Good news for Peace for January 17th

Seeking Nominations

Paul and Barnabas traveled and appointed leaders in the churches (see Acts 14:23). “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Paul told Titus to appoint leaders in Crete when he worked there. “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” (Titus 1:5) From the Bible, we learn …

  • to have local elders or leaders of various sorts

  • Elders, deacons and other ministry workers should come from the local group. Every church should have people who can use God’s Word in people’s lives, whether they help students, young adults, or seniors. God’s people work together.

  • People mature in the Word should select the next generation. Many people should have involvement.

  • Selecting leaders happens alongside spiritual practices – prayer, fasting, careful assessment of what is undone, and discipline

Currently our nominating committee is seeking qualified men for certain positions. If they contact you, please prayerfully consider serving and contact pastor.

The people of Peace are also welcome to make nominations. Please contact pastor or our congregational chairman. You may nominate yourself if you would like. 

We will look for people who show signs of gifts and developing spiritual maturity to lead God’s people. The use of individual gifts is more important than simply filling a role.

One person provided some wise advice for selecting leaders: “Most churches make the mistake of electing the competent, the confident, and the successful; whereas what you really need is a man who has been broken by the knowledge of his own sin, and restored by an even greater knowledge of grace. That kind of elder (or other leader) can lead the congregation in being the chief repenter: repenting more quickly, more publicly, more often and more deeply.” Please pray for all the current and future servant-leaders of Peace.

Qualifications for our elected positions are as follows:

  • Must not be a new convert; some spiritual maturity

  • Voting member

  • Male, in good standing

Positions open for nomination

For the 2025 calendar year, the following positions are open for nomination:

  • Vice-president/treasurer - responsible for oversight of the facility and finances, fills in for president - no nominee

  • Maintenance coordinator - responsible for coordinating the upkeep of the facility - Roger Commissaris nominated

  • Elder (not council) - responsible for the spiritual health of the congregation - Joe Olivares nominated

  • Music coordinator - responsible for assisting pastor in coordinating music for our services - no nominees

We’d love to partner with you in any of these areas. For the whole team, visit Team – Peace Lutheran Church (peaceotsego.church)

Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night

We'd love to invite you to wrap up the Christmas season with a beautiful Christmas movie: Christmas with the Chosen.

The movie is free at our local theater M89 Cinema on February 2 at 3:00 pm.

Friends, family, and neighbors are all welcome!

Come take one last look at the Real Christmas!

https://facebook.com/events/s/christmas-with-the-chosen-holy/927790136141694/

Consider My Financial Life in the New Year

As you head into the new year, let me encourage you and provide some help if I can with regard to your finances. Finances are important to us all. We feel pressure due to inflation. We experience changes in income. We might face new costs and expenses.

There are too many little things to consider when it comes to good financial practices. If you want someone to talk to, feel free to ask. We can commiserate together (and I might be able to point you in a helpful direction). We’ll do a “Financial Peace University” seminar again soon. You can learn more there.

Let me encourage you to take careful stock of your financial position and see how you are giving your best to the Lord. God tells us a lot about money and finances. Here are two resources that might help you as you consider your financial position and generosity in 2025.

If either of those things help you, I’m glad. Let me know if I can do more for you!

Merger Investigation Team

The congregation through the voters decided to investigate the possibility of a merger.

So far, the council has asked 4 people to serve in this capacity - Marc and Amy Nelson, Paul and Joan Retberg.

The team is beginning its work shortly. We’d be happy have one more individual if you’d like to join. Please contact pastor.

Growth and Renewal Team

The congregation is also pursing Growth and Renewal through the Growth and Renewal Team.

The Growth and Renewal Team currently looks to be composed of Douglas Olivares, Kart Wedge, Dave Keller, Macayla Wright, and Rhonda Wilson; perhaps a few others will join.

This team too is looking to begin its work shortly. We’d be happy to have one or two more individuals if you’d like to join. Please contact pastor.

 

January 17th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

January 18th 9:30 Christian Theology: Christology

January 19th 9:30 Service

January 19th 10:45 Catechism

February 2nd 10: 45 Voters’ Meeting

February 2nd 3:00 pm “Christmas with the Chosen” @ M89 Cinema

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for December 21

Merry Real Christmas!

Christmas is in full swing at Peace, and we’re working with you to live a Real Christmas.

A big thank you to Jeanne Myers and the rest of the team who helped us all take a Journey to Bethlehem this past Sunday. We got to explore the first Christmas world - the Real Christmas. If you’d like, you can still come and take a walk through displays set up in the style of 1st century Bethlehem.

Christmas continues this Sunday December 22nd at 9:30 am. Our students will share the Christmas message. Super great!

We’d love to enjoy the Real Christmas and have a moment of creativity in the chaos on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 5:00 pm.

Last, we’ll be filled with the desires of life on Christmas Day, December 25th at 9:30 am.

I hope we get to see you and share in this real Christmas with you.

In Jesus,

Pastor T

PS Be sure to grab a Christmas sticker and stick it in your stuff to share the Real Christmas! https://peaceotsego.org/realchristmas

Crazy Christmas Cookies!

As part of our Christmas celebration, we’re having a cookie sharing event. December 24th after service.

You can bring cookies. Eat cookies. And take cookies.

All in packages of a dozen.

Everyone (really everyone) is welcome to come and take cookies. If you can, bring some cookies. You don’t have to bring as many as you take or take as many as you bring. For example, bring a dozen to eat with friends; leave three dozen for someone else and take two dozen.

Enjoy some Christmas treats with your loved ones.


Special Christmastime Giving

Gifts for the Giving Tree need to be back by Sunday December 22nd at the latest. The Tree of Warmth will be up to Sunday January 5th. Christmas treats for the kids (small oranges (cuties), Christmas cards, coloring books, crayons, activity books, and individually wrapped candy) should be in by this Sunday December 22nd. If you would like to make a gift to pastor with the rest of the congregation, that gift should also be given by December 22nd. Simply put it in the plate or give online (https://peaceotsego.org/give) marked “staff gift” or “pastor gift”.

The last day for 2024 gifts to support the gospel ministry of Peace is December 29th. Please consider supporting the gospel ministry. Our goal is to raise an extra $15K to cover expenses.

 

December 22nd 9:30 am Children’s Christmas Service

December 24th 5:00 pm Christmas Eve service

December 25th 9:30 am Christmas Day service

December 29th 9:30 am Sunday service

January 5th 9:30 am Hymn sing/song servce

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for December 12

Real Christmas

Christmas is in full swing at Peace, and we’re working with you to live a Real Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who helped with Hometown Christmas this past weekend, including Joan Retberg, Cindy and Roger Commissaris, Joe and Sue Olivares, Shelly and Kart and Ethan and Ellise Wedge, Pam and Lilly Larson, and the Timmermanns.

Take a Journey to Bethlehem this Sunday December 15th to explore the first Christmas world - the Real Christmas. You can walk through displays set up in the style of 1st century Bethlehem, then enjoy a lunch with friends and family.

