Today: “Open Your New Year’s Gifts” • Readings: Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12 • As Jesus, the toddler Messiah, receives gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the Magi, what gifts from God are you anticipating unwrapping this new year? The gifts Jesus receives might not seem like the most practical thing for a toddler (no toy cars? no little fire trucks or action figures?). Yet what Jesus received was exactly what He needed. God knows your needs perfectly and will shine the light of His love on you this new year.
To view or print Sunday’s 9am Worship bulletin: https://poporlando.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025_01_5-Epiphany-Sunday.pdf
Nursery Available During All Sunday Services • For babies 6 months to age 4, located in Room 100 (across from the church & school office), with sign-in (required) and drop-off up to 15 minutes prior to the service and pick-up shortly after the service ends. The kids can play while they watch/listen to the worship live-stream. All our volunteers have completed background checks and are ready and willing to care for your child. See DCE Eric for more information!
Bible Classes
Adult Sunday Morning Bible Class at 10:00 am • The class is led by Jim Essig. We are studying the book of 1 Corinthians. Classes are in the Music Room during our 10:00 am Education Hour, between 9 am & 11 am worship.
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR AGE 4 – GRADE 5: Kingdom Quest • Kingdom Quest is a Bible overview curriculum that teaches children the core stories of the Bible and helps them see why they matter today. We help children experience God’s love through Bible stories, crafts, games and more., as we learn to follow Jesus. The children will have a lot of fun and learn important faith lessons at the same time. https://poporlando.breezechms.com/form/57d9c8
Youth Bible Class – 10:00am • This youth bible class will be held at McDonald’s (next to the church) for breakfast and bible study. They will be looking at what the bible says about serving him as a teen and having bible-based discussions. Be sure to have the bible app downloaded on to your phone!
The Mid-week Bible Class for Adults • Wednesday Mornings 9:30am – 10:30am in the Board Room. Our topic is looking at Scriptures for the upcoming Sunday’s theme. Led by Pastor Ken.
Are you looking for meaningful daily devotions that connect with everyday life?
• Our Daily Bread. “Helping you connect with God. Every day. Every way.” | https://www.odb.org/
• Lutheran Hour Ministries https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/.
Pick Up Poinsettias Today! • Thank you to all those who made contributions to the Poinsettias that made our worship at Christmas so beautiful. If you have not already done so, you may pick up your poinsettia from the courtyard at PoP. Thank you again to all who helped to beautify our worship spaces through your gifts. (Missed the list? You can see it in last week’s news https://poporlando.com/weeklynews/week-of-december-22-2024/#poinsettias)
In Memory of Jan Fry: Memorial Garden Interment at 12:30pm • Jan Fry’s daughter, Becky, has invited all to come to the brief interment service for Jan today at 12:30pm in the Memorial Garden, followed by a reception in the Family Life Center. Today is the second anniversary of Jan’s death.
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
Artificial Christmas Trees Make Great Early VBC Donations • If you’re replacing an artificial Christmas tree this year, please don’t throw it away! We need many trees for our “True North” Vacation Bible Camp next summer to create an Alaskan forest for the kids. To donate a tree, contact DCE Eric Gerken at the church office for drop-off instructions; do not leave it at the church.
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
LWML Collecting Eyeglasses Until September 7 for Future Mission Trip • LWML will be collecting all types of eyeglasses/readers until September 7th for their Mission Coordinator to Kenya. There are containers located in the narthex and family life center.
Compassion Project • Works with the Samaritan Resource Center and the Healthcare Center for the Homeless and the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. There is a collection site in the church office hallway to donate items such as a clean pair of jeans, a change of underwear, men’s shoes (athletic/tennis), a blanket, a backpack, some shampoo, etc.
Thank you for being the Heart, Hands and Feet of Jesus in the Heart of Orlando!
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.
Lutheran Haven Christmas Seal Outreach • Lutheran Haven’s Benevolent Care Ministry assists Lutheran Haven residents when a critical need arises. This campaign raises funds that are crucial to funding various needs for residents of the Haven, such as providing home care services. See the envelopes located at our entrances.
Thrivent Choice Dollars • Support Prince of Peace by directing your Thrivent Choice Dollars® today. Simply go to www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.
2025 Offering Envelopes Still Available for Pick Up • If you have not picked up your box of offering envelopes please check the narthex and FLC for your assigned box. If you are interested in offering envelopes, please contact the church office so we can provide you with a set and assign you a number. | (407)277-3945 or staff@poporlando.com
Fruits of Faith
Worship Attendance:
December 24, Christmas Eve
5:00pm Contemporary: 82 | 5:30pm Noche Buena: 45 | 7:30pm Traditional Candlelight: 228 | 10:00pm Traditional Candlelight: 82 | TOTAL: 437
December 25, Christmas Day
10:00am Traditional: 65
Sunday, December 29
9:00am Traditional: 100 | 11:00am Contemporary: 66 | 11:00am Espanol: 63 | TOTAL: 229
December 31, New Years Eve
6:00pm Traditional: 50 | 7:30pm Espanol: 23 | TOTAL: 73
Giving: Thank you for your faithful engagement in our ministry through your gifts and offerings.
