Dear Friends,
I am on vacation. During the year various people send me forwards. Some are great! While I am on my vacation I would like to share some of them with you. Here is one. Enjoy, and take it from here.
Love, Wendy
Jesus was wandering around Jerusalem when he decided that he really needed a new robe. After looking around for a while, he saw a sign for Finkelstein, the Tailor. So, he went in and made the necessary arrangements to have Finkelstein prepare a new robe for him.
A few days later, when the robe was finished, Jesus tried it on - and it was a perfect fit! He asked how much he owed.
Finkelstein brushed him off: “No, no, no, for the Son of God there’s no charge! However, may I ask for a small favor. Whenever you give a sermon, perhaps you could just mention that your nice new robe was made by Finkelstein, the Tailor?”
Jesus readily agreed and as promised, extolled the virtues of his Finkelstein robe whenever he spoke to the masses.
A few months later, while Jesus was again walking through Jerusalem, he happened to walk past Finkelstein’s shop and noted a huge line of people waiting for Finkelstein’s robes. He pushed his way through the crowd to speak to him, and as soon as Finkelstein spotted him he said, “Jesus, Jesus, look what you’ve done for my business! Would you consider a partnership?”
“Certainly,” replied Jesus. “Jesus & Finkelstein it is.”
“Oh, no, no,” said Finkelstein. “Finkelstein & Jesus. After all, I am the craftsman.”
The two of them debated this for some time. Their discussion was long and spirited, but ultimately fruitful - and they finally came up with a mutually acceptable compromise. A few days later, the new sign went up over Finkelstein’s shop:
Lord & Taylor!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
This Sunday, and the first Sunday of every month, is the day we bring offerings for the People’s Resource Center. The July emphasis is laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. Donations can be placed in the narthex (near the stairwell to Fellowship Hall).
SIGN-UP DEADLINE IS SUNDAY: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don’t miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
FROM YOUR LIBRARY: Be sure to look at the library display for books regarding the 4th of July.
Our women will celebrate Independence Day by getting together at IHOP! WOMEN’S BREAKFAST meets the first Monday of the month, which will be July 5, at 8:00 a.m. at the IHOP in Danada East. If you’re off work that day, come join the group for breakfast and fellowship.
We have another PADS SUMMER MEAL SUPPORT date coming up: Saturday, July 10. We still need lots of donations and help. How about your family coming and making sandwiches for PADS lunches? Or serving the PADS dinner? A small donation of time, talent, or resources ($$ to buy food) goes a long way to help not only the homeless, but also your family feel the joy of serving our Lord. Sign up sheets are in the narthex – add your name this Sunday! Questions? Call Pat Wiedner or Sarah Allen.
SUNDAY SCHOOL PLANNING MEETING: Join us in Fellowship Hall after coffee hour on Sunday, July 11, for a Sunday School planning session, focusing on planning for worship hour education for children and youth. All are welcome, and Sunday School teachers and members of the Christian Education Ministry are especially urged to attend. Topics of discussion will include planning for the Sunday School kick-off event (Sunday, September 12); scheduling of regular Sunday School, rotational Sunday School, and special worship hour programming; curriculum for Sunday School; and the annual Christmas program.
REGISTER BY JULY 11 FOR THE RETREAT AT SAUGATUCK! We are all invited to FAMILY CAMP/SOUTHMINSTER CHURCH RETREAT at Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, MI, August 20-22. Please join us for fun, fellowship, relaxation and some beach time before everyone heads back to school!
Folks can plan to arrive Friday evening (though dinner will not be provided at camp) and depart on Sunday morning after breakfast and worship.
Cost: $125.00 per adult
$104.00 per youth (12-17)
$ 60.00 per child (3-11)
$ 15.00 per infant (0-2)
This cost includes lodging for 2 nights, 4 meals and access to everything camp has to offer. Feel free to take a look at the camp at www.prescamps.org.
