We Welcome Rev. Harold Grafe,
Interim Visitation Pastor

Rev. Harold Grafe is pictured with his wife, Sue, and their granddaughter at her Confirmation.

I have been a pastor for 51 years, serving congregations in Indiana and Illinois.  My last congregation was St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Crescent City, Illinois, serving there for 12 years before I retired in 2006.  Several years ago I did a two-year interim pastorate at Bethany Lutheran Church in Leland.  I have been a volunteer chaplain at Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka and at Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb.  I enjoy visitation. 
 
I have been married to Suzanne (Sue) for 55 years and we have four children and nine grandchildren.  I enjoy yard work and gardening and Sue is a retired nurse.  We are members of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb.

Blessings,
Pastor Harold Grafe
 
(Note:  Pastor Harold will be in the office one day a week, will lead midweek Lenten services, Holy Week services, and worship one Sunday each month.  He will also be available for funerals.  Pastor Presley will continue leading Saturday worship and will be available for emergencies.)

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Help Yourself...

Our quilting ladies have been working on “Walker Bags” for residents of area nursing homes.  They are also making them available to members of our congregation.  You will find a basket full of these colorful and handy fabric bags in the Narthex.  Please feel free to take one for yourself or someone you know.

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The Crosses of Lent
2019 Lenten Series

The Cross is absolutely central to Lent.  But more, it is crucial to our whole Christian life.  Not only is the cross the instrument on which our Savior died for us, it is also descriptive of our Christian life.  Rev. Harold Grafe will be following the outline and structure of The Crosses of Lent, a book by Dale Meyer and Hubert Beck.  Each week we will focus on a different style of cross with a unique theme for each.  The Tau Cross — Prophecy (Nicodemus); The Saltire Cross — Humility (Andrew); The Anchor Cross — Hope; The Maltese Cross — Regeneration (Paul and Silas); The Greek Cross — Suffering; The Celtic Cross — Redemption; and finally on Easter — The Glory Cross of Victory.  May God bless us as we walk with Jesus’ cross during this Lenten season.

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Pastoral Care

During this time that we are without a full time pastor, we ask you to please contact the church office if you have any pastoral needs.  We will arrange for someone to visit.  If it is an emergency, please contact our Youth Director, Karen Goy, at (815) 228-2391.

Please Remember...

Please remember that the standard rule for canceling worship services and meetings is for you to stay safe!  If ice, snow, or dangerously low temperatures would endanger your drive or entrance to the church, please stay home!  We will do our best to have the office open during our normal hours, but if school is canceled, it would be a good idea for you to phone the church office to be sure we are open before venturing out.