NL_072116

20 | July 21, 2016 | The New Lenox Patriot faith
newlenoxpatriot.com
Poetry corner
Caterpillar’s Trust
Little caterpillar in the road
Don’t you see that hungry
toad?
He could eat you, should he
dare
His tongue zap you, and he
not care.
“I’m not worried” said
caterpillar
I am joyful, I’m not bitter
God watches over me, you
see
If it’s my time, I’m worry
free.”
But that toad, that huge toad
Watches you from the road
And he is fast, so very fast
You couldn’t run and not
last.
“Concern for one you do not
know
Certainly makes our friendship
grow
God protects me, in Him I
trust
May He protect the both of
us”.
How do you do it?, I said to
him
Your destiny looks quite
grim
How do you trust and believe
In someone you really can’t
see?
“It’s so easy” he said to me
The gospel sent me to my
knees
Trust in Jesus who died for
my sins
Believe in heart and faith
begins.
Look at that, oh me, oh my
That frog just zapped a juicy
fly
God is good, His gospel key
To live or die in Him is
peace.
Julie Sanders
To submit your poetry to The New
Lenox Patriot, email Meredith at
meredith@newlenoxpatriot.com.
FAITH BRIEFS
Peace Lutheran Church (1900 E. Lincoln Highway,
New Lenox)
Vacation Bible School
9:30 a.m.-noon, Aug. 2-5. The
theme of this summer’s VBS will
be “Over & Under the Sea - God
Is Our Anchor.” Attendees enjoy
crafts, games, food and fun each
day. Children ages 4 through fifth
grade may participate. Registration
forms are available on the table in
the narthex. For more information,
call (815) 469-2868.
A Man in Recovery
7-8:30 p.m. Every Tuesday. This
recovery group is for those who are
struggling with addiction or those
who love someone struggling.
For more information, call Tom at
(815) 354-3195.
Bible Study
10 a.m. Every Wednesday. For
more information, call (815) 485-
5327.
St. Jude Church (241 W. Second Ave., New Lenox)
Called To Holiness
In Memoriam
Karl Jay Kurtz
Karl Jay Kurtz, 73, of New
Lenox, died July 11. He is survived
by wife Marilyn Kurtz (nee
Badovinac); son Tom (Michele)
Vana; former daughter-in-law
Meaghan (Mike) Cahill-Dziedzic;
grandchildren Amy (Mitchell
Cunningham) Vana, Matthew (Julia
Zingaila) Vana and Liam Cahill-
Kurtz; brother Fred “Bud” (Peggy)
Kurtz; niece Kim (Dan) Ginder;
nephew Kevin (Tina) Kurtz; great
nieces and nephews Bryce and
Brenna Ginder, and Ethan, Brody
and Kylee Kurtz; and loving
caregivers and best buddy Godfred
“Kofi” Yeboah, his wife Jeanette
and children Marilyn, Kurtz and
Dean Yeboah. He was founder and
owner of Kurtz Memorial Chapels,
Kurtz Ambulance Service and
Goodale Memorial Chapel, proudly
and compassionately serving the
local area for 40 years. He was
a graduate of Joliet Township
High School and Worsham
College of Mortuary Science,
and an intermediate certified
emergency medical technician.
He was a member of Ridgewood
7-8:30 p.m. every first Monday
of the month. This is a young adult
faith-sharing group for Catholics
in their 20s or 30s in the Chicago
Southland area. Its purpose is to
grow attendees in faith through
scripture, discussion and prayer.
For directions to the meeting location
and more information, contact
Jennifer at calledtoholinessgroup@
gmail.com.
Alcoholics Anonymous
7:30 p.m. Fridays. For more information,
call (815) 462-0202.
Central Presbyterian Church (1101 S. Gougar Road,
New Lenox)
Worship Service
10:30 a.m. every Sunday. For
more information, call (815) 485-
5152.
Adult Bible Study
Mondays at 7 p.m.
United Methodist Church (339 W. Haven Ave. New
Lenox)
Baptist Church, the Illinois State
Ambulance Association, the Illinois
Funeral Directors Association,
the National Funeral Directors
Association, Will/Grundy EMS
and Matteson Masonic Lodge No.
