Announcements for Sunday, 18 December 2022
Holiday Worship Schedule
Wednesday, December 21, 6:30 p.m.
Longest Night Service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waldorf
Saturday, December 24, 6:00 p.m.
Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion (Christmas Eve)
Sunday, December 25, 9:00 a.m.
Christmas Day worship service with Holy Communion
Christmas Poinsettias (cuetlaxochitl) and Sanctuary Flowers
Flowers will be ordered from time to time for special occasions. Poinsettias (cuetlaxochitl) have been ordered for Christmas!
If you would like to make a $15-20 donation towards a poinsettia plant you can write a check or go online to do so and state it is for “Poinsettia”.
If you would like to take a poinsettia home after Christmas, please contact Jill Fronck to make arrangements.
Did you know?
Cuetlaxochitl (kwet-la-sho-she) was a sacred and useful plant to the Aztecs and Mayans, who used it for decoration, dye production, and medicine prior to European colonization. Cuetlaxochitl was introduced to the United States in the late 1820s by Joel Poinsett of South Carolina, who served as the United States' first minister to Mexico and whose legacy is associated with slavery and white supremacy. Some people today reject the name "poinsettia" in favor of the plant's Native name, cuetlaxochitl, due to Poinsett's legacy as a slave owner and his role in the displacement of countless Native Americans.
The plant's association with Christmas predates Poinsett's "discovery," as missionary monks from Mexico's southwestern region used it to decorate créche during the holiday season.
Christmas Eve Choir
Everyone is welcome to join the "Christmas Eve Choir" and sing a carol or other holiday song together during worship on December 24th.
Rehearsing for Christmas Eve this Wednesday at 7:15 (following bell-choir)
"No commitment beyond Christmas Eve is being made, but if I do get some new faces, I'd like to know how often we'll be performing and rehearsing. How could we better coordinate our rehearsal and performance schedule with yours so that you may join us more frequently to sing?"
––Will Derr
2023 Senior Christmas Connection
Peace is working with Charles County Social Services to provide Food Gift baskets to 13 seniors in our community. Since Covid the seniors prefer to receive gift cards to a local grocery store to shop for their Christmas dinner. Peace will purchase each senior a $50 gift card through individual donations and food pantry funds. Please make donations via check with “Senior food basket” in memo, or online.
Gifts of Hope
Gifts of Hope is an alternative gift-giving program and ministry sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). The Program is open to all people and helps people in need regardless of their faith or religious affiliation.
Are you ready to change the world but don’t know where to start? Do you have a loved one who doesn’t need or want any more “stuff” but whom you’d like to recognize with a gift in their honor?
Below is a link to more information and helpful resources:
Confirmation Bootcamp Update
The first block of in-person confirmation classes will conclude on Sunday, December 18, at 12:00 p.m. in the conference room, where we will review and discuss Habakkuk.
Beginning December 19 and lasting until January 28, confirmation students will be in their first "self-study" block, where they will complete their first project based on either the Book of Esther, Ruth, or Daniel, as well as volunteer at Elsie's Pantry on distribution days.
Pastor Eric has updated Peace's website to include a full outline of Confirmation Bootcamp with in-person meeting dates, topics, and self-study requirements at www.myplc.org/christian-education/
For the current cohort, in-person confirmation classes will resume Sunday, January 29, 2023, at 12:00 p.m.
Families interested in registering their student(s) for the next Confirmation Bootcamp cohort, which will begin in November 2023, should contact Pastor Eric.
From our Friends at PFLAG Leonardtown
Mama Has a Mustache: Free to all for the month of December! The past year has seen waves of anti-trans legislation rolling out across the country, book bans in our schools prohibiting access to honest and inclusive education and books, and continued physical violence against LGBTQ+ people. Our friends on the Mama Has a Mustache team have felt the pressure, as they continue to receive harmful and violent messages regarding their lovely film. That's why for the entire month of December, they are making the film available to everyone for free. Visit pflagnation.al/MHAMDec2022 to watch and share the film today!
A few weeks ago, during Transgender Awareness Week, PFLAG Leonardtown had an opportunity to talk about the film with filmmaker Sally Rubin. ICYMI, you can still watch it on demand. Let's support the Mama Has a Mustache team as they push back in the name of our trans, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ loved ones, and in support of kids getting to be who they are. Let’s unite to support and spread a message of freedom, affirmation, and empowerment.
Offering Envelopes for 2023!
For anyone who wants offering envelopes for 2023: Please call or email Bonnie or Glen Simpers if you want 2023 offering envelopes (301-843-2896; glenbon@myplc.org). Please include the best way to contact you! We will use the 2022 envelopes and assign you a new id number to minimize costs. Please understand that the dates on the envelopes will be incorrect. Thanks!
Quilters
We will meet on 12/1, 12/5, 12/15, 12/19 & 12/29 from 9 - 11 AM in rooms 4-5. We make 60” X 80” quilts that are given to people in need throughout the world.
There are a variety of tasks involved in making these quilts and Peace quilters are very welcoming teachers! No experience needed. Join us when you can!
If you are interested, contact Leah at quilters@myplc.org.
We are looking forward to making many fleece Chemo hats in January 2023!!!
Safe Nights Returning to Peace Lutheran
Safe Nights will be returning to Peace Lutheran Church Sunday, February 26 through March 5, 2023. More information coming soon!