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I get to do a lot of very cool things every month as a pastor at Prince of Peace but here’s one of my favorites – I get to read to the preschool kids at our Child Development and Learning Center (CDLC).  I just love diving into a story with them. You can just hear their little imaginations churning, and their energy and excitement is simply contagious. I find it remarkable that I can have that much fun doing something that will actually help them in their development. Talk about a win/win!

Reading to the CDLC kids has also given me an opportunity to be better connected to what God is doing through our pre-school ministry. I am amazed and grateful for outstanding leadership of Sue Linden and her dedicated staff. Their love for the kids is a joy to see. The children in their care are not only learning important cognitive skills, they are also growing in faith. Our staff is laying a solid foundation for their lives. They even offer opportunities to learn computer skills and Spanish language skills.

CDLC was founded in 1971. It’s a Christian half-day preschool for children ages 3 to 5. It began with 30 students and currently serves 225 children each week. This year in addition to our existing Lunch Bunch program, CDLC offered a new 5 and 3 full day program to address the changing needs of our families.

All children of any cultural background or religious affiliation are welcome, and we’re working hard to embrace the diversity of our community. Our staff seeks to provide opportunities for each child to define self, understand who they are and discover their role within the community. They encourage physical, social, emotional and spiritual growth for each child. How good is our CDLC? Good enough to have been voted “Best Preschool in Burnsville” several months ago!

Registration is now open for the 2012-2013 school year. There’s a virtual tour available, along with more information on the CDLC website. Check it out here. In an effort to make this foundational education available for all children, including those from families with financial need, CDLC offers scholarship assistance. For more information please email Sue Linden or call 952-898-9346

If you have a preschooler, or if you know someone who does, please tell them about CDLC. They’ll thank you for the recommendation, and so will their kiddos!

Thanks for your partnership in ministry

Jeff Marian
Lead Pastor

Continue reading »]]> We’ve been studying Luke in the Engage Bible Study. The more I get to know Luke’s gospel,  the more amazed I am by the genius of how it was woven together. It is truly stunning.

Recently I was looking at two stories which exist side-by-side in Luke 10: the story of the Good Samaritan and the story of Mary and Martha. In the first story Jesus points an expert in religious law to the example of the Good Samaritan and says, “Go and do.” In the second story Jesus confronts a frantic Martha and says, “Stop and be.”  If we were to ask Jesus which story is for us I think he would say, “Yes!”

There’s a balance in life, a kind of inhaling and exhaling. We need to tend to our soul. We need daily time in which to be still in God’s presence, breathing in God’s love and listening for God’s voice in Scripture and prayer. But we also need to do – to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Too much doing leaves us empty and bitter. But if all we do is read the Bible, pray, and never put our feet to the floor we’re likely to become prideful, judgmental and complacent.

In my experience each person has a “bent” in one direction or another. We’re like cars out of alignment which veer into the ditch unless we hold the wheel. Some of us are bent toward a rich devotional life. Others of us are bent toward serving. And not only are people bent one way or another, so are congregations. In my observation Prince of Peace is bent toward doing. We are a people who love to serve. And I love that about us. I love that we have a passion to feed the hungry, serve the poor, and love the “least of these” among us.

But I wonder: how is your devotional life? How are you, yes you, doing at taking time daily to soak in God’s love, engaging in scripture and prayer? How are you doing at tending to your soul?  Truth is I’m bent toward doing. I really have to work at nurturing my soul. I’m more comfortable getting things done than being still and listening for that still, small voice. But I’ve also learned that when I maintain a balance between inhaling and exhaling I experience greater peace and greater productivity.

So let me ask you again: how is your devotional life? Need some help in that area? Check out the Devotional Tools that we produce each week. You’ll find printed copies in the Community Room, or you can download a copy anytime from the front page of our website. Click here to download a copy now.

