Blogs And Devotionals
E-Note April 19, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, Coming up this weekend is that annual Sunday of the Easter season that is often called, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” “I am the good shepherd,” Jesus declares in Sunday’s Gospel. And here’s one thing in this reading that becomes clear: Jesus does everything that ultimately matters. 5 times in 8 short verses he says, “I lay down my life”—for us! For you; for me! To confess that Jesus is our shepherd is to also say that…
CYF Blast April 18, 2024
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, This Sunday, during our 9:30am worship service, is the Rite of Confirmation, an affirmation of baptism for our 8th grade Confirmands—Eli Betlock, Kingston Fast, and Sofia Oman. During the Rite, our students are supporting and proclaiming the promises of eternal life and unconditional love that God has already pronounced over them. They are also publicly stating that they are ready to take on both the blessings and responsibilities of being an adult member of the…
E-Note April 12, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends, What a joyful Easter Sunday we had two weeks ago! And here’s the thing: the hope of Easter continues to happen. As I write these words, I’m getting ready to celebrate the life of Tom Gilmore’s mother, Joan. I’ll be reminding those who are present that Joan made the lives of people better wherever she was, and sharing with them the hope we have in Christ—“death has been swallowed up in victory.” Yes, Easter continues!…
CYF Blast April 11, 2024
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, We are approaching the end of one of the greatest weeks in all of sports. Last weekend, men’s and women’s college basketball teams competed in the Final Four, and then for the National Championship. Starting today, The Master’s golf tournament begins at Augusta National. Watching the basketball games, I was struck by the unique situation that both finals included the best individual player against the best all-around team—and in both cases, the best team…
E-Note April 5, 2024
Dear Peace Members, What a wonderful Holy Week we had at Peace!Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday worship—the Scripture, the music, the gathered people of God—all proclaiming the Good News: “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” Now the question is: what does it mean for how we live….now! Does the Risen Christ make a difference—not just about death after life but life before death? That’s why the church calendar gives us 50 days to take the Good News…
CYF Blast April 4, 2024
Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Registration for VBS 2024 is officially open! Together with our friends at Community of the Cross Lutheran Church, “Scuba” VBS takes kids deep into an amazing undersea adventure where they’ll be “Diving Into Friendship With God,” and experience God’s ever-flowing, never-ending love. Throughout the week, students will learn that: Kids will be immersed in God’s Word and will discover what the Living Water of God is all about! I’m very excited to continue our…
3/31/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Mark 16:1-8 1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very…
3/30/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Psalm 36 1Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes. 2For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good. 4They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil. 5Your steadfast love,…
3/29/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Luke 23:32-43 32Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him,…
3/28/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
Mark 14:12-25 12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is…
E-Note – Lent – March 27, 2024
Dear Peace Members and Friends, Holy Week is not a service. Rather, it is an experience. A collection of worship services to immerse yourself in the climax of the story of God’s determination to redeem God’s people and world. It begins tomorrow, Maundy Thursday, continues on Good Friday, and will come to a peak on Easter Sunday. Here is the worship schedule along with some details: With nightfall, Lent comes to an end and we gather with Christians around…
3/27/2024 Lenten Daily Devotional
John 13:21-32 21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one…