PRINTS OF PEACE
January 27, 2019         
Dear Friends in Christ: Sunday: Congregation meeting this Sunday at 9:15 – we need you here! This Sunday we continue in the theme of Epiphany “to make known.” Luke introduces us to who Jesus is and what he is about. Come and hear God’s Word and be fed by Jesus in bread and wine. Adult Education: On break for congregation meeting. Next week we are off; then, on February 10 we will begin a book study. The book is “Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I Have Loved).” This book considers the problem of when bad things happen to good people. See Pastor Mark to purchase a book.  Reading for this Sunday: Please read Luke chapter 4 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) This chapter includes our Gospel readings for the next two Sundays. It introduces Jesus’ human mission to proclaim the coming kingdom of God, which includes healing: making people whole. If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Worship Schedule: The service of Holy Communion is at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
                                                                                         
Annual Congregation Meeting: On today at 9:15 a.m., the congregation will meet to approve a budget for 2019. We need you there! Please attend.
 
Contact Information Update:  Members Team has placed contact information sheets in the Narthex. Please take a look at it and up-date your information if necessary.  Thank you.
 
Reading for Next Week:  Please read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) This chapter is the famous “love” chapter that is commonly read at weddings. Its purpose, however, is to describe the self-giving love of God in Jesus Christ (in Greek, agape,) not the romantic love which most couples experience at the time of their wedding. (This biblical type of love is experienced in the long lasting, self-giving aspects of  marriage.) This is a stunningly beautiful description of Christian love, a passage all Christians need to know intimately. If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Adult Education: Today we have our Annual Congregation meeting. Next Sunday there is no Adult Education. On February 10 we will begin a book study on “Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I Have Loved)” by Kate Bowler. Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School. She was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 cancer in her 30s. In the book, she considers the “easy answers” that Christians have posed when something bad happens to someone good. Please let Pastor Mark know if you would like a book ordered. The cost of the book is $13. You may attend the sessions even if you do not read the book; there will be plenty to discuss. Pastor Mark will be leading.
 
Attendance: On January 20, 2019 85 attended service.  On January 23, 2019, 10 attended the  service at Lexington.
 
Pastor on vacation: Pastor Mark will be on vacation from Thursday, January 31 through Wednesday, February 6. He will be returning any phone messages or emails on Thursday, February 7.
 
Church Administrator: Allison Hearst is our church administrator. She works part time - Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. One of the many things Allison is in charge of is the church calendar. She can be reached by phone at 847-438-4400.
 
Prayer Requests: We pray for those who need healing and wholeness: for Wes Willard,  Kristen Jorgensen, Joyce Smith, Lindsey, Greg, Bob Kayser, Carol Nordquist, Kurt Stefans and Bella Velasco. Our practice is we will pray for an individual for at least 4 Sundays or until the end of the following month. After that time, we ask that you contact the office or Pastor Mark to keep your loved one on the prayer list. If a loved one inadvertently falls off the prayer list, please request to put this person back on the list. Thank you. We need pray-ers! If you would like to be a participant in the Circle of Prayer, please contact Terry Koncel at peaceprays@mail.com.
 
Youth
                                                                                                                                      
Youth Director’s Days off & Office Hours: Our Youth Director is Tracy Katschke and her days off are Friday and Saturday. She does not check church voice mail or emails on those days. Tracy is engaged at Peace half-time, and her office hours are Monday - Thursday 2:30-6:30pm. She can be reached on her cell for urgent matters. Her cell phone can be accessed by calling church.
 
HS Youth Group Service Evening: We will be doing LOTS of prepping for Mission Projects Day at our next youth group gathering, which will be Sunday, January 27th from 7-8:15pm. We will be cutting and tying several fleece blankets, as well as sorting the items collected for A Safe Place to figure out what needs to be purchased via Thrivent on Mission Projects Day. All are welcome to come for an evening of laughs, good conversation and, of course, service - every little bit makes a difference!
 
All Hands on Deck for Mission Project’s Day!: In lieu of gathering on Sunday, February 3rd, our HS Youth Group will gather for a morning of service at Mission Projects Day on Saturday, February 2nd from 9am-12pm. All are welcome to bring friends for a fun morning filled with pillow making, fleece blanket tying, bandage winding and more! At 10:15am that day, our teens will conclude their donation drive for A Safe Place domestic violence shelter by taking a trip to Wal-Mart to purchase any un-donated items via Thrivent. Another parent or two will be needed to help drive teens over to Wal-Mart and bring back the donations. If you can help, please let Tracy know.
 
HS Bowling Competition:  As promised, our bowling competition has been rescheduled! We will be competing against the youth group from Our Savior's Lutheran in Arlington Heights at Brunswick Zone Deer Park on Sunday, February 17th at 2pm. Bring your friends and come ready to trash talk and have a good time!
 
Save the Date! Our high school students will be going to West Virginia in July of 2019. Our first mission trip fund raiser, the Holy Spaghetti Dinner & Auction, will be held at Peace Lutheran on Saturday, March 2nd! Please make sure to mark your calendars for a wonderful evening of good food and great fellowship!
 