Or, join me in a daily reading plan produced by the Canadian Bible Society. Just follow these simple instructions:

• Click here to view sign-up page.
• To have the daily reading e-mailed to you – enter your email address and click “go.”
• To download a pdf version of the reading plan click “download Protestant edition.”

And if you’re on Facebook, send me a friend request. Most days I write a thought or two about the daily reading.

Whatever your bent, I want to encourage you to find balance this year. So, breathe in and breathe out and enjoy greater peace and productivity!

Thanks for your partnership in ministry,

Jeff Marian, Lead Pastor

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Often the only thing worse than going through a difficult time is watching someone you know and love go through a difficult time. Have you ever felt that agonizing sense of helplessness when someone close to you is hurting, struggling, and you just don’t know what to do or say? You want to help but you just don’t know how. You’re afraid to do or say the wrong thing, afraid you’ll make things worse, and yet doing nothing at all just feels so…lame. Have you been there?

Help is on the way! Pastor Claire Cassell is offering a series of classes entitled “Helping a Friend.” These classes will equip you to help a friend or family member who is struggling through a difficult life experience.  They can also help you to deal with issues in your own life so that you can be better equipped to help others. In these classes, Pastor Claire will teach you about caregiving vs. caretaking, the grief process, listening skills, forgiveness, healthy boundaries and helpful resources. You are welcome to attend as many classes as you are interested in or able to take.

Classes include:

• Helping a Friend through the Loss of a
  Loved One – Wednesday, March 7
• Helping a Friend through Physical or Mental Illness – Wednesday, March 14
• Helping a Friend through Chemical
  Dependency – Wednesday, March 21
• Helping a Friend through Relationship Issues or Divorce – Wednesday, March 28

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel more confident and competent to help a friend through these difficult experiences? What a gift it is to know you’re making a difference in someone’s life!

Class will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in the Christian Life Center, Room 200. For more information, or to register, click here.

I want to urge you to consider being a part of this series. One of the core directions of our ministry is “Inward through Community.” We are a body of believers committed to loving one another well in community, sharing both our joys and sorrows. In healthy community we trust one another enough to be authentic and transparent about our personal challenges. The better equipped we are to walk with one another through difficult times, the more likely we are to be healthy as a church and to allow God’s healing grace to flow through our lives and into the lives of others.

God is up to great things at Prince of Peace. I’m so glad to be a part of it. I’m glad you’re a part of it too!

Thanks for your partnership in ministry

Jeff Marian
Lead Pastor

Continue reading »]]> “Do not be anxious…”
By Jan Drymon

I’ve never been a big Advent girl. I always jumped straight from Thanksgiving into the hurry, scurry, “gitter’ done” process of “making Christmas” for my family. I’m sure many can relate: I paused to be thankful for my many blessings on one day only to move into a holiday hurriedness of tree trimming, gift buying and party going the next. Cookies baked, gifts wrapped, POP musical attended – I checked all the boxes for a successful holiday season. But when Christmas arrived, it seemed rather a letdown. I was tired and I had missed the point completely.

But I made a change this year. After experiencing some personal turmoil in my life, I committed to taking time each day to “do Advent” by using the Keeping the Holy in the Holidays reading plan. Advent is a time to seek God. To lay before Him our struggles, fears, and faults – which He already knows – and to share our joys, achievements and dreams as we prepare for Jesus’ arrival in a manger and His second coming. Advent is a time of spiritual renewal. A time to find peace and clarity. And I’m finding that with the use of this reading plan, this renewal is embedding itself in all the areas of my being as I spend quality time with God each day.

One November morning the reading was Philippians 4:4-7:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As I read this verse three times – as prescribed in the lectio divina practice of digging deeper into the meaning of scripture – I focused on four words: “Do not be anxious…” I repeated this in prayer throughout the day when I was unhappy or overwhelmed. Each time, I felt the “peace of God” as defined in the verses surround me. What a gift and blessing to me in those moments.

