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“Growing Together in Peace” Vol. CXI No. 6

August, 2019

Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, August 11, 2019

Join us for worship on August 11th as we prepare to send our children and teachers back to school. All students and teachers are invited to bring their backpacks or work bags to church to be blessed! The filled backpacks that are being donated to the Palos area schools will also be blessed.

After the service please join us for fellowship in Zion Hall. The Fellowship and Outreach committee will be serving sundae’s for anyone that would like one. There will be some coffee cakes for those that don’t want ice cream that early. We will also have games for all ages and just a fun kick off for back to school!

On Sunday, August 25th Rev. Jed Watson will be

installed as Senior Pastor of Peace Memorial Church.

The service will take place in the afternoon (exact time

will be printed in the bulletin) and will be followed by

light refreshments.

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September Messenger Deadline Articles and news for the

September issue of The Messenger are due into the office by Monday August 12th.

The issue will be available for pickup on Sunday, August 25th.

The Long and Short of It By Rev. Jed Watson, Senior Pastor

Friends: A long time ago now I attended a United Methodist congregation in Lincoln, Nebraska. The senior minister was an old veteran of the trade, and at that time he was finishing up a long and notable career. One time he preached a sermon called ‘The Lighter the Load, the Better,’ or something like

that. It's interesting that I remember it all these years later. He zeroed in on the paralyzing effect that too much dogma and doctrine can have on a life of faith: too many things to believe, and too many requirements to believe things in certain ways. It can be a problem for people. But he had a solution. He said it would be a good exercise for every Christian person to sit down sometime, alone, find some space, take a little time, and write down those things in their faith life that are most important to them - those things, in other words, that they really and truly and honestly believe. Not what you think you should believe, or are supposed to believe. But what you really believe. He said this, too, and I think this was his point: "Don't worry if it’s a short list. The lighter the load, the better," he said. Whatever's on that list is where you are today. You may add or subtract from that list at some point, but as for right now, that's where you are. Then, put the list down and go out into the world to do the real business of faith, which is living. Go out and find the path that has been cleared uniquely for you, trusting that you have everything you need to take the next step. And take it. Live it. Experience it. Be it. Go with the flow. Swim in the channel, gracefully - effortlessly. It's like Jesus suggests in Luke’s gospel and elsewhere: you can only do so much thinking in life. Because mostly what life is about is...living. It's about experience - experiencing. It's about going out into this world and...being - being whoever you were called to be. Peace and Love, Pastor Jed

Thoughts to Ponder Sometimes, when you’re feeling your lowest, the real you is summoned.

And you understand, maybe for the first time ever, how grand you are, because you discover that vulnerable doesn’t mean powerless, scared doesn’t mean lacking in beauty, and uncertainty doesn’t mean that you’re lost.

These realizations alone will set you on a journey that will take you for beyond what you used to think of as extraordinary.

There is always a bright side.

Mission Focus For August August will see the Mission Committee turn its focus to Homelessness focusing on a coat drive and toiletries drive. Please help to support both activities. Watch the bulletin for details.

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Missions Committee By Gaile Sprissler The Missions Committee has been brainstorming for new ways for Peace Memorial to reach out to the community and make new connections. We recently have found several new local organizations that can benefit from our gifts and donations of volunteer time, donated goods and funds. In the first half of 2019 we have:

Supported Pads with volunteer cooked meals; blankets, sheets and pillowcases; toiletries and small stuffed toys.

Collected 49 heart-healthy cereals and delivered them to Operation Blessing. Gave yarn to the Tinley Park L:ibrary Crochet and Knitting Group and Peace Village to make items for

children and preemies in hospitals. Donated funds to Youth Ministries via the Camp Scholarship Fund, Night Ministry, Support returning

teachers and students, the College Finals Boxes, and the Backpack Project. Gave clothing, sheets, toiletries, stuffed animals and funds to Beds Plus. Gave clothing to Sheldon Heights Church of Christ for their food and clothing pantry. Donated funds for Homeless Ministries via Night Ministry, Beds Plus, All God’s People, Operation

Blessing, and Pads. In addition to continuing to support the above, some of the ideas and plans we have for the second half of this year are:

Support the Crop Walk Begin a Yarn Ministry. Host a Coat, Glove, and Hat Ministry; collections for this will begin in September. Ronald McDonald House - volunteer for the Cookie Bake and bring small toys. Organize volunteers to prepare lunch bags for Beds Plus homeless day visitors. Once a month prepare a meal for approximately 25 people at Beds Plus’ Tuesday night dinners.

