From the Pastor

Dear Peace family,

We have just landed from some time away in Michigan visiting Alicia’s family. What a great time it was! Thank you to those who stepped up and served while we were away. And it is great to be back with you as fall is right around the corner!

While in Michigan, I heard a lot about cherries. Cherry this and cherry that. Someone explained to me that the cherry harvest this summer was one of the worst that Michigan has ever seen. Not knowing the ins and outs of cherries, I asked why that was the case. The person explained to me that the preceding winter was not harsh enough and that the spring was too dry. The person went on to conclude that the seasons preceding the fruit crop are crucial to success. Makes sense!

By the way, this is also the way Jesus understood the Kingdom. For He once said (Matthew 7:15-20),

 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

It’s that last verse that speaks to my point. Whether the fruit is good or not—depends upon how the tree was doing (and what the weather was like) well before the fruit ever developed.

Imagine Peace being more united in six months from now? Imagine Peace’s fruit being unity? That would mean that right now we would need to plant the seeds for the Holy Spirit to grow and make this happen. That means that right now we would need to value every person and every person’s contribution to the family of Peace.

Jesus once named unity as the main fruit of what it would mean to follow him. Before His betrayal, arrest and death Jesus named unity as the fruit of faithful discipleship:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”

Promoting unity is very difficult these days. It’s easy to tell someone how to vote. It’s easy to divide people over an argument to make a point. It’s easy to disagree and make distinctions.

Back to cherries for a moment. Have you ever had a dessert in which everyone agrees that it was the best item they had ever tasted? Each person takes a bite…..takes a deep breath…..exhales…..and all come to the agreement that the dessert was an experience unlike another? A moment like that can be bonding.

My prayer for Peace in the fall is that we share an experience just like tasting that dessert. My prayer is that each one of us is bonded together in the faith we share. Jesus’ death on the cross means so much…it means everything!

In His Joy,

Pastor J

Peace by the Numbers

Plan for Worship

September 1 – 10:00am Worship service with Communion. Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

September 8 – 10:00am Worship service followed by Rally Day BBQ. Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost.

September 15 – 10:00am Worship service with Communion outside on the patio. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

September 22 – 10:00am Worship service. Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. September 29 – 10:00am Worship service. Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Intergenerational Bible Study

We will be having our next intergenerational Bible Study on Sunday, September 1^st at 9:00am. We invite you to join us in song, craft, conversation, and reflection during an All-Ages Sunday School hour event.

Plan for the Fall Bible Study

We have a new adult Bible Study! All are welcome to attend The Chosen beginning Sunday, September 8 at 9 am in the sanctuary. We are picking up where we left off last spring. Each week we’ll discover more of the background of New Testament life. Each week we’ll be challenged to live out what it means to be chosen. Bring your Bible and an open heart!

What does it mean to be chosen? Being chosen by Jesus has beautiful and far-reaching implications—although it says even more about the Chooser than the chooses. We are loved because He’s love. We are saved because He’s merciful. We belong to the family of God because Jesus invites us, making the Bible and all its promises as true for us today as it was for God’s chosen nation.

Mark Your Calendar for the Fall Picnic

. The fall picnic and BBQ will be held on September 8 right after worship service. It should be lots of fun for everyone and we will have a firehouse bouncy structure for the kids. Invite your friends and neighbors.

Getting the Choir Back Together

The Peace choir will start practicing again and sing during the service on September8^th. Practice starts at 8:00am. If you like to sing, the choir would be glad to have you. Please see Colleen or Diane for more information.

New Member Class

Peace is planning for a new member class. If you are interested in becoming a new member of Peace, please let Pastor Lucke know.

News from the Freezer Meal Ministry

The Peace Freezer Meal Team was at it again! Minus a few key members who were off attending to fun and family, the rest of us got together and managed to prepare 46 tasty dishes!

Please let Pastor Jeremy or the office know if you need meals.

And, if you are interested in joining us in the future, please ask any of us!  We would be happy to share what we do.  Our next cook date is November 14^th.

Janette, Joe, Ellen, Lindy, Ruth, and Peggy

Rotary Club Presentations This Month

Perched atop a hill but somewhat hidden on the corner of Pioneer and 10th, the old College of Philomath building represents a peek into the city’s past. A local nonprofit organization believes it can breathe new life into the aging structure to serve the community well into the future.

Scott Ramsey, who has been holding on to a vision for the building’s revitalization since his involvement began two decades ago, said this week that the project is about to ramp up again now.

Want to learn a little about some history from right here in Philomath? Then come to the Rotary club meeting on September 17 at noon in the fellowship hall and hear from Scott about how he is bringing this part of Philomath’s history forward into the future.

Lunch will be provided so let Dan or Lindy know if you would like to attend.

