TidingsJuly 2010 Volume 17, Issue 7

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn550 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137630.469.2007 fax 630.469.5025firstpresge@firstpresge.orgwww.firstpresge.org

TidingsJuly 2010 Volume 17, Issue 7

WorshipSchedule

Sunday Morning9:00am~SanctuaryContemporary

11:00am~Sanctuary Traditional

Dear Friends,

During the past year I read a book by John Eldgredge called Wild at Heart. The book focuses upon men’s issues from a Christian perspective and has some good material for men in it. In this newsletter, I want to share with you a quote that reaches both men and women:

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

One could easily read this from a self-centered perspective, but when we think about his words from the point of view of a life given to Christ, it opens up some wonderful possibilities.

First, our main allegiance is not to the needs around us, but to the Lord. This does not mean that we neglect the needs, but rather that we approach meeting them in the strength and leading of the Lord. We certainly are called by Christ to address injustice, sinfulness and need. For a powerful Bible passage on this, read Matthew 25: 31-46. God will lead us to the right action as we seek first to please and serve Him. I can’t over-emphasize how important this is. The Bible teaches so much about how our lives flow from what is in our hearts, and from what our hearts desire. Jesus says: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Second, we live in a time when we are pressed and pressured from a variety of different angles: time pressures, financial worries, marriage and parenting issues, health and aging concerns, and more. These pressures can squeeze the life out of us, and they do. Many of us wake up, after a fitful night’s sleep, full of anxiety about living through more of the same in the new day. In contrast, Christ calls us to an abundant life. This is not escapist. Rather, Jesus promises that in the daily world we each inhabit, there will be a sense of His abiding accompaniment with us and that He will bring faith, hope and love to our lives and also through our lives to others. So as we become alive in Christ, we become counter-cultural in a very healthy way: full of the joy of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit.

This summer, seek one thing and one thing primarily, to know what Paul means when he writes: “…because of His great love for us, God, who is

rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ….” (Ephesians 2:5)

Alleluia!

Dave

Check our website for monthly events. firstpresge.org

Summer Office Hours:Monday - Thursday 8-4Friday 8-noon

In this issue...

Letter from Dave

First Pres Events

Where Jesus Walked

Galatians Group Thank You

Sports Camp

Summer Brunches!

Music and Worship

Walk-in Ministry Update

FISH band

Mission Study Group Update

Minute with Mick

Stewardship From the Heart

Music - Part of Worship

KILTS Club?

Session Highlights

Little Birdie Storybook

Jerusalem Journey

Third Grade Mission

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn550 North Main StreetGlen Ellyn, IL 60137-4497

4th at First

Come join the fun!!

Plan on viewing the 4th of July

parade on the lawn at First Pres.

Bring your blankets or lawn

chairs and sit under the shady

trees. The Membership Ministry

team, under the leadership of

Elder Erik Peterson, will be

providing delicious popped corn,

icy popsicles and refreshing

lemonade. Donations will

be accepted to benefit PADS.

The parade starts at 2 PM, so

invite your friends and enjoy

the festivities at First Pres.

First Pres

Wednesday BBQs

are back!

Come to picnics at 6pm in the

Upper Gallery on the following

weeks: July 14, July 21, July 28,

August 4, 11, 18.

For those of you new to this

tradition, all are welcome. Come

enjoy casual summer fellowship.

No need to RSVP. Bring your

favorite side dish or dessert to

share. For $3 per person ($12

maximum per family) we’ll

provide the meat, chips and bev-

erages. Hope to see you there!

Mission Study Group Update

Your Mission Study Group is completing task 4 of the 6 Mission Study Group tasks. Task 4 is an examination of First Pres pro-grams in the areas of Worship, Member Care, Education, Mis-sion/Service, Evangelism, Stewardship, Properties, and Leader-ship and Administration. Our job is to summarize the programs, gauge their effectiveness, and suggest possible changes. To ac-complish this, we have cataloged the programs, interviewed the program leaders, and gathered data, such as stewardship pledges, Sunday School enrollment, REVEAL results, etc. This has been a huge task and has shown us the breadth of our programming here at First Pres. As an example, the following is an excerpt from the Member Care section:

