May 2017 Volume 26, Issue 3

Our Mission: Reflecting God’s Light through love and service. Our Vision: The Father’s love… Our love. Christ’s life… Our light. The Spirit’s work… Our hands.

-- Adopted November 21, 2010

A Newsletter from Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church

South Haven, Michigan

In this issue: Friends From PT’s PC Pub Theology Blood Drive Worship Notes Education Notes Hero Central - VBS Salmagundi Healthy Corner Samaritas Update

Calendar

Who Am I??? In my letter I told my read-ers that they should be ea-ger to hear, but slow to speak and slow to anger.

See the Answer on Page 3.

May 3 - Red Cross Blood Drive, 12-5:45 p.m.

May 3, 24, & 31 - Women’s Lectionary Bi-ble Study, 9-10 a.m.

May 16 - Pub Theolo-gy, 7 p.m.

May 21 - Confirma-tion Sunday, 8:30 & 11 a.m.

May 21 - We Care’s Linda Olsen retirement celebration, 2-4 p.m., First Congregational Church

June 4 - Graduation Sunday, 8:30 & 11 a.m.

Listening We all have someone in our lives who tells us what we need to know rather than what we want to know.

These individuals can be troublesome and annoying at times, but deep down, we know they have our best interests at heart. It may be a doctor who advises that you should lose weight, exercise more, and eat right. It may be a parent or grandparent whose life-time of experience has given them insight. It may even come from a child, who blurts out wisdom from their unbiased, fresh-approached mind. Our job is to process this input and take action to change our minds, bodies, and soul. “Hearing” and “listening” are two separate actions. The act of hearing is the physical reception of sound waves from a source that vibrates the tympanic mem-branes located deep within our ear canals. The act of listening means we hear and understand what is being said. Unfortunately in today’s lingo, these two words are interchanged, i.e., “I hear you!” -- a com-mon phrase depicting understanding. If someone were to say “I’m listening…” to you, that implies they are processing what they have heard. “Hearing” re-quires no action on your part. “Listening” demands response. Our Lord Jesus revealed many listening acts to his disciples. For example, in Matthew 18, He says the following: “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.” Doing this simple task demonstrates that we care about that person’s welfare. But how often do we do it? Are we fearful of confrontation, hurt feel-ings, or resentment? The key, as Jesus points out, is the phrase “in private.” Open, honest communication occurs one-on-one, and when conducted in love, deliv-ers the message unaltered. The Old Testament book of Proverbs is a treasure trove of life-giving wisdom, worth a re-read. We find in Proverbs 12:15: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to coun-sel.” In Christ, listen, learn, and love!

Peace Evangelical

Lutheran Church A congregation of the Evangelical

Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

06321 Blue Star Memorial Highway South Haven, MI 49090

Contact Us

Phone: 269-637-4104

Fax: 269-637-0212

E-Mail: information@peaceinsouthhaven.org

Office Hours

Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Church Staff Rev. Travis W. Wilson, Pastor

Office Hours - 8-4, M-Th (twilson@peaceinsouthhaven.org)

Janet Gilbert, Parish Administrator

(jgilbert@peaceinsouthhaven.org) Rev. Raymond Bartels, Pastor

Emeritus

Tami Brush, Director of Choirs

(tbrush@peaceinsouthhaven.org)

Ellen Leins, Choir Accompanist

Brandie Rainey, Activity Coordinator for

Children and Families (brandie@peaceinsouthhaven.org)

Linda Harness, Parish Nurse

Deb Berkey, Lay Ministry Coordinator

Susie Yule “KID’S HOPE” Co-

Coordinator

Dayla McMullen, Wedding Coordinator

(dmcmullen@peaceinsouthhaven.org)

Scott Mark, Sexton

Visit us on the Web at: www.peaceinsouthhaven.org

2017 Congregational Council & Officers Nancy Whaley, President Laura Beckwith, Vice President Beth Kuhn, Secretary Karen Willming, Treasurer Barb Konrad, Financial Secretary Randy Bartels Jessica Fiedorowicz Jeannie Gerling Candy Gryga Jan Jessup Mark Wallace

From PT’s PC “When you remember me, it means that you have car-ried something of who I am with you; that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are.”

