Fall 2019

Peace
Offering
BI-ANNUAL REPORT
FALL 2019
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1

GROWING AS
STORYTELLERS
During the 2019-20 ministry
year, we’re journeying
through the Bible
chronologically from
Genesis to Revelation! This
is part of a new three-year cycle we
developed for our congregation as
all ages and all stages align weekly
around common Bible readings and
one Big Idea. Last year, we spent a
lot of time topically exploring the
biblical roots of our vision, values,
and mission. The 2020-21 ministry
year will be a Getting to Know Jesus
year when we’ll focus on the four
Gospels and the biblical foundations
of Luther’s Small Catechism. For now,
we’re in a year of God’s Big Story!
This year, we’re also focused on
growing as storytellers. I pray that as
we each better understand the overall
story of the Bible, we will also be better
able to find our own life story within
God’s Big Story. What’s more, we’ll be
emboldened to share those connections
with others in ways that fit different
situations and relationships.
__________________________________
We have two main tracks
for our Bible-in-a-Year journey:
Storytellers: Everyone is on this track
as we worship, read the daily devotions
inside the worship folder, use the study
guide in PEACE Groups, or listen to the
new POPcast, a pastor-led podcast to
supplement the worship series. So far,
you’ve heard about some of the key
characters and movements in the Bible
such as Creation, the Fall, the Flood,
Abraham’s Commission, Jacob, Joseph,
Slavery in Egypt, the Exodus, and the
Wilderness Wanderings.
Read Scripture: I’m celebrating
that 80 people (that we know of!)
are participating in this intensive,
immersive journey through the entire
Bible—the whole enchilada—every
word of Scripture from September 2019
until September 2020. Additionally,
nearly 200 copies of the daily reading
plan have been picked up from the
Connection Center.
This plan and the accompanying
teaching videos were created by The
Bible Project, a non-profit animation
studio that produces short-form,
fully animated videos to make the
biblical story accessible to everyone,
everywhere. This group is committed
to helping the whole world see the
Bible as one unified story that leads
to Jesus. You can find their videos at
thebibleproject.com or youtube.com/
thebibleproject.
We’re experiencing biblical community
along this journey by sharing insights
and questions on the POP Read
Scripture Facebook Group. In addition,
I am leading a group discussion that
meets on the third Wednesday of the
month at POP, either from 9-10:30am or
7-8:30pm.
Join the conversation by joining
the POP Read Scripture Facebook
group or the in-person Wednesday
discussion!
It’s not too late! You can jump into this
journey by picking up a reading plan or
by downloading the Read Scripture app
on your device. You’ll need to set the
start date to September 16, 2019 and
select read every day. You can also fill
out the form either at the Connection
Center or online at pop.church/events/
readscripture to stay in the loop.
__________________________________
Some opportune times to jump in:
December 1: The Rise and Fall of
Israel’s Kingdom (beginning with Ruth,
Saul, and David)
January 2: Start the new year with the
Prophets
February 2: The Wisdom of Israel (Get
a head start on your Lenten journey by
going through the book of Job.)
Regardless of how you are journeying
through the Scriptures this year, through
Storytellers or Read Scripture or
something else altogether, I pray that
you are finding your way into the words
of the Bible on a regular basis and
connecting the dots of your life with the
larger storyline of God at work in the
world!
Rev. Karl Fay, Senior Pastor
Read Scripture
Participants Say:
“Questions abound!”
“Feeling uncomfortable and
slightly disturbed with today’s
readings.”
“I felt like I was in the middle
of a soap opera at times.”
“Something jumped out at me
for the first time ever!”
“I am a couple of days behind
and super confused about a few
things, but I think God’s got me
on this journey!!!!”
“Loved reading this book
of beginnings! Some days I could
not stop reading! Others I rushed.
The Psalms coincided perfectly,
something I never noticed before.
Looking forward to Exodus.”
“So, how do I apply this? Am I
selfish in my leading, opting to
preserve my own skin or have
an escape hatch if things go bad?
Or do I take personal
accountability in my leadership?
Do others recognize that?”
2 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

