Welcome to Prince of Peace A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
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Welcome to Prince of Peace • Worship Times • Prince of Peace Lutheran Church's Mission Statement • Who's Who on Staff! • Prince of Peace Lutheran Church • Expectations of Membership • How do I become a member? • Pastoral Care; Restrictions on weddings and baptisms • Holy Communion • When may young people participate in Holy Communion? • What do those who are not instructed yet to take communion do? • Preparation for Marriage •
Does the PoP conduct non-member weddings? • Don't forget about the Fellowship Hall! • Music • Putting Your Gifts to Work! •
Discover how you can directly put your gifts to work... • Spiritual Gifts Inventory
We are glad you are here! In the following pages, let us introduce ourselves and tell you a little about our ministry. Consider this your
Prince of Peace Owner's Manual! You will find answers to many ways God is active here. This is a helpful guide, but not an exhaustive list of all of our ministries. We are constantly surprised by God and open to what is just around the corner. So may the fun begin! Just turn the page and let's get started!!!! Memorial Day-Labor Day "Regular Schedule" Holy Communion is offered at all services! Prince of Peace Lutheran Church's Mission Statement is that we are a family of Christians growing in faith and reaching out in love! Pastor Gary J. Nokleberg, e-mail address 2330 E Calumet St Fax: 920-831-2973 Faithful attendance at Worship Like other activities in our lives, we will get out of membership what we put into it, and we believe at Prince of Peace we have the greatest message the world has ever known and it is our joy and responsibility to experience this and share this. Four months of faithful attendance at worship before joining. We also ask adults to attend the Adult Sunday School class for New Members before joining. Pastoral Care; Restrictions on weddings and baptismsWhat happens if I need pastoral care before I join? Adults and children are encouraged to attend Sunday School and other activities. However, no weddings or baptisms will be conducted until one is a member. Consider this a part of the process of getting to know one another. We want you to know one another. We want you to find a good fit in your new faith home and to make sure this is a good fit you will need some time. So let's spend some time getting acquainted. Hospitalizations: If you ever find yourself hospitalized or facing surgery, please contact the Church Office. The pastors regularly visit the hospitals and provide spiritual care. Many times the hospitals let us know members are in, but that doesn't always happen, so if you could let us know, that would be greatly appreciated. We look forward joyfully to the day when you will be welcomed into the Lord's family of faith here at Prince of Peace! What are the official requirements of being a member? According to our Constitution, a member in good standing is someone who has communed or contributed once in the past year. However, think of this as the absolute bare minimum for "legalese" purposes. What the Lord is after is having a vibrant growing relationship with His children and this is virtually impossible by fulfilling only a Constitutional Minimum Requirement. Love is…(see I Cor. 1 3) When we are in love with someone, are we concerned about the minimum requirements of proving our love and remaining in their good graces, or, freely doing everything we can in gratitude and partnership with them to build the best relationship possible? Let's think of our membership at PoP this way! Prayer Requests: If you are in need of prayer for yourself, family member or friend and would like to be added to our Prayer Chain or would like to be included in our prayers at worship, please call the Office. Share only what info you feel comfortable sharing. We believe at PoP that there is power in prayers of the community and we wish to offer this. What does Prince of Peace believe about other churches? Are the Lutherans the only valid church? We believe that one of the gifts that God gives to believers are many ways within the Christian family to worship Him. Just as families are different, yet all are from the same parent, so are churches and Christians. We are all different, but from the same Heavenly Parent. We believe that Christ's intention is that though we may differ in our mechanics of church practice, we still are all members of the One Body of believers. A way to think of it is that all Christian churches are participants in playing the great symphony of God's love for all the world to hear and celebrate. Some Christians are woodwinds, others are strings, others are brass and others are percussion. Yet we are all one playing harmony God's symphony of grace. Therefore no part of the orchestra is more valued than any other. All are necessary to play harmoniously and beautifully the symphony of God's love song to the world. What does the Lutheran Church believe about Baptism? We baptize infants, as well as adults. Though the majority of the people we baptize are babies, because parents want their children to experience this gift of a relationship with God and being a member of God's family as soon as possible. We believe in Baptism God adopts us as one of his children and we are joined together with Christ in his life, death and Resurrection in the waters of Baptism. The