2021 Annual Meeting

21 February 2021 10:30 a.m.

Our annual meeting will take place on Feb. 21, at 10:30am.  It is going to be quite a change since it will be primarily a ZOOM meeting. We need you to let us know you plan to attend online so that we can send you a special Zoom link/codes for the meeting! ( or 815-485-5327) 

 You will have these options for voting:

1) Give us your name and email by Feb. 17 and we will send you an electronic ballot to complete starting Feb. 19 and continuing until our congregation’s president calls the voting to a halt on the day of the election (Feb. 21) shortly after 10:30am;

2) Let us know you’d like your ballot by mail by Feb. 12.  Then mail your vote to Peace, PO Box 205, New Lenox, IL 60451 to be received by Friday, Feb. 19.

Highlights will include the election of council members and celebrating what God is doing through Peace even in a pandemic.  The informal theme for 2020 turned out to be “go with the flow” – but really it was as always “go with God.”  That’s worth celebrating!

Annual Report Document

Annual Report Document Packet

2021  ADULT Council Nominees

Downloadable Biography Document

Scott Howell

Peace has been my church home for my whole entire life minus the first few months.  This has led me to feel that the congregation is also my family.  I have been blessed with many great relationships within the church and its congregation. I believe my past involvement on the council and with many other activities within the church, and my rapport with people of all ages, will help me speak for them and the church when needed.  Also, my education has prepared me to work with others to achieve a common goal using all opinions to form the best option.  If elected to the council, I will work hard to sustain the greatness of Peace Lutheran Church and work vigorously to improve on it as we continue to move through uncharted territories in our community and world.  While I have served on the council in the past when I was younger, I feel that now being older and having been on numerous committees in my professional life, I am much more confident and more willing to be a voice to help make improvements that will benefit the church and our congregation.  

 Personal History
I have been a member of Peace Lutheran Church since the first year of Peace’s existence, which was also my first year!  My parents Jeff and Deb Howell, grandparents Bob and Marilyn Howell, and brother Bryan Howell are all charter members of the church.  I live in Coal City with my wife Ashley who I married in the church and our daughter Millie who was born in August.  I am currently in my 11^th year of teaching as a Special Education teacher and I recently received my Master’s Degree in Educational Technology (Which has definitely come in handy during COVID).  I currently work at Morris Community High School as a teacher and I am the Varsity Girls Volleyball Head Coach.  Peace has and always will be a big part of my life and I truly don’t know where I would be in life without the Peace family. 

Church Activities: 

Usher, Offering Counter, Communion Helper, Adult Choir, Bell Choir, Special Music, Youth Group Leader Former, Peace Lutheran Church Scholarship Recipient, Past Church Council Member (Youth Representative and Adult Member)

 Kathryn (Wolske) Roulo

My name is Kathryn Roulo and my parents (Chuck & Janet Wolske) and I joined Peace in January of 2007. I was baptized and raised at First Lutheran Church in Blue Island, IL where the foundation of my faith was built but I hadn’t found that spark yet. However, once we joined Peace, it was an immediate connection for me between the people who make up the wonderful community of Peace and of course the great ministry leadership that has helped me find that spark in my faith and relationship with God.

Growing up, I have held numerous leadership positions from Band Officer of the Marian Catholic High School Marching Band to Executive Vice President of my collegiate sorority at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am currently the single lead Industrial Designer at the company Taylor Precision Products in Oak Brook, IL. Leadership roles have always felt like a natural place for me to be as I highly enjoy building meaningful relationships as well as encouraging and uplifting others in whatever their current journey may be. Peace has blessed me with multiple friends and mentors who have encouraged and supported me through challenging times and times of joy. Most importantly my Peace family has helped me grow stronger in my faith and closer to God which is why I feel called to be a part of the Church Council.

If elected, I look forward to spreading that same spirit of encouragement and faith that other members of Peace have blessed me with over the past 14 years. 

