Perry and Ursula Smoot
A reconciling congregation, welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and working for racial equity, Peace is a congregation of the ELCA.
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21st Sunday after Pentecost
Return of the Ark Sebastien Bourdon 1659. National Gallery, London
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. Luke 17: 15
As Christians we are stewards of hope. We bear hope out into the world, hope of restoration, renewal, reconciliation, healing, etc, The hope that we have is delivered to us through the church in the word and the healing sacraments. The sacraments of baptism and communion are hope events. They redeem our lives by offering us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The community in which they are administered exists to promise more of the same.
So, who are we as Christians? We are hopeful people. Therefore we are thankful, and our lives are marked by regular rounds of praise and thanksgiving. On Sunday we will listen to the gospel and consider the place of thanks-giving in our lives. Last week I spoke about laments and petitions. Imagine these two as one side of a coin. Praise and thanksgiving are the other side.
The choir practices at 8:45 am.
Sunday school at 11 am.
Parents, as a courtesy to the teachers please let them know–or let Kim Canning know–when your children will be absent on Sunday morning. Same with the singers: let Kathryn know when you plan to be away.
Confirmation instruction 7 pm Sunday.
Bring in names of friends of Peace, as many as you can think of. Put the names and addresses on gold cards and drop them in the fish bowl. The name gathering is the beginning of our 50th anniversary celebration.
Bring in canned goods for the Wayland Food Pantry.
Senior lunch Thursday at 12 noon.
Divinity school intern Anna Mullen will come out from Cambridge on Monday and Friday of the coming week. You are invited to walk with her and other members of Peace in the Sedge Meadow conservation area, Friday, October 18 at 1 pm.
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Blessing of the Animals
Our annual blessing of the animals is scheduled for Sunday, October 6 at 11 am.
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St Michael and All Angels
The Archangel Michael, 1470 Catalonia
Gardner Museum, Boston
This day in the church year-September 29- is also known as Michaelmas. Coming near the autumnal equinox it has seasonal significance especially ( I learned this week) in England. The fall terms at Oxford and Cambridge begin on Michaelmas. It has little or no general significance that I know of in American culture. It is however a day to think about the interesting place angels occupy in the cast of characters our faith presents to us. I enjoy thinking about angels, especially about the warrior Archangel Michael. His presence in Christian tradition and art helps us to see that our spiritual lives are sometimes battle grounds, furthermore, that there is help all around us.
We’ll have two special presentations, one by Stanley Muncherian, the Thrivent representative in our area. I think you will enjoy hearing his story. He hosts a radio show for children. He will stay for the coffee hour to speak to you about Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. If you want more information about how such a financial services organization came to be, you will find it on the Thrivent website. It is a fraternal organization dedicated to the well-being of Lutherans and to service in the community. Thrivent members, of which there are several in our congregation and among our parents and relatives, designate Peace as a recipient of fraternal dollars.
The second presentation will be by Deb Vogt and members of the 50th anniversary committee. They will introduce the theme they’ve chosen for our anniversary year (2014) and talk about some of the activities they’re planning.
Sunday school parents meeting after coffee. This is an important meeting for all parents. Please plan to attend. Kim Canning has prepared information to support you as parents of Sunday school age children.
Apple picking at Shelburne Farm Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Thanks to Kim Ho for initiating this event, which has become a nearly annual outing for members of Peace. Apple picking will be the confirmation activity for the week.
Bring in canned goods for the food pantry.
Building and grounds work day October 5. There is painting, tree and brush removal in addition to cleaning and window washing. All are welcome.
Blessing of the Animals next Sunday, October 6 during the Sunday school hour. Bring your pet to church or fetch your pets after the service and bring them back to church for the blessing at 11 am.
We are looking for a nursery attendant at Peace. If you know someone who might like a childcare job on Sunday mornings, contact Pastor Johnson.
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Affirmation garden in September
Confirmation class
Here’s a picture of our confirmation class (middle school students) in front of their giant sunflowers. Stephanie Smoot and Joanna Flies are our gardening advisors.
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intergenerational activity on rally day
Just a word of thanks for this morning’s intergenerational Sunday school activity. If I could capture and show to others what a church like ours does well, it would be something like the time we spent together today. We talked and joked together, milled around together and told one another our favorite colors, foods, movies, places of birth etc. Thanks to so many of you for staying through the morning and taking part–parents, retirees, children. Thanks to the teachers for preparing the students for the activity. Thanks to Kim Canning for coming up with the idea, for planning it carefully and for helping us all to participate.
