Loving the Enemy: ICE Preparedness for LMC
Caroline Steelberg
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5: 43-45
When Abraham Díaz Alonso from Mennonite Central Committee presented a training for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) preparedness last December, a committee formed at LMC to develop and present a plan on how to respond peaceably if ICE/CBP comes to our church on a Sunday morning.
The plan includes placing signage that identifies private areas in our building where law enforcement may not enter without a signed judicial warrant. A group of trained LMC “Responders” will speak directly with law enforcement officers. Only these responders will communicate with them.
Parents will take their children to Sunday school classrooms, and younger children will stay in the nursery. All other congregants will participate in the plan by singing a preset list of hymns and songs. Congregants may also choose to record video or write down what they observe.
If ICE arrives during Sunday school, Responders will notify teachers to remain in their classrooms with their students.
As Abraham emphasized, “It is better to have a plan and not need it, than need a plan and not have it.” If you have additional questions, please contact Pastor Richard, Eric N., or Caroline S.
In This Issue
Our 2026 Sabbatical Plans
Richard and Barbara Krehbiel Gehring
As Carlen Sellers shared in the last Vital Signs, we are preparing for a 3-month sabbatical starting in July. Sabbatical provides an opportunity to step away from the urgency of daily tasks to gain a broader perspective on ministry. Our plans revolve around the following themes and activities:
Renewal:
- Worship with other congregations, providing new experiences and ideas to stimulate renewal.
- Time in less structured settings where we can read, reflect, and engage in creative expression.
Relationships:
- A week with all our children (an especially important time for our family given the recent loss of our daughter’s baby).
- Week of vacation reconnecting with old friends.
Resourcing:
- Visit other churches and talk with pastors about their experiences being welcoming and inclusive.
- Participate in a preacher’s retreat in New Mexico, sponsored by Luther Seminary.
- Travel to Turkey and Greece, exploring some areas where the Apostle Paul was active. Our time in Turkey is also a way to enhance connections between LMC and the Turkish Cultural Center.
Reflection:
- Reflect on longer term vision and goals, both for ourselves and for LMC.
- What is God calling us to do as pastors?
- What is God calling the congregation to be and do?
We are grateful that LMC follows Mennonite Church USA guidelines in granting pastoral sabbaticals. We hope and pray that we will return with renewed energy and vision to help the congregation be ever more faithful to our shared mission.
Summer Renovations
Jeremy Kropf
In the February Vital Signs, I shared an optimistic timeline for excavating the classroom wing foundation to replace our damaged foundation drain tile and to install a waterproofing membrane and insulation. As planning progressed, however, significant engineering challenges emerged—particularly around ensuring the stability of the brick columns along the wing. Addressing these concerns required more time and care than I anticipated. This work remains essential, especially since, even with our existing rain-control systems operating, we experienced seepage into the basement again this spring.
I hope I’m not being too optimistic again when I say that this summer promises to be a busy and productive season. Renovations to the classroom wing will help ensure that our facilities remain welcoming and functional for all who use them. Work should begin soon after our Sunday school program ends. Our goal is to have all rooms ready for move‑in by September with new carpet and new radiators, just in time for fall programs. Other work may continue into the fall, including installing new classroom doors, repairing walls, and painting.
To prepare for construction, we will hold a volunteer workday in June to move furniture, books, and supplies out of the affected areas. Many hands make light work, and all helpers are warmly invited.
We continue to plan for the parking lot restoration and foundation excavation, with construction expected later this summer and into the fall. I look forward to the fresh start these projects will bring and remain grateful for the continued support of our church family.
Financial Update
Eric Nelessen
Thank you all for your generosity in giving to LMC this year! As of April 30, we have received $152,186 in General Fund donations, and our net income is $26,791. Both revenue and net income have increased significantly compared to this time last year, and we’re also slightly ahead of the 2026 budget so far. This is great news and is thanks to all of you!
Giving during the summer months is often slower and more inconsistent. If you’re able to give consistently throughout the upcoming summer season, it does help the church maintain stability in our finances and commitments. That said, we appreciate however you’re able to give throughout the year.
Thank you again for your continued and steady financial support of LMC, and for keeping the church’s finances in your prayers. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Register Early for Church Retreat and Save!
Mona Richards
One weekend this September, LMCers of all ages will leave Chicagoland to soak up the natural beauty of Camp Menno Haven together. Join us for our annual church retreat on September 12-13, filled with fun, fellowship, recreation, and worship. Early registration is now open (through May 19) and includes a $5 discount!
Camp Menno Haven—located about 100 miles west of us, near Princeton, Illinois—offers boating, hiking, a climbing wall, campfire, s’mores, singing, swimming in the pool (weather permitting), and more. Whether you’re chatting on the hayrack ride, engaging in a spirited game of carpetball, or lingering over the yummy meals, retreat provides a fabulous opportunity to get to know other LMCers better.
Here’s how it works. You pay for your lodging and only $7 per person for the delicious meals for the entire weekend; LMC covers the rest. There are several lodging options to fit a variety of budgets and preferences.
- Campsite, $28
- RV site, $38
- Hotel room, $180
- Bed in the women’s or men’s dorm room, $70 per person
- Entire dorm room for just your family or small group (8-10 beds), $210
- Day use fee for those staying offsite or coming for only one day, $12/person a day, $36/family
Click the sign up button below or in the e-news or scan the QR code in the bulletin to register. Reminder that early registration closes on Tuesday, May 19 and saves you $5. (If your group or family is interested in an entire dorm room to yourselves, aka the $210 option, please contact Mona or Evan before May 19 to make sure we reserve enough dorm rooms.)
We look forward to experiencing 231 acres of God’s sanctuary with you. For more information, see Evan or Mona R.
LMC’s Libraries—Check Them Out!
Nathan Perrin
One of my favorite parts of LMC’s culture is how bookish we are as a community. I love hearing the excitement people have about books, or when someone approaches me about a Sunday school series based on one. This culture reminds me of my favorite quote from Quaker theologian James Rendel Harris: “Lord, give us this day our daily discovery.”
I believe continual learning and growth are closely tied to reading. LMC has a wonderful selection of theology books—and many others—in our adult library in the office area, all free to check out. This is especially helpful for college and seminary students looking for Mennonite and broader Anabaptist resources. You’ll also find fiction, cookbooks, poetry, and Biblical studies resources. As pastors, we regularly use our own church library for sermon prep and for planning Sunday school lessons.
There is also a children’s library downstairs with books available to borrow, including multiple justice-themed storybooks, faith-filled children’s stories, and even The Lord of the Rings (take it from a 6’6″ hobbit at heart, you can’t go wrong with Tolkien!). Please take advantage of this resource for your own personal education and growth, or for your studies.