Opened Ears for Living Words

^“In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Isaiah 29:18)

If you love books, I can think of no better time to be living than now. Books are everywhere: in print, on-demand, digital books you can read on your phone, and books you can listen to in your car or while you workout. The Christian Bible remains the most widely published and read book in the world today; it is easily accessible through every form of media presently available – you can even listen to the Bible through your wristwatch!

The Bible is unlike any other book ever written; it is the very Word from God– words breathed out by God through human authors. It is alive, and it is active! It exposes, and it enlightens. It kills, and it makes alive. Yet, someone can read the Scriptures and not see it as if they were blind. One can listen to God’s Word and not hear it as if they were deaf. The Spirit of God must open the ears of the spiritually deaf to hear and believe! “For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The Spirit of God must enlighten the spiritually blind so that with their heart they see and believe in the Gospel. 

This is the Lord’s doing; this is the God’s work. By his Word and Spirit, he lays bare our hearts and exposes the darkness within. He reveals our thoughts and intentions of the heart so that nothing is hidden from his sight. He works in us repentance that confesses what God has exposed to be true; I am a sinner; and then the miracle of miracles, God works faith in us to believe His Gospel Word.  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). 

“Out of our gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” This is the grace of God at work in us, giving us the eyes of faith to see and ears to believe in His outrageous words of promise; words that do and give what they say. God’s Word is unlike any other word put down in a book, for God’s Word is living and giving – giving faith, forgiveness, eternal life and salvation! So, take up and read! Hear and believe! These Words of God are for you. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

-Pastor Darrin Sheek

Calling all Men! We are starting a study just for you!

NEW! Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study

~Once a Month~ STARTING THIS SATURDAY

We have a new bible study starting for men that we would love for you to check out! Saturday (4/20) at 9:30am in the Fellowship Room. For more information please contact Matt Cooper @ mcooper1979@yahoo.com

Pastor's Book of the Month:

Finding God in the Darkness

-  by Bradley Gray

"Suffering engulfs our lives in an unavoidable darkness, leaving answers and explanations obscured like a sorrowful fog. The gospel of Christ, however, gives us something infinitely more valuable than answers or explanations. Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment is not an attempt to decode or decipher every nook and cranny of sorrow and suffering. It is a journey wherein faith, hope, and love are unexpectedly found along the way, in the midst of darkness. Much to our surprise, that’s where God shows up, too."

Purchase a copy from the link below:

Free Books/Devotions Available in the Narthex!

Add to your daily routine with some inspirational spiritual reading! The church has many different devotional and prayer books to choose from at our free literature table, located in the Narthex. We receive new editions every few months so be sure to check back frequently.

Upcoming Events:



• Pacific Southwest District Convention - 6/ 7-9 /24

Convention held in Rosemead. Registration has started and going through May 1. If anyone is interested details can be found on the website: psdlwml.org

Annual P.O.P. Angel's Game! Get Your Tickets Early!

This month our congregation is supporting

LCMS Synodical Missions - Together In Missions

Today, the LCMS trains, sends and supports called and appointed career, long-term and short-term missionaries throughout the United States and in various countries around the world where there are mission stations, partner churches, schools or mission relationships. We are sponsoring Rev. Carlos and Deaconess Danelle (Putnam) Schumann and their work in the Dominican Republic.

Elders

8:00am: John Henderson

10:30am: Randy Cade & Steven Sarandis

Readers

8:00am: Ethan Baumbach  10:30am: Ron Jones

Ushers

8:00am: Matt Cooper 10:30am: Randy Cade

Altar Guild

(1st, 3rd, & 5th Sunday)

8:00am: Judy Vega 10:30am: Linda Henderson

Children's Sunday School

9:15am: Kelly Umali

Ways you Can Serve:

We are thankful for those who support our Divine Service every Sunday by filling much these needed positions. If you are interested in learning more about these roles, or how you can help during service,

Please Contact Pastor Sheek:

(949) 370-7198

Sunday Morning

Bible Study

Please join us Sunday, April 21st at 9:15am for coffee and discussion.