Sanctity of Life Baby Bottle Fundraiser

Diane Heitmeyer, representative of The Ladies Guild and Peace will be partnering with Options Sanctity of Life fundraiser which runs October 6 to November 3.  Options PRC is a faith-based, nonprofit medical clinic providing free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, patient advocacy, and community referrals.  Through the love of Christ, they empower women facing unplanned pregnancies to make life-affirming decisions.  They have been serving Linn and Benton Counties since 1986.  This is a right to life organization.

Congregants can choose to participate in this fundraiser by taking home a baby bottle, which is provided, and fill the bottle with change.   You can also write a check or put cash in the bottles.  The checks are to made out to Options for Pregnancy.   Bring the bottle back to Peace by November 3, 2024. At the end of the fundraiser, Options will come and pick up the bottles from Peace.  Then they mail us a certificate with the amount we raised!

Bazaar

What is Granny’s Attic ?

For those of you that don’t know, Granny’s Attic is an extension of our annual bizarre. We take in donations of gently used items. Proceeds from the sale of these items benefit organizations in and around Philomath. During the bazaar, Granny’s Attic will be set up in two of the classrooms off the Fellowship Hall.   The bazaar is rapidly approaching. Meaning it’s time to think about how you can help. Donations will be accepted now through Sunday, October 20th (please NO clothes, shoes, or large items). So, think about cleaning out a drawer, closet, or garage, and please keep us in mind.  For questions, pick up, or delivery contact Jani B. 541.740.4650

Laura Knudson’s Obituary

Laura Irene Knudson, 88, of Philomath, Oregon, passed away on August 24, 2024, in the company of her family.

Laura was born November 11, 1935, to Bruce and Thelma Hamm of Philomath, Oregon. Bruce and Thema owned acreage west of Philomath on Woods Creek Road where they had timber and ran a few cattle. Laura grew up on this Woods Creek property with her four siblings, Bruce Jr., Steve, Ron and Tim.

Laura met Richard (Dick) Knudson in 1951 when she was 15 and he was 18. Three years later Laura and Dick were married on June 27, 1954. The two eventually bought property up the road from Bruce and Thelma’s place. For over five decades they made a life together on Woods Creek, raising five children (Debi, Rick, Peggy, Larry and Mitch) and running a successful family logging business.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce and Thelma Hamm; brothers, Bruce Hamm Jr. and Ron Hamm; and by Dick in 2013, her husband of 59 years. She is survived by brothers, Steve Hamm and Tim Hamm; her five children and their spouses, Debi (Butch) Bedell, Rick (Rita) Knudson, Peggy (Kurt) Hobin, Larry (Janet) Knudson and Mitch (Nicolle) Knudson; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

A service will be held in Laura’s honor at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 21, at the Peace Lutheran Church, 2540 Applegate St., Philomath, OR 97370.

A short reception will be held immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, we ask you please submit donations to Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care.

Dottie Bella’s Obituary

Dorothy (Dottie) May Hvizdak Bella peacefully passed away in her sleep on July 16, 2024 at her home in Corvallis, OR. She was 95.

Dottie was born on May 20, 1929, in Greenwich, CT. She was a lifelong Lutheran. She worked as a bookkeeper at the Life Savers Candy Plant in Portchester, NY before becoming a full-time mother and residing in North Carolina, Florida, and Oregon. A lover of good food, she enjoyed cooking and collecting recipes and always had something tasty on hand for her visitors. She also enjoyed playing card games, travelling with friends, and entertaining family and friends with her humor and sarcasm.

She is survived by her three daughters, Susan, spouse Bryan; Carol, spouse Paul; and Deborah, spouse David; as well as her sister Georgianne. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Roger E. Bella, her parents Joseph and Mary Hvizdak, and two sisters, Maryanne and Irene.

A service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, Philomath, OR on September 7th at 2 pm. A small private ceremony will also be held in mid-October in Oviedo, FL.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to Peace Lutheran Church or Lumina Hospice in Corvallis, OR.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping and neither are Dementia Warriors. The Dementia Warriors has a team participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. We invite you to join the walk or support us in any way. 

Details: Sunday September 15

Oregon State University MU Quad

1500 SW Jefferson Way

The ceremony begins at noon, the walk begins immediately after. You don’t have to walk to participate, just come and be supportive. 

By participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, we are raising funds and awareness to advance the fight against this disease — funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association® to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research.  If you would like to support, please go to this website: https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=17867&pg=personal&px=19828360

For more information, please talk to Holly Bendixen or Kathy Wylie. Thank you!

Child Evangelism Fellowship Registration Fair

CEF Teacher Training Workshop

Thank You From Our Mission Partners