The First Pres Member Care programs seek to provide support to members in need, whether the need is physical, financial, social, emotional, or spiritual and whatever stage of life the congregant is in. • Physical needs are met through meals, transportation, and as-sistance with household chores.• Financial needs are met through short-term loans, grants, or gifts from the Barnabas Committee.• Social needs are met through monthly luncheons, all-church fellowship events, small groups, family camp, and weekly sum-mer barbecues.• Emotional needs are met through home and hospital visits and calls, pastoral counseling and referral, greeting cards and flowers from the deacons, grief support groups, college care packages, and new baby gifts.• Spiritual needs are met through spiritual direction, funeral assistance, extended communion, session calls at funeral homes, pastoral counseling, pre-baptism meetings with parents, prayer chains and groups, and one-on-one prayer.

The strengths of the Member Care programs are the breadth and diversity of the programs and the widespread involvement of the pastors, deacons, and laity. The challenges of the Member Care programs are identifying members who have needs, convincing members to accept help, and motivating already busy people to make time to help others. As to Member Care program effective-ness, members express thanks for the cards, meals, and flowers. Attendance at fellowship events is also high, especially Lunch Bunch. In addition, the REVEAL survey addressed the impor-tance and effectiveness of our Member Care programs: The state-ment “Helps me feel like I belong” was ranked as one of the top ten things that First Pres does best (#8). The statement “Helps me in my time of emotional needs” was #5 in the list of priori-ties for our church (combination of highest priority and lowest effectiveness items). More data is needed to clarify how Member Care can be improved.

As always, we welcome your feedback. You may email us at msg@firstpresge.org. While we may not respond, we all read your email and consider it prayerfully as we work through our sections. Thanks for your patience. We continue to devote many hours to this task—we didn’t expect it to take so long, either! We trust God and we trust the process, however, so we are doing our best to complete the tasks to the best of our abilities. Please pray for us!

Your Mission Study Team (Karen Blake, Marge Craddock, Audre’ Daniels, Bill Glenn, Gail Minkus, and Kirsten Schiff)

“If you have much, give of your wealth. If you have little, give of your heart.” The Glen Ellyn Historical Society had a grand opening for it’s commercial store located at the history site at “the five corners” of Glen Ellyn. The store has a country theme and is an impressive addition to the history center; a history of the expanded area around Glen Ellyn. Around the store exterior are enlarged photos of the Glen Ellyn 19th and 20th century history. It is a pictorial history not so much of the buildings but of the people. If you look at the his-tory of our church, beginning in 1926, it is a story of our people. Our congregation is built by volunteers, visionaries and financial supporters. We have a rich history. Walking into the store you a immediately tantalized by the aromas of candles or “signature” coffees. Your eye catches the form and color of country quilts, collections of plaques and plates, books and banners, many with cute sayings or lessons for life. One in particular caught my attention, “If you have much, give of your wealth. If you have little, give of your heart.” I don’t know who spoke those words or when they were spoken, but it is a wonderful STEWARDSHIP lesson for life.....they even made a wall plaque of it! Stewardship is always from the heart. Yes we need your continued financial support but we also need people for vacation bible school or to serve on church committees. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. As a Stewardship team, we can inform but it is only the Lord Jesus and the Word that instruct, inspire and speak to your heart. Stay committed to the Word of the Lord. Jim DrasalStewardship Chairman

Mission NewsWalk-in Ministry Update

You have been out of work for so long. Money is critically short. What do you spend your limited funds on? Rent? Gas? Food? Medicine? Utilities? Work shoes? There is not enough money for it all. What do you do? Where do you turn?

Several years ago, the Glen Ellyn churches came together to form the Walk-in Ministry which is located at First United Methodist Church on Duane St. When a person who is in financial crisis comes to a church looking for assistance, they are referred to the Walk-in Ministry. When a person arrives at the Walk-in Ministry, they are greeted by a volunteer who helps them fill out the in-take form. The person must be a resident of Glen Ellyn or a member of a GE church or have a DuPage PADS card in order to qualify for assistance. Over 125 people come for help each month.

