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February 14, 2007
The SPIRIT of Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Click here to see the February calendar.
Click here to see the March calendar.
Update on Our Worship Life
We wanted to thank all of you who participated in the town hall meetings and/or filled out a worship life survey. As we discussed at the congregational meeting on February 11th, session has been reflecting on the results from that survey, and so far we have reached consensus on two points.
- First, the surveys confirmed session’s belief that a third / alternative worship service is a vital part of this congregation’s ministry and should be continued.
- Second, session believes this third / alternative worship service should be fully integrated into the life of the congregation. Many (but not all!) of our education and fellowship opportunities occur on Sunday morning, so it is important for this third / alternative worship service to be on Sunday.
This is as far as we’ve gotten. We don’t yet know how to make our Sunday schedule work with three services. We also don’t yet know in what ways this third / alternative worship service may evolve or change (and we hope all our worship services continue to evolve and change). As we go along, we will continue to need your input and feedback. Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers.
Many Voices, One Vision
As we discussed at the congregational meeting on February 11th, in the coming months the Session will be leading the congregation in a visioning process. We have called the process “Many Voices, One Vision”—a recognition that we are a diverse congregation with “many voices”, all of which need to be heard and honored, while at the same time we need to draw those “many voices” together into “one vision” so we can move forward as a united congregation.
The first step in this process is to assess our current ministry. Session is setting up several small group meetings to invite members and friends of the congregation to reflect on our current strengths and weaknesses. Each group is limited to 12 participants. There will be two elders with each group to facilitate discussion and record results.
There are sign-up sheets in the connecting link for each of the small group meetings. We need maximum participation for this process to be successful, so we encourage you to sign-up for one of the meetings. Thank you for your support and prayers as we begin this important process. (See below for more information about this process.)
Elders in the Gathering Place
In an effort to improve communication during this time of transition and visioning, there will be two elders stationed in the Gathering Place between Sunday services throughout the season of Lent. If you have any questions or comments you’d like to share, you are invited to seek them out. They will answer questions to the best of their ability and pass along any comments you have to the Session.
Congregational Meeting
At a congregational meeting on February 11th we reviewed the annual report for 2006 and approved changes to the terms of call for pastoral staff. Copies of the annual report are available in the church office.
The Season of Lent
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 21st. Our theme for this Lenten season is: abundance. That may strike you as a strange theme. Isn’t Lent usually about the opposite of abundance? Isn’t it about fasting and surrendering and giving things up? That’s true. We do endeavor to empty ourselves during Lent, but there’s a good reason for that. We empty ourselves so that we have room to receive God’s abundance. Throughout the season of Lent we will reflect on God’s abundance—abundant provision, abundant grace, abundant mercy, abundant life—and those things that stand in the way of our experiencing that abundance.
The season of Lent begins with our Ash Wednesday service on February 21st at 7pm. On Ash Wednesday, we put ashes on our foreheads, both as a symbol of our repentance and as a recognition of our mortality. May not sound very uplifting (!), but telling the truth about ourselves is the first step toward healing and abundant life. Join us on February 21st at 7pm. Nursery will be provided.
A Note from the Stewardship Team
Everything we do as a church is made possible by the gifts of money and time and talents from you - our members and friends. Therefore, we want to offer up a loud and grateful THANK YOU to everyone who made a pledge of support to help us, as a church and a community, “take the next step” into 2007. Although the total amount pledged to this year’s campaign fell short of our goal, much good will come from the funds you all have promised. We will fully fund the associate pastor position, increase our support for the music staff, and increase our mission giving. Despite a deficit budget, approved by the session to support our vital ministries, we will continue to stride confidently, with hope and faith, into our future. Thank you again for your generous help in making all of this possible.
*It’s never too late to add your support to our ministries and mission. Contact the church office if you’d like to make a pledge.
Please note: Pledge confirmation letters were mailed out on February 2nd. Please make sure our records of your pledge match your records. If you pledged but did not receive a confirmation letter, please contact the church office. Thank you.