Please sign up on the board in the narthex with your name and how many will be attending. Friends are welcome! To reserve the appropriate number of cabins, please sign up BY JULY 4. Direct any questions to Andrea Schmidt in person, via telephone at either 630-629-4526 or 630-846-4527 or e-mail at lizzie3@comcast.net.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about Joshua and the 12 tribes crossing the Jordan River. This follows our theme this summer that when we trust God, he protects us.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Summer Sunday School is up and running, but we still need volunteers to teach and help! There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Not comfortable being “the teacher”? Then sign up to be the teacher’s helper. We need a teacher and a helper for each week. The sign-up sheet is on the CE bulletin board. Please help our children learn what an awesome God we have!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: July 26 - 30 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.! Get on board with VBS and bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors and any other child who is in preschool (4 years old) through 5th grade to set sail on a High Seas adventure. There they’ll enjoy goodies from the Galley, Ship Rec games, Ship crafts and Missions - all while experiencing the deep rolling waters of God’s love. Register on-line at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/SouthminsterHighSeas or at the church starting Sunday, July 4. Please contact Suzanne Tennyson or Andrea Schmidt to learn more.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS: We’re one month into summer, and we still need three Sunday School teachers for the fall. One teacher is needed for the preschool class, one for the intermediate class (3-5 graders) and one for the middle school class. What’s great about having more than one teacher (more than two for the preschool class) is that you can rotate Sundays. That means you can take turns teaching. Can’t commit for the year? We also need substitutes! Please see Rebecca Hecker about following your call to teach Sunday School.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
July 4 – Sunday School topic: Joshua and the 12 tribes cross the Jordan River
July 11 – Sunday School topic: King Solomon builds the temple
July 18 – Sunday School topic: Sermon on the Mount
July 25 – Sunday School topic: The Good Samaritan (Need helper for this lesson)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
SUMMER FUN EVENTS FOR YOUTH:
July 25 - Great America (after church),
Aug. 15 - Loop Day (after church)
Aug. 28-29 - Launching-into-the-School-Year Lock-In.
More details to come. Watch the SPY facebook site, Skadoosh, Enotes, the Dialog, the Church website, etc, etc, etc. (My, but aren’t we connected!)
INTERESTED IN VISITING CUBA? We are planning another trip in the fall of 2010 to visit our sister church in Guanabacoa. The exact week we will be going is being finalized, but we will know it shortly. As it takes about ten weeks to apply for visas, we will need to submit names of people who will be going soon after we know the dates. If you are interested in going on this trip or just asking questions about it, contact Gretchen Fleming (630-858-9377).
UPDATE ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA: ESSE Center has sent information about this informative presentation. Arshea Siddiqiqui, M.D., a highly regarded Geriatrician with Adventist Midwest Geriatric Specialists, one of the leading geriatric practices in the Chicago area will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. The program is on Wednesday, July 14, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 515 S. Wheaton Avenue, Wheaton. Registration and refreshments will be 6:30-7:00 p.m. with the presentation from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Seating is limited. Call for reservations 630-260-3773.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
June 23, 2010
Dear Friends,
I’m anticipating an important event in the life of not only Chicagoland but of our congregation this weekend: the Cross Town Classic White Sox/Cubs games at U.S. Cellular Field. In honor of this event, the Deacons are giving a special baseball-themed fellowship on Sunday. So wear your favorite team uniform!
Baseball and football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. (It should be noted that soccer is catching up.) It seems that this ought to tell us something about ourselves and our values, so compare baseball and football:
Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park. The baseball park! Football is played on a GRIDIRON, in a STADIUM, sometimes called SOLDIER FIELD or WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM.
Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life. Football begins in the fall, when everything is dying.
In football you wear a helmet. In baseball you wear a cap. In football you receive a penalty. In baseball you make an error.
Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting, and unnecessary roughness. Baseball has the sacrifice.
And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:
In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! “I hope I’ll be safe at home!”
Given all of this, it isn’t as important whether you are a Cub fan or a Sox fan, the question is which game would God want us to play, football or baseball? I leave you with that, God’s blessing... and many thanks to George Carlin for the inspiring look at both sports. Take it from here,
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The DEADLINE FOR THE JULY DIALOG was Sunday, June 20. If you had items you wanted to include, you need to turn them in pronto or they won’t be able to be included. Thank you!
Please join us for BIRTHDAY FELLOWSHIP AND BASEBALL RIVALRY immediately after church this Sunday, June 27, in the Narthex. We will be celebrating the Cubs vs Sox cross town classic. Everyone is welcome to wear your favorite Cubs or Sox jersey or shirt! There will be peanuts and Cracker Jack, lemonade and root beer. Feel free to bring your mitt and ball to toss around outside.
FELLOWSHIP OUTING: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don’t miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome.
