Prince of Peace
Weekly Update
July 10-16, 2020
“To see people who will notice a need in the world and do something about it… Those are my heroes.”
Fred Rogers
Thank You PoP 
 
Wow!  Over 70 confirmed members of Prince of Peace, Brookfield, CT. participated in our first ever Zoom Congregational Meeting!  (We took up three whole screens)! 
 
Thank you for all of your patience and efforts to get online and experience this new technology serving our ministry and our Lord. (We missed those unable to connect. Next time).
 
FYI - Paper ballots will be accepted (in the snail mail, fax and email) through July 7 th only from those who participated in the meeting.
 
Thank you again. I am impressed with your dedication, commitment, and willingness to try new ways of being the church. God is good!
 
  ~ Pastor Lutz
Virtual VBS Registration

Join us for Compassion Camp: Be Loved, Be Kind, Be You! August 10-14, 2020.

This virtual camp is offered by a network of churches in Central CT (see below) who are offering this as a free VBS for anyone, wherever you are located. 

This is a collaboration between Prince of Peace Lutheran Church-Kensington, Kensington Congregational Church -Kensington, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church-Bristol, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church-Bristol. Our hope is to bring you a completely virtual Vacation Bible School this summer.
Giving Statements Sent out the week of 6/29

(Statements are for activity period January 1– May 31)

Hopefully you recently received as an email or will receive in the snail mail soon, your current Giving Statement from Prince of Peace.

If you would like to receive an electronic statement instead of in the regular mail, please email Nicole Cable, Financial Secretary, and she will update the system.

In addition, she can run a statement at any time you may need it. Please contact her at: andcable03@yahoo.com or home phone 203-775-8358.
The Congregational Council met on Wednesday June 17 th , 2020 over Zoom.

Here are the highlights of the final meeting for this Council membership:

  • Heard reports from the Re-formation Teams on their work with the ministry of Worship, Faith Formation, and Social Ministry.

  • Confirmed a Congregational Meeting for Sunday June 28th, 2020 over Zoom at 11:00 a.m. with voting only done using paper ballots. Only members of Prince of Peace that are present (online or phone) at the meeting will be able to vote. A quorum of 35 church members is required. 

  • Information on the voting process will be communicated to the congregation prior to the meeting, via email or snail mail. (See other article for Congregational meeting update).

  • Agreed to reduce salaries by 20% starting in July and for the foreseeable future. In addition, affirmed that any “new” spending must be approved in advance by the Executive Committee.

  • Agreed to spend $1700.00 to remove and clean ceiling in the youth room.

  • Affirmed that effective July 1, 2020 Pre-School Director (Debbie Nobes) and Assistant Director (Heidi Riddle) will switch roles and compensation. They are working to prepare for a fall reopening.

  • Heard that Grant Underwood will begin as our Church Musician with the worship recording for the first Sunday in July.

  • Affirmed the recent survey of the Forward Leadership team (See elsewhere in the Blueprints for more information).

  • Heard about the first Black Lives Matter gathering in Brookfield on Saturday June 20th, 2020.
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Thank you to those who completed our recent four question survey.

We appreciate your responses. There are lots of good stories about PoP. They will help the Forward Leadership Team as we attempt to better understand the unique mission and ministry of our great faith community.

It’s not too late. You can find the survey below.
Where is Prince of Peace?

During this pandemic Prince of Peace’s doors may be closed, but God’s work continues through our hands! Our Social Ministry has sprung to the task of bringing Prince of Peace to our community and the world.

Here is a sample of what is happening:

Prince of Peace Community Sewing Group- a group of both POP members and community members worked together to respond to the needs of those who were working closely with COVID patients. These items were donated to Danbury Hospital (Emergency Room, 8th and 12th floors), Greenwich Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, and Danbury Visiting Nurses. Also face masks are being made for church members, family and friends and any community member who was in need. The group’s sewing machines are still humming with face masks being made for Nursing homes and Food Banks (Filosa/ Hancock Hall, Bethel Health Care, Brookfield & Bethel Food Pantry, & Daily Bread Food Pantry). Approximately 1,500 scrub caps and face masks have been created by this talented group!
Loaves and Fishes- small groups of 2 are serving food on the 2nd Sunday of each month following state guidelines for safety. Meals are being prepared and handed out in bags.

Daily Bread - members provide food and monetary donations to support those in need of food at this time.

Naomi Circle- blankets, quilts, baby blankets and hats created by POP members and then shipped to those in need in the world.

LOVE fund - monetary donations that Pastor Lutz can pass onto those in the community in need.
Alleluia! POP is alive and well, serving those in need!

~ Monica Walsh
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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We have a Winner!
 
With all of the valid ballots turned in by July 7, we can announce that both motions PASSED!

  Welcome new Council members. It's time to get busy finding a buyer for Misty Hollow.
Congregational Meeting Update 

Congratulations and Welcome Aboard to the New Council!
The following individuals were elected to serve on the Congregational Council at the June 28, 2020 Congregational meeting: Susan Lehmann, Lorraine L. Lavery, Phil Curatilo,Casey Johansen, Kevin Peterson, Tina Giubileo, and Nancy Carlson.
 
They join the following disciples already serving as Council members: Andrew Confortini, Doug Berendsohn, Rich Mercado (Acting Treasurer), Julie Parker, Jerry Nabozny and Elizabeth Davies.
 
The first meeting of the new Council will be Wednesday, July 15 th , 7:30 p.m. over Zoom. At that meeting Congregational Officers (President, Two Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer) will be elected and council terms will be clarified.
 
The Council will be officially installed during worship in July.
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The Love Fund is Low

If you would like to help replenish the love fund in order that we may continue to assist those struggling, please make your check payable to Prince of Peace and write Love Fund in the memo. Our neighbors in need would really appreciate it.
"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.
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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 all four of the Sunday readings.

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