Cornerstone Newsletter

Transcription

1 Grace and Peace Lutheran Church Cornerstone Newsletter 7611 N Knoxville Peoria, IL September 2018 PASTOR S PAGE YOUR TREASURE This verse has traditionally been used as a stewardship slogan for the annual fall pledge campaign. Pastors would encourage us to increase our financial commitment to the church, always reminding us that we will support whatever we love the most. The logic employed was that if we really love the church, we will respond financially. There is some truth to this, but it is only a half truth! Yes, I usually do only those things that I want to do. If I want something, I usually get it. If I like pizza, I eat it and eat a lot of it! If I like smoking, I will continue to smoke in spite of its ill effects. The logic here is that I do things because I want to do them. So when it comes to church stewardship drives, I give because I want to give, and the more I love the church, the more I will give. This is all true, BUT what if I don t want to give or tithe to the church! Maybe I don t want to give up smoking. Maybe I don t want to exercise. Maybe I don t want to love my cranky neighbor. Let s be honest with ourselves. There are times when I don t want to do whatever is right, or good, or beneficial. Sometimes I just am not motivated to do the good. What then? Do I give up and justify myself and say I can t quit my bad habits, until I want to quit. Or I can t do the right until I want to do the right. I hope not! Take our bible verse for example: Yes, I will support and love what I treasure, but the obverse is also true. If I do something habitually, maybe my heart will catch up and like what I am doing. No one, by nature, wants to tithe, but if I tithe and keep tithing, the day will come when my heart begins to see the benefits of tithing and I will want to continue tithing. Like exercising, no one wants to work out and exercise at first. But if you continue to exercise, even when you don t want to, you will discover great benefits in exercising. You become stronger, more agile, breathe easier, and you promote good health and you feel good! At first you don t want to do it, but after it becomes a habit your heart catches up to your behavior and you want to continue to exercise. I think Nike has it right, when they say, Just do it! I may not want to exercise, or tithe, or love my neighbor, or do the right thing, but just do it! And keep doing it! I might not want to quit a bad habit or love my worthless boss at work or help the poor, but just do it! Don t wait until you want to do the right, because that day may never come. If something is good or right or beneficial, just do it whether you want to or not. Your heart will catch up to your behavior. Yes, I do good, because I want to. However, I do good even when I don t want to. Be patient with yourself. Keep doing the good, and your heart will find its treasure. Pastor Lillie

2 Volunteers WK GREETERS ASSISTING MINISTERS LAY READERS 2 Addie and Collin Smet Nan Goff Collin Smet 9 Chris and Mark Golden Deb Meyer Mark Golden 16 Barb and Dale Bollman Andrew Loebach Chris Golden 23 Laura Tomblin and Jeanne Wineland Roberta Groth Laura Tomblin 30 Essie and Hannah Shirven, Nan Goff Hilary Shirven Ann Joyce WK COMMUNION ASSISTANTS PRAYER PARTNERS ALTAR GUILD 2 Addie and Collin Smet Nancy Claude and Nan Goff Mary Jane Hinshaw 9 Chris and Mark Golden Deb Meyer and Terry Goff Mary Jane Hinshaw 16 Barb and Dale Bollman Linda Ericsson and Andrew Loebach Chris Golden 23 Laura Tomblin and Jeanne Wineland Carol Gard and Laura Tomblin Roxanne Hochsprung 30 Essie and Hannah Shirven, Nan Goff Ann Joyce and Terry Goff Chris Golden WK COFFEE HOUR MISSIONARY SUPPORT COUNTERS 2 No one is signed up to host Carol Gard Jan Jarrett and Ron Groth 9 No one is signed up to host Goff Shirven Aniv & Bret s B-day Jan Jarrett and Ron Groth 16 Women s Board No support donated Jan Jarrett and Ron Groth 23 Kelly Smet and Family No support donated Jan Jarrett and Ron Groth 30 No one is signed up to host Helen Hamilton Jan Jarrett and Ron Groth If you need the church unlocked contact September Key Person Julie Smith

3 Seminarian studies Important dates NEWS FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE INTERIM PASTOR JAMES LILLIE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 GODS WORK. OUR HANDS. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 2:00-5:00PM LAURA S VACATION OFFICE CLOSED THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 6:30PM CORNERSTONE DEADLINE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 SCHOOL BOOKS FOR ANDREW Much appreciation to all the members of our congregation who participated with donations to Andrew Loebach s book fund. We needed about $750 and received donations of over $1,000. We have a nice start for the second semester of books. It was lovely having so many of the Loebach and Kunkel family to share Andrew s first sermon. We wish him good luck with his studies this fall. Roberta Dietrich Dear Grace and Peace Family, Your generosity keeps amazing myself and my family. I cannot describe how much joy it gives me to know that you have contributed so much to my calling! Not only have you contributed to my tuition, but also my books as well that will stay with me throughout my career. You all are truly doing God s work, and to think that this church has put helped support more than ten others who have had a calling to rostered ministry that is AMAZING! I will not let you down, and I will work extremely hard to do God s will! We are all in this together and I couldn t ask for a better group of people to journey through this exciting time. Please know that you all are in my prayers, and I look forward to what lies ahead! Much Love, Many Blessings, and Many Thanks, Andrew Loebach

