Zechariah freaked out when the otherworldly creature appeared to him. But Mary was simply "perplexed." Why would such an incredible message come to a common girl just barely a woman? Then her reply to such a foretelling about her purpose in life was also simple: "Let it be so." Have you ever struggled with finding your purpose and being at peace with it? Or are you yearning for more peace in your life and relationships? More peace in the world happens when all of us feel more peace within ourselves and live out that message each day. 

Christmas Under the Stars - Wednesday, December 13 - 7:00 p.m.

Praise Team Christmas Cantata - Saturday, December 16 - 7:00 p.m. & Sunday, December 17 - 9:30 a.m.  

Peace Youth Christmas Party - Sunday, December 17 - 5:00 p.m.

Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata - Sunday, December 24 - ONE COMBINED SERVICE 10:00 a.m.

Christmas Eve Worship Services - Sunday, December 24

5:00 p.m.  Children's Service

6:30 p.m.  Contemporary Candlelight Service (Nursery)

8:00 p.m.  Contemporary Candlelight Service (Nursery)

9:30 p.m.  Traditional Candlelight Service with Communion

New Year's Eve Worship Service - Sunday, December 31 - ONE COMBINED SERVICE at 10:00 a.m.

Once again this Christmas season, we have an opportunity to have a direct impact on local families who could use some extra help through our Christmas Gift Card Drive.  You can donate gift cards to major retailers (Target, WalMart, Publix, etc.) and we will distribute them to families in need from our congregation and the local community.  Gift cards give families the dignity to make decisions for themselves-they are the most knowledgeable about their greatest needs. We get to be a generous part of sharing God's love in a meaningful way. We suggest small denomination gift cards ($10 or $20 amounts), so we can distribute them more easily (but as many of those as you like). Simply drop them off in the offering plate or at the Church Office.  You may also designate contributions to this cause, and we'll purchase the gift cards for you!  If you wish, you can personalize the gift cards by taking an angel from the tree that is in the back of the sanctuary during the month of December.  Color the angel and write a special Christmas greeting to the family who will receive your gift card.

We hope to see you on December 9th from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. noon  for our next monthly Second Saturday Church Workday. This is a great chance to serve with your family, friends or small group for a few hours. We will have a diverse list of projects to help improve the beauty of our church home for the season of Advent! There will be tasks for all ages. Don't forget to bring your work gloves!   *Weather alert - if it's raining we will focus on interior building needs.*

Do you have NEW or GENTLY USED items that you would like to give away for someone to use as Christmas gifts?  Peace is once again sponsoring a day of sharing where folks can bring in items and others may take them to give to their families and friends (reduce, reuse, recycle).   On Sunday, December 10th simply bring in items to donate and place them on the tables located on the church portico. Everyone is then welcome to "shop" in between worship services. This is re-gifting with a purpose. Remember, this is Christmas without money, but only open hearts. If we have any leftover gifts, they will be donated to local charities. 

Blood is essential for life. It carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, fights infection and helps to heal wounds.  Everyone has this self-generating resource that can be generously given to others--when and where it's needed most.  Our next Peace Blood Drive is on Sunday, December 10th from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Don't wait for a tragedy to donate blood--it's greatly needed during the holiday season. Cancer patients, trauma patients, premature babies and sickle cell patients need blood every day. Please eat a good breakfast, bring a photo ID and come prepared to give! 

Our Peace Youth DORKs (Daughters of the Risen King) will be selling home-made Christmas cookies on the church portico between worship services on December 10th, 16th, and 17th  while supplies last.  The cost is only $5 per dozen and they will be gift wrapped! All proceeds will support our annual DORK retreat. Thank you for your support!

Join us on  Wednesday, December 13th  at 6:45 p.m. for an evening of celebrating the Christmas story unplugged and outdoors.  It's a wonderful Peace tradition, Christmas Under the Stars .  We'll meet out back around the fire pit overlooking the lake for acoustic carols, scripture, creative telling of the Christmas story, communion, and hot cider and s'mores!  This is a family friendly event for all ages, held under the beautiful night sky.  It's the perfect event to invite your friends and neighbors to attend!

Thank you to those of you who began the United Methodist Women at Peace and to all who have since contributed with your leadership, time, talent, financial support and presence.  Due to declining membership and leadership, Peace UMW is now on inactive status. Through the years, we've proudly supported many important ministries: turkey dinners to families at Thanksgiving, Daily Bread food pantry, Garage Sale fundraiser, UMCOR in the US, Japan and Haiti, backpacks for students in our community, interview clothing for Sunnyside Village, eradicating illiteracy in remote areas of India, Boy Scout projects, CenterPeace dinners, Youth Confirmation, Healthy Start Osceola County, HOME, and many other Peace church projects. Our remaining funds will be distributed to local charities, UMCOR, the Peace kitchen remodel project and UMW Legacy Fund.  Although the full unit will no longer be convening, our two women's circles will continue to meet monthly at Peace for study, fellowship and mission work. 

Circle of Hope , meeting the 3 rd Thursday of each month (except June and July), welcomes all women in the community.  We are currently studying " I Love Growing Older but I'll never GROW OLD " by J. Ellsworth Kalas.  Circle of Hope is an interactive Bible Study care group encouraging inclusiveness to all.  This Circle plans to learn more about and continue to support local community needs.  We will not be asking members to pledge to the district, but all are welcome donate directly to the United Methodist Women or the Legacy Fund at www.unitedmethodistwomen.org.   Our next meeting is Thursday, December 21, at the church at 11:00 a.m. to help fold bulletins, prepare candles and such for the Christmas services.  This has been our December tradition for three years now.  A pizza lunch is provided for all participants!  This is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality Christmas time with our sisters (and maybe a brother or two) working, caring, sharing and enjoying the love of Jesus Christ.

Susanna Wesley Circle   meets on the 4th Tuesday each month (except June and July), and is also open to all women of the church. We will remain a UMW Circle carrying on the rich heritage started by six women in 1869-when they sent a doctor and a teacher to India where women and children had no medical care or education. Over the years UMW has grown and our work and donations have been felt around the world. Susanna Wesley Circle feels it is important to continue with the mission work started so many years ago.  Due to Advent scheduling, our December meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12th at 9:30 a.m.  We are studying "Friendships of Faith: A Shared Study of Hebrews" study #20.  Following the study, we will enjoy a Christmas salad luncheon.  Please bring a salad to share. Contact Deanna Greenman 407-812-5499 or Roberta Jones 850-819-5234 for more information.

Change is not always easy, but the Bible speaks of it in a positive way:  Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NKJV) " To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

Thank you for your generous gifts throughout the year to support the ministries of Peace.  As 2017 comes to a close, we invite you to prayerfully consider a special year-end gift.  Your partnership in faith, prayer and giving makes all the difference.  You'll find creative and tax beneficial ideas for year-end giving on this Florida United Methodist Foundation website. 

Griefshare is a 13-week support group open to anyone who is dealing with the death of a loved one. It's a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences.  You'll gain access to valuable resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. You don't have to go through the grieving process alone. Our next class session will begin on January 11th, 2018, meeting on Thursday nights from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. For more information about this ministry, contact Gloria Barber at 407-276-4025.

Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at Peace on January 11 th , 2018. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our Peace member discount).  All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.  In order to register for this event, please call 1-888-653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/advantagemembers .

PEACE PICTURES: 

1st Annual Hunter's Creek Twilight Parade - thanks to the Peace Youth for creating our float!