Christmas Eve: Words of Wisdom for Christmas • John 1:1-18; Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20 • As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior at Christmas, we consider how distinctive the Lord’s love and action is. God has sent His only begotten Son in human flesh—God’s word says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The birth of Jesus signals that God’s love is more than words, it is demonstrated through Christ in action and in truth. Especially when we consider how the gift of God’s Son goes far beyond all human wisdom, for He comes to make God known to us, filling our lives with grace and truth.
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year! • We wish all a merry and blessed celebration of Jesus’ birth. May the joy of His coming fill you with joy, love, and peace throughout this upcoming year. We want to thank all those who are making our worship at Prince of Peace/Príncipe de Paz so special this Christmas and NYE: musicians, choir, worship planners and worship servants, those up front and those behind the scenes. Thank you and God bless you all!
Pastors and Staff Appreciation Gift • Our Personnel Committee and Board invite you to thoughtfully consider giving a special donation for an end-of-year gift to pastors and staff. This is an opportunity for us to show appreciation as a whole congregation during this season of giving. Please note “Staff Gift” on your envelope or online gift. We thank you for your consideration. https://poporlando.breezechms.com/form/staffgift
Christmas Worship Schedule • Join us for another year as we Celebrate Jesus Christ! (No 11:00am Contemporary worship & No 5:30PM Spanish Worship)
5pm Family Contemporary Service | FLC – Glow sticks
7:30pm Traditional Service | Sanctuary – Holy Communion – Candlelight
10:00pm Traditional Service | Sanctuary – Holy Communion – Candlelight
Christmas Day Worship – Monday, December 25 • 10am Traditional Service | Sanctuary – Holy Communion
Adult Sunday Morning Bible Class will resume on NYE at 10:00am • The class is led by Jim Essig. We are studying the book of Ephesians. Classes are in the Music Room, between 9 am & 11 am worship.
SUNDAY SCHOOL AND YOUTH BIBLE CLASSES resume January 8, 2023
Mid-week Bible Class for Adults Resumes Wednesday January 3 at 9:30am.
New Year’s Eve Worship – Sunday, December 31 – Regular Sunday Morning Schedule (9am Traditional, 11am Contemporary, 11am Culto español)
6pm Traditional NYE worship | 7:30pm Adoracion en espanol • We invite you to join us for special evening worship services on New Year’s Eve as we give thanks and praise for the year gone by and pray for God’s continued guidance, grace, and provision in the year ahead.
Holiday Office Hours of Operation • The church office will resume regular office hours on Tuesday, January 2. Church staff members are available to serve you by appointment. As staff will be in and out of the office during this time. Please call ahead if you are planning to stop by or have a need. For pastoral emergencies, please feel free to contact Pastor Ken (703) 338-4387, or Pastor Borges (407) 777-5119, directly.
Holiday Shopping Made Easy – Gift Cards Through RaiseRight! • The Gift Card program through Raise Right supports our youth ministry. You can use this ID code: CFA82EEB65547 to identify Prince of Peace Youth as the organization you want to benefit from your order and start shopping.
Volunteers Needed! Help Serve the Lord • We are looking for volunteers that are willing to help serve the Lord by helping with ushering, communion assistant, projection, live stream, altar guild and transportation. If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Adriana at (407)277-3945 for more information. | adriana.alas@poporlando.com
Altar Flowers • If you wish to sponsor Altar Flowers at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in celebration of a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, please fill out a form online or contact our church office. https://poporlando.breezechms.com/form/flowers
Youth Christmas Party/Lock In – Wednesday, December 27 – 28 at 8pm -7am • Youth Christmas party has been redated for December 27, combined with the Lock In! They will be including the annual “Big Ball of Christmas” activity along with other Christmas games. Advance registration is appreciated to help with supply planning but NOT required. Contact DCE Eric Gerken with any questions. | eric.gerken@poporlando.com
Food Pantry Fund Drive Update: Thank you to all those who have participated! We are more than halfway to our goal of $25,000 (either in one-time gifts or regular, recurring gifts) to support our Food Pantry outreach. If you wish to give a special year-end gift, please note “Food Pantry” on your checks or donate at https://poporlando.breezechms.com/give/online
Fruits of Faith
December 17
9:00am Traditional: 104 | 11:00am Contemporary: 53 | 11:00am Spanish: 75 | TOTAL: 232
Giving: Thank you for your faithful engagement in our ministry through your gifts and offerings.