LEADERSHIP PIPELINE
Three Great Training
Opportunities for Leaders
at Prince of Peace
96
Participants
at the
August 17 M-O
7
Ministry
Breakouts
During the 2019-20 ministry year,
leaders are invited to participate
in three different development
seminars. The annual M-O (Ministry
Orientation) was held in August
before the year began. Best Practices just
happened in early November, and the
Immersion will be in February.
M-O: The morning was filled with learning
and rejuvenation. The day started with social
time where leaders and volunteers could
gather, listen to music, talk, eat breakfast,
and answer Bible questions for prizes. Then,
everyone participated in worship and learned
what to expect in 2019-20 at POP. Topics
included hospitality, care, and important
ministry need-to-knows.
Next, the attendees moved into breakout/
training sessions, including POPKids,
Care, PEACE Groups, Connection Center,
Media/Soundboard, and POPTeens. These
comments were heard from people as they
left. “I am ready and excited for the ministry
year.” “This will be great, I can’t wait!” All
trainings are available via RightNow Media.
Contact Pastor Matt Koenig, Discipleship
Pastor, to acquire access to the content.
Best Practices: This event just occurred.
Look for pictures and details in the next
Peace Offering. Topics included the best
practices around the Art of Listening, the Art
of Serving our Community, and the Art of
Refueling.
Immersion: Coming February 8, leaders and
apprentices will be immersed in spiritual,
personal, and ministry development as we
each grow.
120
Donuts
Devoured
∞Coffee
Consumed
(more than
we can count)
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 3

THE BIBLE
IN 30 MINUTES
...or less?!
To celebrate the beginning of the
Bible-in-a-Year journey, Prince of
Peace mounted a production of
The Bible in 30 Minutes… or Less!
After Elizabeth Giromini casted
and directed the play, Alex Falls
(Worship Arts Director) asked her to
share some of her thoughts on the
experience.
31
New
Members
welcomed
in 2019*
*as of
October 2019
Elizabeth Schuett, Carole Lange, and Niamh
Frederick act out the David and Goliath story.
The all-ages cast pays tribute to our savior, Jesus Christ,
in The Bible in 30 Minutes...or Less?!
Alex Falls: Hello, Elizabeth! Tell me
a little bit about putting this play
together.
Elizabeth Giromini: Our cast met
for the first time at the Ministry
Orientation event on Saturday,
August 17. We discussed the script,
roles, and the production vision. We
were able to do a read-through of the
script but could not rehearse because
we were still assigning roles and
finalizing the cast list.
On the following three Tuesday
evenings, we put together the show.
This is really an unheard-of thing to
do in the theater world. Typically,
directors plan one hour of rehearsal
for every minute of stage time - that
would mean we needed 30 hours! We
only had six hours: three rehearsals at
two hours each. Five cast members
missed our second rehearsal when
we blocked the entire show. All of
this is to say how flexible and hardworking
this cast was. There is a level
of vulnerability that one undergoes
when part of a cast. Vulnerable to
other actors, responding, trusting,
making choices with them, and also
vulnerable with the director who
4 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

might ask for changes and risks. It was
an honor to work with this cast, and
I was humbled by their sacrifices and
willingness to trust the process.
AF: What challenges did you
encounter during the creative
process to update the script,
cast the play, find props and
costumes, etc.?
EG: The script was given to me at the
beginning of the summer along with
a YouTube video and the question,
“Have you ever heard of The Bible
in 30 Minutes?” As I read the email,
I just laughed and laughed! Last
winter, I had a family member working
on a drama class which was trying to
tell the story of The Wizard of Oz in
less than 10 minutes. He recalled that
years ago, he had seen The Bible in
30 Minutes performed at his church.
He and I spent tons of time watching
various productions of The Bible in 30
Minutes on YouTube. Little did I know,
this was the Lord preparing me for
directing our church’s version of this
production in the coming months.
That said, the script needed work.
It had numerous outdated jokes,
a number of actual errors, and
no integration of music. It was so
important to me to work with music
and to have it help tell the story. I
also had a vision that called for a
All Giromini family
members were involved
in the production.
cast with a wide age
range. I knew I wanted
a simple, uniform
costume and props
to help change the
characters as the
story progressed.
We used props to
emphasize a scene
and help the actors
be in character. It’s
another great way to
bring in some added
comedic elements
by using a modern,
contemporary, or silly
item.
AF: What did you like
about working with
the cast?
EG: For the most part, the cast
members were reluctant. I don’t want
to embarrass anyone by disclosing
this, but I think the congregation
should know, especially because
it is impossible to tell from their
performance. Their performance
was anything but reluctant! It was
clearly divinely inspired. It was such a
testament to what God can do when
his children willingly and humbly
serve Him.
Many of the cast members only
casually knew one another and
had never performed before this
occasion. But they conquered stage
fright, memorizing lines and learning
to trust the director and fellow actors
to answer how the Lord was calling
them to serve His Kingdom.
To say I enjoyed the cast, the process,
and the performances would be
a huge understatement. I had the
most wonderful time directing this
show, getting to know the cast
members, and creating a uniquely
Prince of Peace performance for our
congregation.
“They conquered
stage fright,
memorizing lines and
learning to trust the
director and fellow
actors to answer how
the Lord was calling
them to serve His
Kingdom.”
AF: Any final thoughts or
takeaways from the experience?
EG: When we were driving home
from the last show, my son, who
played God, stated he did not
want the show to end and was
insisting we could take the show
on the road. This was an incredible
moment to experience with him and
an incredible gift the Lord gave us
to work together, me as my son's
director and him as my actor. I, too,
was very sad it was over, but I was
also so full of joy in celebration of
the accomplishment. I was so happy
for the actors who had all worked so
hard and given so much of their time
and energy. I was thankful for the
wonderful congregation who warmly
and cheerfully supported each
performance. And, I am convinced
that our production had a part in
God’s continual plan to further
the kingdom, and I cannot think of
another way to be so fulfilled.
Al “John the Baptist” Sittaro
baptized Aaron “Jesus” Willming.
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 5

