MAY

PRINTS OF PEACE The Monthly Church Newsletter of

PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

802 E. DOUGLAS STREET – ST. JOSEPH, ILLINOIS – 61873-9026

217/469-7422 WWW.POPSTJOE.COM

April 2020

Serving at

Prince of Peace

Ministers:

All Members Pastor:

+ Andrew Jones High School Ministry

Leader:

+ Chase Gilliland

Church Office:

+ Lori Bensyl,

Secretary

Service Times

+ Saturday, 5:00 PM

+ Sunday, 9:00 AM

Sunday School

+ September – May

+ Class, 10:30-11:30 AM

+ Adults - Main Sanctuary

2020 Congregation

Officers:

+ Jeff Klotz,

President

+ Tim Huls,

Vice President

+ Katrina Hueber,

Secretary

+ Mark Olson, Treasurer

MISSION STATEMENT

We are a family of

believers, united to

know Christ, and to

make him known.

Dear brother and sisters of Prince of Peace, As you very surely know, we are in the middle of a very confusing, frustrating and

fear inducing time. We are prohibited from gathering in groups. We are cocooned away in our homes to avoid the Coronavirus. We don’t know how long this will last. We don’t know what is going to happen in the next weeks and months. We are worried for ourselves, our families, our nation, and our world.

But if we are honest, we need to admit that we never really know the shape of the future. We usually assume that life will continue on as it normally does, flowing from event to event with few hiccups along the way. But that idea is being challenged as our understanding of what is happening in the world seems to change hour by hour. We are being reminded that we are really not in control.

But we as followers of Jesus know who really is in control. Jesus is. Jesus is still Lord, and we are His people. He will not abandon us or leave us stranded. We will get through this, and it is my prayer that we will be stronger and lean more heavily on Jesus when all is said and done. He knows what is happening for each one of us, and He knows what the future will bring. None of what is happening is taking Him by surprise. Let’s lean into Him together as people joined in grace, knowing that we belong to Him forever.

Your church staff and many volunteers are working so that we as the people of God can remain connected, and become even more connected during this time. The church office remains open to serve you. A team is making phone calls to our eldest members. Shut-ins are being contacted. Confirmation families and small groups are continuing with devotions, sharing and support. We cannot gather in our worship spaces, but we can gather for worship through the internet, and I am glad that many of you have.

We don’t know at this point if we will be able to worship together in the sanctuary during Holy Week and Easter. I certainly hope that we can, but we cannot know at this point. The governor’s emergency declaration expires on April 7, but it might be extended past that date. If it is extended, we will continue on as we have been for as long as is needed, and then gather together once again when this current crisis is over.

Remember, you are not alone, nor are you forgotten. Lean into Jesus. He knows your every need. Continue to pray for one another. Dive into your Bibles. Take advantage of this slower time to be intentional about your relationship with Jesus. And through this time, don’t hesitate to reach out with needs or concerns. Your church is here for you.

I am praying for you all, and I am looking forward to seeing you all once again. Pastor Andy

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MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP, APRIL 9th, 7:00 P.M.

GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP, APRIL 10th, 7:00 P.M.

EASTER CARNIVAL AND EGG HUNT, APRIL 11th, 10-11:30AM

EASTER VIGIL SERVICE AT IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, FLATVILLE:

SATURDAY, APRIL 11th, AT SUNDOWN, ABOUT 7:28 P.M.

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, APRIL 12th, 7:00 A.M.

EASTER BREAKFAST, APRIL 12th, 7:30 A.M.

EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP, APRIL 12th, 9:00 A.M.

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Easter Breakfast

Easter Breakfast will be pot-luck style this year, and be held at 7:30 AM in the West Hall following the Easter Sunrise Service. Please bring the following food items if your last name begins with:

A – K : Donuts, quick breads, muffins, bagels & crème cheese, coffee cakes, pastries, etc. L – Q : Any type of fruit, fruit bowl, or juice. R – Z : Items such as Egg Casseroles, Baked Oatmeal, etc., enough to serve 12-15. Milk and Coffee will be provided, as well as table service.

EASTER CARNIVAL CANDY DONATIONS: We would appreciate donations of individually wrapped bit sized Easter candy for stuffing eggs and empty egg cartons that will hold a dozen eggs. Donations can be placed in the marked box in the narthex or you can help by making a special offering using the envelopes in the pew racks. Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR VBS

June 22-26, 2020!

Registration will begin online after

Easter.

Pops Plus will be gathering for

breakfast at Urbana Gardens on

Thursday, April 16th at 9AM. Please

sign up outside either worship space

if you plan to attend, or call Lori at

the church office. Come and enjoy

a good breakfast and fellowship!

