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

FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART:

1Pet. 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Welcome to 2011, dear friends in Jesus!

In 2010 we spent the year here at Peace trying to spotlight and strengthen our families with our “Year of the Family”. What a year it was, if fact, for the growth of families here at Peace! We haven’t had so many babies and younger families here at Peace for many years! Praise the Lord!

But now 2011 is here and I have been thinking and praying about how we should be moving ahead spiritually - without losing our dedication to our families and striving to strengthen them continually.

Over the years the Rev. Matt Harrison (now the newly elected President of the LCMS) has been writing important essays on the biblical understanding and mandate of MERCY. These have been very exciting for me to read in the light of our ministry here at Peace Lutheran. I see time after time how the children of God in this congregation have shown tremendous MERCY to each other and to others in the community. It is so heart warming and a fabulous confirmation that our God is alive and active in our hearts and that he has not abandoned us to our sin, rebellion and hardness of heart.

So join me, will you not? Join me in 2011 in an even greater celebration of the truth that you and I have received such abundant and undeserved MERCY from God - and that we indeed have the blessing of sharing that same MERCY with others in every kind of need!

Join me in the “Year of God’s Mercy” here at Peace!

Pastor Bjornstad

NEW Sunday Morning Bible Study beginning Jan. 16 at 9:30 am: Christianity and the Competition DVD with Dr. Paul Maier The world horizon is littered with competing religions and philosophies. Which has it right? In our multicultural age, should we insist on the TRUTH of Christianity? Dr. Maier looks at sacred sources (Biblical documents that are reliable and essentially unchanged over time) and secular sources. A look at Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confusianism, Shinto, Tao, Judaism, Baha'i, Islam, etc.) and also Western religions (Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Scientology, etc.) in comparison to Christianity.

Peace Talk - January 2011

MISCELANEOUS NOTES:PRAISING GOD!+ For the beautiful Christmas

Celebrations that God blessed in our congregation and families!

+ The Bjornstads are Back! The Bjornstadclan had a fabulous vacation trip to Spain after Christmas - even through the NYC blizzard and delayed a delayed flight! You can see some picts and a running blog of the trip at www.bjornstadsinspain.tumblr.com.

+ The Confirmation Class and other Youth did an AWESOME job Christmas Eve playing the bells and helping lead the congregation in song!

+ A new year of 2011 has dawned and the Lord has promised to bless us in it! We praise Him for our baptisms and the undeserved MERCY He will show!

CHRISTIAN HISTORY:John Chrysostom, Commemorated in the church January 27th.Given the name “Chrysostom”, which means "golden-mouthed" in Greek, Saint John was a dominant force in the fourth-century Christian church. Born in Antioch around the year 347, John was instructed in the Christian faith by his pious mother, Anthusa. After serving in a number of Christian offices, including acolyte and lector, John was ordained a presbyter and given preaching responsibilities. His simple but direct messages found an audience well beyond his home town. In 398, John Chrysostom was made Patriarch of Constantinople. His determination to reform the church, court, and city there brought him into conflict with established authorities. Eventually, he was exiled from his adopted city. Although removed from his parishes and people, he continued writing and preaching until the time of his death in 407. It is reported that his final words were: "Glory be to God for all things. Amen."

“We must hold boldly and fearlessly to our baptism, and hold it up against all sins and terrors of conscience, and humbly say, “I know full well that I have not a single work which is pure, but I am baptized, and through my baptism God, Who cannot lie, has bound Himself in a covenant with me, not to count my sin against me, but to slay it and blot it out.” (from “Treatise on Baptism”, by Martin Luther)

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New in the office (for you to borrow!):+ “Lutheranism 101” Pastor ordered

three copies to be passed around. Sort of a “Lutherans for Dummies”, a new publication from CPH.

+ “Luther” movie on DVD!

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MERCIFUL STEWARDSHIP: Yes! In this new year as you assess your personal or family financial goals, please DO remember your planned, regular, sacrificial, and worshipful tithe to the work of the Lord - in this congregation and in the many other Christian charities of Mercy. It IS truly better to give than to receive! We say it, but do we really show it by our spending and giving habits? Actually being good “stewards” (managers) of our finances means wisely managing and spending ALL the

blessings God gives us - not just in the tithe we give to the work of the Lord in the congregation. Please consider how your family budget glorifies God in all ways! Pray how it shows your Godly priorities and gives further evidence and testimony to your most merciful God.