We still need volunteers to teach and help on the following Sundays: July 25 (the Good Samaritan), August 8 (Daniel obeys God with food), August 15 (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), August 22 (Daniel and the Lions) and August 29 (Esther). There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Please see the Summer Sunday School sign-up sheet on the C.E. Bulletin Board and sign up to teach or help with your favorite Bible story.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - July 26-30 from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Get on board with VBS and bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors and any other child who is in preschool (4 years old) through 5th grade to set sail on a High Seas adventure. There they’ll enjoy goodies from the Galley, Ship Rec games, Ship crafts and Missions - all while experiencing the deep rolling waters of God’s love. Registration starts on July 11, but save the date now! Please contact Suzanne Tennyson or Andrea Schmidt to learn more.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Looking ahead to the school year, we still need three Sunday School teachers for the fall. One teacher is needed for the preschool class, one for the intermediate class (3-5 graders) and one for the middle school class. What’s great about having more than one teacher (more than two for the preschool class) is that you can rotate Sundays. That means you can take turns teaching. Can’t commit for the year? We also need substitutes! Please see Rebecca Hecker about following your call to teach Sunday School.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
June 27 - Sunday School topic: Shipwreck! (Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome)
July 4 - Sunday School topic: Into the Promised Land (Joshua and the 12 stones)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
The YOUTH MISSION TEAM 2010 is back from a week of doing home repair projects for the poor, elderly and needy in Rush County, IN. By God’s grace, a great week was had by all. See the upcoming Dialog for details.
SUMMER FUN EVENTS FOR YOUTH:
July 25 - Great America (after church),
Aug. 15 - Loop Day (after church)
Aug. 27-28 - Launching-into-the-School-Year Lock-In.
More details to come. Watch the SPY facebook site, Skadoosh, Enotes, the Dialog, the Church website, etc, etc, etc. (My, but aren’t we connected!)
PYNGUINS (Junior High Youth): Join us for an Ice Cream Social at Blair and Wendy’s, 2S172 Huntington Place (Butterfield West subdivision, off Hwy 53) on Monday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m.
We are all invited to FAMILY CAMP/SOUTHMINSTER CHURCH RETREAT at Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, MI, August 20-22. Please join us for fun, fellowship, relaxation and some beach time before everyone heads back to school!
Folks can plan to arrive Friday evening (though dinner will not be provided at camp) and depart on Sunday morning after breakfast and worship.
Cost: $125.00 per adult
$104.00 per youth (12-17)
$ 60.00 per child (3-11)
$ 15.00 per infant (0-2)
This cost includes lodging for 2 nights, 4 meals and access to everything camp has to offer. Feel free to take a look at the camp at www.prescamps.org.
Please sign up on the board in the narthex with your name and how many will be attending. Friends are welcome! To reserve the appropriate number of cabins, please sign up BY JULY 4. Direct any questions to Andrea Schmidt in person, via telephone at either 630-629-4526 or 630-846-4527 or e-mail at lizzie3@comcast.net.
I’m anticipating an important event in the life of not only Chicagoland but of our congregation this weekend: the Cross Town Classic White Sox/Cubs games at U.S. Cellular Field. In honor of this event, the Deacons are giving a special baseball-themed fellowship on Sunday. So wear your favorite team uniform!
Baseball and football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. (It should be noted that soccer is catching up.) It seems that this ought to tell us something about ourselves and our values, so compare baseball and football:
Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park. The baseball park! Football is played on a GRIDIRON, in a STADIUM, sometimes called SOLDIER FIELD or WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM.
Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life. Football begins in the fall, when everything is dying.
In football you wear a helmet. In baseball you wear a cap. In football you receive a penalty. In baseball you make an error.
Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting, and unnecessary roughness. Baseball has the sacrifice.
And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:
In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! “I hope I’ll be safe at home!”
Given all of this, it isn’t as important whether you are a Cub fan or a Sox fan, the question is which game would God want us to play, football or baseball? I leave you with that, God’s blessing... and many thanks to George Carlin for the inspiring look at both sports. Take it from here,
Love, Wendy
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The DEADLINE FOR THE JULY DIALOG was Sunday, June 20. If you had items you wanted to include, you need to turn them in pronto or they won’t be able to be included. Thank you!
