Dear friends of Jesus connected through Peace,

Forum follow up and ministry planning

Thanks for doing gospel ministry with all of us. We love the challenge and grow together!

Sunday, October 19th we had a little conversation with the whole congregation at the end of service. I want to pass on to you what we discussed. Here is the TL;DR. I encourage you to take a few minutes, review it, then talk to your fellow people in gospel ministry.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion.

If you didn't get a chance to participate Sunday, feel free to watch the discussion and view the discussion guide. Then send me your answers after via email or text.

Video of the discussion https://youtu.be/o4NWnxv0j8E

Discussion guide https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kTGbtCyyt3fAvCQgpX-d-7T9aMMefrl4azcsIyJ-wqY/edit?usp=drive_link

If you'd like to only see the results of the discussion, I present the results here; the image below gives an overview.

Video of the results https://youtu.be/4GtX6i2oKSg

Finally, we'll take action for 2026 at our voters' meeting this coming Sunday, October 26th at 10:45 am. Here is the agenda with all the relevant reports and docs linked. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UaTos362_jOOKBo7WCzHj1d4zlU9MmnSBQfH9FL0_AY/edit?usp=sharing

Meanwhile, our study of Genesis has been great. If you haven’t been following along, now is a great time to catch up. https://nathanieltimmermann.podbean.com/

See you Sunday at 9:30

Pastor T

Gospel Spotlight

The other week I saw 6 people show up for Team. and Task Time. Together we worked to bring the people of Otsego-Plainwell the gospel. We sent cards. We planned Trail for Treaters and started work on it. We improved the welcome/next steps table. And everyone did it freely and gladly.

I love to see the willingness of people to share the gospel and to do more together than any of can do together.

Where did you see the gospel at work this week?

Prayer Highlight

This week I invite you to pray for Steve and Betsy on their profession of faith

Gracious God, you send your Spirit to convict us and enlighten us. We praise you and thank you for radically changing us and helping us become different people - the people we should be. Today we thank you for bringing new life to Steve and Betsy. Renew them with the life of your son Jesus Christ.

“In Jesus’ name we pray,

“Amen.”

Our sick or homebound friends - Frieda Walkley, Judy Haugh, Brenda Grimm, Shirley Kling, Darlene Syers, Irene Haas, Maxine Sandahl, and Marge Gavan

New Bible study

New Bible study starting next week Thursday, October 30th at 6:30 pm. Open to the public, all welcome. Studying and discussing Genesis.

Be glad to see you! Come as much as you can!

Trail for Treaters

Our Trail for Treaters spot was really popular last year because of our photo spot. Remember it?

I want kids and families to enjoy a fun, safe, and not too spooky Halloween. We’re already under way!

We’re going to have two displays at our spot again this year - Snoopy Halloween and Cookie Monster.
We’re collecting store bought cookies to give way. We want to tell people “Jesus crushes our monsters!”. You don’t need to individually wrap them. Just store bought!
I’ve got 4 people helping put our displays together.
I’ve got 2 people to help pass out cookies. I’m looking for at least 4 more!

Please get ahold of me and lets get it done to help a lot of people in our community! It’ll be downtown Otsego October 31st from 4 - 6 pm. Please reach out to me 269-694-6104.

“Still Not Frozen: Reformation 2025”

I talked with a guy a while back who started going to church. I asked him how that was going. He said he had a little more peace. I was so glad for him.

We’re still changing. We’re growing. We’re becoming. Not by our own power. But by the power of the gospel.

Come enjoy this life-giving gospel with me Sunday November 2nd at 9:30 as we celebrate the Reformation.

After service, we’ll have an ice cream party. Be sure to pick up a coin at Peace before hand, and grab one to share with a friend!

https://youtube.com/shorts/HuXu0X--hHQ

Usher appointment

Dan Doran has been appointed as head usher for the rest of 2025.

For a list of the people serving at Peace and all the ways they serve, please see the Peace team.

Making Easter worship more wonderful: Candle

We’re thinking to make our Easter worship more wonderful in a visual way: a paschal candle!

The Paschal Candle is a symbol of our Lord’s resurrection and His visible presence here on earth during the 40 days after Easter.

The candle is lighted from the new fire kindled at the beginning of the Easter services.

This Easter candle symbolizes many things:

Before the minister lights the candle, he draws a cross in the wax. Above the cross he inscribes a letter “A” and below it the letter “O”, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These symbolize that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Then he draws the year on the candle to signify that the risen Christ shall be a “pillar of fire” also in this year to lead us to the heavenly promised land.
There are wax nails put into the cross to symbolize the five wounds of Christ.

After the Easter service, the Paschal candle is put next to the altar. It stands there and is light for all the services until the Ascension service.

On that day we extinguish it when we hear the words of the Gospel: “He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19)” (Adapted from What an Altar Guild Should Know, Paul H D Lang)

A Paschal candle is an affordable way ($150 - $200) to make our worship more beautiful. Here are some pictures. What do you think? Should we try one? Let me know.