Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Dear Friends,
At home I hang my keys on our coat rack by the front door. On Tuesday morning, I couldn’t find them. Perhaps you know the feeling. Lost! Panic! Helpless! I couldn’t find them on the coat rack, so I searched the rest of the house. Finally, I went back to the coat rack and began to peal back the layers of coats and found the keys! I also found a jacket that I didn’t recognize. “Whose coat is this?” I wondered. There was a Southminster name tag on the front pocket. It belonged to Aaron Considine, a friend of ours who visited about a month ago.
The whole incident made me smile; the fact that we have name tags and try to call one another by name, the memory of his visit, my joy in sharing Southminster with a friend. The name tag also reminded me that God has called each of us by name. I was reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah 43. “I have called you by name, you are mine.” We belong to God and we belong to one another. Christians are not meant to be Christians all by themselves, on their own. We were created to be a community of people, not only to be served by God, but to represent God in the world. As you go about your day take courage that you belong to God and together we share the blessings of God in our homes, communities and in the world. Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
RUMMAGE SALE and CAR WASH: THIS SATURDAY, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and SUNDAY, Noon-4 p.m. Come, buy, feel good, and support the Youth Mission Trip, 2010!! If you have items to donate, please price them and bring them in by Friday. Leave everything downstairs in Fellowship Hall. We can use help sorting and organizing on Friday – see Blair’s note below under YOUTH.
SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY is this Saturday, May 15, from 8:00 a.m.-noon (or whenever we finish). It’s the same day as the Rummage Sale/Car Wash - come and help both causes! We’ll have projects indoors and out, for all ability levels. We promise a sense of accomplishment and abundant gratitude (plus food and fellowship) for all who assist!
This Sunday is YOUTH SUNDAY. The children and youth of Southminster have helped plan the service, prepare the music, and prepare the message. We look forward to allowing them to lead us in worship! ALL PARTICIPANTS are asked to report to the Choir Room Sunday morning at 9:00! (See more information below under Christian Ed. Notes.)
RED GERANIUMS FOR PENTECOST: The liturgical color for the Day of Pentecost (May 23) is red. Help fill the sanctuary with red geraniums that day! Geraniums are $12.00 each. Sign up on the bulletin board in the narthex; the last day to order will be this Sunday, May 16.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
THIS SUNDAY IS YOUTH SUNDAY! The kids will be singing “Jubilee” and reciting the Lord’s Prayer, complete with motions. If I have your email and your child will be participating, you should have a copy of the words and motions in your inbox. If you don’t have a copy and would like one, send me an email at smpcce@ameritech.net and I’ll get you one. Thanks for all of your hard work! Please, have your kids ready and in the choir room by 9 a.m. on Sunday!
SWEET TOMATOES FOR VBS! Next Wednesday, May 19, stop by Sweet Tomatoes (in Lombard on Highland Ave.) and help support Southminster’s Vacation Bible School! Just grab a meal and a drink and 20% will be donated to our VBS program! Paper fliers are available on the CE bulletin board or just print off a copy of the file that is attached to these E-Notes. (Note: You must have a flyer with you for your purchase to count.) Yummmm!
USED PAPERBACK BOOK COLLECTION: Starting this Sunday, May 16 (after the rummage sale) we will be collecting paperback books! If you have any books just lying around that you would like to donate, bring them in to church and drop them off at the CE office. Clear out some space for some new books for summer, which you can pick up while benefiting the church on June 6th at our paperback book sale. Thank you!
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: Have you thought about teaching Sunday School, but couldn’t commit to a whole year? Have you always wondered what Sunday School is like, or do you miss teaching during the summer? Then sign up to teach, or to help with, Summer Sunday School! We’re looking for teachers and helpers each week this summer to help our children learn more about God. This summer they’ll learn about the adventures of Paul, experience the Holy Land, and hear stories of God’s people. Come join us for some Summer Sunday School fun! The sign up sheet is on the CE bulletin board. Hope to see you there!
ACOLYTE Schedule:
May 23 - Jack Hecker
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
May 16 - Youth Sunday
May 19- Sweet Tomatoes Fun-Raiser (5:00-8:00 p.m.)
May 23- Last day of Regular Sunday School
June 6 - Used Paperback Book Sale
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
ADULT BIBLE CLASS: We will meet this Sunday, (even with everything else that is going on!). Note that we will be meeting in the Choir Room. Our lectionary passages are: Acts 16:16-34, Rev. 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, and John 17:20-26. -Blair
YOUTH: All hands on deck at 7:00 a.m. Saturday for set-up. Remember, we will also be practicing for Youth Sunday during the sale on Saturday. Bring spare grocery bags and dress to get wet if you want to wash cars. Also, don’t forget the sunscreen and a lovely summery hat (Linda!).
Sorting for Rummage Sale: Youth or other volunteers, please contact Blair (630-917-6035) if you can do some sorting on Friday evening in preparation for the sale.
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.
MISSION:
Double your giving power with “GIFTS GROW!” During the month of May please prayerfully consider donating to Gifts Grow so that others may know God’s love through your donation. The Mission Committee will match your gifts up to a collective amount of $3000. There is detailed information in the May Dialog and in Sunday bulletin inserts. Extra envelopes and the yellow information sheets can be found in the narthex. Be sure to see how our gifts are growing by checking the display over the narthex windows.
FIGHT CANCER - JOIN THE RELAY FOR LIFE: We are forming a team again from Southminster to support the Relay for Life event, which starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 18, at Glenbard South High School. Won’t you walk the track to honor those we have lost or support those who are struggling or have beat cancer? Bring a lawn chair and come join us. Many activities are planned, and it will be a memorable evening. Sign-up sheets, survivor sheets, forms for the purchase of luminaries, and instructions to donate online will be in the narthex. Also, Chili’s Restaurant at Danada will donate 10% of your check to our team from May 11 to June 23 on every Tuesday and Wednesday. Pick up a coupon or mention the Relay for Life when you go to Chili’s.
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.
OUR PAPER RECYCLING BIN IS HERE! We have signed up as a responsible community recycling member with Paper Retriever recycling. Paper Retriever is an easy, free, community-based program that wraps recycling and fund raising into one neat package. The money we raise here will go toward our Mission Ministries.
You can’t miss the large green and yellow bin in our gravel overflow parking lot. You may start bringing paper any time! These items are acceptable: Newspaper; Magazines; Shopping Catalogs; Junk Mail; Office & School Papers, Church Bulletins; White Envelopes (with or without windows).
Items that are NOT allowed: Cardboard; Cereal/Soda Cartons; Food wrap/containers; Tissue Products; Phone Books; Cross-cut shredded paper (strip-cut shredded paper is OK if you put it in a paper bag); Glass; Plastic; Metal; Trash.