Our students will share the Christmas message on Sunday the 22nd. Keep practicing kids! https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/childrenschristmasservice2024

PS Be sure to grab a Christmas sticker and stick it in your stuff to share the Real Christmas! https://peaceotsego.org/realchristmas


 


Officer elections and appointments

At the end of the year, we typically look for nominations for officers in the coming year.

We're filling a number of positions as we look to 2025.

  • Congregational President or Vice- President

  • Maintenance Coordinator

  • Elder (not on council)

  • Assistant Financial Secretary

  • Music Coordinator

Some of these positions are elected positions, others are appointed. If you would like to nominate an individual for any of these positions, please speak with Pastor Timmermann.

Crazy Christmas Cookies!

December 24th after service in the

Bring cookies (or not) in a package of 12!

Take cookies!

Everyone (really everyone) is welcome to come and take cookies. If you can, bring some cookies. You don’t have to bring as many as you take or take as many as you bring. For example, bring a dozen to eat with friends; leave three dozen for someone else and take two dozen.

Enjoy some Christmas treats with your loved ones.

Special Christmastime Giving

We are so thankful for the Lord, his generosity to us, and your generosity to one another. I was talking with one of you who very suddenly had to stop attending and participating in God’s Word and mission. She mentioned a couple of people had called her, asked about her situation, and encouraged her. Thank you for doing that. I’m honored to be part of this loving group of people.

I know how many people ask you to give to certain causes and interests this time of year. Like you, I have things I like to support.

We at Peace want you to have a chance consider all your giving opportunities this season. I’ll put them all out there once and trust you to make a wise choice guided by the Holy Spirit.

God’s gospel demands everything from us. But it also gives everything to us. Nothing else in this world gives and takes likes this.

May the Lord enrich your experience of his coming in Word and Sacrament this Christmas.

Giving Tree

We’re glad to help a family connected to Sylvia’s Place get some Christmas cheer!

We’ve placed tags on a tree in the lobby that include their Christmas wishes.

Take as many tags as you would like but please remember to attach the tag to the gift(s) you are returning and don't wrap them.

Please try to return the unwrapped gift under the tree by December 15th with the card

God bless your generosity!

Tree of Warmth

We’re collecting new items including mittens, hats, gloves, and socks to keep people warm. Slippers and blankets are new this year based on a request from Sylvia’s Place.

Donations will go to local elementary schools Dix Street elementary, Washington Street elementary school, Gilkey, Alamo.

Please return donations by Sunday January 5th. We’ll distribute them afte that.

Christmas Bags for Kids

We’ll hand out small gift bags to the children that attend our Christmas services

We suggest small oranges (cuties), Christmas cards, coloring books, crayons, activity books, and individually wrapped candy.

We plan to give away 40 bags.

Drop off items in office by December 22nd 

We can’t wait to share Christmas with your family and friends!

Ushers

Ushers serve a simple but important role in the life of our congregation. Ushers

  • welcome people to the service

  • provide a friendly face

  • pass out service outlines and other materials

  • direct people to seats

  • watch for emergency situations

  • keep the doors locked as needed

Men or women can serve as ushers. We try to have two per week. We usually agree to serve for a month and can find someone else to fill in if we have to be gone.

Please reach out to the office (269-694-6104) or stop by the next steps table to sign up to usher in 2025.

Advent

We’ve started Advent, the time Christians call the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Advent is a great time to prayerfully reflect on the coming of Jesus. We consider three comings at the same time: 

  • His birth as a child to save us some 2,000 years ago

  • His coming to us now in Word and Sacrament to live in us and among us

  • His future return to restore all things

There are many good resources for your Advent meditation, both personal and family. I’ve included some of them and if you’d like more, please reach out to me. There are different ways to obtain each. 


Advent means “coming”; it also means "expectation". It helps us develop a joyful expectation of Christ’s return. This Advent as you meditate on God’s Word, may he match the expectations of your heart to his own so that his return is nothing but the greatest bliss, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction for you. 

This Advent as you meditate on God’s Word, may he match the expectations of your heart to his own so that his return is nothing but the greatest bliss, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction for you.

End of year donations

Thank you for all your gifts in support of Peace’s ministry in 2024. Please make final end of year donations by December 29th. Donations may be given on-site (cash or check) or online at https://peaceotsego.org/give

Please remember that Peace may receive Required Minimum Distributions. Individuals 70 ½ or older should also know that they can receive some excellent benefits through the end of the year IRA charitable distributions. Since the explanation is fairly lengthy, please visit the WELS page that explains. https://mcg.welsrc.net/download-mcg/ira-charitable-distributions/. If you need help, please speak with Ralph Holewa, Jim Winkel, or pastor.

You will receive statements reflecting your gifts in your on-site mailbox a few weeks into the new year.

Christmas gift for Pastor

We collect donations for a Christmas gift for pastor. Gifts may be put in the offering marked “Staff gift” or online at https://peaceotsego.org/give marked “Staff gift”. The last day to make gifts is December 2nd. Thank you for your love and encouragement of Pastor Timmermann.

 

December 15th 10:45 am Journey to Bethlehem

December 22nd 9:30 am Children’s Christmas Service

December 24th 5:00 pm Christmas Eve service

December 25th 9:30 am Christmas Day service

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for December 6

Thanksgiving

“3 I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)

We thanked God for so many people this year at Thanksgiving. If you didn’t get a chance to add your thanksgivings, be sure to grab a card at our Welcome Table/Next Steps Table and add your thanksgiving.


 

Real Christmas

Christmas is in full swing at Peace, and we’re working with you to live a Real Christmas.

Enjoy the wonder and happiness of Christmas at Otsego’s Hometown Christmas on Saturday December 7th from about 4:00 - 7:00 pm. We’ll be handing out cocoa and riding in the parade and providing security at the parade.

On Sunday December 8th decorate Peace so that we can see Christmas really come to life. Sunday December 8th 11:00 am. Pizza will be served!

Sunday December 15th we'll take a Journey to Bethlehem.

Our students will share the Christmas message on Sunday the 22nd.

For all the Real Christmas, visit https://peaceotsego.org/realchristmas

PS Be sure to grab a Christmas sticker and stick it in your stuff to share the Real Christmas!


 

Picture updates

Big thanks to Cindy Commissaris for updating the picture board. We've also got a fun wall of pictures in the family center. Feel free to add your own!

Officer elections and appointments

At the end of the year, we typically look for nominations for officers in the coming year.

We're filling a number of positions as we look to 2025.

  • Congregational President or Vice- President

  • Maintenance Coordinator

  • Elder (not on council)

  • Assistant Financial Secretary

  • Music Coordinator

Some of these positions are elected positions, others are appointed. If you would like to nominate an individual for any of these positions, please speak with Pastor Timmermann.

Advent

We’ve started Advent, the time Christians call the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Advent is a great time to prayerfully reflect on the coming of Jesus. We consider three comings at the same time: 

  • His birth as a child to save us some 2,000 years ago

  • His coming to us now in Word and Sacrament to live in us and among us

  • His future return to restore all things

There are many good resources for your Advent meditation, both personal and family. I’ve included some of them and if you’d like more, please reach out to me. There are different ways to obtain each. 