We are always open to new ideas and projects where PMC can make a difference. Tell a member of the committee your ideas or knowledge of a situation where we can help. Continue to bring in those needed toiletries, they are going to various places. Also, we are continually finding new places.

PMC People – are helping so many others, in so many ways.

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THE BEARS CARE By Gaile Sprissler What are those little Peace Bears doing after they leave the wagon in the back of the church? After they have absorbed the holy messages and blessings from attending several services? Here are the stories of a few of those bears. Emma Cleary, 5 years old, is a twin and was born with a hole in her heart. She had to wait until she was old enough to have heart surgery, and finally she was scheduled for surgery at Advocate Children’s Hospital on October 1, 2018. Emma always did everything with her brother since they were born. He was her other half. But now she had to go through this scary physical journey all by herself. She was given a Peace Bear on the morning of her surgery. She was emotional, but the bear helped to make her happy and calmer. The nurse prepped the bear as well as Emma, easing some of Emma’s apprehension. She taped the IV tube on Emma’s arm, and put tape on the bear’s arm, she put a mask over the bear’s mouth and a hair cap on its head just like Emma’s. Emma named the bear, Cuddles. Her surgery was successful, and Cuddles was waiting for Emma when she returned to her room. Both Emma and Cuddles are still doing well.

After hearing about a diagnosis of cancer from her sister in Ohio, Janet Hansen mailed a Peace Bear to her sister. Her sister thought it was such a touching thing to do, but she was especially moved by the message attached to the bear. She discussed it with her husband and decided to bring it to their church to suggest that they give out prayer bears. They offered to donate a generous gift to get the project started. Her sister departed this life a year later after an exhausting struggle with her illness and during that time the Peace Bear was always close by for comfort.

An elderly man, who lives out of state lost his wife. They had been married for over 50 years. He was a rough and gruff man, a 20-year veteran, not sentimental at all. When his wife died he didn’t cry, but was devastated, nevertheless. He was given a Peace Bear by a relative. He started weeping when he got it and was touched that strangers were praying for him. It was many years since he went to church. His wife and kids were involved with many charitable projects, but he wasn’t. After he read the card he put the bear on his bed, and decided to keep it there, for companionship.

Charlie Haase knew when her dad received a Peace Bear. He was in the hospital with cancer. After he passed, it was given to her as a remembrance of him. She calls it her daddy bear, and sleeps with it. When she is sad or really missing him, she hugs and kisses it. It stays in bed with her all the time. She was given the daddy bear in 2014, and it is still most precious to her.

Don’t let those bears sit in that wagon too long. They are anxious to get out there and do what they have been commissioned to do. Perhaps bring joy, or comfort, or just a hug. And always, they bring Peace. Attached to each bear is a note that reads:

Dear Friend, This bear has sat in the pews during worship at Peace Memorial United Church of Christ on 10300 W 131st Street in Palos Park, Illinois. It has heard the Word of God read, prayers prayed, and songs of praise sung, and sermons preached. It has been given love and loved by others. Now it comes to you, with prayers for your comfort, strength and healing. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His care. With love and best wishes, From your friends at Peace Memorial Church

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All Church “Oktoberfest”

Friday, October 4th

From 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Live band begins playing at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 8, 2019 Join us for Celebration Sunday on September 8th. We will recognize those moving from Cradle Roll to Sunday School and doing the presentation of Bibles during worship. After worship join us for a potluck cookout held at the Picnic Pavilion. Burgers, hotdogs and chips will be provided by the church. Each family attending is being asked to bring a cold side dish or dessert to share. Activities for children will be in & around the Family Life Center and will include games, a bounce house, the local Fire Department will be there and the baked pie contest will be held again this year!! This is an ALL CHURCH event and the community is invited! We hope you will join us! Watch for sign-up sheets and more information.

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Rummage Sale September 28th Items can start to be brought in for the Fall Rummage Sale beginning Tuesday, September 3rd (the church is closed on September 2nd for the Labor Day holiday). Items need to be in good condition as they have a better chance of being sold such

as household items, clothes, furniture and working electronics. Please bring your items to Zion Hall.