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Uyai Mose!
(Come All You People!)
Tuesdays, February 27-March 27, 7-9 pm, Fellowship Hall
Funky languages, cool beats, great art, vibrant colors... Long history, current news. Colonialism, missionaries, thriving churches, faithful people. Stories, drums.
Tuesday evenings during Lent, come to the church for an exploration of the Church in Africa—its stories, its songs, its people, its past, and its present. Sherri and Teri will lead us through the continent, region by region, with history, stories from African Christians, music, drumming, and more. We will share dinner each Tuesday evening at 7pm, and we’ll finish up around 9pm.
Please sign up in the Connecting Link so that we can plan for dinners.
Friday Night at the Movies!
Come see the movie everyone’s talking about!
An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s documentary about global climate change, will be shown at 7:00 pm on Friday, February 23, in the church sanctuary. Stay for discussion and popcorn downstairs afterward. The film will be of the most interest to adults and teens, and childcare will be provided for younger children. An Inconvenient Truth has been nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary. Whether you saw the film last summer or haven’t had a chance yet, come share “Friday night at the movies” with us on February 23 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Mission Outreach Ministry
Support the
Youth Mission Trip
—eat a fabulous Spaghetti Lunch!
Thanks for all your support for our mission trip so far—our bake sale was a big success ($447 total)!
Our next fundraiser offers you an opportunity to fellowship too! Come on March 4th and stay after the late morning service for a lunch of spaghetti, salad, and bread. Cost is $5 per adult, $2 for kids, with a cap of $15 per family. Proceeds go to the Senior High Mission Trip to New Orleans.
Senior High
Youth Study Break
Come on over to church on Wednesdays from 7-8pm—just drop in for five minutes or the whole hour! Take a break from studying, hang out with friends, and have some snacks. This fellowship time is provided for YOU! For the next few weeks: Feb. 21st is Ash Wednesday, so come to worship as your study break! On the 28th, we’ll have “what John the Baptist used to eat” snacks (peanut butter and honey, grasshoppers—the usual!) to go along with the whole Lent theme. See you there!
Meet-n-Eat!
A brand-new fellowship opportunity, at a brand-new restaurant!
February 24th at 7:00pm
Come join old and new friends as we gather at the new Courthouse Grill in Woodstock for food and fellowship. This one’s for adults only. Cost - whatever you choose to order. Please sign up in the Connecting Link so we can call ahead for reservations! Any questions call Laurie Pohl.
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PowerPoint Ministry
PowerPoint has always been an integral part of our alternative worship service. For the past six months, we have been using PowerPoint in our more traditional services as well. As this ministry grows, we need to expand the pool of people who are interested in creating PowerPoint presentations for worship.
If you are interested in participating in our PowerPoint ministry, you are invited to an organizational meeting on Monday, February 26th, at 7pm in the church lounge.
Some of our PowerPoint veterans will be there to share what they know. We will also talk about logistics, scheduling, and so on. Hope to see you on February 26th at 7pm.
| Cookbooks
Are Still Available
We have cookbooks available for purchase at $12.00 anytime until we run out. If you would like one or more please contact Nancy Blakely or e-mail her. Thank you.
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Update On Our Cookie Walk Totals
This years Cookie Walk/Cookbook sales raised $6900.00. This money was distributed to the following missions: Turning Point, Faith in Action, Hospice of Northern Illinois, Home of the Sparrow, El Saray Church (Fairhaven), our youth groups and our church. Thank you again for all your help contributing to these important missions. Nancy Blakely and Marypatriece Raupp
Thank you from organizations our Angel Tree program supported:
Family Alliance would like to extend our appreciation for your donation towards our wish list and your continued support of our services. With your patronage, we are fulfilling our vision of providing essential care services to improve the quality of life for our wonderful seniors and caregivers. Thank you again for your support of Family Alliance.
