P E T E R S TOWN T E C

THE SHINING SON

SPEC I A L PO INT S

OF INTEREST-

DEACON V INCE

LEAD ME LORD

LE S GRANT

MEMOR IAL

MAS S FOR

LE S GRANT

TEC ENCOUNTER

2016

THANK YOU

NEW TEC I T E S

THANK YOU

IMPORTANT DATES

PRAYER REQUEST

By: Deacon Vince Slomian

Dear Friends in Christ, "I have called you friends, because I have made known to you every-thing that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I choose you." --John 15:15-16 WOW! ! ! What a wonderful TEC season. On a couple occasions we almost "filled the house". It's so wonderful that so many young people were able to encounter Christ on a weekend. Many thanks to all the team members, Wheaties and those working be-hind the scene to make the weekends run so smoothly. At most of the "follow-up" meetings after a TEC weekend, the new can-didates are asked a number of questions about the weekend. One of the questions is: "What did you enjoy most about the weekend?" The one answer that most everyone gives is: "Making so many new and good friends." Our life would not seem complete without friends. We should cherish the love and the companionship of our friends. We need to be grateful for their support and encouragement they give us when we need a "lift". This is the kind of friend we should be. We should ask God to guide our words and actions so we can be loving and kind. We should pray that God will work through us to bring blessings of friendships to others. I believe that "friends" are an expression of God's love and I am cer-tainly grateful for all the friends I've made through the TEC program and I will be ever grateful for the opportunity that I can give God's love back to others by being a friend to them. Thank you God for friends, and for every opportunity to be a friend. In Christ's Love, Deacon Vince "Keep Coming Back"

A P R I L 2 0 1 6

SHINING SON

P A G E 2

Lead Me Lord!

T H E S H I N I N G S O N

By: Robin Santman, Lay Director You may think that our TEC season is over for this school year but in fact it is just the beginning or continuation of sharing, caring, and passing along Christ’s love to others! We meet new friends or see a few older friends on TEC weekends. Why don’t you give them a call and see how they are doing? Meet up with them and share a few moments face to face. Maybe you have other friends that haven’t made a TEC weekend yet? Perhaps you could invite them over the summer to make a TEC next season. You are able to upload an appli-cation from the Peterstown website if you don’t have one with you. Other ways you may consider passing along Christ’s love this summer is vol-unteering in your community. Summer recreation programs, the local food pantry, nursing homes, and even some libraries may need extra help. Perhaps your church or parish has a youth group that is planning to take a mission trip you could give some of your time to? Go on that trip! It may open your eyes to a whole new passion of helping others and you may have some fun doing it too! Some teens need “service hours” for graduation and can’t wait until they are completed. Maybe a new way of thinking about them would be, “How can I show love to strangers that are in need?” This past weekend my husband and I attended a TEC workshop in Moline along with members from Northwest TEC, Peoria TEC, and four members from TEC Conference. At one point during a discussion Deacon Aaron Hoste from Northwest TEC made a comment that spoke to all of us Christians. “We go to mass or church one hour a day or one hour a week, that is like downtime or time off. We need to be Christian all the rest of the day or week.” Go out and apply all of that love Christ has for us and pass it along to others. Go let your LIGHT SHINE! Lead us Lord!

Lead Me Lord!

T H E S H I N I N G S O N P A G E 3

New TECITES

Welcome New TECites of TEC #196

Benjamin Bokus, Cameron Colby, Jordan Elnicki, Austin Kiest, Nathan Kinsella, Joe La Shonse, Cameron Phalen, Jacob Quiram, and Ryan Sedlock.

Welcome New TECites of TEC # 197 Katy Anderson, Jeanna Arges, Macy Arrendondo, Olivia Barrett, Mary Biers, Madison Boelk, Madison Brown, Michaela Crowe, Lizbehte Arellano Garcia, Alisa Holmbeck, Grace Honiotes, Lauryn Kelly, Janie Klieber, Destiny Kwiatek, Brianna Legner, Daniela McConville, Kathryn McNally, Emily Meine, Madison Menzel, Angeline Needs, Allison Nona, Isabel Pozzi, Sidney

MASS FOR PAK

As most of you know, Peterstown TEC lost a long time TECite and former Lay Director, David J. Pakula (PAK) this past fall. Peterstown TEC has requested a Mass be observed for him on Sunday, Feb. 7th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul Church, Peterstown and all TECites are welcome to attend. Please continue to remember Pak in your prayers.

Thanks for Extra “Wheat" Thank you to Megan Santman and the women of TEC # 195 for coming to clean the TEC Center after TEC # 196 on Monday of the past Boys’ weekend in November. We were finished in an hour because of the TECites that stopped back to help! Also, thank you to Andy Wujek and the Men of TEC # 196 for coming back and helping with clean up on Monday after TEC # 197! All the extra "wheat" doesn't take very long if we get plenty of TECites willing to give an hour of time!