Birthday Greetings August, 2019

August 3 Joanne Swinarski August 4 Jonathan Sulek August 5 Brian Koch August 6 Betty Jane Brueggeman August 7 A.J. Kueltzo August 8 Russell Blaser August 9 Donna Kallemeyn Ellen Starace James Vondrak August 10 Theresa Kloos Raymond Kruse V Yvonne Robbins Elise Signore August 11 Ellen Holmes

August 12 Steven Oremovich Carl Pratscher, II August 13 Carol Hoefler August 14 Nicole Fazekas Richard Lisak, Jr. August 15 Elenore Chase Tim Kraft August 17 Pamela Kruse Amber Ostrowski Robert Signore August 21 Laura Lisak Wendy Nault

August 24 Douglas Ruth August 25 Matthew Hoefler Karen Schaefer August 26 Mark Skala Heidi Szymborski Helen Zimmermann August 27 Alicia Mrowca August 28 Phyllis Collins August 29 Linnea Johnson

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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2 3

4 9:30 am Worship; Communion

5 10—2 pm Make a Joyful Noise Music Camp 7 pm Residence Board

6 10—2 pm Make a Joyful Noise Music Camp 11 am Bible Study—Peace Village

7 7 am Volunteers 10—2 pm Make a Joyful Noise Music Camp 2 pm Worship Peace Village 7 pm Fellowship & Outreach

8 10—2 pm Make a Joyful Noise Music Camp

9 10—2 pm Make a Joyful Noise Music Camp

10 11-4 pm Fellowship & Outreach, Chapel

11 9:30 am Worship, Blessing of the Backpacks, Make A Joyful Noise Presenta-tion 10:30 am Fellowship Sundae Sunday 11:00 am Mission Committee

12 Messenger Deadline

13 11 am Bible Study—Peace Village

14 7 am Volunteers

15 16 17 9—11 am Trustee/Com- mittee Meeting

18 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Fellowship

19 20 11 am Bible Study—Peace Village 7 pm Alzhei-mer’s Support

21 7 am Volunteers 9 am Messenger Helpers 7 pm Trustees

22 23 24

25 Messenger Pickup 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 3 pm Installa-tion Service for Rev. Jed Watson

26 27 11 am Bible Study—Peace Village

28 7 am Volunteers

29 30 31

August 2019

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PEACE MEMORIAL UCC 10300 West 131st Street Palos Park, IL 60464

Our Members And Friends Congratulations

Kara and Ernie Escalante on their wedding anniversary July 21st

Peace Memorial Church 10300 West 131st Street,

Palos Park, IL 60464 Phone (708) 448-7833 FAX (708) 448-0824

www.pmcucc.org Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Church School 9:45 a.m.

Rev. Jed Watson. . . . . . . . . . . . .Senior Pastor Robert Mohr. . . . Director of Music Ministry Tom Osborne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organist Pamela Kueltzo. . . . . . . . . . Office Manager/ Editor April Krzeczkowski. . . . . . . . . . .Financial & Record Keeping Secretary

Peace Memorial Residences 3200 W. 101st Street

Evergreen Park, IL 60805

Peace Village 10300 Village Circle Drive Palos Park, IL 60464-2666

(708) 361-6091 Linda Beushausen . . . . . . Executive Director

Peace Village Circle Inn

(708) 671-2470 Diane Oremovich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Administrator Circle Inn

South Suburban PADS sent their thanks for the generous In-Kind gift of food items. Our donations help provide a pathway to home for a family, Veteran, or other vulnerable person in the south suburban region.

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Thank you to our gardeners who have continued each year to cultivate the beautiful plants outside of the church and provide a truly spectacular vision for not only our eyes but our hearts and souls.

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Baked Pie Contest is back for Celebration Sunday,

September 8, 2019

Do you have a prize-winning pie to enter? A family favorite and “Mmm-it’s so good”

recipe? 10 entries will be accepted for this contest. No duplicate categories. Submit the

names of your top three types of pies. Applicants accepted on first submission basis. If there is an earlier submission on your first choice, we will choose your second choice, etc.

Entries will be judged on looks, and taste. Win PMC bragging rights!

1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded. Dig through your recipes and get an applica�on from Gaile Sprissler.

Be a JUDGE for the Pie Contest

Do you eat pie for breakfast or raid the fridge for some at midnight? Is Baker’s Square your favorite restaurant? Did you excel in Algebra class?

Love pie – then be a judge for this contest. You will be asked to taste 10 pies and judge on appearance and taste. The pies will be entered by number only. 3 judges will be selected. Please get an applica�on from Gaile Sprissler. Applicants accepted on first submission basis.