Prints of Peace - July 8

PRINTS OF PEACE
July 8, 2018


Dear Friends in Christ:  Saturday:  Pot luck and fire pit at 4:30. Come and enjoy! Sunday:  Please bring a lawn chair to sit outside for this Sunday’s 9:00 a.m. service. We will worship outside, have some light refreshments, and if you please, stick around to spread mulch from 10:30 to noon in order to make our church grounds beautiful. The children will be entertained by “Bubble Guy,” an interactive presentation of amazing 3D bubbles! Come and hear God’s Word and be fed by Jesus in bread and wine.  Adult Forum:  On break until September.  Reading for this Sunday: Please read 1 Corinthians chapter 12 plus the sidebar notes in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.)  Here the apostle Paul (apostle means one who witnessed the resurrected Jesus) is writing to the church in Corinth about a supernatural event (perhaps his vision of Jesus described in the book of Acts) that places him in the elevated status of “super apostles,” that are competing with Paul for the Corinthians’ favor. Paul speaks of his weakness (suffering) as being a more important mark of a true apostle. A very famous New Testament saying is included in verse 9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”  If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.     
 
Worship Schedule: Our Summer worship schedule is in effect. We have a service of  Holy Communion at 9:00 a.m.
                                                                                                                       
Reading for Next Week:  Please read Ephesians chapter 1 plus the sidebar notes and the introduction to Ephesians in your Lutheran Study Bible (LSB.) Bible scholars think this letter was written by a follower of Paul or someone who was schooled by Paul. The passage for this Sunday (1:3-14) sums up the meaning of Christian faith like no other passage in the New Testament. In the original Greek, this passage is actually one long sentence! (See intro.) If you don’t yet have a LSB, see Pastor Mark.
 
Attendance: On July 1, 2018, 115 attended worship.  On July 4, 2018, 16 attended the service at Lexington.
 
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 from 11:30am-3:30pm. She can be reached on her cell for urgent matters. Her cell phone can be accessed by calling church.


Vacation Bible School 2018:  Everyone is invited! August 6-10 from 9:00-11:30, daily. Cost is $25.00 per child, age 3-5th grade.  The theme this year is: Shipwrecked - Rescued by Jesus.  Children are Crew Members, 6th grade and up are Crew Leaders, and adults are needed as First Mates! Invite your friends and join us for a week of worship, games, crafts, snacks and fun. Check the registration table in the narthex or look on line for more information and to see how you can help. Registration deadline is July 15.  Email Natalie for more information: natalie1234@att.net.


Events


Pot Luck: The next pot luck will be July 7th at 4:30 p.m. The theme for this potluck will be "Mystery". Bring your favorite summer or anytime of year dish to pass! BYOB beer and wine have been approved for this event. Look forward to seeing everybody there! If any questions, please contact Kelly Ratajczak at kmsalaza@gmail.com.


Outdoor Service: Sunday July 8 at 9:00 am.  Bring your lawn chair.  The tent will be set up for shade.  Following up with refreshments and enjoy the “Bubble Guy” while we lay down new mulch for the playground from 10am - noon.


Adopt a piece of Peace!  We have 17 families signed up to take care of a small portion of the yard this year.  We are looking for 6 more families!


Social Outreach


LSSI Back Packs:  NO ONE SHOULD BE SHIPWRECKED WITHOUT SCHOOL SUPPLIES!  I know school has just ended, but we are thinking about the next school year for LSSI!  We would like to provide them with 30 filled pack packs!!  For 15 boys and 15 girls.  Sign up is in the hallway.  The following items are needed by August 3rd:    30 Backpacks - 15 girl and 15 boy  Grades 1-5.  


#2 Pencils - 12 pack:  60 packs
Crayons - 24 pack:  30 packs
Colored pencils - 12 pack:  30 packs
Markers - 12 pack: 30 packs
Glue sticks - 60 glue sticks
Scissors - 5” child size:  30 scissors
Blue or black ballpoint pens - 12 pack: 30 packs of pens
Red ballpoint pen - 12 pack: 30 packs of red pens
High lighters: 60 high lighters
Pencil sharpeners: 30 pencil sharpeners
Erasers: 60 erasers
Pencil box - 30 pencil boxes, variety of colors
2/Pocket, three pronged, folders - 120 2/pocket folders
Loose-leaf wide-ruled notebook paper - 30 packages of paper
Spiral Notebooks – wide ruled - 120 notebooks
Ruler w/ English and Metric measurements - 30 rulers




Food Pantry:  While you are stocking up for your 4th of July barbecues supplies, Think of the Food Pantry! They are in need of paper goods. Such as paper towels, napkins, tissues and toilet paper. Donations are always welcome, but for this need we would like to shower the Food Pantry by July 16th.  Please put items in the bin in the hallway.  Thank you so much for helping the local people in the Ela Township Community.


