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Peace Notes APRIL 2012

Dear friends,

Several years ago, Becky and I traveled to Greece and fol-

lowed the footsteps of Saint Paul as he brought the Good

News of Jesus from Israel to Greece and Rome.

One of the thrills for us came at the

city of Thessalonica. As you may know, Paul started a

church there and we have the le'ers to the Thessalonians

in our New Testament. The thrill came when we were able

to walk on the same Roman Road that Paul and Timothy

did on their missionary journeys over

2,000 years ago.

I asked our guide how it was possible that a+er two millen-

nia the road that Paul and Timothy walked on s,ll existed.

She said it was because the Romans who built the road

made sure that it had a strong and solid founda�on.

It is the founda,on that makes for something that lasts.

Think about it in your life. If you hadn’t had family or

friends who gave you a solid founda,on in the faith, you

would probably be rudderless and lost. If you had not had

a church with dedicated Sunday School teachers and pas-

tors, it would have been difficult to have come to know

Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

We want our children, our youth, and our en,re communi-

ty to know about the wonderful salva,on promised in

Christ. We want them to know that Jesus is not just for a

few, but for all. We want all to have the faith that sustains

them in the wonderful ,mes and the painful ,mes. We

want them to have the faith that brings joy and the awe

and makes life full and rich. We want them to have the

sure promise of eternal life that is so clear in the story of

Jesus.

A friend the other day said, “I don’t know how I would get

through a week without being able to pause on Sunday to

spend ,me with God and with God’s people in church on

Sunday morning.” He has that strong founda,on. He has

that which will carry him through life and into eternal life.

As you and I reflect on what it is we will do when our fund

drive begins, I hope we remember how blessed we are to

have our faith and how important it is for us to see to it

that others can also have this wonderful gi+ and that they

too, might have “A Strong Founda,on” that will last for

eternity.

God bless you in your generosity.

Pastor Ron Prasek

Senior Pastor

$650M Mortgage Payment

$650M Debt Reduc�on

$1.3 Million Total$1.3 Million Total$1.3 Million Total$1.3 Million Total

Campaign begins April 15th

Pledge cards are mailed April 23rd

Pledge Sunday is May 6th

OurOurOurOur

Goal:

Goal:

Goal:

Goal:

2

Experience the Cross—Worship with us on Good

Friday at 8pm in the Brekke Room as we relive the

crucifixion of Jesus Christ using our five senses. This

Passion worship experience includes music, video,

readings, prayer and reflec,on ac,vi,es.

Make the Easter breakfast a part of your family

tradi�on! Join the Word of Peace community East-

er morning for an incredible breakfast, served from

7am–11:30am. Enjoy pancakes, French toast, sau-

sage, eggs, an assortment of rolls and pastries,

fresh fruit, juice, milk, and coffee. Free will offering,

suggested dona,on is $7 for adults and $5 for kids.

The church office will be closed on Monday, April

9th, in observance of the Easter holiday.

The families of Luke Letellier and Megan Sample

would like to give special thanks to their family and

friends for all of their prayers, love and support

during this ,me of grief. Each of you have a special

place in their hearts and they will never forget all

your support, ,me given and everything you have

done for these families.

Members who own Thrivent Financial products

can give back! Direct your Choice Dollars to Word

of Peace and invest in the amazing local and global

ministry we share every day. To check your current

available Choice Dollars or to designate them to

Word of Peace, call 800-847-4836 and say,

“Thrivent Choice” or go online to

www.thrivent.com/choicedollars.

Our 3rd Annual Stomp Out Hunger 5k Run/Walk

for C.R.O.S.S. is Saturday, April 28th—Registra�on

at 8am, Race at 8:30! Your support will help

C.R.O.S.S. food shelf provide goods, emergency

shelter, meals on wheels, clothing, school supplies

and other assistance to more than 500 families

each month in Northwestern Hennepin County. We

invite and welcome par,cipants to run, walk, do-

nate food items, promote, volunteer or in any oth-

er way contribute to make a difference for those

who need community support. All proceeds from

the 2012 Stomp Out Hunger event will go to

C.R.O.S.S. Par,cipants can register online at

www.wordofpeace.org.

Watch for volunteer opportuni,es in the

Do>Ministry sheet, visit the table when available in

the Gathering Area, or email terick-

son22@gmail.com for more informa,on.

Happenings

A8n: Cra9ers! We are on our way to share and learn new

cra+s. Bring your ideas and have some fun! We will meet

from 9:30am-12noon on Wednesday, 3/29, Friday 4/13,

Friday 4/27, Wednesday 5/2, Wednesday 5/17 and Friday

5/28. Call Bernice if you have ques,ons: 763-428-0771.