Led By: Pastor Sheek

Topic: "Faith That Shines in Culture"

Saturday Morning

Women's Bible Study

Ladies, please join us Saturday mornings at 9:30 in the board room for fellowship around the Word of God! We are currently studying Acts. For more information and study materials, please contact Kim Violette @ violettefamily5@gmail.com

NEW! Saturday Morning

Men's Bible Study

~Once a Month~

STARTS THIS SATURDAY!

We have a new bible study starting for men that we would love for you to check out! Saturday 4/20 at 9:30am in the Fellowship Room. For more information please contact Matt Cooper @

mcooper1979@yahoo.com

Children's Sunday School

Children's Sunday School is held Every Sunday at 9:15am in the school building and is open to all children age 4-12. Sunday school students enjoy a Snack, Craft and Bible lesson.

Please encourage your children to try out Sunday School and maybe even bring a friend from the neighborhood!

Youth Group

YOUTH GROUP TODAY! 3:30-6:00PM

Youth Group meets every Wednesday after school in the Youth Room for Prince of Peace students and friends in 7th-9th grade

(located upstairs next to the 7/8 grade classroom)

Please check out our church bulletin board for some items needed by our teachers and church staff. Our giving tree is an opportunity for our congregation to support our church, school and preschool. Please choose a blossom and turn it into either the church or school office with a donation towards your selected item, or feel free to donate the item outright if it's something you already have!

Here are some items we are in need of so far:

AMAZON WISH LISTS:

YOUTH GROUP

Click here for the Youth Group Amazon Wish list

KINDERGARTEN

Click here for the Kindergarten Amazon Wish List

1st/2nd GRADE

Click Here for 1st/2nd Grade Amazon Wish List

3rd/4th GRADE

Click Here for 3rd/4th Grade Amazon Wish List

ALL GRADES

~SEEDS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR OUR STUDENTS~

$40 provides 1 hour counseling session for one student

Donations toward tuition assistance

Donations toward Field Trips

Church:

Single-serving crystal light packets

Small water bottles

We thank God that our congregation remains healthy! We pray for everyone's continued health and strength as we move forward!

•We pray for our school staff and all of our students and families that God has placed in our care here at Prince of Peace Lutheran School, this year. We pray for continued good health for our staff to continue their dedication, commitment and love for the families and students that God has placed in our school. We are so thankful for their loving service each and every day. We keep our school & staff in our prayers daily.

•We give thanks to God for the love and financial support from the congregation as we continue to see His blessings each day in our ministries here at Prince of Peace.

•We thank God for all the new and returning families at our school this year. We continue to pray for and welcome new families & students throughout the school year.

•We pray that members at Prince of Peace grow in faith and love for one another, willing to give of our gifts and talents within the congregation, serving and sharing Christ with our neighbors, family, and friends.

•For Cynthia Cade for healing and strength

•For Warren Carr, for strength and healing

• We give thanks for Robin Biringer's recovery of health

•For Bob Sheppard for care and healing during treatment for prostate cancer

•For John Henderson for continued healing and strength 

•For Roman, Thanksgiving for improved kidney function and for continued healing

•For Sharon Walter, sister of Lynn Zeilenga, for comfort and healing from illness

•For Christine Day, Mother of Deborah Cekorich's grandchild, recently diagnosed with breast cancer

•For Ellen Puente, mother of Sarah Salazar, starting chemotherapy

If you would like to add a prayer request to this list, feel free to reply to this email or contact the church.

Our Board of Elders have been reaching out and are hard at work to keep our flock in contact during these challenging times.

• We have been working hard to update our member contact information. if you would like a Church Directory, please stop by the church office so we can get you one.

• Our goal is to send out a new “News and Updates” email to all of our members every week. This email highlights important upcoming events for both the church and school. You can even check out the scripture readings for upcoming Sunday Services ahead of time! Please be sure to check your emails every week.