Peace be with you... #305 News Brief An Online News Brief from Spirit of Peace Church
Issued Friday, March 5th for the week ending Sunday, March 7, 2010
†Activities for this
Week, new Announcements, new Prayers and A Quote are displayed in RED. After one week, the Announcements and Prayers
revert to BLUE.
Lenten 2010 Wednesday Study Series: Handel's Messiah | Wednesdays, February 24 - March 24 | 11:00 AM | Community UCC | Rev. Rita will lead this study series; SOP members and friends are encouraged to attend.
Regular Worship Service & Children's Sunday School followed by Refreshment & Conversation | Sunday, March 7 | 5:00 PM | Fellowship Hall @ First Unitarian
Tom & Richard to host First of Two or Three 2010 SOP Fellowship Dinners | Saturday, March 13 | 6:30 PM | @ their home | They will provide drinks and a main course (pork chops on the grill). Everyone should bring sides or desserts. If anyone prefers a vegetarian option, please contact Tom. There will be a short study after the meal. | For more information and directions, again contact Tom (t.finlay@sbcglobal.net).
2010 South Texas Association Spring Meeting | Sunday, March 21 | Registration 2:30 PM ; Meeting 3:00 PM | Faith UCC - New Braunfels | For more information, please click on the following link: South_Texas_Association_Spring_Meeting_Poster.doc
47th Annual South Central Conference Annual Meeting: Restoring the Dance | June 4 - 6 | New Orleans (Marriott Convention Center) | Keynote Speaker: Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Professor of Theology @ Chicago Theological Seminary (Rita's alma mater) | For more information, please click the following link: SCC 47th Annual Meeting Announcement.doc.
If you can volunteer to be Sunday School Teacher, Worship Leader, Worship Space “Setter-upper” or Refreshment Provider some Sunday, please let Derek know (invisiblederek@rocketmail.com).
From Tom's Totable Tomes
(aka The SOP Library - SOPlibrary.doc)... This Week's Feature* Abraham(a video tape from Turner Home Entertainment, approx 2.5 hours)
The SOP library has more than just books – this week, we feature a video. This long, 1994 video tape stars Richard Harris and Barbara Hershey, and has won the Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
Genesis begins the Bible with a few fairly unrelated stories (the creation, the tower of Babel, and Noah and the flood), but then introduces Abraham in Chapter 12, and the main story of the Bible begins, and it will continue throughout the remainder of the 66 Biblical books. Pursuant to a visitation and command from God, Abraham moves himself and his family from Ur in present day Iraq, to Canaan, where almost all of the events in the remainder of the Bible will occur. His son is Isaac, and his grandson is Jacob (who had his name changed to Israel), and Israel's twelve sons were the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The video tape is part of the Bible Collection from Turner Home Entertainment. This is a powerful epic about an ordinary man who has an abiding faith in God. Abraham (Richard Harris) and his family heed the divine call again and again. Through many, many Biblical events, this tape brings to life the great man of faith. It is suspenseful and action packed with ground-breaking special effects. You will learn a lot about the early part of the Bible, plus be entertained.
*Library Notes
Spirit of Peace has a growing library as books and other items continue to be donated. A complete list can be accessed from the "Reading Recommendations" link (readingrecommendations.html) on the web site. If you would like to check anything out, just tell Tom, and he will bring it to church for you.
Mark F., family & friends as they celebrate his wedding this weekend.
Victims & survivors of the huge earthquake, numerous after shocks subsequent tsunamis in Chile this past week.
Madison Square Presbyterian Church Members who voted to become a "More Light" church last montth. "More Light" is the Presbyterian equivalent of the ONA designation for UCC churches.
Marcus who is suffering from health issues.
Rita's friend Roberta & her son (Sam's age) who were in a terrible car crash. The son broke his leg and Roberta is expected to recover, but it will take a long time.
Michelle who had surgery two weeks ago
Department of Defense Officials as they seek to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Victims and survivors of the disastrous earthquake and its many aftershocks and consequences that continue to plague the island of Haiti.
American and other world leaders as they search for solutions to the global economic crisis, nuclear proliferation and global warming.
World leaders and citizens as we work to eliminate terrorism and its root causes.
Americans as we continue to work towards better health care for all.
The 100's of 1000's who have lost their jobs, homes and/or their life savings in the disastrous economic downturn.
Those who have been lucky enough to find new jobs during these difficult economic times.
Members, families & friends of SOP and Community UCC, who continue to deal with anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's Disease, other mental & physical illnesses, family problems, financial hardships & loss of loved ones.
Military veterans, their families and all others who have served their country. Injured veterans and those who care for them. Families & friends of members of the military lost to war.
Those
at home and abroad, who continue to suffer unthinkable losses
because of serious disease, hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, earthquakes,
tsunamis, storms, floods, heatwaves, wild fires, drought, airplane crashes, train wrecks and other disasters worldwide.
Victims
and the perpetrators of genocide, oppression, wars, military skirmishes, abuse, school shootings, piracy, torture, and terrorist attacks around the world.
The
UCC Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning
(GLBTQ) concerns (The Coalition) and the fair treatment of Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender citizens of this and other countries
around the world.
Our earth and the
welfare of animals who are our planetary co-inhabitors.
If
you want to have an announcement, prayer or any other item included
in this or other news briefs, please inform the Spirit of Peace Web
Tender (semmering@aol.com).
If you would like to be removed from the e-mail list for Spirit of Peace Church, please let us know at any time at semmering@aol.com.
If you want to check up on our activities but not receive the e-mail messages about extra meetings, volunteer jobs, etc., you can always check out the news brief on our web site at http://www.spiritofpeacechurch.org/weeklynewsbrief.html.
