Peace Notes-March 2017 - Word of Peace Lutheran Church

MARCH 2017
Peace Notes
Ash Wednesday is March 1
Worship Services at 12:00, 5:30 & 7:00 PM
with the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion
Lenten Worship Begins March 8
Worship Services on Wednesdays at 5:30 & 7:00 PM
with the Holden Evening Prayer Service and Lenten Reflection
Lenten Suppers from 5:00-7:00 PM

Building Your
Life in Christ
What would happen to the church of Jesus Christ if a majority of those who
claim to love Jesus fully understood what that actually meant? On Sundays
and Mondays this Lent, join us as we explore the essenals of following Jesus
(aka “discipleship.”) Let’s build our lives in Christ together, exploring the
faith foongs of repentance, trust, jusce, obedience, and generosity and
discover anew how Christ encounters and equips his church for the wellbeing
of all people.
This series is based on “Discipleship Essenals: A Guide to Building Your Life
in Christ” by Greg Ogden. We encourage you to use this book used for individual
and small group study throughout this series and beyond.
Weekly Topics:
Lenten Worship Series
Ash Wednesday, March 1: Repentance
March 5 & 6: Trust
March 12 & 13: Justice
March 19 & 20: Obedience
Pastor Rick Skare
Senior Pastor
Pastor Keith Long
Pastor of Life & Growth
Krisn Skare
Minister of Spiritual Care
Tyler Strom
Minister of Faith in Acon
21705 129th Ave. N.
Rogers, MN 55374
(763) 496-2400
(press 3 to leave an emergency message for the pastor)
Office Hours
Mon-Thurs 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Fri 8:00 AM-12:30 PM
Our Vision Statement
Our vision is to be a community where
everyone knows Christ’s Love and shares
Christ’s Love with all people.
Our Mission Statement
Christ works through us as we:
Welcome all people to grow in faith,
love and devoon,
Share Christ through word and deed,
Care for others and the world God
made, and
Work for jusce and peace.
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
Contact Jennie Priebe at
(763) 496-2401 or
jpriebe@wordofpeace.org
April newsleer deadline:
March 10, 2016
March 26 & 27: Generosity
wordofpeace.org
April 2 & 3: The Church
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A MESSAGE FROM THE
PASTOR
DISCIPLESHIP ESSENTIALS
Our Lenten journey at Word of Peace this year focuses on discipleship. Beginning Ash
Wednesday and connuing in our Sunday and Monday worship during Lent, our theme
is “Building Your Life in Christ.”
Pastor Rick Skare
Senior Pastor
This theme is based on Greg Ogden’s Discipleship Essenals: A Guide to Building Your
Life in Christ. Ogden writes that following Jesus is the “road less traveled.” It is “the road that leads to Easter but that goes
right through the cross.” (p. 28)
In Mark 8:34-35 Jesus says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and
follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of
the gospel, will save it.” Here, Jesus uses three vivid phrases to describe the “road less traveled”: deny yourself, take up
your cross, and lose your life.
Deny yourself. Denying yourself is not about denying things (although it may involve this) nor is it about denying your
self-worth. As Ogden writes, “To deny yourself means to deny your self-lordship. It means saying no to the god who is me,
to reject the demands of the god who is me, to refuse to obey the claims of the god who is me….Jesus calls us to say no to
ourselves so we can say yes to him.” (p.28)
Take up your cross. This phrase does not refer to enduring an illness or disability, a negave experience or bothersome
relaonship, or anything else where we say: “This is the cross I must bear.” Jesus’ words mean much more. A cross was an
instrument of death. So when Jesus says, “take up your cross,” he calls his followers to think of ourselves as already dead,
“to bury all our earthly hopes and dreams, to bury the plans and agendas we
made for ourselves. He will either resurrect our dreams or replace them with
dreams and plans of his own.” (p. 29)
Lose your life. We finally find ourselves when we lose ourselves for Jesus’ sake.
Losing ourselves means that we love and serve others, especially those in need.
Losing ourselves means that all we have is a gi from God and that we are
“blessed to be a blessing.” Losing ourselves means that we make our plans in
reference to the kingdom of God (“Strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be give to you as well.” —Mahew 6:33)
As Ogden concludes, “The road to Easter goes through Good Friday. The road to
new life goes through the death of the old. The road to resurrecon goes
through crucifixion. Jesus calls us to walk that road, the road he walked.”
(p. 29-30)
May you grow in your discipleship this Lenten season.
We’re Praying for You
This Lent
Throughout the 40 days of Lent,
prayer partners at Word of Peace
will be praying for each and every
member of this church community
by name.
Lenten Devoonals
Lenten Devoonals from Luther
Seminary will soon be available at
the Informaon Desk and online at
www.luthersem.edu/lent/. You may
also enjoy the Pray as You Go devo-
onal podcast, www.pray-as-yougo.org.
3