THANK YOU!!!

TEC is going GREEN. We are asking for your assistance with this transition by keeping TEC updated with contact information, especially e-mails. New TECites receiving the newsletter in the mail will need to notify TEC if they want to remain on the mailing list. Otherwise it will be assumed that they now have the capability to look up the newsletter electronically. Money saved in postage will be used elsewhere .for the "good of the TEC Program".

Carlene (Cog) Grant presented Peterstown TEC with a memorial to honor her late husband Les Grant who passed away this past December. Les as well as Cog along with their family have been involved in the Peterstown TEC program for more than a couple decades. Les was well known for leading TECites in a “rousing” song of I am a “C”, usually during mealtime on a TEC weekend. The memorial is a hand drawn picture of Christ along with a smaller picture of Les and the lyrics to “I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N.” Peterstown TEC hopes to have this memorial to Les hung near the kitchen area at Peterstown awaiting permission from St. Peter and Paul Parish. When we see this picture it will remind us all that we are C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N-s and we can show Christ’s love by serving others. Many thanks to you, Cog, and your entire family!

S H I N I N G S O N P A G E 4

TEC ENCOUNTER 2016

As most of you know, Peterstown TEC lost a long time and very ac-tive TECite when Les Grant passed away last December. Peterstown TEC requested a mass be offered for Les on Sunday August 7th, 2016 at STS. Peter and Paul Church, Peterstown at 9:00 a.m. All TECites are welcome to attend. Please continue to remember Les and his family in your prayers.

TEC Encounter 2016- Will be held JULY 29-31st at the University of Quincy campus in Quincy, Illinois. For more information click onto “TEC Links” on the Peterstown TEC web page. Then click onto “TEC Conference” and you will see TEC ENCOUNTER 2016 where you will be able to register online. You must be 18 to attend. It would be nice to have a group attend from Peterstown TEC since it is only about 4 hours from here. (Next year it will be in Cleveland, Ohio) Let me know if you plan to attend and need a ride. (815-780-8402) Robin Santman will to get a carpool together. A group of 7 TECites attended last year’s 50th Anniversary of TEC held in Belleville, Illinois. It is fun, spiritual, and a great way to meet fellow TECites from over 50 dioceses in the United States and several countries where the TEC move-ment reaches.

THANK YOU

The Kitchen Crew would like to thank everyone who donated their time, tal-ent and/or food for the 2015-16 TEC season. We especially want to thank Heartland Meats, Sullivan's Foods, Spring Valley Supermarket, and Mendota Knights of Columbus for their generosity throughout the year. It would be impossible to have such a successful program without the generosity and support we receive from this wonderful Illinois Valley community. We are always looking for desserts for Sunday night, night time snacks, cookies and sweets, and of course, kitchen help. Please contact me at 815.866.6889 or rossranch92@gmail.com if you are wanting to help in any way. God Bless and see you in September!

MASS FOR LES GRANT

S H I N I N G S O N P A G E 5 P A G E 5

NEW TECITES WELCOME to the TEC family new TECITES from Girls TEC #199 which was held April 2nd- 4th at Peterstown TEC Center. Connie Arteaga, Anna Aughenbach, Marie Barnickel, Lauren Bernardoni, Alyssa Brooke, Jaclyn Cain, Cassandra Copeland, Emma Cyr, Meghan Duffin, Cierra Espinoza, Dariyn Fergus, Maria Guz-man, Marissa Hettel, Bailey Kromm, Rachel Maggio, Sadey Maly, Hannah Miskell, Mary Morse, El-lise Piper, Emily Sampo, Mallary Setchell, Victoria Smoode, and Baylee Tillman.

WELCOME to the TEC family new TECITES from Girls TEC #199 which was held April 2nd- 4th at Peterstown TEC Center. Connie Arteaga, Anna Aughenbach, Marie Barnickel, Lauren Bernar-doni, Alyssa Brooke, Jaclyn Cain, Cassandra Copeland, Emma Cyr, Meghan Duffin, Cierra Espinoza, Dariyn Fergus, Maria Guzman, Marissa Hettel, Bailey Kromm, Rachel Maggio, Sadey Maly, Hannah Miskell, Mary Morse, Ellise Piper, Emily Sampo, Mallary Setchell, Victoria Smoode, and Baylee Tillman.

WELCOME NEW TECITES

P A G E 6 S H I N I N G S O N

THANK YOU

Thank you to Michael Vaessen and the men of TEC #198 for coming back to Peterstown and helping with clean up on the Monday after TEC #199! We were all finished within an hour because of the dedicated workers we had to do that extra “WHEAT!” It really doesn’t take very long if we have enough TECites to stop back and help!

