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Page 1: Prince of Peace Welcomes New Pastor

Love God - Follow Jesus - Invite All

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church July 2021

Prince of Peace Welcomes New Pastor At a special congregation meeting held on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 1:00 pm in the Worship Cen-ter and virtually, via ZOOM, the congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor to extend the call to Pastor Erin E. Clausen to serve as the next pastor at Prince of Peace.

Pastor Erin, her husband, Tom, and daughters, An-ya, Lilly, and Kyrie are thrilled to be coming to Prince of Peace! Her tentative first day in the office will be on Mon-day, July 19, 2021. Pastor Erin’s first Sunday lead-ing the congregation in worship will be on Sunday, July 25, 2021. Pastor Clausen’s deep faith, genuine character, en-thusiastic spirit, caring outreach, and steadfast commitment will serve our congregation’s needs well now and into the future. Please give Pastor Erin and her family a warm wel-come!

Lifting of Restrictions

In keeping with the move to Phase 5 of pandemic restrictions by the State of Illinois, the Congregation Council

has revised our restrictions for worship and other gatherings as follows, effective immediately.

• We will not require reservations in advance.

• We will no longer screen worshippers at the door.

• We will continue using individually packaged Communion elements on a temporary basis.

• Outside groups may resume meetings at POP provided space is available, at staff discretion.

• Congregational singing is permitted during services.

• Fully vaccinated persons may choose to take off masks or wear them. Those not fully vaccinated are polite-

ly requested to wear them.

• Livestreaming of services will continue.

• Refreshments will be served by volunteers after worship in the Fellowship Hall, starting in July.

"O come, let us worship the Lord!"

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The Retired Pastor’s Page

By Pastor Peter Hellstedt

Dear Friends, By the time you read this, I will—no, wait—(you might get this as early as June 21, and I’ll still be around). In any case, this is my last chance to put in writing the message that I most want to con-vey: thank you! Thank you for the privilege of serving as your pastor. Thank you for your friendship to Cheryl and me. Thank you for your spirit, your energy, and for your commitment to the mission of Prince of Peace. Thanks especially for your kind words of appreciation in these past weeks, and for putting together a special farewell celebration. Though I won’t be your pastor any longer, I know we will cross paths from time to time (Home De-pot, maybe, or Trader Joe’s). I will miss you greatly, but new things are in store for me as well as for you, and God is good, all the time. My congratulations to Pr. Erin Clausen as she begins the call here soon. I know you will give her the warmest of welcomes, along with your ongoing support. You will all be in my prayers!

With deepest thanks, Pastor Peter Hellstedt

Vacation Bible School

Join us via Facebook Livestream. July 12th thru the 16th

6pm to 7:15pm Explore with Mrs. Wagner

& Dr. Diggingstone.

We'll see you there!

by Scott Uddenberg

The Music Notes column (Scott and family) is on a much needed and well deserved vacation. Scott and family will return soon.

Music Notes...

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Continuing the Diversity Conversation

DEI Belonging Story by Cyndi Hayward

This quote about faith is one of my favorites. It captures how we can think about diving into our diversity, equity, and inclusion journey as well as the many other changes currently happening at Prince of Peace. We have been a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation for 25 years so this is not the beginning of our story. I’ve been a member for 18 years and my own chapter in that story was about 10 years ago. I was in a low place, struggling with my faith, and living with a fear of uncer-tainty. I was recently divorced and in the process of figuring out my next chapter. It felt very overwhelming. I was starting a new relationship with Heather, who is now my wife. As I introduced her to family and friends, the reception was not going well. I was struggling to figure out my new world and not sure of the response we would get from everyone at church or even if our family belonged at Prince of Peace anymore. I had a few people from our congregation pick up that I was in a

