EVANGELINES Evangelical United Church of Christ

FEBRUARY 2017

VOLUME 61 ISSUE 2

HUMILITY

Walter Cronkite recalls the following incident: Sailing back down the Mystic River in Connecticut and following the channel's tricky turns through an expanse of shallow water, I am reminded of the time a boatload of young people sped past us here, its occupants shouting and waving their arms. I waved back a cheery greeting and my wife said, "Do you know what they were shouting?" "Why, it was 'Hello, Walter,'" I replied. "No," she said. "They were shouting, "Low water, Low water.'" Such are the pitfalls of fame's egotism. (Ray Ellis and Walter Cronkite, North by Northeast) We are called to be a humble people. So often we can get so full of ourselves that we think we are the only ones that know how to do anything. We think we have all the answers. We think we may have the market on success. We think we are better than others, more intelligent, more organized, more creative. But as I have learned in my years of ministry, when we exult ourselves we are eventually humbled. Jesus gives us an example of humility. Our God came down to live among us. He took on our human form and became fully human. Jesus lived a life of humility, never glorifying himself but giving the praise to his Father in heaven and those around him. Jesus showed the depth of his humility when he washed his Apostles feet the night before he died. Think about the implications of that simple act. Our God got down on his knees and washed his follower’s feet. By doing so he showed he was no better than anyone else. He truly gave us an example of humility. My prayer for our faith community here at EvUCC is that we continue to find ways to be a church full of foot washers and we use the gifts given to us by our God in humble service to those around us. It is so easy to fall in the trap of glorifying ourselves. But we are called by our baptisms to be better than that. Jesus calls us to use the gifts we have to serve him. Humble service could be as simple as praying for someone desperately in need of prayers. Humble service could be opening the door for a stranger or helping someone who is in need. There are all kinds of simple random acts of kindness we can do in service to the world we live in. So as a church let us be a people of action not afraid to humbly serve those around us. Peace in the Risen Christ! Pastor Chris

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“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

-Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was a Baptist minister who challenged America’s understanding of what it means to love

one another through prophetic, non-violent, but inclusively loving ways. In January we celebrate MLK Day, and school is off, some places of business close, and others remain open. The first 6 hours of MLK Day (as in: midnight-6am) for me was spent with Terrisa (our Youth Director) and an amazing group of high school youth in our church’s basement, laughing, playing, and being together at a lock-in after a day of trampoline-dodge ball at “Altitude” in Glen Carbon. That’s right; we were together and awake from 1pm on Sunday, to 6am on Monday. No showers: no problem (?)

These are different people with different backgrounds and different ideas about life just enjoying being together- finding common ground through things that bring them joy. We found unity through our shared ‘burden’ of sleep-deprivation, found humor in the simple things (since most things are funny at 4am), and did so in the protective and familiar shelter of a house of God. Lord, we need more Unity in our lives.

The next notable 5 hours of MLK Day (8am-1pm) were spent asleep in my bed. I wanted to stay up; the church was closed for the day and Alicia and the kids were at Day Care and work (kids at work; Alicia in Day Care), and I had errands to run, a gym to go to, and Netflix to watch…but my body needed to rest; I would not be effective doing anything unless I made time to rest, restore, replenish, revive. Lord, we need more Rest in our lives.

“If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.”

-Malcolm X Malcolm X was a minister of Islam who was accused of preaching racism and violence while part

of the “Nation of Islam” (whose members later assassinated him), but in his late 30’s, he converted to Sunni Islam, denounced racism and preached a different message. If you’ve watched any of the X-Men movies, one of the most interesting relationships to watch is that between Professor X (the peace-loving leader of the X-Men who promotes unity and who is forced to “rest” having been paralyzed and made wheel-chair bound) and Magneto (the militant Jewish mutant who believes peace comes through force, taking a page from the Nazis who tried to do that to him and his family). This fictitious duo functions as the inverse personas of the aforementioned Civil Rights leaders. Professor X (whose name resembles “Malcolm X” is the prophetic, peaceful voice to the world: like Dr. King was) while Magneto (whose name resembles the charismatic [magnetic] quality of bringing things/people together like Dr. King did, is the militant leader as Malcolm X once was). The world is far from unified these days, and there are some who believe that love will win the day while others believe dramatic action, even force, resolves differences. Christ embodied something more. Time and again, Jesus promoted the strength of unity, of what it means to be together while different. Followers of Jesus never had to check their brain at the door, get matching tattoos, or drink the Kool-Aid to take them to the spaceship; they were themselves. Diversity was a core concept to how he taught the world.

