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Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 16:17

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Dear friend,

We had about 40 in the 9:00 am service and about 15 in the 10:45 last week. We have lots of space.

  • If you have any symptoms, please stay home.

  • If you have been within 6’ of someone with COVID for 15 minutes, please stay home.

  • Please respect others on-site.

  • The elderly and at-risk should especially consider staying home.

Whether you join me online, on-site, or contact me (269-694-6104) for personal devotion and communion, do not give up God’s Word and Sacraments. I especially encourage those of you who have understandably stayed home for months, please get ahold of me to have God’s Word applied to you personally and get the Lord’s Supper.

Sincerely,

Pastor Timmermann

Christmas 2020

On Christmas, we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Let’s join in the celebration on-site or online. Let’s gather for any of these remembrances!

KIDS CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 20TH @ 9:00 A.M.

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24TH @ 4:30 AND 6:30 P.M.

CHRISTMAS DAY @ 10:00 A.M.

*Because of COVID-19, events and activities may be changed

If you will join us on-site for any activities, we’d appreciate it if you’d sign up. Please click the button below and fill out the form on the next page. Be sure to let us know the number of people in your group.

 
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Christmas flowers (poinsettias)

Christmas poinsettias make our sanctuary beautiful.

You are invited to donate a poinsettia in remembrance of a loved one or simply to celebrate Christmas.

Sign up in the narthex/entry area or respond to this email by December 13th.

Cost is $7 payable by cash or check to Frieda Walkley.

Poinsettias may be taken home after Christmas Day worship on December 25th or the Sunday following Christmas.

Special Christmas Time Giving Opportunities

During the holiday season, you might think about ways to express your gratitude and serve the community around you. We are inviting you to join us in these opportunities again this year. 

The Tree of Warmth: 

  • New acceptable items include hats, gloves, and scarves

  • Donations will go to Dix Street, Washington Street elementary schools, and Kalamazoo Gospel Mission 

  • Donations will be accepted through January 3rd

The Giving Tree

  • Take a card from the tree

  • Purchase a gift

  • Return the unwrapped gift under the tree by December 17th. 

Christmas Bags for Kids

  • Small gifts bags will be handed out to the children that attend our Christmas services

  • Please donate small gifts for the bags such as candy, crayons, coloring books, Christmas cards, or ornaments. 

  • We usually give away about 25 bags. Please plan an appropriate number.

  • Drop off items in office by December 17th 

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Nominations

November/December is an important time at Peace to select future leaders. The nominating committee, council, and elders are all working to make sure the people God has equipped with gifts are serving in places and ways that will further the mission of God. 

Paul and Barnabas did this work as they traveled around according to 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 do this 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 a number of things about local leaders: 

  • 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. Still, we have good reasons to let our current leaders narrow the list of future leaders. 

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

We have proposed some new bylaws to go into effect February 2021. We recognize some of the current positions may change in the new year. However, every role will still be part of the Peace, even if it changes.

Please feel free to make suggestions for nominations to pastor or any of our council/elders over the next two months (Charlie Kling, Ron Miller, Terry Brower, Jon Ott, Shawn Gavan, Josh Gower).  You may offer 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. As God blesses us, we hope to fill some of the following roles: elders, financial secretary, recording secretary, music coordinator, evangelism/outreach team, and education. 

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 publicaly, more often and more deeply.” Please pray for all the current and future servant-leaders of Peace. 

Prayers (full prayer list)

  • Bernie Winkel - health

  • Cousin of Lucyann Spencer and cousin’s mom - hospitalized with COVID

  • Our Christmas celebration and remembrance

Other notes

Weekly news from Peace Lutheran Church, Otsego MI

805 S Wilmott St

Otsego, MI 49078

269-694-6104

church@peaceotsego.org

peaceotsego.org

 

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