25
PEACE
Groups
Adults
48
Leaders &
Apprentices
131
People
involved in
Missional
Communities
Jr. High: IGNITE
Sr. High: FUEL
POPTeens
40
Youth
26
Youth
10
POPTeens
Small Groups
21,600
Pizza calories
consumed
per week
2019 VBS
Neighborhood Outreach
182
Kids from other churches
41
Kids with no church home
(18 opted to receive future
communications from POP)
39
Kids from POP
POPKids
70
Regular
Attenders
1,149
Cotton balls
used in crafts
so far...
6 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

Connect in a Group: PEACE Groups
While I was teaching the Discover
class, a few PEACE Group leaders
came and talked about their
experiences with PEACE Groups.
WOW! I was blown away by their
stories. Each person talked about how they
developed deep relationships within their groups.
They shared how they would spend time together
outside of study, talk about difficult situations in
their lives, support each other, and even vacation
together.
Jim and Cathy McCabe shared how one couple
in their group moved to Indiana and still attends
their PEACE Group meetings via a phone call or
Skype. WOW! Great connections and friendships!
Kris Reiner shared that her PEACE Group
supported and helped her several years ago
after her husband passed away. In fact, at the
funeral as Kris sat in the front pew with her
PEACE Group sat right behind her, she said that
she could feel their prayers and love. Even those
attending the funeral asked her if they were part
of her family, and she told them, “No, that's my
PEACE Group.”
This is what a PEACE Group at Prince of Peace
is all about. It is about loving and caring for
each other while being in the word of God. It is
about being a family who does life together. As
I sit back and look at PEACE Groups at POP, I
imagine the human body, a representation of the
body of Christ. Worshiping together is the head.
The head makes everything in the body go, as it
is with worship and the church. Worship is where
we learn about, pray to, connect to, and praise
our Lord. It is the center of what we do as the
body of Christ. I see serving others as the hands
and feet of a person. It is doing what is needed
to help others and to be the body of Christ for
others around us. Finally, I see groups at POP as
the heart of POP, the life blood of the body of
Christ.
If you are in a group, please know I am
praying for you daily. If you would like to join
a group, please reach out by texting “Get
Connected” to 97000 or email Pastor Matt
Koenig, Discipleship Pastor.
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 7

Meet Jennifer:
NEW DIRECTOR
OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Jennifer Edwards comes
to POP from Texas with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Religious
Education from Concordia
University Texas. Most recently,
she served as a DCE intern
in Slovakia with Mission of
Christ Network and brings a
unique knowledge of crosscultural
missions. She grew
up in northern Texas after
moving from Canada with
her parents, two sisters, and a
brother. She is the proud aunt
of two very cute nephews!
Read on to get to know
Jennifer a little better:
What's your favorite Bible story
or verse?
Jennifer Edwards: Romans 8:31-39.
What comfort knowing the deep
personal relationship we are able
to have with God because of the
sacrifice of Jesus!
Who have been some of the most
influential people in your life?
JE: I am blessed to have many
people in my life who have been
influential in different ways. The
associate pastor at my home church
while I was growing up was the first
person who encouraged me to go
into ministry and began walking
with me on the journey towards
becoming a DCE. The DCE intern
during my senior year of college
became a confidante as I faced
the many fears and unknowns of
college and was a light of hope for
the future of the youth program at
my home church. Most recently, the
pastor at the church where I served
in Slovakia was an amazing example
of a genuine, selfless, passionate
church leader and allowed me the
ability to heal from some past hurts.
These are just a few people who
were there during very big points in
my faith journey.
How did you know God was
leading you to accept the call to
Prince of Peace?
JE: There were two big reasons that
I felt God was leading me to accept
the call to Prince of Peace. First, it
was the only interview I walked away
from actually feeling good about!
Second, despite the nerves and
fears I had of moving to a new place,
I felt peace about the decision.
What do you love most about
youth ministry?
JE: I was always taught that ministry
is about relationships. Throughout
my experiences in college and
overseas, I have come to believe in
that whole heartedly. My plan is to
build a foundation with POPTeens
through my relationships with
the youth and their parents. My
prayer and hope is to be a friend
and support in life with the youth,
both spiritually and otherwise, and
continue the work to build on the
wonderful, existing foundation.
Is there anything else you want
people to know about you?
JE: I LOVE to travel!! If you talk to
me for any extended time, I am
sure some story from some trip I
have been on will come up in the
conversation!
Any parting thoughts or words of
wisdom?
JE: Since fall arrived and I am
personally in a season of change, I
thought I’d share a quote with you
that I have found comforting and
encouraging:
“The trees are about to show us
just how beautiful it can be to let
things go.”
8 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