A Baptist and a Muslim walk into a Bar (Mitzvah)

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VOLUME 61 ISSUE 2

(continued from Page 2) Jesus also taught that rest is ok. Read it slowly now: rest is ok. God made a Sabbath, Jesus retreated to be alone, Christ prayed to God constantly. I am going on a 3-day spiritual retreat this week-end to do exactly that. In America, we are told to go, go, go, and yes things need to be done, but if you don’t purposefully stop…and just stop…then you will become undone, unfruitful, and unsuccessful. Jesus stood for something. He stood up for people, he challenged wrong teachings directly and with authority. He didn’t make excuses that “this is just how things are now”, he didn’t acquiesce to a government that promoted exclusion, and he didn’t stand for the outcasts remaining outcasts (even in a society that demonized outcasts more so than ours does today!) So let’s learn from the great Teachers: Magneto, Malcolm X, Professor X, Dr. King, and Jesus (in reverse order), and strive for inviting Unity, for embracing Rest, all the while Standing for justice. Love your hearts,

Pastor Will

"We Love Kinder Cottage" will be a fun time, with prizes for the best chili, people's choice chili, best table decor, and spiciest chili. Please consider submitting an entry or just come and taste some awesome chili! The Evangelical United Church of Christ Mission Board hopes this event will bring much needed monies to help Kinder Cottage keep its doors open in East St. Louis. Kinder Cottage has lost funds from the state and most recently from the Illinois South Conference. Kinder Cottage has depended on these monies to support its pre-school. Evangelical UCC, along with other conference churches, would like to see this very important mission continue. Contact Kay Ahaus or the church at EvUCC.org for information or a registration form.

"We Love Kinder Cottage" Chili Cook Off Benefit

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EVANGELINES

“V” IS FOR VALENTINE BOXES SENT BY YOUR CHURCH!

T he CE Board will be sending Valentine boxes to our college students and military people and

would like your help.

1. Please provide us with names and addresses of college students and/or military people we can

send a box to.

2. We are asking for donations of candy and cookies (it is helpful if cookies are prepack

aged 2 -5 per bag) to be brought to the church by Friday, February 3rd or before 9am

on February 5th.

3. Sunday school parents are invited Feb 5th starting at 9am to help pack the sweet treats into boxes while their

children are in Sunday school.

We look forward to working with you on this fun mission project. Any questions please contact Darlene Nagel or Marla Baer.

A new GREAT way to be in the loop at

EvUCC! It's super-easy to get either an

EMAIL or TEXT for important notifications

from us here at church (service changes

because of inclement weather, big events like

Rally Day, Xmas Eve Services, etc.) We

already use this system for Sunday School,

Bell Choir, Chancel Choir, and teachers!

Follow these super-easy instructions………

Save paper and postage,,,

Receive your Evangelines via

email or read it on our

website: Evucc.org

Page 5

VOLUME 61 ISSUE 2

WOMEN’S GUILD Men’s Breakfast Group

The Women’s Guild will meet at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 7th. After a short meeting, we will visit the Highland Home. All women in the church are invited to join us as we contin-ue to “Serve the Lord with Gladness”. The Board will meet at noon, preceding the

general meeting. Hope to see YOU!

Because of the weather, our last Breakfast was cancelled. Please join us at our next Men’s Breakfast meeting on Saturday, February 11 at 8:00am at the Baymont Inn & Suites in Highland. At our last meeting in December, we talked about Moses and had a good discussion as we made the discussion relevant for today’s world. The cost is only $6.00 for the breakfast. Join us the 2nd Satur-day of each month as we discuss our way through this interesting Bible based topic.

We have been enjoying a fairly mild winter and that is fine with us. Let’s hope harsher weather stays away. We really don’t like snow days, but we do realize that it is important for moms and dads to stay off the roads with their small children. Every year we are surprised to see how much our students have grown over the holidays. It seems like several inches. They are all ready to come back to school. Most were eager to tell us what Santa had brought them for Christmas. It doesn’t take them long to get back into the “school “routine. They love playing with their classmates. We have been doing many cold weather themed projects. Many of our projects are hanging for show in our West wing hallway. The students especially love using glue and glitter. Many of our wintertime items use spark-ly white glitter. It is fun and makes them so happy. Now, through the parent grapevine, I have heard that most of them don’t like glitter projects at home! Why??? It means glitter, glitter everywhere. Oh, well, isn’t that the reason we have vacuum cleaners. If you know of any children who may want to start at EvUCC Peppermint Preschool now, we do have open-ings. The advantage to start now for 3 year olds is that you get to preregister for our 4 year old program before the public. Just call us at 654-7600 or stop by for a visit. Please pass this important information along to family, friends and neighbors who may want their child(ren) to attend our 2017-18 school year. We will have our annual “Meet & Greet” Open House on Saturday, February 18, 2017 from 8 to 10 AM. Our staff will be here and you can personally visit each classroom. Registration forms will be available. We hope you have many joys & blessings in 2017. God Bless

Miss Beckie and the Peppermint Staff

HELLO FROM PEPPERMINT PRESCHOOL

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EVANGELINES

THANK YOU’S

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

We Celebrate the Marriage of….

Tammy Dugan to Morris Taylor on December 31st.

Please Continue to Pray for...

We Rejoice in the Baptism of...

Piper Addilyn Kleiboeker on December 18th. Piper

is the daughter of Joshua and Julie Kleiboeker.

Georgia Ann Zobrist on January 15th. Georgia is

the daughter of Travis and Aubrey Zobrist.