A big thank you for your generous donation of picture albums, bird seed & feeder, waffle irons and electric skillet, etc…They will be used and enjoyed by all. Sincerely, the Seniors at Family Alliance
Thank you for your on-going support of FIAMC. The items and the money you supplied will assist us in keeping our planning and scheduling center running smoothly. Our days are filled with requests from our seniors that allow them to remain in their homes where they are happiest. Our no-cost services make this possible. Without your generous support these services would not be possible. Thank you so much. Faith in Action
Thank you for the wonderful and generous donation of gift cards. Many of the families we serve have limited resources. Therefore, the holidays can be a very stressful time for them as they struggle to make ends meet and also try to buy Christmas presents for their children. These gift cards help our families with these extra expenses and also help them purchase food for their holiday dinners. Because of the generosity of your church, Christmas has been made brighter for them knowing that there are people in this community that are willing to help others in need. Sincerely, Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County.
Thank you from SERRV for our Global Gift Shop
We want to say “Thank you!” for your support of SERRV International. Through your generosity you help provide our partners around the world with training, grants, loans, and other critical support. This empowers them to better provide for their families. None of this would be possible without your commitment and support. In the lives of thousands of global families, you are making a world of difference. With deep gratitude, SERRV International.
Caring Ministries
One of the challenges faced by growing congregations is maintaining their caring ministries. In smaller congregations, everybody pretty much knows everybody else; news travels fast through informal channels (“the grapevine”); and the pastor has sufficient time to respond personally to every need that arises. But as congregations grow, it becomes impossible for everybody to know everybody else; no grapevine includes everyone; and it becomes difficult for the pastor to respond personally to the many needs of a diverse congregation. As we grow, we have to take steps to make sure that we maintain our caring ministries.
Any time pastoral staff (pastor, associate pastor) become aware of a pastoral need, we will follow-up. Of course we can only follow-up when we know something is going on, and we can’t rely on informal channels of communication to spread the word. If you or someone you know has a pastoral need, please contact the church office and let us know so that we can respond appropriately.
As you know, a year and a half ago we reinstated the office of deacon to assist with our caring ministries. Originally we assigned a deacon to every person. However, after a year of experimentation we concluded that this was not the best approach. So we changed our strategy. Individuals no longer have a particular deacon assigned to them. Instead, the deacons now divide their work into four teams: welcoming, fellowship, mission, and caring. It’s the last team (the caring team) that I want to talk about here.
The caring team is divided into three groups:
The first group (caring callers) will endeavor to contact everyone in the congregation (members and friends) at least once every year. The purpose of this contact is to update information, to check-in with the person, and to give them the opportunity to express any concerns or needs. Our hope is that no one “will fall through the cracks.” Karen Hutchings is leading this group.
The second group (pastoral care) endeavors to follow-up with people who have a particular need (illness, hospitalization, death in the family, etc.) through cards, phone calls, and visits. This is intended to supplement the work of the pastors. Barb McCreary is leading this group.
The third group (special services) is a database of people who are prepared to provide special services (meals, transportation, repairs) on an emergency basis to people in need. If you have a particular need, contact the church office and we will contact the appropriate people to respond. Al Popp is leading this group. In each case, contacting the church office should be the first step.
Many of you have already volunteered to support the work of these three groups. There’s always room for more, so if you’d like to help out in any of these areas, contact the church office and let us know.
This is our “formal” ministry of caring. But the real caring in this congregation comes from you. We are all called to be pastors to one another, to care for one another. If you have a need, please make sure you contact the church office so we can respond appropriately. If you know someone who has a need, in addition to contacting us so that we can know, feel free to respond creatively and compassionately on your own!
Thank you for all you do to make RCLPC a caring congregation.
~Richard
Souper Bowl Update
Wow! On Super (Souper) Bowl Sunday, we really gave it our all. Nationwide, churches gave $4,430,625.03 to local charities. Here at RCLPC, we definitely met our goal of doing better than last year! Last year we collected $910 and 24 canned items. This year we collected $1300.78 and 30 canned items! All the donations were given to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Thanks, RCLPC! We fed some hungry people in our community, and we learned and served and loved our neighbors along with the youth in this congregation and thousands of others nationwide.
