Eric Walker joins his family who are already members: Jenny Walker, Audrie (5), & Wesley who was baptized as an infant March 29, 2015. They live

in Green Valley & recently returned from spending 3 years in England due to Eric’s job as a mechanical engineer at Cat. His hobbies include carpentry, slow-pitch softball, & bowling. Jenny will be teaching 5th grade at Good Shepherd Lutheran School this coming school year.

Crystal Rife was born in Pekin and has lived in Green Valley for 9 years. She works at American Flooring. She enjoys hunting, fishing and yard work.

Christopher & Ketra Stocks live in Pekin. Hunter (8) & Cohen (3) will be baptized in May. Christopher works at Kickapoo Drilling & loves anything outdoors & sports. Wes & Kim Williams are his uncle & aunt. Ketra is a stay-at-home mom but will one day return to work in the insurance field. She loves to draw & paint. They’re both 1999 grads from Delavan HS.

Becky Martin lives in South Pekin. Her husband’s name is Randy and they have a daughter & grandchildren whom they enjoy spending time with.

She is a preschool teacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran School. She loves to crochet, knit, sew, camp & read. Member Beverly Kitchell is Becky’s mother.

St. John’s Lutheran Church

Newsletter

Sand Prairie – Green Valley, IL

May 2015

The

ParishScope

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY: On May 3rd, in the late service, ten of our youth will be confirmed. Kaylee Carson, Emme Eisfelder, Augie Fuelberth, Sully Larimore, Trinity Lutz, Haley Noel, Jacob Urish, Madelynn Weiland, Lane Prather, Caleb Willmert. The new confirmands will receive their first Holy Communion at the services on Mother’s Day, May 8th. Please welcome and pray for these new communicant members. A CONFIRMATION DINNER & QUESTIONING - for the eighth grade students, their families, sponsors, and mentors, will be held this Friday, May 1st at 6:00 at Avanti’s in Pekin. The meal is being partially funded by our Parish Education , Thrivent, and our local Thrivent Financial Associate, Baird Woolsey. The Sunday School and Thrivent will present the confirmands with mementos. Questioning will follow the dinner. MILESTONE MINISTRY: Stepping Forward in Life: On Sunday, May 17th, the following high school seniors will be recognized in the 8:00 service: Taylor Becker, Jordon Breedlove, Sydney Flier, Nick Friedrich, Jeremy Gathman, Garrett Graff, Eli Larimore, Katie Reader, Jillian Runyon, Tyler Stewart, Christopher Urish, Shelby Williams, Joe Woodruff, and Katie Worner. Each graduate will receive a blanket with their name, baptismal date, and confirmation verse, symbolic of the love of their parents, of the church community, and of the Lord, in a service designed to bring everyone back to the promises they made at their baptisms. Following the service everyone is invited to congratulate them in a reception line. GOOD SHEPHERD GRADUATION: We congratulate the young people who will be graduating from Good Shepherd Lutheran School this year, including our member, Augie Fuelberth, Kaylee Carson, Emme Eisfelder, and Haley Noel. The graduation will be held on Sunday, May 27th, at 6:30 PM. A reception will follow. We invite you to join us in this special rite on behalf of our congregation’s mission and ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran School.

Prayers for the Search for a Principal for Good Shepherd Lutheran School After much prayerful consideration, Mr. Joel Kilgus has made the difficult decision to not continue working at GSLS after his current contract expires on June 30, 2015. Please pray for him and for our school during this transition, and the search for a new principal. If you know of Lutheran school principals or others who would be good candidates for this position, please contact one of our church’s school board members: Troy Thomas, Ryan Fairchild, or Dan Smith.

MESSAGE FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE: God is doing great things through our church and as we continue to grow, we are blessed with the priceless benefits of two full time Pastors and a DCE. As we count our blessings, we need to remember to continue to respond to God's love with our tithes and offerings. Offerings to the church are currently running behind expenses and we will be approaching a deficit by mid-year if this trend continues. Please prayerfully consider increasing your weekly giving to help meet the growing ministry needs. SCHOOL AUCTION TOTAL - The net amount raised for Good Shepherd's auction was $79,566.07! Thanks to all who donated, helped, sponsored, &/or prayed for this year's event!

IMPROVING YOUR PARENTING - Jim & Patty Fairchild are teaching a class for parents (& grandparents) (written by Dennis & Barbara Rainey) on Sunday in the conference room at 9:30am.

BOOK of MARK - Pastor Chris is teaching a course on the book of Mark on Sundays at 9:30am in the fellowship hall. For Better AND for Worse Marriage Workshop - Pastor Kevin & Tawn Bueltmann will lead a 4-session workshop for married & engaged couples of all ages. Sessions will be held during VBS from 6:30-7:45pm Sunday-Wednesday, June 7-10 at Good Shepherd Lutheran School.

March

Perfect Attendance

Preschool

Jacob Sansom

Cohen Stocks

Eilayah Sansom

Kindergarten

Griffin Eisfelder

Benji Wyss

6th

Grade

Alecia Clark

Bennett Jennings

7th

Grade

Chelsey Catton

Emily Hilst

8th

Grade

Jacob Urish

Sully Larimore

PARISHSCOPE

DEADLINE: Please get

your Parishscope news

to the Church office by

May 17, 2015.