Please join us for BIRTHDAY FELLOWSHIP AND BASEBALL RIVALRY immediately after church this Sunday, June 27, in the Narthex. We will be celebrating the Cubs vs Sox cross town classic. Everyone is welcome to wear your favorite Cubs or Sox jersey or shirt! There will be peanuts and Cracker Jack, lemonade and root beer. Feel free to bring your mitt and ball to toss around outside.
FELLOWSHIP OUTING: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don’t miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome.
We still need volunteers to teach and help on the following Sundays: July 25 (the Good Samaritan), August 8 (Daniel obeys God with food), August 15 (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), August 22 (Daniel and the Lions) and August 29 (Esther). There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Please see the Summer Sunday School sign-up sheet on the C.E. Bulletin Board and sign up to teach or help with your favorite Bible story.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - July 26-30 from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Get on board with VBS and bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors and any other child who is in preschool (4 years old) through 5th grade to set sail on a High Seas adventure. There they’ll enjoy goodies from the Galley, Ship Rec games, Ship crafts and Missions - all while experiencing the deep rolling waters of God’s love. Registration starts on July 11, but save the date now! Please contact Suzanne Tennyson or Andrea Schmidt to learn more.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Looking ahead to the school year, we still need three Sunday School teachers for the fall. One teacher is needed for the preschool class, one for the intermediate class (3-5 graders) and one for the middle school class. What’s great about having more than one teacher (more than two for the preschool class) is that you can rotate Sundays. That means you can take turns teaching. Can’t commit for the year? We also need substitutes! Please see Rebecca Hecker about following your call to teach Sunday School.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
June 27 - Sunday School topic: Shipwreck! (Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome)
July 4 - Sunday School topic: Into the Promised Land (Joshua and the 12 stones)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
The YOUTH MISSION TEAM 2010 is back from a week of doing home repair projects for the poor, elderly and needy in Rush County, IN. By God’s grace, a great week was had by all. See the upcoming Dialog for details.
SUMMER FUN EVENTS FOR YOUTH:
July 25 - Great America (after church),
Aug. 15 - Loop Day (after church)
Aug. 27-28 - Launching-into-the-School-Year Lock-In.
More details to come. Watch the SPY facebook site, Skadoosh, Enotes, the Dialog, the Church website, etc, etc, etc. (My, but aren’t we connected!)
PYNGUINS (Junior High Youth): Join us for an Ice Cream Social at Blair and Wendy’s, 2S172 Huntington Place (Butterfield West subdivision, off Hwy 53) on Monday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m.
We are all invited to FAMILY CAMP/SOUTHMINSTER CHURCH RETREAT at Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, MI, August 20-22. Please join us for fun, fellowship, relaxation and some beach time before everyone heads back to school!
Folks can plan to arrive Friday evening (though dinner will not be provided at camp) and depart on Sunday morning after breakfast and worship.
Cost: $125.00 per adult
$104.00 per youth (12-17)
$ 60.00 per child (3-11)
$ 15.00 per infant (0-2)
This cost includes lodging for 2 nights, 4 meals and access to everything camp has to offer. Feel free to take a look at the camp at www.prescamps.org.
Please sign up on the board in the narthex with your name and how many will be attending. Friends are welcome! To reserve the appropriate number of cabins, please sign up BY JULY 4. Direct any questions to Andrea Schmidt in person, via telephone at either 630-629-4526 or 630-846-4527 or e-mail at lizzie3@comcast.net.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
June 16, 2010
Scripture: Luke 15:21-24
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Dear Friends,
“Undeserved” is the theme of our 2010 Youth Mission Trip this week. It is the story in Luke 15 of the prodigal son’s undeserved grace. The story of the Southminster trip was filled with hurdles and grace before they even left. The week before they left Youth Director Blair Nelson got a phone call from Enterprise Car Rentals. The 15-passenger van that they were to rent had been totaled and another van was not to be found. This was worrisome, not just because we needed transportation, but Blair had arranged for a great rental price. There was prayer! By Saturday Enterprise had come through with 2 Suburbans for the same price as the van. Yes, we need to pay for the extra gas, but we had transportation for the entire crew. At 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, the night before they were to leave, Blair got a phone call that the only other eligible driver couldn’t come after all. (We needed two drivers, now that we had two vehicles.) Her work schedule had been changed. More prayer. Her manager let her come. God has blessed us.