Keeping my Advent momentum rolling, I attended Pastor Claire’s Praying through the Holidays workshop last Sunday. She shared several forms of meditation that can prepare me to enter into my quiet time with God, and to help me listen (not just talk) and hear Him. Now, before I begin my reading, I get still and quiet (not always easy) and repeat “Give me peace, O God” over and over for several minutes. These words, matched with my breathing, bring a sense of calm before I come to God in prayer.

Finding spiritual renewal through the season of Advent has been a refreshing change to my holiday ritual. I look forward each morning to my quiet time with God … and I think He’s enjoying this time with me, as well.

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Get The Advent Reading Plan:
Download your own copy or read online

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Photo by: AlicePopkorn on Flickr

Continue reading »]]> “I would love to see Prince of Peace grow.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to see more young people around Prince of Peace?”

“Why are some churches growing? What’s their secret?”

I’ve heard these and similar questions frequently in the past four years, and the answer to each has one thing in common: you. When disciples just like you reach over the fence and into your neighbor’s life, love them well and invite them in, we’ll grow. It’s that simple.

Recent Gallup Poll data revealed that the fastest growing religious category in America is “Unaffiliated.” That means more and more Americans have absolutely no connection to a spiritual community. What’s the answer? You. When disciples just like you reach over the fence and into your neighbor’s life, love them well and invite them in, we’ll grow. It’s that simple.

It isn’t the preaching.

It isn’t the music.

It isn’t the programming.

It isn’t advertising or marketing.

It isn’t some big event.

It isn’t our facilities, location or signage.

The growth of Prince of Peace – and quite frankly our future – depends entirely upon your willingness to reach over the fence and into your neighbor’s life, love them well and invite them in. It’s that simple.

And it really is simple. It’s as simple as making a friend, loving them well and allowing yourself to be the bridge across which Jesus walks into people’s lives.

Starting January 7-8, 2012 we’re going to launch a new preaching series entitled “Over the Fence.” Throughout this series we’re going to inform, encourage and equip you to reach over the fence into the life of your neighbor, friend, co-worker or classmate and engage with them in ways that communicate God’s love. You don’t have to be an extrovert. You don’t have to have all the answers to life’s questions. You don’t need hours of training. No one is too young or too old or too busy. You just have to be willing to allow God to use you in everyday life. And God will, in ways that will amaze and delight you.

I’m stone cold serious when I say that our future as a church depends upon you doing this. This is your church. It will be what you make it. Do nothing and in time it will diminish and die just as surely as an untended garden will eventually fail to bear fruit. Choose to pray and reach over the fence and the future of your church is limitless. It’s that simple.

And so I urge you to attend each and every week of this series. I urge you to urge others to attend! I urge you to use the small group materials with your friends. But more importantly I urge you to lean into the message each week and begin to do the things we’ll talk about. None of it will be terribly hard. None of it will be particularly frightening. God does all the heavy lifting. You just need to be willing to let God use you in everyday life. It’s that simple. Really. How do I know? Because years ago someone just like you reached over the fence into my life. It’s why I’m here today.

Thanks for your partnership in ministry,

Jeff Marian
Lead Pastor

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Photo © Elaine Faith

Continue reading »]]> The month of January was named for the mythical Roman king, Janus. Janus, it was said, had two faces and could therefore look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions. Many Romans developed the habit of asking for forgiveness for the failures of their past year and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of the year. That’s why the month of January is the “hinge” between the past year and the New Year, and the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions continues.

I want to invite you to celebrate the New Year with your family of faith at the third annual New Year’s Eve Jazz Service. This has quickly become a favorite tradition at Prince of Peace as we once again welcome some of the finest jazz musicians in the Twin Cities into our sanctuary for an evening of food, fun, music and worship. This year’s theme is “Food for a Hungry World.” Not only will we celebrate the goodness of the One who feeds our soul we’re also using this evening to support the Prince of Peace Feed My Starving Children event through a silent art auction. Here are the details:

Silent Auction and Refreshments: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. We’ll host a silent auction featuring all sorts of artwork, music and handcrafted items from our talented Prince of Peace community. Come during this time to browse, bid and enjoy! All proceeds will go directly to support the Prince of Peace Feed My Starving Children event.