low place and encouraged me to lean more on this community. I was attending a small bible study group at the time and one evening I poured out the whole story with no idea how it would turn out. The group just sur-rounded me with love and acceptance. These women became a great source of strength for me, and I can trace my firm belief that I belong at Prince of Peace as a child of God to that night. I’m sharing this story because it is my hope that others who are unsure of whether or where they belong will find an equally accepting commu-nity here. This is what makes it important for our congregation to continue focusing on this. This picture shows what belonging can ultimately look like once the fences and other barriers are removed. After the implicit bias sessions with Pastor Sunitha Mortha last fall; a group of us (Mary Cage, Heather Hay-ward, Tom Mueller, Mary Simonis, Valerie Thompson, Seven, and Janet Ichida) have been getting together to discuss how we can continue to move us forward. We are writing articles in Tidings, adding informational vid-eos and prayer to our worship, and putting up more visible signs that this is important to us. This month Mary Cage and her grandchild, Devon, share their story (page 5) with us about what it means for Devon to identify as non-binary, which is neither male nor female. Heather Hayward has a short guide on pronouns (page 4) to help all of us learn new skills in navigating these conversations. We will soon be adding rainbow/heart decals to our doors. We are hoping it serves as a symbol that we are a congregation where people don’t have to strive to fit in to genuinely feel like they belong.

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Book Collection for Viator House of Hospitality

by Chris Chason Thank you to all who donated books to Viator House of Hospitality. Our collection was delivered to the house in early June. In fulfilling the requests for books in easy-to-read English, we provided 43 books in these categories:

fiction (fantasy, adventure, science fiction, historical fiction) children’s dictionaries student thesauruses dual-language dictionaries (French-English and Spanish-English) American History American Government/Citizenship

These books are a blessing to the young men and will enrich their English learning.

Understanding Pronouns

by Heather Hayward

I would like to start off by saying Happy Pride Month! As we heard in the June 6th video from Reconciling

Works, Prince of Peace needs to be intentional about welcoming all. So as our congregation continues to

move forward in its DE&I journey, this month I would like to discuss the topic of pronouns and why they mat-

ter. A person’s pronoun is unique to the individual, and correctly using someone's pronouns is one of the most

basic ways to show your respect for their gender identity. Gender identity is defined as one's own internal

sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, or nonbinary. Nonbinary is an umbrella term to

describe any gender identity that does not fit into the gender binary of male and female. Since gender identity

is an important piece of all our identities, we need to begin to shift our language to avoid further assumptions

of gender identity that may possibly harm transgender and gender nonconforming people. Small changes in

language can make a big difference in people’s lives. When a person shares their pronouns, they are naming

the pronouns that they want to be referred to by in the singular third person (when referring to that person

while talking to someone else). Often, when speaking of a singular human in the third person, these pronouns

have a gender implied, such as “he” to refer to a man/boy or “she” to refer to a woman/girl. The vast majority

of people go by the pronouns sets “he/him” or “she/her.” An increasing number of people are using “they/

them” pronouns because they don’t want to go by pronouns with a gender association. There may be times

when we make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the person’s appearance or name.

These assumptions aren’t always correct, and the act of assuming (even if correct) can send a potentially harm-

ful message that their gender identity doesn’t matter. A great way to create and normalize space for people to

share their pronouns is first to share your own. If you are attending an event, you can write on your name tag

the pronouns that you go by in the corner, near your name. If you are writing an email, you could include your

pronouns in your signature line. If you are on Zoom, you can add your pronouns in parenthesis after your

name. I invite everyone to continue learning more about pronouns with the resources below, and hope you

have a better understanding of why it matters to everyone in our congregation that we make an effort to be re-

spectful to another person’s preferred pronouns.

