Pastor Appreciation Month

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. The council would like to invite you to join together to celebrate Pastor Orrey. Please take the time to express your gratitude to Pastor Orrey directly. You can also give cards or gift cards this month to show your appreciation for our pastor’s selfless service. There will be a basket on the table under the television in the narthex for cards

Pastor Orrey, thank you for your hard work, leadership, devotion, love and humor in guiding our congregation as we serve God together.

Let us lift up Pastor Orrey and the McFarland family in prayer this month and always as they continue to guide our congregation.

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” –Jeremiah 3:15

Peace is proud to announce that Dr. Hwaju Lee will be the new Music Director for Peace beginning October 4, 2026! Please welcome her and her family to Peace!

FACILITIES

Thank You for Investing in Our Church Home!



A heartfelt thank you to the congregation for your support of the two important Facilities projects recently approved at our Congregational Meeting: replacement of the kitchen flooring and repairs and maintenance to our concrete parking lot.



These projects represent an important investment in caring for the facilities God has entrusted to us and helping ensure that our church remains a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained place for worship, fellowship, ministry, and service.

Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to Peace Lutheran Church and its ministries!

Gregg Hostetler 

FORMING We are formed in the Gospel of God's grace.

BIRTHDAYS

October

2 Madge Arthur

9 Jeff Watts

10 Ann Kreeger

Gregg Hostetler

13 Valeta Bagwell

14 Abigail Ezerksy

Laura Ezersky

Shelly Duke

Jackson Watts

18 Angie Spahr

19 Carl Bagwell

Jane Ratke

20 Brian Henning

21 Charles Funderburk Jr.

27 Hallie Chutek

28 Bob White

30 Amber Naegeli

31 Stan Dobler

November

3 Cameron Hostetler

Mel Stensrud

8 Luke Ratke

Vicki Sparkes

11 Kylie Chutek

12 Blake Bedwell

Hannah Bedwell

15 Kevin Clark

Linda Henning

19 Kevin Richter

Sharon Jones

20 Christy Cole

Sophie Spahr

25 Ashleigh Lucier

Georgia Schmidt

Noah Lucier

29 Julia Cohlmia

30 Billye Palmer

Orrey McFarland

December

1 Joe Palmer

Reece Chutek

David Coghill

2 Amy Richter

Heather Holliday

3 Amy Higgins

6 Madison Cohlmia

10 Janie Drake

11 Adam Ratke

Aubrey Phillips

12 Donna Pflaum

Jillian Coghill

13 Kevin Kamphuis

14 Kristal Henning

15 Samantha Spahr

18 Keith Bartenhagen

19 Gail Ezersky

20 Cathy Whitford

23 Asa Candler

27 Eva (Cole) Doerflinger

ANNIVERSARIES

October

1 Ron and Carole Hall

10 Ron and Marilyn Powell

23 Patrick and Donna Pflaum

27 Branson and Christy Cole

November

9 Tony and Karen Chutek

12 Gaylan and Janice Bunas

16 Jeff and Sara Collins

26 Richard and Cathy Whitford

December

12 Garry and Christy Jackson

18 David and Lorna Clement

26 Hank and Maggie Borck

INSTANT CHURCH DIRECTORY



Peace has an online directory at members.InstantChurchDirectory.com. Follow the prompts under "Sign In" and "Create a login now". You must confirm your email address before you can sign in.

There is a free mobile app available for download on the Apple app store in iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Fire app. Simply search for "Instant Church Directory" to get the download.

You will need to use your email address as listed in the directory to create a log in the first time you use the directory online or via the mobile app.

ANCHORING We are anchored in Christ-centered relationships.

PRESCHOOL

Wow! I can’t believe that Peace Preschool is well into its 40th year of ministry! 

At Peace Preschool the teachers enjoy “team planning”. Many of our activities in the school revolve around the Theme of the Month. Our focus for September was “All About Me” and “Colors”. We incorporate our themes into Art, Music, Spanish, Show and Tell, and Special Days, etc. to explore these subjects. Colors are always a big “hit”. We will introduce the names of all the colors in Spanish and have fun games and songs to reinforce this new way to say their color words. Also, our STEAM director, Miss Shareese plans several Science experiments to explore mixing the primary colors to create the secondary colors. It is all about “hands on” and fun at Peace Preschool!

