10805 Main St. Huntley, IL 60142
     

Thank You!

From the Grafton Food Pantry

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! 

We recently received a call from Harriet Ford from the Grafton Food Pantry expressing her sincere gratefulness for all SOTP’s contributions in 2023. She shared that she wished more organizations would think of them throughout the year as SOTP does with our monthly collections and quarterly food drives.

On that positive note, let’s show Grafton that we can go above and beyond in 2024!!

Be sure to watch the newsletter for our first of the month collections and the first community food drive in February!

-Community Outreach and Mission Teams

Contact: Tara Mackey   rtmackey10@yahoo.com

 

Community Food Drive

For the Grafton Food Pantry

February 24th from 9am-1pm  is the Community Outreach’s first Grafton Food Drive of 2024. 

Help us fill the shelves at the Grafton Food Pantry. Whether you choose to donate items or give monetarily, all donations are greatly appreciated.

Contact: Tara Mackey  rtmackey10@hahoocom

 

 

 

 

Helping Released Prisoners

Through Our Mission Team

PLEASE HELP NEWLY RELEASED PRISONERS REHABILITATE!

“LORD WHEN WERE YOU IN PRISON AND I VISITED YOU?”  (Mathew 25:39)

YOU & I CAN HELP PRISONERS (Thru LSSI (Lutheran Social Services of Illinois) who meet prisoners the day they are released and try to help them rehabilitate.  They need hygiene kits.

BY SUPLYING THEM WITH ANY OF THE ITEMS BELOW.

  • Shaving Cream
  • Men’s Deodorant
  • Toothpaste (minimum 6 OZ.)
  • Toothbrush
  • Shampoo & Conditioner (or all in one)
  • Soap

DROP ITEMS OFF IN THE BOX BY THE OFFICE WINDOWS  WE ARE COLLECTING AUGUST THROUGH MID SEPT.

THESE ITEMS WILL BE PLACED IN GALLON SIZED ZIP LOCK BAGS then Delivered to LSSI who then meet with the released prisoners giving them guidance etc. including the needed hygiene kits.

All are located in Illinois.

Questions? Contact Shirley Ulmer or any mission team member.

Vacation Bible School

2024

VBS will be

July 8-12, 2024

Contact: Jill Gillming at Jill@sotpmail.com

 

 

 

 

October Excitement

& Small Groups Kickoff

We have an exciting celebration awaiting us this October as we honor our Lutheran heritage with several fun and educational activities.

  • We begin our month-long celebration with an all-congregation book read of “The Book of Harmony”, written by Dr. Martin J. Lohrmann. This book is a great commentary on “The Book of Concord” which is the basis of our Lutheran Confessions. All are invited to join in this book read and books will be available through SOTP for a donation. This four-week study will kickoff our Small Group Ministry for this fall. Our 7’s Discipleship groups are encouraged to use this study, and other small groups will be formed to discuss the book and what it means to us as Lutherans. Please contact Pastor Mark, Pastor Ryan, or Donna Kelly to obtain a book.
  • Our celebrations will continue on Saturday October 5, with Pastor Bill leading Lutheranism 101. This is an excellent way to find out more about Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformation and our Lutheran Heritage.
  • On Sunday, October 13 from 3-5pm we will have the opportunity to come together and watch the most recent Luther Movie, “Luther”,  which was critically acclaimed.
  • Our Month-long celebration will culminate on Reformation weekend, Saturday and Sunday October 26 & 27. On Saturday the 26th, we are all invited to be part of the Celebration Dinner with Dr. Martin J. Lohrmann (author of our book) as our guest speaker. A great chance to get your book signed by the author!
  • The celebration dinner will be followed by a gathering at Sew Hop’d Brewery here in Huntley where we will enjoy fellowship and listen to The Guttenberg German Band.
  • Then on Sunday the 27th, Dr. Lohrmann will be preaching at both services and there will be special music including a brass quartet and the great hymns of the Lutheran Church.

Watch your email and the Friday Flourish for more information.

Donna Kelly, Director of Connection Ministries

donna@sotpmail.com

Memory Garden

Niches Available

Have you seen our Memory Garden on the West end of the Church building.

There are still 21 Niches available that will hold one or two Urns. For more information, contact the Church office, Stan Crissman, or Ralph Wehnes.                       