IMPORTANT DATES-

CLIP AND SAVE

May 4th- TEC Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. Gym at Peterstown- Final Council meeting and potluck of TEC 2015- July 10th- Peterstown TEC 40th Anniversary at Mendota Civic Center Jason Kotecki will be the main speaker. July 29th-31 TEC ENCOUNTER at Quincy University Center in Quincy, Illinois, 5:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER- Girls TEC #200 at Peterstown late Sept. /early Oct. - Start keeping them in your prayers!

Please make sure to mark your calendar so that you don’t miss out on all the fun we have at the TEC Hilton, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

T H E S H I N I N G S O N

The International TEC Program, which began in Michigan in 1965, celebrated 50 years of spreading the GOOD NEWS this past summer in 2015. We were blessed with the local Peterstown TEC Center being established in 1976 and have reached a milestone of “Jesus Counting on Us” for 40 years in 2016. This calls for cele-bration!!!! Our committee is being formed and would appreciate any volunteers willing to lend a hand in the planning process, whether it be in the next couple of months or the day of the event. “Many hands make light work” so contact Robin Santman, Lay Director, at 815-780-8402, or Brenda Barnickel, Reboost Chairman, at 815-538-2091 soon to share your interest and see how you can do WHEAT for the special day! Doors will open at 1 pm at the Mendota Civic Center on Sunday, July 10th with fel-lowship and seating. At 1:30 pm we will have opening introductions, prayer and comments, followed by a program presentation by our guest speaker, Jason Ko-tecki, from 2 to 3 pm. This will be followed by more fellowship, snacks and pic-tures, closing the afternoon around 4 pm. This is a “family” event! Children are certainly welcome! A children’s corner will be provided with activities

Jason and Kim (Halm) Kotecki are Peterstown TECites, best friends, husband and wife, parents of three kids, entrepreneurs, authors, retro t-shirt wearers, and partners in crime on a crusade to annihilate Adultitis in ourselves and the world! Kim is a former kindergarten teacher and Jason is an artist and professional speaker. Jason will speak on the subject of Everyday Faith: Living and Loving With Less Stress and More Fun. Left unchecked, Adultitis can keep us from “Letting it Shine!” In a light-hearted but hard-hitting program, Jason will arm you with the fresh perspective needed to reclaim your light Check out www.escapeadulthood.com Kim & Jason by Jason Kotecki www.KimandJason.com

Peterstown TEC Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The International TEC Program, which began in Michigan in 1965, cele-brated 50 years of spreading the GOOD NEWS this past summer in 2015. We were blessed with the local Peterstown TEC Center being established in 1976 and have reached a milestone of “Jesus Counting on Us” for 40 years in 2016. This calls for cel-ebration!!!! Our committee is being formed and would appreciate any volunteers willing to lend a hand in the planning process, whether it be in the next couple of months or the day of the event. “Many hands make light work” so contact Robin Santman, Lay Director, at 815-780-8402, or Brenda Barnickel, Reboost Chairman, at 815-538-2091 soon to share your interest and see how you can do WHEAT for the special day! Doors will open at 1 pm at the Mendota Civic Center on Sunday, July 10th with fellow-ship and seating. At 1:30 pm we will have opening introductions, prayer and comments, followed by a program presentation by our guest speaker, Jason Kotecki, from 2 to 3 pm. This will be followed by more fellowship, snacks and pictures, closing the afternoon around 4 pm. This is a “family” event! Children are certainly welcome! A children’s cor-ner will be provided with activities

Jason and Kim (Halm) Kotecki are Peterstown TECites, best friends, husband and wife, parents of three kids, entrepreneurs, authors, retro t-shirt wearers, and partners in crime on a crusade to annihi-late Adultitis in ourselves and the world! Kim is a for-mer kindergarten teacher and Jason is an artist and professional speaker. Jason will speak on the subject of Everyday Faith: Living and Loving With Less Stress and More Fun. Left unchecked, Adultitis can keep us from “Letting it Shine!” In a light-hearted but hard-hitting program, Jason will arm you with the fresh perspective needed to reclaim your light.

Check out www.escapeadulthood.com

PETERSTOWN TEC CELEBRATE

Kim & Jason by Jason Kotecki www.KimandJason.com

P A G E 7

Girls TEC #200 at Peterstown late Sept. /early Oct. - Start keeping them in your prayers! Pray for all TECites and their families who are suffering from illness, loss of jobs, and other stressors of life. God grace them with his heal-ing touch and give their caregivers strength and faith. Remember all prayer requests may also be submitted on the Peterstown TEC website at https://www.peterstowntec.com.PRAYER REQUESTS.

KEEP PRAYING: CHRIST IS COUNTING ON YOU

Peterstown TEC Program 1307 Henry St. Peru, Il 61354

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRAYER REQUEST