Cub Scouts God & Family Award—Do you have a Cub

Scout who is interested in earning the Cub Scouts God &

Family Award? If so, please contact Susen in the church

office at 763-496-2420 or skay@woplc.org. When we

have enough scouts to form a group, we will begin classes

with one of our pastors.

Please consider volunteering for food dona�on/

prepara�on or serving at the upcoming Sharing and

Caring Hands Meal on Tuesday, April 10th—

• We need volunteers to prepare 22 batches of macaroni

tuna salad; Please bring food to church by the evening of

Monday, April 9th.

• We need six volunteers to serve the meal; Volunteers

will meet at church at 10am to carpool, or meet at

Mary's Place by 10:30 am. The meal and clean up is usu-

ally complete by 2pm at the latest.

• Monetary dona,ons to purchase complimentary side

dishes would be greatly appreciated.If interested, please

sign up in the Gathering Area. For more informa,on,

contact Allison at alliv82@yahoo.com or 612-598-3970.

C.R.O.S.S. Corner

Please fill up those grocery bags and drop them off at

the C.R.O.S.S. Corner in the North Gathering Area. As

long as you bring them, we’ll get the food delivered to

C.R.O.S.S.!!

CHOCOLTE BUNNIES ARE NEEDED to fill Easter Baskets

for C.R.O.S.S. kids. If you can, bring in a chocolate bunny

or two and drop them off on the shelves in the ‘Cross

Corner.

Thank you and blessings to all that continue to support

C.R.O.S.S. in our community. Your donations mean so

much to those in who struggle to provide for their fami-

lies…God’s Grace!

3

Music & Worship

Word of Peace Seniors

Please contact Judy Hanson at 763-428-7657 for resource, commu-

nity or general informa,on for seniors.

If you’d like to subscribe to the Senior Newsle'er, call 763-241-

3520. Or, you can read the newsle'er online at

www.seniors.cityofrogers.org.

Date Time Activity Cost/Details Contact

Thursdays 10:00am Thursday Senior Shop Rogers Bus $1.00 per rider Judy 763-428-7657

4/1 1-5pm Jammers Pot Luck & Music Rogers Community Center

(eat at 4pm)

Dave 763-428-4217

Tuesdays 2:30-3:30pm Fit & Fun Exercise for Seniors North Ballet Academy

Hwy. 101 & CR 141

Barb at 763-429-4955

4/13 7:00pm Rogers Review Talent Show Tickets sold at the door Harold Trombley

763-428-5711

4/18 1:30-3pm Memory Loss Support Group at Wellstead For family members caring for

loved ones

Heidi at 763-428-8181

4/20 9-10:30am Breakfast at Denny’s in Rogers Menu items for $6.99 Margaret 763-428-8650

4/24 3-5 pm Happy Hour at Dehns in Dayton Early dinner $3.99, drinks

not included

Margaret 763-428-8650

4th Annual

Rogers Review Talent Show Friday, April 13 7:00 p.m.

at Word of Peace

This is a great evening of eclec,c entertainment delivered by a variety of local talent.

Make sure to mark your calendar for this event which benefits Rogers, Hassan Seniors

programming. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. This is a community

event—All are welcome!

Sing in the Hallelujah Chorus on Easter Sunday!

This year we'll be accompanied by organ, piano and brass choir.

We will have one rehearsal for the Hallelujah Chorus, which will

take place on Saturday, April 7th at 9:30 am in the sanctuary.

Celebrate Easter in this special way!

4

Middle School

MSM.AM—MSM.AM stands for Middle School

Ministry A.M. This month, we will meet on Sun-

day, April 15th in the Youth room from 9:30-

10:30am for food, devo,ons and games. All 6th-

8th graders are invited. See you there!

Summer Stretch—6th

-12th

Graders can sign up

now for Summer Stretch. It’s all about having fun

while doing important work in our community!

We’re living out the meaning of Ma'hew 5:16 –

“In the same way, let your light shine before oth-

ers, so that they may see your good works and

give glory to your father who is in heaven.” Grab

an informa,on packet and registra,on from out-

side the Youth Ministry office.

Youth Ministry

High School

Smallgroup Schedule:

Wednesday April 4th – No Smallgroups

Wednesday April 11th – Smallgroups at 7:30 pm

Wednesday April 18th – Smallgroups-Bowling night

Wednesday April 25th – Smallgroups at 7:30 pm

Youth Bowling Night—Wednesday April 18th

What’s more fun than bowling? Dress up in crazy ouXits and

let’s go bowling! More informa,on and sign-up is available on

the Youth bulle,n board.

Mon�cello Community Center Lock-in for Grades 6-12 from

9:30pm-6am on May 4th & 5th. Come on in, we lock the doors

behind you for a night of swimming, open gym, dodge ball tour-

naments, movies, food, rock climbing, and all the fun you can

handle! Cost is $20. Sign up on the youth bulle,n board. Parents

must complete the WOPLC Event Registra,on and Health form

and Mon,cello Community Center Rock Climbing release form

for all youth who a'end.