Bill Jenkins is one of the representatives of First Pres at the Walk-in Ministry. Bill thanks the members of First Pres for responding gener-ously to the announcement in worship last month by Pastor Dave – the ministry was beset by a major financial crisis major financial crisis and was devoid of funds to assist folks.How can you help? You can volunteer at the ministry – hours are 10 a.m. to 12 noon Monday through Friday (closed on Fridays in the sum-mer). Call Bill Jenkins at 469-3219 for information.Financial support is always appreciated – you can donate by writing a check to First Pres and designating it to Walk-in Ministry which is sup-ported by our Mission Ministry.

Minute with Mick Wondering about The Extreme Make-Over

This fall, the Children’s Min-istries Team would love to re-invent Sunday school for our grade school children with more dramatic/hands-on experiences as a way of learning, for true com-prehension and life transforma-tion, the Biblical stories. During the summer months is when we’d like to help everyone understand the paradigm shift. Put your “Wonder Hat” on and think about education a little different-ly with me for a moment and see if you too can get excited about contributing in your own unique way to our Extreme Make-over.

First – we find a theme that we want to call our Sunday School area and program. A few have already surfaced and you should have read about them in News and Notes or the FPGE E-Blasts. To summarize: what we think we might do is to call it “The VIL-LAGE” and have lots of spin offs of that concept with “Lighting the Way to the Village” or people of the Village being called “Lamp Lighters” or our “VILLAGE SHINES the Light of Jesus” and our “VILLAGE” stands for Victory In Jesus: Learning And Growing Experiences.” How great would it be to tell everyone to “Come to the V.I.L.L.A.G.E.” and have that mean our rooms and educational ministry to kids.

Second - we find people to take key roles and then find others to be on those teams:• Work Supervisor - Need to make sure construction sessions have related tools and clear work orders to maximize efforts.

• Donations Chair - Need to in-ventory needs and solicit targeted donations within the Church and Craigslist, as well as take inven-tory of what we already have in the building and do a little rearranging.• Room Lead Designer - Coor-dinate efforts, resolve issues and support room chairs in renova-tion effort • Curriculum Coordinators – a couple of people to look at cur-riculum and help develop the scope and sequence of what is taught• Fundraising Event Chair - need to raise some money for inci-dentals. Also in the past Eagle Scouts or other organizations have supported school make overs.• Room Chairs ( 2 per room - Construction and Design Sponsor) - Design and build a purposed room against the theme

Third- we redesign the rooms them-selves to become specific areas where different experiences of the Biblical Story are learned. For example: • The Theatre - 4th Grade room: • Music and Movement - 1st Grade existing music room; • Storytelling - 5th grade room; • Crafts and Cooking - 2nd or 3rd Grade; • Science and Discovery - 2nd or 3rd Grade.

Then each week for Sunday School one age group goes into each room and has a hands-on experience with the Biblical story, the following week they “rotate” to a different room and experi-ence the same story in a different way.

“So”, you say, “We’ve heard about this already.” “Well”, I reply, “Where do you want to get involved?” It takes all of us, all gen-erations, and using all our various gifts to make this transition. Sign yourself up to be on a specific team. The time-line is moving quickly and whether or not the room design is completed by September doesn’t interfere with the fact that we will be doing Sunday School differently. The Rotation model is more about what we DO in the rooms than it is about how the rooms look. This is a work in progress. It’s all about volunteering time, talent and donations to spruce ourselves up. Take a look at the video of other churches in the Gathering Place between

services some Sunday – and then see how you can get involved.

Finally, thanks to all who are already doing some-thing; this is about help-ing our children deeply experience the truths of God’s Word and in turn appropriating those truths into their very lives. It’s an Extreme Make-over alright, and it’s going to be great!

Mickie

Saugatuck 2010

Your best summer memories are coming... Your Family Camp Directors are beginning to plan a weekend of fun and fellowship on Labor Day weekend at Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan and we know there will be amazing expe-riences to be had by all. Presbyterian Camps is owned and operated by the Presbytery of Chicago, Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The camp is located on 130 acres of heavily wooded dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan in the town of Saugatuck. Our church has the tradition and privilege of hosting Family Camp at this special God-given place on Labor Day weekend. Each year we have new friends and church members who join us for this memorable weekend. Activities include hiking, canoeing, archery, swimming, climbing wall, game show night, shopping in town, bonfires, and a special church service on the beach on Sunday morning. The dates for camp this year are from Friday, September 3rd through Monday, September 6th.

