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. Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
Big Brothers and Sisters
Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9)
We were having dinner recently with four couples. As the evening progressed, one of them shared her struggle with a sister, who at the age of 45 is chronically ill and likely a hypochondriac. This prompted another friend to share how his brother was in an unhealthy, codependent relationship with his 90-year-old mother. Around the table it went, each of them with their own story to tell about strain with an adult sibling.
As my wife and I drove home, the thought struck me: The problem with families is that all of us come from one! They can indeed be stormy at times, defying predictability, routinely disruptive--a lot like Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. Perhaps one of you is estranged from a brother or sister.
Perhaps many months or even years have gone by since you’ve talked with or seen each other. Perhaps you have a sibling who still doesn’t have his or her life together and continues taking advantage of your parents. Perhaps no matter what you or anyone else does to help, he or she cannot walk a straight line, keep a job, or stay out of trouble.
I believe wisdom offers us three principles in trying to deal with this:
- Realize you’re not alone. Sibling difficulty was an issue in the very first family--something between Cain and Abel, as I recall--and it continues to stain most families today as they age and expand. What you’re dealing with is unfortunately more normal than abnormal.
- Stop trying to change them. If you have a tendency to be the 9-1-1 rescue responder, resign from that role. Put your trust in a big God, and turn the job over to Him. He’s good at it.
- Forgive them. Resist resentment. Stop punishing them. Give them the grace and mercy you have received from the Lord, and choose to love them, even if it must be from a safe distance.
Discuss. Rather than recounting the troubles between you and your adult siblings (or your parents), take time to discuss how you could apply these three principles to your situation.
And Pray. Pray for them. Never stop praying for them. Really praying.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SOLACE SINGLES is planning two upcoming concert outings. Sign-up sheets for both are in the narthex. (Note the July 16 -that’s this Friday!- reservation deadline for the second concert!) Call Barb Seymour for details (630-752-0656).
Wheaton Band Festival (free) on Friday, July 16 at Wheaton Memorial Park, 7:15 p.m., featuring the Chicago Brass Band and Switch Time Jazz Ensemble.
Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert at Glenbard South High School on Saturday, August 7, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $29 each; deadline for tickets is July 16.
QUILT MINISTRY: Our next meeting is Monday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. (Our “regular” date would have been July 12, but we changed it because of the outing to the Cougars game.) We welcome all levels of experience, especially those who enjoy sewing simple 8" blocks, straight lines only! Some volunteers tie knots with pearl cotton thread, some arrange blocks to make a beautiful quilt top. We welcome and “need” you with any gift and talent you have. Can’t come this month? Join us Monday, August 9, same time, same place. Questions? Contact Sue Knisely (462-7140) or Sue Clary (790-1109).
The DEADLINE FOR THE AUGUST DIALOG is this coming Tuesday, July 20.
INTERESTED IN VISITING CUBA? We are planning another trip in the fall of 2010 to visit our sister church in Guanabacoa. The dates for the trip are November 7 through November 15. We will need to submit names of people who will be going by August 15 in order to allow time to obtain visas. The cost of the trip is $1,800 per person. This covers all air fares, overnight stays, and meals and transportation while in Cuba. If you are interested in going on this trip or just asking questions about it, contact Gretchen Fleming (630-858-9377).
CHRISTIAN ED. NOTES:
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL: This week the children will learn about the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. Thank you to all the volunteers who have signed up to teach/help this summer. We have one more open spot in July (need a helper on July 25) and most of August is open. 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 online at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/SouthminsterHighSeas or at the church. Please contact Suzanne Tennyson or Andrea Schmidt to learn more.
You can help! Here’s a list of items still needed for VBS:
12 - empty 2-liter bottles
2 - Rolls of cellophane (for portholes)
4 - Small blankets
1 - Box fans
50 - Chinet paper plates (round - to make frisbees)
6 - Boxes Pringles Baked Wheat Sticks
3 - Bags Snyder’s Pretzel Square Shaped
2 - Bags M & M’s
2 - Boxes Honey Nut Cheerios
4 - Bags BLUE corn tortilla chips
4 - Containers ranch dip/dressing
4 – 8 oz. packages mild cheddar cheese
5 - Boxes chocolate graham crackers
5 - Containers Cool Whip
4 - Cans cherry pie filling
4 - Cantaloupe
2 - Watermelons
2 - Lbs. green grapes
2 - Lbs. red grapes
Please let Rebecca Hecker if you can provide any items.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS:
Youth training meeting will be held Friday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. Be prepared to eat pizza and tie dye your VBS shirt!
ALL volunteers are needed to decorate on Saturday morning, July 24, from 9-12:00. Tie-dying will also be done, so be prepared to get dirty!
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Wow, summer is half over, 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 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! Come aboard for great fun! (6:00-8:30 p.m.)
August - Jonah, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Esther
FROM YOUR LIBRARY: Be sure to check the library table in the narthex all this month for summer reading. There will be many new books, so check every week.
SUMMER FUN EVENTS FOR YOUTH:
July 25 - Great America (after church). Check Facebook and reserve your spot by this Monday, July 19!
Aug. 15 - Loop Day (after church)
Aug. 28-29 - Launching-into-the-School-Year Lock-In.
Watch all the usual places for details!
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 tonight -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.