Resources on Pronouns , Gender Pronoun Fact Sheet ,

ELCA LGBTQ+ Resources ,The Gender Unicorn

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Family Ministries by Karen Wagner

Registration information for next year’s Sunday School will be mailed out later this summer. Contact Karen Wagner at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Devin’s Story (Herman and Mary Cage’s grandchild)

I had always experienced twinges of discomfort, ever since I was a child, but it wasn’t until I was 18 or 19 that I felt the full heaviness of years of acting, inauthenticity. It was like I had built an entire shell of character around myself that was not me. It affected my behavior, told me to gravi-tate towards, and what to eat. So much of this character was tied to my conceptions of gender. To break from this was to allow myself to grow and change without resistance. For many, sex and gender align, for others they do not. For those who experience gender fluidly or rigidly in a way that does not feel well encap-sulated by their gender assigned at birth, an im-posed gender identity can feel intensely limiting. Changing my pronouns to they/them helped me open up to the world and explore connecting in a different way. Being myself, authentically, makes it easier to relate with all people. You can really tell when someone is comfortable in their own skin. I think it is important to view it this way: express-ing gender fluidly has not isolated me from the world, but rather brought me more in contact with it. Going through this change has made me more compassionate, more willing to forgive and ac-cept others the way they come. We should not stand for cultural restraints on authenticity.

Mary Cage The first time I was introduced to the broader use of pronouns was at a Lutherans Concerned (now Reconciling Works) Assembly. Someone asked me what my preferred pronouns were, I had no idea what they were talking about. The nonbi-nary issue of not totally fitting into either male or female roles was explained to me, and I said my preferred pronouns were she/her. I didn’t think much more about the issue. When Devin, our grandchild, was home for Thanksgiving in 2018, they told me they had changed their pronouns to they/them. We talked about their feelings of both masculine and femi-nine energies. I could definitely see that in them. It doesn’t feel natural to refer to a single person in the plural. It still does not come naturally for me to refer to Devin as they/them. However, I am getting better at catching myself, sometimes after I’ve referred to Devin as him. I love Devin and am very proud of our open and honest relationship. I will continue to make mistakes and he will contin-ue to forgive me. It’s very Important to me to not only love Devin but accept how they feel about themself. It will continue to be an interesting jour-ney.

Pluralism

There is no ideal, people just have different experiences of gender. Some adhere to more traditional expressions of gender whereas others find authentic expression outside of these norms. Pluralism in the context of gender means not wishing that someone has the same experience of gender as you. It means accepting and celebrating difference where it occurs, just as we celebrate the abundant di-versity of creation.

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PADS Update - July 2021 Thanks to generous donations of food from Prince of Peace shoppers, we have been providing healthy meal boxes for suburban homeless throughout the pandemic. Over 100 PADS guests have been housed in area hotels since last April. As of now, there is no further information as to whether Journeys will continue this program for the remainder of the summer. We will keep you updated on the upcoming fall PADS season as discussions are underway for safely reopening church sites that want to participate in shelter for the homeless.

Journeys broke ground on June 7th for a new facility providing year-round, 24-hour comprehensive client support, shelter and permanent housing. Services will include long-term case management, primary healthcare, substance abuse treatment, vocational development and ongoing food assis-tance. The 2 story building will also include year-round shelter with separate accommodations for men, women and families, plus onsite permanent affordable apartment units. With the growing de-mand for emergency and ongoing assistance throughout the region, this building will provide much needed hope and care for area homeless. To learn more, visit their website at jour-neystheroadhome.org

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Early Childhood Programs at Prince of Peace By Lisa Isaacs

After finishing a short but fun year, we had our fun summer camp two days a week in June and will start it back up for two weeks in August. The children

have had fun with many outdoor activities and summertime themes. We are getting ready for the fall and it will be here before we know it! Kindergarten will be on hold for this year due to low en-rollment, but we plan to bring it back in the fall of 2022! COVID has changed some things, but not the resolve of out preschool families and staff. We look forward to a fun and active year in the school! Happy summer!

Registration for 2021 - 2022 We will continue to accept registrations during the summer months. If you know of families look-ing for a quality, Christian preschool, please let them know about the programs here at Prince of Peace Preschool and Kindergarten. We have many program offerings. Come for a visit or call to learn more about our outstanding early childhood program at Prince of Peace! (847) 885-7036. Registered church members receive a 10% discount for preschool.