Another special activity at Peace Preschool is our weekly Chapel. During this time, we sing songs, pray, and share bible stories. At our first Chapel Time, we gave every new student a bible from the preschool. We have enjoyed using “The Jesus Storybook Bible”, this version of the bible lends well to all stories from the Old or New Testament and points them to Jesus. Our monthly preschool newsletter tells the parents what bible story we shared in Chapel so they can read the expanded version in their child’s Bible. We also invite parents to join us on the Chapel Day closest to their child’s birthday. This is a wonderful time for them to tell what is special about their child. Afterwards, Pastor Orrey presents the child with a cross necklace and then blesses them with a prayer. These are all such terrific ways that Peace can help grow these young families spiritually.

We have been SO EXCITED to use our new playground daily!  It is A HIT!!!! Thank you so much to the congregation for helping raise funds to be able to complete this much needed project!   

As we begin our fall season we look forward to talking about fall, pumpkin, learning our pumpkin songs for our first program on Halloween and community helpers. We even have a few special guests coming in during the month to share about their jobs as a dentist and a mail carrier!  

In November we continue our fun with pumpkins and fall but will add on food and manners as we talk about traditions and Thanksgiving and have our Thanksgiving feast with our friends. 

December will bring on the gingerbread man, all our fun Christmas songs and activities for our program and learning about the birth of Jesus.

We love our preschool friends and their families and love to grow and learn together!   

In Christ’s Love, Miss Julia 

Peace Lutheran Church Preschool

2600 E. Danforth

Edmond, OK 73034

405.341.1659

www.peace-lutheran.net/preschool



CHILDREN

Fall Fun Fest Volunteers and Candy Needed!!!!!

Volunteer for Saturday, Oct 31 10am-noon event



Please drop off candy for our event in the box in the narthex.



Volunteers needed to help run the booths at Fall fun fest! Just show up! Julia is happy to create and set up a booth for you to help run (no prep on your part)! A sign up sheet is located in the narthex. This is a great outreach opportunity for Peace to the community! 

Children’s Ministry - Advent Sunday school

November 22-December 27, 2026 

Advent Two: Surprise! takes kids on a journey to discover this magical season full of hope, peace, joy, and love. StoryMakers will see how Jesus is the one we have been waiting for—the one whose kingdom will have no end.

This 4-chapter Advent Two Zine* features stories from the Gospel of Luke featuring Zechariah, Elizabeth, and their son, John; a visit from the Angel Gabriel; and a group of the shepherds in the night who received the most amazing news that anyone has ever heard! 

• November 22 - Hope: Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:1-24)  
• November 29- Peace: Gabriel Speaks to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
• December 6 - Joy: Naming of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80)
• December 27- Love: Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-21)

Every chapter of the zine offers six points of entry to engage with the lesson, including creative visuals, interactive storytelling, field notes, fun facts, thoughts to ponder, and hands-on activities, plus comic pages and coloring pages!



Don't miss out, join us on November 22 for our Advent adventure! 

4rd Annual Intergenerational Christmas Program

Sunday, December 13^th! 

We will celebrate together again this year with our Christmas Interactive program. That means even if you don’t have young children, come! Participate as much or a little as you choose. You can just be in the audience and watch and sing carols or you can pick a costume and become part of the story!

 One of the more amazing things to me about the Christmas story is that it can’t happen without the people who are in the story. God does not just swoop in and make this story happen all by God’s self. Instead, for the story to happen, there need to be willing people in the story. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and even the angels are obedient and follow through with what they are told to do. And Sunday, we will have an opportunity to do the same thing: By choosing to participate in the story, we will make the story happen.  

 With this in mind, I would like to briefly explain to you what “participation” looks like.

• First, the lyrics for all the songs that we’re singing Sunday are in the bulletin – so keep that bulletin with you! 

• Second, you’ll notice on Sunday, in the bulletin that underneath the song titles (not the lyrics) there are instructions. These instructions are the interactive portion of this program. As we listen to the story and sing the songs together, we will create with our bodies and costumes our very own live nativity scene. The costume that you selected when you first arrived will help you know when to come up and be part of the nativity scene. For example, during the singing of “Do you hear what I hear” you’ll notice in the bulletin that all the animals are to come to the gathering space and will stay there until the end of the program. Again, please remember when you come up front to bring your bulletin with you.

