I n s i d e t h i s

i s s u e :

Bishop

Eaton’s

2

Ministry

Stewards

4

Committee

News

5

Peace

Endowment

6

Food Bank/

Soup Cook

Off

6

Birthday/

Anniversary

Celebrations!

7

Calendar 8

“ W h e r e t h e W o r d o f G o d i s p r e a c h e d a n d p e o p l e c o m e t o k n o w t h e L o r d ”

T H E T I D I N G S O F P E A C E

P e a c e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h

A s h l a n d , O h i o

APRIL

2016

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4

“The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men

said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not

here, but has risen.’” ~Luke 24:5

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed, alleluia! Here we are at

the beginning of our Easter season ready to celebrate the risen Christ, ready to

welcome the return of Spring, and ready for the promise of new life in both.

We find hope in that promise and in the return of plant and animal life in the

world around us. We exclaim with joy that Christ has conquered death and,

because of this, we no longer have to fear death. We explain with joy the

grace that God has freely given and we have freely received. We exclaim with

joy our call to share God’s grace and love with the world. The resurrection is

real. Alleluia and amen for that.

And yet, as much as we are joyous, and hopeful, and filled with Christ’s

love, as much as we proclaim the resurrection and an end to sin and death…

we still are very much surrounded by sin and death. There is still pain and suf-

fering in this world. People are oppressed and marginalized at the hands of

others. We hurt one another without regard. We hear loud voices that fuel ha-

tred and fear. We scapegoat the other.

Christ has already come to bring us the promise of forgiveness and ever-

lasting life with God, but that promise has not come to its fullness yet. So we

must live in this world of already/not yet. Already saved/not yet holy. And

we, as Christians, must seek God’s kingdom in the midst of it all. We have to

look for the places that are the most dark, the people that are the most lost and

we must proclaim loudly and with joy grace, love and resurrection. That is

our call. That is our mission as the body of Christ.

So when you hear words of hatred and fear, meet them with words of

love. When you see persecution, meet it with grace. When you see pain and

suffering, bring resurrection. That’s how we truly proclaim the good news.

That’s how God’s will is done. That’s how God’s kingdom will come.

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guide your

hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In Christ,

Pastor Karen

F r o m P a s t o r K a r e n

Special Points of

Interest:

Pastor Karen’s

Article

Bishop Eaton’s

Easter Message

Page 2

Pastor Karen will be out of the office March 28th—April 8th (on a vacation). Pastor John

Wanamaker will be covering the day to day needs of the congregation and preaching on April

4th, in her absence. If you need Pastor Wanamaker, you may call the church office

during office hours or directly at 419-281-9012 / 330-231-6521.

Easter is early this year, and in many places across this church trees will still be bare and fields barren. It might even snow. But on Easter morning we will gather to greet the risen Son and give thanks to God for the new life we have in Jesus Christ.

Two things come to mind this Easter when there is still only the hint of spring: Jesus’ words to his disciples just before his crucifixion and a hymn.

Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus was talking about his death, but he was also assuring his disciples and us that death is not the end, that, though it might seem impossible and even terrifying to step into the void, God brings life out of death.

The hymn is ELW 379. Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; love lives again, that with the dead has been; love is come again like wheat arising green.

The tune is actually a French Christmas carol. How perfect that, in the bleak midwinter, the promise of spring was planted.

St. Paul wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” We have already fallen into the earth and died. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” We will not remain alone. We will bear fruit.

The seed has been planted in all the barren places in the world and in our lives. That gives us the power and the hope – especially in the face of our brokenness – to see life where the world only sees death ... in refugee camps and hospice units, in parched earth and in floods, in oppression and denied justice we are bold to confess. Now the green blade rises. Now love lives again. Now love comes again like wheat arising green.

Christ is Risen.

Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

P r e s i d i n g B i s h o p ’s E a s t e r M e s s a g e

Murder, Country Style

Page 4

When: April 22 at 7pm

Where: Peace Lutheran Gym

Cost: $10 per ticket.

Tickets available from Dave Kowalka after Church or in the Church office during the week.

Peace Lutheran presents its’

Annual Dinner Theater presentation:

A P R I L & M AY M I N I S T R Y S T E WA R D S

Page 4

USHERS

April

Robert Forbes, Skip Hamler,

Dave Kowalka, Eric Akers

May

Larry Oberholtzer, Joe Sparr,

Ed Oberholtzer, Dick Armstrong,

ACOLYTES

04/03—Darby Warren

04/10—Paige Swanson

04/17—Mason Myers

04/24—Mikayla Myers

05/01—Will Long

05/08—Bethanee Bishop

05/15—Luke Blackley

05/22—Kaylein Ziehm

05/29--Ty Bolen

LECTORS

04/03—Cindy Twining

04/10—Amy Long

04/17—Lisa Blackley

04/24—Larry Oberholtzer

05/01-Wendy Wasnich

05/08--Natalie Anderson

05/15-Chris Swanson

05/22-Marcy Myers

05/29-Eric Akers

WORSHIP TAPE

DELIVERER

April

Sharon Johnson

May

FLOWER ARRANGER

April

Diana Kowalka

May

Jill Hamler

FLOWER DELIVERER

April

Barb Dreher

May

Kathy Wharton

GREETERS

04/03—Mona Morrison & Sharon Johnson

04/10—Dick & Connie Armstrong

04/17—Karla Pagano & Karen Cook

04/24—Tom & Sheryl Budd

05/01—Dave & Diana Kowalka

05/08—Karla Pagano & Karen Cook

05/15—Skip & Jill Hamler

05/22—Lucille Vaas & Jean Boreman

05/29—Shirley Beck & Barb Dreher CHANCEL FLOWERS

04/03—Diane Cook

04/10—Lillian White

04/17—

04/24—Sheryl Budd

05/01—Marcy Myers

05/08—Wanamakers

05/15—

05/22—Betty Harper

05/29—Dave & Diana Kowalka

ALTAR CARE

COMMUNION PREPARER

April

Kathy Wharton

Lucille Vaas

May

Freda Cook

Barb Dreher

COMMUNION ASSISTANT

April

Sandi Carpenter

Lillian White

May

Emily Anderson

Dan Bishop

DORCAS CIRCLE

Dorcas Circle meets the 2nd & 4th Wednes-

days of each month in The Fellowship Hall

at 1:00 p.m. In April, we will meet on the

13th and the 27th as we continue to knot

quilt layers together for distribution by

Lutheran World Relief to those in need.

We appreciate donations of flat sheets and

fabric for our quilt project.

FAITH CIRCLE

Faith Circle meets the 3rd Thursday of the

month in The Meeting Room at 2:00 p.m. Our

next meeting will be on April 21 with Lucille

Vaas as study leader. This month's topic will

be, "Keep On Keeping On", from the series,

"Christian Citizenship 101". Fellowship time

is enjoyed following the study with individual

snacks.

All are welcome to join us for study

and fellowship.

W O M E N ’ S C I R C L E S

MEN’S BREAKFAST

1st Saturday of every month!

Men of ALL ages are invited to the

monthly fellowship breakfast.

April 2nd @ 7am at Buehler’s

Come and enjoy good food, good conver-

sation, and share the Good News for our

lives. We are on our way for our busy lives

by 8:00am

M E N S M I N I S T R Y

PEACE MAKERS

Meet on the 3rd Saturday of the month

April 16th @ 9am.

Anyone who is interested in wood working

please contact: Dick Armstrong.

Page 5

Page 6

April Needs:

Grape and Strawberry Jelly

Pancake Mix

Syrup

Tea bags or Coffee

Mustard or Mayo

VEGETABLE SOUP!

Canned Chicken

Juices of any kind

F o o d B a n k

Sunday, April 10 following worship. Bring a kettle of your favorite

soup, or just come and enjoy. Tell Dan Bishop (419-589-4481) if you

plan to bring soup. Cost to come is by donation of cleanliness items

for the Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry or cash.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is providing supplemental

funding. Everyone is welcome.

We want to recognize any high school or college graduates this spring.

Please notify the church office if you or a family member will be graduating.

.Request forms for the 2016 grant distributions are on the table in the

narthex. This year we have $11,214 available to give away in the fol-

lowing categories: Capitol Improvements, Education, Missions, Special

Ministries, Worship Life, Scholarship, and Youth. The applications

must be returned to the church office by April 17th. The grants will be

distributed in August.

Contact Dan Long if any questions.

P E A C E E N D O W M E N T

~January 2016: 37 new families visited us in January. …….. served 236 families for a total of 593 people

~February 2016: 23 new families visited us in February. . …served 156 Families for a total of 335 people

Page 7

APRIL BIRTHDAYS Birthdays:

04/01—Peggy Selvage

Dan Long

04/02—Cohen Spotts

04/05—Lisa Blackley

04/07—Kathy Shearer

04/09—Rev. Ted Grotjohn

Bev Stiner

Cori Schiemann

04/10—Lillian White

04/15—Barb McCrea

04/20—Shelbe Oberholtzer

Kelly Keating

Kassandra Keating

04/21—Lucille Vaas

04/23—Cathy King

04/25—Karen Cook

04/26—David Bishop

Chris Swanson

04/28—Sheryl Budd

Birthday Highlight :

04/09—Pastor Ted Grotjohn

1633 St. Rt. 603

Ashland

04/09—Bev Stiner turns 81!

Shower her with a card!

1132 Fox Run Dr.

Ashland

Blood Donors Must: Be in good general health and feeling well*

Be at least 17-years-old in most states, or 16-years-old with parental consent if allowed by state law.

Weigh at least 110 lbs. Additional weight requirements apply for donors 18-years-old and

younger and all high school donors.

Peace Lutheran’s Next Blood Drive is May 7th

Together,

we can safe

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Page 9

Pastor Karen Liddy 216-559-3545(Cell) Dennis Krucinski, Council President 419-544-1164 Ron Blackley, Director of Music 419-289-7792 Cell-419-606-0696

S t a f f P h o n e N u m b e r s

Tabatha Wagner, Office Manager 419-281-1469 (church phone) Skip Hamler, Custodian 419-589-4946 Cell-419-709-7754 Larry Oberholtzer, Property/Grounds 419-289-1715

Linda Pittinger, Bev Stiner, Pat Daniels, Jim Daniels, Steve Kolacz, Dave Winger, John Mahl,

Ricky Wynn, Jamie, Nick Pagano.

Staff of Peace Lutheran Church, the Congregational Council and the members of the standing

committees. Those serving in the Military, those who have been

injured, those who have died, and their family and friends.

I N O U R P R AY E R S

Peace Lutheran Church

1360 Smith Road

Ashland, Ohio 44805

Office 419.281.1469

Email: peace2office@zoominternet.net

Website: www.ashlandpeacelutheran.org

“Where the Word of God is preached and people come to know the Lord”