Peace, and my appreciation of all of you
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17th Sunday after Pentecost
The Starry Night Vincent Van Gogh 1889
Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Museum of Modern Art, New York City
…what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully…Luke 15:8
In the gospel reading for Sunday, Jesus tells the Pharisees a couple little parables about things that are lost: a sheep and a coin. We shall think together on Sunday about being lost (a common human experience) and being found (sometimes an experience of grace).
Singers of the choir, and those who would like to sing this year, Kathryn Welter invites you to breakfast at 8:15 am in the fellowship hall. rsvp kathryn.welter@bestavros.net.
It’s rally day and I hope that you will all come to church to support the children, teachers and their parents as they begin a new year of Sunday school. Here’s a note from Kim Canning, our education coordinator:
This Sunday is our big Sunday school kick-off event when we welcome students in the classroom for another year of fun, fellowship, and Christian education with old friends and new! Our children will start by spending time with fellow students and their teachers in the classroom briefly before joining additional members of the congregation for an intergenerational activity. The experience of mingling with others while on a quest for similarities among us will provide everyone an opportunity to get to know one another better. I look forward to a fun time together. -Kim
Rejoicing Spirits at 4 pm. All are welcome to the service and to the potluck supper that follows.
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Sunday School 2013-2014
Greetings Sunday school families,
This Sunday is our big Sunday school kick-off event when we welcome students in the classroom for another year of fun, fellowship, and Christian education with old friends and new! Our children will start by spending time with fellow students and their teachers in the classroom briefly before joining additional members of the congregation for an intergenerational activity. The experience of mingling with others while on a quest for similarities among us will provide everyone involved an opportunity to get to know one another better. I look forward to a fun time together.
Attached is a copy of the 2013-2014 Sunday school calendar. Please note that in two weeks, on Sunday, September 29, there will be a parent’s meeting held during the Education time. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss upcoming events as they relate to our Sunday school children, along with goals and expectations in the classrooms. I am also interested in hearing your thoughts about Sunday school and what your goals are for your children as they grow in their faith at Peace.
Also attached is a registration form for you to complete if you haven’t done so already. This form helps me to plan for the year, stay current with your contact information, and keep aware of all allergies. Thank you for your help with this.
I hope you all had a restful summer spent in the company of good friends and family. I hope everyone is experiencing a smooth transition to the school year. I hope to see you and your children at church and Sunday school this week.
Thank you for choosing Peace Lutheran Church as your place to raise your children up in God’s loving community.
“The Christian education program at Peace, where your child can experience God’s love through worship, learning, and fellowship with others.”
Blessings,
Kim
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If you are invited
The Gospel for Sunday is Luke 14:1, 7-14, the parable of the wedding banquet: “When you are invited to a wedding banquet…”
As usual there’s much to ponder in this passage–not all of it clear–and we shall do it together on Sunday. Invitations are important to us. We send them and receive them and wait for them. You are invited!
Invitations allow us to enter another person’s home, another family’s happiness, etc. Think of invitations you have sent and received recently. Is there an invitation you have received that surprised and particularly pleased you.
Where do invitations come into our Christian life? They are all over the place. We are at the same time the invited and the inviters. Baptism is an invitation into–as well as a “washing” for–the Christian life. Evangelism is the traditional name for inviting people into the faith life of a congregation. When we urge one another to invite new people into our church, we should not think that we are inviting them to attend “our” church. We are rather showing our brothers and sisters the fellowship and communion that we have found. They have received the same invitation of grace to hear the word and come to the table. They just haven’t accepted it yet. It’s their place too; they just don’t know it yet.
Some if not all of our children are back in school now. We’ll say a prayer for them and give them our blessings as they begin a new year. Bring in school supplies and backpacks and I’ll bring them to the Lutheran Social Services offices in Worcester.
There will be reading and weeding for our confirmation students after church on Sunday. All week long people admire the affirmation garden sunflowers. This morning a man was out there taking pictures of them. I wish we lived in a place with a county fair. We could bring in one of those big blossoms and win a blue ribbon.
Remember please to register your child for Sunday school. The forms are on the table in the narthex, or download one from our website. Parents, take a moment to do this please. And consider volunteering to teach Sunday school. All the materials are provided. You’ll be supported and appreciated.
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107 Concord Road, Wayland Massachusetts 01778 