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Faith Forma�on Ministry

Vacation Bible SchoolRegistration

has begun!

June 25-29, 2012, 9am-Noon

for children 4 yrs.– 5th grade

Volunteers needed! Registration

forms available at the Education

office or at www.wordofpeace.org. Many volunteer leaders

needed—Come be part of the fun!

Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday, April 1 at 2 pm

For children birth through third grade. Come

for pictures with the Easter bunny, games, and

an egg hunt!

Buy a Bible for a Word of Peace Child!

We all help fulfill our baptism promises to our

kids by giving a Bible to every three-year old,

third grader, sixth grader and any child that

does not have a Bible. Purchase a Bible for a

child and share God’s Word!

5th Grade Parents! You’re invited to see what confirmation is

all about! Bring your fifth grader and yourself to Confirmation

large group time on Wednesday, April 25 at either 5:30 or 6:30

in the sanctuary. The learning event will be worshipful and we

will have people present to answer your questions.

8th Grade Confirmation Parents!

Wednesday, April 18 8th grade confir-

mation projects are due. These are a

celebration of your child’s faith journey.

Feel free to be creative and put these

projects together any way you wish. Call

Carrie Fischer or Pastor Krista Strum with

your questions at 496-2400.

Wednesday, April 25 is the 8th grade confirmation exam. Re-

views for this test were previously distributed. If your child has

a learning disability or requires special test taking accommoda-

tions, please contact Pastor Krista Strum at 496-2400.

Church School Kids sing in Worship on

Sunday, April 1 and Monday, April 2 for

Palm Sunday Celebrations

All church school kids will sing in the

worship service that they normally at-

tend church school hour. We celebrate Jesus’ triumphant ride

into Jerusalem! 5pm Monday kids should join their parents in

worship on Monday at 6:30 and come forward when called.

The Lutheran Course I

Sunday Evenings 6:00-8:30 pm

April 15-May 20

Based on the humorous book, Lutheran

Handbook , the Lutheran Course takes you

through the fundamental of Lutheranism in 6

sessions. Each session features a large group

DVD presentation followed by small group time that works

through ideas with depth and humor. Great for new Lutherans,

old Lutherans, people who slept through confirmation, or anyone

in between. Call Kristin Skare to sign-up 763.496.2404 or kska-

re@woplc.org

From Beginning to the End:

Studies in Revelation

Sunday Mornings-Choose 9:30 or 11:00am

April 22—May 20

The book of Revelation can confuse us. It can

disturb us. It can frighten us. At the same time

Revelation has inspired poets and artists, musi-

cians and movie makers because of its imagery.

These studies will explore how Revelation, through imagery

grounded in Scripture, reveals who Jesus is and who we are called

to be in response to this. Everyone is welcome! Registration is

NOT necessary.

The Rest of the Story

Sunday Mornings at 9:30 am in the Conference Room

The Rest of the Story provides opportunity for continued study

and discussion of the sermon Bible texts and weekly sermons.

Everyone is welcome and no registration is required.

Adult Learning Opportunities

Faith & Heroism:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer vs. the Third Reich

Friday, April 20 at 7pm

St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church Plym-

outh, Minnesota

Free and open to the public

About Eric Metaxas

Eric Metaxas is the author of the acclaimed New York Times

bestseller, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, which was

named “Book of the Year” by the Evangelical Christian Publish-

ers Association. Metaxas is the 2011 recipient of the Canterbury

Medal awarded by the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom. Pre-

vious medalists include Charles Chaput and Elie Wiesel. For

more information go to www.faith-and-life.org

Church School and Confirmation Opportunities

Holy Week is Sunday, April 1– Sunday, April 8

We encourage all Word of Peace families to spend time reading

the Holy Week stories in your SPARK Bibles (pg. 454-487) in your

Spark Storybook Bibles or (pg. 1188-1199/John 12-20:23) in your

SPARK NRSV Bible, attending Holy Week worship Services, and

celebrating Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday!

6

21705 129th Ave. N.

P.O. Box 306

Rogers, MN 55374

Church Office

763-496-2400 (press 3 to leave an emergency

message for the pastor)

On the Web

www.wordofpeace.org

www.facebook.com/

wordofpeace

Office Hours

Mon-Thurs 8am-4:30pm

Fri 8am-12:30pm

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 devo,on,

• Share Christ through word

and deed,

• Care for others and the world

God made, and

• Work for jus,ce and peace.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Contact Jennie Priebe in the

church office at 496-2401 or

jpriebe@woplc.org.

May newsle7er deadline:

April 13 at Noon

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION Thursdays, April 26 & May 3

5:45-8:45 p.m.

Interested in Joining Word of Peace?

Word of Peace offers New Member Orientation classes

3-4 times each year. Each class is split into two 3-hour

sessions:

First Week: Meet the pastors, hear what we believe and how we do

ministry.

Second Week: Share in a fellowship meal, meet the church staff,

learn how to identify and use your gifts.

For more information or to register for the New Member Orientation,

contact Susen Kay in the church office (skay@woplc.org or 763-496-

2420).

Donations: Please donate gently used furniture, books, adult and kids

clothes, toys, tools, etc. Computer equipment, electronics, phones and bro-

ken/damaged items will not be accepted.

Volunteers: Hundreds of volunteers needed for 2-hour shifts. Please contact

Karen Running at 763.496.2421 or krunning@woplc.org to volunteer. Confir-

mation service hours are available.

Shoppers: Bring your friends, neighbors and family to shop! Email everyone

you know about this exciting event!

Proceeds will go to participating ministry teams, benevolence (fund for fami-

lies in need), building fund (to help pay down the mortgage) and the general

budget.

Monday, April 16

7:30 Set up

Tuesday, April 17th

12-8, Intake

Wednesday, April 18th

12-8, Intake

Thursday, April 19th

10-12 Intake, 5-8 Sale

Friday, April 20th

9-6 Sale

7

Sermons & Texts

April 1 & 2

PALM SUNDAY

Pastor Rick Skare

“Significant Insignificants”

Most of us occupy small, mundane roles in God’s

reign. Yet through us, the great purposes of God

are being fulfilled and the reign of God is coming in

its fullness. Hosanna!

Scripture Readings: Mark 11:1-11; Phillipians 2:5-11

April 5

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Pastor Krista Strum

“The Lord’s Supper”

It’s not a meal to die for—but to live by.

Scripture Readings: John 13:1-17, 31b-35; Exodus

12:1-4 [5-10], 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corin-

thians 11:23-26

April 6

GOOD FRIDAY

“Seven Last Words of Christ”

Come hear the seven last words of Christ as reflect-

ed on by seven lay members of the

Congrega,on.

April 7 & 8

EASTER

Pastor Ron Prasek

“Used Tombstones”

Christ’s resurrec,on changed the world and broke

all the old rules. Death is temporary. In Christ, life is

forever.

Scripture Readings: John 20:1-18; Acts 10:34-43;

Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2,14-24

April 15 & 16

Pastor Krista Strum

“Do Not Doubt — Believe”

Thomas asks for a sign and Jesus offered his wounded

hands and side—with the words, “Do not doubt but

believe. "In Christ we are transformed into a commu-

nity that goes into the world.

Scripture Readings: John 20:19-31; 1 John 1:1-2:2;

Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133

April 22 & 23

Pastor Ron

“Consider the Lilies”

As we consider God’s great love for us, both in giving

us our world and our church, we pause to think of

how we will say thanks.

Scripture Readings: Ma7hew 6:25-34; Genesis 1:1-

2:3; Psalm 65

April 29 & 30

Pastor Ron Prasek

“It’s Up to Us?”

“Nothing built ever arose to touch the skies unless first one

person dreamed that it should, believed that it could and

willed that it must” — Charles T Ke'ering

With our pledges on Sunday, May 6th, we begin our next

step to building our new worship center. Our mission is to

live by faith in Christ and to share His love with all people.

To make this happen, each of us will help turn the dream

into reality by pledging generously and “Building a Strong

Founda,on.” On that founda,on, Christ will con,nue to

build His church.

Scripture Readings: 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18;

Psalm 23; Acts 4:5-12

APRIL

Non-Profit Org.

US Postage

PAID

ROGERS, MN

PERMIT NO. 9

C h a n g e S e r v i c e

R e q u e s t e d

P.O. B�� 306

R�#$%&, MN 55374

Sundays

8:00 a.m. Traditional

9:30 a.m. Blended

11:00 a.m. Contemporary

Mondays

6:30 p.m. Contemporary

Holy Week & Easter at Word of PeaceHoly Week & Easter at Word of PeaceHoly Week & Easter at Word of PeaceHoly Week & Easter at Word of Peace

Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Palm Sunday

April 1April 1April 1April 1 Worship at 8:00, 9:30

and 11:00 a.m.

Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday

April 5April 5April 5April 5 Worship at

6:30 p.m.

Good FridayGood FridayGood FridayGood Friday

April 6April 6April 6April 6 Worship at

Noon and 6:30 p.m.

The Passion Experience Worship at 8:00 p.m.

Holy SaturdayHoly SaturdayHoly SaturdayHoly Saturday

April 7April 7April 7April 7

Easter Saturday

Worship at 5:30 p.m.

Easter SundayEaster SundayEaster SundayEaster Sunday

April 8April 8April 8April 8 Worship at 7:30, 9:00,

10:15, and 11:30 a.m.

Easter Breakfast

served all morning