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Celebration of Life – Dorothy “Bergen” Luedtke

Joy Sidwell and friends welcome all to celebrate the life of this dear companion and friend, Bergen, on Saturday, July 31, at 1:30 p.m. here at Peace. Memorials may be made to the charity of donor’s choice. See obituary on bulletin board for a brief introduction of this amazing and path-blazing woman.

Mentors / Leaders Needed

God-Explorers Experience at 11 - This Learn offering for elementary youth at the 11:00 worship time during the Message/Response time provides youngsters a more age appropriate activity to hear and discover God's word. GDZ Director Rebecca Conklin maintains the mentors’ schedule and provide resources from round table lessons to game playing, from craft activities to service acts. Interested? Please contact Rebecca for more information.

God’s Discovery Zone at 9:30 - This Learn offering for youngsters age 4 through elementary school will resume at 9:30 on Sunday, August 22. Mentors and helpers are needed! No experience necessary. Requires a joy of children, and a willing spirit and a willing spirit to learn and discover!

Presiding Bishop's Message

June 28, 2010

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is both heartbreaking and infuriating. It causes deep sorrow, both for the initial loss of human life and for the deep and lasting damage to an ecology that provides life and livelihoods for so many of God's creatures. At the same time we grieve that the natural beauty of this region, a sign of God's marvelous creativity, has been defiled.

Moving to indignation and anger over the neglect and carelessness that led to this disaster, both in private industry and in government regulation, is understandable. However, to do so without recognizing the responsibility we all share -- as consumers of petroleum products, as investors in an economy that makes intensive and insistent energy demands, and as citizens responsible for the care of creation -- lacks credibility and integrity. An honest accounting of what happened (and what failed to happen) must include our own repentance. ... [more]

July-August Special Offering

Heifer Project - www.heifer.org

The Heifer International is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability. The Share Team has set a goal for at least one goat ($120), one Promise Basket ($120) and one New Beginning Basket ($85). These gifts will improve lives, communities and the world!

A promise basket is filled with geese, ducks, chickens and rabbits ensuring a promising future for a family in need. A new beginning includes a lamb that will provide valuable wool and a vital source of income to a family living in an impoverished community.

Heifer has successful operations all across the globe. In Central and Eastern Europe its programs emphasize the holistic development and empowerment of small, integrated, private farms.

To contribute to Special Offering, please use the pink envelope from your offering box or an envelope marked Special (extras available on songbook shelf)

Blue Tub

July BG Christian Food Pantry item is snack food. Loose cash offerings from worship on second Sundays of the month are donated to the food pantry for purchases from local food banks. All non-perishable food and hygiene items are welcome. Cleaned, used water bottles are being collected for laundry soap distribution. Old cell phones may be donated as well. These help fund services for the Cocoon Shelter. Place items in the blue tub under table near north exit in the church lobby.

A Gift and a Challenge - 5th Sunday Special Offering

As reported, Peace received an unsolicited and anonymous gift of $10,000 from the Karity Fund of the Toledo Community Foundation this spring. Council accepted it as a gift with thanksgiving to God and in gratitude for the donor. 10% of the gift was shared with others, $165 to the Cocoon Shelter and $835 to our synod’s recent special appeal. The remainder of the gift was applied to our line of credit. As the stewardship team and council prayerfully reflected on the gift, it became clear that if our ministry is so valued by an unknown benefactor - how much more so it is for us who know first hand the promise and hope of Christ community in this place! Council proceeded to challenge us to matching this gift x 3 so as to bring our general offerings to 100% of budget by year end and designated May 30, August 29 and Oct. 31 to receive a Special 5th Sunday Offering to make it happen.

Designated envelope with a letter of explanation was sent to all active folks at Peace and while we didn’t meet the match of $10,000 – we did receive almost a third, $3,180! Thank You! Next time, let’s shoot for at least 50% of the challenge – watch for your letter near the next 5th Sunday, August 29. As always, gifts toward this effort can be received at any time!

Northwest Ohio Synod On-going Tornado Relief Response

Join the Wood County 30023 Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to raise funds for families from St. John, Stony Ridge; Calvary, Northwood; and Zion, Latcha; whose homes were damaged and/or destroyed by the tornado. $2,500 is being provided through the chapter’s Care Abounds in Communities®. Contributions will be accepted from June 13th to July 25th. Send to Wood County 30023 Chapter, c/o Gayle Duty, 105 Quail Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551.

The Synod has received a $5,000 grant that will be combined with other designated relief dollars and for longer term relief efforts. To donate to this fund, please make your check out to "NWOS Tornado Response"  and send it to NWOS, 621 Bright Road, Findlay, OH 45840 - these dollars will support local families of the NWOS who have been affected by the disaster and will supply needed dollars for items not covered by FEMA or other emergency funds.

Volunteers are needed to help clear debris, especially those with heavy equipment. Other items needed include: Wheelbarrows, Wagons, Shovels, Garden Hoses, Handheld 2 way radios, Carpentry tools, Bolt/wire cutters, Electrical power cords 100', Trash cans, Heavy duty trash bags, Lawn tools, Push lawn mowers, Tarps, Duct tape, Storage bags, Contractor power tools, 18v, Padlocks w/hasp, Chains, Safety sun glasses, Paper towels, Fans, EZ Up tents, Hammers, Nails, Plywood, Garage Doors, Storage boxes/totes, 
Power Washers, Air Compressor w/nail guns, Rental equipment, i.e. Chippers, Tractor w/trailer, Light trailers, Chain Saws, Leaf blowers, Generators, Sump/trash pumps w/hose.
 Contact Mary Woodward, Ohio Disaster Coordinator regarding volunteering and donations of items noted above at 740-509-1132.