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Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26 A major part of Fourth of July celebrations is the brilliant fireworks that light the night sky with bursts of color and explosive charges. My enthusiasm spills over with “ooooh’s” and “ahhhh’s” of these explo-sive, dazzling wonders. How can they possibly fill a tube with chemi-cal mixtures that will form a smiley face or lips in the nighttime? I’m an ardent fan of ones that completely fill the sky with color changing from purple to gold. Bob watches for the sparkle of waterfalls while Stephanie likes the booms you can feel in your heart. My eldest grandson shows a rare aggressive side preferring the ones that loud-ly pop at people’s feet while my Oliver likes the good old sparkler. (You did know I was a grandma, didn’t you?) Half of fireworks is the waiting. The sky needs to be dark enough to truly enjoy the effects of these pyrotechnic explosions. I bet the vast majority of us have spent many hours sitting out on blankets, watching the antics of the young and old alike while imbibing a favorite beverage or two. Fireworks are part of tradition; we tend to go to the same displays sitting in the same spots for years. We can complain about mosquitos, dislike the heat and crowds but become mesmerized at the first boom. You can actually feel the excitement as you await the “ooooh’s” and” ahhhh’s” of those around you. It’s kind of amusing to realize that we are far from the happy frenzy of night time explosions when loud outbursts happen within our own walls. My father was an alcoholic. I feared his en-trance into my childhood home after he sipped more than a few of his favorite beverages. A sudden pall descended when we heard the garage door go up as we waited for the aggressive ugliness. Another acquaintance of mine was mild and almost meek until the hands of jealousy gripped his soul. You prayed to be away from these explosions. I still do my best to avoid any and all conflict in the relationships around me. It’s devastating to me to realize that there are many of us with similar backgrounds. Fiends like alcohol, unemployment, jealousy, monetary issues and envy cause explosions around us. In-stead of bright colorful lights in the sky, verbal and physical outbursts can be all too common. Chronic pain can bring people to the end of their ropes and detonate a spasm felt straight to our hearts and souls. Frustration ignites behaviors feared by many. This July, I pray you will get your opportunity to “ooooh” and “ahhh” at the colorful beauty that sizzles and pops aloft as we celebrate the birthday of our nation. When you’re transfixed on the fireworks in that night sky, know that God is watching over you. He has provided our con-gregation with trained lay persons who are ready to meet with you virtually or in-person to dis-cuss the explosions in your life. Go to God in prayer and then seriously consider getting more information about the Stephen Ministry program. It’s free and confidential! It’s time for you to talk about the explosions around you until they fizzle to the wind! Give us a call! Linda Heisel Janet Ichida Pam Johnson Mary Simonis (312) 209-2869 (630) 307-8336 (847) 382-7521 (847) 571-2541

Stephen Ministry

Ooooh . . . Ahhh By Janet Ichida

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Board of Youth Scrip Fundraiser

The Board of Youth is offering a year-round fundraiser for PoP Youth through Scrip. Scrip is a com-

pany that provides a means to purchase gift cards from over 750 restaurants, gas stations, stores

and more. Gift cards can be delivered to your home or sent electronically to your recipients (Ecards).

Never forget to “shop” for a gift again. A percentage of each gift card purchased will go towards all of

our youth programs, retreats and National Youth Gathering.

In order to purchase gift cards you need to go to their website, enroll and create your profile. You

will be able to order through out the year using this same profile. Click on: Enroll

(shopwithscrip.com). In order for Prince of Peace to receive the funds you must enter the following

enrollment code: FL937A3E82873. Click register, create a username and password and fill in the

necessary information (note: you can skip the student name/classroom questions). You only need to

do these steps the first time you visit the site. It’s easiest to register from a computer or tablet the

first time. After that...shop away!

Please consider shopping with Scrip and helping to fund Prince of Peace Youth programs!