Joyful Noisemakers: Children in grades K-5 that can read are invited to join our children's choir, Joyful Noisemakers.  We have short rehearsals every Saturday morning at 10:30, where we learn how to sing beautifully to the Lord!
 
Events
 
Mission Projects Day 2019:  Join us Feb. 2, 2019 for our annual Mission Projects Day event.  This is a service day for people of all ages! We start at 9:00 am and work until our projects are completed, usually around noon.  We will be helping a variety of nonprofit organizations.  Some of the activities include:  Global Health Ministries - rolling bandages for clinics that cannot afford commercial bandages, Lutheran World Relief - assembling baby kits, school kits and health kits for those in need overseas and tying quilts, Project Linus - making blankets for children in need, cards for hospitalized children, craft projects for nursing home residents and Operation Gratitude - making paracord bracelets for our troops.  No special skills are needed.  Come for as much time as you can and YOU will help us make a big difference to others! Please put your name on the sign up sheet in the hallway if you are planning on attending.
 
Chili Cook-Off :    On Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 5:30pm. Who has the best chili?  Let’s find out!  Sign up to bring your chili and all will vote to pick the winner.  It’s a fun way to spend a cold winter evening.  Stay afterwards to see Peace’s many gifted performers at the Talent Show at 6:30. Sign-up sheets are in the narthex.  If you have questions, call Kristy Bennett, (847) 726-0570 or Kari Mrazek (847) 726-2716.
 
 Talent Show:    Can you sing a song, do a dance, tell a joke, play an instrument?  Peace Lutheran’s Talent Show will be held at church on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 6:30pm.  Don’t have a particular “talent”? That’s OK – we need an audience, too, so come and enjoy. Performers, please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex.  If you have any questions, contact John Trumbull (847) 778-5763 or LouAnn Tollefson (847)814-5278.             
Social Outreach
 
Feed My Starving Children: Please sign up for Feed My Starving Children.  We have 30 spots reserved for March 16th from 9-11 a.m.  Questions call or text Amy Anderson t 847 338-6262. Sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.
 
Bernie's Book Bank Book Drive: Looking to do some shelf cleaning in the New Year?  Did you know 2 out of 3 low-income children have no books of their own? Please consider donating to our social outreach Bernie's Book Bank Children's Book Drive. We are collecting new and gently used children's books aged birth through 6th grade (please no workbooks, textbooks or reference books).  Books can be placed in the bin in the narthex.  Our book drive will run 1/13-2/10 and we are hoping to collect 500 books during our book drive.  You can learn more about the organization atwww.berniesbookbank.org and contact Gretchen Collins from social outreach at 847-540-6907 with any questions.
 
Hope Partners Africa:  This year at Mission Projects Day we will be collecting supplies for Hope Partners Africa / Juan Amagara Ministries.  This nonprofit brings together psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors and other professionals who special in treating refugees, orphans and people living in rural areas with minimal access to health services. We are asking each family to bring at least one item from their list to Mission Projects Day.  Their areas of service include education (school supplies, Bible story books and games, coloring books), teaching sewing to women to help them learn a skill that can help sustain their families (sewing scissors, thread, pins, needles, etc.), and a health clinic (first aid supplies, toiletries, see list for other items).  Thank you!
 
Adult Mission Trip: Please consider coming on the adult mission trip this summer in Hattiesburg, MS to help families rebuild from a flood in 2016 and a devastating tornado in 2017.  Many people were affected and we will be working with an agency that has been in the area helping people recover from natural disasters since 2006 following Hurricane Katrina's destruction. The dates are June 23-29th.  We will be staying in a renovated 100 year old inn with showers and laundry on site and making our own meals.  You do not need to have any special skills and there will be an opportunity for community service as well.  It is a great way to make new friendships and do something awesome this summer! Please sign up in the narthex.  A non-refundable deposit will be collected at a later date to hole your spot. An informational meeting will be held at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Bartlett on Feb. 10 from 12-1:0. Please email or call me (Sue Koenig) if you have any questions! The $25  non-refundable deposit will be due by March 1.
 
The Human Race: Looking for participants for The Human Race.  Are you looking to build your fitness level, have fun and help others? If so, consider doing the Human Race! This 5K event will be held on April 28th starting at 8:00 am at McHenry County College. It is family friendly and can be done as a walk or run(just over 3 miles).  Participants can chose which local nonprofit will receive the proceeds of their race fee ($35 until March 31, then $40 until April 25). Please consider joining my team, Susie’s Soulmates (use password let’s go! to join the team online). I am encouraging team members to support Home of the Sparrow, a local nonprofit helping women and children who have experienced domestic violence or homelessness. Please call Sue Koenig with any questions.
 
In Crisis?  Anyone anywhere can be affected by mental health struggles including depression, anxiety, having feelings of being overwhelmed, or having suicidal thoughts.  There has been a significant increase (up nearly 30%) in the annual rate of suicide from 1999-2016. The key to preventing people from reaching the point of suicide is to talk about it and offer help, encouragement and resources to those struggling to keep living.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the crisis text line is text CONNECT to 741741 for people who are in distress and feel like they are at risk of hurting themselves, or if you know of a person who is at risk.
 
