“Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell ev’ryone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.”
(Post Communion Liturgy)
Dear Friends,
Christian greetings!
“Thank the Lord” – We sing it immediately after receiving the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of the month. It is a peppy, joyous song. As with much of our liturgy, I worry that we get lulled into singing it out of routine. But just read and focus on the words!
This weekend is Thanksgiving and these words say a lot.
“Proudly bear His name.” Maybe that’s what we ought to be – proud. You bear the name of the risen Lord Jesus. His name was placed upon you. You are labeled as His own through your baptism when He claimed you. Be proud of that. The name that you bear gives life and salvation. Being a Christian is nothing of which to be ashamed. So seek the Lord, rejoice in Him and proudly bear Jesus’ name.
If you are not ashamed, then thanksgiving is easy. Don’t be ashamed to thank the Lord for your food before you eat in a restaurant. Give thanks. Don’t be afraid to say grace when non-church-going family and friends come to your house for dinner. Proudly thank the Lord who provided it.
“He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving.” The Lord has done the hardest work – creating all you see and have, redeeming you from sin, preparing a place for you in heaven. Let Him lead you, His people, forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Not quiet, bashful gratitude, but with divinely given pride in our God as we sing praise to Him.
See you Sunday, Lord willing. Let’s read and sing with open-throated joy.
The Lord be with you!
Coming Up at Prince of Peace …
Sunday, October 9, Thanksgiving
9:00 Sunday School & Adult Bible Class (Begin together in the sanctuary)
9:00 Early Service: Service of Prayer & Preaching
10:30 Service of Prayer & Preaching
PoP News …
Thanksgiving for the Harvest: The Altar Guild is asking for your help for Thanksgiving Sunday. We are looking for fruit, flowers, pumpkins, gourds, stalks of wheat, cornstalks, autumn leaves etc. for our Thanksgiving worship display. You can drop off items at the church We will be decorating the Sanctuary on Saturday October 8 and you can collect your donations after the Sunday of Thanksgiving service.
Lutheran Hour Ministries: Have you hunted down the answers for the questionnaire you received the last couple of weeks? Wendy McCowan, our LHM ambassador, is looking to receive your completed forms!
Prayer & Communion Service is an informal midweek service where we gather prayer concerns and Pastor prays through them, finishing with a brief communion liturgy. You are welcome to attend with your prayer concerns or simply another opportunity to partake of the dear body and blood of our Lord Jesus which feed our spiritual life. Wednesday, October 12, at 6:30 pm.
Operation Christmas Child: our Joyful Seniors are challenging everyone to participate in packing shoe boxes of items that will be shipped to children in unfortunate circumstances. You’re invited to hear more about this as the Joyful Seniors gather on Wed. October 12 at 1:00 pm. Watch for the insert in your bulletin this Sunday with more information.
Annual Meeting Potluck Lunch – Please join us for a potluck lunch on Sunday October 23 prior to the Voter’s Meeting. Members with surnames beginning with the letters M to Z are asked to bring sandwiches or salads, and those with letters A to L are asked to bring desserts. A signup sheet is posted in the lobby.
The 2016 Annual Report is ready! You can pick up a copy in the lobby.
Saturday, October 15 – Ladies Bible Study breakfast! Plan on attending as we continue working our way through the book of Philippians. We extend a special invitation to anyone who has never come before. Try it! We have fun and we learn a lot.
Seminary Harvest Day is Saturday October 15. . We are taking up a food collection for the Seminary students and their families. Look for the container at the back of the church.
Niagara Zone LWMLC Fall Rally – You’re invited Sunday, October 16 at St. John’s Lutheran Church (3837 Netherby Road, Stevensville). Theme: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Matthew 25:40. Registration 2:30 pm, guest speaker Rev. Wilhelm Torgerson. Ingathering for COPE (non-perishable food products). Please bring a dessert or fruit prepared to serve.
We will host one of the “Church-wide Discussions” as part of Stage 4 of the LCC restructuring process. From now to mid-December, circuits across Canada will have a chance to see and discuss a proposed plan for restructuring the Synod. Prince of Peace will host such a Circuit Convocation on Sunday, October 30, beginning at 3:30. Pastors Paul Schallhorn and William Ney, both of the LCC Commission on Constitutional Matters & Structure (CCMS) will be in attendance to answer your questions and receive your input. After the first session, we’ll share a BBQ sausage and sauerkraut supper (bring a dessert to share and a little cash to cover the sausage cost). A second session will follow the meal. Come, learn, share, and worship. Even if you can’t stay the full time, your interest and thoughts shared are vital. Devotions will revolve around the Festival of the Reformation. Indeed, “a mighty Fortress is our God!”
Creation/Evolution Seminar: Trinity Lutheran Church, Fisherville, will be hosting on Saturday, October 29, 2016, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm a free Creation Ministries International presentation. Session Topics include “How Do You Know? Who Was There?” “Was There an Age of the Dinosaurs?” and “Questions? There are Answers!” You are welcome to bring your own lunch; however, a free will offering lunch will be provided. If partaking in the provided lunch, please pre-register by calling Trinity Lutheran Church at 905-779-3425 on or before October 22 to ensure enough food is prepared.
Are you astounded by millions and billions of years? How about a God who spoke and everything was? Join us on a journey of strange new worlds that came into being all at once. Join us the Adult Bible Class, Sundays at 9:00 am, as we explore the Biblical record of world and human creation, evolution and the book of Genesis. Coffee will be on!
Fall Convocation on Medically Assisted Death: The Niagara Circuit is hosting a convocation on Medically Assisted Death on Sunday, November 13, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 400 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines. Harold Albrecht, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga, will be speaking on the political ramifications of medically assisted death here in Canada. The Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life (USA) will address the issue from a pastoral and theological perspective. Following the convocation, an optional catered banquet will be held at Resurrection’s social hall. Pastor Salemink will speak on the topic of “Implementing a Pro-Life Theology in Our Congregations”. The cost is $15. Tickets must be ordered in advance. Please contact phone: 905-468-2611, or email: trinitynotl@cogeco.ca).
Lutheran Hour Ministries: Have you hunted down the answers for the questionnaire you received last Sunday? We will be looking to receive your completed forms during these next couple of weeks.
Being Lutheran, by Trevor Sutton (published by CPH)
The Being Lutheran series takes a two-week break for Cornerstone Sunday and Thanksgiving. We will resume with the chapter 4 theme, “Lazy,” on Sunday, October 16. The next Monday evening discussion group will meet October 17. Copies of Being Lutheran are still available in the office.
Online News …
LCC Restructuring Plan – Stage 4: The Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS) is now in stage 4 of the restructuring process. This stage, “Church-wide Discussions,” lasts from September 1 to December 15. The CCMS has completed a proposed plan. Find out more about the process HERE and the proposed plan HERE.
Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. This week’s topics include: Who Is the Main Actor in Lutheran Worship?, The Sacrament of the Altar, The Parable of the Persistent Widow, Ruth, Philip the Deacon and more. You can listen on-demand at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.
In your prayers, please remember:
- Those with medical conditions
- Those recovering from injuries
- Those facing cancer treatments
- Those in Hospice care
- Our Lutheran Church-Canada as we join together in discussing an administrative restructure our synod
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
