April, 2015
Vol. CVIII No. 3
“Growing Together in Peace”
Youth Benefit Day at Buona Beef
April 5—Easter
8:00 a.m. Worship
8:30 a.m. Potluck Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Worship
On Sunday April 19th, head on over to Buona Beef to support the youth of Peace Memorial Church! From 10:30 am
until 10:30 pm that day, 15% of all sales from our group will
be donated directly to the youth of PMC. All you need to
do is go eat at Buona Beef and make sure you give them
the flyer for our event! The event is only happening at the
Buona Beef located at 9525 W. 131st Street which is right
down the road from the church! Ask for extra copies of the
flyer and hand them out to your friends and family as well!
The more people that eat, the more money we make! And
everyone needs to eat! You can also sign up on our giant
“Reservation Card” in the narthex. Just an additional way to
show the youth you are supporting them. There will also be
a menu for you to look at, which you can also find at
www.buona.com. On April 19th, come to church hungry
and head on over to Buona Beef for a bite to eat! And
don’t forget your flyer!
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10:45 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt
May Messenger
Deadline
Articles and news
for the May issue
of The Messenger
is due into the office by Monday,
April 13th. The
issue will be available for pickup
on Sunday, April 26th.
If They Forget….Tell Them The Stories
And Help Them Remember
By Pastor Shana Johnson
A week doesn’t go by when my mailbox at the church is not filled with glossy brochures and eyecatching postcards promoting a new strategy to “grow” the church. A week doesn’t go by when my email box is not filled with the latest e-mail blast about a seminar I cannot afford to miss as a parish
pastor that will give me the tools and secret strategies for filling the pews. A week doesn’t go by
when the ministry journals and magazines that I subscribe to are not filled with articles about the impending doom of the Church of Jesus Christ in America. And honestly, a week doesn’t go by when at
least one person does not seek me out wanting to talk to me about their fears that the Church (both the
universal and local church) is no longer relevant in the world.
Sometimes I get caught up in it all and I wonder if there will be a time when the message of Jesus Christ is no longer
received and the Church becomes obsolete. Sometimes I get caught up in it all and I become fearful my children and
children’s children will no longer remember the story and stories of our faith. And sometimes I get so caught up in it all
that I almost believe there will come a day when the message of Jesus will be completely forgotten and left behind by
generations to come.
But then…I remember some thing important. I remember how easy it is to share our faith. I remember that there will
also be those who are seeking, hungering, and thirsting for the truth and grace of Jesus Christ.
Before his death, my father-in-law helped me remember. In the past year, Bill had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and
the disease seemed to be progressing quite rapidly. During the month of December, Bill stayed with us for the Christmas season. It was heart breaking to see and experience how this disease was so quickly robbing him of his memories,
his knowledge and in many ways his identity. But it was also a gift. Bill taught me unknowingly the simple aspect of
faith that I think that I had forgotten somewhere along the way.
One Sunday afternoon, he and I were sitting in the living room singing Christmas carols. (Proof that the brain is a beautiful and complex thing. Although there was so much that he could not remember, when we sang together he could remember all the words to most of the familiar hymns.) Now to fully understand what I am going to describe next, you
need to know that Bill had been a pastor for years in the American Baptist church and had more recently retired from the
Centre for the Study of Biblical Research, an organization that he founded that promoted the study of the biblical texts in
their original forms.
As we sat together, he looked at the piano across the room and pointed to the crèche that was on top of it. He simply
asked me, “Who are those?” At first, it took me a second to understand what he meant. “Oh, you mean the figurines in
the nativity scene that is on the piano.” “Yes,” he nodded. I thought about it for a minute and I brought all of the figurines over to him setting them on the table beside his chair. I began to tell him who each figurine represented and told
him the Christmas story through the whole birth narratives found in the Gospels.
When I finished we sat in silence for awhile, both of us with tears in our eyes. Then he meekly looked at me and very
lucidly said, “And what if I forget the story again. What if I forget what you just told me?” To which I responded,
“Then I will tell it to you again and again. If you forget, I will tell you the story and help you remember.” He smiled
and said, “Tell me again,” and I did.
Not too long after his visit with us, his conditioned worsened and on February 16th, God took him home. I will never
forget that last gift of truth that he gave to me.
And the truth is this…people might stray away from the church, they might not even remember the stories of Jesus, but
we always have the opportunity to help them remember.
Blessings,
Pastor Shana
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SAVE THE DATE !
Peace Village Family Fest
Saturday, May 30th, 2015
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Invite your children, your grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, your friends and their families for a fun-filled day of Spring
celebration!
There will be pony rides, games for one and all, a dunk tank, a magician, adult and
children’s Bingo, a mime, music, a bouncy house, face painting, food, ice cream
and much more!