4 Procedures Monthly Updates from Roberta Sisters WWII sites + FIFTY PLUS FOOD AND FUN FELLOWSHIP TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 NOON Our September meeting will be Tuesday, September 4 at noon. We will have lunch and a program. Terry Goff and Hilary Shirven will share information from their recent educational trip to Europe to see WWII sites. Based on a few photos I ve seen it should be very interesting. Plan to join us. Carol Gard MIRIAM CIRCLE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 7:00PM Miriam Circle will resume monthly meetings for Bible study, fellowship and service projects. Our regular meeting will be at 7:00pm at church. Diane Page is our hostess on September 11th. Bring your September issue of Gather magazine. Our project is supplies for Lutheran World Relief School Kits. All women of the church are welcome. Carol Gard AGAPE WEDNESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 5 AND SEPTEMBER 19 11:30AM The agape group has been working diligently. So far we have 69 quilts completed. Two more workdays are scheduled in September. Mark Wednesdays, September 5 and September 19 on your calendar. Roberta Dietrich LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Packing has begun of the personal care kits. Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Tower of Towels. Thank you also, to Roberta Groth who donated a whole boxful of toothbrushes. Special thanks to the Armstrongs, Vickie Bittner, Jack and Marilyn South, Cheryl Rauhaus, Joan Winter, Bobbie Yoder, and others who managed to quietly drop off supplies in the library for the School Kits. Then we thank many of the same people and even more persons who helped with the supplies for the Baby Care Kits. Thanks to receiving some Thrivent Action Team Cards we were able to finish out various needs for all these kits. The Hochsprungs have agreed to be delivery vans for the Ingathering at St. John Lutheran in Bloomington in late October. Roberta Dietrich CHURCH BUILDING USE AND PORTABLE PROPERTY USE Grace and Peace is blessed with a wonderful facility and diverse portable property. From time to time members like to use the facility or some of the portable property for outside organizations in which they are active or for a special personal occasion. To help keep track of facility and portable property use, the office has usage guidelines and forms which help keep everyone informed. Please contact Laura and she can provide the forms and help get any questions answered.

5 Helping others in the name of Jesus GOD S WORK. OUR HANDS. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 2:00 5:00 A dedicated day of service in our community. Grace and Peace will again host the bandage rolling event for God s Work. Our Hands. Day for the ELCA in Jerry Hinshaw has made six more bandage rollers so we have a total of ten. Each machine can use two people. Bring your old sheets, and Mike Love and others will enjoy tearing them into strips. Letters have gone out to the four other ELCA churches in Peoria inviting all to come. Last year we had about 35 people from the five churches for refreshments, fellowship, and work. The same couple from Morton is willing to delivery them personally to the Global Mission office in Minneapolis. We will start at 2:00pm, and run until 4:00 or 5:00pm. Bring your worn sheets, perhaps a pair of scissors, and your good humor. Roberta Dietrich 2:00pm Other Greater Peoria Area Work Sites Bartonville Park Cleanup Meet at Bethel Church, Bartonville Bring work gloves. Packing Birthday Bags First English Church, Peoria Materials needed cake mix, canned icing, candles, drink mix, small plates and napkins East Bluff Yard Clean-Up Meet at First English Church Bring work gloves, some tools will be available, but you may bring loppers, rakes, etc. 5:00pm Dinner and Debrief at First English Church We will share food, experiences from the day, and information about this year s GWOH mission partners. Sign-up at to help us prepare. MARK YOUR CALENDAR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