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Epiphany is a Christian feast celebrating the 'shining forth' or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus Christ.The observance had its origins in the eastern Christian churches, and included the birth of Jesus Christ; the visit of the three Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) who arrived in Bethlehem; and all of Jesus' childhood events, up to his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. The feast was initially based on (and viewed as a fulfillment of) the Jewish Feast of Lights. This was fixed on January 6.The first reference to Epiphany in the Latin West is a slighting remark by Clement of Alexandria in Stromateis, I, xxi, 45: "There are those, too, who over-curiously assign to the Birth of Our Saviour not only its year but its day…" Origen's list of festivals (in Contra Celsus, VIII, xxii) omits any reference to Epiphany. The first reference to an ecclesiastical feast of the Epiphany, in Ammianus Marcellinus (XXI:ii), is in 361.Thus in the Latin church, the feast of Christmas was established before that of Epiphany. Over time the western churches decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25. The eastern churches continued to treat January 6 as the day marking Jesus's birth. This has given rise in the west to the notion of a twelve day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 6, called the twelve days of Christmas, although some Christian cultures — especially those of Latin America — extend it to 40 days, ending on Candlemas, or February 2 (known as Candelaria in Spanish).

WORSHIP LIFE AT PEACE LUTHERAN

FOCUS ON GOD’S MERCY!EDUCATION HOUR: 9:15

WORSHIP: 10:30 AM

1Pet. 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you

have received mercy.

As with gladness men of oldDid the guiding star behold;As with joy they hailed its light,Leading onward, beaming bright;So, most gracious Lord, may weEvermore be led by Thee - hymn by William T. Dix

“MY SOUP” EXAMPLE OF GOD’S MERCY IN OUR CONGREGATION...

Mike Mirarchi has been a part of our congregation for almost 10 years now, a business man and seeker after God’s heart and purpose for him, he has been a very large blessing to all who he knows! He has not been very public about it yet, but he is working fervently to accomplish God’s will in a great way by starting a tremendous mission of MERCY in establishing an organization called “MY SOUP”. Below is a brief summary taken from his business plan that he has developed! Please pray for him and if you can help, please contact him! Perhaps as a congregation we might be able to help in a great many ways!

Mission and Purpose

My Soup actively supports organizations offering comfort to those in need by providing them a nutritious hot meal. We do this by providing a turn-key operational system by which organizations can open and operate a soup kitchen with relative ease. On an ongoing basis, My Soup provides financial support to existing soup kitchens and food banks. My Soup is dedicated to support organizations that offer comfort to people in need both physically and spiritually.

Keys to Success

Form a strong and dedicated board of directors who are committed to the mission and purpose of My Soup

Develop strategic alliances with Existing Soup Kitchens, Food Banks, Food service Distributors, businesses, business leaders, as well as the general public

Develop a system of fund raising that will provide a steady source of income.

Organizational Summary

My Soup is a non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting organizations that are in the business of offering those in need a Hot Meal. The company will operate a Model Soup Kitchen, but the primary function will be to support soup kitchens throughout the world by building a network of Kitchens, Foodservice distributors, Food Manufacturers, and private donors. My Soup offers an easy to implement system by those interested in opening a soup kitchen. They will use the My Soup system to start their soup kitchen with relative ease. Existing kitchens will also be able to take advantage of resources provided by My Soup.

Lutheran Academy and Immanuel Preschool News + PRAISE GOD for the beautiful presentation of “Lessons and Carols” that the students made on Wednesday, Dec.

16th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in the evening. It was certainly so VERY blessed by God and everyone was thrilled to know God’s mercy that day!

+ PEACE LUTHERAN CALENDARS - THERE ARE STILL SOME LEFT! They cost $20 and all proceeds go to The Lutheran Academy!

+ PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ACADEMY and its students! Over the Christmas break we were very sad to see three of our students find other schools to attend because they were needing special educational services. Unfortunately, the Academy just does not have the resources to supply the extra specialized help they needed. We hope and pray that each of these students can find the help that they need!+ THE ACADEMY IS OPEN FOR NEW ENROLLMENTS! Because of the student losses, we are going to endeavor to publicize our school and and increase our enrollment. Please let those who are seeking a educational alternative our name and number!

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THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS SPOT: Ring in the New Year with financial resolutions

With the New Year comes the opportunity to improve your financial well-being. Here are four financial resolutions to help you get started:

1.Establish a budget based on what you spent last year, taking rising gas, heating and food prices into account.

