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16 | March 12, 2020 | the new lenox patriot life & Arts
newlenoxpatriotdaily.com
Library celebrating National
Poetry Month with a contest
Sean Hastings, Editor
The New Lenox Public
Library is looking for poets
of all skill levels between
grades 7-12 to kick
off a monthlong poetry
celebration.
The library is holding its
second annual poetry contest
beginning March 15
and concluding April 15,
when the poems will be
judged by university English
professors as well as
high school English teachers.
As the teen coordinator,
Melissa Leggero is
always trying to find ways
to “bring the library to the
students.”
“Last year was a good
turnout,” she said. “We
wanted to get into the high
schools and get into the
middle schools, and we
did a good job of that. I
would love to have even
more this year. It’s in its
second year, so I think it
will catch on.”
The poems will be
judged on vocabulary and
structure, idea and theme,
and tone and mood. One
submission is allowed per
person. Two winners for
grades 7-9 and 10-12 will
be chosen. Winners will
receive a gift card likely to
Amazon, Starbucks or the
movie theater.
Following the conclusion
of the contest, the
library will put together a
book of all the entries and
will remain on display for
people to read.
“I think my favorite part
is interacting with more
kids and sharing what
the library has to offer,”
Leggero said. “They’re
not reading the program
guides, or on Facebook.
We market to the adults.
This helps us get to know
what they like and helps
determine programs.”
For more information,
visit newlenoxlibrary.org/
teens/poetrycontest.
Jeanie Marie Balke
Jeanie Marie Balke, age 63 passed away peacefully at her home in New
Lenox, IL on February 8, 2020. She was born November 20, 1956 in Chicago,
IL. Jeanie is missed by many from a life lived with gentle kindness, selfless
elegance, unwavering grace and unparalleled strength. Her fortitude and
resilience were beyond exceptional through a battle with cancer throughout
the past four years and at the center of this incomprehensible determination
are her granddaughters. To use Jeanie’s words, “they are the spirit of my life.”
While her example of living may be unattainable for most, she leaves behind
the most positive of legacies to strive toward for all who had the sincere honor
and privilege of living this life with her.
Jeanie is survived by her husband of 43 years, Bob Balke; son, Bobby Balke
and wife, Courtney; granddaughters, Meadow and Harmony Balke;
parents Robert and Diane Heilbronner; sisters Julie Harenberg
and husband, Dan and family; Laurie Meier and family;
and brother in-law Bruce Johnson and family. She will be
missed by her many relatives, nieces, nephews and friends.
visit us online at newlenoxpatriotdaily.com
faith
From Page 14
Worship Services
10 a.m. Sundays. For
more information, call
(815) 462-0202.
The Hub (1303 S. Schoolhouse Road,
New Lenox)
Xtreme Church
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
every Sunday. The Hub
partners with Xtreme Ministries
to host a church service.
There is loud music
and preaching. For more
information, call (815)
717-8002.
Cherry Hill Church of Christ (2749
Lancaster Drive, Joliet)
Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Sundays.
Grace Episcopal Church (209 N. Pine St.,
New Lenox)
Sunday Services
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Rite II. 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Rite II with music,
followed by coffee hour.
For more information, call
(815) 485-6596.
Saturday Service
5 p.m. the first, third
and fifth Saturday of each
month.
Cornerstone Church (1501 S. Gougar Road,
New Lenox)
Men’s Bible Study
6-7:30 a.m. every Friday.
For more information,
call (815) 462-7700.
Junior and Senior High
Bible Study
6:30-8:30 p.m. every
Wednesday. For more information,
call (815) 462-
7700.
Sunday School
9-10 a.m. every Sunday.
Christian education classes
are available for all ages. A
nursery is also available.
For more information, call
(815) 462-7700.
Worship Service
8:30 a.m. and 10:45
a.m. every Sunday.
Parkview Christian Church (2121 S.
Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox)
Worship Services
4 p.m. Saturdays; 8:30
a.m., 10 a.m., and 11:30
a.m. Sundays
Peace Lutheran Church (1900 E. Lincoln
Highway, New Lenox)
Church Services
5 p.m. Saturdays; 8:30
a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays.
Prayer Group
11:45 a.m. Wednesdays.
Denise Jones hosts
a monthly gathering for
prayer. The prayers include
our church, our
young people, those on
the prayer list from the
bulletin, and any other
concerns or celebrations.
The group will meet on
the third Wednesday of
each month at 11:45 a.m.
Please call (815) 838-
0388 or the church office
(815) 485-5327 if you will
be attending.
Bible Study
10 a.m. Every Wednesday.
For more information,
call (815) 485-5327.
The Journey Church (14414 W. Ford
Drive, New Lenox)
Worship Service
10 a.m. Sundays.
Reverberate Youth Group
1-3 p.m. Every first
Sunday of the month.
The group meets to discuss
a message geared
toward junior and senior
high school students.
For more information,
email youth@our
journey.cc.
Have something for Faith
Briefs? Contact Editor
Sean Hastings at sean@
newlenoxpatriot.com or call
(708) 326-9170 ext. 48. Information
is due by noon on
Thursdays one week prior to
publication.
Poetry Corner
Every
Dee Philiph
New Lenox resident
Every morsel of food that
we eat,
Affects us from our head
to our feet.
Every drop of liquid that
we drink,
Every thought that we
think,
Every word that we tweet
and say,
Every action that we
display,
Has an effect on us each
& every day.
If we could do all of these
with gratitude & love,
We would be blessed by
the great spirit above.
We take so much for
granted & forget who we
really are,
Because we are really a
bright light that shines like
a star.
For our spiritual parents,
who reside up above,
Also make up our beings,
Which comes from eternal
love.
So, if we can remember
this every moment of
every day,
The lives that we live will
be easier in every way.
So my wish for you each
and every day,
Is to be your true self and
not to dismay.
For God our Father &
Mother that shines from
above,
Only know that we are
like them encompassed in
love.
Amen
P.S. Breathe your breath
of life with gratitude &
love every day.
Doing this, you won’t go
astray.
To submit a poem to poetry
corner, email Editor Sean
Hastings, sean@newlenox
patriot.com