Advent means “coming”; it also means "expectation". It helps us develop a joyful expectation of Christ’s return. This Advent as you meditate on God’s Word, may he match the expectations of your heart to his own so that his return is nothing but the greatest bliss, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction for you. 

This Advent as you meditate on God’s Word, may he match the expectations of your heart to his own so that his return is nothing but the greatest bliss, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction for you.

 

December 7th 4:00 pm Hometown Christmas

December 8th 10:45 am Christmas decorating

December 15th 10:45 am Journey to Bethlehem

December 22nd 9:30 am Children’s Christmas Service

December 24th 5:00 pm Christmas Eve service

December 25th 9:30 am Christmas Day service

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Children's Christmas Service 2024

Children’s Christmas Service

December 22nd @ 9:30 a.m.

We like to offer our children an opportunity to declare and celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

Everyone – children, parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors are invited to this service. The service will have many familiar service elements. But a significant portion of the service will be replaced with the children’s portion.

The children’s part of the service is posted below so that parents can practice.

Practice sessions

  • Sundays during their lessons at 9:30 am

  • Friday December 20th 5:00 to 7:00 pm - dinner will be served

  • December 22nd @ 9:00 am


The Things of Christmas!

Children up to 5th grade should sit in the first 3 rows.

Welcome and Gathering

After the absolution and prayer, the children should come stand on the lower step.

Lessons

Joseph and Mary: Luke 2:1-7 (all children)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Shepherds: Luke 2:8-15 (2nd - 5th)

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:16-20 (2nd - 5th)

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Galatians 4:4-5 (___________)

the reality of the law

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Philippians 2:5-8 Lillian Timmermann

humility

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Titus 3:4-7 ( ______________)

saved

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Romans 1:2-4 Marie Timmermann

2 [This is] the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.


Devotion/Activity - Real Christmas

Mary

Joseph

Herod

Shepherds


Music/Songs


Baby Jesus We Love You

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Away in a Manger (CW 68)

Children sing verses 1 & 2, congregation joins on verse 3

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Jesus Joy of the Highest Heaven

Children sing verse 1, congregation joins for verse 2

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O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Congregation

The service continues with the end of the devotion, Apostles’ Creed, prayers, offering, and blessing

Closing Hymn: Go Tell It On the Mountain

Children sing verses

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Good news for Peace for November 22

Thanksgiving

“3 I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3) Do you thank God for other people? I hope thanksgiving will help you give thanks.

If you are learning how to give thanks, come to our gathering on November 27th 6:30 pm at our Thanksgiving Service. Please join us!

As a group of believers, we are especially glad to give thanks for what we call “kingdom thanksgivings”. Kingdom thanksgivings are the gospel-related work God is up to among us. It’s what he does with his good news of forgiveness and life. Suggestions include

  • baptisms

  • professions of faith

  • deliverance from sin

  • repentance

  • new or renewed convictions of Bible teaching

Be sure to grab a postcard at church to add to our “kingdom thanksgivings” board! Or email church@peaceotsego.org or text 269-694-6104

Choir

Join our Christmas choir!

Anyone at Peace is welcome to help sing good news of great joy for Christmas. A special choir is forming to sing for Christmas Eve service. join choir Dec. 8, 15, 22 to practice after church for Christmas Eve service please.

Ladies Christmas Party

All ladies are welcome to a Christmas party on December 4th at 1:00 at The Dock at Bayview (Richland).

Please RSVP to Jane Holewa (269-680-9060) or sign up at the table.

All ladies should have an invite in your mailboxes.

Hometown Christmas

Otsego’s Hometown Christmas December 7th! is a great opportunity to come together and get ready to enjoy Christmas.

We’ll have a truck/float in the parade. Join the float! Contact the office 269-694-6104 today to participate.

We’ll also be handing out cocoa; love to see you.

Christmas Decorating

The eager excitement of hearts should show up in magnificent, beautiful, overwhelming decoration for Christ’s birth - an appearance that humbles us and makes us bow.

You are welcome to join us Sunday after services to decorate our facility. Come declare God’s beauty!

December 8th Sunday 11:00 am. A light lunch will be available.

 

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

December 3rd 6:30 pm Team and Task Time

December 4th 1:00 pm Ladies Christmas party

December 7th 4:00 pm Hometown Christmas

December 8th 10:45 am Christmas decorating

December 15th 10:45 am Journey to Bethlehem

December 22nd 9:30 am Children’s Christmas Service

December 24th 5:00 pm Christmas Eve service

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for November 14

 

Real Christmas

Christmas is supposed to mean laughter, happiness, fun, peace on earth, and goodwill toward all. 

Or is it? 

Might Christmas actually be something that much more resembles our reality - anguish, fear, and heartache right next to lights, music, and gifts? 

Is Christmas actually conflict, hurt, and tears alongside happiness, laughter, and fun? 

Real Christmas is all the real things of life with real promise. 

This Christmas, let’s be part of the Real Christmas.

Our Christmas messaging and activities this year at Peace will help us experience a real Christmas. Whether you sing in the Christmas choir (see below), help with cocoa at hometown Christmas December 7th, put on the “Journey to Bethlehem”, share the Christmas message with friends and coworkers, or celebrate with us Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm, we hope you will discover the Real Christmas.

Choir

Join our Christmas choir!

Anyone at Peace is welcome to help sing good news of great joy for Christmas. A special choir is forming to sing for Christmas Eve service. join choir Dec. 8, 15, 22 to practice after church for Christmas Eve service please.

2025 Ministry planning - voters’ meeting

We’re looking forward to gospel ministry in 2025!

Our annual meeting on Sunday November 3rd decided to go forward in 2025. We’re making no significant cuts to ministry and are slightly expanding our musical efforts.

Nevertheless, we still have a serious financial situation to address. We hope to do that during 2025 in three ways:

  • Stewardship - the council will encourage and direct both individual and corporate stewardship

  • Growth and Renewal - a Team will look at specific options to help us grow and renew as a congregation

  • Merger - a Team will investigate the possibility of a merger down the road to see how to we could work with other local congregations

These three initiatives are important to all of us at Peace. We don’t to let them fall down. So we are gathering again on November 17th 10:45 am to ratify people for this work. We aren’t moving on until we have people to do this work.

Here is what we are looking for right now: if you would serve on either the “Growth and Renewal Team” or the “Merger Team”, or you would like to suggest a good candidate to help with this work, please let pastor know as soon as possible. Both teams will work under the authority of the council with pastor to advance gospel ministry in 2025.

If you want to see everything we discussed at the annual meeting, please visit https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/202410voters

May God bless our work together!

Ladies Christmas Party

All ladies are welcome to a Christmas party on December 4th at 1:00 at The Dock at Bayview (Richland).

Please RSVP to Jane Holewa (269-680-9060) or sign up at the table.

All ladies should have an invite in your mailboxes.

Thanksgiving

“3 I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3) Do you thank God for other people? I hope thanksgiving will help you give thanks.