physical act of Baptism is not what saves us, but in Baptism Christ encounters us and makes us heirs of his everlasting kingdom. We are saved through Christ's initiative and our acceptance of that offer through the eyes of faith. In baptism a person begins a faith journey with Christ. It is a journey that is renewed through regular participation in Communion, worship, serving others, praying and other acts of Christ's love. This Baptismal journey will sustain us throughout our entire life. It will only be concluded for us when Christ returns to resurrect all of Creation. I would like to get my child baptized. What do I do? Contact one of the pastors. A brief session on the theology and meaning of Baptism will need to be scheduled. Also forms for parents and sponsors to sign regarding their responsibilities in raising the child in the faith needs to be returned to the office. Ideally this will occur no later than a week prior to the baptism. Also with a growing congregation it is impractical to offer baptisms whenever it is desired. Therefore, we schedule dates when baptisms will be held throughout the year. A family may choose to participate in any of these dates. Also any 6:30 p.m. Monday evening service is available. Occasionally, these times don't coincide with family schedules and on rare occasions exceptions can be made. However when making plans for baptism it is most helpful if the parents contact one of the Pastors directly, before making arrangements with family. I've been baptized, but not confirmed. What do I do about that? To be an adult member of PoP, one needs to be baptized and confirmed. In many faith traditions, confirmation is not offered. As one joins PoP he/she is considered to be participating in an "Affirmation of Baptism." In other words, the public profession of faith is considered to be "Confirmation" for our adults. However, just as growing in our Baptism and unwrapping God's gifts never ends, so our need for instruction in the faith never ends. That is why we require participation in a New Member class that covers basic Lutheran doctrine prior to joining. Also it is encouraged that one continues to participate in adult Sunday School and other educational offerings after joining PoP. When are young people confirmed? On Wednesday evenings during the school year, 8-10th graders are involved in formal instruction of what it means to be an adult member of the congregation. This is called Confirmation. Youth study Lutheran beliefs in fun, interactive ways, utilizing games, small adult-led peer groups, large group presentations, service projects and other ways. Their formal instruction ends with their "Confirmation: Affirmation of Baptism" in the spring of their 10th grade year. However, this is not the end of their Christian education, only one more step. They have had an will continue to have opportunities to grow their faith through Mission Trips, small groups, concerts and many other opportunities. What makes a Sacrament a Sacrament? We practice two sacraments. (Sacrament comes from the root word "sacred" that means "holy, special, set apart." It refers to an oath or covenant God makes with His people. Our two sacraments are Baptism and Holy Communion. Some Christians practice more than these two. For a Lutheran a sacrament is composed of 3 things:
Some theologians call the Sacraments, "Living Words." The "Word" is not only a reference to the Bible, God's Holy Word, but to Jesus Christ himself as mentioned in John 1 as "the Word was God." Holy Communion
It is known by many names:
All are different ways to try to express the richness and texture of this incredible meal of God's grace. Lutheran Christians understand in Communion that Christ is "in, with and under" the bread and wine with his real presence. As we participate in the meal through the eyes of faith the bread and wine become his Body and Blood and we receive its benefits. Other Christian interpretations exist:
All views are able to be supported by the Bible's witness! So the important question is: "How do we meet Christ in this meal and knowing that how do our lives change?" Here's a side note: In the Middle Ages when worship services were conducted in Latin, as the bread was elevated the priest would say, "Hoc est corpus," meaning "this is my body." Since Latin was not the language of the people, (only the highly educated knew Latin) yet observers knew something very important and mysterious was happening, the bread was changing into the Body of Christ, they heard the foreign phrase to their untrained ears as "Hocus Pocus." When may young people participate in Holy Communion? We offer First Communion instruction for those who are in the 4th grade. Watch the bulletin or newsletter for info or contact our Coordinator of Christian Education, for exact dates. Usually the sessions are held during Sunday School in the spring. What happens if my children are communing from another faith tradition? Should we stop communing when we come? Holy Communion is a meal that is to unite people and not divide. If you and your children have the practice of communing from another tradition, then certainly do so here. It also may be helpful for children and parents to talk to the Pastors for clarification and also to take advantage of 4th grade First Communion classes as well as opportunities in Confirmation (Grades 8-10) to understand our perspective. What do those who are not instructed yet to take communion do?