Prices are $182.00 adults, $163.00 youth, $95.00 child, and $15.00 for infants. This will include a three night cabin stay and Saturday and Sunday meals with breakfast on Monday morning. A non-refundable deposit of $75.00 per family, will insure your reser-vation. More details will follow shortly!

We are hoping to recruit 14 more families this year to share in the spirit of First Pres Family Camp, so spread the word. There will be incentives for those of you who successfully recruit new families! Hope to see you ALL on the beach!

Family Camp DirectorsLisa Chay & Zabrina Lindsay

The church was notified of the death of former member

Aramellia Fossum (103 years old) who died and went to

our Lord on June 20, 2010.

WHERE JESUS WALKEDFrom Barbara Gosselar on behalf of the Spiritual Formation Ministry Team18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee . . . Matt. 4:18. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. Matt. 14:25. They arrived again in Jerusa-lem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. Mark 11:27 22Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. John 10:22, 23

Recently Jerry and Lois Andrews led a trip to the Holy Land and to the Passion Play in Germany. We walked where Jesus walked and felt His presence there. The following are some impressions from the trip from First Pres members who travelled together with others from across the United States.

Jane and Bill Lichter: The trip was a true pilgrimage of walking where Jesus walked and seeing the land that He saw every day of His life. The place that was most meaningful to us was the Sea of Galilee because it would have changed so little from Jesus’ day. As we stood on the hillside looking at the Sea of Galilee and reading the Sermon on the Mount, we could just imagine being there and listening to Jesus. Having been to Israel and seeing the world where Jesus lived has given new meaning and depth of understanding to reading the Bible or, as we did on Sunday, listening to a sermon about one of Jesus’ parables.

Doug Rundell: There were three experiences on this trip that meant the most to me spiritu-ally: (i) the torment and crucifixion of Christ as portrayed in the Passion Play, recog-nizing that this is what He suffered for my sins; (ii) the visit to the

Galatians Group Thank You Our first “Small Group Adventure” is complete and as far as we can tell a success. To the 110 people who participated, thank you. We hope the experience enriched your relationship with Christ and with other church members as you delved

“When we worship, it is our response to God

that matters most!”

an excerpt from the June report to Session from Director of Music and Worship, Megan Marshall

As the choir closes out their season this coming weekend, I am once again reminded of what a blessing it is to lead such a dedicated and faithful ensemble of singers; and how blessed our church is to have so many volunteers for all of our worship services as well as talented music staff members Kerri Andersen, Scott Liebenow and Mary Smith. Many elders have taken extra effort to show their support for these volunteers and staff recently; and this is very appreciated!

I have had some fruitful conversations with several elders since the last Session meeting when I was invited to present the proposal that is “in process” regarding our corporate worship habits and principles. As well, our worship ministry meetings periodically include devo-tions and conversations that focus on what our worship means in the Presbyterian church; and the importance to consider our corporate worship life since it is essential to the unification of our common-life together. Thank you for your desire to engage in this important on-going conversation.

When we worship, it is our response to God that matters most. As always, we need to be careful of our language – especially as leaders – when we offer two styles of worship. Both styles are engaging, just in different ways. Neither style is more important or better. As our book of order states: “The people of God have responded through creative expressions in architecture, furnishings, appointments, vest-ments, music, drama, language, and movement. When these artistic creations awaken us to God’s presence, they are appropriate for wor-ship. When they call attention to themselves, or are present for their beauty as an end in itself, they are idolatrous. Artistic expressions should evoke, edify, enhance, and expand worshiper’s consciousness of the reality and grace of God.” (W-1.3034)

How is your corporate worship experience “evoking, edifying, enhancing and expanding on your consciousness to the reality and grace of God?” If you want to share thoughts on that question with the Worship Ministry Team or me, that would be welcome. Or pon-der it individually as you prepare to worship with our congregation, or after you worship with our congregation. Through this, it can help us to make disciples of Christ and create a spirit of unity among our entire congregation.

Lord of all, of church and kingdom, in an age of change and doubt

Keep us faithful to the gospel, help us work Your purpose out.

Here, in this days’ dedication, all we have to give, receive:

We, who cannot live without You, we adore You! We believe!

(from Hymn # 461 “God is Here!”)