6 Let the voices ring Thanks MANY THANKS Thank you to everyone who continues to hold us in prayer and financial support as we continue down this winding road. Pray that God grants us all continued grace and peace. Bless you all and thank you again. Kelly Smet and family. INSPIRATION I attended the annual conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, held at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana from July 23 to July 26. The continuing education budget covered expenses for registration, transportation, lodging, and meals. Monday through Thursday we had daily morning and evening worship services, plenary sessions with short TED-ish talks on various subjects related to music and worship, longer breakout sessions with smaller groups, and concerts in the evenings. The sessions I chose included improving accompaniment of hymn singing, paperless singing (which means unaccompanied singing in worship with no books or sheet music), using drums in worship (I learned how to play congas correctly, and got some pointers on shakers, which are harder to use than they look), and composing short pieces. During a session on organ playing we spent some time learning about generational differences in clapping (global band members may know what this means). It was marvelous to be in different sessions where we were asked to sing, and the group would sing the melody, in tune, and then on cue break into 4-part harmony. This year the conference was held during the last week of the month-long Lutheran Summer Music program for high school students. We had some events together, including a hymn festival with a festival choir formed from both groups. The fellow I sang next to had all of his music prepared perfectly, AND had time to flirt with two girls sitting in front of us. Young people have so much energy People attending the conference were mostly organists, choir directors, and other music leaders, from large and small churches with a wide variety of music programs. Many discussions mentioned common problems of shrinking congregations, and the challenges of adapting worship and music styles to fit the changing demographics of assemblies. I came away feeling that Grace and Peace has a very ambitious approach to music in worship which includes both familiar and new hymns, and many different ways for people to participate in the service. I m especially impressed with our corps of Assisting Ministers (now being called Cantors in some churches) who help lead singing and prayers. I took a lot of notes on things that could be useful for worship at Grace and Peace, so watch for some improvements and changes that may show up during the coming year. Richard Popp

7 A weekend with friends OCTOBER 19-20, 2018 CENTRAL/SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SYNOD WOMEN OF THE ELCA Friday We will meet at St. Matthew Lutheran Church at 2200 Philo Road, Urbana. Registration starts at 3:30pm with the retreat beginning at 4:00pm. Tracy Barkly will lead a tour of the Sola Gratia Farms for those who are able. She will share how they are helping to feed a multitude using good stewardship of the land. After dinner, we will learn a few simple Tai Chi exercises for fall prevention and balance. Saturday Registration is at Grace Lutheran Church on 3135 Prospect Street in Champaign at 9:30am. A light breakfast will precede the retreat at 10:00am. Pastor Maggie Falenscheck from St. Matthew Lutheran Church will lead us in Bible study. Rachel Bass-Guennewig will instruct us in easy yoga. We will be transported to Tanzania by Rose Moser to learn about fair trade coffee. Registration is only $10 for one day on Friday or Saturday, or $20 for both days. Our service project will be school kits for Lutheran World Relief. Look for more information to come with a list of available hotels in the area. Come have fun and fellowship and help us Praise the Lord! Luke 1:38 Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Some of the Board members visited the Sola Gratia Farms while preparing for the Fall Retreat. We believe you will enjoy seeing this operation and eating some of the harvest for dinner. You can check their website

8 Updates from our missionary Kirsten Laderach One hello is another goodbye August 17, 2018 Kirsten Laderach One month ago I said goodbye to another group of volunteers. In the weeks prior, those same volunteers all said goodbye to countless people in their communities who had become friends and family through the year. People who may forever live in their hearts but who most likely they will not see beyond Facebook for a long time if ever again. This part of the year is an interesting one for me, as I too am part of that community left behind I celebrate the reunions and see the joy radiating, especially from Moms and Dads re-uniting with their adult child again, and yet I confess I mourn it all a little too. So much focus on preparing the volunteers to leave their communities well and then shifting towards how to speak about their experiences to friends and family back home. This is my work and privilege. And the best way I know to go about it is with a bit of a stiff upper lip and waiting until everyone has gone to deal with my own emotions. (Full disclosure I tried to wait. Serena you couldn t hold the tears, could you?) I confess, I don t like being left behind even knowing that I will be fine. Yet this is the work, to support and grow a group through a year in country, say goodbye and then say hello to a whole new group and start it all over again and again. I am thankful for the consistency of my friends and colleagues here in Madagascar, though I can t help but think of the inevitable goodbyes that will come for me too when I talk with the volunteers about theirs. One day my parents and other family and friends will express a similar joy of my return. And I will be like the volunteers, so happy to see them and simultaneously completely broken hearted. One hello is always another goodbye E X H A L E... For now, I await a new hello. One that will bring another year of joy, challenge, learning and hope. And one that is full of its own goodbyes.

9 SEPTEMBER Church Council Meeting Minutes

10 Continued SEPTEMBER Church Council Meeting Minutes

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12 Grace and Peace Lutheran Church 7611 N Knoxville Ave Peoria, IL A closer walk with God through Spirituality, Evangelism and Community Involvement September Carol Gard, Zachary Thompson, Judy Coiner, Bret Shirven, Julie Ewing, Jerry Hinshaw, Deb Meyer, Richard Noren, Bob Kamin, Brent Dornon, Collin Smet, Lela Josephson October Theresa Montgomery, Roberta Dietrich, Dale Bollman Don t forget to sign this month s birthday cards in the Great Room!