Ongoing Opportunities
 
Simply Giving: Many of our members and friends give with Simply Giving automated debit. This program is very important for our congregation. It keeps income steady during the summer months when giving drops because people are out of town. Please consider it! Giving forms are on the table in the narthex. If you do participate in Simply Giving, or if you do not have an offering on a particular Sunday you can still participate in the act of giving during the service by obtaining Giving Acknowledgment card from an usher and placing it in the offering plate to acknowledge your support of our ministries at Peace.
 
On-Line Giving: You now have the option to make a gift to Peace from your computer, tablet or phone! To give online go to the Peace web site www.PeaceLutheranLZ.com and click on the "Make a Donation" button. To give from your phone, download the Give Plus Church app and search for Peace in Lake Zurich to make your gift. Finally, to give from your phone without downloading the Give Plus Church app just text a gift to the Peace text number, 224-458-2996. Just enter an amount and send the text to the Peace number and you will be sent a link to complete the transaction. See Kirk Swanson if you have any questions.
 
Inspirational Messages: Pastor Mark would like to reach out to the congregation with a brief message a couple times per week. If you want to receive these, please fill out the form in the red attendance folders. Messages will be sent via a text, Facebook account, and Twitter. Any questions, contact Beth Papke at (847) 438-5294 or papkeb@wwdb.org
 
Caring Tree: This outreach ministry provides services to those in the congregation with special need, i.e., dinners for new moms, meals for those following a hospitalization, or short term help with lawn cutting or snow removal. Please contact Jean Foltin or Pastor Mark with requests for assistance. Jean may be reached by email (jfoltin5@comcast.net) or by phone/text (847-738-8599).
 
Altar Flowers: If you have a special date you would like to remember, please consider bringing flowers for our Sunday services. The calendar is on the bulletin board in the hallway. Vases are available for use in the kitchen cabinet behind the door. Flowers should be set out before the first service and can be picked up any time after the second service. Enter your first name on the calendar, as we have several families with the same last name. Any questions, please contact Jean Foltin.
 
Choir: Adult choir practices on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm at Peace.  We usually sing on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from September through mid-May then take a break over the summer.  Bring your voice and come join us!
 
Hand Bell Choir: Hand Bell Choir practices on Tuesday evenings 6:45 to 7:45pm at Peace. We play 1 Sunday a month.  No experience needed. Come have some musical fun
 
Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study: We meet at Panera Bread in Deer Park at 9:00 a.m.  Anyone is welcome to join us for coffee.
 
AmazonSmile: Shop on AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your purchase can be donated to Peace Lutheran. For information about it, go to http://smile.amazon.com/about.
 
Peace now has Opt-Out Photo Release Forms: they are on the main table in the narthex.  If you do NOT want your/family member picture on the Church's website or Facebook page please sign and put in Cathy Malloy's mailbox in church office.
 
Peace Lutheran Church Facebook Page: Be sure to visit our Facebook page - Peace Lutheran Church of Lake Zurich. It's the one with recent posts. If you have an event or ministry you want promoted, and haven't seen it on our Facebook page, POST IT!! If you have questions or need help please email your request to one of the page administrators:  Jean Bishop, Karen Zicco, Bridget Heroff, Nicola Prybell or Pastor Mark.      
 
Church Calendar: The 2018 church calendar shows events and activities of the church and is posted on our website. You can find it by clicking "Calendar of Events" on the home page, or you can access it by visiting http://peacelutheranlz.com/calendar/  
If you have an event you want posted on the calendar, please email the church at the church social email:  office@peacelutheranlz.com
 
Online Newsletter: Do you get the Peace Lutheran weekly newsletter Prints of Peace online?  If not, please send your email address to peacelzoffice@yahoo.com and ask to be added to the emailing list.
                             
                                          This Week at Peace                          
 
     January       27      8:00am                  Worship (Holy Communion)
                                   9:15                        Annual Congregation Meeting
                                                                  All-together Sunday school
                                  10:30am                 Worship (Holy Communion)
     January       28      7:00pm                 Al-Anon
     January       29      6:45pm                 Bell Choir                
     January       30      9:00am                 Women’s Bible Study - Deer Park Panera
                                   10:30                     Lexington worship

                                   7:00pm                   Confirmation at St. Peter’s     January       31    12:30 - 6:30pm     Voice Lessons
                                  7:30 - 8:30             Adult Choir
     February      2      9:00 - Noon           Mission Projects Day
                                    10:30                     Joyful Noisemakers
     February      3      8:00am                  Worship (Holy Communion)
                                  9:15                       Sunday school
                                 10:30am                 Worship (Holy Communion)                                 
 ​

Dear Friends in Christ:  Sunday: This Sunday we get to hear the story of Jesus changing water into wine. This story has many layers of meaning for all of us. Come and hear God’s Word and be fed by Jesus in bread and wine. Adult Education: On break. Today we will have a presentation about Planned Giving. See below. Join us this Sunday at 9:15. Reading for this Sunday: Please read John chapter 2 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) This chapter includes Jesus’ first “sign” (or miracle) of turning water into wine. John uses the word “sign” instead of miracle because these miracles, like a sign, point to something else: some truth about Jesus. Notice this chapter includes Jesus’ “cleansing of the Temple,” which the other three Gospels put right before Jesus’ crucifixion. If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Worship Schedule: The service of Holy Communion is at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
                                                                       
Annual Congregation Meeting: On Sunday, January 27 at 9:15 a.m., the congregation will meet to approve a budget for 2019. We need you there! Please attend.
 
