SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS SEPT. 9. FAREWELL AND GODSPEED RECEPTION FOR PASTOR KATIE Sunday, August 12 Following Worship

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1 A publication of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church THE HERALD August 7, 2018 Volume 59 Issue 15 Gathered and sent to Share the Peace and Serve the Lord since 1960 FAREWELL AND GODSPEED RECEPTION FOR PASTOR KATIE Sunday, August 12 Following Worship To show our appreciation for our shared ministry during her time with us, we will host a reception for Pastor Katie on August 12 immediately following worship. Pastor Katie s husband (who is also a pastor) has recently accepted a call from a congregation in Monmouth, IL so the family will be moving in mid-august. A SPECIAL BLESSING TO KICK-OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR DURING WORSHIP ON AUGUST 19. SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS SEPT. 9 The Education Hour for all ages at 9:15 am begins when our fall worship schedule resumes, September 9. Ages 3 Confirmation (7th/8th Grades) meet in the lower level and adults interested in discussing the current day s Scripture reading in the Conference Room. Prince of Peace is responsible for providing volunteers to deliver meals for the FHN Meals on Wheels program the week of September 4-7. We will deliver Route 3. This will take about an hour each day, Tuesday through Friday (from about 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.). We need two volunteers each day (a deliverer and a driver). Please sign up for the day(s) you would like to help out by delivering meals. If you have questions regarding this ministry, please contact Nancy Lillevold at or nancruth@comcast.net.

2 ROCK PAINTING SUN., Aug. AM An outreach activity for all ages & stages! NO EXPERINCE NECESSARY! If you re unsure of how or what to paint/draw/write there will be someone there to help draw your creative juices out. It helps, too, to Google Rock Painting to collect ideas and get inspired. We will have some supplies on hand, but you may want to donate/invest in/bring some of your own! Supplies that are typically used are outdoor acrylic paints, foam and nylon brushes, paint markers, Sharpies, a sealant and, of course, rocks! Flat/landscaping/river rocks that are washed and dry work best. (We have some rocks here.) Join us let s share some love in our community! Questions? Contact Julie Lee. Signing up is not required (but will be very helpful!). Invite a friend to join the fun!! A SPECIAL BLESSING TO KICK-OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR DURING WORSHIP ON AUGUST 19. Let s send children of all ages, as well as all who are involved in education, back to school with a blessing! Part of our worship service on August 19 will be dedicated to intentionally blessing a new school year. All are strongly encouraged to bring school backpacks (or work bags, briefcases, etc.) to worship for a special blessing. Anyone who works in any level of the educational system is invited to attend. Please help us spread the word and intentionally invite your friends who are involved in education, as well as, friends with school-age children.

3 NI Synod diakonia tm Class Registration The Northern Illinois Synod diakonia tm Program is beginning class registration for this Fall, Diakonia tm is a two-year lay spiritual formation consisting of 12 courses, 6 per academic year. Classes are held at various locations including St. Mark in Rockford and Christ Lutheran in Stockton. The purpose and goal of the program is to provide each participant the opportunity to discover their God-given gifts, strengthen their faith and their abilities, and give them purpose within their own congregations. The diakonia tm program is for anyone interested in digging deeper into their faith, becoming better equipped for Christian leadership or service within their parish/community and those seeking a closer relationship with our Lord. All courses are taught by pastors or lay professionals. All students work at their own knowledge and experience. If you would like additional information about this program, please contact Nancy Lillevold, , or by at nancruth@comcast.net, or by visiting diakonia. MEMORIAL COMMITTEE ACTIVITY The patio at the east end of the church building has been completed. Funds for the patio were given in memory of Arbeth Brunner. INTERIM PASTOR UPDATE As was reported in our last newsletter by Council President, Sandra Welling, Pastor Art Stees will be taking over as our Interim pastor after Pastor Katie s last day with us (August 12). Originally we weren t sure if Pastor Stees would be providing pastoral care outside of the pulpit on Sunday mornings but it looks like he will (duties such as pastoral visits, funerals, etc.). Pastor Stees will have brief/set office hours as well, likely Tuesday and Friday mornings (final details will be shared as soon as we have them). STICK WITH US! Don t let these changes discourage you from coming together with your Prince of Peace family (for worship or other times of fellowship or study). Our trust in God s provision and timing must remain constant! We need to be faithful to the process and stick together through the ups and downs. Remember the journey to finding our new full-time pastor is not a race. It is in God s hands and we must remain grateful, positive and hopeful. Let us not neglect meeting together but encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25