Connect in a Group: POPTeens
Jennifer Edwards describes her first interactions with the youth.
“They devoted themselves to
the apostles’ teaching and to
the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42
Those apostles definitely knew what they
were doing in the early church! What
better way to get to know people than
sitting around a table and sharing a meal
together?!
As I prepared to move to Palatine, there were a
few concerns on my mind and nervous butterflies
in my stomach. I wondered how the youth would
react to me. Would we get along? Would they
even want to talk to me? How would I fit into the
life and community at Prince of Peace as a whole?
Getting to know new people and finding your
place in a new environment isn’t the easiest or
most comfortable thing in the world.
My uncertainties were laid to rest the first time
I walked into FUEL. The youth were sitting in
groups at tables enjoying pizza and fun, lively
conversation. I sat down at a table with some
energetic, chatty girls, and they welcomed me
into their conversation immediately! My first
experience at IGNITE was much the same. The
youth arrived, got their pizza, and sat down at
tables to enjoy dinner and catch up with their
friends and small group leaders. I was quickly
greeted by many of the students.
During the annual trip to the Corn Maze with
FUEL, we enjoyed a time of worship/devotion
and dinner around the campfire. What a beautiful
portrait of community, of family! Everyone
gathered around the fire to roast hot dogs
and marshmallows while laughing, talking, and
enjoying each other’s company.
While I haven’t been here long, my favorite times
at both IGNITE and FUEL are at the beginning
when we just enjoy eating pizza together and
catching up from our weeks. I am not sure what
it is, but there is something about sharing a meal
together that puts everyone at ease. We are
indeed a family enjoying dinner together!
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 9

Connect in a Group: POPTeens
AT THE NATIONAL
YOUTH GATHERING
Highlights from Pastor Matt
This summer, twenty high school/college
youth and adults drove to Minneapolis, MN
for the National Youth Gathering (NYG), Real.
Present. God. Almost 30,000 people from
around the world gathered for five days to
celebrate their faith, serve in the community
and beyond, and grow as people of Christ.
The youth played games like Twister (on a
game board larger than a basketball court);
reality Hungry, Hungry Hippos; and escape
rooms, all with youth from across the globe.
Speakers shared their faith journeys and
explained how to deal with problems and
social issues as well as how to be accepted
by peers and still live their faith. They talked
about how God is real to them, how God
is present in their lives, and how God is
there for all of us. In the evenings, the youth
assembled at the U.S. Bank Stadium to dance
and sing to Christian musicians like the NYG
band, Toby Mac, and We are They.
One story by event-speaker Ashley Paavola
really spoke to me. She used the phrase
“Jesus is Real, so I can be Real!” She spoke
the phrase loudly and powerfully and with
fists in the air. After she said it, I got goose
bumps all over. I listened as the entire
gathering of youth stood and cheered at the
top of their lungs. “Jesus is Real, so I can
be Real!” That phrase stayed with me since I
heard it. It is not about being something that
others want you to be; it’s about being you,
your real self to others, so people can see
Christ. Why? Because Jesus is real to us and in
our lives, so we have nothing to fear because
he’s got us. So be REAL, and know that our
REAL, PRESENT God is with us, so we can be
real with others.
NYG by-the-numbers
Meals Packed for
Feed My Starving Children 1,003,014
Kits Built for the Homeless 1,013
Inches of Hair Donated
926 (77 feet)
Letters to Veterans Written 574
Units of Blood Donated 463
Countries Represented at the Gathering 9
10 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

Connect in a Group: POPKids
What happens when you put
kids of different ages all in one
room and mix in adult and high
school leaders? Add God’s Word,
intriguing object lessons, fun crafts,
and engaging conversation, and
you get our new multi-age POPKids
Groups.
Small groups are not just for adults!
Kids benefit greatly from this model as
well. Using multiple learning styles and
combining different ages means the
kids receive a deeper understanding
of scripture truths, and they experience that
understanding with their peers.
This fall, we discovered God’s fingerprint on even
the smallest details of creation by looking at the
DNA strands of strawberries. We were tempted
by special treats, analyzed why people make
certain choices, and saw firsthand how seemingly
impossible things can become possible by
putting a quarter through a dime-sized hole. We
used our God-given imagination to re-create the
stories we learned with hands-on activities and
crafts.
As we travel from Genesis to Revelation this year,
we are sharpening our storytelling skills. Kids are
discovering God’s Big Story and seeing how they
are a part of it!
By learning how to share their own stories, their
relationships with others grow. Older students
are slowly building their confidence to lead
younger students, thereby growing in their faith
by learning how to be a guide.
You see, it’s not enough to just teach our kids to
recite facts. You may know a lot about the Bible
but never see God’s heart in Scripture as His story
unfolds beginning in Genesis. Instilling a love of
God’s Word and helping kids understand what it
means in their lives today is what we do every week
in our POPKids small groups.
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 11

