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PoP Newsletter C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 8

Weekly at Prince of Peace

Sunday Morning Breakfast at 6:30 am

Sunday Morning Worship Service at 9:00 am

Sunday Kid’s Church and Lunch at 11:00 am

Monday The Bridge Ministry from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Tuesday The Bridge Ministry from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Wednesday Evening Devotion and Meal from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Thursday The Bridge Ministry and Ray of Hope Counseling from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Thursday Narcotics Anonymous at 7:00 pm

Saturday Morning Breakfast at 6:30 am

Saturday Bible Study 4 pm, Worship 5 pm

Nov. 30 & Dec. 1 Saengerfest 7-11 pm Dec. 5 Charitable Suds @ Rhinegeist 5-8 pm

Proceeds support the Winter Cold Shelter Dec. 15 Divine Service w/ 5 Piece Quartet 5 pm Dec. 15 Winter Cold Shelter Opens 9 pm Dec. 19 Wednesday Evening Christmas Meal 5:30 pm Dec. 23 Kid’s Church Program & Meal 11:15 am Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service 6 pm

PRINCE OF PEACE NEWSLETTER WWW.POPLCMSCINCI.ORG/

CHRISTMAS 2018

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Rhinegeist Charitable Suds: On Wednesday December 5 from 5-8 pm a portion of proceeds from Rhinegeist will go towards the winter shelter at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. The Winter Shelter at Prince of Peace provides a warm place to stay for the homeless in Over-the-Rhine from December to February. Location: Rhinegeist Taproom, 1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202

Cold Shelter Opens

Once again Prince of Peace will be hosting a Winter Cold Shelter from December 15 to the end of February. It is an opportunity to open the doors of the church to those less fortunate that may not have a warm place to sleep at night. As of the first of December only two thirds of the funds needed to stay open thru February are available. At a charitable suds night at Rhinegeist Brewery on Tuesday, December 5, a portion of the proceeds will go to support the Cold Shelter.

What’s Happening at PoP Steeple Report

You can start to see the new slate shingles and copper flashing on the steeple. New air vents are being installed on all sides of the steeple. Once the upper portion is complete, the top layers of scaffolding will start to come down. Repairs on the belfry and lower part of the steeple will be starting soon! If you thought the steeple leaned slightly, it was not your imagination. The roofers found some rotted wood that was causing the lean. It has been repaired. This was an unexpected cost for Prince of Peace and we are looking to raise $28,000 to cover the cost of the wood repair. If we get some good weather in December, the scaffolding may come down by the end of the month. Once the scaffolding comes down, the holes in the roof that support the scaffolding will be repaired. The roofing company will also repair the water damage in the sanctuary, as a result of the holes.

PRINCE OF PEACE NEWSLETTER WWW.POPLCMSCINCI.ORG/

CHRISTMAS 2018

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Pastor John’s Jots

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name, there am I among them.” And in Matthew 28:20, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Advent is Christ’s presence now.

Advent is also a time when we look forward to the second coming of our Lord. We know that Jesus will come again, but we do not know when. Jesus tells us in Mark 13:32–33, “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” So Advent is time of looking forward to Christ’s presence when He will come again in the clouds, and in glory and in power. A time when there will be no more sin, or death, or pain, or sorrow. It will be a time when all things will be made new. Advent is Christ’s presence in the future.

During this Advent season, please make it a point to reach out to someone and invite him or her to church. Invite your neighbor or co-worker or acquaintance or friend. Please invite them to any church service that fits their schedule, but in particular, invite them to our special Christmas Evening – Candlelight service on Monday, December 24th at 6pm.

May Christ’s presence bless you and your family during this Advent Season.

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The Advent season is upon us. And as with every event this year, it seems like it is early. Yet, in the church calendar, Advent is right on time. Advent is the season in the church year where we look forward to the coming of our Lord and Savior in three (3) ways.

Advent is certainly the joyous time where we remember the nativity of our Lord. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2: 8-12

But it is also the coming of Christ in the present time. That is to say, we prayerfully ask for our Lord to be with us now, 2018 in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati. We ask for our Lord’s presence in the midst of our ministry and service to the homeless and poor, in the midst of our personal struggles, in the midst of our joys, in the midst of our tasks and goals of the church. In Matthew 18:20, our Lord said, “For where two or three are gathered in my

PRINCE OF PEACE NEWSLETTER WWW.POPLCMSCINCI.ORG/

CHRISTMAS 2018

Year End Gift Giving

Dear Prince of Peace Family & Friends,

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has launched a special fund raising effort. It is a 3-pronged effort to maintain our ministries, support our steeple maintenance, and reduce debt.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has been in existence since 1849. We have a strong ministry to the homeless and poor. We are a cold shelter in the winter months, we serve seven (7) free meals a week to the community, The Bridge Ministry specifically serves the homeless, we partner with other agencies to provide social services to the homeless and poor, and many other Mercy Ministries that serve the poor and homeless.

Most recently we have incurred unexpected costs that has created a financial burden on our small congregation. In particular, three (3) things have occurred: 1) the opportunity to buy back our parish house next to the church, 2) unexpected incremental maintenance on our church steeple, and 3) security requirement costs have created a special need for funds to be raised.

During this Advent season please consider supporting Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. We are a registered non-profit, 501C3 organization.

We have created a special fund raising effort on our web page. Here is a link to that page:

http://www.poplcmscinci.org/fund-raising.html

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church's Vision Statement:

Help build God's Kingdom in Over-the-Rhine by Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus' Salvation, Lifting up the Downtrodden, and Uniting All God's People Together in Worship, Service, and in Love.

Thank you & Blessings,

Pastor John