Reading for Next Week:  Please read Luke chapter 4 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) This chapter includes our Gospel readings for the next three Sundays. It introduces Jesus’ human mission to proclaim the coming kingdom of God, which includes healing - making people whole.  If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Adult Education: This Sunday we will have a presentation by Tim Urness on Planned Giving. See below. On January 27 we have our Annual Congregation meeting. On February 10 we will begin a book study on “Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I Have Loved)” by Kate Bowler. Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her 30s. In the book, she considers the “easy answers” that Christians have posed when something bad happens to someone good. Please let Pastor Mark know if you would like a book ordered. The cost of the book is $13. You may attend the sessions even if you do not read the book; there will be plenty to discuss. Pastor Mark will be leading.
 
Planned Giving Presentation: Do you have a plan for your financial assets after you die? If we do not plan, the state of Illinois will provide a plan for us, and it might not be the plan we wanted. Come on Sunday, January 20 at 9:15 in the sanctuary to hear Tim Urness of the ELCA Foundation to help us think about planned giving, including helping fund ministries at Peace Lutheran. Tim will be available after each service to answer questions.
 
Attendance: On January 13, 2019 118 attended service.  On January 16, 2019, 10 attended the  service at Lexington.
 
Pastor’s Day Off: Monday is Pastor Mark’s day off. He is not in the office that day. If you need him urgently, you can call his cell phone, which can be accessed by calling church.
 
Church Administrator: Allison Hearst is our church administrator. She works part time - Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. One of the many things Allison is in charge of is the church calendar. She can be reached by phone at 847-438-4400.
 
Prayer Requests: We pray for those who need healing and wholeness: for Wes Willard,  Kristen Jorgensen, Joyce Smith, Lindsey, Greg, Bob Kayser, Carol Nordquist, Kurt Stefans and Bella Velasco. Our practice is we will pray for an individual for at least 4 Sundays or until the end of the following month. After that time, we ask that you contact the office or Pastor Mark to keep your loved one on the prayer list. If a loved one inadvertently falls off the prayer list, please request to put this person back on the list. Thank you. We need pray-ers! If you would like to be a participant in the Circle of Prayer, please contact Terry Koncel at peaceprays@mail.com.
 
Youth
                                                                                                           
Youth Director’s Days Off & Office Hours: Our Youth Director is Tracy Katschke and her days off are Friday and Saturday. She does not check church voice mail or emails on those days. Tracy is engaged at Peace half-time, and her office hours are Monday - Thursday 2:30-6:30pm. She can be reached on her cell for urgent matters. Her cell phone can be accessed by calling church.
 
Save the Date! Our high school students will be going to West Virginia in July of 2019. Our first mission trip fund raiser, the Holy Spaghetti Dinner & Auction, will be held at Peace Lutheran on Saturday, March 2nd! Please make sure to mark your calendars for a wonderful evening of good food and great fellowship!
 
Joyful Noisemakers: Children in grades K-5 that can read are invited to join our children's choir, Joyful Noisemakers.  We have short rehearsals every Saturday morning at 10:30, where we learn how to sing beautifully to the Lord!
 
Events
 
Brewing Questions: We will have our January Brewing Questions event on Tuesday, January 22nd at 7pm at Chasers! Everyone is welcome to join us for good food, great conversation and, of course, BEER!
 
Social Outreach
 
Feed My Starving Children: Please sign up for Feed My Starving Children.  We have 30 spots reserved for March 16th from 9-11 a.m.  Questions call or text Amy Anderson t 847 338-6262. Sign up sheet in the Narthex.
 
Bernie's Book Bank Book Drive: Looking to do some shelf cleaning in the New Year?  Did you know 2 out of 3 low-income children have no books of their own? Please consider donating to our social outreach Bernie's Book Bank Children's Book Drive. We are collecting new and gently used children's books aged birth through 6th grade (please no workbooks, textbooks or reference books).  Books can be placed in the bin in the narthex.  Our book drive will run 1/13-2/10 and we are hoping to collect 500 books during our book drive.  You can learn more about the organization at www.berniesbookbank.org and contact Gretchen Collins from social outreach at 847-540-6907 with any questions.
 
Hope Partners Africa:  This year at Mission Projects Day we will be collecting supplies for Hope Partners Africa / Juan Amagara Ministries.  This nonprofit brings together psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors and other professionals who special in treating refugees, orphans and people living in rural areas with minimal access to health services. We are asking each family to bring at least one item from their list to Mission Projects Day.  Their areas of service include education (school supplies, Bible story books and games, coloring books), teaching sewing to women to help them learn a skill that can help sustain their families (sewing scissors, thread, pins, needles, etc), and a health clinic (first aid supplies, toiletries, see list for other items).  Thank you!
 
