A Message from Pastor Eric
Dear Siblings in Christ,
The long nights, leisurely weekends, get-togethers with families and friends, and summer vacations are quickly coming to an end.
Autumn at Peace Lutheran Church brings with it a burst of fresh life that almost makes the season feel like spring.
Why? The fall season instills a renewed sense of commitment in the Christian steward. Literally, a lot of us give our time and resources to the church in September and the months that follow. The congregation feels more alive than before, and this vitality is evident in the many initiatives taken to commit to helping our neighbors who are in need. The energy is holy and exciting, whether it is for the blood drive, the gathering and packaging of to-go bags for Our Place Waldorf, or the meal prepared and lovingly served to the clients of Our Place Waldorf.
Now’s is a good time for us to review and recommit our stewardship––our commitment of our time, talent, and treasure to support God’s work here at Peace Lutheran Church. If you’ve found yourself away from Peace over the summer, now is a good time to come back and get reacquainted.
One thing is for certain about Peace Lutheran Church, we develop relationships within our faith community based on our shared values and we use our hands every day to do God's work in the world!
Here are some ways to draw you closer to our faith community this fall:
Visit. Spend some time with your siblings in Christ you may not have seen due to summer travels and come meet the many newcomers!
Consider getting involved in a new ministry this year! Our ministries are looking for volunteers to help usher, teller, assist with communion, helping at Elsie’s Food Pantry––even the choir and bell choir!
Come (re)introduce yourself to Pastor Eric and save the date for his installation on Saturday, October 15 at 4:00 p.m. followed by a reception.
Stay tuned for upcoming faith formation classes for all ages.
Take inventory of your financial giving. Did you sometimes forget an offering during the summer? Consider signing up for online giving.
Come to worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and find refreshment in God’s Word and the sacrament of Holy Communion.
In the coming weeks, members of the council will be participating in temple talks to share why they call Peace Lutheran Church home and how the work we undertake together cultivates their sense of discipleship and strengthens their faith.
In Christ and with Christ’s love,
Pastor Eric+
Current Financials
The financial information below is provided by Peace Lutheran Church's Treasurer Gail Bentz, and includes balances for June, July, August, and Year-to-Date (YTD).
Stewardship means taking care of and making good use of the resources God has provided. Our time, talents, and treasures are the gifts we receive from God. Although the pandemic has had varying effects on each of us financially, we encourage everyone to contribute to the church's mission and ministry in whatever way is most comfortable for them. Please consider becoming a lector or usher, assisting with communion or altar care, or volunteering at Elsie's Pantry. And if you can afford to increase your financial contribution for the remainder of this year, thank you!
Online giving is available at Peace Lutheran Church and it is a safe and convenient way to make your regular offerings. To sign up, visit www.myplc.org/giving.
A Message from the Congregation President
The council met last Saturday to start work on a strategic plan for Peace Lutheran Church. We shared some good and thoughtful conversations to identify some core values of Peace. Through all the work of the call committee this past year it was determined that Peace was ready to move forward in new ways and create new vision and mission statements to guide us in the development of our future ministries at Peace. These core values will be the basis for defining who Peace will be as a community of faith and be our guide in making decisions and developing programs.
We also need to hear from the you, the congregation! Please take a few minutes and click on the survey in this newsletter or fill out a paper copy available on Sunday. It will help us to fine-tune the value statements and work on the next steps of writing our vision and mission statements.
The council continues to work with Monique the operator of My Sweet Baby family childcare, that is temporarily operating out of the youth room and adjacent classroom on an emergency basis due to a fire that destroyed the daycare section of the house. We will review each month how best we can support her and the important service she is providing the community.
In his service,
Jill Fronck
Congregational Survey
Your feedback is important! All responses are confidential. The survey will run through October 7, 2022.
God's work. Our hands.
The generous hearts and hands of the Peace Lutheran congregation is inspiring! This year’s partnership with Our Place Waldorf soup kitchen was new and exciting! Through your generous contributions of food and money to Elsie’s Pantry, and a $250 grant Sharon A. received from Thrivent financial, we were able to put together over 150 To Go Bags and sponsor a whole dinner for about 150 clients of Our Place Waldorf. THANK YOU to the many volunteers that were able to help put To Go Bags together after worship on Sunday, and those who came out to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church where Our Place Waldorf serves a dinner every Monday and Thursday, to prep, cook, serve and clean up the meal this past Monday the 12th. Many hands made for light and fun work!
