December Note

From Pastor Ryan

SOTP: We not only know how to worship together, we know how to play together too!

You’ve likely heard by now that Wednesday Night Dinners are back at Shepherd of the Prairie! As of the writing of this, we have had our first dinner and we are off to a great start! More than 40-45 people of all ages came together around tables with salad and pasta. We had fantastic conversation, laughter, and excitement. The dinners run from 5:45-6:45pm. To support the ministry and help the volunteers who are preparing the food, we are asking for a suggested donation of $4 per person.

Kids Connect Rebuild!

For some time now, our Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Team has been working to address the struggles we have had in recruiting and keeping volunteers for our Kids Connect program. We planned to designate our entire October Ministry Night meeting to develop a plan to remedy our struggles. I introduced the team to a diagnostic tool that helps leaders identify when there is a not-so-obvious, underlying challenge.

To make a long story short, after we used the tool to discuss our concern over lack of volunteers, we began to realize that it was more than the volunteerism that we needed to address. We discerned that our Kids Connect program needs a complete overhaul. For one example, our program is currently driven by the curriculum we’ve been using, but we have received some feedback that curriculum is not meeting the needs of our volunteer leaders and is really geared toward a program much bigger than ours with more resources.

The rebuilding process will officially begin on December 8 at 10:15am. In between worship services on that Sunday, we invite anyone and everyone from SOTP who has any ideas, dreams, desires, or general feedback related to our children’s faith formation program to join us for a roundtable discussion in the Fellowship Hall. Jill, the team, and I have been working hard to develop some questions to guide our conversation and we also plan to distribute some surveys. We want to find out what our families need and want when it comes to forming the faith of the children of SOTP.

I am also diligently working on developing a document that outlines the foundational purposes, values, and goals as they relate to the faith and spiritual formation of our programs. From that foundation we will create a whole new program, seek out a curriculum or curricula that work for us, and work out the technical details that will make our program as effective as possible.

Your feedback is very important to this process. Please plan to attend the roundtable. If your schedule won’t allow it, please reach out to me to receive a copy of the survey we will be distributing. We would like as many responses as possible. This process will have a major effect on the future of children’s programming at SOTP and we want to make sure we have the needs and wishes of our families at the forefront of any decisions we make.

Thank you for the incredible ways you serve our amazing faith community! I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year’s celebration!

May the peace of the Lord be with you always,

Pastor Ryan

Email Pastor Ryan:  pastorryan@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

Our Bishop

I turned 21 in Arusha, Tanzania. I had been selected to be one of the team that represented the Northern Illinois Synod on our initial visit to our companions in (at that time) the Arusha Diocese. It was an eye-opening, mind and heart expanding journey, taken between my college graduation and my first year of seminary.

That relationship, now with the North Central Diocese (NCD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), has continued and had ebbs and flows over the last 33 years (yes, yes, do the math). Post-covid, we are looking to once again deepen that relationship and build up our congregational and synod relationships.

Every synod in the ELCA has at least one companion. These relationships are rooted in “accompaniment,” which promotes the values of mutuality, inclusivity, vulnerability, empowerment, and sustainability. Through the program, companion churches and ELCA synods nurture and strengthen one another for life and ministry through prayer, study, communication, exchange of visitors, and sharing of resources.

Outside of our companion relationship with the North Central Diocese in Tanzania, we also have a relationship with Arcot Lutheran Church in India. This past August, along with Vice President Minnette Willard, I traveled for the consecration of Bishop Peter Paul Thomas. It was a trip that focused on building relationships, of showing up to celebrate with Bishop Peter Paul Thomas and the Arcot Lutheran Church.

As we live out being the body of Christ, it is important to show up for the important things, the celebrations and the painful things. To support one another and be reminded of the love that fills us as children of God.

It’s the same reason why our Northern Illinois synod staff are so eager to worship with your congregations on a regular basis. It is why I go to as many congregations as I can. We are in this journey together, following God-made-flesh in Jesus and living that same embodied faith for and with each other.

God’s work. Our hands.

On September 8th, congregations around the Northern Illinois Synod participated in “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

Many churches packed school kits for Lutheran World Relief, like First Lutheran Church in DeKalb who packed 652 kits after worship. First had spent the previous months collecting supplies, sorting them, and recruiting many hands to make the packing happen as quick as possible.

For Grace Lutheran Church in Wilmington, “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday was more than just a day of service but rather created new connections in their community. A planning team led the congregation in gathering items for gift bags for the local nursing home. On a Sunday morning, their members created an assembly line for filling the bags, which included hygiene items, snacks, a Bible verse card, and a personal card with the church’s information. A root beer float station was set up at the nursing home. Nursing home residents enjoyed their treat bags and root beer floats. In the month prior, members of Grace joined with members of United in Gardner to work the Food Share fest held at the Wilmington High School. Congregation members from both churches helped load food into cars for over 300 families on a hot summer day. Members at Grace are excited about connections they can make with other churches and outreach provided to their community.

As we open God’s story, as we live as the body of Christ, we know we are called out in love to serve our neighbor. Do you have a story to share of how God is at work in your community? Send them to niscommunications@nisynod.org

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

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

Thank You!

From a hospital stay, surgery and cast, I was at Alden’s, for seven weeks.  I am home and will continue with P.T and C.T. at home.  I have so many people to thank for cards, gifts, flowers, and prayers.   

Thank you for the visits, bringing me communion,  making that great vegetable soup and other goodies.

To all who came to visit me at Alden’s, thank you.  To all my Saturday night ushers and communion stewards, thank you so much for helping Ed Cuttle put the schedules together, thank you.

It has been a rough road but with prayers, I will get through this.

I am unable to drive yet, but one day I will see you at church.

Blessings and thanks to all.

Contact: Barb Hoppensteadt         hoppen@sbcglobal.net

Special Request

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: 

1. the donor’s name, and
2. 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  

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.

The Artist Series Presents

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

Community Outreach

Thank You

The Community Outreach team would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all that:

• Helped at the booth during the Business Expo

and

• Donated desserts and pet supplies to the Animal House Shelter luncheon

We appreciate the time you took out of your day to help support our ministries.

Contact: Tara Mackey  rtmackey10@yahoo.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!

A Guide to Pre-Planning Your Funeral Service

Shepherd of the Prairie has a document that is helpful to have filled out for your loved ones as they plan your funeral.

This funeral planning guide is available online at www.bit.ly/SOTPplan or as a hard copy in the church office.

Saturday Night

Ushers Needed

Saturday night ushers needed for the 5th Saturday of the month.