4 OUTDOOR WORSHIP THANKS Although I wasn t there to experience the morning with you, I want to say, THANK YOU!! to all those who pitched in. CREATIVE LEARNING CENTER PRESCHOOL NEWS It is with mixed emotions and a heavy heart that we share that both Claudia Wenzel, Director, and Angie Koehn, teacher, have resigned to begin new adventures. We thank Claudia and Angie for their years of dedication to our preschool program (16 and 15 years respectively). Because of this, the Creative Learning Center Preschool will not be in operation for the first semester of this school year. The CLC Board is diligently pursuing viable candidates for the CLC staff. If you know someone who would be interested in a parttime preschool director and/or teacher position, please have them contact Joy Wirth (contact information below). Our preschool has been an important part of our church s ministry to our community since On behalf the CLC Board, Joy Wirth, Board President , wirthjoy@hotmail.com To Keith Riebock who fitted the altar so it would nest safely on top of a table (did you know that the altar that was used was the original altar that was in the sanctuary [that is now our kitchen]?). To the Altar Guild ministers (Cheryl Anderson and LaVonne Slama) who adapted nearly everything that normally happens for a regular service. To the Worship Assistants (Steve & Marlene Kroeger, the Kraft family, Sue Bronn, Mick Ingram, Randy Kint & Jean Zimmerman, Keith Riebock, Carol Johnson, Sue Solheim and Pat Erickson- Miller) who also had to adapt to nearly everything being done in a different way. To the Set-Up Crew who showed up bright and early to get things situated: Sue Bronn, Carol Johnson, the Kraft family, Steve & Marilyn Kroeger, Rod & Marilyn Meiners, Pennie Miller, the Pierce family, Keith & Sue Riebock, Allen & LaVonne Slama and Jean Zimmerman. It s my understanding that MANY pitched in afterwards to clean up as well as brought folding chairs upstairs after worship on July 29 I m sorry I don t have a list for that know that if you were one of those people, your help is very VERY appreciated!! I want to especially thank our Set-Up Captain, Carol Johnson, who directed the set up and took such special attention to the details. Continued.. >

5 Thank you to our mystery weed puller who helped Carol Johnson clean up the Labyrinth. (Also, a HUGE thank you to Nancy Lillevold who takes on this enormous task OFTEN [and always without being asked to do so].) To those of you who brought your pets I believe the count was 13 (10 dogs & 3 cats) - many also brought pictures of pets and animals for Pastor Katie to bless in absentia (a rabbit, lizard, cow, and a chicken) thank you for bringing your best friend and giving those present an experience they won t soon forget. A special thanks to Pastor Katie for conducting the service and leading us outside of our comfort zone. Special and memorable things happen there!! With a grateful heart, Julie Lee, Director of Congregational Ministries MONTHLY COMPASSION HOUR CARD MINISTRY Thanks in part to a grant from Thrivent s Action Team Program, free cards and postage (while supplies last) are available during Compassion Hour. The card carousel in the narthex (by the water fountains in the main entrance) has FREE CARDS available any time to encourage you to be intentional about caring for others. Join us for the next Compassion Hour, every 4th Wednesday, August 22 from 12-1 pm (come any time over the noon hour). Come with a list or we can recommend some folks who could use some encouragement. Invite a friend. Until then, continue to be intentional about spreading Christ's love. Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul & healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 OUT TO LUNCH - AUGUST 13 The August Out to Lunch event at Noon on Mon., August 13, is at Joe s Pizza, 21 W. Stephenson, Freeport. A sign-up sheet is posted so that we can have some idea of how many to expect; however, walk-ins are welcome. Everyone who enjoys eating out is invited! For more information please contact Dianne Schrader at