• The third thing I’d like to share with you, is that if you did not choose a costume, but still want to be part of the nativity scene, please consider yourself a townsperson and come up during the singing of “Go Tell it on the mountain.” But it's ok to stay seated as well. 

• When we sing the last song, “Joy to the World,” we will leave the front of the sanctuary, and make a circle around the sanctuary. 

• Lastly, however you choose to participate, we are excited to have you joining us for this experience. We thank God for the gifts He has given us. Help us to see these gifts and to share them with others. We thank Him for His love, mercy and grace.  

Jesus' Birthday Family Event

December 20, 2026   



December 20th during the Sunday school hour- KMotion room   

We will have a special time to remember why we celebrate the season with crafts, snacks, and singing for the WHOLE FAMILY!  

Julia Cohlmia

Preschool Director and

Director of Children's Ministry

YOUTH

LOFT - Letting Our Faith Thrive

All 6th grade - 12th grade students are invited to gather on Wednesday nights at 6:00 p.m. for food and fellowship.

Youth Happenings ~ Fall 2026

Fall is here, and our youth group is settling into another season of learning, laughter, and growing together at Peace. Between school, homework, band, sports, and everything else on their calendars, our students have full lives! I am grateful that youth group gives them a place to catch their breath, build friendships, ask honest questions, and keep discovering what it means to follow Jesus.

This fall, we will be studying 1 Peter. This little letter has a lot to say about some big things: who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and how the gospel shapes our everyday lives. We will also explore what suffering looks like in the Bible. Peter writes to believers facing difficult circumstances, reminding them that their hope rests in Jesus. My prayer is that our students will carry these truths into their own friendships, disappointments, questions, and challenges. Following Jesus does not mean life will always be easy, but we can trust that He is faithful and that we belong to Him.

One encouragement we will find along the way is this: “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, ESV). What an applicable reminder for our teenagers—and for the rest of us! We do not have to have everything figured out before bringing our worries to the Lord. He cares for us right where we are.

Now, speaking of things that might require a little prayer—and possibly some extra coffee—our upcoming Lock-In is November 13, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. November 14! We are looking forward to a night of games, food, fellowship, and the inevitable question, “Are you really still awake?”

We could use some helping hands! Volunteers are needed to bring food, help with activities, and assist with morning cleanup and sending our students home. Whether you can help for a little while in the evening or arrive bright and early with a cheerful smile and donuts, your support makes a difference. Please text me at (405) 215-8074 if you would like to lend a hand. It takes a church family to love and encourage these students, and I am so thankful for ours.

Happy fall! Keep praying for our youth as they learn to trust Jesus and live out their faith—and perhaps say an extra prayer for the adults at the lock-in!



Your trusty youth director,

Christy Jackson

Top Left: LOFT night-chilling and fellowship. Top Right: Peace Youth welcomes Iowa Mission Group who stayed overnight at Peace this summer. Bottom Right: Loft provides a safe space for kids during difficult times. Bottom Lef: Ginger brings a friend to LOFT.

ADULT

Thank You for a Great Indoor Church Picnic!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the CAM-sponsored Indoor Church Picnic! It was a wonderful time of food, fun, fellowship, and laughter with our church family.

A special thank you to Tony Chutek and Kevin Kamphuis for preparing the delicious pulled pork, and to everyone who brought side dishes, desserts, and other goodies to share. The food was fantastic!

Just as importantly, thank you to everyone who helped make the games and activities so much fun. From the cake walk and Human Bingo to cornhole, door prizes, and plenty of good conversation, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

CAM appreciates everyone who participated, volunteered, brought food, played games, and simply came to spend time together. You made the picnic a great day of fellowship at Peace Lutheran!

CAM - Peace's men's group who have meetings on Saturday and Sunday mornings. For more information on the Saturday meeting, contact Gregg Hostetler at ghostetler@aol.com or for the Sunday meeting, contact Brian Kreeger at brian.kreeger@gmail.com.



WEB - Women Exploring the Bible - Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Contact Jane Ratke at ratke1@cox.net for more information.

CLEO - Christian Ladies Eating Out - meets on the 2nd Monday of the month for lunch and fellowship starting at 11:30 a.m. The following are the meeting places for CLEO:

October 12 Brent's Cajun Restaurant, 3005 S. Broadway, Edmond

November 9, Slim Chickens, 555 S. Kelly Avenue, Edmond

December 14, CafeSol Mexican Restaurant, 2125 NW 178th St, Edmond



PRIME TIME - meets every month on the first Tuesday at noon for food, fun, and fellowship for adults ages 55+. Watch the Weekly Announcements for details each month.