160
Volunteers
SUMMER
19
Serving
Teams
88
VBS Volunteers
46
from
POP
35
from other
churches
(average age 17)
7
With No Church Home
Organizations Served Through
Summer HERE2SERVE Events
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)
JOURNEYS the Road Home
Palatine Assisting Through Hope (PATH)
Palatine Fire Station
Palatine Park District
Palatine Police Station
Palatine Street Fest
Palatine Township
Partners for Our Communities (POC)
Phil’s Friends
Women in Need Growing Stronger
(WINGS)
12 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

Progress Update:
Serving Hours & Stories!
We continue making progress toward our 3x50
goal to share at least 50,000 hours of service
between October 2018-October 2021.
Since October 2018, we received 222 personal
submissions totaling 2,506 hours by people serving
outside of our Prince of Peace-sponsored serving
teams. We collect these submissions (and encourage
stories!) through the reporting link at www.pop.church
and through the green paper forms available at the
Connection Center. Thank you for serving where you live,
work, and play!
In addition, we logged 24,169 hours through serving
teams organized by POP both within and outside our
walls. That brings our grand total of serving hours to
26,675 since we began tracking.
Reporting these serving celebrations speaks to our
storyteller and servant measures. We love sharing your
stories of putting others first, being a guide, and loving
one another. Sharing how God is moving you to serve
is not bragging, it's pure encouragement! And let us
consider how we may spur one another on toward love
and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24) Sharing where and
how you help provides insight into where our people
are serving, identifies potential new mission partners
to explore, and helps us connect people with similar
passions and interests.
Two of the encouraging stories submitted:
“After my dad died in 2012 and my mother moved
into the Lutheran Home, my focus was to keep
her relatively happy and involved. I spent several
days a week visiting her and gathering groups of
residents for card games. After her death, I didn’t
want to sever the ties. I am always touched by
the genuine love and appreciation shown by the
residents for what seem to be the smallest acts of
kindness and attention. I’m also reminded that we
are so often mistaken when we believe we bring
the picnic, when in truth, those we serve are the
ones providing us the feast. “
POP member Jan Spaletto continues to volunteer
at the Lutheran Home.
Values: Put Others First
Love One Another
“I create bears for The Mother Bear Project based
in Minneapolis, MN. The bears are for children in
Africa who live in HIV-affected areas. Most of these
children do not have any toys. Each bear is given
a heart, and when the children receive their bears,
they are told that the heart represents someone
who loves them. Sometimes we receive pictures of
the children with their bears; seeing their smiles tells
us that they know they are loved and cared about.”
POP member Sheryl Grandt's story shows how a
hobby can become a serving opportunity.
Values: Invest With Courage,
Put Others First
Keep serving and keep sharing your stories of encouragement!
Email Susan Klemstein, Director of Outreach, at susank@pop.church if you have any
questions about sharing your own stories and spurring on others.
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 13

Denny Freres introduces JoJo Comfort Dog to neighbor Lincoln School’s
mascot during the Better Together back-to-school community event.
Debi Cooper, Top Dog Stephanie Keller,
Randy Gray, Susie Comfort Dog,
and Jacob Comfort Dog prepare to greet
families at the Palatine Township
Adopt-a-Family gift distribution at POP.
Spotlight:
SHARING CHRIST’S PEACE
Through Golden Love
Our spring sermon series, Masterpiece, reminded us that we are
each created to make a difference. We were also encouraged
to fi nd our unique serving sweet spots: the place where our
passions and gifts can be used to meet the needs around us.
Four Prince of Peace (POP) members found their serving sweet
spots through the Comfort Dog Ministry at mission partner
Lutheran Church Charities (LCC).
Debi Cooper first met the Comfort
Dogs two years ago when they visited
POP during an Lutheran Church
Charities (LCC) mission feature
weekend. Debi reminisced, “I was
instantly smitten by the idea of helping people
through these amazing dogs. I’ve always been a
dog person, had recently retired from teaching,
and was looking for a way to give back.” Since
POP doesn’t have our own Comfort Dog, Debi
asked LCC if any area congregations were
looking to add handlers to their Comfort Dog
teams. Top Dog (Team Leader) Stephanie Keller
from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Arlington
Heights welcomed Debi to their Susie Comfort
Dog team, and Debi trained for about six
months. “I’ve seen God’s work through these
wonderful dogs. Adults and children alike seem
to pour out their hearts to these loving animals.
Although I’m a little timid talking directly to
people about Jesus, the dogs are the bridge
that make the ministry work. It’s simply been lifechanging
for me to experience this. In addition
to our dogs, I’ve met some truly inspirational
people who have impacted my life in ways I
never thought possible.”
14 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