All youth (entering grades 6-12) are invited to participate in this fun week of focusing on what it means to worship and develop their musical skills. Students will choose 2 “tracks” to participate in: vocals, guitar, piano, drama, dance, bass guitar and percussion.

Registration brochures are avail-

Garden Tomb (perhaps one of the few places in the world where pilgrims go to see an absolutely empty space), and the quiet communion service in the trees nearby; and (iii) a moment of ‘God, where were you?’ as I went through the Yad Vashem memorial (Holocaust Museum), and was re-minded that there is still so much evil in this world until our Savior returns.

Barb Rundell: Two incidents where I particularly felt the pres-ence of God and felt the power of His message: (i) sailing on the Sea of Galilee and looking out on the countryside that probably looks very similar today to the scenery viewed by Jesus and his disciples, and then coming ashore and listening to the reading of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount at a site very near to where he preached these words; and (ii) visiting the empty tomb and reflecting on the fact that this is where the angel gave the first wit-ness to mankind regarding Jesus’ resurrection and urged the women to go and tell others!

Barb Gosselar:I was reminded many times of how Jesus cared for individuals: the paralyzed man at the pool of

deep into the idea of freedom in Christ.

For opening your homes and sharing your gifts of hospital-ity, thank you to our hosts and hostesses; Sue Clary, Jennifer and David Eldersveld, Deb and Marty Essenburg, Dayna and David Moorhead, Donna Pipenhagen, Deb and Marv Ritter, and Beth and Nathan Chaney. And for sharing your gift of leadership

Bethesda, Peter’s mother-in-law in Capernaum, the wedding guests at Cana, and Peter himself. What a powerful personal message of for-giveness Peter was given after his denial of his Savior three times: to be told that he, Peter, would be the rock on which Christ’s church will be built, and to be challenged by Jesus to feed His sheep. Christ’s heart of love for this flawed individual was shown as Peter was given the chance to profess his love for his Lord three times, just as he had denied the Savior three times. How blessed we are to know that Jesus cares for, forgives and heals each of us as individuals in the same way!

The Holy Land where Jesus walked was holy ground for us, as we were moved to feel the pres-ence of the Lord in that special place.

The Garden Tomb

The Sea of Galilee

Summer Brunches!

The Church invites the congrega-tion to three all Church brunches this summer. They will be held on Sundays in between Worship Services. This is a good op-portunity for us to get together and share a meal, catch up with friends and even meet new people. The dates are as follows: Sunday July 11th and Sunday August 8th in the Parlor between 10am and 11am. If you plan on attending please bring something to share:A-D bring JuiceE-H bring bagels and cream cheese and/or muffinsI-M bring fruit and/or yogurtN-T bring coffee cake and/or donutsS-Z bring granola bars and/or cereal bars

Sports Camp

July 6-9 – Sports Camp Partnership with Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center

Calling all Grade-school kids (including just gradu-ated 5th graders). Sign up for Soccer Camp and be part of a Mission project in your own back yard. Moms and Dads we need you too. Talk to Mickie and fill out an applica-tion form found on-line at http://www.firstpresge.org/#/upcoming-events/victory-sports-camp

and love for God’s word, thank you to our small group discussion leaders; Kerri and Don Andersen, Curt Mattson, Marge Craddock, Josh Bailey, Fred Tyrrell, Debbie Page, Jennifer and David McNutt, Jan Chindlund, Pam Winchell, and Jim Andrews. Thank you John Curphey, for sharing your vision for small groups with us and for writing our spiritual discipline ex-ercises. Thank you Larry Siewert, for facilitating the leader training.

Thank you Curt Mattson for shar-ing your gifts to write our discus-sion questions. And thank you Lynn Cofer-Chase, Cinda Siligm-ueller, Curt, John, Larry for your time organizing and recruiting.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. (Gal. 6:18)

Cathy Colten and Becky McFarland

FISH band Youth Praise& Worship Camp August 16-19, 6:00-8:3- pm

able on the church website (click on “upcoming events”), and you can also find information on our facebook page! Spread the word!!! All youth from the Glen Ellyn/surrounding area are welcome - you do NOT have to be a member of First Pres to participate.

