Ministries at Peace
Peace Lutheran Church sustains many robust ministries and opportunities to serve. If you are interested in participating in a ministry or have special gifts you’d like to share, please contact us at office@peacepuyallup.org.
Worship
We have many gifted people who enable our worship to happen regularly and well: our pastor, music staff and volunteers, scripture readers, those who set up, serve and clean up Eucharist, light candles, usher, greet, provide flowers for the altar, change altar cloths and banners, and so much more. We follow a traditional liturgical order of worship with several different music settings to enhance the liturgy.
In addition to Sunday morning worship, we have Wednesday evening services during Advent and Lent where we often sing the beloved Holden Evening Prayer. During Holy Week, we have worship on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Music at Peace
Peace Choir is a fellowship, a ministry, and a worship element. The choir is made up of people that love to sing! We assist worship services with an anthem twice a month. The anthems are chosen for melody and message to enhance the worship life of our community. The anthem’s loosely follow the liturgical calendar, but songs are not sung until prepared.
The Peace Choir goal is to built relationships, provide a quality musical experience for its members, and a meaningful experience for the Congregation. Peace Choir is a welcoming ministry with room for singers of all abilities (it is not necessary to read music!) to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
Cornerstones Praise Band
Resounding Joy – Handbell choir
Special Music is enjoyed throughout the year. Folks are encouraged to share their musical gifts as soloists, duets, trio, small ensembles, etc.
Compassionate Ministries
Card Ministry: We send cards to every shut-in and chronically ill person once a month. If they are in need of a little more encouragement we send two. We also send cards to people who have acute issues, new babies, weddings, extra special birthdays and thank you notes as needed. These mailings amount to 25 to 40 cards per month.
Care Team: Members serve by making phone calls, visits and sending cards to congregational members who are home-bound.
Hospitality: Our Peace Puyallup family loves gathering together after worship for conversation, coffee, tea and treats, and the hospitality team hosts set up and clean up for each Sunday. The possibilities to share in this hospitality ministry are endless♥️
Prayer Shawl Ministries: We share with those people in need of extra prayers. There are many people knitting prayer shawls, and as we knit we pray for the person we are making the shawl. If you know of someone who needs a prayer shawl now, please let us know and we will make arrangements to get them one. If you would like to be involved we would be happy to have you.
One Parish, One Prisoner Team (OPOP): Our OPOP Team is paired with an individual releasing from prison in our home region. Together, we embark on a 2-year journey of relationship-building, holistic reentry support, and mutual transformation.
Education: Children & Youth
Classes are offered for children ages pre-school to high school. We also have a nursery on-site for kids under 4 to have fun while their older siblings are in class and parents are mingling with other members.
Children’s Chapel starts with songs around 10:40am, followed by story, prayer, and activities.
Quilters
We gather together for tying quilts, camaraderie, thought for the day and prayer, sharing of recipes, trading books, and discussion of our day to day experiences. No sewing experience is needed, however, we do have bags of squares available for anyone to take home, sew, and then return to the church. We usually distribute at least 150 quilts to local charities and to Lutheran World Relief the first of May and the first of November. Anyone is welcome to join us and supplies needed for tying are available.
Women of the Evangelical Church in America WELCA
Meet for Bible Study the second Wednesday of each month, August thru May, at 9 AM for a morning of bible study, fellowship and refreshments. Special monthly meetings are available during the summer.
Property Maintenance
The Property Committee keeps busy changing light bulbs; tightening nuts, bolts, and screws; spot painting, cleaning, sorting and recycling; fixing leaks and fixtures; and doing other routine maintenance chores throughout the year. Others join in on scheduled work days to help with “deep cleaning”, special projects and landscape work.
Men’s Breakfast
The men of Peace (guests are welcome) gather on the 1st Saturday of each month at 8:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall to share breakfast and fellowship. A sign up sheet is always available for those wishing to share their culinary skills with the group.
Youth Ministries
At Peace Lutheran we believe our youth are not the future of the church – they are the church. We offer a program for youth in grades 6-12. We provide worship, educational, recreational and service opportunities. Our hope is that through our programs we build positive relationships and provide growth in our faith journey.
Second Sundays & Lunch Bunch! Youth are encouraged to participate as worship volunteers any time, but especially on the Second Sunday of each month – they can be readers, ushers, acolytes, provide special music and assist with Communion. After worship on Second Sundays, youth join Pastor Nate for a one-hour lunch in the community together.
Puyallup Valley Youth Co-Op On the 2nd Wednesday of each month, Peace youth join a group of other affirming churches in the Puyallup Valley for an ecumenical youth group gathering. Dinner is included. 6pm. (More details soon!)
Mission Statement
As children of God we dedicate ourselves to reaching out to youth and adults in our community. God’s grace joins us together in service, worship and fun!
Outreach Ministries
School Feeding Programs – How can you help? We need people to deliver weekly food bags to Spinning. Help setting up before food packing events. Help with shopping before events. Help with the packing. At holiday times special packing and delivery help is needed usually in the morning during the week. Food donations (list available) are always welcome.
We serve: Spinning Elementary 1306 Pioneer Way E., Puyallup; Stewart Elementary 426 4th Ave. NE, Puyallup; Walker High School – 5715 Milwaukee Ave. E., Puyallup
New Seasons Christian Fellowship Church – 204 4th Ave. S.E., Puyallup. This is a food distribution site which is available on the 2nd and 4th Friday. Items are given on a first come, first served basis. Distribution begins at 5 pm (people begin lining up around 4 pm). Most people served are elderly or low income families. We provide toiletries, cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene products and diapers/wipes.
How can you help? Back up delivery and help with shopping.
Oasis Youth Center – 2215 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. This is a counseling/drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth in Pierce County. We deliver a warm meal on the first Thursday of the month. They serve 25 to 32 people. We also provide some food for their holiday meal.
How can you help? Preparing food and delivery.
Exodus Housing – Assists families who have fled domestic violence and are in temporary shelters to find permanent housing. We provide gift cards once a month.
Retreat Home – 2522 N. Proctor Street, Tacoma. Retreat Home provides temporary housing in volunteer homes for families experiencing homelessness (no more than 3 month) and helps them find stable housing. We have done a quilt raffle and collected donated gift cards before Christmas as a fundraiser.
How can you help? Volunteer to take the lead on this worthwhile ministry!
Courtyard Gardens at Peace – This ministry supports members at Peace, the All Saints delivery food bank, the Puyallup Food Bank, and the Seventh Day Adventists with fresh produce. How can you help? We need regular waterers during the summer months! Help is needed to refresh the soil with the top soil already delivered and prepare the beds for planting. There is a donated green house to cover one of the beds that will need to be assembled. Ongoing care of the gardens from planting, to harvesting, to clean up at the end of the season. Delivery of produce to various sites. We try to do some crop rotation and choose the vegetables that will provide the most sustenance. Be sure to check in with the gardening ministry contacts before you purchase or plant anything
Faith in Action – This group of leaders from Shepherd of the Hill, First Presbyterian, Puyallup United Methodist and Peace Lutheran Church begin meeting in May to plan a Faith in Action weekend doing Christ’s work in our community (usually the first weekend in October). The group plans service projects benefitting our immediate neighbors and beyond.
How can you help? Volunteer to join the planning group! It is a commitment of meeting at least once a month beginning in May, finding some community projects, making contacts, and planning the project. Then organizing volunteers from our congregation for the projects. You will need to be available for the FIA weekend and for at least one follow-up meeting. We also need people to sign up for the projects once they are presented to the congregations.
