Current Weekend Worship Schedule at POP
In-person
Saturday at 5:30 pm
Sunday at 8:15 & 10:30 am
Live-stream
Saturday 5:30 pm 
Sunday 10:30 am 
The Education Search Committee Needs Your Input!

Please help our Family Ministry Program by filling in the surveys for parents and students grades 7-12 in the links below. Your responses will help us better understand how to improve upon the Family Ministry Programs, as well as assist the committee in finalizing the preliminary job description for the Minister of Children, Youth, and Families. The survey will be available for a limited time so let your voice be heard. Thank you in advance for your continued prayers for the committee as well as participating in the survey.
Presentation of Bibles for 2nd and 3rd Graders
During the weekend of October 30th and 31st, our 2nd and 3rd graders will receive their Bibles during worship services. If your child is in 4th grade and did not receive a Bible last year due to Covid please contact the church office at info@poplc.org or
703-451-5855.
Come on back! The Church Nursery will be available on Sundays for the 8:15 and 10:30 services. Children 5 and under are welcome. Children two and above will need to wear masks.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Worship Flag practice will resume on Sunday, October 3rd. We will be meeting in the Sanctuary from 4-5 pm. Children and Adults may come for a few minutes, or the whole hour. We have it set up, so that the kids can join either before or after choir practice. Waiting for your child? Come into the sanctuary and worship with us! No experience needed.

M.E. Sorenson | sorenson.me@gmail.com
Assist Pregnancy Center Fund Raiser
Assist Pregnancy Center is a local, life-affirming clinic that helps women and men experiencing an unplanned pregnancy with practical medical care, counseling, and relational support. Because of Assist, families are empowered to choose life for themselves and their unborn children. All of their services are provided at no cost and benefit our community. (Learn more about Assist at www.assistpartners.org).

The Banquet on October 15th is a special gathering allowing the community to learn more about Assist and partner in this local ministry to rescue lives and build up families. There will be ministry updates, stories of lives changed, a delicious dinner, and an opportunity to partner with Assist in this work. There is no ticket cost to attend this event, but there will be an opportunity to give presented during the program.

Did you know? Assist provides Gospel-centered care for patients from an average of 60 countries each year. We utilize bi-lingual staff and volunteers as well as medical translation services to provide care to patients from around the globe. This summer, we’ve provided translation support to Thai, Amharic, Farsi, Spanish, and Korean speakers!

Registration details are all available HERE.

When registering, you can select my name as your Table Host. The event is held at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, VA and starts at 6:30PM on October 15th.

Hope you can join us on October 15th!

Sincerely,
John & Patty Bryant
P.S. If you can’t attend on October 15th but are still interested in giving to support Assist’s vital work click HERE.
CURRENT NEWS
Stay in God's Word!
Join an adult Sunday Bible study!
  • Room 26: John Storm: Matthew 

  • Room 30: T. K. Kearney: 1 Timothy 

  • Room 21: M.E. Sorenson: "Acts" by N. T. Wright 

  • Room 24: Charlie Koehler: "If You Will Ask" by Oswald Chambers 

  • Room 11: Rob Urps: Holy Spirit Filled

  • The Mug: Preschool Lobby: Conversation

BoSL Notes
The BoSL last met on Wednesday, September 22:

• The Installation Service and Reception were a joyous celebration. 292 persons attended the Service and approximately 200 persons attended the reception. The BoSL extends our thanks to the hard-working staff and volunteers who planned and worked to make the service and the dinner a wonderful time of worship and fellowship.

• Pastor Michael has met with many people, friends, and neighbors of the congregation to gain a better understanding of and build relationships.

• The top three ministry priorities at this time are pastoral care, worship, and family ministry.

• These priorities are in line with PoP’s Goals for 2021-22 and they are guided by PoP’s mission and vision.

• The BoSL discussed the importance of aligning PoP’s regular and special efforts with PoP’s mission and vision and communicating the same to the Congregation and PoP’s Neighbors.