“Instrumental music has long been a part of worship. In scripture, we can date it back at least to the time recorded in First Chronicles 14, when King David had the Ark of the Covenant brought to Jerusalem: ‘David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers, to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy.’ (1 Chr. 14:16, NRSV) Handbells, as musical instruments that combine the melodiousness of the harps and lyres with the percus-siveness of the cymbals, are well suited to raise sounds of joy in our wor-ship. Those who participate in handbell ensembles in worship are using their gifts to minister to the gathered congregation through offering the musical vehicle of praise and thanksgiving.” (Excerpted from an article by Brian D. Burke, former director of music, now an ordained minister serving First Congregational United Church of Christ in Wellington, Ohio)

It’s a joy to recognize our Sanctuary Handbell Choir, and express gratitude for another season of faithful music ministry. As musicians, we pray that our ministry serves God as an extension of the congregation gathered for worship. The richness of diverse types of music helps us to offer praise to God and to convey what words alone cannot. As Chris-tian brothers and sisters, we are humbled by the blessing of community we share through prayer support and fellowship. Much of the “min-istry” of our handbell choir takes place quietly, even in silence – quite apart from the ringing most of you hear in worship. We are a “covenant group” founded on our shared love of a musical art, but grounded in the

love of Jesus. That love is expressed in so many ways as we learn together, laugh together, grieve together, and pray together. We’re with one another physically every week for almost two hours; we’re with one another even more as we carry prayer concerns and joys home with us, often sharing e-mail updates between rehearsals. We’re close, but never closed: three new ringers have joined us since Christmas, and have been warmly welcomed into our fellowship.

Summer is here, and we’re taking a break from regular rehears-als, but not from supporting and sharing with each other. June found us ringing at the wedding of member Emily Williams to Tony Puntuzs! In July an ensemble will offer special music in worship.

Please pray for these dedicated members of the Sanctuary Hand-bell Choir: Karen Blake, Dorothy Burgess, Cathy Colten, Rob Colten, Jenny Cox, Paul Drennan, Candy Gordon, Steve Imig, Susan Kirby, Sarah Morlock, Sheryl Nielsen, Marian Raney, and Emily Williams. Karen Albert, Karen Felker, and Megan Marshall also supported us as substitute ringers.

O God, bless these faithful servants in their music-making. Through your grace-filled love, accept the musical offering they lift to your glory on our behalf. Sanctify their ministry of music for the benefit of the worship and praise we bring to you. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

Little Birdie Storybook

Concert and Time of FellowshipSunday, July 25thDinner at 6:00pmConcert at 7:00pmFirst Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn

You are invited to join the First Pres Music Ministry for an evening of music. Becca Kreutz, (active FPGE member who sings on the Praise Team and periodically with the Sanctuary Choir) who writes under the name “Little Birdie Storybook” will be joined by her band, as well as fellow artist Steve Slagg, to share original songs and discuss the role artists, specifically musicians, are intended to play in the church body, and in a fallen world.

RSVP by Friday, July 23rd for the dinner (indicate how many people) via email: mmarshall@firstpresge.org

All guests who attend the dinner are asked to bring a side dish to share (1 dish per family). Main dish and drinks will be provided.

No RSVP required for the (free) concert in the Sanctuary.

Third Grade Sunday School Supports Seminary Student in the Congo A special “thank you” to this year’s 3rd grade Sunday School class. Each Sunday School class has a mission or missionary they are respon-sible to. The 3rd grade class decided to raise $250 for scholarship money for a seminary student to attend

Theology students in graduation robes.

the Presbyterian University of the Congo. Once they realized that tithing from their own money would not allow them to reach their goal, they partnered with other Sunday school classes to organize a flower sale on Mother’s Day. Beautiful red, white, and pink carnations were sold in the gathering area and once the receipts were counted, the 3rd graders had enough to support a student. To complete their project, they wrote letters of encouragement to be sent with the money. THANK YOU

STORY LINE…Once upon a time…in a church in the nearby glen, there lived a beautiful gift. Yes, the correct word is, “lived” because life was what it was all about…and not just any life; like “life in the fast lane”, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (although it most surely would endorse those values)”, not “life begins at 80”, nor “life is just a bowl of cherries”; not even the “life of Riley” and certainly not, “a dog’s life”. No, it was “full of life”, for “all walks of life”; actually, more about how to “get a life”. It was, of course, a little short of “larger than life” because that Life has only been accomplished once and for all.