Young people who are not yet instructed on Communion are invited to come with their families and friends to receive a Baptismal blessing. Wine or Grape Juice? The pouring chalices that the Pastors use have wine. If you prefer grape juice just mention that as you approach and grape juice from the center tray will be given. Preparation for MarriageOne of the special moments that comes in many persons' lives is when they choose to get married. Here at PoP we understand marriage as being a lifelong commitment of fidelity and trust, a sacred covenant between two people and God. Therefore, we take preparation for marriage very seriously. We require 3-5 sessions of premarital counseling for couples with one of the Pastors. These sessions ideally will take place 3-6 months prior to the ceremony. During these sessions we talk of God's intent and purpose of Christian marriage. We also look at the communication patterns, families of origin and celebrate the strengths couples have as a way to prepare them for the challenges ahead. Sessions conclude with detailed planning of the service itself. The couple will also need to contact our organist so she can advise them on our guidelines of selecting appropriate music. A Helpful Tip!Times are reserved at the church on a first-come, first-served basis. So in order to assure your preferred time, after you are engaged and before you make arrangements with a Reception Hall call PoP and talk to a Pastor to get on the Church calendar. Does the PoP conduct non-member weddings?No! The church is only available for weddings if one member of the wedding party is a member of PoP. Don’t forget about the Fellowship Hall!The Fellowship Hall is available for receptions and has a capacity of approximately 270 people. No alcoholic beverages are permitted on church property. Some Disturbing News on "Living Together." In contemporary culture it is widely assumed that "living together" before marriage is actually better for a variety of reasons: Why don't these "live-in" relationships strengthen marriages? It seems that poor habits are formed before marriage and a necessary view of Christian commitment rooted in Christ that is to occur naturally is compromised. Consider these things as you contemplate marriage. This also explains PoP's strong requirement on premarital counseling. If this is your situation, we want to help give you the tools to build the best marriage possible. Don't despair! MusicWe have choirs, ensembles, solo voice and instrumental opportunities for virtually all ages. Just call our Coordinator of Music or Organist for more info or to get involved. Cherub Choir (Grades 1-3). Practice: Wednesday evening. Academy Choir (Grades 4-6). Also called the "Academy Ringers and Singers." Practice: Wednesday evening. We haven't forgotten our Preschools! During each Sunday School our preschoolers have a time to sing, too! Bell Choirs. There are two adult choirs that practice on Wednesdays for an hour. One choir practices in the morning and the other practices in the evening. These groups provide leadership and enhancement to our worship by assisting with the psalm, offering and/or hymns. If you aren't interested in Bells, but would still like to make a joyful noise to the Lord, then consider our Canticle Choir. Canticle Choir practices Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. for one hour. They assist the liturgy, by leading the psalm and enhancing the overall musical expression of the service. They also present offering hymns and lead the congregation in special arrangement of hymns. But wait…Nothing fits??? If you play an instrument or have a special musical talent not represented, then give our Coordinator of Music a call. We welcome everyone to make a joyful noise to the Lord! Depending on a participant's availability, we occasionally offer short duration string groups, vocal groups and brass ensembles. Putting Your Gifts to Work!
At Prince of Peace, we believe that the Lord has given us all the gifts that we need to accomplish our Lord's ministry. The challenge is to find those gifts and put them to use for God's glory. Now let us consider our individual gifts. St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12, Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit…Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. All Christians are to work together, supporting one another in love for building up the Body of Christ. All are blessed with different and unique gifts for the sake of the Body. A person who is working within a ministry area in which they are gifted will be more effective in that ministry than one they are not. A brief list of ways you can utilize your gifts at Prince of Peace is listed after this article. These are arranged according to spiritual gifts. Use your spiritual gifts as a way to determine your possible ministry areas. These examples have been provided merely as thought starters and should not be considered an exhaustive list. Use them as a starting point in exploring the possibilities for putting your gifts to use within Prince of Peace and in our community, or if you don't see something on the list, let us know or pencil it in.
An Exception to this rule! Council members serve for three-year terms. We want to fulfill you and our Lord's ministry with gifted and energized people, not just to fill slots with people? To strive towards our vision takes a lot of hard work. It requires all of us pulling in the same direction. Most of all we need YOU to get involved in your new Prince of Peace family of faith and share your wonderful God-given spiritual gifts. Gifts are of little value if they remain wrapped and are not put to use. Help us unwrap your gifts. Below are some of the blessings of which you can get involved.
Members of Prince of Peace have many opportunities to unwrap their gifts! Some of the Ministries in which you may get involved are these! First though: What do all of those letters mean?