Golden Love Continued...
Debi reached out to Susan Klemstein, POP
Director of Outreach, to brainstorm how the
Comfort Dogs could share Christ’s peace
with POP’s other mission partners and at
community events. Throughout the last year,
Comfort Dogs participated in many events,
including: Palatine Township Adopt-a-Family
Christmas gift distribution; Better Together
back-to-school community event; Maker Girls
(for at-risk teens), adult learning lab, and soup
lunches at Partners for Our Communities; and
many events at Lincoln School including an
end-of year party for our Kids Hope mentoring
program, community helper unit, reading with
students, and welcoming back students during
the first week of school.
Randy Gray also trained to be a handler on
Susie’s team after learning about the ministry
during LCC mission feature weekends at POP.
Randy is a dog lover but doesn’t currently own
a dog. Being on Susie’s team of 15 handlers
gives him the chance to get his dog fix, the
flexibility to volunteer on his schedule, and the
opportunity to see God show up. Randy shared
a story about taking Susie to the Barrington
Transition Program that helps young adults with
various abilities transition into adulthood. Susie
visited a young man with cerebral palsy who is
often uncommunicative. Susie placed her head
in the young man’s lap; he smiled and made a
joyful noise to the Lord. Randy knew God was
in that room and saw how His love could be
expressed without words.
Denny Freres is a dog lover with a deep
passion for veterans. Another local LCMS
Congregation, Living Christ Lutheran Church
in Arlington Heights, was seeking to expand
their handler team for Comfort Dog JoJo,
especially with a veteran who could take JoJo
to veteran events. Denny’s time in the Army
(1966-68) included serving in Vietnam. Susan
asked Denny if this ministry might be a good
fit for him. Denny was willing to explore the
opportunity and met with Becky Staehlin,
JoJo’s Top Dog. He completed his handler
training and became a member of JoJo’s team.
Denny shared these words, “The thing I enjoy
most is watching and seeing the peace and
comfort JoJo brings to others who need it the
most. I especially see this at veteran’s events.”
Melissa Weiss
with JoJo, ready to
go where God leads
them.
Melissa Weiss first considered serving as an
apprentice trainer for new Comfort Dogs but
decided that being a handler would better fit
her schedule. She also went through training
and joined JoJo’s team. When asked how
she has seen God in this ministry, Melissa
responded “God has showed up in me! I can
be used and He’s doing something through
me. I may not always be good at listening to
where God wants to use me, but JoJo knows.
She is getting me out of my comfort zone and
taking me places I wouldn’t normally visit, such
as a nursing home. I’m taking JoJo places to
be a blessing but I’m also being blessed in the
process.”
Thank you to Debi, Randy, Denny, and Melissa
for pursuing their serving sweet spots and
sharing their stories. Through their involvement,
God has also connected POP’s story with two
neighboring LCMS congregations. Stephanie
Keller told us, “Debi and Randy have been such
a blessing to the Comfort Dog ministry! I love
that they are a part of our team!!” And Becky
Staehlin shared, “We are so blessed by this
partnership, being able to bless the community
in additional ways with the love of Jesus.”
Is there a serving sweet spot
God is calling YOU to pursue?
Contact Susan Klemstein, Director of Outreach,
at susank@pop.church for help exploring
opportunities to share Christ’s peace.
Debi Cooper, Top
Dog Becky Staehlin,
Susie Comfort Dog,
and Jojo Comfort
Dog visit the
first-grade classes
at Lincoln School
to share about
community helpers.
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 15

Serve on a Team: POPCare
Visitation Ministry Team Kick-Off
POP members regularly visit friends,
fellow PEACE group members,
and ministry team members who
are sidelined from getting out and
about. For many years, these visits
were entirely informal and based on personal
connections, while others’ care needs
remained unfulfilled. At times, members who
are isolated need more frequent contact
from their brothers and sisters in Christ. God
made us to be in community (Genesis 2), so
we need to reach out and make intentional
connections. To move toward a more inclusive
community where everyone is known, loved,
and cared for, the POPCare Ministry recently
added a formally-trained Visitation Ministry
Team.
At the inaugural Visitation Team training on
July 13, Pastor Bauman and Dave Penner
covered the basic skills and process for
making caring visits. Participants shared
their experiences and stories of how a caring
visit made a difference for them or a loved
one. The training focused on visitation
of members and friends of POP who are
isolated and need companionship.
What’s the difference between Visitation
Team and Stephen Ministry Team visits?
Visitation Team members function as a friend
while the Stephen Minister takes on more
of a guide role. Both act as servants and
storytellers. A person in need might initially
work with a Stephen Minister and then have
a Visitation Team member provide ongoing
companionship after life returns to a stable
pattern.
In addition, Stephen Ministers receive much
more training (50 hours) to be equipped
to walk alongside others through a life
crisis. These crises vary and include events
like loss of a loved one, divorce, serious
illness, hospitalization, job loss, unexpected
setbacks, losses due to aging, family crisis, or
crisis of pregnancy and childbirth.
New Stephen Ministry Training Underway
Stephen Ministry is expanding to meet
growing needs! A training class started in
October and will run through April. We
expect the new trainees to be commissioned
on Palm Sunday 2020.
If you or anyone you know is feeling lonely
and could benefit from a visit or a caring
call, please contact Dave Penner, Director
of Care, at dave@pop.church to start the
conversation!
16 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

