Click here to see the March calendar.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
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Please join us for a RECEPTION FOR THE FLOOD FAMILY |
CONGREGATION-WIDE BREAKFAST ON PALM SUNDAY
Palm Sunday, April 9th, will be a very special Sunday. (Though they're all very special here at RCLPC, aren't they?) We will have two services, 9:15am and 11:15am (no 8am service this day). At each service the choir will perform Ellingboe's Requiem. We think this will be an excellent bridge into Holy Week for the whole congregation.In between the services at 10:15am, we will have a congregation-wide breakfast in the fellowship hall. (Education classes will be cancelled for this Sunday.) This will be a way of celebrating our life togther as a congregation, and also thanking the choir for the gifts they bring to our worship.
We already have some volunteer cooks, but we need a coordinator to tell them what to do. (And you know you like to tell people what to do, don't you?) If you'd like to help out in any way, please contact Tina Stipati. Thanks
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: AN OPEN CONVERSATION
For the past year, the Building Task Force has been studying possible options to accommodate the building needs of our congregation. To share with you what we have learned thus far and gain your guidance as to how we should proceed, we have planned a series of one-hour discussion forums. We encourage everyone to participate in this conversation about the future direction of our congregation. Please plan to attend one of the meetings listed below. Signup sheets are posted in the “Connecting Link.”Sunday, March 12, 12:30 pm
Monday, March 13, 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 18, 9 am
WORSHIP MINISTRY UPDATE
The worship ministries of RCLPC are pleased to welcome new coordinators. Jim and Gretchen Holder will now lead the usher ministry. Susan Begley will lead the communion preparation ministry.Over the next few months, Jim, Gretchen, and Susan will be asking the members and friends of this church to help in these ministries. Both are essential to the worship life of the church and both are easy to do. If you haven’t ushered before, all you need is a welcoming smile and a willingness to help. Instructions will be provided. As for communion preparation, it only takes 15 minutes to set up for communion – and again, we give you all the instructions you need.
Also, during the last year, Rick and Laurie Pohl took over the scheduling of the liturgists at the traditional service and the readers at the NewWay service. We thank all these folks for serving the church as leaders of these teams. If you would like more information about serving on any of these teams, please call our leaders. They would be glad to answer your questions.
MEALS on WHEELS Coordinator Needed
Barb Turley is retiring from coordinating Meals on Wheels with our church after many years with this program. A new coordinator is needed asap. Barb is willing to train a new person to help make this a smooth transition. Please contact Barb Turley or Phil Wesa if you think you would like to give this a try.DON’T THROW THAT AWAY!!
The RCLPC is having a rummage sale to help raise funds for the Sr High mission team traveling to Egypt this summer. We’ll have an unbelievable assortment, but first we ask you to save your items for the sale—furniture, house wares, pots and pans and all kitchenware appliances, stools and tools from the garage and garden shed, antiques that you have been saving, now you can donate them... lace curtains, draperies, sheets and cases, table linens and little things, rugs, pants and socks, as well as shoes, watches and jewelry or books or baby things, blankets and toys. Start digging for things you don’t need, but someone else does. Men will be looking for hats—women too and stocking caps, pants, tops and the latest things or vintage ware. You have two months to hunt and dig. Read on...
Please help support our Senior High Youth mission trip to Egypt this summer June 7 - June 17. |
BUILDING & GROUNDS CORNER: Landscaping
THANK YOU
I cannot thank you enough for the prayers and cards concerning my Mom. She passed away quickly and on her own terms. While I can admire her for that, at the same time, I wish she would have stayed longer. When you lose someone you love, it's easy to want to stay where all of their things are, trying to recapture the person in the surroundings… making a cocoon to savor their essence for as long as possible. Then when the inevitable time comes time to leave, the pain is palpable and feels like it will never go away… until those thoughts and prayers of people around you intervene and help you see that there are other moments worth savoring, if you will only be open to them. That is what your prayers and cards reminded me and I thank you. I love my Mom and I will continue to manifest the goodness of her spirit in how I live my life. Your caring thoughts and cards have been invaluable gifts. I feel blessed to have you in my life.Sincerely, Marypatriece Raupp
FELLOWSHIP
In the last "Spirit" I told you of many fellowship activities that could happen in the spring and summer. Once again, these include, but are not limited to, Mother and Child Banquet, Father and Child Bowling, Adult Bowling, Family Mini Golf Outing, Ice Cream Social, and Family Picnic. I mentioned that help is needed in planning these activities if they are to happen. I know most of you enjoy attending fellowship activities, but they don't happen by themselves. If everyone pitched in for just one activity, we would have a very full year of fellowship activities. None of these activities will be on the calendar until you decide you want them to be. Which activity do you want to set a date to? Call Tina Stipati.GREETERS ORIENTATION MEETING
March 12th at 10:30am in the sanctuary
Over and over again the Bible tells us that God comes to us in the stranger. That's why hospitality was so important in ancient times. People wanted to be sure they never missed a divine encounter. The same should be true for us. Hospitality--welcoming and making room for others--should be at the heart of our mission as a congregation.One vital aspect of hospitality is a greeting ministry. Having knowledgeable, friendly, committed people in place to welcome people as they come through the doors and help guide them into the worship experience is critically important. We're thankful for all the people who have worked so hard coordinating our greeting ministries in the past, and we're excited about the new energy the Board of Deacons will be bringing to our greeting ministries in the future.
