Come receive God’s gifts every Sunday!Bible Study: 9 a.m.Divine Service (Worship): 10:15 a.m.

We share in Holy Communion every Sundayexcept the last Sunday of the month.

December 2018 Newsletter

CHURCH & SCHOOL OFFICE(765) 653-6995

peacegreencastlein@gmail.comwww.peacelutherangreencastle.org

PASTOR MATTHEW L SCHNEIDERm.l.schneider412@gmail.com

CYNTHIA PIENTA, SCHOOL DIRECTORpeacelambs@gmail.com

fb.me/PeaceInGreencastle

1421 S. Bloomington Street • P.O. Box 778 • Greencastle, IN 46135

Peace LutheranChurch & School

THE

LUTHERAN CHURCHMissouri Synod

A member congregation of

2

3Table of ContentsCalendar of Events 4

From the Pastor 5

From the School 6

Explore God’s Word (Bible Studies and Worship) 7– 8

For the Ladies 9

For the Ladies (continued) 10

2nd Friday Group 11

Our Life Together (Prayer, Outreach, Events) 12

Budget Picture 13

Church Officers and Elders 13

Birthdays and Anniversaries 13

Upcoming Events 14

Upcoming Events (continued) 15

Fellowship HourDecember 2 Jean Everage & Robin SchneiderDecember 9 Christmas Pitch-in DinnerDecember 16 Mary BretscherDecember 23 To be announcedDecember 30 Men of Peace

UshersDecember Bob Jedele & Rick HasslerCommunion ElderDecember Paul Bretscher

Serving in God’s House in November

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

.

1

Elders10:15 a.m.

2

ABC/SS9:00 a.m.

WHC10:15 a.m.

FH11:30 a.m.

3 4 5

Worship 7pm

6

AA7:30 p.m.

7 8

Lutheranism 1019:30 a.m.

Lutheranism 20110:30 a.m.

9ABC/SS

9:00 a.m.WHC

10:15 a.m.FH

11:30 a.m.

10 11

Pastors’Circuit

Meeting

12

Worship 7pm

.

13Pastors’

ConfessionsStudy (Indy)

AA7:30 p.m.

14

2nd FridayGroup6:30 p.m.

15Lutheranism 101

9:30 a.m.

Lutheranism 20110:30 a.m.

16

ABC/SS9:00 a.m.

WHC10:15 a.m.

FH11:30 a.m.

17 18 19Carol Sing7:00 p.m.

20

Council7 p.m.

AA7:30 p.m.

21 22

Lutheranism 1019:30 a.m.

Lutheranism 20110:30 a.m.

23ABC/SS9:00 a.m.

WHC10:15 a.m.

FH11:30 a.m.

24

ChristmasEve

Candlelight

7:00 pm

25Worship

10:15 a.m.REJOICE!

26

1 KingsBible Study

1:30 p.m.

27

AA7:30 p.m.

28

JESUS at theMOVIES

(FellowshipHall)7 p.m.

29

Lutheranism 1019:30 a.m.

Lutheranism 20110:30 a.m.

30ABC/SS

9:00 a.m.WHC

10:15 a.m.FH

11:30 a.m.

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ABC Adult Bible Class W Worship—No CommunionFH Fellowship Hall WHC Worship with Holy CommunionSS Sunday School

DECEMBER2018

5From the Pastor…Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,give thanks in everything,

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

DOES THIS BIBLE VERSE really mean what it sounds like it is saying? “Rejoice always?” Surely God is okay if we donot always rejoice, right? After all, life happens. Bad things happen to good people. Why on earth would we rejoicewhen we see the latest tragedy splash across our screens? “Pray without ceasing?” Is that even humanly possible? Imean, I have plenty of other activities and requirements to take up my time; prayer kinda sorta makes me feel better,but a little goes a long way. “Give thanks in everything?” Even for that idiot who just about ran me off the road?Give thanks for the filth I just had to scrub out from behind the refrigerator? Give thanks for the heartbreaking diag-nosis I just got from my doctor? Surely this is all mere hyperbole.

QUITE TO THE CONTRARY, this passage truly does mean what it sounds like it is saying. We are indeed to rejoice at alltimes, regardless of where our emotions and reactions take us. Prayer is indeed to be our constant breath. In fact,prayer is precisely how we can rejoice at all times, for it is through prayer—especially prayer that meditates uponGod’s Word in Scripture—that God guides and molds our desires and understanding of the world around us. Chris-tians do not rejoice in a “don’t worry, be happy” sort of joy that ignores the travails through which we and thosearound us travel; rather we rejoice soberly, so to speak, fully cognizant that the world around us is severely broken,but even more fully aware that Christ has already overcome the world.

Without Christ, our attempts at rejoicing are shallow, ephemeral vapors that blow away with the slightest windof sorrow. With Christ, on the other hand, we can rejoice in the face of any tragedy, knowing for certain that ourearthly struggles and misgivings are merely temporary. Perpetual, true joy and thanksgiving is God’s will for us,but it is God’s will for us in Christ. Joy and thanksgiving are not marching orders; they are a result of who we are,having been clothed in Christ and His righteousness.

WE AND OUR CONGREGATION as a whole may be tempted to despair when we do not see the world, or more specifi-cally Putnam County or our families and friends, operating the way we think they should. “Rejoice when only a fewpeople come to an event we made so much preparation for?” “Give thanks when it seems to be more of a stretch tomake ends meet?” However, in Christ we know that God will never leave us to be joyless, without that lifeline ofprayer, or without cause to give thanks.