Fall Workshop: October 5
The second POPCare workshop this
year focused on “A Servant’s Heart.”
Care Ministry team members and those
interested in joining a team were invited
to spend time building community,
worshiping, praying, and learning.
We follow Christ by caring and bearing one
another’s burdens, but we are not Christ, so we
rely on him and Christian community to carry
out the mission of compassionate caregiving.
The three cardinal rules for caregivers are: (1) be
dependent on Christ, (2) be interdependent on
others, and (3) be independent from caregiving as
necessary to take care of yourself. These themes
facilitated the workshop discussions and activities.
The participants received a biblical perspective
by discussing The Heart of a Caregiver: From
Overwhelmed to Overjoyed, an abbreviated
study based on the book by Mary Tutterow. Any
caregiver who feels the weight of a long-term
care commitment would be blessed by working
through this study. Contact Dave Penner, Director
of Care, if you are interested.
A third workshop is planned for February 29, 2020.
The theme will be “Stay Connected in Care”
emphasizing and exploring ways we support one
another and work as a team.
Life’s Challenges Series
Sponsored by the Stephen Ministry, the
informative series, Life Challenges: A
Journey with Family And Friends,
is open to everyone. Outside experts
from our care partners will present
perspectives and tips for helping family and friends
experiencing a crisis.
Join Us for These
Upcoming Discussions
January 9, 2020
February 6, 2020
March 5, 2020
April 2, 2020
May 7, 2020
Mental Illness
Midlife Changes
Caregiving of Parents
Trauma in School
Abuse Awareness
Pastoral Care
Coordinators
Who Are They and What Do They Do?
If you make a request for an ongoing care
need, you will likely receive a call from
Janet Sorensen or Diana Guyer. Janet is
our Pastoral Care Coordinator, and Diana
recently joined her as an apprentice. They
act as liaisons among members, pastors, and
POPCare teams who deliver meals, visits,
and cards. Janet and Diana keep track of
where our members are during an illness or
surgery, coordinate pastor visits, and receive
input for the weekly POPNews prayer list or
the prayer chain. These ladies fill vital roles of
keeping essential caregivers informed while
respecting the personal/confidential nature
of care-receiver information. Both possess a
passion for providing care and have a career
background in nursing which adds to their
insight and ability to serve in this critical
role. Thanks, Janet, for a job well done, and
blessings for Diana as she apprentices in this
role!
7:00-8:30pm
at Prince of Peace
FALL 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 17

POPStaff Updates
blessed by Diana’s missional leadership over
the years through PEACE Groups, Lifetree
Café, Huddles, and so much more!
A Sad Farewell
to Diana Vander Pas,
Former Director
of Adult Ministry...
Diana and her family arrived at Prince of
Peace in March 1999, and she joined the staff
as Director of Small Group Ministry in March
2007. Prince of Peace has been abundantly
Last spring, Diana’s husband, Tim, landed
a job in his field with Thrivent after
searching for more than five years. This
answer to prayer was bittersweet because
it necessitated a move away from Chicago
to Minnesota. As they followed God’s lead,
He faithfully provided the quick sale of their
home and a new job for Diana: Director of
Small Groups at Woodbury Lutheran Church!
During worship on October 6, we prayed
over Diana before sending her out to share
Christ’s peace in the Twin Cities!
Diana leaves an amazing legacy at POP! She
consistently championed and lived biblical
community: deeply rooted in Scripture
and prayer, genuinely connected in caring
relationships, and courageously followed
God as He called her out of her comfort zone
to share Christ’s peace!
May Diana’s legacy at POP be strong as we
live this way by the Spirit!
... and a Warm Welcome
to David Lobes,
New Financial Controller!
David is our new Financial Controller at
Prince of Peace. He holds a Master’s degree
in Accounting from Loyola University of
Chicago. Most recently, he was the Controller
at Westlake Financial Group in Buffalo Grove.
David grew up in Chicago but still isn’t overly
fond of the winter weather. He currently lives
in Algonquin with his wife, Linda. They have
two children, Amanda and Michael, and two
grandchildren, Avery and Abigail.
In his spare time, David enjoys spending time
with the family, especially tinkering with cars
and motorcycles and working around the
house.
Welcome to POP, David! We're happy to
have you on the team.
18 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | FALL 2019

