Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Dear Friends,
This past Sunday we read in John 20 and Revelation 1 about a Christian Community of faith being a place of forgiveness. We are given a choice between being healing priests or unforgiving victims. However, whenever I preach about forgiveness I always go shorter than I would like, and it was true this past week because there is so much to say. So, I would like to share the story of two “Lews.”
The first “Lew” is C.S. Lewis. In his book “What’s So Amazing About Grace,” Philip Yancey recounts that during a conference on comparative religions held in Britain, an animated discussion arose as to what was Christianity’s unique contribution to world religion. The controversy continued unabated until C. S. Lewis, in learning of the issue at stake, replied: “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” Grace is a gift not only given by God to us, it is a gift that we share with one another as in the words from Our Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” There is no wiggle room in this. It is as Colossians says, we are forgiven and so we forgive. However, the good news is not just that we are forgiven, but there is a process to forgiveness. This brings us to our second “Lew.”
One of the best books on forgiveness is by Lewis Smedes, “Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve.” It is worth a read. He outlines five points:
1. When we forgive we set ourselves free.
2. Forgivers are not doormats. When we forgive we are not saying someone is right.
3. Forgiving is not sticking around for abuse.
4. We don’t have to wait for an apology to forgive.
5. And the most important part is that forgiving is a journey.
God doesn’t expect us to forgive in an instant. Frankly, I think that would be dishonest. Take time to acknowledge to yourself and to God that you have been wounded and hurt before you forgive. Afterward begin the difficult but worthwhile process of healing. There is so much more to say, but for now, take it from here!
Love, Wendy
P.S. Good News! At Assembly yesterday the Presbytery of Chicago voted to empower the council to sell the Presbyterian Camps property to the Lakeshore Christian Camping group and to allow them to raise money. Please pray that the LCC will be able to not only raise funds but fulfill their dreams of an extended ministry at Camp Saugatuck.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
All women are invited to join the WOMEN’S CIRCLE this Friday, April 16, at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor. Pat Wiedner will present a program on the scriptural texts and musical settings of Mendelssohn’s oratorio, “Elijah.” The Circle will welcome guests from the Islamic Center of Naperville – Al Hidayah. Please bring new books for children from birth to 12 years of age. The books will be taken to the Presbytery’s PW Spring Gathering for a project they are sponsoring.
MISSION:
The Presbyterian Women’s Morning Circle is sponsoring a collection of ITEMS NEEDED BY FAMILY SHELTER SERVICES. We will have a collection box in the narthex through this Sunday, April 18, and we ask that any who can contribute to this collection. The items are as follows: lip gloss (clear-neutral); ladies’ deodorants; hair conditioners; shower gels; Lysol spray; dishwasher soap; liquid dish soap; garbage bags (white-13 gal. & black); Ziplock bags (gallon & quart). Take this list with you and look for bargains: buy-one-get-one-free offers and items on sale!
REBUILDING TOGETHER AURORA: Every year we gather a work team in April to rehab the home of a needy family in Aurora through Rebuilding Together Aurora (formerly Christmas in April). We need volunteers - no special skills required (but if you do have special skills, we’d love to know in advance for planning purposes). Please look for the photo display and sign-up sheets in the narthex or talk to our House Captain Norm Ellsworth.
Quilters, and quilter-wanna-be’s, the QUILT MINISTRY meets next Wednesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. For this month only we’ll be in the narthex. No experience needed and nothing to bring. We’ll have everything that’s needed, and it will be fun! Join us!
Presbytery of Chicago PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S SPRING GATHERING will be held Saturday, April 24, at First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield. The event is free, but there is an $8.00 luncheon fee. We will meet in the Southminster parking lot to carpool to the event. Be ready to leave at 8:15 a.m. A sign-up sheet with information is on the bulletin board nearest the parlor.
FIESTA! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with us on Sunday, May 2, following worship. We’ll have a breakfast taco buffet and breakfast sangria, Mexican hat dance, piñata, serape and shaker painting, and more. It’ll be fun for all ages! Put it on your calendar now!
WOMEN’S CIRCLE MAY LUNCHEON: On Friday, May 21, at 11:30 a.m. we will have lunch at Mykha’s Restaurant in downtown Glen Ellyn. The buffet lunch is $10.00. Mykha, the restaurant’s owner, has agreed to talk to us about her life experiences. ALL women of the church are invited to attend. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board nearest the parlor.
NEW CHURCH OFFICERS
TRAINING DATES:
Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 28, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 p.m.
MEET WITH SESSION on Tuesday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: Next Tuesday, April 20, is the deadline for the May Dialog.
RUMMAGE SALE: Save your stuff for the Rummage Sale fund raiser in support of the Youth Mission Trip. We’re asking you to mark you donations with prices as we did last year. Look for price stickers to pick up starting this Sunday. They will be in a display stand on the name-tag shelf. This saves us a huge amount of work. Thanks to you all for your cooperation.
SOLACE SINGLES will have a potluck in the church parlor on Friday, April 30, at 5:30 p.m. We will be sharing our favorite dishes and discussing future plans.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SECOND HELPINGS: Come join us after church THIS SUNDAY for Second Helpings! Second Helpings is an extra serving of Christian Education for the whole Church family, and ALL are welcome. Each week at 11:00 a.m., adults and children alike spend time learning about Christ, God, and themselves as they participate in either adult Bible study or children’s programming. This week the children will practice for youth Sunday (which will be May 16th). The day will conclude with a light lunch and fellowship, beginning at 11:45. Remember, everyone is invited, so don’t miss out on the fun!
PRACTICE FOR YOUTH SUNDAY: Children in pre-school through grade 3 begin their Sunday School Class with a short singing practice. They are learning “Jubilee!” Grades 4 and 5 are learning a handchime part to play with it.
SPRING BULB SALE: The deadline for the bulb sale is NEXT FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD!! We are selling Spring Bulbs to help raise money for this year’s Vacation Bible School. These beautiful bulbs from Dutch Mill Bulbs, selling for $6 each set, include strawberries, Stargazer Lilies, and Hostas, among others. The sale has begun, so grab an order form from the C.E. bulletin board in the narthex or talk to someone from Christian Ed to find out more! Get your orders in THIS WEEK!!
ACOLYTE Schedule:
April 25 - Haley Jablonski
May 9 - Nalani Johnson
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
May 9- No Sunday School (Mother's Day)
May 16 - Youth Sunday
June 6 - Used Book Sale
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
ADULT EDUCATION: Our lectionary passages for this Sunday are Acts 9:1-20, Revelation 5:11-14, and John 21:1-19. Join us at 11:00 a.m. in the parlor for education and edification. -Blair
YOUTH: SNL Sunday, usual time and place. Weather permitting, we will play outside, again. Remember, May 15-16 is a BIG weekend, Rummage Sale and Youth Sunday, so mark your calendars.
FORMATION OF SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DIRECTOR AND YOUTH DIRECTOR: Steve Johnson has agreed to moderate a committee to identify candidates for Christian Education Director and Youth Director and make the appropriate recommendations to the Session. The candidates may be interested in a full-time position to cover both of these sets of responsibilities or they may be interested in a part-time position for either Christian Education Director or Youth Director. At present Steve is putting together a small committee to head up this process. Anyone who knows of someone who might be interested in one or both of these positions should contact Steve.
Peter Davidson has completed basic training and is now assigned to Ft. Lee, in Virginia. We will again have address labels available in the narthex area. Please send Peter notes, cards or post cards from your heart and home. Thanks.