Prince of Peace Big Band Begins: 4:45 p.m. Jazz music will fill the air as we mingle, hob knob and sip some steaming hot specialty coffees.

Worship Service: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. At 5:30 we’ll move into a time of worship to give thanks for the year past and express our hopes for the year to come. We’ll enjoy some familiar carols set to a new sound. Space is limited. Child care will be provided.

So, what can you do?

First, plan to join us for this spectacular evening! Registration is now open. Just click here. And please remember that this would be a most excellent time to invite a friend or neighbor to join you and experience God’s amazing love at Prince of Peace. Please note that this will be the last opportunity to give your regular offering for the 2011 tax year! All offerings given on Sunday, January 1, 2012 will be credited to the 2012 tax year.

Second, plan to give generously over and above your regular offering by bidding at the silent auction. Your generosity will literally save the lives of starving children around the globe, and you might just pick up a one-of-a-kind treasure!

Third, consider donating something to the auction. We are looking for all kinds of art: things you hang on the wall (paintings, drawings…), things you put on a table (sculptures, pottery…), things you wear (jewelry, knitting, handmade purses or bags), things you use (quilts, furniture…) and also things you experience. This can include home cooking, music lessons, a private concert, a video album created from your family photos, etc. Let your creative passions run wild!

To donate items for the silent auction, please deliver your art, music or handcrafted items to Liz Ridpath at the church office by Thursday, December 22. If you have questions regarding silent auction donations, contact Liz Ridpath at 952-898-9381 – lridpath@princeofpeaceonline.org.

Continue reading »]]> You know how particular foods and events get tied to certain memories and holidays? For some, potato salad, hotdogs and parades say “4th of July Picnic” like nothing else. For others, baking cookies and singing carols says “Christmas” so much better than hotdogs. For me, when I think “Thanksgiving” it really isn’t Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie, roasted turkey and a quirky story about some lepers. (Well, I guess some segues are better than others. You have to admit, that’s a really good segue!) Let me explain:

I’m hoping you’ve gotten into “Keeping the Holy in the Holidays” and the reading program that goes with it. [Add link here] Recently I had the opportunity to read the passage from Luke 17:11-19. It’s the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers on his way between Samaria and Galilee. The details of the story are simple—if not stark: Jesus encounters 10 lepers. They cry for help and Jesus heals all of them. But only one returns to give thanks. Jesus asks, “What’s up with that?”

It’s not difficult for me to get real uppity about the nine that didn’t come back to say thanks because more often than not, laziness or outright ingratitude is the disease I struggle with. And it’s not that I don’t want to give thanks, sometimes I just forget.

How can you blame me (or any of us) since our culture is so much more comfortable with getting gifts than giving thanks. Perhaps that’s the real wonder of Thanksgiving: an intentional moment to just slow down and even come to a stop in order to consider all that God has provided. And then turning back toward Jesus with a heart full of gratitude for life, for health and for breath. I have to say, that when I do that, I sense all kinds of healing taking place in me.

Continue reading »]]> Hi everyone,

Believe it or not, this is my first attempt at blogging! And in this first attempt, I’m excited to invite you to my upcoming class, “Praying Through the Holidays.” It will give an opportunity for people who are following the Advent reading series a chance to ask questions and receive guidance around their experience and give everyone a time to slow down and focus on the reason for this season in the company of others.

In the class you will have the opportunity to experience four different prayer practices:

1. Praying Through The Scriptures:
One of the prayer forms you will experience in the class is a way to pray the Scriptures. The Advent reading series (download here) focuses on this type of prayer. This is a very ancient Christian prayer practice that helps us to not just read Scripture, but to pray through it. It moves us from our heads, to our hearts as we encounter the Bible.