LENT BEGINS MARCH 1
Lenten Worship on Wednesdays at 5:30 & 7 PM
Our Lenten journey at Word of Peace this year focuses on discipleship. 2017
marks the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformaon, and in celebraon, our
Wednesday evening Lenten worship services will focus on Marn Luther’s
Small Catechism and the topics of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the
Lord’s Prayer, Bapsm, and Holy Communion.
Come join in this Lenten journey of discipleship as we move toward the cross
of Good Friday.
Lenten Adult Study
Exploring the Hebrew Scriptures: The Prophets
Sundays at 9:45 AM | March 5-April 9
The Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, known to some as “the Jewish
Bible,” tells the stories of ancient Israel, conveys the message of the
prophets, and includes poec texts that express joy, despair, and hope.
The plotlines of this sacred collecon help trace the tensions that arise
from ancipaon and disappointment, conflict and reconciliaon—and
what it all has to do with us.
March 5: Elijah, the Troubler of Israel
March 12: Jusce and Love in Amos and Hosea
March 19: Isaiah on Defiant Hope
March 26: Jeremiah on Anguish and Compassion
April 2: Babylonian Conquest and Exile
April 9: Ezekiel on Abandonment and Homecoming
Lenten Suppers
Wednesday Evenings Beginning March 8
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Come to Word of Peace on Wednesday evenings throughout Lent
(beginning March 8) and share in a simple meal with your family and
friends before aending Lenten Worship. A suggested donaon of $5.00
per adult and $3.00 per child is appreciated. All are welcome!
Facebook Small Group
Lenten Study
Join Pastor Keith and others this Lent in a
Facebook small group! You will encounter,
explore and be equipped by Christ, all from
the comfort of your couch.
We will begin with a screening of the 2016
revised video, “Everything is Spiritual,” by
pastor and author Rob Bell. Then we will
read and ponder the provocave, unique,
and inspiring wisdom of Pastor Bell’s first
published book, “Velvet Elvis: Repainng the
Chrisan Faith.”
Each Facebook small group will be given a
weekly video summary from Pastor Keith,
and an inmate and confidenal space to
build relaonships with others, ask ques-
ons, and grow in your faith. The small
groups will meet face-to-face at the conclusion
of the study.
Registraon
Registraon is limited to 12 people and par-
cipants will be assigned to a small group
(not exceeding 6 people) Parcipants are
responsible for acquiring their own copy of
the book.
To register for the Facebook small group
study, sign up at the Informaon Desk or
contact Pastor Keith Long at
klong@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2400.
4