6 NI Synod WELCA Convention Saturday, September 22 The 30th Annual Convention of the Northern Illinois Synod WELCA organization will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Harvard, IL. Registration is $35 with registrations due no later than August 22. Scholarships are also available. The agenda and registration forms have been posted on the WELCA bulletin board. Bishop Jeffrey Clements will provide the morning message. A sign up sheet is posted. Prince of Peace will need a delegate to vote on business brought before the convention. Nancy Lillevold is unable to attend due to being out of state. If you are interested in serving as delegate, please contact Nancy at As a delegate, your registration fee will be paid for. MEN S BREAKFAST FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH September 7 7:30 at the Big Apple Restaurant (on Galena Ave.) WOMEN S BREAKFAST SECOND FRIDAY EACH MONTH August 10, September 14 7:30 at Country Junction Restaurant (near South & West Sts.) No need to sign up. Just come and enjoy starting your day with fellowship and breakfast. A new season for SMALL GROUP SUPPERS SIGN-UP BY Sunday, Sept. 9 Small Group Suppers is a casual, comeas-you-are, small group program for all adults (singles, couples, young & not-so -young) where those who sign up will gather together monthly for a meal in different locations (typically someone s home). The details of how the program works will depend on the number of those who sign up. Here s how it usually works: When you sign up for the Small Group Suppers, you ll be coordinating or hosting at least one of the monthly gatherings (you are not required to host in your home, many hosts arrange a restaurant gathering). Depending on the number that sign up, the group will most often be a different mix of people each time (couples will stay together). Let s say 35 people sign up. This type of activity works best if there are between 6-8 people in each group, so there would be approximately 4-6 groups meeting each month in separate locations (either in someone s home or other designated location which is determined by that group s monthly coordinator/host). Subs will also be needed who can be called in the event that someone cannot make it to a scheduled night. We also realize that we have numerous snowbirds who aren t around the entire year. Please don t let that stop you from signing up for this fellowship! Simply indicate, when you sign up, the months that you will not be able to attend. The monthly host/coordinator picks the date/time of each month s event. Typically, the gatherings last approximately 2-3 hours each. Again, each participating household will be assigned to host at least one of the monthly gatherings.

7 Hosts/Coordinators will not be asked to facilitate or lead any activities; they will be asked to communicate to your group the plan for that month s gathering. If hosting an in-home gathering/ supper, hosts are asked to prepare the main course, or if desired, to make arrangements for non in-home gatherings. Those participating in in-home supper gatherings (non-hosts) will likely be asked to bring a dish to pass complementing the hosts main course, or if attending a non in-home gathering, will be responsible for costs incurred for their own meal. Monthly gatherings will begin with an all group dinner on Thursday, September 20 at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall. A sign-up sheet is posted on the narthex bulletin board. You can also sign up by calling/ ing Sue Riebock ( or popfrprt@aeroinc.net). Sign-up deadline is Sunday, September 9. If you have participated in the past, please invite others who may like to join the fun! SECOND Sunday, August 12 (6:00) At Second we gather at church. We discuss the lectionary readings for the month. (The lectionary is the schedule of assigned Scripture readings for our worship services.) We are learning that scripture reveals new things to us all the time. The Lectionary readings for each month can be found in a folder on the bulletin board. Help yourself to copies and come join in the conversation. Contact Julie at the church office or at julie.lee.pop@gmail.com if you have questions. CARD CLUB FIRST WEDNESDAYS The next CARD CLUB will meet on Wednesday, September 5, from 10-11:30. We have been playing the game Salad in recent months and have had a lot of fun playing that game. This group meets just for fun, nothing too serious. Whether you are an avid card player or maybe you haven t played in years (or ever), you are invited to join either occasionally or regularly for this social time at Prince of Peace. Event coordinator: Dianne Schrader, Blood Pressure Screenings Sunday August 19 10:15 BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS (3rd Sunday of each month) SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 The Healthcare Ministry Team will be conducting blood pressure screenings on Sunday, August 19 after worship (10:15) in the Fellowship Hall for anyone who is interested. We encourage everyone to participate as we practice good stewardship of our bodies. For more information please contact Diane Bardell, BSN, RN-BC, Health Ministry Team Leader at

