February 2006 Cornerstone

PASTOR WAYNE SEZ

EPIPHANY LIGHT LEADS TO A LENTEN JOURNEY

Men’s Group

All men are invited to our Wednesday morning breakfast group. We will begin a study of the book of Mark on February 8th. We begin at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast and begin discussion at 7:15 a.m. We will suspend on March 8th for our Lenten study with Salem Lutheran.

Lenten Study Group

March 8th will begin our Lenten study to be held at Salem Lutheran Church. Breakfast will be served at 6:30 a.m. The study will be taken from Max Lucado’s book No Wonder They Call Him Savior.  Below are the dates and subject for each study:

Salem is located on War Memorial Drive.  You may sign-up to purchase a book.  Also, we will need study leaders for March 8th, March 22nd, and April 5th.  See the sign-up sheet in the Great Room for books and study leaders.

SCHEDULE FOR LENT

Our mid-week Lenten services will be following the Old Testament from creation to the prophet Ezekiel. We will have a soup supper at 6:00 p.m. each Wednesday evening with the exception of Ash Wednesday. All evening services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Sign-up to host a soup supper in the Great Room. Once a soup has been chosen for a night, we invite all members to bring their favorite recipes of that soup to dump into a large pot.  Mine is often Campbell’s.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, March 8th The Creation

Wednesday, March 15th The Flood

Wednesday, March 22nd The Testing of Abraham

Wednesday, March 29th The Deliverance at the Red Sea

Wednesday, April 5th The Valley of Dry Bones

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Assisting Minister

Paul Mueller

Ushers

Vicki Bittner

Jan Jarrett

Counters

Carol Gard and Pam Kovach

GARAGE GANG

Progressive Dinner

Saturday February 18th, beginning at 5:00 p.m., we invite all to come to a progressive dinner held at the church. Sign up for one of the following courses:

Appetizers Course

Soup & Salad Course

Entree Course 

Dessert Course 

Each group in that course must then decide what to serve and how to decorate the room for your course, and  this will take teamwork.  We will conclude the evening with a game of romantic/action Pictionary.

Garage Gang

What is a Garage Gang? The Garage Gang is Grace and Peace aged 40+ adults who enjoy getting together in a social activity!  If your imagination can picture a garage gang, then you can help plan an event for some time in 2006!  A chart is posted on the bulletin board in the great room where you can sign up to plan an event or activity for an upcoming month!  The activity doesn’t have to be anything major or expensive and each attendee would pay their own way if there is a cost involved. The group has gone bowling, out to dinner, camping, game night, mini-golfing, mystery dinner, toured a museum, baseball game…

People are needed to plan and publicize outings limited only by your imagination!  We always have a good time and enjoy each other’s company!  And we always welcome everyone to join us!  SIGN UP TODAY!

LIBRARY TREASURES

February is a month to remember all those who are dear to us.  It is also a good time to catch up on some winter reading.

Books for our Young Readers:

Bible Readings for Teenagers by Charles Mueller

You can find answers for your life in this little book.

God Makes It Right by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

There are three stories for children based on three favorite bible verses.

Martin the Cobbler by Leo Tolstoy

Martin was terribly sad and in despair.  A man comes to his shop and asks him to bind an old book for him.  He promises the Lord will come and visit on a certain day.  As Martin waits, strange things begin to happen.

For Adults:

Blessing—the Art and the Practice by David Spangler

A blessing can be anything—a kind word, a prayer, an embrace  or anything that represents the blood and breath of our good will.  It is somewhat like a prayer or a good deed.

A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury

As children Jack and Tanner were best friends until scandal drove them apart.  In their separate corners of the country, they have both become fighters for religious freedom.  Will their paths cross?

The Storekeepers Daughter by Wanda Brunstetter

Back to Pennsylvania Amish country where Naomi turns her back on her heritage.  When she realizes her mistake how can she get her life back?

Stop in the library and see our new bookshelf unit.  Find a good book while you’re there.

The Bookworms

YOUTH PAGE

Kid’s In Christ (Ages to 5th grade)

Movie Night: January 27th, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Mentor Sunday: February 5th, Coffee Hour                                 

God Is Love: February 10th, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.              

JLYO (Ages 6th-8th grade)

Superbowl Party at First English Lutheran Church: February 5th, 4:30 p.m.

Peoria Rivermen and Concert: February 17th

Horse Back Riding: Tentative dates February 18th or 26th

LYO (High School Students)

“Dinner & a Movie”: January 21st, 4:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Superbowl Party at First English Lutheran Church: February 5th, 4:30 p.m.

Peoria Rivermen and Concert: February 17th

For All Ages - Parents Are Also Welcome!