INTRODUCING: Topics on Tap
Begins March 30, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant
“Topics on Tap” is a monthly discussion group for
adults, designed to be an informal discussion that
leads to deeper thinking. Along with other curious
and open-minded learners, we’ll gather for a
“cold one” and some good old-fashioned table
talk.
We’ll tackle challenging subjects from atheism,
climate change, human trafficking and Islam, to
more of the lighter fare subjects like the hidden
life of trees, extraterrestrial life, sports, friendship,
and the aerlife. The possibilies are as diverse
as whatever is “on tap,” so to speak.
Exploring Culture: Christ in Cinema
Join Pastor Keith for this new and innovave study of how faith
meets culture. On Friday, March 31, we will meet at the St. Michael
Cinema at 6:30 PM and begin our first “Exploring Culture” adult educaon
experience. Aer arriving at a group consensus, we’ll watch
our movie of choice through a lens of faith and then gather at Le Bar
(on the second level) aerwards to unpack and talk about it.
Some movies we select may have an ‘R’ rang, therefore, this study
is recommended for ages 17 and older.
Contact Pastor Keith klong@wordofpeace.org or 763-496-2402 with
quesons.
Facilitated by Pastor Keith and Word of Peace
member Greg Heinecke, the group will meet on
the last Thursday of each month from 7-9 PM at
Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant in Rogers, beginning
March 30.
This month’s topic will be “The Expanding Universe.”
Suggested Reading: “The Universe is Expanding
Surprisingly Fast” by Mike Wall, space.com (read
it here: hp://bit.ly/2jU3ib1)
Suggested Viewing: “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan, narrated
by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Look for more topics and informaon at
wordofpeace.org/topicsontap.
Upcoming Adult Forums
April 24 and May 7: Hope in the Eye of the Storm: Knowing
God is Good Even When Life Isn’t—This two-part presentaon
will be given by Word of Peace member, Chaplain Steve Carlson.
April 30: Basic Facts and Myths of Memory Loss, ps on living
with Alzheimer’s and caring for a loved one. Presented by the
Alzheimer’s Associaon.
These forums will take place at 9:45 AM in Room 120. More
informaon coming soon.
5

March is Minnesota FoodShare Month
During March, Word of Peace will be joining people of good will from
across the state to help alleviate hunger. Minnesota FoodShare’s March
Campaign is the largest food drive in the state, and congregaons like
ours are the heart of the campaign.
As parcipants in this event, we will be collecng cash & food donaons
for CROSS all month. For the last two years, Word of Peace has ranked
second place in the statewide collecon of cash and food donaons. We
are excited to support this campaign through your generous donaons
and we hope to collect even more during this year’s campaign.
Look for more informaon in your weekly bullen and e-mail newsleer.
Thank you for being a vital force against hunger in our community!
Fesval Chorus Rehearsals Begin March 8
The Fesval Chorus will begin rehearsing for Easter and Holy Week
on Wednesday March 8. Rehearsals will be from 7:45-8:45pm on
Wednesdays. Make a nice evening of it and come for supper,
aend the 7pm Lenten worship service and then stay to rehearse.
Help Decorate the Sanctuary for Easter!
Orders for Easter lilies, tulips and hydrangeas will be taken March
12-27 to help decorate the Sanctuary for Easter. Lilies and tulips
will be $10 each and hydrangeas will be $18 each. All plants will be
available to take home aer the last Easter service.
Thank you for your help in making our Easter celebraon beauful.
Quesons? Contact Dain Swanson at (763) 496-2409 or dswanson@wordofpeace.org.
CROSS CORNER
CROSS Food Shelf has been supporng
our community for over 40
years, and they do more than just
provide food to families in need.
CROSS also develops one-to-one
client consultaon and referrals to
those who need help with employment,
mental health counseling,
domesc violence, finances/
budgeng, chemical dependency
treatment, spiritual counseling, vehicle
repairs, transportaon, medical
insurance, medical care, more.
More than 1,800 volunteers and
2,500 families visit CROSS each
month. They distribute almost a
million pounds of food annually and
that number is increasing each
year. 95% of every dollar they receive
goes directly to programs for
those whom they serve.
THANK YOU for your ongoing support
and donaons to CROSS.
Please watch for volunteer opportunies
and needs as we connue
to partner with them to spread
God’s love in our community!
CROSS Needs for March: Rice,
toothbrushes, paper & plasc
grocery bags. Donaons may be
dropped off at the “CROSS Corner”
in the North Gathering Area.
6

