June 9, 2020

Volume 61—Issue 12

THE HERALD

Gathered and Sent to Share the Peace and Serve the Lord since 1960

A publication of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

From Your Pastor

Sunday, perusing Facebook, I came upon a “privilege” quiz. Through a series of questions about a person’s experiences it measured how privileged a person is. I rank pretty privileged – 58 out of 100 – though if I were male I would have ranked significantly higher on the privilege scale. The questions, more than the score, got me thinking. The ELCA Constitution charges its ordained clergy with this responsibility, among others:

Every ordained minister shall speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.

Jesus has lots to say about the poor, the marginalized, those whom society discounted and excluded, and the privileged. Together, we, the church, the body of Christ in the world, are to proclaim and live out Jesus’ teachings. Books and movies are being recommended, that address racial injustices. The movie Just Mercy is being streamed for free this month. I highly recommend that movie, though the book is far better. I welcome your suggestions for books, movies, and other resources that can help us become better informed about the race issues in our country. I also welcome the formation of a group in the congregation to form a plan for how we, as a congregation, can be more responsive to the racial injustices in our society. If you would be interested in being part of such a group, please give me a call or shoot me an email. We are Christ Jesus’ people. It is our call to be Jesus’ voice in the world, calling for justice for all people, in all situations.

It seems to me that it is time for the church to be a leader as we seek a more just and compassionate world. Blessings in Christ Jesus!

Pastor Karen

Finances and Mission during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Much of ministry is being done remotely these days. We can’t come to worship, but we worship through the online worship provided on our website. I can’t go to members for prayer, but find myself offering phone prayers quite frequently. The conference room at the church sits empty, while Bible studies and meetings are held by Zoom. What keeps on happening in the usual way is that the bills keep coming. And so we – Pastor Karen and all of our church staff and members – appreciate the ongoing offerings that you make to support the mission and ministry of Prince of Peace. Many of our members mail their offerings to the church; some drop them off when they are out and about; others give through automatic bill pay at their bank or through the tithely link on our congregation’s website. No matter how you give, please know that your offerings are appreciated, and put to work doing the work of God and the ministry of Prince of Peace. Thank you!

Northern Illinois Synod 2020 Forum Day Saturday, June 20 • 9:30 am – 1:15 pm Registrations must be received by 11:59 pm Thursday, June 18. In order to keep spreading the word about the good work being done by the committees, sub-committees, and ministry groups of the synod, we are thrilled to announce that the Northern Illinois Synod is offering a “Forum Day” when our ministries will lead forums for all interested members of our congregations and the wider community to inform you about the work going on in your name! This Forum Day, Saturday, June 20, will be held via the Zoom meeting platform. It will offer three sessions of forums featuring twelve of our ministries. The first forum will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the last one finishes at 1:15 p.m. Forums will be limited to the first 100 registrants. Information on the forums is available on the NISynod website. Please register today for this great opportunity. The forums will also be recorded and available on the synod website after the event, so even though you are only able to attend three that day, you will be able to view the others soon thereafter. If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Cheryl Erdmann at CErdmann@nisynod.org.

Sustain community with unique letter-exchange project

Do you want to sustain the community that is a hallmark of Women of the ELCA? Then join Dear Friend in Christ, a unique letter-exchange project to which all participants are invited. Find out how it works at welca.org/dearfriend.

If you've registered for the Gathering, follow these tips

The “Just Love” Gathering, initially scheduled for this July, has been postponed to August 5-8, 2021, due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Find out what to do if you have already registered for the Gathering.

Plans for Worship at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Now that we have entered into Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan: • Worship will continue to be online, through the link on

our website; • We have brought music back into the services, with our

organist playing for hymns. • Church meetings will continue to be held by Zoom until

we enter Phase 4 • We will continue essential church business only in the

building, with limited individuals in the building. We will conduct funerals for congregation members with 10 people or less present, including the pastor. There are many other considerations regarding when we are able to gather for worship in the church. More information will be made available in the coming weeks. Please refer to the document that has been provided by the ELCA for more information about the many things that need to be taken into consideration when returning to in-person worship. The article is entitled: Resources for Returning to In-Person Worship: Considerations for being church together during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find this resource on the ELCA webpage, in the section on Covid-19 resources. If you do not have internet, please call the church office and we will mail a copy of this document to you.

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LAWN MOWING SIGN UP We have up to date equipment and will train new volunteers. This is a great way to help maintain the church property and get some fresh air at the same time. This year we are asking for one person to do “Rider” mowing and

one person to do “Trim” mowing each week. This will help make the job faster and easier for the volunteers.

SIGN

Lawn mowing is an essential activity – as well as safe! Paul Rampenthal has put together a list for mowing and trimming this year. Please call Stephanie at the church office to sign up for the weeks that you serve yard duty at Prince of Peace. Thank you!

Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine - June 17

The 2019 Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a commemoration of the Emanuel Nine who were murdered as they met in their prayer group at Emanuel A. M. E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina. June 17 of each year is to be a day of prayer, in the spirit of repentance, and remembrance of those who were killed. Bishop Clements has written to the synod that he wholeheartedly supported the addition of this commemoration to our calendar and, in fact, signed a petition to help bring it to the floor of the assembly. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the shooting of nine African American souls by a young white man, who had connections to our ELCA, you are invited and encouraged to participate in the online prayer service that will be offered by Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and others around our church. It will be available beginning June 17 on the ELCA website. At Prince of Peace, we will include that commemoration in our worship on Sunday, June 14.

In June we will collect Tuna

Freeport Area Church Cooperative

“FACC” FOOD PANTRY

Please consider picking up some “extra” items for the pantry next

time you are shopping.

Weekly Sermons

Call the office if you would like a copy of the weekly sermons

sent to you by mail.

Bishop Clements wrote: It is necessary for the ELCA, a largely white church, to confront the racial issues that plague our society, many of which stem from white supremacy. The events of the past 11 days, triggered by the brutal death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, have caused me to listen deeply and carefully to my friends and colleagues of color. These past days have also demonstrated a renewed need for our church to listen to the voices and experiences of our black siblings. As people of faith, we cannot remain isolated from the pain and suffering they have endured. We must seek and actively work for justice for all of God's beloved children. Justice for all. In this crucial moment, that means standing in solidarity with Black Americans.

I am praying that 2020 is a tipping point year and that real change will come. The president of the United States had his picture taken in front of a church while holding a Bible because he understands the power of these symbols of faith. Unfortunately, they became symbols of division that day rather than symbols of the love of Christ. Let us reclaim the symbols of our faith and use them to bring about reconciliation, hope, and justice for all.

Never have Micah’s words echoed so loudly. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

April 2020

FINANCIAL & WORSHIP ATTENDANCE SUMMARY

Year-to-date Financial Report for Current & Mission and Bldg. & Equip. Funds

as of April 30, 2020 Income Current & Mission Support 88,586

Expenses Current & Mission Support 83,866

Year-to-date Difference 4720

Income Bldg. & Equipment 13,687

Expenses Bldg. & Equipment 11,260

Year-to-date Difference 2426

Total Income (excl. Capital Projects Appeal) 102,273

Total Expenses (excl. Capital Projects Appeal) 95,126

Year-to-date Difference 7147

Above figures do not include Capital Projects Appeal money of

$8,562 received in 2020.

Worship Attendance in May 2020

Date YouTube 10:30 Total

5/3 132 132

5/10 118 118

5/17 113 113

5/24 95 95

5/31 103 103

Meals on Wheels

A note was received from FHN Volunteer Services Coordinator Samantha Toay indicating Meals on Wheels delivery by community volunteers is still postponed. Based upon Restore Illinois Phases, volunteers will resume when Illinois Dept. of Public Health lifts all visitor restrictions. FHN is committed to keeping Meals on Wheels volunteers safe and healthy.

Nancy Lillevold, POP Meals on Wheels Coordinator

Memorial Fund

Roller blinds have recently been installed in Fellowship Hall (parking lot windows). Funds given in the memory of Linda Corbin were used for this purpose.

In addition, a video camera, tripod, and accessories were recently purchased by funds given in the memory of Mary Ellen Kaiser, Bob Keister, Norm Wagner, Joy Scace, and Arline Herrmann.

Thanks Received…

Thank you to the congregation and many friends at Prince of Peace for the prayers, concerns, phone calls, and cards. Special thank you to Pastor Karen for her prayer and officiating the memorial service. God’s Blessings, Mary Lou and Bob Gerdes

“Love Wins” Summer Book Discussion

This summer we are reading the book “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived,” by Rob Bell. Rob Bell asks some provocative and thought-provoking questions in this book. We will divide the book into thirds, and read and discuss a section of the book in three sessions. Pastor Karen has ordered books for those who requested copies. It isn’t too late to join the group. Get your own book, and let Pastor Karen know that you want to be part of the group so that you will get the Zoom invitation. Because of a delay in shipping the books that were ordered, we will be delaying the first session a week. Instead of our first discussion being Wednesday, 24 June, it will be Wednesday, 1 July. You can choose between 10:00 am and 6:30 pm.

Adopt-A- Highway Clean up - June 13

Site information from Karl Bronn

We will meet at this site, instead of car pooling from the church at 8:45. Our pick up mile is Highway 26 south of Freeport and extends 1/2 mile north and 1/2 mile south of the intersection of West Park Road and West Walnut Road. The group generally parks at that intersection on the east or west side of Highway 26. If you have any questions please contact Karl Bronn 815-235-4201.

Help for Shopping and Errands

In these days, we have several church members who are willing to get groceries or run other errands for church members who feel that they should stay home, rather than going out. If you feel uncomfortable going out, please call the church office and we will put you in touch with one of our members who will be glad to give you a hand.

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