Roller skating party: February 25th, 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

If at anytime you have an older child that you would like to attend a younger child’s event, please feel free to allow all the family to enjoy!

JAN JARRETT TO GO TO BILOXI

I’ll be going to Biloxi, MS, to help with hurricane cleanup the week of Feb. 12, working through Lutheran Disaster Relief at Bethel Lutheran Church in Biloxi. They have sent me a list of current needs. If anyone would like to donate items on the list, please have them to me by Wednesday, February 8th.

aGAPe

Time to begin the quilt season at Grace and Peace.  Wanda has been busy cutting; Joan has been creating crazy patch squares from our scraps; Kay has checked out our supply of quilt backs; Roberta has been designing, and Lorene has begun to sew the quilt fronts.

Our first meeting for aGAPe will be on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 11:30 a.m.  Bring your lunch and scissors.  We will start work about noon.

In the annual report, I wrote that with all the present disasters in the world, an estimate of 2.3 million blankets is needed.  We could always use more help.

- Roberta Dietrich

LUTHERAN WOMEN OF GREATER PEORIA

Annual Benefit Choir Concert

Be sure to attend the 13th annual benefit choir concert on Sunday, Feb. 12, held at First English Lutheran as part of their 100th anniversary as a congregation. Five choirs and bell choir groups from area Lutheran churches will perform

A freewill offering will be taken for the Benevolent Fund at Lutheran Hillside Village.  We will receive matching funds from Peoria/Stark County Chapter of Thrivent. This event is sponsored by Lutheran Women of Greater Peoria.

Our choir is unable to participate this year but it is a great way to spend that Sunday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and help make a difference for those at Lutheran Hillside Village who have outlived their funds.

. . . “Worth More Than Rubies”

The 21st annual Style Show to benefit the Child Abuse Counseling program at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois will be Saturday, March 11, starting at noon at the Pere Marquette Hotel.  Your invitations will be coming soon or you can check with Barbara Hanson who is the reservation chairperson.

There will be a special prize drawing for a diamond and ruby necklace besides the luncheon, style show, silent auction, and prize drawing baskets.  Necklace raffle tickets ($5 each and you do not need to be present to win) are available beginning March 1 from Roberta Dietrich.

Our congregation always supports this great cause.  Wanda Green is the chairperson again so you know this year’s event will be a wonderful function.

Women of the ELCA

Here it is February!  The month.

There are so many ways to think of hearts, love, and February.  The American Heart Association reminds us to be heart healthy during February and get our blood pressure and cholesterol checked.  Valentines we give or receive might contain the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:  "How do I love thee, let me count the ways."  And then there is 1 Corinthians 13:  "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love…"

There are many scripture passages that speak of love:

One can be talking about Jan Jarrett when talking about devotion, brotherly love, and honor.  Jan has accepted the challenge of the Women of the ELCA to act boldly with a heartfelt conviction to help others.  She is using her hard earned vacation time to travel to Biloxi, Mississippi, in February to help with restoration efforts.  We send her off with our prayers and best wishes and certainly look forward to hearing about her experience.

Women from Grace and Peace can travel somewhat south to attend the Central/Southern Illinois Synodical Women of the ELCA 2006 retreats.  One will be held at the Dubois Center on Saturday, March 4, and is titled “Expressing Spirituality Through Prayerful Living”.  The other retreat is “God, Creation & Everyday Life in 2006" and will be held on Saturday, March 18, at Camp Grisheim.  Registration fee for each retreat is $15.00 and deadline dates for registration are prior to the end of February.  Information is posted on the bulletin board in the great room.

Now if these two retreats are a little too far ‘south’ for you, please consider our own Grace and Peace Women’s Retreat which is scheduled for April 21 and 22.  This is an annual event for all women of Grace and Peace.  Those who have attended in prior years have found it very enjoyable, heartwarming, spiritual, and time spent with loving and caring women of Grace and Peace!  More information will be forthcoming but please be sure to pencil these dates on your calendar!

In conjunction with the physical, emotional, and spiritual health emphasis of the Women of the ELCA, we are completing plans for Lenten Praise Moves sessions.  Praise Moves was developed by Lynette Willis as a Christian alternative to yoga.  We are anticipating holding four or five sessions during the month of March/April (dates yet to be determined).  These sessions will consist of stretching, learning basic poses, scripture, and meditation.  We will learn the poses and postures to be done as the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm are recited.  These sessions are for women of all ages.  Each individual would only do what they feel physically comfortable with.  Sarah Armstrong has taught yoga and is willing to help us correctly learn the poses.  Please watch for more details in forthcoming Sunday bulletins.