The Peace Village Family Fest will take place in Village Commons and
outside along the walking path in the back of the community.
Greater Chicago
Food Depository
SWIFT
Southwest Interfaith Team
Speakers Forum
Sunday, April 19th
Peace Memorial Church
10300 W. 131st Street, Palos Park, IL
Registration: 2:30—3 p.m.
Program: 3:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
“End of Life Traditions
(and After Life Beliefs)
In our Faiths
A Donation of Disposable Diapers for
RESPOND NOW
would be appreciated.
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The next volunteer trip will be on
Saturday, April 25th. Please sign up
in Zion Hall or call Ruth Van Hecke
at 708-923-0387. Food donations are
being collected as well. You may
drop off all donations in Zion Hall
and they will be delivered to the
Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The following items are always in
need (no glass jars): canned fruit and
vegetables, cereal, peanut butter and
jelly, mac & cheese, pasta and sauce,
rice, soup, stew and tuna.
Live and Learn and Pass It On.
More on Mental Illness
(Submitted by Gary Kwiatkowski)
I came across a fascinating book that someone gave me
several years ago. It is called Live and learn and Pass it
On. Here are some of the things in that book that fit just
about any of us.
 I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind
about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
 I’ve learned that every great achievement was once
considered impossible.
 I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about
fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know
something.
 I’ve learned that the great challenge of life is to
decide what’s important and to disregard everything
else.
 If learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the
best others can do, but to do the best you can do.
 I’ve learned that you should never be too busy to say
“please’ and “thank you.”
 I’ve learned that life challenges us with the fact that
everything can be done better.
 I’ve learned that trust is the single most important
factor in both personal and professional relationships.
 I’ve learned that anticipation is often better than the
real thing.
 I’ve learned that generous people seldom have
emotional and mental problems.
 I’ve learned that it’s not what happens to people
that’s important. It’s what they do about it.
 I’ve learned that you can do something in an instant
that will give you a heartache for life.
 I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have
to be a pain.
 I’ve learned that silent company is often more
healing than words of advice.
 I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude
you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of
others, your work, meeting new people and doing the
very best you can, happiness will find you.
By Vera Bayer
The following is an excerpt from a letter dated 3/5/15,
and sent by Mary Malley, President of NAMI Southwest,
and its many friends:
“Did you know that 1 in 5 people in America experience
mental illness each year and that it affects 26 percent of
homeless people staying in shelters? Or that 20 percent
of adult prisoners and 70 percent in the juvenile justice
system have a recent history of a mental condition?”
These are overwhelming statistics. It is hard to imagine
making a difference in the lives of people living with
mental illnesses, but every day we try by:
 Listening when families call to share their heartbreak
and explaining how the mental health system works.
 Sharing our experiences and resources at our monthly
family support group meetings
 Socializing at our Sunshine Club meetings for people
with mental illnesses and their families.
 Sending out bimonthly newsletters and holding annual
educational meetings about the latest brain research
 Providing hope when there aren’t any easy answers.
If you are in need of help, remember the following
places:
1. NAMI Southwest (708) 425-0925 for support, education and advocacy for persons with mental illness and
their families.
2. Metropolitan Family Services Southwest (708) 9742300 for counseling and mental health services.
3. Emergency Mental Healthcare Center (708) 3310500 for 24/7 emergency mental health care.
Summer Camp
Programs At Tower Hill
and Pilgrim Park
Registration forms for Summer Camp at Tower Hill or
Pilgrim Park for Youth and Adults can be found at the
Information Center and in the Church Office. Godstock
Camp, ($355.00) directed by Dennis Kirscher and Kelly
Kirscher, is July 19-25 at Tower Hill and Tenderfoot
(cost $155.00), ages K-2nd Grade with Cindy White is
July 23-25. Grandparent Camp at Tower Hill is either
June 15-17 or 18-20.
Pastor Sarah’s camp, Worship & Wonder, at Pilgrim
Park is the week of July 5-10 and is $318.00.
Peace Memorial Church helps to underwrite part of the
cost of camp each year for church members. There are
many other camps available throughout the summer.
Registration forms are also available at the Information
Desk and in the Church Office.
