Meet Our Pastor and Staff

Our Church thrives because of the energy and style of the people who are a part of our leadership. Here are a few of the people that make our church community special:

Pastor Peter Hellstedt

Pastor Hellstedt joined Prince of Peace in 2009 after serving at Grace Lutheran Church in Mount Prospect and, before that, at congregations in Park Ridge and Decatur. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA and has a masters in biblical studies from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Pastor Hellstedt has been active in interfaith work and has served on the Council of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA. His passions in ministry are preaching and teaching from the Bible, and talking with people to help them connect faith to daily life. He enjoys baseball (particularly the Cubs), anything connected with airplanes, and a good cup of coffee. He is married to Cheryl Hellstedt and they have 2 adult children.

Under Karen's leadership, Prince of Peace has developed a vibrant youth ministry centered on a series of "stepping stones" of faith. She helps plan and implement the Junior and Senior High Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) Programs; coordinates the Sunday School, confirmation and Vacation Bible School programming; and facilitates a variety of retreat experiences for the youth, including mission trips and involvement with youth programming sponsored by the Metro Chicago Synod and ELCA. Karen is a certified Youth Minister through the Center for Youth Ministries at Wartburg Theological Seminary.

Anne Yauch - Director, Prince of Peace Preschool and Kindergarten

Anne has a B.S. in Child Development and has been in the field of Early Childhood for over 20 years. She has taught many different classes and has been at Prince of Peace for the past sixteen years. Anne is also a Coordinator/Facilitator for Rainbows and works with preschool and kindergarten age children.

Sonia DeLuca - Church Secretary

Sonia works full time as Parish Secretary. She has worked for the congregation of Prince of Peace, initially part time and now full time, since June of 1989. Sonia greets visitors and members, in person and on the phone, with a smile. She maintains and schedules the church calendar, prepares the weekly bulletins, coordinates mailings, orders office supplies, & monitors office equipment. She also provides information and assistance to other staff members, boards and committees

Lois Krueger - Records Coordinator

Lois keeps track of member contributions, individual membership records, and congregational records. She is responsible for getting the quarterly and year-end statements to our members and keeping track of address and phone number changes, baptisms, weddings, confirmations, first communions, etc. She also assists our Director of Youth and Family Ministries with registrations and class/attendance lists for Sunday School, Confirmation, Faithfest, and Vacation Bible School.

Scott Uddenberg - Director of Music

Scott has served as Director of Music for Prince of Peace since 2003. Scott directs the Adult Choir, Handbell Choir, Children’s Choirs, and instrumental ensembles, and coordinates the Community Concert Series. He has held similar posts with prior congregations at Lyonsville Congregational Church, Gary United Methodist, and Living Lord Lutheran Church. Scott holds a Masters in Music from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University.

In addition to his church responsibilities, Scott has an active performance schedule and regularly appears with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Grant Park Chorus. He has additional professional credits with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Florentine Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Ravinia Festival, and as national anthem soloist for the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls. Further, he serves on the voice faculty and is the music director for the theater department at Elmhurst College. He, his wife Kristina and their four children, Emily, Benton, Jennifer and Carrie, reside in Elmhurst, IL.

Sam Cortese Jr., - Crossroads Director of Music

Sam has been a professional musician all of his life, playing on recordings, in concerts, on tours, in clubs and bars, at society functions, etc. In 1994 he felt the call of the Lord in his life and began leading worship at various church and Christian venues. An accomplished singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer and songwriter, the Lord brought him to Prince of Peace in January of 2005 where he became music director of the contemporary service.

While at Prince of Peace, he has been involved in Independence and Labor Day parades, combined traditional/contemporary services, special music concerts, and other events while cultivating and helping to plan Prince of Peace’s Sunday contemporary service, Crossroads.

Christine Karnick - Organist

Christine Karnick has been the organist at Prince of Peace for over 5 years. She started her church musician career in her youth and has continued to play for services as an organist and youth choir accompanist. Christine encourages and highlights the gifts of other musical congregants, providing accompaniment as they offer their talents in worship. She actively participates in the American Guild of Organists-sponsored Pipe Organ Encounters.