Dave Johnson

Hi, biography readers.  Greetings from David W. Johnson (one of three Dave Johnsons in the church).  I served on Peace’s Church Council a few years ago, and it was a very positive experience for me.  Some of the areas that I joyfully participated in at Peace are:  Choir, Support Committee, assisting with services, and I even broke out the old Trombone for some random note playing during festival services with the better brass players.  During the 15 years in Tulsa, before moving to Manhattan, IL in 2007 and joining Peace, I served a stint on Fellowship Lutheran’s Church Council, worked on several committees, played with the monthly performing brass at the church, and was lucky enough to travel with a group to Guyana, South America on a mission trip.  Lutheran since day one, I attended Sunday School at Trinity Lutheran – Omaha, and was confirmed at Messiah Lutheran – Ralston.  If you saw the movie About Schmidt, you got a look at Messiah and some of my fellow congregation members. 

 I am married to Wendee Wiles as of May, with many thanks to Pastor Dave for a pandemic wedding service.  After retiring in June, I am still working on getting retirement “right.”  I have three grown children: Somer, a nurse in Tulsa, Brock, working for the Social Security Administration in San Francisco, and Kjerstie, working for a tele-medicine company in Seattle, WA. 

I worked at the CITGO Refinery in Lemont as a Reliability Engineer before retiring. Being asked to run (again) is an honor that is much appreciated.  If elected, I would look forward to serving on the Church Council and helping to usher in a post vaccine return to normalcy for the Church. 

Jennifer Paape

Hello all, my name is Jennifer Paape, my husband Adam and I have been coming to Peace since 2008 and became official members in early 2009. We typically attend Saturday night services with our two children, Zander (12) and Sydnee (9). When we moved to New Lenox in 2008 we "shopped" churches and when we attended one of the services at Peace we felt right at home.

Adam and I enjoy helping out with different activities and services within the church. Adam (and usually Zander) help usher, I enjoy baking treats for after services, we have been greeters and I have helped plan Vacation Bible School for the past 5 years or so. Adam and I were both involved with the Meal in the Upper Room in 2019, which we both enjoyed. Adam and I are both involved with the new group that was formed in early 2020 for the parents of Peace Lutheran as well, and are looking forward to when we can gather together again.

I work part-time for the New Lenox School District, which allows me still volunteer with the church, the New Lenox PTO as well as being Sydnee's Girl Scout troop leader and Girl Scout Service Team member.

Kelly Renaud

Hello, my name is Kelly Renaud.  In 2012, my husband Dennis and I became empty nesters and moved to Frankfort from Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Our oldest daughter Laura had recently graduated from university and remained in Pennsylvania to work for The Hershey Company.  In August, 2019 she married Nick.  After college, our youngest daughter Olivia moved to San Francisco and she’s been there for almost four years - working at Apple for three years.  Having a life-long dream to finish my college degree, in 2019, I graduated from Penn State World Campus with a B.S. in Organizational Leadership.

 As a baby, I was baptized and later confirmed at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kratzerville, PA.  However, during my adult life I have been a member of various mainline protestant denominations.  After moving to Illinois, Dennis and I visited quite a few churches over a two year period looking for our new church home but just never quite felt a connection.  Dennis’ coworker suggested we visit a church he knew to be extremely welcoming, that had a very active congregation and offered a wide array of programs and ministries.  That church was Peace Lutheran.  We had finally found the church where we felt at home and joined in 2015.

 Of course, Covid restrictions have kept us from most of the activities we enjoy.  As a member of Peace, I have been happy to share in the music ministry as part of the handbell choir.  Dennis and I have participated in Dinner for Eight group and I am a member of the ladies Bunco group.  I have also put my administrative background to use as a volunteer in the church office and have worked on projects for the Children’s Christmas program and Vacation Bible School.  Most recently, out of concern for the government policies for separating children from their parents, I looked for some way to get involved.  It was reassuring to discover the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and the programs they offer to these refugees.  With pastor’s encouragement, I lead LIR’s 2020 Hope for the Holidays card delivery and gift program for detained families.  Giving back to the community in the form of volunteerism has been very important to me.  A few other organizations I have volunteered for include: the non-profit organization Dress for Success; the Frankfort Historical Society editing their website and as co-chair of their 2016 Historical Church Walk; the Frankfort Women’s Club; and our homeowner’s association. 

It is my belief that although people may have different priorities, in the end, what ultimately draws them to a house of faith is the desire for connection.  A stronger connection with Christ, with their faith family, and with the greater community the church serves.  Peace has provided me with the ability to make those connections.  If elected to church council, those principles will help to guide my input and contributions in support Peace’s mission.