– Frederick Buechner We are still in the Easter season for the month of May this year and that means we can still shout, “Alleluia, Christ is Risen!” We continue to watch what happens to the community of disciples as they lean into their role of being apostles and carrying on Jesus’ mission and ministry in his absence. May is also the month where Peace confirms our 8th grade confirmation stu-dents. That service will take place on May 21 at the 11 a.m. service and I wholeheartedly encourage you to be there to support these young men as they pub-licly affirm the faith of the church and their baptisms. As a congregation, we have promised to support them through their baptismal journey, and this is one of the big events in that journey. The rest of this article are words for all of us, but es-pecially for our Confirmation students. The quote above that begins this article is from Frederick Buech-ner who is a theologian, thinker, preacher, and won-derful writer. He holds a special place in my heart as does this quote above. I’ve used this quote in funeral sermons and in talking about discipleship, but I can also imagine this quote as talk-ing about Jesus. Think about Jesus saying this to you. We’re still celebrating that he is risen and as we do that, we always remember Jesus and all of what he went through so that we would know the fullness of life. But, as we remember Jesus, it means that we have carried something of who he is with us and that he has left some sort of mark on us. If I had public parting words for our Confirmands, that quote would be it. Not on-ly to remember Jesus, but as if I were saying that to them myself. They have cer-tainly left and impact on me and their affirmation of faith will leave some mark of who they are on the whole Church and for that, I say thanks be to God! Thank you for your questions, your wrestling, your laughter and dancing, even your sing-ing! Thank you for making class a part of your lives for the last two years and for the faith that we have shared together. I pray God’s blessings on you as you con-tinue your faith journey, and my great hope is that the Church has left some sort of mark on you, and that no matter where you go, you will carry something of who we are together with you into the world. That’s my hope for all of us, and I suspect it is the hope that the Triune God has for us all together too. Continued Blessings on the Journey,

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Potluck

The Senior Social Potluck Luncheon is held the third Thursday each month. Please join us!

Our Weekly Worship Rhythm

Sunday mornings - 8:30 and 11 a.m. - Worship: Liturgy of Holy Communion

Sunday mornings: 9:30 a.m. - Peace Café Breakfast

Sunday mornings: 9:45 a.m. - Sanctuary [Adult] Choir Rehearsal

Sunday mornings: 10 a.m. - Adult Forum

Sunday mornings: 10 a.m. - Sunday School - for all children from pre-school to Grade 5

Mondays - Monthly: Congregational Council meeting, 6:30 p.m., Library

Thursday Evenings: 7 p.m. - Worship: Brief Order of Holy Communion

Pub Theology is a small group ministry that tackles questions of faith and life in an informal atmosphere. Join us as we talk about where God is in the midst of our lives - all are welcome to join us. We will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, location to be determined.

ALL are welcome to join in!

Who Am I?

Answer from Page 1

James

[James 1:19]

“Like” us

We are trying our best to keep our Facebook page updated with pic-tures and to engage with you outside of Sunday/Thursday worship.

We hope that you will “Like” our page and get ready to engage!

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Between the Lines: Peter cut off Malchus’ ear during Jesus’ arrest in the garden.

Don’t forget that any recyclable cans or bot-tles can be turned in at the church. The money raised from your gar-age/mud room/basement “collection” is earmarked for our youth group programs!

Red Cross

Blood Drive A Blood Drive will be held at Peace on May 3 from 12 (noon) – 5:45 p.m. Roll up your sleeve and give the gift of life!

Giving Statements First quarter statements are ready. If you would like a copy, please call Janet at the church office. She will let me know and we will send you a copy.

-- Barbara Konrad, Financial Secretary

Brother Martin desired to spend time alone with the Lord and he knew that this is the oil that would make the engine work. As a monk, he was in the Augustinian sect which was known for their piety and med-itation. He learned the discipline of being alone with God and when he was converted, God used that discipline to truly mold him into prior-itizing the sweet com-munion with Him. “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business, I can-not get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Al-so, “...it is the business of Christians to pray.” Luther valued what it meant to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He was constantly teach-ing, preaching, minister-ing, writing, attending meetings or councils and yet he made time to pray because he knew, and was driven by, the love of Christ.

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Education Events

Our Women’s Lectionary Bible Study continues to meet on Wednesday morn-ings from 9 until 10 a.m. We look at the readings for the coming Sunday, share prayer requests or concerns, and talk about our lives of faith together- come and join us and bring a friend. NOTE: There will be no class on May 10 or 17.