2. Centering Prayer:
Through focusing on your breath and a sacred phrase such as, “Thy will be done” or “Let go and let God”, you will enter into a peaceful place where you can clear your mind and listen to God.

3. Movement Prayer:
I will share with you the gentle easy form of movement that I do every morning to help me stay centered and connected with myself and with God.

4. Journaling Prayer:
I will share with you how to write “letters to God” and how to listen for the response. It is a practice that I have been doing for the past 30 years and I have found it to be very meaningful.

I hope you will join me. The same class will be offered three different times:

Wednesday, Nov 30; 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.; Community Room (Worship Center)
Wednesday, Dec 7; 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.; Room 200 (Christian Life Center)
Sunday, Dec 11; 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Room 200 (Christian Life Center)

Choose the option that works best for you – or attend more than one! If you have questions or comments, please contact me at 952-898-9312 or ccassell@princeofpeaceonline.org.

Continue reading »]]> Each week of our 8 week Making Sense of Scripture worship series we will post a new discussion starter video you can download and view with your small group. This is also the place you can ask your questions about the series and have them answered by one of our pastors.

Week 8: Reading The Bible For A Change

Pastor Jeff recaps the main points from this weekends sermon and gives you some things to think about.

• Download The Video For Your Small Group (right click, save as)

Get a copy of the video in DVD format by emailing Erik Feig.

• Ask your questions in the comment area below

Your question may be featured next week in the Take-It-Home-Tools.

• Get Other Small Group Resources

Continue reading »]]> As I write this there are only 41 days left until Christmas. Yikes! I don’t know about you but that means at the Marian house we only have 41 days to do a whole lot of preparation. There are gifts to buy, a tree to secure and decorate, cards to purchase, write in, address, stamp and send. There are cookies to bake, parties to attend, gifts to wrap and lights to put up. Geez, I’m tired already! Sound familiar?

The Church, in her infinite wisdom, has set aside the four weeks before Christmas as a time of spiritual preparation. This season is called “Advent,” which is Latin for “coming” and as Christians we’ve been observing it since the appearance of regulations on fasting issued by Bishop Perpetuus in 490. During these days we reflect on themes of hope, repentance, watchfulness, light and darkness, expectation of the incarnation at Christmas and Jesus’ return at the end of time.

I want to invite you to several events at Prince of Peace that will feed your soul in these Advent days:

Make My Light a Candle is the name of this year’s Christmas musical. Through drama and music you’ll discover the power of Christ’s birth to dispel our darkness with the light of his presence. This year we’re offering this remarkable experience during regular worship times, along with one additional performance. Adults and children of all ages will be moved and inspired. This will be a great time to invite a friend or neighbor to hear the good news of Christmas. You will not need tickets to enjoy this year’s performance!

Saturday, December 10, 4:00 and 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 11, 8:30, 9:45 (ASL) and 11:00 a.m.

Famfest: The Great ADVENTure is our 4th annual tradition of celebrating the beginning of Advent family style. On Monday night, December 5, from 5-7 p.m. families of all ages, shapes and sizes will be meeting for a soup supper in the new Family Room. After we eat together, there will be various craft stations to help us get ready for the season. With a few songs and a take-home family devotions, the evening ends with some good old caroling at the nursing home (complete with bell ringers and traditional songs). There is no cost to the event, just a freewill offering for the supper.

We’d love to see you there, along with a friend or two. To register go to www.famfest.org or call Swen with questions at 952-898-9372.

Praying Through the Holidays
Join Pastor Claire and others for some food for the body and soul on Wednesday, November 30 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. in the Community Room; Wednesday, December 7 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room, and Sunday, December 11 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in Room 200. Join others as we learn together how to read the Bible in ways that speak to us and feed us. This will be a great opportunity to put into practice what we’ve learned in this series.

Don’t let the busyness of this season wear you out. Invest into those things that will fill you up, transforming these hectic holidays into truly holy days.

Thanks for your partnership in ministry,
Jeff Marian
Lead Pastor

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Photo: the_42nd_dragon