Apostolic Mission Congregation of the LCMS Pastor Kristian Bjornstad 2506 N. Main Ave. 343-9828 www.yourpeace.org

FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART:Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn;

This past week I was leading The Lutheran Academy students and the Immanuel Preschoolers in chapel worship and I almost wrecked quite a few Christmases. I was explaining about St. Nicholas, the wealthy and devoted Christian man of the 12th century who started the tradition of gifts in the stockings. He put gold coins in the stockings of three young girls who were to be sold into slavery by their father because he had no money to support them. When they got up in the morning of the day of their sale they went from being penniless to having a dowery. But in telling the story I ALMOST let it slip that Santa really did NOT exist. Whew!

Well, it really isn’t so bad at all that little children believe there is a Santa Clause. But sometimes I wonder what the world was like BEFORE Santa became a factor in our Christmas late in the 1800s? It is kind of like how my kids look at me in wonderment when I remind them that I grew up BEFORE the internet. It is so hard to imagine! Was it really that awful to not have the internet? That dreadful to have a Christmas without Santa? Is life so much better today? Sometimes I wonder if many folks emotionally or spiritually ever move ON from Santa...

Pray let us move on from Santa... so that the Lord might bless our Christmas. May the Lord’s miracle of Jesus dwell in your heart through true worship and devotion. In Jesus, Pastor Bjornstad

New Shed and Church Van Port!Thanks to the hard work of Dale Newhart, a new shed and van-port was built behind the church this month! The major portion of the costs of the new shed was given through the estate of Mrs. Martha Yochum. Martha was a Christian who had been a member of Peace many years ago - but amazingly remembered us in her will. Praise God for her remembrance and her desire to bless our Lord’s ministry here at Peace Lutheran!

Peace Talk - December 2011

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES in PRAISE OF THE LORD:+ Joseph Schulze, Erika Bjornstad,

and the Price boys will all be home for Christmas! Yeah!

- +++++++++++++++++++++- “In this the love of God

was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him...”   

- 1 John 4:9- ++++++++++++++++++++++ Pastor Bjornstad is almost

finished with his “Clinical Pastoral Education” class that takes him to Binghamton four days a month. He is be studying family systems and how relationships can be strengthened. One project of the class was for each student to prepare a “family genome” and identify patterns of disfunction and strengths that are passed on from generation to generation. We learn how easy it is to become emotionally cut off from our families - and how damaging that can be to our emotional health. Our assignments were to work on “reconnecting” with those parts of our family tree who have been estranged. In doing this we can find great healing.

+ The Luther Day Dinner was a great success and (as usual) we had a great representation from Peace Lutheran! We listened to a very inspiring historical presentation of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. As well, the William T. Schmidt Award was presented to Roland (“Pete”) Fornes, member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Archbald for his faithful service to the church and the community. The food was great and it was such a

blessing in so many ways! At the Association of Lutheran Friends corporate meeting Dec. 2nd, we were pleased to elect George Price as President! Thank you George for being willing to contribute in this way!

+ ALSO: A.L.F. fundraiser candy is being sold by Audrey Russell! Pecan Clusters are fabulous gifts at a reasonable cost!

+ Pastor attended a two day Eastern District Church Worker’s Conference in Lancaster this past November. (Pictured above over 200 joined in the very inspiring worship.) The theme of the conference was on being and living healthy lives as church workers so that we might be able to be effective workers in God’s kingdom and His church.

+ The church furnaces are, unfortunately, in need of being replaced - at an estimated cost of over $6000 that will have to come from the Building Fund. Thankfully it hasn’t been too cold and the one working furnace is able to keep the sanctuary warm. The trustees are working on righting the situation soon. Praise God!

+++++++++++++++++++

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil,

stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. - Henry Van Dyke

+++++++++++++++++++

+ Because of individuals who brought in non-perishable food for Thanksgiving, it was a BLESSING for Pastor Bjornstad to receive a call on from someone who didn’t have anything to eat Thanksgiving Day. He was able to put together a very nice box of food for a dinner and deliver it! That family says THANK YOU!

+ Chuck Mercer will be attending the Susquehannah Circuit Forum December 11th at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Wilkes Barre along with Pastor Bjornstad. Along with representatives from all our area churches we will be electing one lay and one pastoral representative to the Synodical Convention next summer.