THANK YOU to all the donors and volunteers that made our Blood Drive for The Red Cross possible! The covid virus caused our donations to be a little lower than hoped but every pint collected can save a life!
2nd Annual Yard Sale and Bake Sale
Saturday, October 8, 2022 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Rain or Shine!)
Yard Sale – please continue to gather your treasures to donate.* You can bring items to church starting Sunday, Oct. 2 after worship or Tuesday-Thursday from 9-11AM. If you need to arrange another time or if you have large items, please call or text Sharon Altman 301-266-0525 or email at altmasslp@gmail.com. Also please let Sharon know if you can help in any of the following ways:
Sorting items (we will begin Tuesday, October 4, 9-11AM and will plan to meet each morning at that time through Friday unless we finish before then)
Getting the word out on social media by sharing this link: https://thrivent.cotribute.co/events/676897/detail?src=crowd-fundraise-active-charity-mailto-185
Putting signs out Friday, Oct. 7
Directing traffic for parking and Blessing of the Animals (starting at 7:00 am Oct. 8)
Setting up starting at 7:00 am Sat., Oct. 8, either in parking lot or inside, depending on the weather
Being at the yard sale to help sell items, answer questions, etc. (any time between 8:00 am – 12 noon)
Helping with refreshments for volunteers (any time between 7 am and 1 pm)
Help with clean up (12-1 pm)
Retrieve signs (starting at noon)
Lend us fanny packs for the day of the sale
Taking left over items to donate to local thrift store(s)
Bake Sale – we will be offering some delicious treats for sale at our fundraiser. Contact Ginny Wolford at quilting.ginny@gmail.com or call her at 301-579-2593 to volunteer to bake items or if you have questions.
Baked goods donations can be dropped off at Peace on Friday, October 7 from 10am to 12 noon. You may also bring them to the bake sale on Saturday, October 8 after 7:00 am.
Donations should be labeled and packaged in plastic bags. Cookies should be packaged 6 cookies per bag, depending on size of cookies.
Tell anyone whom you think might be interested in participating too!
Give Online! - Don’t have things to donate or aren’t available to help or just wanting to give more? You will have the opportunity to donate through our Facebook page or go to this link. All money donated comes directly to Peace Lutheran. Thrivent Financial covers all of the processing costs! And be sure to share this opportunity with everyone you know on your social media or through email.
Pray for good weather on October 8 so we can be outside. But, this year we are having our event rain or shine! If it rains we will be inside.
Thank you so much for your support of the ministry of Peace Lutheran Church!
All items remaining at the end of the sale will be donated elsewhere.
*Please be kind to those organizing this event as well as those buying items and be sure what you donate is still in good, clean condition.
*Also, if you are donating furniture or other large item, please be advised that, if it doesn’t sell, you will be responsible for picking it up and disposing of it.
Blessing of the Animals
There will be no formal liturgy or anything, just a casual celebration of God's gift of companionship in our pets, and Pastor Eric will be available to bless your beloved household pets on Saturday, October 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during the Yard Sale and Bake Sale. Come participate in and support the mission and ministry of Peace Lutheran Church and the fellowship it offers.
RSVP for Pastor Eric's Installation
All are invited to attend a special service of Holy Communion with the Rite of Installation of the Reverend Eric Randolph as Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church. The installation service will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. To help with planning, please complete the online RSVP form here or email admin@myplc.org.
The Reverend Alex Stall, pastor of Advent Lutheran Church, Arlington, Virginia, will be the guest preacher and the Dean of the Maryland Conference of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod (ELCA) will preside over the installation service.
All Saints' Sunday | November 6, 2022
In holy baptism God makes saints out of sinners. In holy communion God forgives the sins of all the saints. In worship on Sunday, November 6, 2022, we give thanks for all the saints “who from their labors rest.” In the same breath we petition our God for the strength to hear and to heed the admonitions of Jesus in the day’s gospel (Luke 6:20-31). Sealed by the Spirit and sustained by the Savior’s body and blood, we live with joy as God give us breath, to the praise of God’s glory.
Our annual tradition calls for us to remember our loved ones who have passed away over the past year by reading their names aloud during worship on November 6. Please send an email to Pastor Eric (eric@myplc.org) with the full name, birth date, and death date of the person you would like remembered during the liturgy. Pictures can be added if desired. The last day to submit names is Monday, October 31, 2022.
Discipleship Opportunities
New Member Classes
Are you interested in becoming a member of Peace Lutheran Church?
