Southminster E-Notes for May 5, 2010
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-17 (New International Version)
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Dear Friends,
Above is my prayer for all of you. This Thursday, May 6, is National Day of Prayer. Our congregation doesn’t have anything formal planed, but I would like to encourage you to make time on Thursday to hold our nation in prayer.
Forty years ago, on May 4 National Guardsmen opened fired on students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four and shocking the nation. I was only in the seventh grade when this event happened. The sad thing is that it didn’t seemed shocking to me, but it was shocking to my mother who taught English at a local college. I remember her grief and how it covered our home. Being a Baby Boomer who grew up watching the Vietnam War unfolding every night on TV news, I couldn’t understand why this story of 4 people being shot by guardsmen would be so upsetting to my mother. After all, JFK and MLK Jr had been shot, why not anyone else? I didn’t understand the difference between an assassination and guardsmen. Now, of course, I see how childish I was. By the way, I prayed yesterday, not only the families of the Kent State victims, but for the guardsmen whose intention it was to serve their country and were put into a very confusing situation. I doubt if they were much older than the protestors. I wonder what happened to them and what they may have felt as a result of forty years ago. We really don’t know all that happened that day.
When I was reflecting on the events of Kent State, I thought of what our country has been through since then. I thought particularly about school shootings and the violence that creeps along and leaks out into our society. Please pray for our country.
The National Day of Prayer is a part of our heritage. The first call to prayer was in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history. We could all use some prayer. Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
JUBILEE 2011: The 50th Anniversary Planning Team needs your ideas for our big Jubilee celebration during 2011. We will meet tomorrow (Thursday, May 6) at 7:30 p.m. in the Parlor. Come join us if you are interested in the 50th Anniversary Planning Team or if you would like to assist with a particular celebration event. Contacts are Sue Clary (630-790-1109, (sueclary@sbcglobal.net ) or Pat Wiedner (630-858-0761, (pjwiedner@hotmail.com ).
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.
RUMMAGE SALE is coming! Price stickers are available on the name tag shelf. Please price your donations and bring them to church starting this Sunday, May 9, following worship. (Please not before then; we don’t have enough storage space.)
The RUMMAGE SALE AND CAR WASH will be Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16. Mark your calendar now and plan to come support our Youth Mission Trip!
QUILT MINISTRY is moving to Mondays! Join us on May 10 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. We have completed 3 lap quilts and know we can do more with more helping hands and willing hearts. NO experience necessary - we welcome all! Talk to Sue Clary or Sue Knisely for more information.
SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY is 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!
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 Sunday, May 16.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS WEEK: This Sunday there will be no Sunday School, in honor of Mother’s Day. Children through Kindergarten are welcome in the Nursery, while older children will remain in church.
PRACTICE FOR YOUTH SUNDAY (May 16): For Youth Sunday, children in pre-school through grade 3 are learning to sing “Jubilee!,” while Grades 4 and 5 are learning a handchime part to play with it. They will not have practice this Sunday, but if you would like to practice at home, that would be wonderful! All of the children will also be reciting the Lord’s Prayer and doing motions for us on Youth Sunday. We can’t wait to hear them! Please plan on the children arriving by 9:00 a.m. on May 16 to prepare for the service. Thanks!
SWEET TOMATOES FOR VBS! On 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 was attached to the May Dialog. (Note: You must have a flyer with you for your purchase to count.) Yummmm!
USED PAPERBACK BOOK COLLECTION: Starting 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 9 - Nalani Johnson
May 23 - Jack Hecker
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
May 9- No Sunday School (Mother’s Day)
May 16 - Youth Sunday
May 19- Sweet Tomatoes FunRaiser (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 EDUCATION: No Adult Class this Sunday. Enjoy Mother’s Day. -Blair
YOUTH:
No SNL this Sunday. Treat your Mom to dinner!! REMEMBER: May 15-16 is Rummage Sale, and May 16 is Youth Sunday!!
MISSION TRIPPERS: Remember, our next Pre-Trip meeting is May 23, 4:30 p.m.
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.
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.
