Please call (354-2774) or email (connect@peacenewlondon.com )

The other night I shared with both my 9th grade confirmation students and my Divine Drama class, “Please memorize this sentence: God intends a loving relationship with God’s people forever.” If you want to know God’s driving desire, that is it. It is the intent with which God created the world. And when that intent was hijacked by sin and our brokenness, God spared no expense, crossed every boundary, gave up life itself in order to see that intent yet realized, in spite of our poor choices. That sentence is a one-sentence summary of the entire Bible and God’s efforts to be in relationship with us.

I love this picture that is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

10:00 a.m. Sunday School (3yo - 3rd Grade)

10:00 a.m. NEW!! Sunday Sweets with Q:

13th @ 9am - Kids Sing at Worship

27th @ 10am - Donuts with Dads

Each comes in a 12 oz container for $8!

Pick up Sunday, Feb. 13th at Worship.

We are looking forward to exchanging both conversation & laughs with our neighboring church family! Meet us at Goat Ridge Brewery (located at 17 Central Avenue West) downtown New London. Look for the God on Tap signs in the main seating area. Give us a call if you have questions.

We will meet in various homes starting Tuesday, Feb 22nd at 6:30p. Our first hostess is Kendra Van Meter: 9030 71st St NE, Spicer.

Peace’s ELCA missionary is the Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson. She serves as a professor at the Lutheran Institute of Theology in Cameroon, West Africa. Pastor Elisabeth has visited at Peace on a home visit, and she preached one Sunday at a Sibley Park service. In February, we will begin a new opportunity to support her ministry. A calendar will be available in the church office where you can choose a date to sponsor her in honor of, or in memory of, someone or some event. A gift of $7.00 per day you choose will help with her support. Checks may be made to “Peace – ELCA Missionary.” Please keep her in your prayers.

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Souper Bowl of Caring

Football’s Super Bowl LVI will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, February 13, 2022. We will celebrate the Souper Bowl of Caring at Peace that day. Join us by bringing one or more cans of SOUP which will be given to the New London Food Pantry. Everyone can participate. Help us tackle hunger!!

The Link is holding a winter fund raiser with an opportunity to DOUBLE the IMPACT!  An anonymous donor is offering a matching opportunity! Dollar for dollar, your donation to The Link's Building Fund will be matched up to $10,000!

·    Donate on their website at www.youarethelink.org

·    Check out their fundraiser at https://www.facebook.com/donate/3019046898410544/

·    Venmo @the-link-1

·    Mail a check to The Link, PO Box 823, New London, MN 56273

·    Drop off your donation at The Link, 20 Central Ave. E., New London 

Sunday, February 20^th, 10:00 to noon.

JANUARY 2022

Here is the January 2022 Council Report to the congregation. If you have questions feel free to contact me or other members of the council.

FINANCES: All considered we had a good year financially as we were able to pay the bills and finish the year in the black. A big “THANKS” to all. If interested, I would suggest that you get an Annual Report booklet and review the financial data from 2021. Also included is the budget for 2022. A cautionary reminder is in order. As we move beyond Covid and the church continues to open programming, our expenses will increase, Please continue to give to Peace what you can afford. Prayers are most helpful, too.

ELECTRICAL PANEL: At a “table talk” session is January it became known that our insurance carrier has said our main electrical panel no longer meets code and must be replaced. A cost of around $30,000 has been floated. To address this situation the council decided that we need more information. Just what is wrong with our current panel? We will seek a second opinion and get replacement bids from several electricians. We will pass along more information as it becomes available.

MUSIC COORDINATOR/OFFICE HELP: We are still looking for an individual to fill the music coordinator position. If interested contact Pastor Todd. Also, with Julie Muffley leaving us to attend to her daughter’s health, we are looking for an individual to take over her duties.

SUMMER OUTDOOR WORSHIP: We are moving forward with securing Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp as the site for our summer outdoor worship services.

CHURCH COMMITTEES: We really do need to upgrade our church committees, especially Memorial Trust. Like many other things Covid has damped committee work. As I’ve written before, volunteering to be on a church committee can be rewarding in knowing you are helping out your church.

NOISY MICROPHONES: I think everyone has noticed the annoying clicking and clacking of the pastor’s microphones during church services. The council authorized the pastors to research and purchase workable microphones.

WET FLOORS: If you have ever worked in the dishwashing room you cannot help but notice how wet the floor gets. The council authorized the purchase of mats to eliminate the problem.

MASKS: As per a request from Centracare Health the council encourages people to wear masks to services for the next few weeks as the omicron variant is very prevalent at this time.

This concludes my January report. Thanks for taking the time to read it.

Cliff Gesellchen, Council President

2021 Church Council                                                                                     

Jon Austvold - Newly Elected