Cutters and sewers needed for Mission Projects Day:   If you can help cut the tabs in fleece or sew a pillow cover for our hospice project, please see the bin and sign-up sheet in the hallway.  All items need to be returned by January 20th.  Please call Sue Koenig, if you have any questions.  Thank you!
 
Mission Projects Day 2019:  Join us Feb. 2, 2019 for our annual Mission Projects Day Event.  This is a service day for people of all ages! We start at 9:00 am and work until our projects are completed, usually around noon.  We will be helping a variety of nonprofit organizations.  Some of the activities include:  Global Health Ministries - rolling bandages for clinics that cannot afford commercial bandages, Lutheran World Relief - assembling baby kits, school kits and health kits for those in need overseas and tying quilts, Project Linus - making blankets for children in need, Cards for hospitalized children, craft projects for nursing home residents and Operation Gratitude - making paracord bracelets for our troops.  No special skills are needed.  Come for as much time as you can and YOU will help us make a big difference to others! Please put your name on the sign up sheet in the hallway if you are planning on attending.
 
Adult Mission Trip: Please consider coming on the adult mission trip this summer in Hattiesburg, MS to help families rebuild from a flood in 2016 and a devastating tornado in 2017.  Many people were affected and we will be working with an agency that has been in the area helping people recover from natural disasters since 2006 following Hurricane Katrina's destruction. The dates are June 23-29th.  We will be staying in a renovated 100 yr old inn with showers and laundry on site and making our own meals.  You do not need to have any special skills and there will be an opportunity for community service as well.  It is a great way to make new friendships and do something awesome this summer! Please sign up in the narthex.  A non-refundable deposit will be collected at a later date to hole your spot. An informational meeting will be held at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Bartlett on Feb. 10 from 12-1:0. Please email or call me (Sue Koenig) if you have any questions! The $25 non-refundable deposit will be due by March 1.
 
The Human Race: Looking for participants for The Human Race.  Are you looking to build your fitness level, have fun and help others? If so, consider doing the Human Race! This 5K event will be held on April 28th starting st 8:00 am at McHenry County College. It is family friendly and can be done as a walk or run(just over 3 miles).  Participants can chose which local nonprofit will receive the proceeds of their race fee ($35 until March 31, then $40 until April 25). Please consider joining my team, Susie’s Solemates (use password let’s go! To join the team online). I am encouraging team members to support Home of the Sparrow, a local nonprofit helping women and children who have experienced domestic violence or homelessness. Please call Sue Koenig with any questions.
 
In Crisis?  Anyone anywhere can be affected by mental health struggles including depression, anxiety, having feelings of being overwhelmed, or having suicidal thoughts.  There has been a significant increase (up nearly 30%) in the annual rate of suicide from 1999-2016. The key to preventing people from reaching the point of suicide is to talk about it and offer help, encouragement and resources to those struggling to keep living.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the crisis text line is text CONNECT to 741741 for people who are in distress and feel like they are at risk of hurting themselves, or if you know of a person who is at risk.
 
Ongoing Opportunities
 
Simply Giving: Many of our members and friends give with Simply Giving automated debit. This program is very important for our congregation. It keeps income steady during the summer months when giving drops because people are out of town. Please consider it! Giving forms are on the table in the narthex. If you do participate in Simply Giving, or if you do not have an offering on a particular Sunday you can still participate in the act of giving during the service by obtaining Giving Acknowledgment card from an usher and placing it in the offering plate to acknowledge your support of our ministries at Peace.
 
On-Line Giving: You now have the option to make a gift to Peace from your computer, tablet or phone! To give online go to the Peace web site www.PeaceLutheranLZ.com and click on the "Make a Donation" button. To give from your phone, download the
Give Plus Church app and search for Peace in Lake Zurich to make your gift. Finally, to give from your phone without downloading the Give Plus Church app just text a gift to the Peace text number, 224-458-2996. Just enter an amount and send the text to the Peace number and you will be sent a link to complete the transaction. See Kirk Swanson if you have any questions.
 
Inspirational Messages: Pastor Mark would like to reach out to the congregation with a brief message a couple times per week. If you want to receive these, please fill out the form in the red attendance folders. Messages will be sent via a text, Facebook account, and Twitter. Any questions, contact Beth Papke at (847) 438-5294 or papkeb@wwdb.org
 
Caring Tree: This outreach ministry provides services to those in the congregation with special need, i.e., dinners for new moms, meals for those following a hospitalization, or short term help with lawn cutting or snow removal. Please contact Jean Foltin or Pastor Mark with requests for assistance. Jean may be reached by email (jfoltin5@comcast.net) or by phone/text (847-738-8599).
 
Altar Flowers: If you have a special date you would like to remember, please consider bringing flowers for our Sunday services. The calendar is on the bulletin board in the hallway. Vases are available for use in the kitchen cabinet behind the door. Flowers should be set out before the first service and can be picked up any time after the second service. Enter your first name on the calendar, as we have several families with the same last name. Any questions, please contact Jean Foltin.
 
Choir: Adult choir practices on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm at Peace.  We usually sing on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from September through mid-May then take a break over the summer.  Bring your voice and come join us!
 
