Prince of Peace
Weekly Update

November 25 - December 3, 2020

 
"The simple act of caring is heroic."

- Edward Albee
Changes in worship at Prince of Peace starting this Sunday!

For the four Sundays in Advent - November 29, December 6, 13, and 20 - you are invited to join us each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for worship over Zoom.

Together we will watch, wait and prepare for the celebration of the birth of the messiah. We will unwrap God's gift to us in song, story and prayer!

There is no need to register for worship. If you are new to Zoom give yourself a few moments to download the free app and set it up.

Now more than ever we will
benefit from the stories the church tells in the weeks before Christmas.


Now more than ever
what the scriptures have to say will provide direction, hope, and light.

Now more than ever your participation in worship will not only benefit you but your family, your neighbors, your church, and the world.

If 9:30 a.m. on Sunday isn't convenient, please go to our website at a time (or day) that is and enjoy some Advent worship. Christmas will be better because you did.

Meeting ID: 861 3171 9903
Passcode: 628521
heart_mocha_coffee.jpg
Sunday Virtual Coffee/Fellowship Hour
Join us this Sunday at
11:00 a.m. for our weekly Fellowship/Coffee Hour.
It is an opportunity to stay connected, hear the latest congregational news, care for one another, and see the faces of all you are missing.

This Sunday's topic is "Thanksgiving - What are you grateful for?"

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.!
financial_accounting.jpg
STATEMENTS

Year to date statements through 11/30/20 will be sent out the first week of December.  Remember statements can be run at any time, please just reach out to Nicole Cable at andcable03@yahoo.com  or 203.775.8358.

If you currently have an envelope # higher than 180, you will be assigned a new number for 2021.

If you would like Nicole to set up annual giving online for 2021, please return the form to her by December 20th. If the financial secretary set this up for you last year, it will expire on 12/30/20.
thankyou_paper_hdr.jpg
Offering,Tithes and
Special Donations 

We say "Thank you" to all who have mailed in their offerings.
Please help us stay current with our financial obligations
during this difficult time.
Mail in your offering to address below or give online by clicking the button below.
You can now make a one time or reoccurring donation
through your bank account or debit/credit card.
Check out the amazing 
stories of Christian
encouragement from 
members
and friends of Prince of Peace.
christmas-present-boy.jpg
The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program
 
Prince of Peace will again be participating in the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.
Tags are currently available. There are about five tags left as of this morning. There is a folder at the main entrance to the church which contains the tags, a sheet upon which to indicate which family has taken a tag and a pen. If you take a tag, please make sure you write your family name on the sheet in that folder. The tag numbers you should use are written in black marker on the back of the tag. If the item on the angel tag is more than $30, feel free to substitute for it. When the tags were prepared, it was not possible to research the price of each item. Attach the entire tag to the giftDo not detach any part of the tag.  When returning the gift, it is very important that the tag be secured to the gift because it has the family number and the name of the child on the tag. When these become disconnected, it makes it difficult trying to match up the gift to the child. Gifts may be returned to the church during the morning hours during the week or on a day when we have either indoor or outdoor church services. However, it would be best to check by phone to see if someone will be there when you plan to come. Please do not leave the gift at the church entrance if no one is in the building. Please direct any questions to Ernie Lehman (203) 746-1224.
 
DO NOT WRAP THE GIFT
All gifts need to be back to the church by Sunday, December 6th.

Thank you for your generosity in participating in this program.

Ernie Lehman
food_drive_girl.jpg
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.
vector_mobile_phone.jpg
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.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
thanksgiving_turkey.jpg
thanksgiving-dinner.jpg
Home for the Holidays

As we think about Thanksgiving this year, we are faced with decisions about what to do and how many people will come to the dinner.
The Pandemic is causing changes in our thinking and this is not easy. Please consider a group of less than 10 or better, just your immediate family.
People who come from other areas of the country may present higher risks for infection, but so can people who live close, or next door. College students are risky as they are exposed to many people, as are people who work out of the home. Masks are recommended in the home as people mingle. Seating should be spread out for social distancing.
 
Many are getting tested and feel that a negative Covid-19 test is permission to go home. The rapid test is not particularly accurate and the “long” test may take days to get the result. The second wave of infections has caused a longer wait for the result. A friend told me yesterday that it took 7 days for her to get the results and she was positive. You can be tested and be exposed to the virus after that.
 
Be Safe. Prince of Peace congregation loves you and wants you present for next Thanksgiving.
 
~ Nan Carlson
variety_cookies.jpg
Christmas Cookie 
Exchange
 
To have some POP fun and to have an opportunity to acquire an assortment of Christmas cookies without having to make multiple batches of different varieties of cookies, we are planning to have a Christmas Cookie Exchange.
 
Each baker will contribute 4 dozen cookies. You will need to email or give me the recipe for your cookies in advance so that we know what kind of cookies you are making and what ingredients are in the cookies (due to food allergies) and to enable us to provide everyone with a cookie recipe booklet.

Our hope is to be able to take some extra cookies to our homebound and those in long-term care facilities. If you want to you can make extra cookies to make this possible or you could choose to donate a dozen or two of your cookie assortments towards this cause.

We will put your assortment of cookies back in the container that you brought your own cookies to the church in. Please put your name and phone number on your container.

We will let you know when your cookies can be dropped off at POP – this will be determined based on the situation with Covid-19 during the next month or so.

Currently, a few of us plan to meet at POP on Saturday morning, December 19th to sort the cookies. Most likely you would be able to pick up your cookies late morning.

Please let me know if you are planning to be part of our cookie exchange by calling or emailing me by Wednesday, December 16th. This will allow adequate time for me to put together the cookie recipe booklet. If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact me. Looking forward to enjoying some yummy Christmas cookies baked with love by POP members!!
 
Thanks,
Janet Lutz, jblutz60@gmail.com
(609) 235-6070
conductor_music.jpg
Christmas Carol Singalong

Several members of POP were concerned about not being able to sing Christmas Carols together during this Christmas Season. ☹ So, we will be having a Christmas Carol Singalong on Sunday, December 13th at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Those in attendance will social distance in “pods” wearing masks in the parking lot. There will be sheet music provided so that we all will be singing the same words to the carols. Looking forward to seeing all of you and hearing your melodious voices as we join together in song during this Blessed Christmas Season!

~ Janet Lutz
man_praying_holding_bible.jpg
Holden Evening Prayer

Several of us in the PoP community have enjoyed Knute and company at Camp Calumet sharing the Holden Evening Prayer service on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.. I know some of you have enjoyed participating in that service during Advent in the past. This year, we invite you to tune in with Knute and company at Camp Calumet at 7:30 every Wednesday evening- he will be sharing this service LIVE every Wednesday at least through Advent. Sing along in your own living room! Join the Camp Calumet YouTube or Facebook page for the link.
accounts_man.jpg
2020 BUDGET PREPARATION
 
All committees are asked to submit their 2021 budget  requests by Sunday, December 1st to Rich Mercado. Please provide as much detail as possible to support your request.
back_2_school.jpg
We’re bringing Sunday School into your home!

Pre-K through 6th graders will meet via Zoom for 30-minutes of games, bible stories, and interaction!

Sunday mornings at 8:30-9:00am.

Parents - Please follow the link below to join Zoom each Sunday.

Meeting ID: 810 2966 7079
Passcode: 999695
A New Advent Tradition -
"Creating Community"
Advent Devotions
 
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.
203-775-9070
popluthernchurch@sbcglobal.net