CROP Walk Planning Meeting
Greetings to you all and thanks again for a great Crystal Lake CROP Walk for 2006. I was happy to learn that our total was $11,648.08… very good considering all the disasters and 'causes' that have come up lately. Our first planning meeting of 2007 will be on Tuesday, March 13 at 7:00 at the First United Methodist Church (corner of Dole and Crystal Lake Ave). ~ MJ Towne
Meals on Wheels
We are involved in mission in many different ways… one of those is the Meals on Wheels program, with hands on involvement that costs us only a little bit of our time (1-1/2 to 2 hrs). The Meals on Wheels program provides regular contact with the elderly, and the primary goal is to help people remain in their home as long as possible. This is a ministry that would not be able to operate without volunteers from this and other congregations; currently 11 churches deliver meals. Our participation is a vital contribution to this program. If you feel you could join others from this congregation in providing delivery service during the week of March 12 to March 16 please call Marina Hoffman at 847-516-2659 or sign up on the sheet in the Connecting Link.
MANY VOICES
ONE VISION
Please Join Us in Discerning Our Congregation’s Future
The session agreed last fall to undertake a congregation-wide process to evaluate our current ministry, develop a shared vision for the future, and set specific and prioritized goals toward fulfilling that vision. “Many Voices,” including your voice, are needed as we draw strength and wisdom from our diversity and create “One Vision” for RCLPC. The session has mapped out six steps for us to take together.
Step One: Assess Our Ministry
Event: Home Meetings / Small Group Meetings
See dates and times on sign-up sheets in Connecting Link
Purpose: to invite the congregation to reflect on our current strengths and weaknesses
Step Two: Tell Our Story
Event: Afternoon of Historical Reflection
Saturday, March 10, 11:30 am (lunch provided) *please note date change
Purpose: to tell our story, remember who we are and where we’ve come from, and consider what that tells us about where we might be going
Step Three: Name Our Norms
Event: Evening of Norm Identification
Saturday, April 14, 7 pm (dinner and/or dessert provided) *please note date change
Purpose: to identify the congregation’s norms – the unwritten rules by which we live, the values that shape our life together
Step Four: Interview Community Leaders
A session task force will interview key people in the community throughout the process.
Purpose: to grasp the pressing issues and challenges in our community so we can know how to respond as a congregation
Step Five: Set Goals
Event: Congregational Gathering
Pentecost Sunday, May 27, Noon (lunch provided)
Purpose: to endorse the goals that emerge from the planning process and make a personal commitment to support those goals
Step Six: Craft a Mission Statement
Summer
The mission statement will be drawn from the goals we have set and will name our common commitments and guide our future ministry.
NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTION
The Making of an American Holiday
“One person can make a difference when he or she stands up for what they believe in”, said Lynn “Smokey” Hart in January 1990 when he set out to convince the South Dakota State Legislature to adopt a bill to recognize the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a state holiday. As reported in the Dakota Lakota Journal, he had no idea how influential he would become in changing South Dakota history.