For this reason I remind you to rekindle the
gi of God that is within you…for God did
not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather
a spirit of power and of love and of selfdiscipline.
—2 Timothy 1:6-7
In November and December, 350 Word of
Peace families pledged to support our congregaon’s
ministry through their financial
offerings and prayers. If you or your family
give but haven’t pledged (yet), then you
are also living out of a spirit of power, love
and self-discipline as you trust God with
your life. If you haven’t heard me say it
already (or were absent the day I took 13
pies to my face), let me say it again –
Pastor Keith Long
Pastor of Life and Growth
THANK YOU! Thank you for agreeing to take the Fearless Generosity plunge into
learning and praccing faithful stewardship.
Now that you’ve pledged to give in 2017 and beyond, here’s what you need to
know:
If you haven’t already, please update your pledged giving amount for 2017,
either through Pushpay or online at wordofpeace.org/give, or by compleng
an ACH Authorizaon Form (available at the Informaon Desk.)
5 Strategic Goals for the
Ministry of Word of Peace
The Strategic Planning Team has developed
five strategic goals that encompass
the Word of Peace ministry.
The team gathered input from the 2012
Long Range Planning Report, the 2014
worship survey, the facility survey from
2015, and the more recent surveys and
congregaonal listening sessions as part
of our facility expansion planning. Guided
by the Holy Spirit, these sources all had
strikingly similar themes for the Word of
Peace congregaon and what we are
called to do to beer exemplify our mission:
to be a community where everyone
knows Christ’s Love, and shares Christ’s
Love with all people.
The five strategic goals for the Ministry of
Word of Peace are:
To be a safe, welcoming space for all
people.
In April, August and December, you will receive a “Pledged Giving Update”
so you know if you’re on track or behind in what you’ve said you would
give.
If your family is giving through Pushpay, think about choosing a parcular
day or two of the month (1 st and 15 th are recommended) and set an alarm
to give on those days. Beer yet, set up a recurring gi to do this automacally.
If you give by check, all non-designated gis go towards the
“Operaons and Ministry Fund.” (A giving envelope is oponal). If you give
with cash, please use an envelope so we can keep accurate records. (Blank
giving envelopes are available at the Informaon Desk and in the
“friendship pads” in the Sanctuary.)
Smile! Have fun! Giving is meant to be enjoyable and an excing aspect of
following Jesus. When that offering plate passes or you click ‘submit’
online, may God remind and rekindle the gi God placed in you: FAITH!
Faith that daringly and generously shares with the people of God. Let your
family in on your commitment, making sure they know and understand that
giving is an important part of your life, and something you pracce because
you WANT to rather than because you feel you HAVE to.
To deliberately celebrate that God is
present and at work in our daily lives
from the ministries in this church.
To increase volunteer parcipaon
and ministry team structure to acvely
improve the lives of those in our
local community through hunger relief,
emergency assistance, and community
service.
To foster a greater discipleship culture
and the giving of me, talents, and
resources.
To have adequate, appropriate physical
space to be an asset to the community
and enable congregaonal
fellowship.
Peace, strength and the love of Christ be with you now and always,
On behalf of the Stewardship Team
These goals will beer equip us to live
out our vision and they will serve as guidance
for our leadership, ministry teams,
and programs for the congregaon and
surrounding communies, and they will
help us be the disciples that Jesus Christ
called us to be.
7

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY
Summer Opportunies
There are lots of fun, excing and faith-filled opportunies for all ages in summer 2017. From
day camps to week-long camps at Wapo (Amery, WI) and Luther Crest (Alexandria, MN), onand
off-site church events and ministries, service opportunies, and more! Informaon flyers,
sign-up sheets and registraon packets are available outside Children, Youth and Family offices.
Be sure to include Word of Peace in your fun summer plans!
Summer Camp:
Wapo One Day (July 26) for completed grades 1-4
Wapo Seeds Weekend (August 4-6) for completed grades 2-3
Wapo Youth Camp (August 6-11) for completed grades 4-6
Luther Crest Wet & Wilderness Camp (July 30-August 4) for
completed grades 6-8
Luther Crest Witness Camp (July 30-August 4) for completed
grades 6-9
Luther Crest Extreme Camp (July 30-August 4) for completed
grades 7-9)
Luther Crest Blazers Leadership Camp (July 30-August 4) for
completed grades 9-12
Marcus Eads
Director of Youth Ministry
On-site:
High School Bonfires (June-August) for completed grades
8-12
Middle School A.M. (June-August) for completed grades 5-8
Vacaon Bible School (June 19-23) for ages 4 through 5th
grade
Soul Sisterhood (August 7-9) for girls in completed grades 4-6
Youth Gaga Ball League (June-August) for completed grades
5-12
Off-site:
Summer Stretch (June-August) for completed grades 5-12
Trail Running Group (June-August) for all ages
(younger than 5th grade must be accompanied by a parent or
guardian)
Big Thrill Factory (June 21) for completed grades 5-12
Valley Fair (July 26) for completed grades 5-12
8

