Please call (354-2774) or email (connect@peacenewlondon.com )

Some may be wondering why we continue these phrases, Easter Sunday has come and gone. And while that may be true, the season of Easter actually lasts for 50 days! We continue to celebrate this Easter event until the day of Pentecost on June 5^th.

In reality we are taught that we are to live all of our lives as Easter people. And what does that mean? It means we live as a people, all parts of Christ’s Body working together toward a single purpose: love. We are the church, the body of Christ in the world. In the midst of all that surrounds us, sorrows and joys, failures and successes, we live as a people who love one another. 

(Beginning May 29th)

4th - LAST Wednesday for all programs: Kid's Club, 4th-8th Classes

Supper: Hotdogs & treats!

8th - Kids sing at 9am Worship

Muffins with Moms at 10am

15th - High School Senior Recognition Sunday

Serve Boldly Deadlines- We are asking for families to begin to offer their commitment to our summer trips, so we can better plan our fundraising goals. We are asking for a $100 deposit per student per trip. The deadline for Serve Boldly Milwaukee is May 1st, and the deadline for Serve Boldly Nashville is May, 15th. While these deadlines are flexible, we would prefer deposits sooner than later. Please contact Quentin with any questions

We are looking forward to exchanging both conversation & laughs with our neighboring church family! Meet us at Goat Ridge Brewery (located at 17 Central Avenue West) downtown New London. Give us a call if you have questions.

We will meet in various homes starting Tuesday, May 24th at 6:30p. Location still TBD.

Peace’s ELCA missionary is the Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson. She serves as a professor at the Lutheran Institute of Theology in Cameroon, West Africa. Pastor Elisabeth has visited at Peace on a home visit, and she preached one Sunday at a Sibley Park service. In February, we introduced a new opportunity to support her ministry. Forms will be available in the church office and online where you can choose a date to sponsor her in honor of, or in memory of, someone or some event. A gift of $7.00 per day you choose will help with her support. Checks may be made to “Peace – ELCA Missionary.” Please keep her in your prayers.

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Dates Sponsored May:

The Funeral Committee would like to thank all the volunteers who have signed up to support this ministry in various ways. Please be aware that you may be getting calls from different people requesting your help and serving with different groups than before. Thanks for being such an important part of caring for our grieving families.

This show is open to all!! Invite your friends and neighbors! Tickets will be available Sundays in the Gathering Space and from office staff during office hours.

Lutheran Night at the Stingers- Sign up in the office for a combined night with Faith Lutheran Church at the Willmar Stingers on Tuesday, June 14th! The cost per person is $25 and includes all you can eat popcorn, pop, Green Mill salads, and unlimited pop and water all on a reserved patio on the 3^rd base line, mere inches away from the players! Please sign up ahead of time, and make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church. 

Summer Canoe Trip- Quentin is leading a canoe trip on one of the most family-friendly bodies of water in MN. We will start on the Shell River near Menahga, MN and flow into the Crow Wing River ending the trip north of Staples, MN for a total of approximately 30 river miles along the scenic Crow Wing River State Water Trail. Together we spend time canoeing, sleeping under the stars, worshipping God around the campfire, and so much more! The river is shallow and calm, perfect for the seasoned adventurers and new explores alike. All ages are welcome, there's always space in the middle of a canoe for someone to ride along if they're not ready to paddle yet! For those that don’t want to canoe, all our stops are vehicle accessible. They can travel by car along with us on our journey and camp with us at night!

Here is the April Council Report. If you have comments or questions please contact me or other council members. Also, I apologize for not writing a March report but Jo Ann and I were busy enjoying the nice weather in Florida so I will use that as my excuse.

WELCOME: Most of you know that Jon Austvold, Melanie Netland and Mary Semmler have joined the council as new members. A big thank you to them for volunteering their time. Also a big thank you to retiring council members Mike Collins, Mindy Radabough and Rick Swenson for their years of service to Peace Lutheran.

FINANCES: I have some good news and some not so good news to report. First some not so good news. Our income did not quite cover expenses for the month of March. One big reason was the large gas and electric usage bill. As I’ve written before, with our church returning to full programming following covid, our expenses will increase. On the good news side we did receive the federal government aid that’s been given to eligible recipients as covid relief. A big thanks to Treasurer Gail Olson and our accounting firm Affinson of Willmar for pursuing this funding of which we were eligible. Once again, please give to Peace as you can afford. We do appreciate all contributions. Prays said for Peace are appreciated, too.

ELECTRICAL PANEL: Our church electrical panels are defective and in need of replacement. This will be expensive. Our building insurance carrier plus the electrical inspector have informed us that they cannot continue insuring our church building if the replacement work is not done. The Property Committee solicited bids and the council accepted the low bid from Regal Electric for $21,835. While this is an unforeseen blow to the budget, because of a generous donation to the church, we already have half of the money raised to pay for the project.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE: Speaking of the Property Committee, they have identified several areas of our church campus that will sooner or later be in need of repair. Areas are: church steeple, three courses of brick at parking lot grade back side of classroom area, the parking lot, exterior stucco at choir room bump out. Another item that would be an improvement to the church, if we could raise the money, would be an electrical information sign at corner of highway 9 and county road 40. This would replace the old manually attended sign that is there now. Things to think about going forward.

SUMMER WORSHIP: The outdoor summer church services will again be held at Shores of St Andrew Bible Camp starting Memorial Day weekend. We have also been asked to participate in the New London Water Days Mill Pond Community Church Service. More information will be coming as details are worked out.

STAFFING NEEDS: With covid hopefully on the wane, a committee has been set up to look at our program staffing needs. Committee members are Pastor Todd, Melissa Straus, Rick Swenson and Raelin Van Meter.

PEACE BUS: A request has been made that we restart the Peace Bus to give rides to church for those needing them. The council will work on this. One thing though, to restart the Peace Bus a group of volunteers drivers will be needed. Who is willing to volunteer their time some Sunday mornings? A volunteer coordinator will be needed to manage the project.

CHURCH DIRECTORY: What are your thoughts on a new church directory? This is a long tabled (before covid) project. Should the directory be a physical booklet or in digital form? Make your thoughts known to the council, pastors or the church office. The council will see what suggestions we get, if any, and proceed from there.

NO AUGUST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: Instead of having a regular council meeting in August, the council decided to use our meeting time for a retreat. Instead of jumping from one business item to the next as happens at regular council meetings, we will use the time for more in-depth discussions at a place away from the church.

This concludes my April council report. Thanks for taking the time to read it.

Cliff Gesellchen Council President

2022 Church Council                                                                                     

"Lessons Learned in Jamaica" by Heidi Haagenson