Our Adult Forum Class will end at the end of April and take a break for the summer months.

Book and Beach is gearing up to meet again this summer starting in June. Please watch for more information, but contact the church office if you would like to join us! We will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning in mid-June.

Did you Know … While in Decapolis, the people brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. Jesus laid his hands on him and the man spoke clearly. Jesus told the crowd to tell no one of the action, but they praised him even more. “See, He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

May Worship Notes

On Sunday, May 21, we celebrate Confirmation Sunday for our 8th grade Confirmation students. These students will affirm the promises made at their bap-tisms as their own at the 11 a.m. service that day, please come and support them!

On Sunday, June 4, we will honor those students who are graduating this year [from either High School or Higher Education]. If you are graduating and wish to be a part of that service, please contact Pastor Travis or the Church Office for more information.

Vacation Bible School Save the Dates and get ready to discover your strength in Christ!

Monday, July 10 - Friday, July 14 5:15 p.m. Dinner

5:45 – 8 p.m. VBS Program each night At VBS Hero Central, your students will enjoy an

interactive, energizing, Bible-based good time as they discover their strength in God. They will become Heroes and explore how to serve God and God’s mis-sion for their lives. More information about registration and volunteer opportunities coming soon!

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To My Peace Family, I’m so thankful to all for your prayers, love and support thru this past year for Ralph and my-self and for the cards, phone calls and hugs at his passing. Thank you to Pastor Travis for all his help, being at the hospital for us and for the meaningful Memori-al Service he provided and also I can’t forget Nancy and the Priscilla Circle Ladies for the wonderful luncheon they provided. These things have all helped and are helping me as I go thru this difficult time. God Bless All,

--Joann Till

Please contact the church office, 637-4104, if you know of a Shelter or Group Home in Van Buren County where the residents would enjoy receiving a quilt. We will put them on our list!

-- Cozy Quilters

Your Healthy Corner

This Month’s Topic: Melanoma May is National Melanoma [skin cancer] month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer form in men and women in the United States. Risk factors include: Weakened immune system Fair skin - Blondes and redheads have a higher risk for developing skin cancer Moles - Having a large number of moles places an individual at higher risk Family history - Especially a parent or sibling Sunlight exposure - or unnatural sources including tanning booths. Follow the ABC’s of skin cancer: Asymmetry - One half of the mole is different than the opposite side of the mole Bonder - Edges of a mole are uneven or blurred. Color - Mole is uneven in color shades of brown, tan, and black Diameter - Width is greater than 6mm, or size of a pencil eraser Elevation - and evolution: mole is raised or changes appearance over time. May 6 is “Melanoma Monday.” What if we all took a little time and examine any moles on our bodies on that Monday? It could be the most important few minutes you could spend for yourself. Please - limit your time in the sun, avoid tanning booths, and get annual checkups by your healthcare provider.

-- Linda Harness Parish Nurse

Retirement Celebration Linda Olson, We Care’s Executive Director, will retire at the end of May! Come and celebrate Linda’s ministry and all she has done for the community through We Care at a reception in her honor on Sunday, May 21 from 2-4 p.m. at First Congregational Church on Phoenix Street.

Notes of Thanks Thank you to Nancy Whaley for organizing a party to honor my 35 years of Service. Thank you also to the staff of Peace Café for the Shamrock plant, the knitters

for the Prayer Shawl, the Cozy Quilters for the very nice quilt and to the Con-gregation of Peace for the wonderful plaque, the beautiful yellow roses, the cake and the nice cards. Most of all thank you for the opportunity to serve you as a church musician for 35 years.

-- Carol Clausen A.A.G.O

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To learn more about the church’s 500th anniversary celebra-tion, and the many ways Lutherans around the world are commemorating the Reformation, click the link below:

www.elca500.org

May 2017 Samaritas Update

May is Foster Care Awareness Month. It is also when Samaritas, the

largest private adoption and foster care agency in Michigan, focuses on sending up to 60 of our children to Stony Lake so that they can enjoy a week of simply being kids – running, swimming, and playing games at camp. To learn more about how your congregation can help a foster kid experience one of the best weeks of their lives, please contact our Church Relations Director, Pastor Niklaus Schillack, at nschi@samaritas.org or 248-660-7708. Learn more about all the services we offer at www.samaritas.org