If you are learning how to give thanks, come to our gathering on November 27th 6:30 pm at our Thanksgiving Service. Please join us!

As a group of believers, we are especially glad to give thanks for what we call “kingdom thanksgivings”. Kingdom thanksgivings are the gospel-related work God is up to among us. It’s what he does with his good news of forgiveness and life. Suggestions include

  • baptisms

  • professions of faith

  • deliverance from sin

  • repentance

  • new or renewed convictions of Bible teaching

Be sure to grab a postcard at church to add to our “kingdom thanksgivings” board! Or email church@peaceotsego.org or text 269-694-6104

 

November 17th 10:45 am Conclusion of voters’ meeting

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

December 3rd 6:30 pm Team and Task Time

December 4th 1:00 pm Ladies Christmas party

December 7th 4:00 pm Hometown Christmas

December 8th 10:45 am Christmas decorating

December 15th 10:45 am Journey to Bethlehem

December 22nd 9:30 am Children’s Christmas Service

December 24th 5:00 pm Christmas Eve service

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for November 7th

2025 Ministry

We’re looking forward to gospel ministry in 2025!

Our annual meeting on Sunday November 3rd decided to go forward in 2025. We’re making no significant cuts to ministry and are slightly expanding our musical efforts.

Nevertheless, we still have a serious financial situation to address. We hope to do that during 2025 in three ways:

  • Stewardship - the council will encourage and direct both individual and corporate stewardship

  • Growth and Renewal - a Team will look at specific options to help us grow and renew as a congregation

  • Merger - a Team will investigate the possibility of a merger down the road to see how to we could work with other local congregations

These three initiatives are important to all of us at Peace. We don’t to let them fall down. So we are gathering again on November 17th 10:45 am to ratify people for this work. We aren’t moving on until we have people to do this work.

Here is what we are looking for right now: if you would serve on either the “Growth and Renewal Team” or the “Merger Team”, or you would like to suggest a good candidate to help with this work, please let pastor know as soon as possible. Both teams will work under the authority of the council with pastor to advance gospel ministry in 2025.

If you want to see everything we discussed at the annual meeting, please visit https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/202410voters

May God bless our work together!

Call

Pastor Timmermann has received a request to serve at another congregation instead of serving Peace. We call these requests “calls” based on passages like Matthew 4:21, “21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” Jesus called his disciples to follow him. The Lord calls pastors through congregations to do the same.

Pastor Timmermann has not asked for this call. The people at Shepherd of the Hills in Duluth, MN have sought him out.

I wrote to them that "I appreciate your president’s work to get me the call information, salary, and job information in a timely manner. I’d like to talk to more of you and learn of your shared expectations. I hope you’ll be forward with me and help me see what the work entails.”

I also said, “Please be assured that I will sincerely deliberate this call to serve at Shepherd of the Hills. The Lord has used you as his tool and voice to ask me to serve. I hear him and say, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”. Please, continue to speak so that I can hear the Lord’s voice through you. God willing, we’ll conclude this decision around Thanksgiving.”

I pray that you too, at Peace, will share the wisdom and encouragement God has given you. Thanksgiving is a great time for us to share the good things God has done among us and how he might work among us in the future. We have lots of reasons to give thanks!

Thankful for you and our Lord,

Pastor Timmermann and family, Rachel, Clara, Lillian, Marie, Josiah, and Alexander

Communication Update

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Our communications provider has changed its system to comply with regulations.
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please text START (in all caps) to 87447

and please text YES (in all caps) to 87447

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This will let us send you important notices including emergencies. We’ll continue to send most information via our business number.

If you used to get emails from us and no longer do, please check your SPAM.

Veterans

As we commemorate Veteran’s Day, let each of us pray for and honor those who have served.

We would like to thank: Paul M, Daton W, Tom H, Al K, Tom K, Don H, Ralph H, Dave G, John G, Irw B, Jim W, Richard U, Don N, Gary C, Charles H, Gretchen H, Ron M

We appreciate your sacrifices and courage.

If you’d like us to thank and pray for anyone else, please add them with this form.

Thanksgiving

“3 I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3) Do you thank God for other people? I hope thanksgiving will help you give thanks.

If you are learning how to give thanks, come to our gathering on November 27th 6:30 pm at our Thanksgiving Service. Please join us!

As a group of believers, we are especially glad to give thanks for what we call “kingdom thanksgivings”. Kingdom thanksgivings are the gospel-related work God is up to among us. It’s what he does with his good news of forgiveness and life. Suggestions include

  • baptisms

  • professions of faith

  • deliverance from sin

  • repentance

  • new or renewed convictions of Bible teaching

Be sure to grab a postcard at church to add to our “kingdom thanksgivings” board! Or email church@peaceotsego.org or text 269-694-6104

 

November 9th 9:30 am NO Christian Theology #4

November 14th 12:00 am Senior lunch and bingo

November 15th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

November 15th 6:30 pm Bunco

November 17th 10:45 am Voters’ meeting finish

November 17th 3:00 pm Installation of new pastor in Hopkins, MI

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

December 4th 1:00 pm Ladies Christmas Party at The Dock at Bayview - all ladies welcome

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

2025 Ministry

2025 Ministry

Dear friends of Jesus at Peace,

I want to inform you of the recent decisions at the voters’ meeting (business meeting). I also want to ask for your help as we go forward.

The voters of Peace decided to forward in 2025 with a significant deficit for 2025 ministry. We’re planning to spend approximately $166K and we pray, God willing, to receive about $145K of income. That leaves us with about a planned deficit of $21K for 2025.

As we previously shared, that will leave us with a small amount of unrestricted assets in 2025. For more information on this situation, please see https://docs.google.com/document/d/1En5Wlkw_IYkFK3Wr2jYpQiRfuhh_eAHjkM0LOKjSpMY/edit?usp=drive_web&ouid=114785614165381582809

If ministry proceeds like this in 2025, I think we would have some difficult decisions at the end of the year.

In order to address this situation, the voters decided to do three things:

1) develop Stewardship - the council is going to carefully steward our resources, and also help the congregation develop our funds and our time in carrying out gospel ministry

2) investigate a Merger - mergers have been brought up many times; a Merger Team is going to investigate if there is any possibility of a merger with local congregations

3) pursue Growth and Renewal - a team of people will pursue all kinds of options to Renew the congregation and our mission work

That’s what we want to do, with God’s blessing.

I’m looking for two things from you right now:

1) people to help with the Merger team. We’d like a team of 5 people at least to investigate a merger. This will include looking at research of what makes a good merger, talking to local congregation to see if there is interest, and assessing what Peace thinks. Much of this can be made easier by working with our denomination, which has tools to help this. Pastor will work with the team, but not do everything.

2) people to help with Growth and Renewal. We’d like to see God at work among us and through us. We’d like to see a team of 5-10 people take responsibility for Renewal of the congregation’s ministry. Pastor will help coordinate this team. We have an initial list of things we can try.

Please prayerfully consider if you are willing to help with either of these teams, or make a suggestion to pastor at 269-694-6104 or church@peaceotsego.org and he will contact the person.