Connie Louer Abert, Terry Bell, Christel Bense

(Barb Bray’s niece), Warren Clayton (son of Rich

and Marge), Florence Collmann, Jeanne

Dankenbring, Viola Deibert, Gene and Debra

Dilley (Marsha Rinderer’s sister and brother-in-

law), Marlene Dickerson, Jared Emig (nephew of

Jerry and Karla Zurliene), Ellen Gelly, Robert

Goth, Maurie Henricks, Chrissy Knebel Hoeflinger,

Carol Hoffman, Dorothy Johnson (Aunt of Ron and

Kathy Schneider), Betty Kamm, Jon Kamm

(Betty’s great-grandson), Kathy Kessels, John

Klueter, Bill Kohlbrecher, Ben Krauz, Vera Kunz,

Rev. Jim Langdoc, Betty Legier, Traci Luitjohan,

Marion Marcus, Wayne Marcus, Jacob Massa, Joe

Michaelis, Daniel Morris, Morris Moser, Richard

Moser, Verla Moser, Darrell Rankin, Alicia

Rayner (Al & Shirley Flath’s daughter), Robert

Reeves, Sandra Reinacher, Ruth Reker, Don

Rinderer, Russell Rinderer, Sandy Rinderer, Karen

Schindler (Chari Hagler sister), Sandy Schoeck,

Tyler Simpson, John Snider, Doris (mother of Barb

Stallard), Paige Stevens (Arnie and Jeanne Meyer’s

daughter), Gloria Stuckwisch, Ken Sudbring, Diann

Thiems, Elva Tucker, De De Weder, Alvin Whitsell

(Florence Collmann’s brother-in-law), Dale

Wiesemeyer (Niala Keilbach’s brother), and Kathy

Wilsman (Nancy Byers’ sister), Barb Winters,

Jerome Zobrist and Shirley Zbornak.

We Extend our Sympathy and Rejoice in the Promise of Resurrection with...

The family of Herman Niemann. Herman passed away

on January 1st.

The family of Mary Lou Hillebrand. Mary Lou passed

away on January 8th.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who gave so generously to the Adopt A Family mission. Because of all of

you, we were able to fill not only the "need" lists but also the "wish" lists of 3 families through HACSM and 2

Hoyleton residents. Your purchases and cash donations were so very much appreciated. May God bless you and

the people we were able to reach out to through this Christmas mission.

Thanks again, Karla Zurliene

*******************************************************************************************

Thank you to all who volunteered to decorate our Worship Center and lobby for the Christmas Season. Your

efforts made a difference!!

*******************************************************************************************

We are SO THANKFUL for the delicious ministry of our Hospitality Nook! Ruth Augustin, Jesse Eller, Den-

ny and Janis Foehner, Kyle and Terrisa Gehrig, Jim Johns, Briana Knackstedt, Joyce Linenfelser, Arnie and

Jeanne Meyer, Janet Miller, Bob Nagel, Trinje Reidelberger, Lynn Rivas, Connie Sparlin, Bob and Jane Sudhoff,

Steve and Bonnie Thiems, and Pat Zobrist. Thanks for helping EvUCC be even more welcoming!

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February Service Calendar

Date Time Ushers Time Lay Readers Time Nursery

Feb. 5

8:00a 10:15a

Jim Gifford Bob Kruse Tom Wehrle Rodney Zobrist Gene Redman Brad Grohmann

Gloria Klaus Janet Kruse Debi Zobrist Paula Redman Beth Grohmann

8:00a 10:15a

Janice Hartman Paula Redman

9:00a 10:00a

Dena Henricks Dena Henricks

Feb. 12 8:00a 10:15a

Shirley Sackett Jim Gifford Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby

Margaret Rowold Barb Gifford Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby

8:00a 10:15a

Rodney Knackstedt Dwain Chapman

9:00a 10:00a

Jane Sudhoff Ruthie Shownes

Feb. 19 8:00a 10:15a

Linda Iberg Dennis Calvert Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby

Paua Shea Calvert Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby

8:00a 10:15a

Stan Giffhorn Dennis Foehner

9:00a 10:00a

Tracey Zobrist Alicia VerDuin

Feb. 26 8:00a 10:15a

Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby

Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby Sign-up on WWJD Board in lobby

8:00a 10:15a

Jill Foehner Alicia VerDuin

9:00a 10:00a

Donna Brendal Jan Tebbe

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is very important when using your giving envelopes for offerings that you use the packet designated for 2017. As Members come and go, your giver number may change from year to year. Please discard/recycle envelopes dated for previous years.

WWJD (Who Will Just Do (it)) Usher Sign-up Board - Ushers are the welcoming, entry point, to our time worshiping God. Your gift is invaluable and appreciated. If you would like to help… Look for the display in the lobby where ANYONE can SIGN UP for the times/weeks they want to Usher at EvUCC.

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017

2520 Poplar Street

Highland, IL 62249

Phone: 618-654-7459

Fax: 618-654-6346

E-mail: office@evucc.org

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CHURCH OF CHRIST

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ANNUAL MEETING ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26th

@ 11:00 a.m.

following the 10:15 a.m. Ignite worship service