Dear Friends,
I shocked folks at session last night when I said, “I hate Angels!” There was a silence, and a long pause, until I said, “No, the baseball team.” I have been a Dodger fan ever since I was a little girl in L.A. Of course, you all know about team loyalty. A friend of mine, Blake Severson, told me that God’s team was the Cubs because they know about hope, grace, and forgiveness. I asked Tom Frey why he was a Sox fan. He said, “Because they win!” Obviously, in Tom’s mind the Cubs need to know about hope, grace, and forgiveness. God loves both teams, and just wants them to play their best. So, last night, when the Sox vs. Cubs game was rained out, I remembered that wonderful bible verse. “The rain falls on the just and the unjust” God’s grace is poured out for all of us. May we remember in our dealings with not only our sisters and brothers in faith, but everyone that God’s love and grace is available to all. Take it from here! Play ball!
Love, Wendy
Did you know...?
...that the founder of “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” was a Presbyterian? He passed away this past spring. Read below:
Rarely are we given an opportunity to pay tribute to an individual who has had as profound an impact on UNICEF's work as Reverend Clyde Allison of Lowell, Indiana.
In 1950, the pain of World War II was still fresh in the minds of Americans as the world struggled to heal and rebuild. At that time, Reverend Allison was responsible for creating the Sunday school curriculum for the Presbyterian Church. When his children expressed concern for the children suffering from hunger, cold, and sickness in the wake of the war, Reverend Allison initiated a way for them to take action.
On Halloween night, the three Allison children got dressed in costumes to trick-or-treat but, instead of asking for candy for themselves, they asked for donations to UNICEF. The kids used empty milk cartons to collect the change and raised $17.00 their first year. Reverend Allison also saw to it that all of the Presbyterian churches participated in this program as part of Sunday school curriculum.
Announcements
Pastor Wendy has issued this invitation to middle schoolers: School is out–let’s celebrate! If you are going into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the fall you are invited for some fun and study on Wednesdays, June 10, 17, and 24, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. We’ll meet in my office.
The deadline for the July Dialog is coming up this Saturday, June 20. We all want to see information and requests for Vacation Bible School, special fellowship events, summer outings, or anything else you want to let us know about. (We can still run high school and college graduation information. Did you finish? What’s next?)
Youth Mission Trip: Please pray for a safe journey home for our band of excited and exhausted teen-agers, and the even more exhausted adults. See you all on June 28 when we do a special presentation about our trip.
S.O.L.A.C.E. Singles: Save the date of Friday, June 26, at 5:30 p.m. for a potluck in the church parlor and memorial garden. Everyone is invited – men and women.
Reserve your ticket early! For our July outing, S.O.L.A.C.E. invites ALL members of the church (and friends) to join them at Cantigny on Saturday, July11, at 8:00 p.m. to hear the Wheaton Symphony Orchestra playing the music we loved from the 60’s. Bring your own chairs, tables, blankets, food and beverages. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the performance. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex. Give your $10 to Barb Seymour (630) 752-0656 or Lew Garrison (630) 469-7489 by June 27 and we will purchase your tickets. Questions? Call Barb or Lew.
All entering high school freshmen and older are invited to a Graduation Lunch honoring our college and high school graduates for 2009! Save the date of Sunday, June 28, at 11:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. RSVP to Sue Clary (email sueclary@sbcglobal.net or call 630-790-1109) or the church office.
The Deacons would like to offer Valet Parking year round. Would you be willing to help? Please sign up at the bulletin board at the entrance of the church. We also ask that those of us who are more able bodied please park at the back of the lot, leaving room for those who would be blessed by parking closer.
There are only six weeks before our 2009 Vacation Bible School Crocodile Dock: “Where Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light.” Join us July 27-31 from 6:00–8:30 p.m. Children from 4 years of age through 5th grade are invited. Cost: $14 per child or $30 max for a family. Register now, and tell your friends! Click here to go to our web site and download the information and registration forms.
Items Needed: If you come across the following items during spring cleaning, we could use them for our VBS bayou theme: Spanish moss, inflatable alligators (yes, really!), rope lights, green and blue material, fishing nets or other fishing equipment, bug catchers, lanterns, crates, greenery. We are also in need of refrigerator boxes or boxes which are similar in size for games. Please contact Laura Baer at 630-469-9149 or at smpcce@ameritech.net with donations.
Adult Education: The Adult Bible Class will not meet until the fall. Please join us in September.
Family Camp Fun! Want to make this summer a memorable one with filled with worship, community, and fun? The Presbyterian camp at Saugatuck, MI is close to home and offers all this, and more. The Family Week Camp, July 19-25 (Note: These dates are corrected from previous E-Notes and the Dialog!), is filling up quickly, but there are some spots still available. Can’t fit an entire week into the family’s schedule? Check out the Family Camp Kick-off the Week, August 1-4, or the Family Camp Short Week, August 4-7. Call 1-800-728-1164 for more information or visit the camp web site and register online.
“An Update on Alzheimer’s Disease” - Tuesday, June 23, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.– at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 515 S. Wheaton Avenue, Wheaton. ESSE Adult Day Services and Arden Courts of Glen Ellyn present John Saron, M.D., F.A.C.P., board certified in Internal and Geriatric Medicines, who will give an overview of Alzheimer’s Disease, and discuss current research and treatment options. Seating is limited, so call ESSE at 630-260-3773 to reserve your place. If you require adult care service, please state this when making your reservation and it will be provided by qualified ESSE staff while you attend this presentation. Complimentary refreshments will be provided by Pfizer from 6:30 to 7:00. Please enter through the back parking lot entrance, following posted signs.