Are you curious to learn more about Lutheranism and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?
Pastor Eric will be holding a series of New Member classes later this fall for anyone interested in becoming a member of Peace Lutheran Church. Whether you're coming from another Lutheran congregation or denomination, or just a seeker curious to learn more, complete the interest form here to help with scheduling. Joining the New Member class doesn't commit you to joining Peace Lutheran Church, the classes are offered to aid in your discernment toward finding a faith community that best meets your spiritual needs.
Confirmation Classes
Pastor Eric will be leading an 18-week confirmation series this fall for students in grades 6-12 who have not yet been confirmed. Classes in the series will be divided into three six-week segments focusing on the Old Testament, New Testament, and Lutheranism/Sacraments (the Means of Grace). In the four weeks between sessions, students can recharge and complete a modest confirmation assignment. Your teen will benefit greatly from attending all 18 sessions of confirmation, even if they have only occasionally participated in similar programs in the past, both to refresh themselves and to make new friends. Please complete the interest form to help schedule our first class! Classes will begin the week following Reformation Sunday.
Make Some Joyful Noise! Handbell Choir Seeking New Hands and Loving Hearts.
New members are welcome to join the Peace Lutheran Church Handbell Choir Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. Don't let a lack of musical experience keep you from joining this joyful and unique music ministry–come out and make some joyful noise! To learn more, contact Tara Derr at taraderr@gmail.com
The Quilters are active and invite you to join!
The quilters meet the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays from 6-8 p.m. and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. at the church. You are welcome to join whenever you are able. No experience necessary.
Cub Scouts are Back in the Den!
Pack 1771 will resume regular meetings at Peace on Friday September 16. The month of September is busy and exciting for the Pack. We will take part in a Bike Rodeo to learn about bike safety and maintenance. We also start our annual fundraiser in September. We will be selling Trail’s End popcorn on Saturday mornings from September through October. We will be at Tractor Supply in White Plains from 10-2, beginning on September 10, and at the La Plata Lowe’s the first three Saturdays in October. This is our only fundraiser for the year. Money earned from these sales go toward awards for the Scouts, camping, equipment, Pinewood Derby cars, and other activities. You may occasionally see a table in the Narthex on Sunday mornings! Please consider supporting the Pack through this fundraiser either by purchasing popcorn or through donations.
The Pack would like to thank the members of Peace for their continued support and generous donations, which make the existence of Pack 1771 possible! For those of you who have had Scouting in your lives, you know how important it is to many of our youth. Through Scouting, boys and girls build character and learn life skills, all while becoming stronger members of the community. If you know of any children that may be interested, please stop by one of our meetings or contact David Constantine (multimedia@myplc.org). Our Pack welcomes boys and girls and is one of the most active Packs in the area.
Giant Food's Bloomin' 4 Hunger Supports Elsie's Pantry
Elsie's Food Pantry, a ministry of Peace Lutheran Church, has been selected as a beneficiary of the Giant Food Bloomin' 4 Good program for the month of September! The Giant Food Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, which launched in July 2021, is an easy way for shoppers to give back. Every Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet with the purple hanging tag sold supports a nonprofit organization local to the Giant Food in which it was purchased. Elsie's Food Pantry was selected as the September beneficiary by local store leadership at the Giant Food located at 200 Rosewick Rd, LaPlata, MD. Elsie's Food Pantry will receive a $1 donation for every Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet purchased at this Giant Food location in September.
“Flowers can make someone’s day, brighten a room or spread a smile,” said Nilda Cirino, Coordinator of Elsie's Food Pantry. “Now they can give back to our local communities, too. Purchase a Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet at LaPlata Giant Food in September to help our organization support ours better. ”
Elsie's Pantry distributes parcels of food the first and third Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. In addition to your generous financial support, Elsie's Pantry needs volunteers to help on distribution days and bagging days (Monday prior to distribution from 9-11a.m.). Contact Nilda if you're able to volunteer or just stop by!
New Addition to the Sanctuary
An anonymous donor has presented us with a tabernacle for the church's sanctuary in celebration of the Reverend Eric Randolph's call as pastor. The tabernacle, constructed from the same wood tones as the altar and ambo, looks right at home there. Simple carving of a cross adorn the tabernacle's wooden door. Back behind the altar, on the credence table, is where the tabernacle will be set up.
If you would like to receive communion during the week, please contact Pastor Eric at (202) 998-2360 or eric@myplc.org so that the remaining elements from the previous Sunday can be brought to you.