Hand Bell Choir: Hand Bell Choir practices on Tuesday evenings 6:45 to 7:45pm at Peace. We play 1 Sunday a month.  No experience needed. Come have some musical fun
 
Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study: We meet at Panera Bread in Deer Park at 9:00 a.m.  Anyone is welcome to join us for coffee.
 
AmazonSmile: Shop on AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your purchase can be donated to Peace Lutheran. For information about it, go to http://smile.amazon.com/about.
 
Peace now has Opt-Out Photo Release Forms: they are on the main table in the narthex.  If you do NOT want your/family member picture on the Church's website or Facebook page please sign and put in Cathy Malloy's mailbox in church office.
Peace Lutheran Church Facebook Page: Be sure to visit our Facebook page - Peace Lutheran Church of Lake Zurich. It's the one with recent posts. If you have an event or ministry you want promoted, and haven't seen it on our Facebook page, POST IT!! If you have questions or need help please email your request to one of the page administrators:  Jean Bishop, Karen Zicco, Bridget Heroff, Nicola Prybell or Pastor Mark.   
 
Church Calendar: The 2018 church calendar shows events and activities of the church and is posted on our website. You can find it by clicking "Calendar of Events" on the home page, or you can access it by visiting http://peacelutheranlz.com/calendar/  
If you have an event you want posted on the calendar, please email the church at the church social email:  office@peacelutheranlz.com
 
Online Newsletter: Do you get the Peace Lutheran weekly newsletter Prints of Peace online?  If not, please send your email address to peacelzoffice@yahoo.com and ask to be added to the emailing list.
                                               
                       
                                          This Week at Peace                       
 
     January       20      8:00am                  Worship (Holy Communion)
                                   9:15                       Sunday School
                                  10:30am                Worship (Holy Communion)
     January       21      7:00pm                  Al-Anon
     January       22      6:45pm                  Bell Choir                
     January       23      9:00am                  Women’s Bible Study - Deer Park Panera
                                  10:30                     Lexington worship 
                                7:00pm                 Confirmation at St. Peter’s
     January       24     12:30 - 6:30pm      Voice Lessons
                                  7:30 - 8:30             Adult Choir
     January       26      8:00am       Men’s Bible study at Dunkin Donuts
                                10:30                     Joyful Noisemakers
     January       27      8:00am                 Worship (Holy Communion)
                                  9:15                      Annual Congregation Meeting
                                                           All together Sunday School
                                  10:30am                Worship (Holy Communion)                                 
 
 ​

Dear Friends in Christ:  Sunday: This Sunday we get to celebrate the Epiphany – the magi following the star and visiting the Christ child. This celebration of the Epiphany happens only every six years. Do you know the story? You might be surprised what misunderstandings people have about this story. We will unpack this other Christmas story.  Come and hear God’s Word and be fed by Jesus in bread and wine. Adult Education: Join us this Sunday at 9:15. We will learn about Christianity as it relates to other religions.  Reading for this Sunday: Please read Matthew chapter 2 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) This chapter is Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, including the magi – the sages from the East (perhaps Persia.) These visitors with their gifts are not included in Luke’s Christmas story which we hear on Christmas Eve. This chapter includes refugee status for the Holy Family, and the tragedy of the infants in Bethlehem. We need to remember the full biblical story of Jesus’ birth. If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.


Worship Schedule: The service of Holy Communion is at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
                                                                                         
Reading for Next Week:  Please read Luke chapter 3 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) This chapter includes John the Baptist’s preaching about the coming of Jesus, and Jesus’ baptism, along with Luke’s genealogy of Jesus. Apparently the baptism of Jesus was more important to the writers of the Gospels than was the infancy stories, because the baptism story is in all four Gospels, whereas the infancy stories are only in Matthew and Luke! If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.


Adult Education: Join us again for Adult confirmation at 9:15 in the sanctuary. Do you remember your confirmation training? Can you explain Christian faith to someone who isn’t Christian? If not, it’s time for a tune up. Join us for a basic confirmation course. We will be viewing quick-paced, clever videos, then learning about faith all over again. Pastor Mark will be leading. Please plan on joining us.
 
Attendance: On December 30, 2018 60 attended service.  On January 2, 2019, 15 attended the  service at Lexington.
 
Pastor’s Day Off: Monday is Pastor Mark’s day off. He is not in the office that day. If you need him urgently, you can call his cell phone, which can be accessed by calling church.
 
Church Administrator: Allison Hearst is our church administrator. She works part time - Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. One of the many things Allison is in charge of is the church calendar. She can be reached by phone at 847-438-4400.


Prayer Requests: We pray for those who need healing and wholeness: for Wes Willard,  Kristen Jorgensen, Brian Bounds, Joyce Smith, Lindsey, Theresa Sacamono, Bob Kayser, Carol Nordquist, Kurt Stefans and Bella Velasco. Our practice is we will pray for an individual for at least 4 Sundays or until the end of the following month. After that time, we ask that you contact the office or Pastor Mark to keep your loved one on the prayer list. If a loved one inadvertently falls off the prayer list, please request to put this person back on the list. Thank you. We need pray-ers! If you would like to be a participant in the Circle of Prayer, please contact Terry Koncel at peaceprays@mail.com.
 