POPFinancials
Year-To-Date through September 30
(Q3 YTD)
Prince of Peace (POP) and Crosspoint income includes
envelope and plate giving, 3x50 campaign contributions,
building usage contributions, as well as other directed
gifts such as stocks, IRA distributions, employer matches,
Thrivent Choice, United Way, Amazon Smile, and other
charitable giving programs.
All these forms of generosity are precious gifts to
God, used for His glory and His kingdom work at
POP and Crosspoint! Thank you for your generosity
so far in 2019. We ask you to consider how God is
challenging you to increase your giving to support
His work at POP and Crosspoint.
Income
POP Q3 YTD giving was $156,707 (15%) less than
budget, while Crosspoint Q3 YTD giving was $19,910
(22%) more than budgeted. YTD 3x50 campaign
contributions are $23,717 above budget and have
already surpassed the 2019 goal of raising $50,000 to
invest in our community!
Total Q3 YTD income was $1,257,940, which is $91,402
(7%) less than budgeted.
Where your offering dollars go:
Prince of Peace’s annual budget, approved by the
congregation at our December Voters Meeting,
determines our spending plan each year.
Here’s what it looks like for 2019:
Invest with Courage
Inside POP
Put Others First
Crosspoint and Missions
Staff:
$1,000,704
Administration:
$185,400
Building & Grounds:
$182,200
Worship:
$28,750
Programs:
$90,125
Training:
$16,500
Budget Actual Difference
POP Income $1,183,535 $1,031,958 - $151,577
3x50 Income $34,830 $58,547 + $23,717
Crosspoint
Income
Dei Fund
Usage
$91,950 $113,049 + $21,099
$39,027 $54,387 + $15,360
Expenses
Strong staff spending control allowed POP and
Crosspoint to end Q3 below budget despite lower than
budgeted giving levels. Combined Q3 YTD spending of
$120,004 (8%) less than budget currently offsets the YTD
income shortfall of 7%.
Budget Actual Difference
POP $1,254,501 $1,138,490 - $116,011
3x50 $34,830 $0* NA
Crosspoint:
$333,822
LCMS-NID:
$43,000
Lutheran Church Charities:
$5,100
Home Missions:
$10,000
Grace Christian Academy:
$10,000
Mission Grants:
$22,000
3x50 Outreach:
$50,000
Palatine Township:
$1,900
Partners for Our Communities
(POC:) $5,500
Journeys the Road Home:
$3,000
Local School Missions:
$2,000
Serving Projects:
$3,500
Walcamp:
$2,000
Wycliffe (Ladish Family:)
$7,000
Exodus World Service:
$1,000
LCMS World Missionaries
(Baker Family:) $5,000
Feed My Starving Children:
$2,000
PATH:
$2,500
Crosspoint $249,861 $245,868 - $3,993
*Funds to be dispursed in Q4
2019 Budget: $2,013,001
FALL 2018 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 19

20
POPEvents
Mark Your Calendars
Nov 27
Dec 1
Dec 8
Dec 24
Dec 25
Dec 27
Jan 12
Jan 23
Jan 27
Feb 1
Feb 8
Feb 26
Feb 29
Apr 5
Apr 9
Apr 10
Apr 12
Apr 18/19
Thanksgiving Eve
Worship at 7pm
• Pie Fellowship
• Hanging of the Greens
Voters Informational
Meeting
Voters Meeting
Christmas Eve
Worship at 3pm,
5pm, 7pm & 11pm
Christmas Day
Worship at 10am
Feed My Starving Children
Event at 6pm
Discover Class Starts
Loss of a Spouse
Seminar
DivorceCare Starts
GriefShare Starts
Immersion
Leadership Training
Ash Wednesday
POPCare
Winter Workshop
Palm Sunday
Stephen Ministry
Commissioning
Maundy Thursday
First Communion
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Confirmation Weekend
Have You Heard Our
POPcast?
POPcast is a new teaching tool designed to help you
prepare your heart and mind for upcoming sermon series.
As a subscriber, you will dive deep into sermon topics
and enjoy stories and content to supplement your
worship experience. Additionally, you will receive monthly
encouragement aimed at helping you grow as a disciple
and a leader at church, at work, at school, and in the world.
Listen on iTunes, Spotify, or online:
popchurch.libsyn.com/website
discover peace. together.
1190 N. Hicks Road • Palatine, Illinois 60067
www.pop.church
POPLC
POP
TechArts
POP
TechArts
Ministry
847-359-3451 office@pop.church
20 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | SPRING 2019