So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7

Every time the season changes it seems to take everyone by surprise. "I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving," the nice lady cutting my hair was saying. The haircut before that, she was shocked that the summer went by so fast. Soon she will be amazed that it is already Christmas and not long after that she will find it hard to believe that Easter is just around the corner.

What does it say about us that we seem to be so out of sync with the passing of time? If there is anything in this whole crazy world we should be able to predict, it ought to be the calendar. Every day has 24 hours. Every week, seven days. Every year, twelve months.  

I suppose part of the answer is that we get distracted by life. We get so focused on what we need to accomplish in the next day or two that we don't notice the weeks and months scrolling by. We say things like "time got away from me", as if there were some way we could have stopped that from happening, some way we could have kept hold of time so it did not get away.

I hope you are able to pause and reflect as we step into this next season. As the weather has so suddenly grown cold and we move into the season of Advent, I encourage you to live in the days you are given at least as much as the ones you are preparing for. I encourage you to come to worship each week where time stands still long enough to hear a word from the Lord.

To be sure, Advent is a time of preparation and waiting.   It is a time set aside to prepare for the coming of the Lord. One of the blessings of this season is to pay special attention to the marking of the days. With Advent calendars and wreaths we are encouraged to mark each day as it is given, one at a time.

And soon enough, we will find ourselves gathered together at the manger. We will light the final candle on the Advent wreath and read the story of our Lord's birth.   Somehow, all time comes to a halt on that night.  

May God bless you and keep you as we mark these holy days together, one at a time.

Your partner in ministry, Pastor Chad

SCHEDULES

TANZANIA VISION TRIP 2015

Deadline Approaching for Tanzania Vision Trip 2015

2014 Team

schools, hospitals and orphanage centers. We played soccer with homeless street children and wandered through busy local markets where we saw everything from dried fish to used Green Bay Packers jerseys for sale. We traveled great distances on bumpy, dusty roads until we found ourselves just a few feet from a pride of lions or so close to a group of elephants that we had to duck from the mud they were  throwing around with their trunks.   

We visited both of the families living in the small safe homes provided by the 2013 Tanzania Vision Trip group, (see the house here). The cold, damp homes made of sticks and mud have been replaced with simple but dry and sturdy concrete houses with tin roofs.  The gratitude expressed by these families as we visited their homes high in the hills beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro was a moving reminder of the blessings that overflow from these trips. 

Our group last year also visited a poor family living in a make-shift shack and struggling with health issues exacerbated by their poor living conditions. That family is now living in a small, safe and dry new home thanks to the generosity of the 2014 Vision Trip participants!  Maybe you would like to travel to Tanzania to visit this very family in their new home during the 2015 Tanzania Vision Trip. 

Check out our global outreach page for more information about the 2015 Vision Trip to Tanzania. There you will find the registration form for the 2015 trip. You can also read the blog from the 2014 trip and see some pictures and even a highlight film of the trip to get a good sense for what a POP Vision Trip to Tanzania is all about.  

The deadline for holding your spot for the 2015 Vision Trip is December 15 so now is the time to pray about participating in this life changing adventure.

  WORSHIP  

 Miss a Sunday? Need to revisit a meaningful message? Want to share a message with a friend? Find it here.   

Mark your calendars!   The Prince of Peace Quilters plan to hold their annual quilt sale on Sunday, December 7.    

We plan to have more large-sized quilts available this year.  Proceeds from the quilt sale are used to buy batting and supplies for quilts that are made and donated to the women's shelter, the VA hospital, Sharing & Caring Hands, Bridging, Red Cross, Salvation Army and the homeless.

Donations of cotton or cotton/polyester fabric or sheets are always welcome (no knits, silky or heavy fabrics please).   These are used to make the quilt tops or quilt backing.  Even if the sheet isn't perfect (e.g., it has a bad spot or tear), we most often can still use part of it to make quilt-top squares.

Do you have an interest in joining this group?   We welcome anyone who can simply tie a knot or cut a square - sewing skills are not needed!  We are a small group that meets at the church from 9 a.m. to noon on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of each month, September through May. We break midway through each session to enjoy a cup of coffee/tea, a sweet treat and friendly conversation. If you can't make every meeting, no worries. Feel free to join us anytime for a morning of fellowship, knowing that you're helping a worthy cause.  We derive much enjoyment and satisfaction working with the lovely fabrics and pieced quilt tops, knowing that our efforts provide warmth and comfort to those in need.