Community Garden

Community Garden at Peace is looking great thanks to the hard work of the BGSU Freedom Group and others. Peace folk are welcomed and encouraged to be involved in the work and fun! Garden Coordinator Krista Elvey at elveykm[AT]bgsu.edu and our own Phil Walter can answer questions and get you involved. Contact Krista to get on the listserv and stay in the know of what’s happening.

Youth Summer Hiatus

God’s Discovery Zone and Drama Team will return August 22.

Pastor Class: “Theology Spoken Here”

The Group will resume Thursday, August 26 at 7:30. Beginning Sept. 2 the meeting time will begin at 6:30 p.m. Summer reading suggestions are: The Help by Kathyrn Sockett and Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi. All are welcomed to join the discussion.

The Healing Ritual

On occasion Peace offers a healing ritual during its worship service. Participation is always by invitation and one is welcome to participate as they desire.

From Evangelical Lutheran Worship: “The order is an expression in worship of the church’s ministry of healing . . . it does not replace the gifts of God that come through the scientific community, nor does it promise a cure. Rather the church offers and celebrates gifts such as these: God’s presence with strength and comfort in time of suffering, God’s promise of wholeness and peace, and God’s love embodied in the community of faith. (p. 276)

Remember: Health means more than the absence of disease. Sick relationships can be more life threatening than sick bodies. Reconciliation with God is our greatest need, and that is ours in Christ. Faith is accepting this gift. Sickness is not evidence of sin. It is part of life this side of the grave.

Healing is not a matter of whether but when. Everyone will experience healing and ultimately resurrection. The Healing Liturgy is an expanded version of the petition, Your Kingdom Come! Do not limit God’s healing in your life. Not receiving the healing you seek does not mean you have not experienced God’s healing touch.

Modern medicine is filled with miracles. Avoid the trap. “If you believe, you will receive.” Healing is not a matter of “believing enough.” Faith is a response to what we have been given. We do not receive a reward for our faith. Faith is trusting in the goodness of God – sometimes because of what we experience, often in spite of it.

A Prayer

As the psalmist declares God’s compassion is over all that God has made. God’s compassion is over all that God has made in the Gulf of Mexico. God’s compassion is over all the sea creatures who are suffering, all who have died in the waters there and over all life that has been destroyed. God’s compassion is over all who are working tirelessly to lessen the massive environmental damage. God’s compassion is over the coastlands, the land and the fragile wetlands threatened by the oil spill. With God’s compassion over us all, and over all of creation, we pray that human compassion will respond to bring life and justice to all that God has made, and that we will not turn away but increase our willingness to suffer with those who are in need. Amen

In Haiti, There is Anguish

Text: Copyright © 2010 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  All rights reserved. Carolyn visited Haiti on a mission trip when she was a Lebanon Valley College student.  Permission is given for use by those who support Church World Service (Includes ELCA).

In Haiti, There is Anguish - A song of dedication for those suffering in Haiti from the recent earthquake. Tune: ST. CHRISTOPHER 76868686 ("Beneath the Cross of Jesus")

In Haiti, there is anguish that seems too much to bear;
A land so used to sorrow now knows even more despair.
From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above;
In all the sorrow, pain and death, where are you, God of love?
A woman sifts through rubble, a man has lost his home,
A hungry, orphaned toddler sobs, for she is now alone.
Where are you, Lord, when thousands die—the rich, the poorest poor?
Were you the very first to cry for all that is no more?
O God, you love your children; you hear each lifted prayer!
May all who suffer in that land know you are present there.
In moments of compassion shown, in simple acts of grace,
May those in pain find healing balm, and know your love's embrace.
Where are you in the anguish?   Lord, may we hear anew
That anywhere your world cries out, you're there-- and suffering, too.
And may we see, in others' pain, the cross we're called to bear;
Send out your church in Jesus' name to pray, to serve, to share.

RiverSong II

Peace has produced its second CD and it is available for purchase - $8 each. See display in lobby.

Churchwide Assembly

Please see the report here and visit www.elca.org/assembly for more details. See the response to Ministry Policy Decisions from Bishop Lohrmann of the Northwestern Ohio Synod here.

Lutheran Study NRSV Bible

Now available for purchase - $20

A resource designed to invite readers to experience the Bible and its message through solid background material, unique Lutheran insights, and opportunities for faith reflection. The Catechism youngsters have received their own copy as a gift from Peace!

"Cast-off" Group

"Cast Off" creates hand-crafted items of care, concern and cheer to cast off to others, especially to those experiencing significant need. While doing so we cast off care, concern and cheer to one another in our gathering time.

All skill levels welcome. The group generally meets for an hour on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11 a.m. (See calendar for specific dates.)

Come whenever you can, stay as long as you can. This project remains grounded in prayer and upon request, items are prayed over by at worship before being taken to the recipient who can be anyone requesting our prayers.

Participation in the group is not required to make an item for this ministry. Finished items should be given to Pastor Debbie for prayer and distribution.

Prayer Group

This gathering is a safe place and expression of prayer, centered in trust and openness where joys and concerns, certitudes and doubts are shared and held in confidence by those gathered. This group meets the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. See Pastor Debbie if you’d like to learn more about this group.

Smile!

Our web/communications team will continue taking occasional pictures of our sharing, learning and celebrating Christ. Some of these will find their way to the Peace web site and other printed publications. If you would like not to be included, please advise Pastor Debbie.

Internet

Wireless High-Speed Internet is now available within the church building for anyone to use. Enjoy!

Peace Email List

Are you currently on the Peace email list? If you've received an e-note from Pastor Debbie in the last month the answer is yes. If not, please forward your address to her at: pastordeb@peacechurchbg.org and get on the list for timely updates and requests.

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