Equipped for Combat

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

We are in a war! Make no mistake about it, being a Christian has thrown us into battle. Our enemy is three-fold: the world, our flesh, and the Devil himself. Satan is the Commander-in-Chief overseeing and enabling his troops for battle ; he is behind every opposition to faith, every doubt that undermines faith, and all the temptations that cause faith to stumble. Our combat is against spiritual forces of evil!

We are way over our heads when it comes to this fight. Who has the strength and weaponry for such combat? We are outnumbered and are fighting against an enemy we can’t see. It makes a person want to give up! What hope do we have to win such a war? That’s what Israel thought when Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan to check out the land God had promised them. All they saw was an enemy they could not defeat on their own, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” They wanted to go back to Egypt, back into bondage, rather than trust God’s promise that the land was theirs. They trusted their eyes and not their ears; they were trusting in their strength and not in the might of God to deliver on his promise. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10) There it is! The key to victory! We enter daily into battle not in our own power but in the strength of our almighty God. And we fight with our ears! For it is through our hearing that faith is given and strengthened to trust in our Lord’s unfailing promises and gifts. He gives us armor to fight against and withstand the devilish attacks. It’s not our armor but God’s, and he dresses us up for battle with Gospel gear wrought by Jesus himself. 

The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – the word of God – all these are gifts for you. They all have one thing in common; they all find their source in Jesus. You are dressed up in him – your baptism assures you of that. Greater is he that is in you and he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) So we enter into daily battle in Jesus with faith grabbing onto him, and in him we are more than conquerors! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

God’s Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes, who fear it; For God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit…They cannot win the day. The Kingdom’s ours forever! (LSB 657.4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

-Pastor Darrin Sheek

VBS Volunteer Meeting May 26th

WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE!

Annual End of the School Year Luau!

Please come enjoy our students singing at the 10:30 service followed by festivities!

~HURRY! ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT~

Purchase now for the annual P.O.P. Angel's Game!

Men's Group meeting this Saturday

Pastor's Book of the Month:

Luther's Small Catechism:

Manual for Discipleship

-by John T. Pless

"Who are disciples? What is a life of discipleship?

This book answers those important questions by looking at Luther's Small Catechism as a field manual for how to live in faith and serve in love according to God's commandments.

Author John Pless capitalizes on the Lutheran view of discipleship to equip pastors and laity to better utilize Luther's Small Catechism as a guide for a life of discipleship."

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

This month our congregation is supporting

The 1517 Organization

1517 is a nonprofit organization that exists to declare and defend the Good News that you are forgiven and free on account of Christ alone. 

Elders

8:00am: John Henderson

10:30am: Randy Cade & Steven Sarandis

Readers

8:00am: Steve Byrnes 10:30am: Ron Jones

Ushers

8:00am: Linda Henderson 10:30am: Shavonia Wilson

Altar Guild

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

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

Children's Sunday School

9:15am: Kayleen Ojeda

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, May 19th 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 Group

~Once a Month~

This Saturday: May 18th

We have a new group starting for men that we would love for you to check out! 5/18 @ 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

NO YOUTH GROUP TODAY!

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

•For Kimmery, sister of Kayleen Ojeda, for good results on a pending medical diagnosis

•For Magdalena, For health and family and help in finding employment

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.