Youth
                                                                                                                                      
Youth Director’s Days Off & Office Hours: Our Youth Director is Tracy Katschke and her days off are Friday and Saturday. She does not check church voice mail or emails on those days. Tracy is engaged at Peace half-time, and her office hours are Monday - Thursday 2:30-6:30pm. She can be reached on her cell for urgent matters. Her cell phone can be accessed by calling church.
 
THANK YOU!!: Thank you to the Peace congregation for the beautiful card and generous Christmas gift! I am so blessed to call Peace Lutheran “home” and I could not do my ministry without the love and support of each of you! Thank you for all that YOU do for our Peace Lutheran youth!
 
Confirmation Class Break: Confirmation classes will resume on Wednesday, January 9th at 7pm at St. Peter UCC.


High School Youth Group: We will be going bowling at Brunswick Zone Deer Park on Sunday, January 13th from 2-4pm. We will meet at the bowling alley and our teens need only bring money for food. Come ready for some friendly competition!


Save the Date! Our high school students will be going to West Virginia in July of 2019. Our first mission trip fund raiser, the Holy Spaghetti Dinner & Auction, will be held at Peace Lutheran on Saturday, March 2nd! Please make sure to mark your calendars for a wonderful evening of good food and great fellowship!
 
Joyful Noisemakers: Children in grades K-5 that can read are invited to join our children's choir, Joyful Noisemakers.  We have short rehearsals every Saturday morning at 10:30, where we learn how to sing beautifully to the Lord!


Events
 
Brewing Questions: We will have our January Brewing Questions event on Tuesday, January 22nd at 7pm at Chasers! Everyone is welcome to join us for good food, great conversation and, of course, BEER!               
              
Social Outreach
 
Bernie's Book Bank Book Drive: Looking to do some shelf cleaning in the New Year?  Did you know 2 out of 3 low-income children have no books of their own? Please consider donating to our social outreach Bernie's Book Bank Children's Book Drive. We are collecting new and gently used children's books aged birth through 6th grade (please no workbooks, textbooks or reference books).  Books can be placed in the bin in the narthex.  Our book drive will run 1/13-2/10 and we are hoping to collect 500 books during our book drive.  You can learn more about the organization at www.berniesbookbank.org and contact Gretchen Collins from social outreach at 847-540-6907 with any questions.
 
LSSI Christmas Gift Cards:  THANK YOU to all of you who helped with providing the gift cards to LSSI.  They were just so happy and very appreciative of the help that Peace provides to them.  You helped some children have a wonderful Christmas!


St. Francis Food Pantry: We collected about 13 advent boxes loaded with all sorts of food items that are needed at the food pantry.  THANK YOU for helping put food on some families tables.  St. Francis is very grateful for our help.


Hope Partners Africa:  The Quilt Group at Peace decided to use their annual Christmas party gift exchange as a time to help others.  They collected money for Hope Partners Africa.  Hope Partners Africa is a non-profit organization that brings together psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals who specialize in treating refugees, orphans, and people living in rural communities that live meager lives without modern health services.  The money the group collected will go towards teaching refugees to sew useful products to sell inside and outside of refugee camps so people can work towards self-sufficiency.  A total of $125 was donated to this project.
 
Cutters and sewers needed for Mission Projects Day:   If you can help cut the tabs in fleece or sew a pillow cover for our hospice project, please see the bin and sign-up sheet in the hallway.  All items need to be returned by January 20th.  Please call Sue Koenig, if you have any questions.  Thank you!
 
Ripping Good Mexican Potluck party is back! All adults, mark your 2019 calendar now! Come to the Koenig’s house, 9440 Thousand Oaks Circle, Spring Grove on January 12th  at 5 pm. We will be having a Mexican themed potluck party and at the same time, rip sheets into strips for the bandages that we will roll on Mission projects Day (which is February2). The potluck is an adult only event but mission projects day is for all ages. Please sign up in the narthex and be prepared to have fun!
 
Mission Projects Day 2019:  Join us Feb. 2, 2019 for our annual Mission Projects Day Event.  This is a service day for people of all ages! We start at 9:00 am and work until our projects are completed, usually around noon.  We will be helping a variety of nonprofit organizations.  Some of the activities include:  Global Health Ministries - rolling bandages for clinics that cannot afford commercial bandages, Lutheran World Relief - assembling baby kits, school kits and health kits for those in need overseas and tying quilts, Project Linus - making blankets for children in need, Cards for hospitalized children, craft projects for nursing home residents and Operation Gratitude - making paracord bracelets for our troops.  No special skills are needed.  Come for as much time as you can and YOU will help us make a big difference to others!
 
Adult Mission Trip: Please consider coming on the adult mission trip this summer in Hattiesburg, MS to help families rebuild from a flood in 2016 and a devastating tornado in 2017.  Many people were affected and we will be working with an agency that has been in the area helping people recover from natural disasters since 2006 following Hurricane Katrina's destruction. The dates are June 23-29th.  We will be staying in a renovated 100 yr old inn with showers and laundry on site and making our own meals.  You do not need to have any special skills and there will be an opportunity for community service as well.  It is a great way to make new friendships and do something awesome this summer! Please sign up in the narthex.  A non-refundable deposit will be collected at a later date to hole your spot.  Please email or call me (Sue Koenig) if you have any questions!
 
