Congregational Newsletter October 2020

CongregationalNewsletterOctober 2020STATEMENT OF PURPOSE“We care for God’s children of all ages by growingdisciples who make disciples.”

A Note From Pastor MarkPeace,2Pastor Mark

Adult EducationPastor BillMinistry Musings18.“--.,.I(Continued on page 4)3

Ministry Musings (Cont.)(Continued from page 3)4(Continued on page 5)

Ministry Musings (Cont.)(Continued from page 4)PADS UPDATE5

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP(October 10 & 24)Sunday services also continue to stream live on-line atwww.sotp.org and on our Facebook page at 9 am & 10:45 amPlease note: Sunday, October 25th 10:45 am serviceis Confirmation and will be in person for Confirmands& their families only.Please join us at 9am or online.6

FRIENDS BIBLE STUDYPROPERTY TEAM—CONTRACTOR NEEDED7

GOD’S GLOBAL BARNYARDThe SOTP Mission Team, along with the Children and FamilyMinistry, is launching God’s Global Barnyard, an ELCA sponsoredprogram to provide animals and agricultural items for families andvillages around the world. Each week, our BARN will be at theback of the worship area for the children to place their offerings.After we receive enough donations, we will choose what animal oranimals we would like to purchase with the money collected.Available for purchase are cows, goats, chicks, pigs, honeybees,and even a whole barnyard od animals. Come join in the fun andprovide a family with food and possibly some income.Contact: Donna Kelly donna@sotpmail.comNORTHERN IL FOOD BANKI have been in contact with the NorthernIllinois Food Bank and was informed they arestill using volunteers, however, it is in agreatly reduced capacity, with no largegroups.Many of us at SOTP also are within the highrisk age for Covid-19.The Food Bank suggested that Shepherd ofthe Prairie group wait until Spring, and wecan evaluate the situation at that time.Contact: Sharon Stangle stangle.ds@gmail.com8

FALL DRIVE IN MOVIE AT SOTPBUTTON BRIGADEThe Button Brigade began their ministrywithin just a few weeks of the beginning ofour Covid-19 adventure. We have crocheted,buttoned and delivered over 12,000extenders to healthcare services all overNorthern IL. Basically, we have supplied somany extenders to so many healthcarefacilities, we have pretty much workedourselves out of a job! So, with that said, theButton Brigade has begun to wind down theirministry. The final deliveries were made thethird week in September and the few wehave left have been donated to our local school districts.Once more, THANK YOU so much supporting this ministry throughyour prayers and your gifts of buttons and yarn. A very special thankyou to those many ladies who help to make those 12,000extenders. Through this ministry, SOTP has made available avaluable item for many, many healthcare workers to provide somerelief while they wear masks as they care for their patients. With eachcrochet stitch and button sewn, the kingdom of God has been broughtto this earth, “as it is in heaven”. Thank you to each and every one ofyou; may God continue to bless you!Contact: Donna Kelly, donna@sotpmail.com9

BLOOD DRIVEGRIEF JOURNEY CONTINUESIf you have lost a loved one and would like to be part of agroup that can provide support, comfort and ideas forjourneying through this season of grief, we here atShepherd of the Prairie would like to provide that kind ofopportunity for you. There are no requirements, or needto commit to a specific length of time to attend, nor thatyou must attend every session; you don’t even need tospeak except to introduce yourself and tell us who you have lost.There is no charge for participation in this group.This group is for all who have lost a loved one whether it is aspouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, friend or any otherrelational loss. We meet in person, socially distanced, everyTuesday evening from 6 to 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall.For more information, please contact Donna Kelly atdonna@sotpmail.com or 214-676-1788.Contact: Donna Kelly donna@sotpmail.comPROPERTY CONCERNS?If you have any building related issues, problems orneeds please contact our team at the e-mail below.Once received one of our team members will addressyour need and/or contact you.Contact: Mark Frendreis & The Property TeamSOTPproperty@gmail.com10

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYSSTAFFPastor Mark BosterSenior Pastorpastormark@sotpmail.comPastor Bill WaxenbergDirector of Adult Educationpastorbill@sotpmail.comErik BoehmkeOrganisterik@sotpmail.comBrian BuesingContemporary Worship LeaderBrian@sotpmail.comMelanie ChesnyAccounting Administratormelanie@sotpmail.comTessa DeLongDirector of Children & FamilyMinistriesTessa@sotpmail.comDonna KellyConnections Ministerdonna@sotpmail.comDennis LillaTechnology Support Managersotpmail.comJane McMullenDirector of Music & Worshipjane@sotpmail.comMichelle RankinOffice Managermichelle@sotpmail.comMike YndestadA/V CoordinatorMike@sotpmail.comLITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOLJill GillmingPreschool DirectorLittleLambs@sotpmail.comEmily SchoenbergEmily@sotpmail.com11

DRIVE THROUGH FOOD DRIVE—OCTOBERGIVING TREE 202012The plan for “gift cards” only is under way.The family names from Grafton Food Pantryand Turning Point have been received andenvelopes have been made out (one foreach member of the family).The envelopes will be displayed startingSaturday, October 31st and Sunday,November 1st on the table outside thechurch offices.Please note there is “NO” licking theenvelopes closed as they all have a tab topull and then press the flap to seal.Envelopes must be returned by Sunday,December 6th as distribution begins onMonday, December 7th.The drop off box is also on the table for you to deposit yourenvelopes.Both agencies need help for the holidays whether it be for food orshelter. If you have any questions, please contact BarbHoppensteadt. Thank you all!Contact: Barb Hoppensteadt hoppen@sbcglobal.net