This gift was very carefully made by hand, and heart and mind. It was big and small, dazzling and simple, hard and soft, indict-ing and inviting, bitter and sweet, devastating and joyful and it was fashioned for the “all”, just mentioned. Inspired by and dedicated to being a unique witness experience of Holy Week, the gift was intended to connect the “all” to life with our Lord Jesus, and it did, with great rejoicing, many times over the years and the gift was happy to be used in such a beautiful way!

As time went on, many things were happening where the gift was kept. Its usual wrappers had to leave its care to others. Two valiant guardians remained and did all they could to protect and prosper the precious gift, and a few who also loved it were willing to help, but it was left on its shelves for a very long time and eventually fell asleep. Many years went by; the guardians and their friends kept vigil and were pleased that parts of the gift were used for other things which were meaningful to the “all”, but longed for the day when they could re-wrap it and give it again, whole, as they had long ago. During those years, many parts were swept away or lost when its home was flooded and those who loved to give the gift were dismayed that they would ever be able to do so again.

Then, a long time later, there arose a whole company of people in the church in the nearby glen that was the gift’s home who, remembering how important it once was among them and others who choose to be part of the “all” Jesus died for, began to talk anew about the gift and became curious to see if any of the gift was still where it had been left so long ago. They knew that much had changed in all that time, and the church in the nearby glen that was the gift’s home, was somewhat dif-ferent than it had been when the gift was shared for the first time. They searched for what might be left. They gathered often around a great table in the church in the nearby glen and talked, like they used to, about how each of them could share in the happy task of resurrection, not only of the gift they treasured, but its capacity to refresh them in Jesus’ great love for them and everyone in the “all” who would come to visit it; but most importantly, those outside of that “circle of life”. The gift was so happy to be awakened to such promise and to realize it could, yet again, be part of the work of the Kingdom to continually encourage more generations of believers.

Suddenly, the gift asked (and everyone gathered there, in the church in the glen which was the gift’s home, knew this was very important, because gifts hardly ever talk), “What does my favorite hymn say? And then, to everyone’s agreement, answered itself, “Life is worth the liv-ing, just because He lives!” It continued by stating a loud “Amen!” and adding - “Worth working for, too!” and then observed “You are going to need a lot of help. Much of me needs to be replaced! As did the vine-yard keeper of old, he paused and asked “Where are all the workers?” and everyone gathered around the big table (by now, you know where)

assured the beautiful gift they called “JJ”, “They’ll be here, surely we’ll see...

To help write the happy ending of this story; to be among those who want to be part of sharing with others in some way, the most incred-ible story in all of time, find a Jerusalem Journey committee person in the Gathering Place on Sundays or contact Olivia Albert 585-0711 or ALBERTWF@aol.com.

Session Highlights From Meeting Of June 14, 2010

The Clerk reported that . . .

Our membership is 1,103

Communion was served May 1 and May 2

Rachel Grace Chaney, daughter of Nathan & Beth Chaney was baptized May on 23

Charlotte Marie Edwards, daughter of Courtney & Isaac Edwards was baptized on May 23

Long-time member Mimi Carleen with her Lord on May 15, 2010Long-time member Jack Webster with his Lord on May 21, 2010

• Elder Kris Ritter’s resignation was accepted with regret and gratitude for his service.

• The report of the task force on the deficit was received. Session approved a letter to be sent to the congregation this week.

• Pastor Dave led a discussion on possible restructuring of the Session. There is much to be considered and the conversation will continue.

• New ideas for revitalizing our ministry teams were discussed. Pastor Dave and Elder Marian Ferris will work on the ideas presented and report back.

• Following discussion, Session voted to dissolve the Saturday service. The last Saturday service will be on July 3, 2010.

What is the KILTS Club? It is a special club for girls in 5th grade. Held during the summer of 2010, KILTS stands for:

Girls join together each week (once or twice) to do projects at the church and learn how to be ser-vants for Christ

in their own town working under Mickie’s supervision.

Puppetry skills will be taught and the girls will be able to perform for others.

Call Mickie 630.469.2007 to join in the fun!

KidsInLeadershipTraining forService

to the 3rd grade class and their teachers, Bob and Cathy Novaria, Kathy Light, and Kelly Swartz!