Our Mission Statement:
We are a Gospel-centered community of people blessed by God to be a blessing to others.
Get involved!
Highlights of our upcoming events:
Wednesday night activities have begun.
-A delicious meal will be served at 5:45 p.m., followed by the POP Kids club, Confirmation class, and the Adult Bible class.
Please join us for a time of learning and fellowship.
Help to feed the hungry in Des Moines.
-Join the Des Moines Area Hunger Hike at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, either by sponsoring one of our walkers or by walking youself.
See Ron Carlson for more information.
The Prince of Peace annual Fall Festival is coming up!
-The doors of Fellowship Hall will be open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21. You may purchase baked goods, crafts, jewelry, greeting cards, Jams and jellies,
and much more. Do your Christmas shopping early and contribute to the ministries of our church.
Want to spotlight your event? Email the webmaster at popdsm@gmail.com and we'll put it here!
This month's letter from Pastor Roger Osbeck
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Summer's gone?! Already?!! Last May, I forecasted the summer would travel by quickly, because from past experience, it usually does. Once again,
fall appears on the horizon much too soon for me.
Surveying the summer, I realize a few personal things which were weighing on us did get accomplished. We flew to Arizona and helped Janelle's mother get some things sorted out, to better prepare her for the changes occurring in her life.
Then we were able to move our daughter, Anastasia, up to a studio apartment in Minneapolis as she arranges to start graduate school at the
University of Minnesota this month (yes, she has become a Gopher). All-in-all, we have to feel satisfied those goals were realized.
I relish the summer months; however, there is one shortcoming which accompanies it: our Sunday worship attendance at Prince of Peace always falls off (I would guess
anywhere from 10%-20%). With more people traveling on the weekends, or for other reasons, there are fewer people in church each week during the summer. We miss them. Although fewer are present in body, I hope and pray they carry with them the truth of the Gospel
as we have tried to teach and preach about each week. As human beings, we need to keep reminded of what is truly important in life to help maintain our focus
in faith. This is one reason regular worship attendance is a vital component of Christian living. Offering our praise and thanksgiving to God with the community is another.
In a Christmas sermon from 1533, Martin Luther referred to a portion of the story in Luke 2, specifically verse 19. After the shepherds revealed to the Holy Family gathered around the manger all the angels had told them
aboout the birth of the newborn Jesus, we read, "But Mary treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart." Luther brought to light how important it is to worship;
to not only be present but hold on to what is experienced. If we want the Word of God to strike root in our hearts, we must use it more diligently.
Only note how often a matter must be repeated and made comprehensible before young boys grasp it. And we imagine that such great matters can be grasped on the run! But there we are far wrong. For as soon as they leave the service,
most of them are concerned about other things and can no longer think of the sermon. We ought to seek the kingdom of God first, that is, we ought to make it our greatest concern.
But, as matters stand, it is our least concern, and we are more interested in our business, living, pleasure, than in the Word. Were it not so, we would think of the Word of God
at least as frequently and carefully as of our business concerns and would handle it as seriously as we do them. But this will not be done. No wonder, therefore, that the Word sits so lightly on us and is soon forgotten,
as one sees in times of temptation. But this should not be true among Christians. Their greatest treasure is the Word of God. This is why it is their very heart; and although they must also concern
themselves with the affairs of this world, their heart always inclines to that in which it is most interested.
Is the Word of God that to which your heart inclines, or is most interested in, or most greatly treasures? I hope as we begin what we usually refer to as the educational progamming part on the year, in the fall, you will take advantage of the opportunities provided,
especially on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. And, of course, we pray you will faithfully join us in worship as often as possible. It's not the same without you.
Peace to you. See you in church.
Pastor Roger
Outreach links:
Meals from the Heartland
Habitat for Humanity
Lutheran Services in Iowa
Lutheran World Relief
ELCA Malaria Campaign
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