December 3 offerings $10,126
December 10 offerings $10,214
December 17 offerings $12,763
needed each week: $11,923.
Food Pantry special year-end fund drive: $17,967.05; we also celebrate a $25,000 grant for 2024 from the City of Orlando and a Q1 2024 grant of $16,666 from Second Harvest Food Bank.
PRAYERS
|Prayers of Comfort: We pray for the Lord’s comfort for the family and friends of Minnie Hutchison, who went to her heavenly home on Saturday, December 16. A memorial service will be held for Minnie on Saturday, January 20, at Church of the Ascension on Apopka Vineland Road, where Minnie also worshipped. | We continue to pray for the family and friends of Joyce Miller.
Recovering: Barbara Conyers, Carol Fennell, Gene Fresk, Joshula Flowers, Camille Neville, Norma Poutre, Sheila Roberts, Cindy Sibly, Pete Spudich, Joni Steidly, Cheryl Strauss, Pat Williams
Healing and Strength: Karen Adkins, Dave & Mary Ann Ault, Deaconess Ligia Borges, Rebecca Brooks, Delores B, Michael B, Donna C, Danny Conlin, Elizabeth Dawson, Sarah D, Steven Dorsagano, Gail Eaton, John Elmore, Amanda Fearce, Judy Finnie, Leonard G, Rev. Dennis Glander, Michael Halstead, Joe Heinz, Bjorg Hodges, Jim & Pam Ingersoll, Chris & Kristen Ivanic, Bill Jordan, Jerry Jordan, Merle Kroeplin, Henry Leon, Jim Lord, Kathy McCartin, Michael McCarty, Maddie, Royanne Martin, George Meder, Lewis Mendez, Christopher Miller, Mario Muniz, Skylar Newport, Debbie Noss, Rick Perre, Miriam Rivera, David Rodgers, Nitza Rohena, Rex Serio, Hannah Steinbronn, Shirley Stockett, Meridith Swanson, Vincent Ward, Ted Wessel, Cricket Winters, Leon W, Linda Zamsky
Receiving Treatments: Ellen Boogher (upcoming surgery), Sarah vonBraun, Kent Jespersen, Cameron LaPointe, Pastor Brian Roberts, Elena Santana, Marleen Schmidt, Jeff S, Tina T, Janet V, Debbie W, Staci Welburn, Dayton Whites, Brenda Williams, Michelle Zicarelli
Continued Care: Chuck Boogher, Rick Burns, Pat C., Kelly DeFrietas, Al & Linda Dicks, Bob E, Linda House, Linda Jackson, Otto Krumpholc, Mary K.M, Jean LaPointe, Micki & Sal LoBue, Todd O, Betty Schnell, Caitlyn Thoms; Michael, Noel, & Roger V, Harry Wahl
Special: Heavenly Father, Your love has always been more than words, as You sent Your Only Begotten Son, the Word made flesh, to demonstrate Your love for all the world. Jesus, our Savior, we worship You at Your birth and we pray that You would make our faith in You more than words, so that we would love others in action and in truth. • We ask for the Lord’s travel mercies upon all those who are traveling this time of year. • For all who worship this Christmas and New Years: Lord Jesus, as we celebrate Your birth, be with all who kneel before Your manger to acclaim You as their Lord and their King. Bless us in this upcoming new year that we would be guided by Your grace and always walk in Your paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. • Be with President Biden, members of Congress, and the Supreme Court, as well as all state and local leaders. • Lord, watch over and keep our first responders safe.
Prayers for those in the military or deployed: We pray for those who serve our nation in the armed services and for those who are deployed, especially those connected with our PoP/PdeP family: Jake Allison, Zachary Carbonell, Cody Dowling, Kyle Holysz, Matthew Rojas, Amanda S, Greg S, Geoffrey W
Preschool Prayers—Class of the Month: This month we pray for our friends in the Tiger Cubs class (2 y/o) – Ms. Stephanie, Ms. Elida, Frank, Rogan, Aurelia, Alessia, Angeline, Ezra, Flavio, Noor, and Julian.