The voters will meet on Sunday November 17th at 10:45 to ratify these teams!

Look forward to working with you in 2025. God will use us to bring people the gospel.


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Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for November 1st

Forever!

Whether you like Halloween or not, I’m thankful for the dear saints who helped us connect with people in the community this Halloween: Joe and Sue, Douglas, Kart, Tashina, Jeanne, Les, and Rachel. You were great! We had a line to take pictures all day :-)

I’m not a huge fan of Halloween, but I don’t know. I don’t like the spooky Halloween. We simply remember those saints who have left this life and begun their eternal life. They live forever - and so will you and I some day.

What do you think about forever? It’s a long time, isn’t it? God says you and I will live (and more!) this Sunday. See you then :-)

Fall Work Day

The weather looks good for our fall work day tomorrow Saturday November 2nd at 9:30 am.

We’ll get the facility ready for winter activities including

  • a thorough cleaning - get rid of those spider webs and summer bugs!

  • leaf clean up

  • trim bushes and trees

  • put out shovels, salt and winter supplies

  • clean up barn

The fall and winter is a heavy use time for the facility in our ministry. Thanks for your help to keep it usable!

Complete list of tasks https://bit.ly/4f7PrVA

2025 Ministry planning - voters’ meeting

Our annual business meeting to approve 2025 ministry will take place on Sunday November 3rd after the service.

Members are welcome to attend; voting members conduct the business.

The major issue is to review the current ministry and to approve an appropriate ministry plan (including funding) for 2025. This is where we’ll make a decision about the serious financial situation that we previously informed you about.

If you missed the discussion at the forum, or would like to see all the reports for the voters’ meeting, please visit https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/202410voters

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:45 am

May God bless our work together!

Prayer Chain

Need prayers? Send in a prayer request to Peace @ 269-694-6104.

Are you willing to add your prayers to God’s people? Join the prayer chain! Send Peace a message @ 269-694-6104.

We’re also looking for someone to coordinate the prayer chain. This person receives prayer requests, sends out prayer requests, and adds people to the prayer chain. If you’d like to serve God’s people in this way, let pastor know!

 

November 2nd 9:30 am Fall Work Day https://bit.ly/4f7PrVA

November 3rd 10:45 am Voters meeting https://bit.ly/4h7YLul

November 5th 10:00 am Craft time

November 5th 6:30 pm Team and Task Time

November 7th 5:30 pm Focus on Life Dinner

November 9th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

 

Good news for Peace for October 25th

Spiritual Renewal and Church Reformation

When I was in high school, I got to learn a great trade. I learned to tuckpoint. I got to work on schools, homes and churches and get them back to their original condition.

As Christians, we don’t just care for the appearance of our buildings. Ultimately, we care for the people who use the building and the spirit we have together.

The Reformation renews our souls and reforms our congregations. Let’s celebrate it and get rid of the junk and clutter that crushes our faith.

We’ll celebrate the renewal and reformation October 27th.

There are a lot of good resources out there to get a sense of the impact of the Reformation. Here are just a couple:

Potluck

Also on October 27th

Library

We’ve done a little clean up and update of the library. Basic books of the Christian faith and life are available. Feel free to borrow a book. Drop it in the grey boxes when you’re done. If you have any good donations or suggestions, please let pastor know.

Trail for Treaters

I’m looking for help out at the Trail for Treaters downtown Otsego October 31st from 4 - 6 pm. Please reach out to me 269-694-6104 and come meet a lot of people in our community!

2025 Ministry planning - forum and voters’ meeting

Our forum on Sunday October 13th addressed ministry planning for 2025. We highlighted three ways to work on the ministry in 2025.

Sadly, none of these ways directly address the approximately $22K shortfall expected for 2025. They are:

  • A Merger Team - the Merger Team will investigate and present options related to merging with local congregations

  • A Growth and Renewal Team - the Growth and Renewal Team will lead us to try the options that people suggested

  • Stewardship development -

Notes on the rest of the discussion at the forum, as well as reports for the voters’ meeting. https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/202410voters

Please note: this is a serious situation that is worthy of your attention. We have tried to be upfront about the current reality and future possibilities.

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:45 am

May God bless our work together!

Thanksgiving

Start preparing for Thanksgiving on November 27th at 6:30 pm. 

I give thanks for you!

Monitor?

Peace is changing its streaming laptop for a desktop. We could use a new-to-us computer monitor for the desktop. If you happen to have a desktop monitor sitting around, please consider donating it to Peace.

Prayer Chain

Need prayers? Send in a prayer request to Peace @ 269-694-6104.

Are you willing to add your prayers to God’s people? Join the prayer chain! Send Peace a message @ 269-694-6104.

We’re also looking for someone to coordinate the prayer chain. This person receives prayer requests, sends out prayer requests, and adds people to the prayer chain. If you’d like to serve God’s people in this way, let pastor know!

 

October 27th 10:45 am Potluck https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1

October 29th 10:00 am, 6:30 pm Town halls

October 31st 4:00 - 6:00 pm Trail for Treaters downtown

November 2nd 9:30 am Fall Work Day https://bit.ly/4f7PrVA

November 3rd 10:45 am Voters meeting https://bit.ly/4h7YLul

November 5th 10:00 am Craft time

November 5th 6:30 pm Team and Task Time

November 7th 5:30 pm Focus on Life Dinner

November 9th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

 

Good news for Peace for October 16th

Spiritual Renewal and Church Reformation

I got news this week. You may have heard it too. The United Methodist Church in town voted on October 6th to stay in the UMC and the church has already started to separate to form another. I haven’t seen public news yet, but I have this straight from people at the meeting.

I wonder what it is doing to faith, fruit, and the future of Christian congregations.

Martin Luther reminds us that when our Lord and Savior Jesus told us to repent, he meant that all of our lives should be characterized by repentance. Repentance is the path for renewal and reformation today.

We’ll celebrate the renewal and reformation October 27th.

There are a lot of good resources out there to get a sense of the impact of the Reformation. Here are just a couple:

Also on October 27th

Carpet Cleaning

The carpeting and pews at church were cleaned this week. Please be aware that many items in the building have been moved and reorganized; we will likely need to help clean up, throw items away, and move things around to resume activity.

Please come ready on Sunday to pitch in.

If you could spend an hour before then, please contact Rachel Timmermann or reply to this message.

2025 Ministry planning - forum and voters’ meeting

Our forum on Sunday October 13th addressed ministry planning for 2025. We highlighted three ways to work on the ministry in 2025.

Sadly, none of these ways directly address the approximately $22K shortfall expected for 2025. They are:

  • A Merger Team - the Merger Team will investigate and present options related to merging with local congregations

  • A Growth and Renewal Team - the Growth and Renewal Team will lead us to try the options that people suggested

  • Stewardship development -

Notes on the rest of the discussion at the forum, as well as reports for the voters’ meeting. https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/202410voters

Please note: this is a serious situation that is worthy of your attention. We have tried to be upfront about the current reality and future possibilities.