2.Cut back on debt by paying off a credit card balance, foregoing unnecessary purchases or adding $50 a month to your mortgage payment.

3.Prioritize major purchases you want to make and figure out how to pay for them out of your current income.

4.Review your will to ensure it reflects your current life situation. For help achieving your 2011 financial plan, contact Torie J. Yoder, Financial Associate, at (570) 558-2224 or torie.yoder@thrivent.com today or visit thrivent.com.

BLESS OUR NEW ORLEANS MISSION! George Price is leading a DOZEN men and women and youth from Peace and Grace Lutheran (Hop Bottom), down to New Orleans for another year of MERCY!!!! God has seen fit to arrange all the details and we need to pray for their safe journey and productive service there! They will be leaving January 22nd and getting back on the 30th! Praise God!

Please support The Lutheran Academy by using Pretty Good Portraits for all your photography needs. www.prettygoodportraits.org

Youth Events Coming Up!FRIDAY, JANUARY 28TH WE HAVE PLANS TO GO SNOW TUBING! SET THAT EVENING ASIDE! MIKE MIRARCHI IS TRYING TO SET THE DETAILS UP!

WE ALSO HAVE PLANS FOR AN AFTERNOON CONCERT AT THE WB ARENA AND AN EVENING HOCKEY GAME COMING UP! Kevin Woolverton is going to head that up, but at printing time here, pastor can’t find the info sheet! :) Look for more info to come!!!!

Also plan ahead for the President’s Weekend Youth Gathering in New Jersey - we have a great time every year!

PRAISE GOD that Timothy Hackenberg is taking a week and joining our mission trip to New Orleans. Timothy is a Freshman in High School and loves to help out with these kinds of projects!

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Marriage Workshop!!MARRIAGE WORKSHOP COMING FEBRUARY 18-19 here at Peace! Set aside Friday evening and Saturday morning to renew your marriage, seeking out what a Godly and Beautiful marriage can be. Our workshop leader is Christine Erickson, Licensed Christian Counselor!

Matt. 19:6 “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

WOW!!!JESUS ROCKS!

GENERAL NOTES:+ COMPUTER REPAIR SERVICES. Robert

Herie would like to offer his computer repair and software assistance to those who are having trouble. His rates are VERY reasonable and he will do a very good job. Call 344-2347.

+ THE MEN’S BREAKFAST: We will be meeting Saturday, January 22nd, 9 am at Panera Bread in Dickson City! All men are invited!

+ MARCH FOR LIFE is January 24th! Every year on the anniversary of Roe Vs. Wade thousands upon thousands travel from around the country to march on the Supreme Court to “March for Life”. If you would like to join us this year, please speak with Pastor Bjornstad.

+ TRYING TO THINK OF A GOOD FAMILY VACATION NEXT SUMMER? THINK CAMP PIONEER! Pastor Bjornstad and family have been invited to be sort of host family for the camp Family Camp the week of July 17th. We would LOVE to have whole bunches of Peace family along with us! Plan for it! Going to the www.yourpeace.org website you will find a registration form with further information!

+ THE DEC. 5th GERMAN SERVICE was a great success with about 40 German Speakers in attendance! Thank you Pastor Buchmann for serving us that day. He hopes to come again to serve in this special way!

+ THE CHRISTMAS PARTY sponsored by the Ladies Guild was a very blessed event as well! We thank Mary Durkin for the awesome dinner she made for us! If anyone is in need of catering services for an event, please contact Mary!

+ PEACE PRAYER CHAIN: We haven't advertised it in forever, but did you know that Peace has a prayer chain? YES it does! And if you love to pray you are encouraged to join it by calling Edith Korban at 289-4479. If you or someone is in NEED of prayer, you can call Edith at the same number and that prayer will be shared down the list of prayer warriors!

+PLEASE PRAY: for Bruce Cizik as he undergoes surgery for cancer this January 10th, and for his swift recovery. Please also pray for Mark Herie as he struggles with staying healthy with difficult dialysis treatments, as well as Mark Koenig as he still struggles with various ailments following his kidney transplant.

+ YOUNG MOTHER’S GROUP! There has been a request by a couple young mothers for a support group for Christian mothers. Mary Durkin and Amy Betts very excited to take your phone calls and get this new blessing off the ground. If you are interested please call her at 1 (607) 765-9988 or the office (if you don't long distance) 343-9828.