As we rejoice with true joy, we no longer waste our time or efforts trying to manufacture a Pollyannaish happi-ness with what we have. Rather, we get to look at the opportunities God mercifully gives us to improve the situationand to help our neighbors. Do you want more people to come to church-sponsored events? Invite them joyfullyand personally with the joy we ourselves have received. Worried about how the budget will work out? Prayerfullyand joyfully consider how you might make better use of the financial gifts God has given you.

Even most non-Christians recognize that so much of how well we deal with the world is deeply affected by ourattitude. In a secular sense, that good attitude is usually expressed in some manner akin to “accentuate the positive,eliminate the negative.” What a blessing we have in Christ, that in Him, our attitude is already changed, and we canfreely rejoice at all times and give thanks in everything!

Your fellow servant in Christ,Pastor Schneider

6From the School…

7Explore God’s Word!

Regular Bible Studies, Classes, & Sharing:

New Opportunities to Explore & Share:

8Explore God’s Word!

WednesdayDecember 19

7:00 p.m.

9

Women of Peace met on Sat, Nov. 3rdat the Putnam Inn. Treasurer’s reportwas given. We opened with devotion.Dec. 1st will be pizza at noon and tree

trimming after. Dec. 9th is the Christmas dinnerfollowing church service. A sign up sheet is posted in thehallway on the bulletin board. Volunteers will be neededto help put out table clothes and decorations.

We will be collecting candy and trinkets for ourchildren’s Christmas bags. We will be preparingdevotional gift bags for families of our daycare children,devotional booklets for their parents, and also havechocolate gift kits for the mothers. Robin will look intohelping a pre-school family in need. We will also havetreat bags for the children on Christmas Eve. They will beput together at our Christmas Social on the 16th of Dec.Pat Harmon will be hosting the event at her house at 3:00.We will meeting at Peace at 2:20 and then carpooling toPat’s house. Everyone attending should bring a $5wrapped gift to exchange. And ladies, be ready, we willbe playing BINGO! Nora will be bringing prizes and agame. We will also have a pitch-in meal. Pat is makingsoup, Jamie a salad, Jane the crackers and cheese, Robincookies, and Marilyn will be bringing dessert.

Especially for the Ladies...

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Card Making, Scrapbooking, Gift MakingFriday, December 28th 6-9 p.m.

Fellowship Hall*** $10.00 participation fee ***

*** Make & Take Items ***

New cards and gift items are being added to the card rack and onthe ledge outside the church office. If you do not see the type of cardyou need, please leave a note with your name in the metal canisterrequesting the type of card we can personally make for you. Each cardis $2.00. The money from the card sales is used to purchase suppliesfor our workshops. This allows us to be able to put each $10participation fee in our mission fund.

If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute to ourMission collection, please send your contribution to the church officeAttn: LWML Missions Crafters. You may also purchase the kit tomake the items yourself or the finished products. Please leave a notein the canister with your $10. Let us know if you would like kits orfinished products. Thank you.

You can also email us at missionscraftersplcg@gmail.com.

Coming to Scrapbook? Let us know so we can have die cut machines availablefor you.

You can visit our blog at http://craftingforourcause.blogspot.com andDeonna’s at http://ilovetomakecards.blogspot.com

Our Mission: The mission of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is to assisteach woman of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship with the Triune Godso that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world.

Especially for the Ladies...

112nd Friday Group

What’s Up? The second – 2nd Friday Group

Gathering is coming up!When? Friday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m.

Where? Bob and Jamie Jedele’s – 53 Locust Trail, Greencastle(Bob 765-721-1308, Jamie 765-721-1032)

What’s for Dinner? Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Why? Come join our VERY informal gathering for food,friendship, and fellowship to discuss whatever topicsGod leads us to explore! Anyone is welcome!

How? Please see sign-up sheet in the Narthex or call Bob orJamie.

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PRAYER CHAINTo initiate a prayer request

you can call or e-mailJamie Jedele

or Barb Richmond,or call the church office.

All of your prayer requestsare important and will be

acted upon.God answers prayers!

Jamie Jedelejjedele@jedeleenterprises.com

Barb Richmonddeanbarb@comcast.net

Church Office(765) 653-6995peacegreencastlein@gmail.com

T

Be sure to checkthe Prayer List

available on the bulletintable in the narthex!

Our Life TogetherFor the whole Church of God in Christ,

and for all people according to their needs...

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CHURCH OFFICERS 2018

President: Rick HasslerVice President: Eddie YonTreasurer: Jan HasslerFinancial Secretary: Mary BretscherSecretary: Sue PittsRep of Christian Education Cindy PientaHead Trustee: Bob JedeleElder Representative: Paul Bretscher

CHURCH ELDERS

Dave Livesay (Head Elder)Ken AndersonPaul BretscherDavid PientaDean RichmondKenny St. JohnEddie Yon

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Christmas DinnerPitch-in

Bring your family

and your favorite dish to share

December 09following Worship

Meat and table

service provided

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Calling All Women of Peace!

Come join us for a Christmas Social!

When: Sunday, December 16th at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Home of Pat Harmon, 4728 E Co. Rd. 1000 S

Cloverdale, IN

Details: Carpool from Peace at 2:30 p.m.Soup, salad, and dessert providedBring a $5 wrapped gift to shareWe will be preparing devotional gift bagsFor families of our daycare children and

treat bags to give to children on Christmas Eve.RSVP: Pat Harmon (618) 799-8560

OrNola Zimmerman (765) 993-2150