Worship, Music & Arts: Administer all programs directly connected to the worship services. Social Concerns: Provides opportunities for community service; our faith active in love. Witness: Hosts new member activities, helps with our hospitality of visitors and builds missionary awareness. Parish Education: Provides education for all ages; Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Adult and Family offerings and Small Group sessions. Property: Maintains and improves the building, equipment and grounds. Fellowship: Develops/conducts activities that build fellowship. Stewardship/Finance: Identifies talents of church members and manages church finances. Youth: Conducts activities to encourage youth to grow in Christ-like relationships: Long-Range Planning: Develops long-term plans and direction for the congregation. Library: Manages the church library. Office Volunteers: Helps with short-term jobs in the church office. Women of the ELCA: Conducts numerous women's activities for Bible Study, fellowship and service. Discover how you can directly put your gifts to work…Administration: The gift that enables a believer to formulate, direct and carry out plans necessary to fulfill a purpose. 1 Cor. 12:28, Acts 14:23. Artistry: The gift that gives the believer the skill of creating artistic expressions that produce a spiritual response of strength and inspiration, Ex.31:1-11, Psalm 149:3. AR1: Flowers/Decorating, Worship, Music & Arts Ministry Discernment: The gift that motivates a believer to seek God's will and purpose and apply that understanding to individual and congregational situations, John 16:6-15, Romans 9:1, 1 Cor. 2:9-16. D1: Church Council, Council Evangelism: The gift that moves believers in such a way that they are baptized and become active members of the Christian community, Matthew 28:16-20, Ephesians 4:11-16, Acts 2:36-40. Exhortation: The gift that moves the believer to reach out with Christian love to people in personal conflict or facing a spiritual void, John 14:1-11, 2 Tim. 1:16-18. Faith: The gift that gives a believer the eyes to see the Spirit at work and the ability to trust the Spirit's leading without indication of where it might lead, Gen. 12:1-4, Mark 5:25-34, 1 Thess. 1:8-10. F1: Church Council Member, Council Giving: The gift that enables a believer to recognize God's blessings and to respond by sacrificial giving, 2 Cor. 9:6-15, Luke 21:1-4. G1: Stewardship Drive, Stewardship Ministry Hospitality: The gift that causes a believer to joyfully welcome and receive guests, Romans 12:13, 16:23, Luke 10:38. H1: Greeter/Host, Witness Ministry Intercession: The gift that enables a believer to pray with the certainty that the prayer is being heard, Matthew 6:6-16, Luke 11:1-10 IN1: Prayer Chain, WELCA Knowledge: The gift that drives a person to learn, analyze and uncover new insights with regard to the Bible, faith and leadership, 1 Cor. 12:8, Romans 12:2 K1: Library Resource, Parish Education Ministry Leadership: The gift that gives a believer the confidence to step forward, give direction and provide motivation to fulfill a dream or complete a task, Romans 12:8, John 21:15-17 L1: Ministry Chairperson, All Ministries Mercy: The gift that motivates a believer to feel deeply for those in physical, spiritual, or emotional need and then act to meet that need, Luke 7:12-15, Luke 10:30-37, Matthew 234:34-36 M1: Emergency Shelter Worker, Social Concerns Ministry Music-Instrumental: The gift that inspires a believer to express personal faith and provide inspiration and comfort through the playing of a musical instrument, Psalm 33:1-5, Psalm 150, 1 Samuel 16:14-23 MS1: Piano Accompanist, WMA Ministry Music-Vocal: The gift that gives a believer the capability and opportunity to present personal witness and inspiration to others through singing, Psalm 96:1-9, 100:1-2, 149:1-2 MV1: Church Choir, WMA Ministry Pastoring (Shepherding): The gift that gives a believer the confidence, capability and compassion to provide spiritual leadership and direction, 1 Tim. 4:12-16, 3:1-13 P1: Befriender, Parish Education Ministry Service (Helps): The gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God's work is fulfilled, Luke 23:50-54, Romans 16:1-16, Philippians 2:19-23 S1: Computer Programmer, Congregation Support Skilled Crafts: The gift that enables a believer to create, build, maintain or repair items used within the church, Exodus 30:16, 31:3-5, Ezekiel 27:4-11 SK1: Building & Grounds Maintenance/Upkeep, Property Ministry Teaching: The gift that enables a believer to communicate a personal understanding of the Bible and faith in such a way that it becomes clear and understood by others, 1 Cor. 12:28, Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 18:24-48 T1: Adult Class Teacher, Parish Education Ministry Wisdom: The gift that allows the believer to sort through opinions, facts and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be the best for the individual believer or the community of believers, 1 Cor. 2:6-13, James 3:13-18, 2 Chronicles 1:7-11 W1: Visioning Process, Long-Range Planning Ministry Writing: The gift that gives a believer the ability to express truth in a written form; a form that can edify, instruct and strengthen the community of believers, 1 John 2:1-6, 12-14, I Timothy 3:14-15, Jude 3 WR1: Newsletter Article Writer, Congregation Support Pray for God's Guidance! Note your selections! Then, make those same selections on the attached sheet of paper and RETURN TO THE OFFICE! Welcome to Prince of Peace! We are blessed that God has brought you here! SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY (Please return to the Office when completed.)
NAME_____________________________________________________ CIRCLE PREFERENCE AD – Administration 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Are there any gifts that you don't see represented here and would like to have used? If so, please indicate this and we will be contacting you.
Please return to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Submitted by East Central Synod of Wisconsin |
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