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Birthday Greetings
April 2
Sarah Freund
Debra Skowron
April 3
Brian Kukla
Adelle Lampos
April 4
Donald Hummel
Mark Rimkus
Stacey Swieringa
April 5
Christopher Schneider
Lillian Zikmund
April 7
Ed Bledsoe
Leah Delejewski
April 12
Barbara Cox
Sharon Kloos
Elizabeth Oremovich
Lori Rudnicki
April, 2015
April 13
Thomas Bockmann
Carol Baumler
John Robbins
Sydney Wasyliw
April 16
Joseph Graben
Kaci Johnson
Cassidy Medyk
James Murray
April 17
Gail Jefchak
Deborah Jerry
Darlene Trent
April 18
Phyllis Karner
Bradley Nolan
William Smolik
April 19
Allie Johnson
April 20
Emily Hoefler
April 21
Halle Swieringa
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April 24
Mark Mueller
April 24
Maria Nestor
Brett Nolan
April 25
Paul Gross
April 26
Henry Freund
Elliot Hevel
April 27
Marsha Bockmann
Ruth Drobitch
Margaret Unger
April 28
Paul Launius
Beverly Wehofer
April 29
Edward Baker
April 30
Daniel Powers
Our Members
And Friends
PEACE MEMORIAL UCC
10300 West 131st Street
Palos Park, IL 60464
Funerals
Lynn Hill, passed away March 6,
2015
Harold Krug, passed away March
12, 2015
Baptism
March 22, 2015—Jane Molly Fulek,
daughter of Jonathan and Tasha
“Pause and Ponder”
Friendship improves happiness and
abates misery, by the doubling of our
joy and the dividing of our grief.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
“On the Lighter Side”
Here are some words of widom:
“Always keep your words soft
and sweet, just in case you have to
eat them”
“Drive carefully—-It’s not only
cars that can be recalled by their
Maker.”
“It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a
warning to others.”
“Nobody cares if you can’t dance
well. Just get up and dance.”
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.
Stay Connected to All Things
Youth at PMC!
Attention all youth and parents! In
order to stay informed about all
youth group activities and
happenings, subscribe to the group
by following the instructions to the
left and you will get texts about
upcoming events and reminders
about important dates and things
involving the youth group here at
Peace Church.
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Rev. Shana Johnson . . . . . . . . . Senior Pastor
Sarah Lohrbach . . . . . .Director of Youth and
Children’s Ministries
Robert Mohr. . . . Director of Music Ministry
Tom Osborne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organist
Amanda Christofanelli. . . .Children’s Music
Director
Pamela Kueltzo. . . . . . . . . . Office Manager/
Editor
Linda Carlson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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
April 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
1
Thu
2
Maundy
7 am Volunteers
Thursday
9 am Art, Crafts
1 pm Worship &
and Quilters
Communion
12:30 pm Bible
At Residences
Study Peace
7:30 pm
Lounge
Worship and
7 pm Dress
Communion
Rehearsal Maundy
Sanctuary
Thursday
5 Easter 6
7
8
8:00 am Worship
8:30 am Easter
Breakfast
9:30 am Worship
10:45 am Easter
Egg Hunt
6:30 pm
Bunco
Election Day
7 am Volunteers
9 am Art, Crafts
and Quilters
12:30 pm Bible
Study Peace
Lounge
3 pm Cook for PADS
128:30 am
13
14
15
Adult SS
9:30 am Worship
9:45 am Sunday
School
10:45 am Praise
Team
11 am Children’s
Choir
11 am Adult SS
11:30 am Bunco
11:30 am Card
Ministry
May Messenger
Deadline
11 am Worship
Committee
7 pm Residence
Board
10:30 am Bible
Study at Peace
Village
7 am Volunteers
9 am Art, Crafts
and Quilters
12:30 pm Bible
Study Peace
Lounge
7 pm Trustees
19
20
21
8:30 am Adult SS
9:30 am Worship
9:45 am Sunday
School
10:45 am Praise
Team
11 am Children’s
Choir
11 am Adult SS
11:30 am Bunco
11:30 am Card
Ministry
2:30 pm Swift Forum at
Peace Memorial
7 pm Men’s
Basketball
10:30 am Bible
Study at Peace
Village
7 pm Men’s
Basketball
7 pm Men’s
Basketball
April 19th —
Buona Beef
Fundraiser
26 Pickup May 27
Messenger
8:30 am Adult SS
9:30 am Worship
9:45 am Sunday
School
10:45 am Praise
Team
11 am Children’s
Choir
11 am Adult SS
10:30 am Bible
Study at Peace
Village
Set up for
Rummage
Sale
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4
Good
Friday
7:30 pm
Tennebrae
Worship
Sanctuary
10
7:00 pm Choir
8 am—5 pm
Lifeline
Screening
Zion Hall
16
17
18
11
24
25
7:00 pm Choir
7 am Volunteers
9 am Art, Crafts
and Quilters;
Messenger
7 p.m.
Helpers
Alzheimer’s
12:30 pm Bible
Support Group
Study Peace
Lounge
7:00 pm Choir
28
29
30
10:30 am Bible
Study at Peace
Village
7 am Volunteers
Set up for
Rummage
Sale
9 am—3 pm
Rummage
Sale
7:00 pm Choir
7
3
Sat
9
23
Set up for
Rummage
Sale
Fri
8