175, and a past member of the
East Joliet Fire Department. He
was a former Will County deputy
coroner and former New Lenox
Village trustee and patrolman for
Knight Security, former member
of the New Lenox Chamber
of Commerce and New Lenox
Rotary Club. He was recipient of
New Lenox Citizen of the Year in
2009, a local area volunteer and
philanthropist, supporting many
civic and charitable organizations,
and a die-hard Cubs fan. Family
received friends at Kurtz Memorial
Chapel. Interment Good Shepherd
Cemetery in Orland Park.
Please omit flowers. Memorial
contributions in Karl’s name
to Ridgewood Baptist Church,
1968 Hillcrest Road in Joliet, or
Parkinson Research Foundation,
5969 Cattleridge Blvd., Suite 100
in Sarasota, Florida 34232, would
be appreciated.
Kids & Company Preschool
The preschool is currently accepting
registration for the 2016-
2017 year until classes are filled.
Classes are for ages 2 1/2-4 years
old. For more information, call
(815) 485-9504.
Chapel Bible Study
7 p.m. Every Monday.
Wildside
7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Children
from grades 7-12 will hang out,
play games and discuss relevant
items. For more information, call
(815) 485-8271.
Grace Episcopal Church (209 N. Pine St., New
Lenox)
Sunday Services
8 a.m. Rite II. 9 a.m. Christian
Formation for all ages. 10 a.m. Rite
II with music. For more information,
call (815) 485-6596.
New Life Church (500 Gougar Road, New Lenox)
Worship Services
Joseph J. Stepanek
Joseph J. Stepanek, 82, of New
Lenox, formerly of Chicago, died
June 30. He is survived by wife
Gail (nee Economu) Stepanek;
children Gregory (Kimberly) and
Steven Stepanek; grandchildren
Brian, Kevin and Sarah Stepanek;
and many nieces and nephews.
He was a teacher and football
coach at Morgan Park High
School. Family received friends
at St. Jude Catholic Church
Memorial donations to Joliet Area
Community Hospice, De La Salle
High School or the Salvation
Army would be appreciated.
Kathleen E. Vellenga
Kathleen E. Vellenga, 67, of
New Lenox, died July 11. She
is survived by children Dan
Rogers and Lisa Vellenga; sister
Nancy (John) Benoit; and aunt
June Sliter. She was employed
as a paraprofessional with New
Lenox School District 122.
Family received friends at St.
Jude Church. In lieu of flowers,
donations to United Way of Will
County would be appreciated.
5 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m. and 11
a.m. Sundays. For more information,
call (815) 462-0202.
Missio Dei Church (123 Wood St., New Lenox)
Elder-led Prayer
7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of every
month, 123 W. Wood St., New
Lenox. For more information, visit
www.mdchurch.us.
Date With Our Beloved
7-8:30 p.m. every first Friday of
every month, Kati Konkol’s house.
This will be a time of silent prayer
and meditation on the Lord as well
as group prayer and short devotions.
All women are welcome. For
directions and more information,
visit www.mdchurch.us.
Have something for Faith Briefs? Contact
Assistant Editor James Sanchez at
j.sanchez@22ndcenturymedia.com or
call (708) 326-9170 ext. 48. Information
is due by noon on Thursdays one
week prior to publication.
William White
William “Bill” E. White Jr., 70,
of New Lenox, died July 3. He is
survived by wife Linda White (nee
Thurm); children Dawn (Larry)
Hull, Denise (Chris) Ebner and
Diane (Dan) Franke; grandchildren
Emily Hull, Kennedy Ebner,
Kyle Ebner, Delaney Franke and
Logan Franke; step-grandchildren
Nick Hull and Christi Hull; sister
Sharon Smith-Downs; uncle Russ
Hossbach; numerous nieces and
nephews; and his beloved pet
Marney. He was a member of
Trinity Lutheran Church in New
Lenox and a volunteer fireman
for New Lenox for 18 years. He
retired from ComEd after 30 years
of service and also served as the
vice president of the Lincoln-Way
Athletic Boosters Club for five
years. Family received friends at
Kurtz Memorial Chapel. Interment
Woodlawn Memorial Park in Joliet.
Have someone’s life you’d like to
honor? Email meredith@newlenox
patriot.com with information about a
loved one who was a part of the New
Lenox community.