• The BoSL has asked Lori Grosz to serve as lay delegate from PoP to the Circuit to vote on filling the soon-to-be vacant Circuit Visitor position (Pastor Gary has served in this position for the past several years).

• The BoSL continued discussing the importance of maintaining reciprocal dialogue with the Congregation and working together with PoP’s Ministry Teams to do the same.

• Listening Posts have resumed. The feedback from the Post of Sept. 12 has been shared with Pastor Michael and PoP’s Ministry Teams. Feedback shared during Listening Posts is not attributed to specific persons. The next Listening Post will be in-person on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 9:15 am in the church office. All are invited to bring your questions and feedback.

Update from the Education Search Committee
The Education Search Committee was recently formed and is currently working on filling the vacant Minister of Families and Education staff position. We are grateful for Pastor Gary’s foresight to begin the formation of the committee so that, upon Pastor Hayes’ arrival, the committee could begin the work of filling the position with his guidance.

Presently, the committee is working to execute the following:

  1. Revise the current job description for the position to ensure that the duties outlined are both relevant and match the current needs and mission of POPLC.
  2. Researching/considering to move forward with either:
  • Calling a DCE or other LCMS worker eligible for a call
  • Hire a lay worker who has the skills to effectively fill the position

All of these measures are being done in accordance with the POPLC Governance Policy as well as working closely with the Education Team as we consider how best to fill this position. We are confident that the Lord will lead us to the person He has chosen to guide this important aspect of ministry. We appreciate and are grateful to have had several volunteers come forward to continue the work of supporting the programs that the Minister of Families and Education oversees in the interim. Continued prayers from the congregation are appreciated.

Members of the committee are; Aivars Baumanis, Brian Corman, Chris Martin, Kris Salmi, and Pastor Michael.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!!! Calling all Children
Preschool through High School!
Sunday School has begun and we are meeting in person. On Sundays, we start in the fellowship hall across from the kitchen at 9:15, then at 9:30 children will go to their classrooms with their teachers. Masks are required for all participants and all classrooms will have hand sanitizer and wipes. We want to make this a meaningful and safe place for all. All classes have two adults present. Please send your children to Sunday School so we can introduce them to Jesus’ Love and Care. We want them to know about God, and to also KNOW GOD in their lives.

Sunday School Director | Arla Albers | 703-901-2752
House Blessings
On October 4, 2021, the Care Ministry Team will introduce a different type of caring for one another in the places where we live each day. Historically, there is an ancient tradition in Christianity that is known as a “House Blessing.” The tradition is practiced by numerous Christian faiths and takes the form of short intercessions, prayers, and blessings. The intention of the tradition is to bring protection, blessings, well-being and the presence of Christ to the home and all those who live there.

A candle representing the presence of Christ is lit and the short service begins. Leaders and family members follow the candle and move through each room in the home. As the groups stop at a room the blessing is given in the form of prayer and Scripture. The house blessing is completed with a final prayer and benediction.

If you would like to schedule a House Blessing or have questions please contact Deaconess Cassie at Cassie.Brown@POP.org or cell: 703-798-7499.

In Christ’s service,

Deaconess Cassie
Thank you!
From Pastor Gary & Nancy

We have received a multitude of cards and personal messages from dozens of Prince of Peace members and friends. Our hearts have been warmed once again by your generosity and gracious appreciation. Thank you.

As we reflect on the more than four years we have been serving as Vacancy Pastor (and wife) we find that we have received as much from you as you have told us you received from us. We have found again that as we seek to share God’s blessings in Christ, many blessings come to us in return.

We believe that the Lord has many more opportunities for Prince of Peace to thrive in the mission the Lord has given you and we look forward to watching from Stafford as you model servant leadership in West Springfield, in Northern Virginia and beyond. May God continue to bless you with mercy and steadfast love.
Repeated yet important information beyond this point.