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:45 am

May God bless our work together!

Trail for Treaters

I’m looking for help to pass out goodies at the Trail for Treaters downtown Otsego October 31st from 4 - 6 pm. Please reach out to me 269-694-6104 and come meet a lot of people in our community!

BLESS

Who have you prayed for these days? We’ve got a lot more to do to pray for the gospel to fill the homes of our community.

Pray

  • Lord God, give me the chance to know my neighbors.

  • Jesus, give me the conviction of the gospel. Make me “not ashamed”.

  • Holy Spirit, use me to share the hope of life with you.

Thanksgiving

Start preparing for Thanksgiving on November 27th at 6:30 pm. 

I give thanks for you!

 

October 18th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

October 18th 6:30 pm Bunco

October 19th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

October 27th 10:45 am Potluck https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1

October 31st 4:00 - 6:00 pm Trail for Treaters downtown

November 2nd 9:30 am Fall Work Day https://bit.ly/4f7PrVA

November 3rd 10:45 Voters meeting https://bit.ly/4h7YLul

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for October 10th

Marriage and Family in the United States today

What does family life look like in America around the year 2024?   

The US population is about 335 million (Decennial Census by Decades). For some perspective, that is more than double the 1950 US population (151 million, https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html) There are about 275 million people over the age of 15, the other 60 million are under 15. 

There are about 125 million households or family units. The average household size is about 2.6 people. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States   

About 125 million or 1 in every 3 people are married; or about 1 in every 2 people over the age of 15. (see charts linked here National Spouses Day: January 26, 2021 (census.gov))    https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/demo/tables/families/time-series/households/hh1.xls 

Fewer than 1 out of every 2 households are married. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/demo/tables/families/time-series/households/hh1.xls 

About 91 million people over the age of 15 have never been married. So if another person isn’t married, the odds are almost 50/50 that they have never been married. Record Share of Americans Have Never Married | Pew Research Center   

If a person is married, they are more than likely over the age of 30. https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/visualizations/time-series/demo/families-and-households/ms-2.pdf 

Another 47 million people over the age of 15 are either widowed or divorced.   

As a pastor, I keep these things in the back of my mind when I'm around town, meeting people, creating studies, and preparing messages. This is the American family. 2 in 5 Americans are married, more than 2 in 5 Americas (including children) have never been married, and fewer than 1 in 5 Americans have been but currently are not married.   

What does the gospel say to all these households and individuals? We believe that Jesus died and rose for individuals and for families. This is the good news we’re going to hear this weekend. Can’t wait to hear it with you!   

 See you Sunday at 9:30 am

Forum and Voters’ Meeting - Financial Update

As we shared over the last two weeks, we’re facing a serious financial situation looking into 2025 gospel ministry.

This gives us a good chance to remember what we are here for - we believe that we have been entrusted with the good news of Jesus and his victory for the world - and we will endure obstacles in our way. You can find information about the financial situation here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1En5Wlkw_IYkFK3Wr2jYpQiRfuhh_eAHjkM0LOKjSpMY/edit#heading=h.aaf8dwuxjg0u

The council is offering three ways for us to work through this situation. You can hear about those and choose at

Congregational Forum - October 13th 10:45 am

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:45 am

Materials for these meetings can be found here. https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/202410voters

These are great times to commit together to work of God among Peace. Please plan to join us.


The Reformation: October 31st

Are you getting ready to celebrate a great time of the Christian year? It’s a most wonderful time of the year!

Enjoy celebrating the Reformation.

There are a lot of good resources out there to get a sense of the impact of the Reformation. Here are just a couple:

Peace will have feast to celebrate the Reformation on October 27th. Bring something to the potluck! https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1

We’ll also have name tags available starting October 27th if you’d like.

Trail for Treaters

I’m looking for help to pass out goodies at the Trail for Treaters downtown Otsego October 31st from 4 - 6 pm. Please reach out to me 269-694-6104 and come meet a lot of people in our community!

Phone

The council has decided to move Peace’s phone to a business mobile phone. The landline in the office/workroom will be removed. Our phone number will remain 269-694-6104.



 
 


October 13th 10:45 am Congregational Forum

October 18th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

October 18th 6:30 pm Bunco

October 19th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

October 27th 10:45 am Potluck https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1

October 31st 4:00 - 6:00 pm Trail for Treaters

November 2nd 9:30 am https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sVa7TvGVFE6gAGa3-tQrfi7GxPvT8PWljB-obKZ3Rvg/edit?usp=sharing

November 27th 6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service and Celebration

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Voters' meeting notes October 2024

 

Hello friends of Peace,

Our annual congregational forum will take place on October 13th at 10:45 am. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate.

Our annual voters’ meeting will take place on November 3rd at 10:45 am. All members are welcome to attend; voting members should attend.

Voting members will conduct the business.

Voting members are those who have signed the constitution prior to the meeting. Please speak with Pastor if you need to do so.

This presentation overviews the meeting and orients you to the current situation. It is in the process of being updated. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XqokyPQnYmEkmhxJ8Jwdnfay9h9dLdkJ3QQri06rQyM/edit?usp=sharing

Our main focus at these meetings is to set up our 2025 plan for ministry and its funding.

Beyond these two items, our business includes

You can participate in the meeting on-site or online https://meet.google.com/qrc-sems-rks

All members of Peace may sign up to receive regular notices regarding our gospel work at https://peace.breezechms.com/form/62dd85

 

Got this from a friend? Sign up here!

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us Know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church

805 S Wilmott St

Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104

https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for October 3rd

I have to admit that I would love to be rich someday. That sounds great to me. But I know I’ll never get it through work. That’s just not going to work out for me.

The only way I’ll ever get rich is if someone dies and leaves me everything. That’s the only way it will ever happen for me.

There is a great story in the Bible that says the same. Read Mark 10:17-31 for this week.

How do you and I know if we need to rework how we handle money? Here are some simple tests:

  • You can’t give large amounts of money away

  • You get scared if you might have less than you’re accustomed to having.

  • You see people who are doing better than you, even though you might have worked harder or might be a better person, and it gets under your skin.

And check out this sermon to rework your relationship with money! https://youtube.com/live/s4TUi3U-SQM

We’ll see you Sunday at 9:30!

Christian Theology #4

“Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Let me put an encouragement out there: if you serve as a teacher of our kids, strongly think about coming to this class. This a great chance for continuing education.

Come to Christian Theology class #4 Saturday, October 19th 9:30 am and focus on eternal concerns.

Forum and Voters’ Meeting - Financial Update

As we work on ministry planning and finances for 2025, the council wants to update you on the difficult financial situation we are in. We shared this information at service on September 29th.

In short, we are experiencing a situation in which giving is slowly falling, costs are rapidly rising, and we are spending down unrestricted assets to the point where we cannot recommend a budget for 2025. A fuller explanation can be found …. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1En5Wlkw_IYkFK3Wr2jYpQiRfuhh_eAHjkM0LOKjSpMY/edit#heading=h.aaf8dwuxjg0u

The council is going to attempt to offer two of three options to finance ministry in 2025.

