Prince of Peace
Weekly Update
August 14-20, 2020

"We cannot cure the world of sorrows,
but we can choose to live in joy."

- Joseph Campbell
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WORSHIP PLANS MOVING ALONG - INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

Thanks to all those involved in getting PoP prepared to open the building for in-person,  in-building pandemic worship. We have a list of tasks we need to accomplish and many volunteers are going at it. We are hoping to announce a Sunday worship date soon. Read through the Friday Weekly Email to get the latest news. 
 
Please respond to yet another email survey coming your way soon. This one is to determine what would need to happen for you to feel safe in returning to in-person, in-building worship at PoP. We want to do all we can for your return.
 
Also, if you would be open to worshiping outside in the parking lot sometime while the weather is still nice, please let Pastor Lutz or a member of the Worship & Music Committee know. We are hoping to schedule a few services soon. Again, read through the Friday Weekly Email to stay current.
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Sunday Virtual Coffee/Fellowship Hour

Join us this Sunday at
11:00 a.m. for our weekly Fellowship/Coffee Hour. Steve Davies will be the host.

We are collecting stories to better understand the power and influence of Prince of Peace in our membership.

Members of the Forward Leadership Team will be present to share their stories and to capture yours.

Sign into a Virtual Coffee Hour by clicking on the link below.
If prompted

Meeting ID: 988 8813 8373 Password: 735006

It is always helpful to test your ability to join and visual & audio sounds on your computer or tablet prior to the meeting.

See you Sunday at 11:00 a.m.!
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ANGELS EVERYWHERE

We Lutherans seem to think of angels dropping out of the sky, appearing in Bible passages and in works of art. Well, I’ve seen angels right here in Danbury, Newtown and New Milford! You think,” There she goes again”. So, where exactly did I see them?
 
I saw women bringing meals to a family in need. I saw a man bring a carload of food down to Daily Bread last week. I saw a woman offer a loaf of banana bread to someone who had done a favor for her. I saw a father participating in the Confirmation service. I see angels sewing masks for children as they prepare to return to school. Angels are all over. They are able to help others and they do so willingly.
 
Did you know that Daily Bread has a website:
dailybreadfoodpantry.com? Log on, if you will. And note that there is a Pay Pal account which you can use for donations to the food pantry. You can still drop food at church but they also need monetary donations. If you drive by St James Church in Danbury, you will see angels working there, too.
 
We distribute masks to people in the community as well as Food Banks through out the area. It seems like they don’t last forever.

Feel free to contact the church office if you need a mask.
 
~ Nan Carlson
Offering,Tithes and
Special Donations 

Please help us stay current with our financial obligations
during this difficult time.
We say "Thank you" to all who have mailed in their offerings.

We are now able to offer online giving here.

Now you can give a one time gift or a reoccurring gift through a checking account or a debit/credit card.  
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VIRTUAL WORSHIP

Please join us whenever convenient for your household for virtual worship. Each Sunday service is posted by 8 a.m. on our website. The abbreviated virtual worship experience including hymns you can sing along with, a gospel story worth telling, a sermon that speaks to our current reality, prayers for the community and world and community announcements about what's happening at PoP. Check your email for the link or go our website (http://princeofpeacebrookfield.org/) and click on the date of the service you would like to experience.   

Virtual Lectors Sought!

If you have a phone you can record yourself reading one of our Sunday scripture passages to be included in our virtual worship.

We will include three of the Sunday readings.

Speak to Pastor Lutz if you'd like to serve as a "virtual" lector.
COUNCIL UPDATE

The Congregational Council met over Zoom on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

The following items were on the agenda.

  • Update/Report from Heidi Riddle, PoP Preschool Director about the Preschool
  • Clarification of Church Musician/Sunday organist position
  • Distribution of Church directory and request for Church Council members to call/check-in with members
  • Update of the current plan to re-opening PoP 
  • Resolution regarding terms for Council members 
  • Misty Hollow sale. Review next steps and creation of Misty Hollow Sale Task Force 
  • Identification of potential candidates to fill open Council position 
  • A brief discussion of the Forward Leadership Survey results. Recommendation for communication to the congregation 
  • Sign up for monthly devotions
PICTURES FOR CHURCH ARCHIVES

I am presently putting together the archives for Prince of Peace and there are no pictures or information about the 50th anniversary celebration. Plus, there are few group photos of Confirmation classes from recent years. If anyone has any information or pictures you are willing to share, please give me a call. Thanks...Marci Sharp (203) 775-4657
"Creating Community" Email Devotions sent on Mondays
 
Creating Community is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship for the following weekend. 

Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity to read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion as an individual, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group. 

Each devotion arrives on Monday and can be engaged in anytime before Sunday's worship. 
 
The devotion includes three simple steps:

1. Read through the text (provided)

2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions from the three possibilities )

3. Offer a Prayer (one is provided)
 
Click below to see devotions for this Sunday.
The New Christ in Our Home (July, August, September) is available for pick up.

The Gather Magazine is also available for pickup.

Please pick up your copy of this devotion and magazine by driving to the church building and walking up to the front door. Please wear gloves and keep 6 feet away from any others you may find there.

Pastor Lutz is available
to drop Christ in our Home devotion or the Gather Magazine to your home per your request.

You may reach him at 609.578.7921 or
by email or by Facebook.
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DAILY BREAD
FOOD PANTRY IS SEEKING DONATIONS
 
Please consider a food or monetary donation to the DAILY BREAD FOOD PANTRY during this pandemic. 

Your food-insecure neighbors will benefit from your donations of:

  • Black beans or any kind of canned or bagged beans
  • Rice in 1,2 or 3 lb. bags
  • Pasta - any kind
  • Cereal - Cheerios, Corn Flakes. Rice Krispies (no sweet cereals)
  • Tomato sauce in cans
  • Tuna
  • Chicken in cans
  • Peanut butter
  • Pork & beans or meals in cans
  • Canned vegetables (especially corn)

Drop off your food items or checks (payable to DAILY BREAD FOOD PANTRY) to the church's freshly painted front door.

Your neighbors thank you.
How to Reach
the Pastor

And as always, Pastor Lutz is easily accessible. You can email him (poppastorpaul@ sbcglobal.net) call him on his cell (609.578.7921) or post on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/plutznj). Although there will be no regular office hours, the church phone is checked every couple of days for messages.
203-775-9070
popluthernchurch@sbcglobal.net