Mobile Food Pantry: The next Mobile Food Pantry in Lake Zurich will be Saturday, July 14 from 10-12:00.  If your family is in need of food, please come and register and you will receive food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.  If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact the coordinator, Ken Rasbid at ken.rasbid@gmail.com.  You can help serve breakfast to the clients, help unload the truck, distribute food or work with client assistance or other much needed tasks.  It is a great way to serve the community! Please contact Sue Koenig if you have questions.


Donate Blood regularly?  Remember our blood drive on September 9th.  Be sure to not donate for 8 weeks prior (you can donate before July 15th)  so you can donate on that Sunday.


Electronics Drive: Thank you to all who dropped off items for the drive.  They collected 3 pallets worth of items!  It was a great success!


Adult Mission Trip Update:  Thank you to all the participants on our recent trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Your hard work and dedication was really amazing despite rainy weather and HOT conditions.  We were able to help so many people get closer to either getting back in to their homes or by putting finishing touches on their new places that will make them feel they are home again.  We were able to help feed hundreds of people who are in crisis because of homelessness for the time we spent working at the thrift stores that support the ministry to help them while they are homeless and to work with them towards self-sufficiency. Thank you for you willingness to take a risk, to experience some discomfort, to try something new, to be a friendly face or listening ear.  You are truly dong what God calls us to do-take care of those in need.  Thank you too, to all of you who helped us by participating in our various fund raisers and praying for us while we were gone and encouraging your family member to go on the mission trip! Anyone interested in helping to plan next year/s trip, please contact Sue Koenig.


In Crisis?  Anyone, anywhere can be affected by mental health struggles including depression, anxiety, having feelings of being overwhelmed, or having suicidal thoughts.  It has been in the news lately about the 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.


AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities):  The ELCA has a long history of working with migrants and refugees and is committed to helping these people.  They have established priorities to guide their work that include advocating for laws that provide protection for unaccompanied children, families, asylum seekers and refugees.  If you would like to know more please go to the ELCA website.  Additionally, take a few minutes to contact your senators and congress people and let them know where you stand on this issue. Their emails are easy to find if you just goggle, "emailing my senator/representative”.


Preparation for mission projects day 2019:  if you can help with cutting tabs in fleece for the Lutheran world relief or project Linus blankets, sewing pillow covers for hospice or making school bags for Lutheran world relief, check out the kits in the hallway by the office. Work on them when you have a chance; they don’t need to be completed until December! If you have any questions, please contact Sue Koenig. Thank you for your help!


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 is you have any questions.


Prayer Requests: We pray for those who need healing and wholeness: for Mike Wilms, Wes Willard, Michael Salazar, Kathy Zak, Kristen Jorgensen, Brian Bounds, Peggy Schmidt, Joyce Smith, Reita Schultz, Charlie Lindsey, Dolly Hansen, Theresa Sacamono, Lizetta Moore, and Gianna Mack.  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 your 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.


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


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.


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 outside of the office. Vases are available for use in the kitchen cabinet behind the door. Flowers should be set out before the Sunday service and can be picked up any time after the Sunday service. Enter your first name on the calendar, as we have several families with the same last name. Any questions, please call Kari Mrazek at (847) 726-2716.  


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).


Mom/Toddler Group:  Are you a new mom or have little ones 5 years or younger?  Do you want to connect with other local moms?  Then PLEASE join our mom's group where kids are welcome to play, while moms get some adult conversation!  Peace Lutheran Church has graciously offered to open their doors to the community to give moms a place to gather.  This is not a religious group, just a community mom’s group.   We will meet every Thursday at 10 AM.  If you have any question please contact Cathy Malloy.


Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study: We will continue to meet at Panera Bread in Deer Park at 9:00 am for the summer. Anyone is welcome to join us for coffee.                                                                                                            
Worship and Music: The Worship and Music team is searching for people that are interested in assisting before, during, and after worship time on Sundays.  Please contact Andy Heroff (aheroff@gmail.com) if you would like to help assist.


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.


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.


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 to be posted on the calendar, please email the church at the church social email: office@peacelutheranlz.com
                                   
                                                           
                                          This Week at Peace




      July      8       9:00am                 Outdoor Worship Service (Holy Communion)
                           10:30am               Yard clean up and Bubble Guy
      July      9       7:00pm                 Al-Anon                
      July     11      9:00am                 Women’s Bible Study - Deer Park Panera
      July     12      10:00am               Mom and Toddler Group
                            12:30 - 6:30pm    Voice Lessons
      July     14      10:00am - noon    Mobile Food Pantry
      July     15       9:00am                 Worship (Holy Communion)