VOLUNTEERSThank you for Serving This MonthOCTOBER GREETERSOCT 4OCT 11OCT 18OCT 25Sunday9amElaine GillamSue WehnesCheryl AdamsCheryl Adams Carol Engstrom Elaine GillamCarol EngstromEileen GeraldSunday1045amJim & Marlene Chuck & SandyHuntPetersenJim & MarleneHuntElaine GillamOCTOBER USHERSADDITIONAL USHER VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDIf you are able to help usher, we would appreciate the help.Contact Andrew Szekely at aszekely01@outlook.comOCT 4Saturday5pm[ParkingLot ServiceOnly]Sunday9amSunday1045amOCT 11OCT 18BARBOCT 25Steve MurphyCarol HartmanSue Ma ucciHOPPENSTEADTKaren EckertGreeter Sub #2WALTER LEMKE JACK CONTIWarren Brody Pete ThompsonCarol Engstrom HarrietThompsonVIK BEKERISPete ThompsonHarrietThompsonDave StangleSharon StangleCarol EngstromSandy SeibelED CUTTLECarolyn Cu leJerry DarowPat DarowRalph WehnesSue WehnesDennis HoughtonBOB MCDUFFEE MARKVik BekerisFRENDREISChuck Peterson Vik BekerisJacob FiandaloVIK BEKERISDon KoernerRon MudgeJeff O ensJudy PetropulosANDREWSZEKELYBob MollisVik Bekeris13

FINANCIAL NEWSTකඍඉඛඝකඍක’ඛ Rඍ කග ඉඛ ඎ Aඝඏඝඛග 31, 2020Assets include 95,000 from the SBA Paycheck Protection Programreceived on April 24, 2020. These funds are expected to be forgiven at theend of the program. This does not affect the year to date Operating Fund.General Fund Report The General Fund Balance is 236,533. Income forthe month was 49,030 and Expenses for the month were 52,634.Mortgage Service Fund Report The Mortgage Service Fund Balance is 124,445. Income for the month was 25,108. The monthly mortgagepayment is 19,536.This MonthGeneral FundActualBudgetDifferenceIncome: 49,030 63,141 (14,110)Expenses: 52,634 63,084 10,449General FundIncome:Expenses:Year-to-DateYTD ActualYTD Budget 514,789 505,128 464,365 503,160Difference 9,661 38,794Mortgage Service FundIncome for month: 25,108Fund Balance: 124,445Respectfully Submitted,Cliff DungeyCongregation TreasurerCONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL14Bud Hansen, President Matt Greene, Vice PresidentCliff Dungey, Treasurer Sarah Wolf, SecretaryMarlene Boehler, Carla Elam, Mike Luecht,Ellen Nissen, Christa Serpe

LET THERE BE FLOWERSWith live streaming the worship services atSOTP, your Worship Committee would like tobrighten up the sanctuary with flowers for thesanctuary. We would place the bouquet onthe pedestal behind the Pastor. As normaleach arrangement is 50.We would pick up the bouquet from the florist for the Sunday worshipservices and then we would deliver the flowers to your home onSunday or Monday after the service (practicing social distancing ofcourse).If you are interested in donating flowers, please contact Diane Mollisat dem910@outlook.com. Provide your name, address, phonenumber, for whom the flowers are dedicated to or in memory of, andwhich Sunday you are interested in displaying the bouquet. We wouldonly need one bouquet per week. If you have any questions, whomay call Diane at 224-654-6677.Thank you for saying yes to flowers for the sanctuary!T ൺඇ ඒඈඎ ඍඈ ඍ ඈඌൾ ඐ ඈ ൽඈඇൺඍൾൽ ൿඅඈඐൾඋඌ ංඇ SൾඉඍൾආൻൾඋSeptember 5/6 – Barb Hoppensteadt in memory of her grandson,Alex, and the third anniversary of his deathSeptember 12/13 – Mel & Lois Long in celebrationof their 70th wedding anniversarySeptember 12/13 – Rick & Kathy Miller in celebrationof their 51st wedding anniversarySeptember 19/20 – Dona Flodin in memory of her son,Eric’s, birthdaySeptember 26/27 – Guy & Elaine Neukirch in celebrationof their 68th wedding anniversaryContact: Dianne Mollis dem910@outlook.comEMAIL COMMUNICATIONS0Do You Receive All Our email communications? Daily Devotionals (Food for the soul) Weekly Friday Flourish (Church info) Monthly Newsletter (More detailed information)To start receiving any of the above, please e-mail yourrequest to: Admin@SOTPmail.comIf you aren’t receiving other e-mail blasts from us, please reach outto Michelle Rankin at Michelle@sotpmail.com to be added.15

Ministry Musings Adult Education Pastor Bill . 4 Ministry Musings (Cont.) (Continued from page 3) (Continued on page 5) 5 (Continued from page 4) PADS UPDATE Ministry Musings (Cont.) 6 JOIN US FOR WORSHIP (October 10 & 24) Sunday services also continue to stream live on-line at