Our Ministries
Here, you'll find a snapshot of Prince of Peace’s diverse activities and initiatives. From community outreach to small groups, our ministries reflect the practical ways we live out our mission. Explore how we serve our community, walk together in faith, and welcome ALL as they are. If something interests you, please volunteer to join us by clicking the button below.
Queering the Binary Foundation (formally known as Out of the Closet) Thrift Store and pop-up closets throughout the suburbs offer clothing for all, especially for transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming individuals ages 8 to 80+ years. Donations of clothing, accessories, and personal care items not only assist the customers, but keep fabrics and other items out of the landfill ("Thrifting is Righteous" as the OTC website states). In addition, 96% of every dollar made supports AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Items to donate include clothing for men, women, teens, and children (age 8+), wigs, jewelry, undergarments, shoes, bags, wallets, backpacks, hair accessories and styling equipment. Please join us in our projects assisting our neighbors.
Prince of Peace’s Mission Outreach Team started the Recycling Program because of our church’s commitmenr to caring for the Earth and our neighbors. Through various educational programs, such as presentations, Eco-Tip articles in the church newsletter, POP’s Recycling Program strives to make a difference in our church, community, and world. Click the button below to find more inforamtion about the items we collect.
Living and Giving Garden
The Lawson Living and Giving Garden is an organic food pantry garden completely run by volunteers. The garden's mission is to provide healthy food for those in need in a sustainable manner and provide education to the community on growing your own food. It provides produce to four food pantries which serve over 500 families in Elk Grove Village and Elk Grove Township. Two tons of organic produce was donated in the 2023 season, the largest amount donated since its inception in 2016! We welcome new volunteers to help us prepare the soil, plant seeds and seedlings, weed, water, harvest the bounty each season and of course, build friendships. Garden leaders are happy to provide tours and training!
Our children collect non-perishable food items every Sunday to help those facing food insecurity. Hunger affects our community, and through our partnership with local food pantries, we strive to make a difference. There is a list of items on the back of your bulletin that are most in need.
Children’s Ministry
Prince of Peace strives to help your children grow in faith just like you!
Music Ministry
We have a Chancel Choir, POPAlive, and coming soon: A Bell choir! The choir sings two to three times a month. We rehearse on Sundays after church for an hour or so when preparing upcoming anthems and on Thursday evenings when we prepare larger works before holidays. POPAlive is a contemporary music group that sings almost every week with guitars, drums, and piano. As we have a blended service, we plan a variety of songs according to the sermon series and scriptures.
All are invited to join the POP Book Club! We meet the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am in the church Gathering Place. This is a judgment-free zone, so if you have not read the current book or started it but didn’t finish, you are still welcome 🙂
So come and hang out with people who love books!
Our Youth Ministry is for grades 6-12. We have a 3-year Confirmation program for grades 6-8. In Confirmation, our youth not only learn about the teachings of Jesus but also learn how to be the hands and feet of Jesus through mission work. Let us know if you’d like to volunteer or sign your youth up by clicking the button!
Food 4 Kids
Prince of Peace serves needy families at Byrd Elementary School through a Mission Outreach project called Food 4 Kids. Students are identified by school officials and families are contacted to see if they are interested. Once a month over long weekends or school breaks the students take home a bag filled with food to sustain the family when the students are not receiving free breakfast and lunch at school. This program began in 2017 and is ongoing and growing. Volunteer opportunities include grocery shopping, packing bags and delivering the groceries to Byrd School.
We have been fortunate in receiving grants and donations from other non-profits in our community that assist us with this program. We are especially grateful to the Rotary Club of Elk Grove Village and the Midwest Methodist Foundation for their ongoing support.
The Mission Outreach Team cares for its local and global neighbors through its humanitarian, environmental, and social justice activities, education, and advocacy to help make the world a better place. There are multiple ways in which this is accomplished:
Please see separate sections on Food Pantries, Lawson Living and Giving Community Garden, Food for Kids, Out of the Closet, and Environment Care.
Partnering with Elk Grove Township and the local school district, Prince of Peace donates school supplies and other necessities for local school children. We work with community agencies during Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to help provide food and gifts for those in need. Prince of Peace contributes items and funds each year to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Prince of Peace supports local Pride celebrations and is a member of The Reconciling Ministries Network and the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches.
Through newsletter articles, presentations, and lending library, we educate on issues such as unhoused people, bullying, domestic violence, nutrition, peace, environmental care, and LGBTQ+, African American, Asian American / Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Native American experiences.
Join us as we help to make the world a more inclusive, just, and healthy place.
Tech and Media
The Tech and Media ministry is responsible for preparing the visuals for each week's worship service,
recording the worship services and uploading the recording to YouTube.
We are also responsible for maintaining and acquiring the computer and audio equipment used for each week's worship service.
We also maintain the Church's computer equipment.
If you are interested in POP’s Tech and Media Ministry, please click the button below!