During a time when only four states in the union had not adopted MLK Day, his testimony not only swayed the Legislature to pass the bill, but also inspired the creation of another state holiday, Native American Day. Born in 1960 to a Black father and a Yankton Sioux mother, he was placed in a foster home when 3-days-old. At twelve he was adopted and grew up in a loving home with lots of friends. He graduated from high school and joined the Marine Corps. Now here’s the rest of the story:
He had never seen or met another Black person until he was adopted, grew up and became a rodeo cowboy. As he testified before the State Legislature he said that if he had known more about Black and Indian history when he was growing up, he wouldn’t have had a big chip on his shoulder, and that he loved South Dakota. However, if people felt that South Dakota was a racist and bigoted state they wouldn’t come to visit it. This emotional appeal changed many hearts and attitudes that day the credit for which he gives to our Creator. He has recently completed the bi-centennial 2004-2006 re-enactment of the Lewis and Clark expedition as “York” Clark’s slave. To find out more about this remarkable man now working on his autobiography titled, “Red White and Black”, you can contact him at hwheelx2003@yahoo.com ~ Joy Martin
Operation Prayers and Cookie Lift Update
Thanks to everyone who signed the Valentine banners to Aaron Burleson (nephew of Cindee Robinson), Matt Emerson (nephew of Kathy and Lou Rabe), Jeffrey Jackson (nephew of Julie and Rob Baser), and Kate Pelz (friend of Deb and Dave Steele). Thanks to Ken and Juanita Miller, Sue and Carl Hayden, Carol Hoefer, Kathy and Lou Rabe, Deb and Mike Keyzer, Gerry Lyons, Linda and Walt Rosquist, and Ed Bennett for the items that were packed in the care packages, and to Marge Hansen for paying the postage. The Church office received an e-mail from Kate Pelz just one week after the boxes shipped, and she wrote, "I am working with my Chaplain and the unit camera to take a picture of me next to the huge banner you guys sent. It was so wonderful!! I loved all the goodies, most of which I shared with all my soldiers....I always love notes and treats from home...letters, photographs, and emails always brighten my days around here." You can read her complete e-mail on the bulletin in the Connecting Link. If you have a loved one serving in the military in the Middle East, please contact me.
~ Mary Moltmann |
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Privileges of the Child
While browsing my way through the church websites of some friends, I came across this list of children’s privileges in the church. It’s almost a covenant, really, between the church community and the children who are a part of that community. I wanted to share it with you all.
"privileges of the child"
1. To be in the midst of the congregation, not on the sidelines.
2. To wander among us during worship, being the responsibility of each of us.
3. To give answers during children's time without being laughed at.
4. To be called by name by each adult.
5. To be a valued person in the congregation.
6. To be led to faith by the Christlike love, care, and model of each adult.
7. To be an active participant in worship.
What a grand vision for life in Christian community! ~ Teri
North Park University Center for Middle Eastern Studies presents
“GENOCIDES OF THE 20TH-21ST CENTURIES"
Saturday, February 24, 2007 9 am – 4 pm (Hamming Hall)
One might think that the modern era would have ended the mass genocides of yesteryear. However, as the Ottoman Empire fragmented, over 1.5 million Armenian and Assyrian Christians were murdered at the hands of the new Turkish Army. Then came the Holocaust in the heart of Europe and the death of up to six million Jews. Not to be forgotten were the killing fields in Cambodia, genocide in Rwanda, and now the ongoing genocide in Darfur. What exactly is “genocide” and how does one define it? Why is genocide still “with us” in the 21st century? This seminar will examine the scope of genocide and representative genocides of the 20th century. Finally, experts will reflect on the limits of international instruments to stop the spread of genocides in our time and what should be done to avert future genocides.
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Youth Schedules...
Middle School Youth
Feb. 25: meeting
(topic: Self-Image)
March 11:
Planning for Youth
Sunday
March 18:
Planning for Youth
Sunday
March 25:
NO MEETING
Friday, April 13: 6 PM
Youth-worship rehearsal
April 15: YOUTH-LED
WORSHIP, all services
Senior High Youth
Feb. 18: 1:00-3:00 pm
Laser Tag (meet at
church by 12:45 pm)
March 4: (after 11 am
Worship service)
Spaghetti lunch
fundraiser
March 11:
Planning for Youth
Sunday
March 18:
Planning for Youth
Sunday
*April 1: $50 mission trip payment due!
Friday, April 13: 6 PM
Youth-worship rehearsal
April 15: YOUTH-LED
WORSHIP, all services
Confirmation Class
Sunday, Feb. 18: 6-8 pm
Saturday, Feb. 24: 4pm
LOCK IN
Sunday, Feb. 25:
7:30 am to 1:00 pm
CLASS FIELD TRIP to
Fourth Presbyterian
Sunday, March 4: 6-8 pm
Sunday, March 11: 6-8 pm
Friday, March 16: 7 pm -
Saturday, March 17: 8pm
RETREAT to Stronghold
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