+ St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tunkhannock celebrated its 40th anniversary in October and had in attendance the Dr. Chris Wicher, Eastern District President. We praise God for all that He has done through that congregation - and WILL do!

WORSHIP LIFE AT PEACE LUTHERANFOCUS ON GOD’S MERCY!

Worship Schedule: 8:15 Early Liturgy w/Holy Communion

9:15 Education Hour (Adult class will focus on Luther’s Small Catechism)

10:30 am Worship (1 & 3 Sundays w/Holy Comm.)

HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE:9pm Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

10:30am Christmas Day (Sunday) worship (no 8:15 service or Education Hour)10:30am New Year’s Day (Sun.) Worship (no 8:15 service or Education Hour)

The regular Worship Schedule resumes January 8!

2011-12 Church Officers elected at our Nov. 13 Congregational meeting: President: Kevin Woolverton 815-1181; Vice President: Chad Tyk 241-6729; Secretary: Meredith Woolverton 815-8685; Trustees:Jim Calpin 383 - 6668 Elsie Schweitzer 344-5552 Jerry Cornog 851-5111 Elders George Price 903-2053 Ky Betts 315-767-3585 Charles Mercer 903-2053 Treasurer: Bonnie Cornog 815-5111 Financial Recording Secretary: Richard Hellard 343-6425PRAISE THE LORD FOR FAITHFUL WORKERS! Thank you so much to those who have served so faithfully these past years: Especially Deb Price (treasurer), Adella Decker (Secretary), and Eileen Duffy (Financial Secretary).

We will have the installation of our new officers during our January 8th worship.

The Christmas Eve service promises to be extra fabulous because our new choir will be

blessing us!PLEASE COME AND SHARE

WITH US!Make an invitation to someone

you know needs to have a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ!

MISSION NOTES:

THERE IS SOME DEMAND FOR A TORNADO RELIEF TRIP TO ALABAMA - OR EVEN AGAIN TO NEW ORLEANS THIS JANUARY! Please speak with Pastor Bjornstad if you might be interested!

NEPA LUTHERAN MISSION FESTIVAL IS SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 29TH! It will take place at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Dickson City, and our guest speaker will be the new missionary to the city of Philadelphia, Rev. Joshua Gale!

Prayer before Christmas Dinner God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this day. We are grateful each of those who are gathered around this table. We ask you to bless us and our food and to bless those we love who are not with us today. In our gratitude and love, we remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for those who are without enough to eat. We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live. We remember your challenging message of caring and giving and we pray for peace in families and nations throughout the world. We bless you and give you thanks in your Spirit who brings our hearts to life the Christmas Day and forever. Amen.Christmas Prayer for Present Opening TimeLet me just for a moment, Lord, hold this time in my heart. It is about mysteries and gratitude, unknowing and wrong sizes, snippets of ribbon and screams of delight. Help me to remember the immense love you have for each of us in this room. With each gift that is opened, no matter how perfect or not, let me feel again the many ways you gift us each day, especially with your presence in our hearts and the presence of each other in our lives.

$15,000 Lutheran Academy Matching Challenge!Donations are coming in steadily in response to a matching challenge announced this past November.  From now until the end of the year any donation (or even a pledge for next year) will be matched - up to $15,000!  We give THANKS to our anonymous donor!  This potentially means $30,000 in funds which could not just "get us through the year", but enable us to be so much more than we are presently.  The Academy board of directors is asking for your support to give our Christian parents a beautiful educational alternative.

PLEASE SHARE THE WORD ABOUT OUR ACADEMY AND THE PRESCHOOL (with before and after school care!!!!) The best advertising is by word of mouth! We still have room for more students!

NEW: PLEASE SAVE YOUR GROCERY BOX TOPS! Amy Betts will be collecting them for the Academy! Please bring them to church! Our goal: collect more than Immanuel Lutheran!!!!! :)

The Lutheran Academy on Dec. 5th sang for the MADD Memorial Vigil of those who

died as a result of drinking and driving. We thank God for this beautiful sharing!

PLEASE PRAY

FOR THE

ACADEMY!

PEACE PRAYERS NEEDED!

Prayers needed for the family of Mark Herie as they mourn the

sudden death of his brother John. Arrangements still pending.

Praise God for the new job at Samʼs Club He provided George Price!

PLEASE DO NOT MISS THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS!PRESENTED BY THE LUTHERAN ACADEMY! Held at Immanuel Lutheran Church Wed., Dec. 14th. 7pm