What is a typical workcamp like? At our workcamp in Rushville, Indiana there are 273 “workers” and 13 church groups. There are groups from Illinois, but there are also groups from Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. The youth groups are Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist… many denominations!... all Christians serving Christ. Workers are put on teams with youth from other churches. The crews work on homes during the day. The teams are usually up and out by 7:00 a.m. and back at the high schools where they sleep by about 4:00 p.m. At night, there is a worship service and nightly devotions with your own church group.
The big story is what happens at the worksite. Not only do the kids work, they have bible study along with lunch and they connect with the residents. I spoke to Max today. When I asked him about his resident his voice got quiet. He told me that his crew is making a wheelchair ramp for a resident who has degenerative bone disease. He told me how nice she was. Blair told me about Zee’s crew. While they were working on a home, a woman with a walker made the 100-yard journey to their site. She praised God for the work that the kids and adult sponsors were doing in her community. She explained that she hadn’t been able to sign up for a crew because she had been in the hospital during registration. The crew took it in their hands to ask the “powers that be” to make an exception and get this woman her own crew to make her a wheelchair ramp. She got a crew after all! I have been on 10 workcamps and I have never seen this happen. How very wonderful!
There is more to say but space is limited. I hope each of you make it a point to ask our youth and sponsors about their experience. Keep them in prayer and take it from here,
Love, Wendy
P.S. Pray for Dana whose health kept her from going, but who showed up early Sunday morning to see them off anyway.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MISSION: 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. this 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 on every Tuesday and Wednesday through next week (June 23). Print a coupon from the June Dialog or pick one up at church (in the narthex or on the nametag shelf) before you go to Chili’s.
FELLOWSHIP OUTING: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don’t miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
Another time to sing ‘Take me out to the ball game!”
Please join us for birthday fellowship and baseball rivalry immediately after church on June 27 in the Narthex. We will be celebrating the Cubs vs Sox cross town classic. Everyone is welcome to wear your favorite Cubs or Sox jersey or shirt! There will be peanuts and Cracker Jack, lemonade and root beer. Feel free to bring your mitt and ball to toss around outside.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about how each part of God’s family is important through Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Summer Sunday School is up and running, but we still need volunteers to teach and help! There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Not comfortable being “the teacher”? Then sign up to be the teacher’s helper. We need a teacher and a helper for each week. The sign-up sheet is on the CE bulletin board. Please help our children learn what an awesome God we have!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Planning is well under way for this year’s VBS, High Seas Expedition. Please look at your schedule and see if you could help out the week of July 26-30. Crew leaders are needed!
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Looking ahead to the school year (I know summer is just starting!), we still need three Sunday School teachers for the fall. One teacher is needed for the preschool class, one for the intermediate class (3-5 graders) and one for the middle school class. What’s great about having more than one teacher (more than two for the preschool class) is that you can rotate Sundays. That means you can take turns teaching. Can’t commit for the year? We also need substitutes! Please see Rebecca Hecker about following your call to teach Sunday School.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
June 20 - Sunday School topic: Body of Christ (Paul’s letter to the Romans)
June 27 - Sunday School topic: Shipwreck! (Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome)
July 4 - Sunday School topic: Into the Promised Land (Joshua and the 12 stones)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
RECYCLE PAPER HERE and raise money for our Mission Ministries. You can’t miss the large green and yellow bin in our gravel overflow parking lot. Let’s fill it with paper!
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.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Dear Friends,
“Undeserved” is the theme of our 2010 Youth Mission Trip this week. It is the story in Luke 15 of the prodigal son’s undeserved grace. The story of the Southminster trip was filled with hurdles and grace before they even left. The week before they left Youth Director Blair Nelson got a phone call from Enterprise Car Rentals. The 15-passenger van that they were to rent had been totaled and another van was not to be found. This was worrisome, not just because we needed transportation, but Blair had arranged for a great rental price. There was prayer! By Saturday Enterprise had come through with 2 Suburbans for the same price as the van. Yes, we need to pay for the extra gas, but we had transportation for the entire crew. At 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, the night before they were to leave, Blair got a phone call that the only other eligible driver couldn’t come after all. (We needed two drivers, now that we had two vehicles.) Her work schedule had been changed. More prayer. Her manager let her come. God has blessed us.