We'll see those first at ….

Congregational Forum - October 13th 10:45 am

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:45 am

These are great times to commit together to work of God among Peace. Please plan to join us.

Serving St John’s Sturgis - vacancy update

Pastor has begun serving the vacancy at St Johns. Things seem fine so far. Our service will still be at 9:30 am. Pastor and the rest of the Peace staff will remain available at our office contact - church@peaceotsego.org and 269-694-6104. Please reach out with prayer requests, questions, concerns, etc. We are glad to serve you and want to work with you to bring Otsego - Plainwell the gospel of Jesus!

Potluck

Everyone is invited to a Peace Potluck on Sunday October 27th starting at 11:00 (following the service). We’ll have some games to play and share food!

Please bring something to share. You can sign up here https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1 or on site. Love to see you!

The potluck will also launch some name tags we can use to help us get to know each other. The Ladies Guild wants to make lanyards with names available for everyone. They and pastor want to invite and encourage the people of Peace to wear them during and after services so that we can get to know everyone by name. We’ve been blessed with a number of new faces and hope we can make them feel comfortable. These name tags will stay at Peace in mailboxes.

Work Day

Our fall work day is scheduled for November 2nd, 9:30 a.m. Lots to do. I’d really appreciate your help with the clean up this fall! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sVa7TvGVFE6gAGa3-tQrfi7GxPvT8PWljB-obKZ3Rvg/edit?usp=sharing

October 6th 1:30 pm Christian Neighbors Path Walk https://christianneighbors.org/

October 10th 12:00 am Senior lunch

October 13th 10:45 am Congregational Forum

October 18th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

October 18th 6:30 pm Bunco

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Potluck

Everyone is invited to a Peace Potluck on Sunday October 27th starting at 11:00 (following the service). We’ll have some games to play and share food!

Please bring something to share. You can sign up here https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1 or on site. Love to see you!

The potluck will also launch some name tags we can use to help us get to know each other. The Ladies Guild wants to make lanyards with names available for everyone. They and pastor want to invite and encourage the people of Peace to wear them during and after services so that we can get to know everyone by name. We’ve been blessed with a number of new faces and hope we can make them feel comfortable. These name tags will stay at Peace in mailboxes.

Good news for Peace for September 26th

LOVED

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The mark of Christianity toward the world is love.

Friend, you are loved. That’s what makes us Peace. We love each other. For real. We know names and stories and events. We share experiences. We fight, lose, and win. We survive. We thrive in Christ. This is love! https://youtu.be/b1ppM84iRnU Thanks for signing cars to thank all our volunteers and to encourage them.

This week, we need to work a real issue. 157. That is the number of vacant congregations in the synod. There are another 30 empty pastoral positions in large congregations, schools, and mission fields. Pastors and congregations are in a crisis. Our congregations and pastors will change in serious ways. How can pastor and people relate in a beneficial way?

See you Sunday at 9:30!

P.S. Donut holes and name tags to connect this Sunday!

Weather looks great for a campfire tonight. Come out and share some s’mores with friends. We’ll have s’mores, a few hot dogs, chairs, and hot chocolate. Bring other drinks and your own chairs if you are picky :-)

Christian Theology #4

“Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

To know who Jesus is, is to focus on eternal concerns.

Come to Christian Theology class #4 Saturday September 28th 9:30 am and focus on eternal concerns.

Forum and Voters’ Meeting

Our annual ministry planning and budget meeting will take place over two days:

Forum - October 13th 10:45 am

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:5 am

These are great times to commit together to work of God among Peace. Please plan to join us.

Serving St John’s Sturgis - vacancy update

Pastor will begin serving the vacancy at St John’s in Sturgis on October 1st.

The councils in both locations have worked out a plan that we hope is acceptable to both congregations. Here are a couple of notes for the people of Peace.

  • Our service time will still be 9:30 am

  • Pastor will be gone once every 3 to 4 weeks for a service in Sturgis

  • An elder or guest pastor will fill in when pastor is gone; some weeks we will have video preaching

  • Pastor will be gone about one day a week for work in Sturgis

Pastor and the rest of the Peace staff will remain available at our office contact - church@peaceotsego.org and 269-694-6104. Please reach out with prayer requests, questions, concerns, etc. We are glad to serve you and want to work with you to bring Otsego - Plainwell the gospel of Jesus!

Potluck

Everyone is invited to a Peace Potluck on Sunday October 27th starting at 11:00 (following the service). We’ll have some games to play and share food!

Please bring something to share. You can sign up here https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GLYU6028&welcome=1 or on site. Love to see you!

The potluck will also launch some name tags we can use to help us get to know each other. The Ladies Guild wants to make lanyards with names available for everyone. They and pastor want to invite and encourage the people of Peace to wear them during and after services so that we can get to know everyone by name. We’ve been blessed with a number of new faces and hope we can make them feel comfortable. These name tags will stay at Peace in mailboxes.

September 27th 7:00 Campfire (weather permitting) (note time moved forward to 7:00)

September 28th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

September 29th 8:15 am Early study

October 1st 10:00 am Craft time

October 10th 12:00 am Senior lunch

October 13th 10:45 am Congregational Forum

October 18th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

October 18th 6:30 pm Bunco

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good news for Peace for September 20th

LOVED

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The mark of Christianity toward the world is love.

Friend, you are loved. That’s what makes us Peace. We love each other. For real. We know names and stories and events. We share experiences. We fight, lose, and win. We survive. We thrive in Christ.

We had a great message this week. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/eFXcB7hhYxY

Be sure to make people feel loved this week at our volunteer celebration! We’ll have ice cream and cards to say “thanks”!

Who have you said thanks to? Check out the peace team and say thanks https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/team

Care Team

I got this note this week from our local public school:

“We currently have 20 students with food insecurities. We have 20 secondary students who are self-parenting. This means that their parents are not present at home to prepare meals. 80% of these families have parents who are working off-shifts and cannot provide meals on a regular basis. Although they are working, the family still struggles with food insecurities due to many competing factors. The other 20% are families of parents with documented disabilities in which food preparation is impaired and/or food is scarce. In addition, some of these families go periods of time without electricity and/or water.”

These are just some of the needs that come to our attention at Peace. There are many people for whom we could pray, share the gospel, and serve.

I’d like to do better to help them. Will you be part of a Care Team? Please get ahold of me.

Forum and Voters’ Meeting

Our annual ministry planning and budget meeting will take place over two days:

Forum - October 13th 10:45 am

Voters’ Meeting - November 3rd 10:5 am

These are great times to commit together to work of God among Peace. Please plan to join us.

September 22nd 8:15 am Early study

September 22nd 9:30 Regular classes for kids start!; Volunteer recognition and celebration

September 25th 6:30 pm Kzoo study group

September 26th 6:30 pm Christianity Explored (weekly)

September 27th 7:30 Campfire (weather permitting)

September 28th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

October 1st 10:00 am Craft time

October 10th 12:00 am Senior lunch

October 13th 10:45 am Congregational Forum

October 18th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

October 18th 6:30 pm Bunco

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

LOVED.

