30-7:30 pm. Instead of discussion groups, Marybeth will be available for free, private diet or exercise consultations by appointment from 6:00-6:30 pm and from 7:30-8:00 pm. Call Marybeth at 240-644-4146 for info or to schedule a private session. Click here for more details on the class listed below.

Come join the Playgroup on Saturday, April 30 at 11:00 am for coffee and chat at the Prince of Peace playground! Enjoy some time connecting with other parents at the church while your children enjoy the spring weather. Bubbles and sidewalk chalk will add to the fun. (We'll meet inside in the nursery in case of rain.) Then on Sunday, May 8th we'll meet for a late afternoon playdate at 4pm to check out the new natural playscape at Gaithersburg's Constitution Gardens Park. This park features "unique interactive play spaces that have been inspired by the cultural, economic and natural history of the area." In case of rain, we'll meet at the church nursery instead. PoP Playgroup is a great way for families and their babies/toddlers/preschoolers to connect with each other. Please contact Jamie Pflasterer or Lauren Gibson with any questions.

The Women's Book Group and Fellowship committee are hosting a Baby Shower for Pastor Christine on Sunday, May 22 from 1:30-3:30 pm. If you would like to help plan the shower, please email Deborah Dixon or sign up in the narthex. We will hold a planning meeting in early May. Also, if you plan to attend the Shower, please sign up in the narthex or RSVP to Deborah by Friday, May 6. We look forward to a fun celebration with Pastor Christine!

For Pentecost, May 14 & 15, we will read the Pentecost story in a variety of languages to celebrate the wide reach of the Spirit's power. If you speak another language, please sign up in the narthex or email the Office to read the gospel in that language at one or more services.

Summer Packet Donations Needed ~ The 4th-6th graders will be putting together Summer Packets for the same children we support during Christmas with the Giving Tree. The Summer Packet will include at least one book, a composition notebook and a pencil. The kids will be collecting gently used children's books (preschool - middle school age). We need your help! Please consider donating composition notebooks to include with the Summer Packets. Donations can be placed in the boxes in the narthex. If you have any questions, contact Bertha Carreras.

During the month of May we are hosting a drive for Gaithersburg HELP, collecting what they need most: canned fruit and tuna! Please be sure to pick up a can or two when you go to the store to help keep the pantry in constant supply this summer. Donations can be dropped off in the foyer.

The Auxiliary at the Village at Rockville is holding a Bloomin' Spring Sale on Saturday, May 7 from 9:30am-1:00pm. All proceeds benefit Resident activities. Enjoy bargains galore: a variety of beautiful plants, birdhouses and planters made by a few of our residents, spring and summer jewelry, baked goods and candy, floral note cards made by our residents and gift shop items. Located nearby at 9701 Veirs Drive, near Wootton Parkway
and Glen Mill Road in Rockville.

Fruitful Fields, the Prince of Peace Community Garden, has fenced-in plots for your favorite herbs, vegetables and flowers. If you have been contemplating a way to grow more of your own food, here is your chance. The garden areas are located behind the Besecker Center, individual plots surround the three central plots in which food is grown for Gaithersburg HELP. We also need help watering, weeding and harvesting produce for donation. For more info or to help, contact Marybeth Stockman or sign up in the narthex.

Women's Book Group ~ The next gathering is Thursday, May 12, at 7:30 pm at the home of Lisa Woodard. Our selection for May is Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan, a fictionalized biography of Robert Louis Stevenson and his American wife, Fanny. RSVP to Lisa.

Books and Beer, aka The Men's Book Club, continues with a lively discussion of There Is a God by Antony Flew. On Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 pm, we will meet at the home of Mike DeGeorge. Please RSVP to Mike (mpd1023@aol.com). All men of PoP and male friends are cordially invited.

Faith-Full Families' Pentecost will be held Thursday, May 19 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.

Our next Habitat for Humanity Work Day is Saturday, May 21. Sign up in the narthex or email Chris Michel if interested. Location and specifics coming soon!

Women's Bible Study has begun a new study of the book Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. Join us on Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. This is a great time to join the group! You do not need to attend every week. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Christine.

The Flower Chart for 2016 has been posted and May 29th is still open! Sign up on the Chart posted on the bulletin board in the narthex and place your $30 donation (marked "Altar Flowers") in the Offering. Thanks for adding to our worship experience!

Worshipping together over the summer! This summer, from Memorial Day Weekend (5/29) through Labor Day Weekend (9/4), we'll have ONE SUNDAY SERVICE at 9:30 am, followed by fellowship! The Saturday 5 pm service will also continue each weekend.

PoP Yard Sale ~ With Spring making its appearance finally it is time to start cleaning out our garages, attics, basements and getting ready for our annual Yard Sale that will be held on Saturday, June 4th from 7am - 2pm! We will be accepting donations for our Yard Sale starting Sunday, May 29th from Noon - 9pm thru Thursday of that week.