PASTOR ANDY JONES is available for pastoral care needs. He can be reached by text or phone at 419-989-3715. PLEASE NOTE that Pastor’s day off is Monday; while emergency or urgent calls are still welcome, please refrain from other calls on Mondays! Thank you! Our church secretary, Lori Bensyl, is in the office every morning, Monday through Friday. You can reach Lori at the church office at 217-469-7422, or email her at lori.bensyl@popstjoe.com. Lori will relay phone and email messages to Pastor Andy promptly. If you leave a message on the church answering machine in the early afternoon, it may not be heard until Lori is back in the office. In case of an emergency, please call or text Lori at 217-202-2273.

Eat Pray Cards will be meeting

on Wednesday,

April 22nd only this month.

We meet at 10:00 and

enjoy a light breakfast and

cards. Come join us if you

are able.

We need ushers for both

Saturday and Sunday

services. There are sign up

sheets on the board in the

Narthex for Sunday services

and a sign up in the bulletin

basket for Saturday services.

Please consider signing up

for a month, or even splitting

the month with someone.

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From the Classroom…Yellow Duck Class, three-year-old children Yellow Ducks are enjoying being back outside! In April, we are learning that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that he will always love us. We also have been busy writing our names by ourselves. Our lessons for the month will be focused on Arctic, Easter, Weather, and Earth Day. We will continue to focus on learning our colors, letters, shapes, and numbers as well. Christ is risen! Hallelujah! Blessings, Ms. Ashley and Ms. Kristi

Happenings at the Community Early Learning Center …… April 2020

Teaching and Learning in Christ

From the Director When we give unconditional love to children, we give the most valuable gift we have. - Katherine M. Olson

Trent’s mom died. She died at home, hooked up to tubes and holding her son’s hand. His father didn’t know how to shield Trent from the pain and couldn’t deal with the scars it left, so he yelled or was silent. Trent carried a wild look in his eyes and raging loneliness in his

heart. One day when he built a block structure, I said, “Great building.” With a swift kick, he toppled the tower, shouting at me, “Go away stupid.” “Trent,” I said gently, “I’m here for you no matter what.” “Not if I call you bad names” he said.” “I don’t want you to do that, but I

will still love you.” “Not if I spit on you.” “I’ll still love you.” He made up more gruesome possibilities. I kept reassuring him. Finally, he asked, “Can I go now?” “Are you okay to play safely?” I asked. “Yeah,” he answered and tore out. A second later, he popped back. “I

believe you.” He said and darted away again.

You give children the most valuable gift when we stand by them even the toughest of times.

Ms. Amanda made the Employee Honor Roll! Ms. Amanda started with us on March 11, 2019 as a member of our Float Staff. She is so excited to have the opportunity each day to make a positive impact on children’s lives. One her favorite parts of her job is that the children are always teaching her and keeping things interesting!!

She is a very important part of Prince of Peace! Ms. Amanda’s Fun Facts: Ms. Amanda’s birthday is on February 17th. She is from Erie, Pennsylvania and currently lives in St. Joseph with her husband Tristan and their daughter Sloan. They have a dog named Reba and two cats named Salem & Oliver. Ms. Amanda’s favorite color is pink. Her favorite restaurant is Desthil, and her favorite sports team is the Steelers. Ms. Amanda loves fitness, going to the gym and any outside activities. She says she is a “book worm” and her favorite authors are Jodi Piccult and Cassandra Clare.

Be sure to tell Ms. Amanda “Thank you!” when you see her!

Ms. Jennifer N. made the Employee Honor Roll! Ms. Jennifer has been working at Prince of Peace since October 2016. Her favorite part of working here is being with all the children. She loves coming in each morning and having the children run to give her hugs. She is a very important part of Prince of Peace! Ms. Jennifer’s Fun Facts: Ms. Jennifer’s birthday is on August 12th. She is from Homer and moved back there a few years ago, when she bought a house there. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite sports team is the Dallas Cowboys. Her favorite places to eat are Olive Garden and El Toro. She and her husband Shane live in Homer with their dog Mia. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and hiking at nature parks on vacation. Jennifer enjoys having the opportunity to work at a larger center and learn from teachers who have worked in many different settings. She appreciates how generous the parents are to the staff.

Be sure to tell Ms. Jennifer “Thank you!” when you see her!

Thank you to the ELC Board of Managers, Pastor Andy, and all other church members, for your extra time and energy in

helping the Early Learning Center staff and families through this very tough time. I appreciate all considerations as there

is very much involved. I pray for everyone in the decisions making going forward and for our country in this time of crisis.