If yoga and the accompanying meditation isn’t exactly the spiritual experience you desire for Lent, I would like to offer another suggestion.  Suzanne Tietjen is a neonatal intensive care nurse at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and has written a book titled 40 Days to Your Best Life–A Spiritual Journey to Contentment for Nurses, Honor Books, 2006.  Now you might say ‘but I’m not a nurse’.  Suzanne is from Bartonville and a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Bartonville.  Her pastor, Rev. Darby Lawrence, has indicated this book is for everyone!  The description on the back of the book states: 

Perhaps this book could be your Lenten devotional.  The Women’s Board has authorized the purchase of this book for our Grace and Peace library.  Please look for it.  Many of us at Grace and Peace know Suzanne through Via de Cristo experiences.  She sat at my table when I attended and I know her as a wonderful, caring and loving Christian woman.

Your Executive Board:

Roxanne Hochsprung, Coordinator; Nancy  Howerter, Secretary; Linda Ericsson, Treasurer; Ann Joyce, Helen Hamilton, and Ruth Grenzow, Circle Representatives

Women's Circles

Rebecca Circle

February 13, 11:30 a.m.

Meeting at Church

Miriam Circle

February 14, 7:00 p.m.

Meeting at Church

Hostess Roberta Dietrich

Ruth/Rachel Circle

February 7, 10:00 a.m.

Meeting at Church

MISCELLANEOUS

SHARE Food

February 5 & 12- Share Sign-up

February 25- Share Pick-up

February Key Person

Joyce Smith

March Cornerstone Deadline

February 19, 2006

NURTURE MEETING

Please join us on Sunday, February 12th, after church in the sanctuary, as we discuss our plans and goals for next year.  Nurture has organized many activities, some of which have included:

Our mission, as defined in the Constitiution is to:

Meet the needs of the People of Christ in this congregation by building up a sense of community, working closely with Evangelism Ministry to seek ways to encourage the inactive back to active participation, working with Evangelism Ministry to plan new member welcomes, planning and organizing fellowship and caring events, and informing and encouraging the congregation to respond to the needs of its members.

We will be looking at the calender for 2006, making sure we are accomplishing our "mission"  and deciding on plans for next year.  If you have an interest in volunteering for any of these events or would like to see a discussion of future goals, please join us!

GRACE AND PEACE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL

January 17, 2006

PRESENT:  Roberta Dietrich, Mike Murphy, Carol Luecht, Pastor Shelksohn, Paul Mueller, Dick Joyce, Kelly Smet, Sandy Peterson, Janelle Houge, Linda Ericsson and Julie Smith.  Guests: David Dietrich

President Paul Mueller called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Shelksohn led prayers and Kelly Smet shared a devotion.

Areas of Ministry and Business

community action – Nothing new to report.

endowment – Paul read the proposed change to the Endowment Bylaws to be brought before the congregation at the annual meeting.  The Council approved the proposed change.

evangelism – Nothing new to report.

finance – Dave reviewed the Finance reports – Reviewed the proposed budget figures and gave the final estimated income numbers.  David also reviewed the 2005 giving analysis and the 2006 pledge analysis charts.  The Council was also reminded of the Bequest given which was undesignated.  The guidelines for undesignated bequests of a 10% tithe which is the Council’s decision.  The remainder - ½ goes to Endowment and ½ is again the Council’s discretion.  Also brought to the Council’s attention for direction was the special gift given in 2005 of $10,000.

long range planning – The structure of this committee will be reviewed by the Executive Board.

nurture – Next meeting will be February 12th.  This ministry is in need of more members.

property – Carol reported that the substitute Custodian has been hired for 6 weeks while Dale is on vacation.

stewardship – No report.

worship and music – The proposed schedule change will be presented at the Annual Meeting.

youth – Written report was reviewed.  Gwen’s review will be held on January 19th.

christian education – Written report was reviewed.  Sue Hughes has begun an adult class.  There will be no Sunday School on January 29th.  Camilla is working with the children during the first 10-15 minutes for the children’s choir.

OLD BUSINESS

Kelly Smet will call Northminster and Jill Goldhammer to see if supervision for the kids during the Annual Meeting could be found with the possibility of returning the favor for their annual meeting.  Ballot revision – Dick and Barb Hanson are not running for Synod Representatives.  Louise Cheatham will be running for a 1-yr term and Barbara Hanson will be running for a 2-year term.

minutes – The minutes from the December 20th council meeting were approved.

women of grace and peace – Written report was reviewed.

pastor’s report – Pastor reviewed his report. 

executive council – Met and set agenda. 

Next Council Meeting will follow the Annual Meeting.  A motion was made to adjourn.  The Council closed with the Lord’s Prayer.  Devotions and Snacks for next meeting are Linda Ericsson and Richard Joyce.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Montgomery,

Recording Secretary

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