From the Congregational Treasurer
As monetary donations are given to Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, it is important that our counters and contributions secretary are informed of the following: 
- the donor’s name, and
- the breakdown of the amount of the donation or the per cent of the donation that should be credited to the General Fund, the Mortgage Service Fund or any other fund.
- For those donors who are using the pre-printed envelopes provided by SOTP, the blanks on the envelopes need to be filled out so that the donation is credited to the proper account.
- For those donors who are submitting donations by check but without an envelope, please make sure that the donor’s name is on the check and the breakdown of the donation is indicated on the “memo” line of the check.
Over time, we have experienced some problems with being able to credit members’ accounts when checks are received directly from banks or other financial institutions without any identifying information about the donor. Many of these donations are qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from retirement accounts.
To help alleviate this situation, I ask that each member who has a financial institution directly submitting checks to SOTP to please notify that institution that your name needs to be provided either on or along with your check. This will be very helpful in making sure that your donation gets properly credited to your account.
Thank you for your assistance in helping address this matter and thank you for your continued support of SOTP.
Blessings to you all.
George Attaway, Treasurer
Contact: George Attaway galaonthelake@yahoo.com
Barber Shop Chorus
The New Tradition ] Chorus is an award-winning a cappella chorus singing in the TTBB range with members from Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. 
Chartered in 1982, this Illinois District chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society has a long-standing reputation for delighting audiences through exciting harmonies and memorable performances of songs spanning decades and genres. The chorus rehearses in Glenview, IL
Visit the church website at www.bit.ly/SOTPARTIST for further information on the Artist Series or email at artistseries@sotpmail.com
Video Tutorials
Come along on a journey to learn sign language and make it a part of your devotional life. 
Beginning in November the Daily Devotions will include videos imbedded to help those wishing to learn sign language.
Thanks to Annette Kandell and Dennis Houghton for their hard work on the production of these videos. The use of sign language has be shown to increase cognitive learning, supports literacy skills, promotes empathy and inclusion and builds confidence in expression. Come along on the journey of learning and when comfortable feel free to use your new found skills in worship!
Matthew 26: 36 Jesus said to His Disciples: Sit Here in the Garden with Me, while I go and pray. 
Dear Friends in Christ: Jesus is also calling to each one of us. He is offering us an invitation to sit with Him and pray. One Sunday morning this past fall, I was listening to one of Pastor Mark’s powerful sermons that ended with a call to action. As I listened, an inner vision began to present itself. It was the idea of a room somewhere in the church, that would be set aside, apart from the sanctuary, that could provide a space for quiet reflection. A place to sit, listen, pray and just “BE” with Jesus.
Soon after that Sunday, I made an appointment to share this idea with Pastor Mark. During our conversation he affirmed, that he too, has envisioned a room used for this purpose for sometime. Pastor Mark suggested that the current Library would be the perfect room that could be used, and that the name could be changed from the Library to The Garden Room based on the scripture from Matthew 26:36.
It is the hope and prayer for the New Year of 2026, that the Garden room will provide a place where all may go to, for solace, peace and quiet reflection. A place where we may seek rest, renewal and rejuvenation. And most importantly, a place to sit and BE with Jesus, to be still and feel the great love and care Jesus has for each one of us.
The Garden Room will open beginning on the first Sunday in Lent, It will be available for your use from 8 -12:30 on Sunday mornings. There will be resources laid out to guide you in prayer and reflection which can be used at your discretion.
There will also be a prayer box available for you to put prayer requests into. These requests will be prayed for each day of that week.
Please come to the Garden Room to pray, sit, and know that there is a friend named Jesus who wants to “walk with you and talk with you, and to tell you that you are His own, and the joy that you share as you tarry there, none other has ever know.” – Lyrics from In the Garden: By C. Austin Miles
Deacon Judy Rooney
For Thrivent Members
Matt & John Drafall will be at church on Saturday March 9th and Sunday March 10th to assist you with directing any Choice Dollars you may have accrued. 
They need to be directed by March 31st, or the money will be lost.
In the past 10 years, Thrivent Financial has sent SOTP an average between $5,000.00 & $6,000.00 each year.
Contact: Ralph Wehnes ralphwehnes@sbcglobal.net
In the Sanctuary
Ask your hearing care professional how. Some hearing aids are set up where they might have an app on your cellphone that says “telecoil mode”, and you’ll activate that. 
You might have the ability to adjust the volume up and turn down for the microphone level. But again, talk to your hearing care professional, they should be able to show you all those options, and then play around with it, when you’re in church.
We also have two headsets to use while you are in the sanctuary. These are in our Welcome Center desk if you don’t have a compatible hearing aid.
Contact: your hearing aid professional
Start the New Year with Us
Would you like to begin the new year in a meaningful way? Come join us in a time of meditation and prayer. 
Release & Renew, a self-guided practice of meditation, practice and prayer, will take place in our Fellowship Hall in an open house format between 7am and 8pm
on Tuesday, January 6th. For more information contact: Donna Kelly through the church office 847-669-9448.
Contact: Donna Kelly at donna@sotpmail.com
February 2026 Update
We are off and running with year three of our NexTrex plastic collection. With our window opening in January, we are already at 348 pounds!!!! Since we have been doing this for so long, the number of unacceptable items that show up in our plastic collections have increased. I’d like to take some time to clarify what types of plastics are appropriate:
If the plastic has either of these, DO NOT BRING IN.
NO plastic containers of any kind – see below
I have some wonderful volunteers that help to weigh, document, and drop off the large collection bags each week. Please help them out by doing your part and bringing the appropriate items. The Outreach team is still trying to find a place to donate this next
bench. If you have any ideas of establishments needing a bench or would be interested in helping out with the plastic collection, please reach out to Tara.
2025