Fall Book Club reads…

Saturday, October 17 @ 1:00 p.m.

The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans

Saturday, November 21 @ 1:00 p.m.

The Grammarians, by Cathleen Schine

Sunday, December 13 @ 12:00 pm

The 13th Gift, by Joanne H. Smith



**all meetings will be at the church**

SENDING We are sent out in Spirit-empowered mission.

Kairos Prison Ministries

Oct 29-Nov 1, 2026

Kairos is a Christian faith-based prison ministry which addresses the spiritual needs of the incarcerated. By sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Kairos changes hearts and transforms lives. The program starts with a structured weekend experience held from Oct 29 - Nov 1, 2026, at Joseph Harp Correctional Center (JHCC). We need your love and support. How? Be part of the Prayer Chain (each prayer is a chain link), donate a package of cookies, and/or purchase Meal Tickets (Buy a meal for $10, change a life). Thank You and God Bless You! 

For more information on this ministry, visit the webpage: Kairos of Oklahoma - Joseph Harp Correctional Center = https://kairosoklahoma.org/where/JHCC.html 

Peace will be accepting cookies during the month of October through the 27th. Thank you for supporting this ministry.



Hope House Guthrie

This year, Hope House Guthrie is hosting its 5th Fall Fest! The tentative date and time is:

Saturday, October 17, 2026 

2:00pm-6:00pm

1916 E. Perkins Ave Guthrie, OK

This is a fun, safe, and free community event for children and families. 

Mekane Yesus Church in Ethiopia



We exceeded our goal of raising at least $50,000, by Labor Day! We are close to $70.000! Thanks be to GOD! These funds will be used to provide a new worship space for the Alamata Congregation and to provide playgrounds for the children of Mersa and Tisabalima Congregations. Additional funds will be directed toward a new Mekane Yesus Synod vehicle, housing assistance for the Mekane Yesus Missions Director, and other congregational needs. Thank you for your faithful giving!

Regional Family Reunion Report



The Texas-Oklahoma Mission Region of the NALC gathered at Welcome Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX July 31-August 1. Some 70 people from over 25 congregations from the region attended and Lynn and Kirke Kickingbird represented Peace. The guest speaker was Pr. Amy Little, General Secretary of the NALC. In addition, new NALC Assistant to the Bishop for the South, Pr. Bobby Vitek addressed the group. “There were four worship services, some wonderful preaching, good food and fellowship, and several presentations on congregational renewal, but the most exciting for us was to see our own Vicar Luke Ratke in action assisting with presentations and leading prayer.” Luke started a year’s internship at Welcome in June. The praises he receives from the congregants are heartwarming. Continue to pray for Luke and Megan as they build their ministry and form relationships in this rural, farming community.

News from the Panzo’s

Pr. Didi Panzo and his wife Serafina are actively engaged in spreading the Gospel in the central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since returning in December 2025, they have been devoting their efforts to training church members under guidance from pastors to serve as counselors for families in crisis and to helping with the development of a health clinic for people largely unreached by the Gospel. Thus far this year they have trained 46 counselors. They also coordinated with Theovision Kenya to train communities at two sites how to use the Audio Bible in sharing God’s Word. They also identified the Kiyombe Language as the next to have the Audio Bible to be translated into.

Prayer Requests. 1) God’s help in their sharing the Gospel in the Kifuma Ngimbi area where the new clinic is being developed; 2) for road accessibility for construction and Gospel work; and 3) a Land Cruiser-type humanitarian truck to be able to access rugged areas to reach people in need of the Gospel.

SENDING FOR THE 3 MONTHS ENDING September 30, 2026

Local Missions: Project 66, Hope House Guthrie.

Regional Missions: NALC, Praying Pelicans, San Miguel Lutheran Church, Oaks Indian Mission, N TX/OK Mission District, Disaster Relief, Kairos Prison Ministries.

Global Missions: WMPL, Pastor Didi Panzo, Ethiopia Mekane Yesus

Auxillary Missions: Preschool Scholarship, Camp Scholarships, Mission Trip Seed Money