From the Board of Stewardship: Hello Prince of Peace Family from the Board of Stewardship. You may recall if you attended worship on April 18th of this year the temple talk given by Tim Urness. Tim Urness is the Regional Gift Planner for the ELCA Foundation for Illinois. Tim is an integral team member of the ELCA Foundation. Tim is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and secur-ing new, ongoing, and planned gifts from individuals in support of synods, congregations, and the ELCA. What can a Regional Gift Planner do for you? Assist Lutherans in reaching their Charitable Goals and Cultivate planned gifts as part of an Estate Plan. In addition to a Bequest in your Will or Estate Plan, there are many ways to create a lasting legacy. If you have a Donor Advised Fund, you or your heirs can direct a gift to a charity once per year. Gifts to a Donor Advised Fund are tax deductible* according to IRS regulations and the money grows tax free. If you don’t have a Donor Advised Fund already, Tim Urness with the ELCA Foundation can help you start one. Donor Advised Funds are a great way to involve family members in charitable giving deci-sions and stewardship. If you have felt good about supporting Prince of Peace during your lifetime, con-sider how you can make Prince of Peace a part of your legacy by talking with Tim. You can contact Tim Urness at 331-444-3120 or [email protected]. *Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances. Consult with your tax advisor or accountant for spe-cific benefits.

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Schaumburg Township Food Pantry

We are all so excited vacation time has come and things are open-ing again. But for many in our community, the need to feed families is still there. I urge you all to add a few items to your shopping list and drop off in the bins in the fellowship hall. Yes, the bins are back and waiting to be filled. As you can see, there is a great need for beans, in all colors, dry and canned. Pantry supply has been de-pleted. It is a great source of good, inexpensive protein. As al-ways, I thank you for generosity and love to our community. Have a safe summer.

This list can always be found on the church website under Board of Serving Ministries.

July 2021 Food List

• dry pinto beans, red kidney beans, navy

beans, black beans, great northern white

beans

• dry lentils

• canned black beans, kidney beans, refried

beans, chick peas

• pasta Roni

• white or brown rice

• large 19 oz. canned soups (Progresso,

Campbell’s Chunky)

• boxed pasta noodles

• jarred pasta sauce (Ragu, Prego, etc.)

• canned spinach, beets, asparagus, sauer-

kraut, zucchini, carrots, lima beans

• canned pineapple, apricots, plums, cranber-

ry sauce, applesauce, mandarin oranges

• canned meat (chicken, turkey, ham, Spam,

etc.)

• cream soups (chicken, mushroom, celery)

• raisins, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, granola

bars

• pudding, Jell-O

• bottled juice, juice boxes

• condiments such as ketchup, mustard,

mayo, barbeque sauce, relish, pickles, sal-

ad dressing, mushrooms, gravy, olives,

seasonings

• baking items such as Jiffy Mix, cake mix,

frosting, oil, sugar, flour, baking soda

• shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodor-

ant, toothpaste, shave cream, razors

• baby diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5, 6), wipes

• paper towels, tissue, toilet paper

• fresh fruit such as apples, oranges, Cuties,

bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries,

grapefruit, kiwis, peaches, pears, plums,

melons, etc.

• fresh vegetables such as green beans,

broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, as-

paragus, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower,

beets, kale, mushrooms, etc.

• refrigerated items such as butter, yogurt,

cheese, orange juice, etc.

• frozen Items such as frozen vegetables, fro-

zen fruit, frozen boxed meals, waffles, etc.

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Prince of Peace Book Club - July by Kathy Tweeten

The Prince of Peace Book Club will meet July 30, 2021 via zoom at 10 AM. If re-strictions for COVID have changed by that time, I will send out a note for us to meet at church. We’ll be reading Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie. In post World War II Japan, Nori, the illegitimate daughter of a Japanese aristocrat and a Black American GI, is hidden away to conceal the family shame. All Nori knows is the attic she is confined to until she meets her legitimate half-brother, Akira. This complicated story is about shame and the need for acceptance.

Questions, please call Kathy Tweeten at 847-971-0192 or email [email protected]

HELP WANTED - Read To Learn Adult Literacy Volunteers New Tutor Training will be held in late August. Call (847) 718-7724 to register. We meet at Prince of Peace on Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 3:00PM for 10 weeks in the Fall, and for 10 weeks in the Spring. Any questions? Call Pam Johnson (847)382-7521.