8 SHELVES ARE NEARLY EMPTY AT FACC FACC is in need of over 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food for its food pantry. Some tend to think of hunger and homelessness in the winter months but hunger and homelessness knows no season. WREX recently visited FACC and shared this report with its viewers: Freeport Area Church Cooperative serves nearly 100 families on a weekly basis, but that could be more difficult soon if donations don't pick up. A lull in donations paired with a spike in need has left the pantry in its greatest deficit in more than 4 years. The pantry is now asking for the community's help gathering a number of food items. "Pastas, we need canned goods, corn, green beans, peas, mixed vegetables. We also use toiletries. Those are real needs for our pantries," says Brian Scott Lewis, the director of homeless services at FACC. Executive Director, Dean Wright, adds these items to the list of needs: canned fruit, canned soup, peanut butter & jelly, crackers, mac n cheese, and boxed cereal. Please bring donations to the church or drop them off at FACC at 514 S. Chicago Ave. COFFEE WITH THE BISHOP Sunday, Sept. 23 Mark your calendars and plan to attend a coffee with Bishop Jeff Clements on Sunday, September 23 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at First Lutheran, Freeport. Fellowship Meal - Join Us for Lunch FRIDAY, AUGUST 24-11:00 A time of fellowship will begin at 11 a.m. and the meal will be served at 11:45. The menu for August 24 will be Deli Sandwiches, Bag of Chips and a Fruit Cup. Need a ride? We ll gladly come get you. To arrange for transportation please call Joy at A sign-up sheet is posted to help with planning, but signing up is not required. Fellowship Fridays are held the Fourth Friday of each month. PRINCE OF PEACE BOOK CLUB Have you read some good books recently? The Book Club is open to anyone! We get together to discuss a book, chosen for the month, and enjoy light refreshments and fellowship. On Sunday, September 9 at 3:30 the Book Club will gather at the home of Jan Martin, 1008 S. Baxter Ln., Freeport. Books will be chosen for the coming year, so bring your ideas and suggestions for books to read and discuss. Things that are said at Book Club: I liked the book. I didn t get it! Couldn t put it down. I love the snacks. Why did it end like that? Great discussion! For more information contact Jan Martin at

9 ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY (AAH) **NOTE: CHANGE OF DATE The third Prince of Peace Adopt-A-Highway roadside clean up for 2018 is scheduled for Saturday, August 25 with a bad weather make-up date of September 8. This ministry is an opportunity to make a visible difference in our world. A sign up sheet is posted in the narthex. Please join us if you can. We will meet at the church promptly at 8:15 on the 25th to pick up trash bags and safety vests. We will leave the church not later (often sooner) than 8:20 to drive to the clean up site. Generally, the actual pickup work takes about an hour. Gloves, long pants and either waterproof shoes or sturdy boots are highly recommended. **NOTE: If it is raining at the gathering time on Saturday morning, the event will be automatically cancelled and moved to the make-up date. Contact person: Karl Bronn FACC FOOD PANTRY Each month Prince of Peace Church is assigned a specific item (or items) to collect for the Freeport Area Church Cooperative Food Pantry. Items may be brought to the church and placed in the shopping cart that can be found in the narthex. August collection: Soup (any kind). The following items were delivered to the FACC food pantry on August 1: 25 cans mixed vegetables 12 cans diced tomatoes 5 cans pasta sauce 3 cans baked beans 5 boxes mac & cheese 8 bags chips 2 boxes au gratin potatoes 1 jar peanut butter 6 boxes cereal 2 boxes cream of wheat 1 (10 pk.) box lemonade 1 bottle lemonade 8 rolls paper towels 6 tubes toothpaste 4 jugs laundry detergent 3 boxes facial tissue FOOD PANTRY SUPPLY IS DEPLETED - PLEASE HELP COLLEGE ADDRESS? If you or one of your children is moving to attend college, please let the church office know of the address while at school. We like to keep in touch by mailing the church newsletter to students away at school. addresses to popfrprt@aeroinc.net, or call the church office at In addition to our monthly assigned collection item, the pantry is very low on basic supplies this summer and the need is great. Please consider additional donations this month such as pasta, canned vegetables and toiletries. All donations to the food pantry are appreciated. Thank you for your ongoing support!

10 50th ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE Keith & Mary Lou Gerdes will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an Open House in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, August 11 from 2-4 p.m. The congregation is invited to come and celebrate with Keith & Mary Lou. Thank you... Prince of Peace family, Thanks for all of the kind thoughts, prayers, cards and support the past few months as we dealt with my father's last days and death. Linda & Jim Werkheiser In Sympathy Our sympathies to Joyce Johnston on the death of her brother, Rev. Gerald Kline on July 22. Our sympathies to the friends and family of Paul Crank who died on August 2. Label Here Katie Gallagher, Interim Pastor; Sue Riebock, Parish Secretary; Office Hours: 8 a.m. noon; 12:30-4 p.m. Julie Lee, Director of Congregational Ministries; julie.lee.pop@gmail.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Herald of Peace, 2700 West Stephenson St., Freeport, IL Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church 2700 West Stephenson Street Road Freeport, Illinois Office (815) The Herald of Peace newsletter is published twice a month and mailed free of charge to all parishioners by Periodicals Postage Paid Freeport, IL USPS