This week’s lessons: Acts 5:12, 17-32, John 20:19-31
Dear friends,
Easter was an incredible weekend. What a wonderful declaration of the truth, “Jesus is alive”! I got a kick out of our cheer, “hip hip hooray, hip, hip hooray, Jesus is risen today.”
If you haven’t had a chance to watch our Easter service, please check it out - and subscribe to our Youtube channel!
“This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). The apostle John wrote that it isn’t our knowledge, our insight, or our skill that has overcome the world. It is our faith. Because Jesus lives, we live through faith.
Over the next few weeks, we want to get this faith. We want to think all about faith: what it does and how it works, how it grows, and what it becomes.
“Faith” - This week we start with an introduction to faith
“Coming to faith”
“False faith” or “fake faith”
“Everyone’s faith”
I think you can tell, we’re going to have a great time together hearing God’s Word. As you think about faith - your own and others - let me encourage you a little with a few resources. One of my favorite books on the nature of faith is the devotional book from Martin Luther, “Faith Alone”. Faith Alone (nph.net) I think it is one of the best short summaries of faith. There are all kinds of popular discussions on faith. I was surprised recently to see a discussion from a major filmmaker on faith. Adam McKay Thinks the Future Depends on Faith - RELEVANT (relevantmagazine.com)
I want to say a special thank you to all the people who did so much for our Holy Week worship. You guided us in considering our Savior. I pray you grew through the time even more than we did.
Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday - Kaitlyn, Sharon, Terry, and the choir
Good Friday - Cindy, Kaitlyn, Tom, Christian, Charlie, and the choir
Easter Sunday - Cindy, Kaitlyn, Sharon, and the choir
I also want to thank the whole host of people who worked behind the scenes to prepare so many wonderful things as part of the celebration, people including Cindy H, Eda, Ann, Jane, Tom, Rachel, the Timmermann family kids, Kaitlyn, Josh, Sarah, Frieda
Thank them for me!
Pastor T
Spring Workday
Please come help clean up the building and grounds for spring at Peace!
Spring workday will be May 7th at 9:00 am.
Catechism
After our children receive education from preschool to 5th grade, middle school students (grades 6-8) receive the next level of instruction in catechism class. Catechism class systematically instructs students in the basic teachings of the Christian faith. Catechism doesn’t teach Bible stories; it teaches doctrine so we can gain the mind of Christ.
If you’re a 6-8th grade student now or in the fall of 2022, I hope you’ll join me for this class. I love spending time with you and helping you learn to follow Jesus.
If you are a parent of a 5th grader, please contact me so that I can get your student registered for the class. Call or text 269-694-6104.
Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is around the corner, and we would like to honor our mothers by creating a montage of these blessed women. If you would like to participate, please send a picture that you would like included. Jessica will collect all of the images and we will create a masterpiece to be presented on Mother's Day. Please email the images to jvandenberg@peaceotsego.org
Only the Christian faith offers a faith that is filled with truths that seem to compete, but when we believe both, everything becomes clear.
God judges sin harshly and forgives sin
God includes everyone through Jesus but excludes everyone who is not connected to Jesus
God is spiritual and works in our physical world
God gives us eternal life and life already now in Jesus
All these ideas and so many more are true.
Our next study will take a look at “Faith and Culture” as we seek a faith that sees through culture.
Join us Sunday at 7:50 am, Wednesday at 6:30 pm, or Thursday online at 8:00 pm. Starting May 30th! This will be our summer session.
I’ll have a special joint workshop on Saturday, May 21st at 9:00 am. I’ll roll a number of the sessions all into one!
Want one of the books that will guide us? Grab it here. Faith That Sees Through the Culture (cph.org)
The Timmermann family
Easter joy
Jim K and family
Hillary S and Hudson
May Ushers: Tom Wright and Eric Sczcembara
Christian Neighbors: items for April are peanut butter and jelly.
Lawn Coordinator: We’re looking for someone to help coordinate the lawn mowing around the church this summer. Click here for more info! https://peaceotsego.org/peacenews/2022/3/17/lawn-mower-coordinator
Spring Work Day: Join us on May 7th @ 9 am to clean the building and grounds for spring.
Administration Team
Our administrative position will be finished as of June 30th, 2022. At that time, Jessica Vandenberg will be done with her time at Peace and moving on to new adventures.
As our administrative assistant transitions, we would like to remake our administrative team. I’d like to have a team that contributes an average of 5-10 hours per week over the course of the year. So we could have ten people that work two hours each once per month or four people who work five hours each. It’s flexible!
Much of the work can also be done from home.
You can find out more about the duties of the administration team below.
Please consider if this might be a good way to serve. Please contact pastor for more info.
Upcoming events (full calendar)
April 29th, 6:30 pm Bunco
May 3rd, 6:30 pm Team and Task Time
May 7th, 9 am Work day
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Peace Lutheran Church
805 S Wilmott St
Otsego, MI 49078
269-694-6104
https://peaceotsego.org