What is a typical workcamp like? At our workcamp in Rushville, Indiana there are 273 “workers” and 13 church groups. There are groups from Illinois, but there are also groups from Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. The youth groups are Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist… many denominations!... all Christians serving Christ. Workers are put on teams with youth from other churches. The crews work on homes during the day. The teams are usually up and out by 7:00 a.m. and back at the high schools where they sleep by about 4:00 p.m. At night, there is a worship service and nightly devotions with your own church group.
The big story is what happens at the worksite. Not only do the kids work, they have bible study along with lunch and they connect with the residents. I spoke to Max today. When I asked him about his resident his voice got quiet. He told me that his crew is making a wheelchair ramp for a resident who has degenerative bone disease. He told me how nice she was. Blair told me about Zee’s crew. While they were working on a home, a woman with a walker made the 100-yard journey to their site. She praised God for the work that the kids and adult sponsors were doing in her community. She explained that she hadn’t been able to sign up for a crew because she had been in the hospital during registration. The crew took it in their hands to ask the “powers that be” to make an exception and get this woman her own crew to make her a wheelchair ramp. She got a crew after all! I have been on 10 workcamps and I have never seen this happen. How very wonderful!
There is more to say but space is limited. I hope each of you make it a point to ask our youth and sponsors about their experience. Keep them in prayer and take it from here,
Love, Wendy
P.S. Pray for Dana whose health kept her from going, but who showed up early Sunday morning to see them off anyway.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MISSION: 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. this 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 on every Tuesday and Wednesday through next week (June 23). Print a coupon from the June Dialog or pick one up at church (in the narthex or on the nametag shelf) before you go to Chili’s.
FELLOWSHIP OUTING: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don’t miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
Another time to sing ‘Take me out to the ball game!”
Please join us for birthday fellowship and baseball rivalry immediately after church on June 27 in the Narthex. We will be celebrating the Cubs vs Sox cross town classic. Everyone is welcome to wear your favorite Cubs or Sox jersey or shirt! There will be peanuts and Cracker Jack, lemonade and root beer. Feel free to bring your mitt and ball to toss around outside.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about how each part of God’s family is important through Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Summer Sunday School is up and running, but we still need volunteers to teach and help! There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Not comfortable being “the teacher”? Then sign up to be the teacher’s helper. We need a teacher and a helper for each week. The sign-up sheet is on the CE bulletin board. Please help our children learn what an awesome God we have!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Planning is well under way for this year’s VBS, High Seas Expedition. Please look at your schedule and see if you could help out the week of July 26-30. Crew leaders are needed!
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Looking ahead to the school year (I know summer is just starting!), we still need three Sunday School teachers for the fall. One teacher is needed for the preschool class, one for the intermediate class (3-5 graders) and one for the middle school class. What’s great about having more than one teacher (more than two for the preschool class) is that you can rotate Sundays. That means you can take turns teaching. Can’t commit for the year? We also need substitutes! Please see Rebecca Hecker about following your call to teach Sunday School.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
June 20 - Sunday School topic: Body of Christ (Paul’s letter to the Romans)
June 27 - Sunday School topic: Shipwreck! (Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome)
July 4 - Sunday School topic: Into the Promised Land (Joshua and the 12 stones)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
RECYCLE PAPER HERE and raise money for our Mission Ministries. You can’t miss the large green and yellow bin in our gravel overflow parking lot. Let’s fill it with paper!
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.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
June 9, 2010
Scripture: Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to a visit from our sister church in the fall of 2011. On Labor Day Weekend 2011 Pastor Abel and his wife Sara will join us in celebrating our 50th year jubilee. Does this sound like a small thing? After all, that part of our jubilee celebration is about 15 months away. However, getting the paperwork in order is no small thing. When the U.S. consulate was first contacted, the only appointment open was in 2013 - TWO YEARS PAST our celebration. That was only the beginning of our hurdles. Gretchen Fleming, who was doing the leg work on this project, was a bit frustrated to say the least, but we prayed. Through a series of events, Abel and Sara have this very important appointment next week.
Thinking about this, there are two thoughts that come to mind: prayer and thanksgiving. In Psalm 5, the Psalmist “lays” his requests out to God and expects an answer. Do we lay out our requests, even the ones that seem not worthy of prayer, like paperwork? Do we expect an answer? Sometimes we pray and don’t look for an answer. We make our requests and don’t stop and look for the answer. When Gretchen told me the good news about the appointment I had forgotten that we had prayed about it. If it weren’t for Gretchen sharing the good news with me, I would have missed an opportunity to see God working in my life.