In Crisis?  Anyone anywhere can be affected by mental health struggles including depression, anxiety, having feelings of being overwhelmed, or having suicidal thoughts.  There has been a significant increase (up nearly 30%) in the annual rate of suicide from 1999-2016. The key to preventing people from reaching the point of suicide is to talk about it and offer help, encouragement and resources to those struggling to keep living.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the crisis text line is text CONNECT to 741741 for people who are in distress and feel like they are at risk of hurting themselves, or if you know of a person who is at risk.
 
Ongoing Opportunities
 
Simply Giving: Many of our members and friends give with Simply Giving automated debit. This program is very important for our congregation. It keeps income steady during the summer months when giving drops because people are out of town. Please consider it! Giving forms are on the table in the narthex. If you do participate in Simply Giving, or if you do not have an offering on a particular Sunday you can still participate in the act of giving during the service by obtaining Giving Acknowledgment card from an usher and placing it in the offering plate to acknowledge your support of our ministries at Peace.
 
On-Line Giving: You now have the option to make a gift to Peace from your computer, tablet or phone! To give online go to the Peace web site www.PeaceLutheranLZ.com and click on the "Make a Donation" button. To give from your phone, download the Give Plus Church app and search for Peace in Lake Zurich to make your gift. Finally, to give from your phone without downloading the Give Plus Church app just text a gift to the Peace text number, 224-458-2996. Just enter an amount and send the text to the Peace number and you will be sent a link to complete the transaction. See Kirk Swanson if you have any questions.
 
Inspirational Messages: Pastor Mark would like to reach out to the congregation with a brief message a couple times per week. If you want to receive these, please fill out the form in the red attendance folders. Messages will be sent via a text, Facebook account, and Twitter. Any questions, contact Beth Papke at (847) 438-5294 or papkeb@wwdb.org


Caring Tree: This outreach ministry provides services to those in the congregation with special need, i.e., dinners for new moms, meals for those following a hospitalization, or short term help with lawn cutting or snow removal. Please contact Jean Foltin or Pastor Mark with requests for assistance. Jean may be reached by email (jfoltin5@comcast.net) or by phone/text (847-738-8599).
 
Altar Flowers: If you have a special date you would like to remember, please consider bringing flowers for our Sunday services. The calendar is on the bulletin board in the hallway. Vases are available for use in the kitchen cabinet behind the door. Flowers should be set out before the first service and can be picked up any time after the second service. Enter your first name on the calendar, as we have several families with the same last name. Any questions, please contact Jean Foltin.
 
Choir: Adult choir practices on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm at Peace.  We usually sing on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from September through mid-May then take a break over the summer.  Bring your voice and come join us!
 
Hand Bell Choir: Hand Bell Choir practices on Tuesday evenings 6:45 to 7:45pm at Peace. We play 1 Sunday a month.  No experience needed. Come have some musical fun
 
Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study: We meet at Panera Bread in Deer Park at 9:00 a.m.  Anyone is welcome to join us for coffee.  


AmazonSmile: Shop on AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your purchase can be donated to Peace Lutheran. For information about it, go to http://smile.amazon.com/about.


Peace now has Opt-Out Photo Release Forms: they are on the main table in the narthex.  If you do NOT want your/family member picture on the Church's website or Facebook page please sign and put in Cathy Malloy's mailbox in church office.
 
Peace Lutheran Church Facebook Page: Be sure to visit our Facebook page - Peace Lutheran Church of Lake Zurich. It's the one with recent posts. If you have an event or ministry you want promoted, and haven't seen it on our Facebook page, POST IT!! If you have questions or need help please email your request to one of the page administrators:  Jean Bishop, Karen Zicco, Bridget Heroff, Nicola Prybell or Pastor Mark.       
 
Church Calendar: The 2018 church calendar shows events and activities of the church and is posted on our website. You can find it by clicking "Calendar of Events" on the home page, or you can access it by visiting http://peacelutheranlz.com/calendar/  
If you have an event you want posted on the calendar, please email the church at the church social email:  office@peacelutheranlz.com


Online Newsletter: Do you get the Peace Lutheran weekly newsletter Prints of Peace online?  If not, please send your email address to peacelzoffice@yahoo.com and ask to be added to the emailing list.


                             
                                          This Week at Peace                          


     January        6      8:00am                   Worship (Holy Communion)
                                 9:15                         Sunday School
                                 10:30am                  Worship (Holy Communion)
     January        7      7:00pm                   Al-Anon
     January        8      6:45pm                   Bell Choir                
     January        9      9:00am                   Women’s Bible Study - Deer Park Panera
                                 10:30                       Lexington worship 
                                   7:00pm                    Confirmation at St. Peter’s
     January      10      12:30 - 6:30pm     Voice Lessons
     January      12       8:00am                  Men’s Bible study at Dunkin Donuts
                                   10:30                      Joyful Noisemakers
     January      13       8:00am                  Worship (Holy Communion)
                                  9:15                        Sunday School
                                  10:30am                 Worship (Holy Communion)