May Birthdays

May 1

Hunter Lutz, Daniel Smith

May 2

Karen Kohl, Ian Krueger,

Chelsea Leman

May 3

Katie Meyers

May 5

John Breedlove, Kaseh Pfanz

May 7

Terry Graff, Stephanie Smith

May 9

Angela Hilst, Ron Weiland,

Rick Woith

May 10

Quintin Krueger, Karl Lutz,

Castynn Richards

May 11

Khylee Lutz, Shauna Thomas,

Tyler Throener, Phyllis

Willard *,

May 13

Matthew Juraco, Joel Kilgus,

Elijah Simpson

May 14

Gene Lutz *,

May 15

Becky Janus

May 16

Katie Woodruff

May 17

Patty Smith, Wes Williams

May 18

Kimberly Gray, Linda

Krueger

May 19

Lila Anderson, Greg

Friedrich, Kim Montgomery

May 20

Ivan Larimore,

May 21

Sandi Duval, Jim Fairchild

May 22

James Proehl

May 23

Tricia Jennings, Cameron

Peeler,

May 24

Larry Ary, AnnaMae

Friedrich *, Dawn Holloway

May 26

Dustin Friedrich, Wendy

Juraco

May 27

Bailey Worner, Jenna Worner

May 28

Douglas Golden, Faith

Leman, Jacob Smith

May 29 Alan Hall, Mary Urish * May 30 John Ball *, Sandy Weiland

SAVE! Our congregation is

involved in many recycling

projects: newspaper,

aluminum cans, cancelled

stamps, religious materials,

eye glass wear, and Campbell

soup labels. You are welcome

to participate where you are

able. Call the church office if

you have questions.

Flower Chart for May May 3rd Altar – Confirmation May 10h

Altar – In honor of Mothers by JFC Pulput- In honor of Florence Fuelberth & Vivian Clausen by Barb and John Fuelberth May 17th Altar – In memory of Barbie Fuelberth’s birthday May 17th, given by her family Pulpit – Given by Dude & Peg Meisinger in honor of their 55th Wedding Anniversary. May 24th Altar – Given by Larry & Connie Ary in honor of their 43rd Wedding Anniversary and Larry’s birthday. Pulpit – Given by the Epiphany Society in honor of Bill & Linda Krueger’s Wedding Anniversary.

May Preaching Schedule

May 3, 6, 24, 27- Pastor

Kevin

May 10, 13, 17, 20, 31 -

Pastor Chris

Worship Participant

SCHEDULE

May

8:00am Worship

Elder: Dale Moehring

Acolytes: Carson Speck,

Kolten Ehlers

Altar Duty: Vergie

Friedrich, Linda Turney

10:45 am Worship

Elder: Mark Simpson

Acolytes: Lane Prather,

Bennett Jennings

SERVICE PROJECTS; The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade confirmation classes were involved in the following service projects as part of their curriculum: restocking the busy bags, participating in the November workday, assisting the Ewes Treasure’s changeover in the fall and spring, wrapping Christmas presents for Angel Tree, delivering Angel Tree gifts, giving devotions at Mardelle Manor and Autumn Accolade, helping carryout purchases at the fall bazaar, and preparing Tender Mercy food packages at the Morton Midwest Food Bank. We thank them and hope that by helping others, they experienced the love that Jesus shows to them.

May Anniversaries May 5 Dick & Diane Beebe May 8 Gary & Donna Hilst May 12 Gary & Stephanie Barth Alan & Norma White May 22 Chuck & Deb Null May 25 Al & Wendy Juraco May 27 Larry & Connie Ary May 29 Tim & Erin LeCrone

Epiphany Society’s will meet on Thursday, May 7th at 12:00pm for Guest Day. Everyone bring a Guest and a covered dish. Hostesses are Lottie Munter & Jo Weyhrich. Please remember your Personal Care Items.

REBEKAH CIRCLE will meet on Thrusday, May 14th.

CAMP CILCA: Thrivent will provide $35.00 for each student attending Camp CILCA this summer. Call the church office, Sharon Lemon, Diane LaLone, or Bill Krueger.

Mother

When I was young, you helped me grow,

And taught me all I had to know.

Of Love and trust and faith and hope,

And everthing it takes to cope.

You may have throught I didn’t hear,

Or maybe that you weren’t quite clear;

But all the things you taught to me,

Were heeded very carefully,

And now I want to thank you for Your love, your care, and so much

more!

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Sand Prairie 13443 Townline Road - Green Valley, IL 61534-9216

(309)348-3180 – Secretary@SandPrairieLutheran.org

www.SandPrairieLutheran.org Pastor Kevin Bueltmann

Pastor Chris Sansom

DCE Bill Krueger

School Principal Joel Kilgus

+++

8:00 am Traditional Worship

9:30 am Sunday School & Bible Classes

10:45 am Contemporary Worship

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

Paid Green Valley, IL

Permit No. 1

May 2015

Mother May I?

When I think of the month of MAY I think of MOTHER’s Day and that’s what made me think of “Mother May I?” which is a children’s game, also known as "Captain May I" and "Father May I". One player plays the "mother", "father" or "captain". The other players are the "children" or "crewmembers". To begin the game, the mother or father stands at one end of a room and turns around facing away, while all the children line up at the other end. The children take turns asking "Mother/Father, may I ____?" and makes a movement suggestion. For example, one might ask, "Mother/Father, may I take five steps forward?" (Wikipedia)

When I think of May, I also think of graduations and confirmations. Many people think of these events as milestones that mark the end of something, but in reality it is really a ‘sending’ or a ‘giving of permission’ to accomplish greater things through Christ who strengthens us.

After Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21) Where is Jesus sending you to share His love? Do you have His permission to GO? Yes, you MAY!

In Christ’s Love Pastor Kevin Bueltmann