Janelle Tague

 One fateful day in 1987, Pastor Dave knocked on my front door and invited my family to join a new church, Peace Lutheran. Keith and I have been members ever since, and I have always loved this church. The list of my involvement in those 34 years might run several pages as there are very few things I have not done. But I will list a few.

 We had many of the first council meetings at my home. Church met on Sundays at the Lions Community Center where I helped set up the church each week and taught Sunday school. I was and still am a member of the women’s group. I have provided snacks and meals through the years. When it came time to build the church, I volunteered for the decorating committee. We chose all the furnishings, paint and fabric colors, flooring, kitchen appliances and cabinets, artwork, etc. We were even privileged to work on the design and glass for the stained-glass windows in the original sanctuary and the addition. Recently I managed the remodeling of two church bathrooms. I was involved with the youth by teaching, helping to run the Antioch Retreat, driving to events, helping with Vacation Bible School and Rally days, and leading craft Sundays. I have enjoyed being lay liturgist, teaching Lenten classes, ushering, and serving communion. I even taught a pie crust making class once! I’m certain I am leaving some things out, but you get the idea.

 My children, Allison, Katie, and Kevin benefited from being involved as well. They all did confirmation at Peace, were involved in worship, and attended youth group. Kevin was baptized by Pastor Dave and my girls were married by him. One of the most wonderful things that happened came about as a result of being on the decorating committee. I had been praying for direction in my career because I did not want to go back to teaching high school English. After I faux finished and stenciled the church’s rooms (with the help of other talented women), people began to ask me to faux finish their homes. I have been in business for 30 years which was definitely a gift from God. A better gift is being in the midst of such a wonderful congregation. There is nothing like the fellowship of believers. I would be honored to be on council now during this pandemic and beyond so that we can continue the welcoming outreach for which we have been known from the very beginning. Thank you.

Eric Wesel

I grew up in New Lenox and lived here until I was 20 years old.  In 1999 I had the opportunity to move back to the community. I currently work for the Will County Division of Transportation as a project manager of all the construction plan design and roadway right of way acquisition.

 My family joined Peace in 2000.  I am active with the Peace youth.  I have taught both the junior and senior high Sunday School classes. Currently I teach the junior high class.  I enjoy working with the junior and senior high school kids.  It is refreshing to work with minds that are so eager to learn about Christ.

 I have previously served 4 years on the Peace Council.  My family and I attend the 8:30 AM service but they also attend the other two service.  I am married to Sandi and have three children, Allie (23), Ricky (21), and Joe (17). I enjoy serving and giving of my time.  It is something that has been a part of my life since childhood.  In addition to being active with church, I have worked with Troop 12 Boy Scouts, The Rotary Club of New Lenox, Lincoln-Way Marching Band, and various sports teams of my children.

 I look forward to the opportunity to serve again on the Peace Church Council.  Thank you to the nominating committee for considering me for this position.

2021 YOUTH COUNCIL NOMINEES

(Vote for 1 for a one-year term)

Andrew DeMik

Hi.  My name is Andrew DeMik. I am a junior honors student at Lincoln-Way Central, specializing in math and science. I am in Chorale and have participated in Madrigals, Mixed Choir, Singing Knights, and Vocal Jazz. I am also in the Robotics Club, NHS (National Honors Society), SNHS (Science National Honors Society), and the Environmental Action Club this year. Outside of Lincoln-Way, I am a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 44. I just received approval to start working on my Eagle Scout Project.

 I have been going to church my whole life. I attended church in Indiana up until the fifth grade. I started going to Peace after my family moved. I have been an active member at Peace, going to Peace 360 and having gone to the Youth Gathering in Houston. I have also volunteered at VBS and started singing with the Adult Choir before the shutdown happened due to the coronavirus. With my musical knowledge and talents, my experiences in church, and my academic capabilities, I think I would make a great candidate for the youth representative on the church council. After all, the youth are the future of the church. I hope I have the opportunity to serve.

Joe Wesel

Hello, my name is Joe Wesel. I have been a member of Peace as long as I can remember, I was baptized here and grew up going to church here.   I am an active member in Sunday School and in high school Peace 360.  I am a junior at Lincoln-Way Central High School and I am a member of the Lincoln-Way Marching Band.  I also am a part of Central’s boys bowling team.  In the future I hope to get into one of the trades and to continue to be active in my faith after high school.