This is our opportunity to provide low cost goods to people in our community who are in need; to recycle and re-use as part of our commitment to good environmental stewardship and to give proceeds and donated items to organizations in our community that help others who are struggling in these economic times. Look for sign up sheets for the various departments in the near future, we look forward to everyone in the congregation being able to assist in some way in making the yard sale a success. Let the purging begin!

Responding to Climate Change: A Faith-Based Perspective ~ Meet Interfaith Power & Light cyclists from PA as they arrive in Poolesville to share the story of their 200 mile journey. Monday, May 2 at 6:00 pm at the home of Joyce Breiner & David Yaney (2 Hackett Ct, Poolesville). They are biking to raise awareness about the ethical dimensions of climate change.

Many thanks to all who joined the Auxiliary of the Village at Rockville; you are making a difference! So far, we raised $870 for Auxiliary projects such as birthday parties and bus trips for the residents. If you didn't get a chance to sign up, it's not too late; memberships are accepted throughout the year. The Auxiliary flier is available in the foyer and memberships can be mailed directly to The Auxiliary or left in the POP Office. Please make checks to "The Auxiliary, TVAR".

Mark your calendars and tell your friends, Prince of Peace Vacation Bible School 2016 is scheduled for July 25th - 29th (9am-12pm). This year's theme is "Cave Quest - Following Jesus the Light of the World". VBS is for children ages 3 (potty trained) through entering 5th grade. Registration forms will be available on the PoP website as well as at the church starting in May. Registration fee is $50 per participant with a max of $150 per family. Watch for more info, or contact Lori Kohne with any questions!

The Serving in Worship schedule for April & May has been posted
on our website and the bulletin board in the narthex. Please review it and make arrangements for any conflicts. Thanks!

Our Adult Study "Divine Drama" continues Sunday at 9:45 am in BYC conference room. Join us for this year long, in-depth course that examines the Bible as a whole and its major themes. You do not need to attend every week-come when you can. Questions? See Pastor Christine.

Our bishop, Bishop Graham, was asked to put together reflections in this election year to serve as an unofficial discussion tool at the recent gathering of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. You may find it helpful as we all reflect on national events. See: http://metrodcelca.org/2016/03/from-the-bishops-desk-remembering-essential-truths-in-an-election-year/

Good News for our Debt Reduction Efforts! On February 1, 2016, Thrivent Mortgage reset our mortgage to a 5 year rate of 3.25% with a monthly payment of $2,881. Although we have about 10 years left to pay on this loan (approximately $330K remaining), we are hoping to do it in a much shorter time frame! Thank you for your continued support as we work to reduce this debt to zero. Donations to our Debt Reduction Fund are encouraged!

Mar-Lu-Ridge Summer Camp Registration is now open!

Send a child or grandchild to week-long camps like Adventure, Arts, Sports, Service, Cooking, Horseback, Pioneer, and Swimming Camp - something for everyone; located in nearby Jefferson, MD. Brochures are available on the bulletin board; or visit www.mar-lu-ridge.org to view the Summer 2016 Brochure, register online, and download forms for camp. Attend an Open House on Sunday, April 24 or May 22 (2-4:30pm). Summer Camp is a great adventure; join the fun!

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 those affected by the spring storms in the US. 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.

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Body & Soul Wellness Program Meets Every Thursday!

New Hours and New Format beginning on April 28

* Are you looking for a way to jumpstart your exercise routine?

* Do you wish you could exercise in a friendly setting and not with strangers at the gym?

* Do you wish you could get more personal attention and pointers to make your diet and exercise more effective?

* Do you need help setting realistic wellness goals?

Prince of Peace is proud to offer regular health and wellness programming for adults, 18-and-over, with group exercise on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the Besecker Youth Center.

Marybeth is also available for free, private diet or exercise consultations by appointment from 6:00-6:30 pm and from 7:30-8:00 pm. Contact Marybeth for information on how to schedule a private session.

Activities are supervised by Marybeth Stockman RN, MS, an ACSM-Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Weights and other specialized equipment will be available to help build functional and core strength, balance, agility and endurance. Get pointers on form and learn ways to tweak your diet and exercise program. All levels of ability are welcome, and those with chronic health conditions are encouraged to attend.

Activities are free to PoP members. For now activities will be held on a drop-in basis as space permits. Contact Marybeth for more information.

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Please remember in your prayers this week...

As Prince of Peace Lutheran Church continues to grow, those in need of prayerful support also increases. Because of our three services, not everyone is familiar with all members of the congregation, and we are often asked if a particular name on the Prayer List is a member of the congregation. In order to clarify this the Continuing Prayers list is now divided into PoP Members and Family & Friends. Hopefully this change will facilitate communication within the church. Please continue to pray for all those in need.

Continuing Prayers - PoP Members

Eardie Baka, Carol Barotti, Madelyn Berkeley, Elizabeth Langum Chung, David family, Goodwin family, Laura Hampe, Steven Hill, Jessica Jeffery, Roy Johnson, Pat Juhrs, Greta Kunkle, Mike Langum, Remi Langum, Kaitlyn McGurgan & her family, Sandy Moore, Heather Robinson, David Rogers, James Rogers, Martha Rogers, Julie Stokes, Nancy Swanson, Laura Wilson.

