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
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Peace Lutheran Church 805 S Wilmott St Otsego, MI 49078
269-694-6104 https://peaceotsego.org