LOVED.

LOVED

Augustine, a great Christian man, thinker, and teacher from the 300s, tells a story about his mom. She was crying, sobbing, begging and pleading with God over her son. Augustine was not a “good” kid. He liked to have a good time, slept with anyone he could, and even though his mom raised him, made her life terrible. But she begged and cried to God anyway, and he came and answered her.

Augustine says she had a dream. In that dream, she saw herself standing on some kind of a narrow path - perhaps like a balance beam. A man approached her and asked her why she was crying. She said she was crying over her son’s life and his destructive habits. The man replied that she should pay attention and see that where she was, there her son would be. She looked up and saw her son, Augustine. She woke up comforted.

Augustine credits God with the dream saying, “how else did this dream come about, except that your ears were up against her heart, O Almighty Good, who care for each of us as if we were your only concern and for all of us just as you care for each of us? (Augustine. Confessions Book 3 chapter 11, paragraph 19)

Or as many people like to paraphrase, “how else did this happen, except that God loves each of us as if there were only one of us and loves all of us just as he loves one of us”.

What a thought. God doesn’t just love each one of us. He loves each of us as if we were the only one. I bet you have experienced that at times. I remember listening to a sermon one morning before service on God’s forgiveness and just sobbing. I watched the story of CS Lewis and was moved to imagine that God would pursue him (and my own kids) like that. He loves each one of us like he loves all of us.

That includes you.

God loves you and me more than you can imagine. That’s a love and a care each one of us needs - more than we know.

“We now know that love is, in actuality, the most compelling survival mechanism of the human species. Not because it induces us to mate and reproduce. We do manage to mate without love! But because love drives us to bond emotionally with a precious few others who offer us safe haven from the storms of life. Love is our bulwark, designed to provide emotional protection so we can cope with the ups and downs of existence. As Mozart noted, “Love guards the heart from the abyss.” We are relational beings. God created us for relationship with Himself and with others. We are created for connection.” (Sue Johnson, Created for Connection, pg 22)

Look, it isn’t weak, or silly, or foolish to talk about love. It is the most basic thing we need to have healthy, functioning, good lives. It’s what I want you and me to have this fall around Peace.

Let’s kick off our fall with godly love. See you Sunday September 15 @ 9:30 am. We’ll build up our congregation, start classes for students and adults, and have some fun.

September 15th 9:30 am Fall kick off/Welcome Home

September 19th 6:30 pm Kzoo study group starts

September 19th 12:00 pm Senior lunch

September 20th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

September 20th 6:30 pm Bunco

September 22nd 9:30 Regular classes for kids start!; Volunteer recognition and celebration

September 27th 7:30 Campfire

September 28th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org

Good News for Peace September 6th

Hello friends of Jesus and Peace

Last week I introduced the idea of the managerial status or the managerial life. I defined the managerial function as the class of people who push resources and paper around to equip other people. The managerial function has been pretty well documented in modern life. I pointed out a few examples in our congregations:

  • lengthy reports

  • tracking spending, purchases

  • emails, advertising

  • making budgets

  • planning projects

  • a reduction of almost 50% of the number of people we are able to serve

I could give other examples. These are a start. Pastors and ministry workers spend a growing amount of time “managing” congregational life.

Today I want to remind us that congregational life has not always been like this. Then I want to raise the question, are we doing what we want to do?

We don’t always realize how different ministry was in other times. Harold Senkbeil describes the work of ministry in this way. “We’ve inherited multiple competing models of what a minister supposedly is, each with its corresponding job description. Many seem diametrically opposed. Is a pastor a chaplain or a missionary? Is he to focus on tending people who are already Christians, or on winning more people to a living faith in the Lord Jesus? Is the pastor a coach or care giver? Is he a manager or CEO of an organization or a preacher of God’s word and steward of his sacred mysteries? These various models aren’t mutually exclusive.” He goes on to answer, “The challenge for pastors in every generation is to link the person and work of Jesus to every shifting era by means of his unchanging word—not to contextualize the message, but to textualize people into the text of Scripture, you could say. (Harold L. Senkbeil, The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), 17) Notice how Senkbeil doesn’t reject or ignore the importance of paperwork and leadership, but he describes ministry as so much more - linking the person and work of Jesus to every era by means of his word. That is what congregational ministry is supposed to be.

John Braun gave a different but similar description of ministry work in the 1990s. He said, “The pastoral ministry is a ministry of the word of God. Those who occupy this form of ministry will be spokesmen of God who understand clearly and thoroughly the word of God and the doctrines it proclaims. Therefore, among other things, the pastor must know enough to handle the word of truth correctly, be apt to teach, and be an example to the church so that the message of God is not discredited. (Cf. 1 Timothy Titus, 1 Corinthians 3-4, 2 Corinthians 2-6). http://essays.wisluthsem.org:8080/bitstream/handle/123456789/712/BraunMinistry_0.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

I’m sure you can find many other descriptions of a pastor’s job. My point is to share a few and allow you to consider them. You can compare them to a description like this one: “Quite simply, the job of a leader is to take people where they wouldn’t otherwise go.” (Carey Nieuwhof, https://careynieuwhof.com/thankful-pastor-behaves-like-ceo/)

I don’t have a huge problem with Mr Nieuwhof’s description of pastoring work. But it IS very different.

It also requires that we, as a group of Christians working together, figure out what we expect our pastors and key volunteers to do.

That’s my question to you today: are we doing what we want to be doing? Are we doing the right and good things?

Thanks, and I’ll see you Sunday at 9:30!

BLESS

We’re slowly filling the homes around us with prayer!

Who have you prayed for these days? Add a pin to the map and if it is a particular prayer, drop their name in the box.

Thanks for joining me as we pray for the gospel to fill the homes and lives around us.

“LOVED” Fall kick off

You are loved. Peace Lutheran Church is a place for people who want love, a place for people who need love, and a place for people who are committed to extending God’s love. We are all sinners who cannot fix ourselves or the world around us. We need God’s love.

Come be loved September 15th at 9:30 am. We’d like to see the whole congregation together as people loved by God.

We’ll have …

  • installation service

  • team building activities

  • snacks

  • congregational project

Let’s be people who are loved.

Calendar

September 7th 9:30 am Evangelism workshop - CANCELLED

September 12th 6:30 Christianity Explored

September 15th 9:30 am Fall kick off/Welcome Home

September 19th 6:30 pm Kzoo study group starts

September 19th 12:00 pm Senior lunch

September 20th 11:00 am Ladies Guild

September 20th 6:30 pm Bunco

September 22nd 9:30 Regular classes for kids start!; Volunteer recognition and celebration

September 27th 7:30 Campfire

September 28th 9:30 am Christian Theology #4

Got this from a friend? Sign up here: https://peace.breezechms.com/form/news

Unsubscribe? Email church@peaceotsego.org

Want to visit with pastor? Schedule a visit/meeting.

Have a suggestion or comment you’d like to share? Let us know!

Would you like to donate to Peace? Please use the link for online giving

Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org