Prince of Peace
Weekly Update

September 17-23, 2021

"There are two ways of spreading light:
 to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

- Edith Wharton
jesus-stained-glass.jpg
WORSHIP IN SEPTEMBER

Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the building, in-person.
 
  • No online registration. Everyone will be, however, asked to sign in upon arrival.
  • Masks are NOW required regardless of vaccination status.*
  • The single-use bulletins will remain, but the hymns will be sung from the hymnal.
  • While social distancing will be encouraged worshipers may sit wherever they prefer. 
  • Communion will continue to use the communion kits where worshipers are seated.
  • The offering will be gathered when worshipers arrive and brought forward during the service.   
 
*from the Town of Brookfield - Effective Monday, August 16th, the use of face masks that cover the nose and mouth is mandatory in all indoor areas, both public and private, regardless of vaccine status, where safe social distancing cannot be maintained. This includes all indoor spaces that are open to the public.
  
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. will also be on Zoom and streamed to our Facebook page. 
 
Sundays from 10:15 to 10:50 a.m. Sunday School
in-person in the Green Room or playground (weather permitting) for children 1st-5th grade. See the Sunday School page on our website for details.
 
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. 
outdoor, parking lot, worship with communion. This service will not be on Zoom or streamed. Park in the lower parking lot and walk toward the church with your folding chairs. Bring your own bread and wine or use the kit provided. In case of inclement weather, service will be broadcast over FM radio in the parking lot. Those fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks.
crowdfunding.jpg
ELCA Domestic Disaster Fund

100% of your financial gifts given to the ELCA Domestic Relief Fund will go to assist victims of Hurricane Ida. Please give today.
CREATING COMMUNITY

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.
calendar-banner.jpg
2022 Calendars are Ready for Pick-Up
                                                 
If you ordered a calendar from Marci Sharp they are now ready for pick-up. Please see Rene in the church office Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m..

Please sign the sheet that you have received your calendar.

S. Brian Rinelli   
ornaments_in_a_row.jpg
 Craft Fair

We have decided to do the Craft Fair this Fall. Please start making crafts and contact Marci Sharp or myself for ideas that sell. We will be collecting the following for sale:

  • Books
  • Gently used costume jewelry
  • Gently used holiday decorations and supplies

We will be asking for volunteers to staff the kitchen and various tables. The Bake Sale is always a draw to get people in. Susi Lehmann will be in charge of the kitchen for making sandwiches and collecting soups and stews. Storage for general things is not available at church. A box for collecting small items will be available in the Narthex by September.
 
Nan Carlson
tulips_in_bucket.jpg
FLOWERS AT THE ALTAR

Most Sundays during the year, we have a beautiful bouquet of flowers at the altar that was created by the members of Altar Guild. Those flowers are dedicated and paid for by members of the congregation The donor or recipient of the flowers are welcome to take their arrangement after the last service on Sunday.

The arrangements cost $25.00.  If you would like to dedicate altar flowers in memory of a loved one, to the glory of God, or in honor of a person or event, you can sign up for your chosen date on the Flower Chart between the bathrooms in the Narthex. You also need to fill out a flower request form, which is located next to the Flower Chart, and put it in Rene Tuccillo’s mailbox. Your name and dedication will appear in the worship bulletins.  If two people sign up for the same date, flowers can be placed in other locations in the Sanctuary, such as on the organ or  piano or at the baptismal font.  We do not have flowers at the altar during lent.
food_drive_girl.jpg
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.
is tonight at 6:00 p.m.!

Host Home:

Nancy & Juri Tolmoff
31 High Ridge Road
Brookfield, CT


If you haven't signed up and plan on attending please contact Nandy Tolmoff to let her know what you will bring.
(203) 775-5005
Calling All Adults!

Join us every Sunday at 10:15 a.m. for a 30-minute conversation about the Sunday scripture (primarily the Gospel) story. Come explore -
What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? What delights me in this text? What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
What is God up to in this text? What questions do you have? What is God saying to you? to us as a congregation? No Experience Necessary. Join us in the receptionist area of the church office. Bring your bulletin, coffee, and your questions. See you there and then.
studen-teacher-sm.jpg
A Place for YOU in Sunday School?

There are opportunities for caring adults...
 

We are looking for caring adults and high-schoolers to serve as leaders and helpers for our 30-minute Sunday School. Simply click on the button below to get to Sign-up Genius where you can volunteer for 1 Sunday or as many as you like. The only prep before class is to read over the curriculum which will be sent to you by Heather after you sign-up. All supplies needed will be waiting in the classroom.  
team_building.jpg
Small Group Conversations

We hope that you are all well and enjoying your summer. 
We are excited about the increasing opportunities for
in-person worship and our steady return to more
in-person fellowship.

These positive changes enable us to now shape our identity and focus relentlessly on our mission and purpose for the future. As mentioned in previous communications, the Congregation Council together with the Forward Leadership Team have been working to organize a series of small group conversations with all of you to help us shape our mission and define our calling as a church family.

We are now ready to kick off the second round of conversations and would like to extend an invitation to those who haven't yet participated. 
These conversations will take place in groups of four members and facilitated by two members of the Forward Leadership Team/Council. We intend to keep the session to one hour and focus the conversation on the following three questions:

1. What brought you to Prince of Peace for the first time?
2. What keeps you coming to Prince of Peace?
3. What do you love about Prince or Peace?

Through these questions, we intend to gain insights on our core strengths as a
congregation and use those
strengths to define our “why” and establish a roadmap moving forward.

The upcoming dates and times are as follows:

Tuesday 9/21/21 7:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Sunday 9/26/21 9:50 a.m. (Prince of Peace - Outdoors)
Sunday 10/3/21 9:50 a.m. (Prince of Peace - Outdoors)

Please click the button below to sign up for the date and time convenient for you.   If you are uncomfortable using Sign-up Genius, you can also call the church office and Rene will put you on the schedule. It is very important that you make sure to sign up in a timely fashion to help us with planning and implementation.

We encourage you to join us on this exciting journey and thank you for your commitment!

In Christ,
Council and Forward Leadership Team
SOCIAL MINISTRY

Dress A Girl Around the World Sew-A-Thon
Please Sign up in the narthex for the Sew-A-Thon on October 2 at 9:00 a.m. or contact Nancy Carlson. Please tell us whether you will bring your sewing machine to sew or help with other related tasks. You can press fabric, trim threads or sort dresses for sending. We also need a few people to provide snacks and several people to help clean-up when we are done.
  
Daily Bread Food Pantry
Thank you to those who continue to donate food to the Pantry. People in need continue to come for food. Our members respond to the call and open their hearts and pockets to those in need. Please check their request list to get suggestions of their needs.

Nan Carlson
203-778-1171
financial-planner.jpg
Come and Work with PoP's newly forming Finance Committee
 
Openings now exist to get in on the formation of this essential ministry team!

If you have the desire and willingness to help your congregation remain good stewards of all our financial resources, you are the perfect fit for this team!
 
For more information about this committee please reach out to Lorraine Lavery at [email protected]. 
business_finance_research.jpg
Is God calling you to serve as PoP's new Treasurer?
 
The newly forming Finance Committee is anticipating supporting a new church treasurer. This will be a stipend position with oversite for Congregational finances.
 
Please see the bulletin board for a specific job description or email Lorraine Lavery at [email protected] for more information. This is a limited-time opportunity. Is God calling you?