Christmas Poinsettias 2023 • Thank you to all those who helped beautify our worship of the Newborn King. May He bring comfort, peace, and life to all.
Pat Bak, In memory of my brother, Bob
Paul & Marlene Brown, In thanksgiving to God
Stephanie Carbonell, In memory of Stephen and Eleanor Haydmach
Debbie Davis, In memory of all my family now in heaven
Frank & Shar Dluhy, In memory of Ralph and Arlene Murray, and Ted and Theodore Dluhy
Gail Eaton & Donna Brown, In memory of Eleanor Eaton and In celebration of the birth of Donna’s granddaughter, Ella
Bob Eldredge, In memory of Colleen Eldredge
Pastor Ken & Peg Green, In memory of our mothers, Joanne Green and Elke Heinz
Joanne Hahn, In memory of husband, Bob Hahn
Ken & Judy Holzscheiter, In memory of our loved ones
Linda & David House, In memory of loved ones
Linda I’Anson, In celebration of our Lords birth
Charlene Kennedy, In memory of my father, John E. Kennedy
Otto Krumpholc & Sons, Scott & Brett, In memory of Joan Krumpholc
Kathryn McCartin, In memory of Husband, Ron McCartin, and Parents, Ray and Ethel Schloemer
Jim & Cherie Nocks, In memory of Lew & Jan Fry
Gerry & Debbie Noss, In memory of loved ones and In celebration of Jesus’ birth
Nohora Sigcha, Glory to God
Chris & Vicky Stork, In memory of Gloria White, John and Jyce White, and Lucille Dorman
Gwen Taliver, In memory of Viola Baker and Gene Hawkins
Sonia Tellez, In memory of loved ones
Judy & Mike Tencza, In memory of Josephine and Benjamin Tencza, and Mary Esther Rhodes
Bob & Marcy Weisel, In memory of Dorothy Reynolds
Thomas R Zehnder, In memory of Jacquelyn R. Zehnder and Kristi L. Suttle
Christmas Schedule:
Church and Preschool Offices will be closed Monday, December 25, and Monday, January 1.
The church office will be on a modified schedule between Christmas and New Years.
Sunday, December 24 – Modified Sunday Morning Schedule
9:00am Traditional worship | Sanctuary
11:00am Culto español | Templo
No Bible classes or children’s Sunday School No 11:00am Contemporary worship
Christmas Eve Worship — Sunday, December 24 – NO Spanish (5:30p) Christmas Worship service.
5:00pm Contemporary Christmas Eve Worship | Glow Sticks | FLC
7:30pm Traditional Worship | Candlelight | Sanctuary
10:00pm Traditional Worship | Candlelight | Sanctuary
Christmas Day Worship – Monday, December 25
10:00am Traditional Worship | Sanctuary
Sunday, December 31 – Regular Sunday Morning Schedule (9am Traditional, 11am Contemporary, 11am Culto español; no children’s Sunday School)
New Year’s Eve Worship — Sunday, December 31
6:00pm Traditional Worship | Sanctuary
7:30pm Culto español | Templo
Concert Series
We are excited to be able to host artists and musicians to hear how wonderful they all play! Save the date and share the news with family and friends. Our next concert to host is scheduled for March 2024, more information will be provided as we get closer.
- Saturday, March 2, 2024 – Choir Concert – Cornerstone University Chorale – Dr. Kent Walters, Conductor. More detailed information will be provided in the new year.
Staff Contacts:
Rev. Ken Green, Senior Pastor ken.green@poporlando.com
Rev. Adolfo Borges, Assoc. Pastor adolfo.borges@poporlando.com
David Ludwig, Jr., Worship & Music david.ludwig@poporlando.com
Deaconess Ligia Borges, Outreach ligia.morales@poporlando.com
DCE Eric Gerken, Families and Youth eric.gerken@poporlando.com
Anne Dobbins, Preschool Director anne.dobbins@poporlando.com
Jim Essig, Senior Adult Ministry jim.essig@poporlando.com
Pam Fuller, Chief of Staff pam.fuller@poporlando.com
Adriana Alas, Administrative Assist. adriana.alas@poporlando.com
Office Contact information: (407)277-3945 | staff@poporlando.com