Prints of Peace - December 9

Dear Friends in Christ:   Sunday:  This Sunday we hear about John the Baptist’s encouragement “prepare the way of the Lord!” What does this mean for us today? Preparation is something that Christians are always about. We need to prepare and live God’s kingdom as if it is already here! Come and hear God’s Word and be fed by Jesus in bread and wine. Adult Education: We continue Sunday at 9:15 with confirmation for adults, see below. All are welcome. Pastor Mark will be leading. Reading for this Sunday: Please read Philippians chapter 1, the introduction to Philippians, and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) Philippians is the most positive letter of Paul’s, even though he writes it from prison. Philippi was a Roman military colony. Paul speaks of “striving together,” a term which implies the Roman military way of battle. Christians are to pull together – that is essential in Paul’s teaching here. If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Worship Schedule: The service of Holy Communion at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
 
Advent Worship Schedule:
Sunday December 9:        8:00/10:30 a.m.    Advent 2
Sunday December 16:      8:00/10:30 a.m.    Advent 3
                                         3:00 p.m.              Children’s Christmas Pageant                   
Sunday December 23:     9:00 a.m. only       Advent 4
 
Christmas Worship Schedule:
Monday December 24:      4:00 p.m.             Family Christmas Worship Service
                                          11:00 p.m.        Candlelight Holy Communion Service
Christmas Day                                               No Service
Sunday, December 30        9:00 a.m. only    Holy Communion Service  - Christmas 1
                                                                                               
Christmas Eve worship assistants needed:  See sign up in the Narthex by the front door.
 
Poinsettias for Purchase: Our sanctuary will again be adorned during the Christmas season with 20 beautiful red poinsettia plants. This year they may be purchased for $10/plant and will be available for pick-up after the 11 pm Christmas Eve service. Should you be interested in purchasing one or more plants, a Sign-up Sheet and payment envelope labeled ‘Poinsettias’ is on the Narthex table. Questions??? Text or call Jean Foltin at 847-738-8599. Thanks!
 
Reading for Next Week:  Please read Philippians chapter 4 and the sidebar notes for this chapter in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.)  Philippians is the most positive letter of Paul’s, even though he writes it from prison (perhaps in Rome.) This chapter is a gem of Christian literature. It is full of encouraging words, words that Christians throughout the millennia have taken comfort from. Euodia and Syntyche were female leaders in the church at Philippi. Female leadership was common in the first century church! If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Adult Education: Join us for Adult confirmation! 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 2, 2018, 103 attended worship. On December 5, 2018, 15 attended service at Lexington.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 10am - 2pm. She can be reached on her cell for urgent matters. Her cell phone can be accessed by calling church.
 
Confirmation Class Break: Confirmation classes will be on break from Thursday, November 29th through Tuesday, January 8th. We will resume on Wednesday, January 9th at 7pm at St. Peter UCC.
 
Youth Group Holiday Party!: Our youth group Christmas party will be held on Sunday, December 16th at Peace Lutheran from 7-8:15pm! Our friends from Christ Lutheran and St. Peter UCC will be joining us for pizza, cookies and an evening of games! Please make sure to bring your one "good" gift and one "bad" gift as well!
 
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
 
Hark the Herald…It’s Caroling Time!  If you love singing Christmas carols, join us Tuesday, December 11th to bring holiday cheer to our senior neighbors at Silverado Memory Care Center. Always a special family event, ALL are welcome—no singing talents required! We’ll meet at church at 6:15 pm and then walk over to the community at 6:30 pm for about a half hour of singing at the 555 Cottage. A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex! Questions? Contact Jean Foltin at 847-738-8599. Thank you!
 
Social Outreach
 
Trumbull Family says thank you!: We would like to thank everyone for their emails, texts, cards, calls and meals for our family and for dad (Wes Willard) as well.  During this difficult time of my sister Carmen’s passing, we are blessed to have not only our immediate family by our side but our “church family”  too ! Your outpouring of support is so very much appreciated now and through the holidays. God Bless and many thanks. Sincerely Natalie and family.
 
Wreaths Across America: is a national program that honors veterans with a mission of “Remember, Honor, and Teach”.  American Legion Auxiliary #964, in Lake Zurich, is working with “Wreaths Across America” to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave in our township cemeteries on December 15th.  A special ceremony will be held and there will be a moment of silence. If you would like to participate, contact Carol Sullivan.
 
Advent Boxes:  This is the time of year that we can really help the local food pantry.  Please wrap a box a home.  Place one food item per day in the box during Advent.  Please bring your box to church Christmas Eve or during the week of Christmas and we will get all boxes to the Food Pantry.  These items that they need: peanut butter, strawberry jelly, tuna fish, canned meats like chicken, baked beans, pinto beans (1 lb bag), cooking oil, and personal items like toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant.  This will run Dec 2- Dec 23. Thank you for helping those in need during the long winter months.
 
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!
 
Christmas for LSSI:  LSSI has been having a tough year this year.  The lady who runs the programs has a few personal problems that have kept her out of the office and she is still out.  The agency's they work with all seem to have many critical issues they have to deal with this year. They cannot come up with a list of children and what they want.  However, they would love to have a $25 gift certificate to Walmart or Target.  They will pass those out to the kids. I know you all like to buy the gifts, but they really need some help this year.  This is only temporary.  Back to gifts next year! Please take an ornament off the tree and put your name on the bottom ornament so we know who will be bringing in the gift certificates.  Place them in the red box by the tree. Thank you so much for your understanding.  Gift cards need to be at church by Dec 9.  This will help 25 children.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
Prayer Requests: We pray for those who need healing and wholeness: for Wes Willard,  Kathy Zak, Kristen Jorgensen, Brian Bounds, Joyce Smith, Lindsey, Dolly Hansen, Theresa Sacamono, Bob Kayser, Lizetta Moore, 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.
 
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                       
 
     December     9       8:00am                   Worship (Holy Communion)
                                   9:15                        Sunday School
                                   10:30am                 Worship (Holy Communion)
     December    10      7:00pm                   Al-Anon
     December    11      6:45pm                   Bell Choir                
     December    12      9:00am                   Women’s Bible Study - Deer Park Panera
                                   10:30                      Lexington worship 
     December    13      12:30 - 6:30pm      Voice Lessons
                                    7:30 - 8:30pm        Adult Choir
     December    15      10:30                      Joyful Noisemakers
     December    16     8:00am                    Worship (Holy Communion)
                                   9:15                        Sunday School
                                   10:30am                 Worship (Holy Communion)
                                   3:00pm                   Children’s Christmas Pageant  ​