Gretchen told me that she thanked God by putting money in her “Thank Jar.” There are a number of ways to thank God, but her way intrigued me. Each fall the Presbyterian Women have the thank offering. During the year some of our women put coins in a jar to thank God for whatever they are thankful for. The money from that jar is pooled and sent to our National Offices; at least 40 percent of this offering supports health ministries throughout the world. The remaining 60 percent funds new creative ideas for mission. There are a lot of ways to thank God; Gretchen’s is just one of them. How do you thank God? Take it from here,
Love, Wendy
P.S. If you have trouble jump-starting your prayer life, a Psalm is a good way to get started.
P.P.S. I just talked to Gretchen. Let’s just say we still have some opportunities to see God at work and pray about Abel and Sara’s trip.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MISSION:
Homelessness and Hunger don’t take a summer vacation! Southminster will be providing MEALS FOR PADS the second Saturday of June, July, and August. We still need a few things for our first summer meal this coming weekend. For dinner Saturday night: coleslaw and hot vegetables (green beans or corn). For breakfast Sunday morning: breakfast casseroles and cream cheese. If you’re willing to donate one or more of these, please reply to this email or contact Gretchen Fleming (630-858-9377). Note that all donations for sack lunches need to be delivered to Southminster by 9:00 a.m. this Saturday; all food for dinner and breakfast should be here by 10:00 a.m. Saturday.
This is a mission EVERYONE at SPC can support in one way or another. Mission Ministry can NOT do it without you! Any questions? Contact Gretchen.
Please pray for the YOUTH MISSION TEAM, who will be serving in Rushville, Indiana, from this Sunday until June19th. Pray for their spiritual growth, safety, and that the people they help will be served well and see Jesus’ love through them.
CONFIRMATION: This coming Sunday, June 13, at 11:00 a.m. there will be a meeting in the parlor to discuss Confirmation. Parents of unconfirmed students entering 6th grade through high school age are invited.
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. Print a coupon from the June Dialog or pick one up at church (in the narthex or on the nametag shelf) before you go to Chili’s.
FELLOWSHIP OUTING: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don't miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about God’s love through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Summer Sunday School is up and running, but we still need volunteers to teach and help! There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Not comfortable being “the teacher”? Then sign up to be the teacher’s helper. We need a teacher and a helper for each week. The sign up sheet is on the CE bulletin board. Please help our children learn what an awesome God we have!
ARTWORK FOR HALLWAY: Summer is the time to showcase the artwork of our children! We are asking that you bring in some of your child’s artwork from school to hang in our Hallway Gallery from June 15 through Labor Day. We have gotten some artwork, but there is still time to bring more. Linda Ellinghausen has graciously offered to mount the artwork, so we’ll need them by this Sunday, June 13. Please drop off your child’s artwork on the CE desk. All artwork of course will be returned after the showcase. I can’t wait to see what our artists have done through the year!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Planning is well under way for this year’s VBS, High Seas Expedition. Please look at your schedule and see if you could help out that week: July 26-30 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Specifically we need volunteers for doing SIMPLE snacks.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
June 13 - Sunday School topic: A love letter (Paul’s letter to the Corinthians)
June 20 - Sunday School topic: Body of Christ
June 27 - Sunday School topic: Shipwreck! (Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
RECYCLE PAPER HERE and raise money for our Mission Ministries. You can’t miss the large green and yellow bin in our gravel overflow parking lot. Let’s fill it with paper!
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.
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to a visit from our sister church in the fall of 2011. On Labor Day Weekend 2011 Pastor Abel and his wife Sara will join us in celebrating our 50th year jubilee. Does this sound like a small thing? After all, that part of our jubilee celebration is about 15 months away. However, getting the paperwork in order is no small thing. When the U.S. consulate was first contacted, the only appointment open was in 2013 - TWO YEARS PAST our celebration. That was only the beginning of our hurdles. Gretchen Fleming, who was doing the leg work on this project, was a bit frustrated to say the least, but we prayed. Through a series of events, Abel and Sara have this very important appointment next week.