A Fun and Rewarding Opportunity
for All Ages!
The Holy Week Walk is an experienal worship
service for people of all ages to experience the
last week of Jesus’ life. People travel to several
staons where they hear and witness the Holy
Week story. This worship service requires many
parcipants to make the week come to life!
We are looking for kids, youth, and adults of all
ages to parcipate as an actor or marketplace
person, help in the kitchen, help with set-up
and take-down of sets, or work behind-thescenes.
Rehearsals begin mid-March and the Holy Week
Walk will take place on Friday, April 14 at 10
AM, Noon, and 2:00 PM. Come bless people
and be a part of this fun event! For more informaon,
contact Krisn Skare at kskare@
wordofpeace.org.
The Cast of the 2016 Holy Week Walk
SENIORS
Rogers Senior Center: 12913 Main Street. Open 9 AM-4:30 PM
Monday-Thursday and 9 AM-3 PM Friday. Coordinator, Liz:
(763) 428-0939/edirks@rogersmn.gov.
Senior Shop Rogers Bus—Thursdays at 10 AM, $1.00 per rider.
Assistance provided with groceries. Contact Judy: (763) 428-
7657.
Jammers Potluck & Music—Sunday, March 5, 1-5 PM (eat at 4
PM) at the Rogers Community Room (21201 Memorial Drive).
Bring a dish for potluck and enjoy free entertainment from
local musicians. Contact Dave: (763) 428-4217.
Word of Peace Kids-Care Bus takes seniors shopping at
Ridgedale. The next trip is April 11. $1.00 round trip. Call Judy
to sign up, (763) 428-7657.
Senior Surf Day (computer help): March 29th 9:30 - 11:30 am
at Rogers Senior Center. 2-hour hands-on computer training
for seniors with lile or no computer experience. Call (763)
428-0939 to sign up by March 8.
Driver Improvement Program through St. Cloud State University.
Save 10% on your auto insurance for 3 years. Monday,
March 27, 1-5 PM (4 hr. refresher class, $22.00) at the Rogers
Senior Center (12913 Main St.). Sign up by calling (888)
234-1294.
What a Wonderful World at Le Musique Room (inside the St.
Michael movie theater): Thursday, April 13. Two powerhouse
piano players in a performance featuring beloved music from
the Great American Songbook, comedy, costumes, and wit.
Meet at Rogers Community Room at 1 PM to carpool or meet
at the St. Michael Cinema at 1:15 PM. Show starts at 2 PM.
Fee: $27.00. Call Liz at (763) 428-0939 by March 31 to make a
reservaon.
Games at the Senior Center: Cribbage: Wednesdays at 1 PM.
Mah Jongg: Fridays at 9:30 AM. Texas Canasta: Tuesdays,
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 1 PM. Call Liz: (763)
428-0939.
Please contact Judy Hanson at (763) 428-7657 for resource,
community or general informaon for seniors.
To subscribe to the Rogers Senior Newsleer, call (763) 428-
0939. Or, read it online at www.rogersmn.gov/seniors-home.
9

Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
ROGERS, MN
PERMIT NO. 9
ADDRESS SERVICE
REQUESTED
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sundays at
8:30, 9:45 & 11:00 AM
Mondays at 6:30 PM
Lenten Worship
Begins March 8:
Wednesday Evenings at
5:30 & 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 1
Services at 12:00, 5:30 & 7:00 PM
With Holy Communion and the Institution of Ashes
All Are Welcome!