POP GOLFERS The 2021 Annual Church Golf Outing is scheduled.

While we continue waiting to see pandemic improvement with current vaccine distributions, it is hoped that by August many ways of our lives will be more in line with 2019. However, the future is still unsure. With that said, we remain positive and have scheduled the 2021 Annual Prince of Peace Golf Outing - Saturday August 14, 2021. As in the past, we will tee it up with our friends from Christus Victor Lutheran Church at The Bridges of Poplar Creek. The current plan is to just play golf, but we are considering some type of social gathering afterwards, depending upon the pandemic conditions in August. So, if you are interested in playing, please note this date on your calendar. The golf committee will continue monitoring the pandemic impact and provide future updates via the Tid-ings. If you have any questions, suggestion or wish to join us, please let me know - Doug Beshears (630-991-3597).

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Adult Learning Opportunities Passages meets through Zoom - contact Karen Wagner at [email protected] for Zoom meeting codes. Men’s Bible Study meets through Zoom—contact Tom Pfeifer at [email protected] for meet-ing codes. Rebekah Circle - meets through Zoom, the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:00PM. Please contact Elaine Scholtes or Pam Johnson for meeting information. Other groups are cancelled until we are allowed to be together again. Please contact the church office at 847/885-7010 for more information.

Prince of Peace Mission Statement

Love God – Follow Jesus – Invite All

2nd Saturday Date Night July 10, 2021

Summer Breeze is the place to be for our July gathering. We will continue to enjoy the outdoor music venues – this time at “Schravinia” located on the grounds of the Prai-rie Center for the Arts. Maggie Speaks is the band. They will begin at 7pm, and we will gather at 6pm. Bring your own chair, favorite summer beverage, dinner or

snacks. Hope to see you there!! RSVP to help us know who to look for and how much space to “save”; please text Jill at 847-754-7657. **Mark your calendars – August date night will be held on the 3rd Saturday, August 21st. Details to come!

Save the Dates!!

Deaf Ministry “Dine to Donate” Fundraiser Events:

Wednesday July 21, 2021 Village Tavern All Day

Wednesday August 11, 2021 Lou Malnati’s All Day

Wednesday September 8, 2021 Garibaldi’s All Day

Wednesday October 13, 2021 Buona Beef All Day

Be on the lookout for fundraiser flyers on our Prince of Peace Facebook page to use for ordering

your meals during these event dates.

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Upcoming Events June 27 - Pastor Hellstedt’s Last Sunday

Pastor Hellstedt’s Retirement Picnic

June 30 - Pastor Hellstedt’s last day at PoP

July 12 - 16 - Virtual VBS - streamed on FB

July 25 - Pastor Erin Clausen’s first service

August 14 - PoP Golf Outing

Stay Safe

Worship Schedule: (regular services are currently suspended)

Live streaming via Facebook on Sundays at 9:45 am Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Schaumburg

Prince of Peace Staff – Here to Serve!

Retiring Pastor Peter Hellstedt Incoming Pastor Erin Clausen Director of Discipleship Karen Wagner Director of Music Scott Uddenberg Organist Collin Crowl Preschool & Kindergarten Director Lisa Isaacs Church Secretary Sonia DeLuca Nursery Attendants: Lore Mueller Donna Beall Sarah Biancalana Yvonne Preston Tidings Editor Leslie Beck

Prince of Peace Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Phone: 847/885-7010 FAX: 847/885-0211 Preschool Phone: 847/885-7036

Email: [email protected] Web Page: www.princeofpeace.net Editorial Note: The August 2021 Tidings deadline is

Monday, July 12, 2021 at 9AM. We welcome submissions by email ([email protected]), faxed, typed or

legibly handwritten.

If you would like to receive your monthly Tidings Newsletter via email, please

submit your email address to the church office, 847-885-7010 or [email protected].

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church A Reconciling Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

930 West Higgins Road Schaumburg, IL 60195

Tidings

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