There wil be a Greeters Orientation meeting on March 12th at 10:30am in the sanctuary. The meeting will last no more than 30 minutes, and will provide a basic orientation to the ministry of greeting. Specific guidelines and instructions will be passed out and discussed.
If you have any interest in participating in RCLPC's greeting ministry, we hope you'll be able to attend the orientation meeting on Sunday, March 12th, at 10:30am in the sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Hutchings, Linda Peel, or Dorothy Vick.
SPARE CHANGE FOR A BIG CHANGE program
Please pick up a Mission in Motion cardboard collection box from the collection plate during the Offertory on Sunday, February 26th or from one of the tables at the entrances to the sanctuary. Place your spare change in the cardboard box, and when full, please drop it in the collection plate during any Sunday service. Your collected coins will be put to good use by helping fund the church’s various mission programs. Thank you for your assistance!NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTION
EXCITING TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY
We have been informed that there will be a trip to Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian Reservations in South Dakota on April 26 - May 1, 2006. If you are interested in finding out more about it and perhaps joining the group, please CONTACT Joy Martin. The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago have about five members who plan to fly in to Rapid City, rent a car and drive the 2 1/2 hours to Rosebud. RCLPC members plan to drive but you have the alternative to consider. Dr. Claude Marie Barbour will lead the group and included will be two other long time members of the Shalom Community who have shared leadership on trips a number of times.Again, if you are even thinking about going, contact Joy immediately as there is necessary training that needs to take place for first timers. This is not something that can be arranged at the last minute. To take the training and delay the trip to another time is fine but it is imperative that you participate in the cultural education necessary before traveling to an Indian Reservation. ~ Joy Martin
INTERFAITH EARTH STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP
Who should attend: YOU!When: Saturday, March 4th at 9am – 4pm
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin – 39W830 Highland Ave., Elgin, IL 60123
Cost: $12 per person, coffee, tea, lunch and materials included – What a deal! ($15 at the door)
What do I do next? Fill out the form (see copy in the Connecting Link) and send it to us and show up
Questions: interfaithgreenteam@gmail.com or call (847) 695-0144 and leave a message for the Green Team. RSVP Today, or by February 23, to reserve your spot! We can’t wait to see you there. Send your completed registration (name, address, phone, email, congregation, religious affiliation, payment included) to Messiah Lutheran Church, Attn: Interfaith Green Team, 500 Church Road, Elgin, IL 60123. Checks should be payable to Messiah Lutheran Church.
WAR PROFITEERING:
Stop the Merchants of Death
With G. Simon Harak, S.J.
Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 7:00 pm
McHenry County College Conference Center
IN AND AROUND RCLPC WITH BARB
Hello to you on this very cold (brrr…) day.* I received an update from one of our friends that I have not seen in a while - CAROL WHITE. Carol has been very busy working, but also being a grandmother. Her daughter BECCA ATWATER , husband CHRIS and 20 month old daughter LILLY got a baby for Christmas. On Dec. the 21st they welcomed DAVITH KENNETH ATWATER. Davith is pronounced “dah - vith” and is Welch for David. Carol and husband DAN are having fun with this new little guy, as well as with Lily. Our congratulations to all!
* After studying for at least 5 months our good friend PIERRE BERUBE (husband of JOYCE) passed a test and became a ham radio operator. It was a three hour test and Pierre had to answer fifty random questions out of 801. He now runs six stations out of their house. His call is - k9eye. He said it stands for his having a dog that keeps an eye on him. That is not only clever, but you are truly amazing, Pierre.
* Now some KID NEWS: Earlier this month found ALAN STEWART (son of KEN and KIM, brother of KAYLA and KARISSA) taking part in a Dance Marathon at the University of Iowa. Each dancer had to get pledges and dance for 24 hours. They made just over $686,000 which goes toward helping support the families who have children coming to the oncology unit for treatment. WOW! The money will go to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic - Pediatric Oncology Unit. Alan said “This is the most awesome experience I ever had.” Alan is a Junior at the University of Iowa and has a double major - Political Science and International Studies. This summer he will be involved in study abroad and will go to Germany. Pretty COOL. Alan.
* GIANA STIPATI (daughter of DENNIS and TINA, sister of JORDAN and DEREK) will be appearing as a dancing napkin in South High’s production of “Beauty and the Beast”. The play will run two weekends from Feb. 24th thru March 4th. I don’t know about you, but I have never seen a napkin dance. I think this is something we all might want to see. Have fun with this, Giana.
* ANDREA BAUMAN (daughter of JIM and LAURA, sister of KRISTEN) will be competing in the MISS CRYSTAL LAKE pageant that will be held March 25th at South High School. Her sponsor is Crystal Lake Chrysler and Jeep Dealership. Andrea is attending MCC and hopes to be a Math Teacher for Middle or High School students. We wish you the best of luck in this endeavor, Andrea.
* In closing, if you would please take a minute of your time to send a Get Well or Thinking of You card to some of our RCLPC friends, I know they would be appreciated. They are: June Seager, Ernie Dunn, and Bill Stevenson. I know there are others, so please let me know and I will include them next time. P.S. I know where you will find some very lovely cards (in the Connecting Link ) :- )
Wisdom is knowing what to do next. Virtue is doing it. Let’s all be doers.
Thank you for spending time with me.
I am Barb Turley