God’s Blessings,

Diane

Call the Learning Center to

inquire at 469-9200.

Thank you to Pastor Andy

and my Prince of Peace

family for your cards and

prayers during my

recooperation from knee replacement

surgery.

-Dennis Aden

Thank you to those who brought in extra

goodies for the Lenten soup suppers. We

appreciate you doing this!

Prince of Peace Community

Early Learning Center has Fall half-day Preschool

openings

Please take a moment and look through the

Prayer list and the Military list. If you have

someone on the Military list, that would

appreciate getting a card from our Ladies

Outreach Ministry, please email their

address to Lori, so she can add them to the

list.

Any other updates can be emailed to her as

well. Thank you!

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Easter Egg Hunt and Carnival is scheduled for April 11th,

from 10-11:30.

Ages: Children thru 4th Grade Please bring your baskets to collect

eggs.

Carnival with games in the East Fellowship hall, when the hunt is

over.

ATTENTION REGARDING BULLETIN PRAYER LIST Please update Pastor Andy at 419-989-3715 or Lori at lori.bensyl@popstjoe.com with any changes to the prayer list. Thank you for helping us keep the list current! Also let the office know if there have been any changes to someone you have placed on our Military List. If you would like the Ladies Outreach Ministry to regularly send cards to your serviceman/woman, just send an email to Lori with their address. Thank you!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS Sherry Bivens Dale Busboom Loretta Busboom Chuck Carmichael Norbert Franzen Henry Fruhling Abby Immke Bill Rohl Colleen Shields

Cory Abernathy; friend of POP Sharon Armstrong; friend of Micki Suits Sandy Beckman; aunt of Greg Mills Dalton Brownfield; son of Lee Jannusch Dorie Cannela; family friend of Larry and Lyn DeWeese Jerry Cencula; uncle of Nichole Jones Amy Cook; friend of Mike and Michelle Trame Bill Duncan; friend of Randy and Melissa Idleman John Garlock; father in law of Ryan Wakefield Gloria Gehrt; sister of Alan Woods Brittany Harlan; friend of POP Patrick Hayes Jackie Hollowell; family member of Donna Guzy Tim “Lurch” Jesse; friend of POP members Laurel; daughter in law of Pastor Donna

THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY: Drew Arteaga Friend of POP members – Stationed in Afghanistan Kambry Orcutt Friends of Ryley Smith and Smith family – Stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA Kendal Coffey Friend of Steve and Rhonda Littlefield – Stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Matthew Collins Friend of Dale and June Kopmann – Stationed in Fort Campbell, KY Amy Crane Grand-daughter of Nettie Henry – Stationed at Crane Naval Base, Indiana Don Cribbett Nephew of Connie Bensyl & Donna Weaver – Stationed at Fort Campbell, KY Lane DeMay Great nephew of Larry and Mernice Wakefield – Stationed at Fort Hood, TX Tyler Foster Friend of Steve and Leslie Froeschl – Stationed at Cannon AFB, NM Matthew Giertz Brother of Tonya Dunn – Stationed at Charleston, WV Tyler Haake Stationed at Ali Al Salem AFB in Kuwait Zac Heath Nephew of Cory and Jessica Worley -- Deployment to Afghanistan Chris Meece Uncle of Katelynn Masengale – Stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas Jose Orozco Nephew of Miguel Lucio – In training for the Marine Corp Rowdy Randall Friend of Jared Hill and Terry Hill – Stationed at Camp LEJUENE, NC Michael Scott Friend of Swinford family – Stationed at AFB in Minot, ND Dyllan Trautmann Grandson of Gerald and Darlene Sappenfield – Stationed at AFB in Eglin, Florida Forrest Volz Friend of Pastor Andy and Joy – Marines, Stationed in California

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Karen Lee; cousin of Becky Mills Sally Lee; cousin of Becky Mills Scott Lindberg; former parishioner of Pastor Donna Ann Ludwig; friend of Deb Melchior Rita Mathis; friend/neighbor of Gerry Windler Leah McDowell; cousin of Terri Modd & Mary Rolfe Mark Murphy; cousin of Micki Suits Heidi Ostrowski; niece of Norris Schlueter Mildred Rincker; mother of Sharan Carmichael Glenn and Shirley Rothermel; parents of Susan Allen David & Nina Schnizlein; friends of Donna Guzy Victoria Shafer; friend of Lowell and Micki Suits George Strabel; friend of Terri Modd Margie Wiese; great aunt of Katelynn Masengale Steve Worley; father of Cory Worley Betty Young; sister of Bev Goldenstein