Thinking about this, there are two thoughts that come to mind: prayer and thanksgiving. In Psalm 5, the Psalmist “lays” his requests out to God and expects an answer. Do we lay out our requests, even the ones that seem not worthy of prayer, like paperwork? Do we expect an answer? Sometimes we pray and don’t look for an answer. We make our requests and don’t stop and look for the answer. When Gretchen told me the good news about the appointment I had forgotten that we had prayed about it. If it weren’t for Gretchen sharing the good news with me, I would have missed an opportunity to see God working in my life.
Gretchen told me that she thanked God by putting money in her “Thank Jar.” There are a number of ways to thank God, but her way intrigued me. Each fall the Presbyterian Women have the thank offering. During the year some of our women put coins in a jar to thank God for whatever they are thankful for. The money from that jar is pooled and sent to our National Offices; at least 40 percent of this offering supports health ministries throughout the world. The remaining 60 percent funds new creative ideas for mission. There are a lot of ways to thank God; Gretchen’s is just one of them. How do you thank God? Take it from here,
Love, Wendy
P.S. If you have trouble jump-starting your prayer life, a Psalm is a good way to get started.
P.P.S. I just talked to Gretchen. Let’s just say we still have some opportunities to see God at work and pray about Abel and Sara’s trip.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MISSION:
Homelessness and Hunger don’t take a summer vacation! Southminster will be providing MEALS FOR PADS the second Saturday of June, July, and August. We still need a few things for our first summer meal this coming weekend. For dinner Saturday night: coleslaw and hot vegetables (green beans or corn). For breakfast Sunday morning: breakfast casseroles and cream cheese. If you’re willing to donate one or more of these, please reply to this email or contact Gretchen Fleming (630-858-9377). Note that all donations for sack lunches need to be delivered to Southminster by 9:00 a.m. this Saturday; all food for dinner and breakfast should be here by 10:00 a.m. Saturday.
This is a mission EVERYONE at SPC can support in one way or another. Mission Ministry can NOT do it without you! Any questions? Contact Gretchen.
Please pray for the YOUTH MISSION TEAM, who will be serving in Rushville, Indiana, from this Sunday until June19th. Pray for their spiritual growth, safety, and that the people they help will be served well and see Jesus’ love through them.
CONFIRMATION: This coming Sunday, June 13, at 11:00 a.m. there will be a meeting in the parlor to discuss Confirmation. Parents of unconfirmed students entering 6th grade through high school age are invited.
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. Print a coupon from the June Dialog or pick one up at church (in the narthex or on the nametag shelf) before you go to Chili’s.
FELLOWSHIP OUTING: Take me out to the Cougars Ballgame! Don't miss our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars game on Monday July 12th (All Faiths Night). Fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $5 per person and can be reserved on the signup sheet posted in the narthex. Sign up by July 4th so you don't miss this great fellowship event. For more details, contact Diane Swiss at dswiss60137@sbcglobal.net or 630-858-5488.
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about God’s love through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Summer Sunday School is up and running, but we still need volunteers to teach and help! There is a teacher’s packet for each lesson that includes the story and activities. Not comfortable being “the teacher”? Then sign up to be the teacher’s helper. We need a teacher and a helper for each week. The sign up sheet is on the CE bulletin board. Please help our children learn what an awesome God we have!
ARTWORK FOR HALLWAY: Summer is the time to showcase the artwork of our children! We are asking that you bring in some of your child’s artwork from school to hang in our Hallway Gallery from June 15 through Labor Day. We have gotten some artwork, but there is still time to bring more. Linda Ellinghausen has graciously offered to mount the artwork, so we’ll need them by this Sunday, June 13. Please drop off your child’s artwork on the CE desk. All artwork of course will be returned after the showcase. I can’t wait to see what our artists have done through the year!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Planning is well under way for this year’s VBS, High Seas Expedition. Please look at your schedule and see if you could help out that week: July 26-30 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Specifically we need volunteers for doing SIMPLE snacks.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN CHRISTIAN ED?
June 13 - Sunday School topic: A love letter (Paul’s letter to the Corinthians)
June 20 - Sunday School topic: Body of Christ
June 27 - Sunday School topic: Shipwreck! (Paul’s journey under Roman rule from Jerusalem to Rome)
July 26-30 - Vacation Bible School (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
RECYCLE PAPER HERE and raise money for our Mission Ministries. You can’t miss the large green and yellow bin in our gravel overflow parking lot. Let’s fill it with paper!
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.
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