Contact: Ralph Wehnes at ralphwehnes@sbcglobal.net

 

 

 

A Note From

From Your Stewardship Team

Dear Partner in Ministry:

Generosity is all around us, but sometimes we have to look for it. In the feeding of the 5,000 story in the Bible, significant generosity happened once the child shared (John 6:9).  That is how it is here.  Once we begin to share, we will see God has blessed us with plenty. 

“507 – (Re)Forming our Faith, (Re)Membering Who We Are, (Re)Acting to God’s Call is the theme of our fall stewardship appeal.  This theme points us to the generosity we have witnessed around our church over the last year, but also reminds us of our rich heritage and our responsibility to continue to make Christ known.

There are always reasons to worry there might not be enough. As people of faith we plan, prepare, and trust in the abundance of God in all things.

Our grateful response in generosity helps to demonstrate to us and to the world around us God has provided us everything. We have enough, even enough to share.

In the weeks ahead, you will be hearing more about generosity and thankfulness along with celebrating our rich heritage as Lutherans. Newsletter articles, mission moments, emails and more will be used to share this story and our hopes for an even more robust ministry next year.  In Christ, we believe the best is yet to come!

In the coming weeks, please engage the materials.  Pray about how you can become more generous.  Then, on All Saint’s Weekend, November 2-3, please bring your intent card with you to declare the generosity you intend to share with this congregation.

Thanks be to God, you are part of this exciting congregation.  Pray for our common work together as we continue to reach out with the Gospel.

Sincerely in Christ,

Mike McCann

Stewardship Team Leader

Email Mike McCann: michealmccann71@gmail.com 

Thank You!

Craft Fair & Bake Sale

Our SOTP Bazaar was a success.

A special Thanks to all who helped to set up and take down our bazaar.

Another thank you to all who baked yummy treats and those who crafted wonderful items for sale.

Of course I wouldn’t forget all those who worked at the Bazaar.  Everyone is part of our success.

We earned $2003.50 and every penny has gone toward our SOTP mortgage.

THANK YOU!

 

 

February Note

From Pastor Mark

The parable in Luke 11:5-13 text immediately follows the account of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is a parable about persistence in prayer and only Luke tells this story.

Its message is that if you are going to pray to God, be bold. Audacious. Persistent.

In this parable, someone’s in need. He knocks on his neighbor’s door late at night. Of course, the neighbors don’t hear him! They’re sleeping.

Have you ever experienced someone knocking on your door or making a lot of noise late at night? How did you react? Would you get up late at night to answer the door? Is there a difference between a late-night emergency and noise with no apparent purpose?

In this parable, the knocking has a purpose. A need is being expressed. Yet the neighbor is irritated.

He gives excuses; he doesn’t want to be bothered. But eventually, he does respond. He comes to the door and gives his neighbor what he needs.

Jesus teaches that we can be audacious and bold in our prayer. Asking boldly for what you need is like knocking on your neighbor’s door late at night in search of bread to feed someone who’s hungry.

This parable also implies that the asleep neighbor is motivated to help you rather than harm you.

God wants to help us, to respond to the needs expressed in our prayers.

God isn’t going to give us poisonous snakes or scorpions instead of bread. God desires to hear our prayers and to help us.

So, when we pray, we should not doubt God’s good will and purpose, even when it’s the dead of night and our cries for help seem disregarded.

The King James translation reads: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”

“Ask, Seek, Knock.” That’s what it’s all about. Keep praying. Be bold.

Approach God as a loving parent. Though I must admit, being older as I am, I wonder if God doesn’t take out his hearing aids at night, sometimes.

I say that with the hope that God has a sense of humor. God must, God created us, right?

So, let’s keep pounding on the door and I’ll look forward to being with you in worship!

Pastor Mark

Email Pastor Mark:  pastormark@sotpmail.com

Saturday Night

Ushers Needed

Saturday night ushers needed for the 5th Saturday of the month. 
You would serve ONLY four times a year.  Wanted: two persons or a couple to fill this request.
Please join our Team.
Contact: Barb Hoppensteadt hoppen@sbcglobal.net
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CONTACT SHEPHERD OF THE PRAIRIE LUTHERAN CHURCH