Continuing Prayers - Family & Friends

Rohanie Bacchus (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Scott Baka (son of Eardie Baka), Shea Baldwin (daughter of Becca & Jeremy Baldwin), Margaux Bereston (friend of Cherie DeGeorge), Fred Chamblin (father of Tracy Solomon), The Rev. Jeong & Nam Cho (parents of Claire Cho), Sydney Clark (friend of Cathy Berninger), Joanne Claycamp (mother of Gregg Claycamp), Keith Cobb (father of Allan Cobb), Susan Collis (mother of Jill Spivak), Gilda & Khaleesi Damiani (friends of Tonya Meyer & Amy Ceralde), Victor DeGeorge (uncle of Mike DeGeorge), Kathy Drake (friend of Dave & Nancy Swanson), Paula Everitt (relative of Amy Rossmeisl), Nathan Farrar (nephew of Richard Farrar), Stephen Farrar (brother of Richard Farrar), Ruth Garretson (grandmother of Kelly Garretson), Torie Gensch (friend of Sherry Schiebel), Kelly Gibson (sister of Dan Gibson), Nate & Susan Greenblatt (friends of Madelyn Berkeley), Karen Griese (mother of Kari Oakes), Joni Hanley (friend of Jean Bernstein), Haris (friend of Greg Von Wald), Ralph Heckel, Mary Christine Hevner (sister of Judy Wooldridge), Janet Howard (friend of Nettie Horne), Mario Ierardi and family (friend of Debra Aplan), Christopher Johnson (son of Roy Johnson), Kim (friend of Donna Von Wald), Bill Kratz (father of Laura Garretson), Tim Leiss, Margaret Mahan (mother of Julie Boyce), Mark Miller (friend of Butler family), Debbie Mulhern (friend of Martha Rogers), Jayson Musser (friend of the Butler family), Ray Nopper (friend of Andrea Goble), Louise Pascal (aunt of David Rogers), Bill Prueter, Linda Prueter, Ted Prueter (father of Bill Prueter), Greg Rayman (uncle of Julie Stokes), Prema Ramanathan, Richard Sawyer (father of Sarah Bolek), John Shay (friend of Mike & Cherie DeGeorge), Richard Sherman (cousin of Gordon Gipe), Pauline Shumaker (mother of Lisa Conary), Carole Spencer (mother of Sherry Schiebel's friend), Kathy Tezla (relative of Sofi Yanevskyy), Howard Weidemoyer, Jerry & Carol Weisdock (parents of Jean Bernstein), Dianne Werley (friend of Ann Callahan), Kathy Williams (stepdaughter of Ann Callahan), Katina Williams (friend of Stephen Hill), 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 43

Sunday 8:30 AM 39

11:00 AM 64

Total: 146

Serving in Worship Sunday

8:30 AM 11:00 AM

Team Leader Jean Bernstein Chuck Dixon

Altar Guild Regina Harrington Susan Tritinger

Communion Assts. Regina Harrington & Susan Tritinger &

Gregg Claycamp Eric Holdsworth

Lector Laura Garretson Tom Panning

Acolyte Vincent Bornhorst Brayan Panning

Ushers Susan Victor & Deborah & Chuck Dixon

Joan Kowalik

Greeters Jamie Pflasterer & Susan & Eric Holdsworth

Chuck Harrington

Snacks Jamie Pflasterer Lisa Woodard

Prayer Writer Rebecca Claycamp

Counters Bob Butler & Helen Griffith

Cookie Brigade Susan Potemra (Bake) & Dick Moore (Deliver)

Click here for a complete Serving in Worship schedule.

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Support Prince of Peace EVERY TIME You Shop at Amazon

Would you like to support Prince of Peace every time you shop at Amazon, at no cost to you? When you shop using AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to your charity of choice. AmazonSmile is completely integrated with Amazon.com; you use the same account and have the same shopping cart, Wish List, Registry, and account info.

It's easy to set up and use. First click on the following link to tell Amazon that you want donations to be made to Prince of Peace: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1283295; then whenever you want to make a purchase at Amazon, go to smile.amazon.com instead of www.amazon.com. (AmazonSmile will remember the nonprofit you previously selected.) Only purchases made thru smile.amazon.com will be eligible for donations. When logged on, you should see "Supporting Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, MD" at the top of the homepage.

You can also set up your charity choice by logging in to Amazon using Smile.Amazon.com, and choosing from the menu of available charities. Be sure to select Prince of Peace, Gaithersburg, MD (since there are many other PoPs).

Note: if you already use Goodshop, continue with that because the donation amount is higher than AmazonSmile. To learn about that program go to Goodshop.com to set up an account and select a charity.

Thanks for supporting Prince of Peace!

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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

Follow us on Twitter: @PoPGaithersburg

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