We hope to see you at the quilt sale on December 7!

 Fresh Hand-rolled Lefse

Six 8" Lefse Rounds ......$7

Order at church on Sunday:

                      November 30 and/or 

                      December 7

Pick up at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

7218 West Broadway,

Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

 on Dec 13, 2014

9am - noon

Contact Kollett   612-327-4579

with questions and orders

 Click here for Lefse Order form.  

Mission Jamaica Bake Sale

Sunday, December 14, 2014

8:30 a.m. to Noon

Do you love to bake?  POP's Mission Jamaica Team is having their annual Bake Sale on December 14th and we are looking for donations - cookies, cakes, pies, bars, breads, candy or any other treats you would like to share.  We will be at church on Saturday, December 13th between 9:00 and noon to collect donations or you can bring them on Sunday morning.   

Then before, during and after the church services on December 14th you can select your favorite Christmas treats to share with family and friends during this holiday season.  Monies received from the bake sale will be used for donations or projects with our Jamaica partners during our 2015 mission trip. 

The 2015 POP Mission Jamaica Team includes:  James Allen, Lori Clausen, Jennifer Follestad, Bill Fredrick, Ann Goebel, Erik Hasse, Kollett Kaehlert, Helen Kellerman, Jerry Laumann, Julie Lent, Marian Hutchens, Marv Hutchens, Terri Revell, Gerry Schroeder, Abby Vulcan, and Vicki Weber.  Please continue to prayer for our team and our partners in Jamaica as we begin to plan and prepare for our trip in March 2015.  Thank you your continued support!

We all need  inspiration and support in our daily lives. Suggested resources in the Library include:

• More Letters from Ruth's Attic: 31 Daily Insights on Following Christ - Ruth Graham
• Finding God's Purpose for Your Life - Joyce Meyers (audio book)
• God's Inspirational Promise Book - Max Lucado

Stop in before or after Sunday services! 

This was by far our best year yet for Operation Christmas Child.  As a congregation we filled 575 boxes and collected over $2500.  These boxes will help bring love and joy to children all over the world.

The CEAP Toy Drive is going on NOW and will continue through December 7th.  Our CEAP Tree is located in the Welcome Center and is filled with ornaments (gift ideas) for the taking.  Simply take an ornament, buy the gift on the ornament, and return it to church (unwrapped) by Sunday, December 7th.  Our main age range is 15-18, but we will accept gifts for children of all ages.  All new gifts are welcome. 

KATIE RYKAL

Director of Children and Family Ministry

Christmas: We're On The Air - Christmas Program 2014 is just around the corner.  Join us on Sunday, December 14 as we gather round to hear the Christmas story come to life.  The Christmas program will be presented by our Sunday School classes at both services that morning. 

FOR Parents: Parents of Sunday School children, here is the full practice schedule for the Christmas Program.  NOW: Those with speaking/acting parts should have their parts already.  All parts should be memorized by December 13th.  NOW: CDs and word sheets are available.  If you are needing either one of these, contact Katie.

Rehearsal Schedule:

Saturday, December 6th:  

Music Rehearsal (9:00 service @ 9:00, 10:30 service @ 10:30).  A short speaking/acting part rehearsal will happen at the end of music rehearsal for both hours.

Saturday, December 13th: 

FULL Dress Rehearsal for the Program (9:00 service @ 9:00, 10:30 service @ 10:30)

UPCOMING DATES for Children and Family Ministry

November 30 - Family Worship Sunday (join us for Worship, and send your kids with Katie during the readings and sermon)

December 6 - POP Tots will meet in the Nursery with Miss Teri

December 7 - PreK-K Advent Celebration during the Sunday School hour

December 21 - Childrens Ministry Movie Morning (the movie will be playing during the 9:30 Adult Choir Cantata)

  Children's Ministry contact Katie Rykal

 
Brent Haglund

Director of

Youth and Family Ministry

 Journey Thanks-Gathering: Following worship, sandwich making & pie all college-age young adults are welcome to stick around for more time to catch up with one another & fun!

2015 Revolution Mission Trip: Pine Ridge, South Dakota

Stay informed!   

Check your email regularly & connect with our networks:

Facebook: "Prince of Peace Lutheran Church" & "Axis @ POP"

Twitter - @POPyouthfamily

Instagram - @POPyouthfamily

www.princeofpeacechurch.org  

For more information on the above events and or other activities/events at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church visit: