Preschool News
During the month of February, our preschool children have enjoyed several days of snow and had fun playing and sledding on our saucers outside. We hope you noticed the “Snow People” created by the children on the lawn overlooking the parking lot. They made a family of three and a larger 4th Snow Person that watched over everyone.

We now have Lunch Bunch on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. It gives the Stepping Stones class a wonderful opportunity to stay at school and join the Pre -K class for lunch. We have seen many happy faces as they socialize and get to know the children in our class.

February brought to a close the first semester of our Music Together Program taught by Ms. Helene Welsing. We celebrated with a Family Music Together Day inviting all parents to share a wonderful and lively music session with us.

I would like to thank all parents and members of the congregation who supported our PreSchool Fundraiser. I hope everyone who purchased something from The Pampered Chef enjoys their choices for many meals to come.

Open Registration continues for students entering our program in September 2010.

We are having an OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, March 18th from 10am to 12:00 noon to give families an opportunity to visit our school. Please extend an invitation to family and friends you know who have young children ages 2, 3 and 4 years of age. We are looking forward to a wonderful day greeting new and alumni families.

Sincerely,
JoAnn Kitlas - Preschool Director



Annual Lenten Soup, Study & Worship
Wednesdays - March 3, 10, 17 & 24th.
Volunteers are asked to provide dinner each week. Please sign the registration sheet in the Narthex (lobby).



Book of Faith

Be a part of this conversation at Prince of Peace this Lent at http://bookoffaith.ning.com/groups.

Please contact Pastor Holliday pastorholliday@princeofpeacenj.org for more information



ASAPH - Adult Study and Fellowship
Prince of Peace’s Adult Study And PHellowship (ASAPH) will begin another year of study on Wednesday, September 23rd! This year our study will we continue the popular Bible study series by Kelly A. Fryer “No Experience Necessary." Pastor Holliday and Deaconess Hertha Fischer will be team teaching this material. Lively debate and application to current life situations are key components of this course.

Meetings for ASAPH will be held on Wednesdays from 1:00PM until 2:30pm. A $15 donation is asked for each semester to offset the cost of course materials.

The dates of the sessions for the 2009-2010 course year are as follows:

• Fall Semester—"More than Just a Job" (Unit 4): 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4
• Winter Semester—"That’s a Deal" (Unit 5): 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10 (Double Session)
• Spring Semester—On A Mission (Unit 6): 4/21, 4/28, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/9, 6/16

Stewardship

As we move into summer, I ask that you continue your weekly contributions to support Prince of Peace. Contributions often drop off as people go away on vacation, but our expenses remain the same.

On a different note, I’d like to thank everyone again about our wonderful sense of stewardship here at Prince of Peace. We are blessed to be members of a congregation that gives so much — time, talent, and treasure, the three "Ts" of stewardship. Whether social action, building and grounds upkeep, Christian education, or the many other services our members provide, or your weekly contributions, we are truly a church community that gives. Let us offer thanks for all that we have done and prayerfully ask for guidance in continuing to foster the many ministries of Prince of Peace with our time, talent, and treasure.

In Christ,
Andi DeCapua



Wurffel Fund College Aid Available

Financial aid for college students is now available through the Karl, John, Elizabeth Wurffel Memorial Fund. The aid will be provided in the form of student loans. While the amount of funds available is limited, Lutheran students are encouraged to apply. Terms for the loans are very beneficial to the recipients. Eligibility is described as follows:

"Any member of a NJ Synod, ELCA, congregation planning to attend or enrolled in a matriculated program of study in an accredited 4-year or 2-year college or university may apply. Loans are for undergraduate study only.

Priority of consideration is given on the basis of activity in the life of the church as described by the recommendation letter of the applicant’s pastor and on the basis of need. Priority is given first to students attending any ELCA Lutheran College or University, and then to any accredited 2-year or 4-year university."

Please contact the church office to obtain the application and letter of recommendation forms.



Do You Know the Signs of a Stroke? Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.
A neurologist said that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (coherently-- e.g. It is sunny out today.)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

And… Stick out Your Tongue ...
Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked,’ if it goes to one side or the other, this is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.



Stewardship: Faithful Stewardship, or Full of Faith Stewardship
Last month, we heard Jesus’ teaching about the mustard seed – with even just a small amount of faith, anything is possible. I want to talk about seeds, faith and stewardship.

With our liturgy, we repeat many of the same words and phrases every week – we Lutherans are very orderly and we like to know what is coming next. BUT, those words and phrases don’t sink into our minds.

The phrase "Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown’ was previously a regular part of worship. That phrase has special meaning for me. These words remind me of my maternal grandparents, who I never met because they had died before I was born. They were German immigrants and farmers who participated in the last Oklahoma land rush. They turned a quarter section – 160 acres – of raw land in western Oklahoma into a farm. They made a living even during the Dust Bowl by gathering a harvest from the seeds that were sown. Their success was based on two facts – 1) faith that a harvest would come, and 2) diligent work.

Prince of Peace – you and me – need to concentrate on gathering a harvest from the seeds that we sow:

• Our ministry to others – the homeless, the hungry and the disabled
• Using our facilities to benefit others – scouts, pre-school, overnight shelter
• Word and Sacrament – faithfully participating in worship
• Outreach and evangelism in our community
• All of that is stewardship.

At this time of year we are recommitting our time, talent, and money to God’s work. This ‘stewardship’ is a response to God many gifts to us. Which reminds me of some other words we hear every week – "This is my body, given for you."

I encourage each of you to think about that Gift – his Son – and Jesus’ saving grace, as we finish this year and as you prepare your commitments for 2008.

- Jim Schaeffer



The Christian Education Ministry
What are the aims and/or goals of this ministry?

The Christian Education Ministry is responsible for the overall education of the members of the congregation- including: Sunday School, Adult Bible Studies, Confirmation instruction, First Communion instruction, Vacation Bible School, Good Friday Mini Camp, and other educational programs. Our goals are:

• Increasing attendance in these programs,
• Promoting age appropriate familiarity with the Bible,
• Instilling an understanding of God’s unconditional love.
• Meeting certain educational goals for our Sunday School children. By the time that they enter Confirmation Class, they should know; The Lord’s Prayer (Grades1-2), The Ten Commandments (Grades 3-4), and The Apostles’ Creed (Grades 5-6).

How will it accomplish these in the coming year?

• Offering a variety of educational opportunities
• Evaluating our curriculum to ensure that it meets our educational goals
• Increasing publicity of our programs to increase attendance
• Keeping accurate attendance records and reaching out to students who have not been attending Sunday School

What opportunities are there for volunteers?

Long Term Projects (approximate time needed)
Sunday School Teacher (1-3 hours a month)
Bible Study Leader (1-4 hours a month)

Short Term Projects
Teach Vacation Bible School (one week)
Create Decorations for VBS ( 2-3 hours)
Assist with Good Friday Mini Camp (1 day)

One-time opportunities
Assist with a Super Sunday(1-2 hours)
Assist with Rally Day (1-2 hours)

Make Suggestions to:
Andrea Flannery, Melissa Millad or Margaret Donne



Stewardship - Your Offering Envelopes

A number of people have asked for an explanation of the various ‘boxes’ on the front of our offering envelopes. The regular Sunday envelope has four boxes marked:

• Operation Expenses: These offerings pay for the day-to-day costs keeping Prince of Peace open and engaged in ministry. Included in this are: salaries, utilities, supplies, etc.
  
  
• Mission Support: These offerings are remitted to the New Jersey Synod and the National Headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Included in this are: Staff salaries, costs of training clergy, distribution of church-wide materials for helping congregations, assistance to missions throughout the world, etc.
  
  
• Mortgage: These offerings help to pay the current mortgage on the parsonage which will pay for the new roof on the church and other needed improvements.
  
  
• Other: Unless the donor indicates otherwise (and you may use this box for any item you wish to specifically designate) these offerings are remitted to Synod for World Hunger.
  
  

In addition to the regular weekly envelope, your box contains envelopes for special, designated uses, such as flowers for decorating the altar, payment for your "Lutheran" magazine ($8.00 per subscription), etc. Other special envelopes are included for special services during the church year. All offerings made to the church are recorded by number and you receive a quarterly report to show your stewardship of your treasure toward Prince of Peace Church.



Facts About the Homeless

• There has been a rapid increase in the number of homeless people caused by a weak economy and cuts in federal aid.
  
  
• The homeless population is largely made up of adult men, but the proportion of women, children and youth has steadily increased.
  
  
• Homeless individuals are often estranged from family and other social networks—1/3 are chronically mentally ill—1/2 are substance abusers.
  
  
• Today's homeless, however, are mostly non-white, relatively young (middle 30s) and include a large number of women and children—1/3 are veterans.
  
  
• 28% of homeless clients report that they sometimes or often do not get enough to eat. 29% also report abuse or neglect in childhood from someone in their household.