December 15 offerings $11,029
December 22 offerings $9,041
December 29 offerings $19,545
Make an IRA gift to Prince of Peace! Are you over 70½? Each year the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds owners of traditional IRAs who are over 70½ that they may make a charitable gift from a traditional IRA. Learn more how you can make a difference by clicking here https://bit.ly/ira-charity-gifts.
PRAYERS
Prayers of Comfort: We pray that the Lord would comfort Elvi Lord at the death of her son, Greg, after a prolonged hospitalization in Chicago.
Hospitalized: Chuck Boogher
Recovering at Home or Rehab Facility: Ellen Boogher, Rick Burns, Sheila Dean, Shar Dluhy, Gail Eaton, Daryl Flynn, Joe Heinz, Susanne Johnson, Connie Lerchen, Tausha Miller, Camille Neville, Debbie Noss, Jeff Powell, Mike Ritzel (Judy Finnie’s nephew), Mario Rodriguez, Sheila Roberts, Cindy Sibly, Pete Spudich, James Stanley, Tony Steinbronn, Shirley Stockett, Pat Williams
Healing and Strength: Karen Adkins, Dave & Mary Ann Ault, Kurt Bickel, Rebecca Brooks, Sarah Dierking, Judy & Jim Finnie, Rev. Dennis Glander, Michael Halstead, Jim & Pam Ingersoll, Chris & Kristen Ivanic, Bill Jordan, Jerry Jordan, Merle Kroeplin, Henry Leon, Larry Martinez, Michael McCarty, Maddie, Lewis Mendez, Rick Perre, Raya Pokigo, Miriam Rivera, Nitza Rohena, Rex Serio, Hannah Steinbronn, Carmen & Juan, Rosalee Wessel, Ted Wessel, Cricket Winters, Leon W, Linda Zamsky
Receiving Treatments: Sarah vonBraun, Joshula Flowers, Debbie Holley (Pam Fuller’s sister), Cameron LaPointe, Larry Jones, Elena Santana, Jeff S, Barbara Smith (mother of Brooke McKinnon), Tina T, Janet V, Amber Vittone, Debbie W, Brenda Williams, Michelle Zicarelli
Continued Care: Pat C., Kelly DeFrietas, Al & Linda Dicks, Bob E, Linda House, Linda Jackson, Otto Krumpholc, Mary K.M, Jean LaPointe, Micki & Sal LoBue, Kay Minick, Mario Muniz, Todd O, Ray Pirino, Betty Schnell, Michael, Noel, & Roger V, Jerry Warnock
Family & Friends: Delores B, Michael B, Evelyn Brucks (Marlene Browne’s mother), Donna C, Danny Conlin, Elizabeth Dawson, Jameson Doud (young relative of Lu Burchfield), Steven Dorsagano, John Elmore, Amanda Fearce, Ralph Holt, Helen Laurie (sister of Stephanie Carbonell, hospitalized), Christina, Stephanie, Matthew, Michael, Samantha, Jason, Daniel Baudry, Fran Federman, Leonard G, Ruth Johnson (sister of Kathy McCartin), Meghan Miller, Vincent Ward (treatments), Jim Obenour, Carlyn and Sarah (fighting cancer), Haley, David Rodgers
Special: As we enter this New Year, we give thanks for You, Jesus—the perfect gift. As you received gifts from the Magi who came to worship You, lead us to fall down before You, offering all that we are and have, so that we would be open for the gifts You wish to give us this year. • Be with all victims and survivors of the new year’s terror attack on New Orleans. Mighty God, we ask that You would frustrate all who seek to do evil. • Be with President Biden, President-elect Trump, members of Congress, and the Supreme Court, as well as all state and local leaders. • Watch over and keep all 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, Sam Beasley, Zachary Carbonell, Billy Embach, Kyle Holysz, Matthew Rojas, Meghan Rojas, Amanda S, Greg S, Geoffrey, Anthony Witcher
Missing a birthday or anniversary and wishing to add to the list? Please email staff@poporlando.com
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
Jeanette Gabay, Director of Finance jeanette.gabay@poporlando.com
Adriana Alas, Administrative Assist. adriana.alas@poporlando.com
Office Contact information: (407)277-3945 | staff@poporlando.com