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July 28, 2010
The Spirit
of Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
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YOU MADE IT OFFICIAL -
REVEREND JOHN DILLON IS OUR NEW PASTOR.
Well, it’s been a great weekend at RCLPC! All of us became enamored with John and invited him to be our new Pastor.
Everyone had great fun getting to know John and his wife Louise, along with three of their children – Oran, Neil, and Iona – through a time of food and fellowship. As John put it, “Colum, our 15 year-old, spent the weekend doing what teenagers do. But he is excited about the upcoming move to Crystal Lake.”
Each of us had the chance to talk with John, then listen to him present a message of hope and direction at all three of our Sunday services. At noon, the congregation spoke with one voice saying, “John, we want you to be our Pastor.” John replied, “I want RCLPC for our home.”
As we begin writing the new pages of RCLPC history, your PNC folds its tents and fades into the night. As a committee, we will be forever grateful for the patient support shown to us by all of the members of the congregation. Throughout our journey, we felt your kind prayers and thoughts directing us.
John, Louise, Colum, Oran, Neil and Iona … your new church family welcomes you, for God called us together. We’re proud to have you in our midst and see, stretching far to the horizon, a long and wonderful friendship working in the Community of Christ.
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Session Highlights – July 20, 2010
- A congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, August 8 to elect Deacons for the new terms.
- Up to $10,000 has been allocated from the Meyer Bequest Fund for the replacement of all the lights throughout the church building.
- The Mission Team has scheduled a food drop off for Thursday afternoon on August 5, 2010. Donations of school supplies are needed as well as volunteers.
- A Ministry Fair will be held on Sunday, September 19.
- Pending the Congregational vote on Sunday, July 25, up to $2000 has been allocated from the Meyer Bequest Fund to purchase a new computer for the called pastor.
- Team Meetings for August will be held on Tuesday, August 16 at 7:00.
- Teri will be out of town from August 11 – 24. Session and Deacon Members will be on call.
- The youth report on their mission trip will be on Sunday, August 8. They will be serving food typical of Louisiana.
- The next Session meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 24 at 7:00.
Egyptian Entrepreneurs Visit RCLPC - August 1
We have a wonderful opportunity to host a reception in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, August 1, from 10:15-11:00am for Ivana Smucker, Director of Programs for Hands Along the Nile (HANDS) and 13 young, disabled Egyptian entrepreneurs. Please join us for a short reception in honor of this amazing group of entrepreneurs who will be visiting us on August 1st. They are in the USA with the Hands Along the Nile program and a State Department grant to help small business development in third-world countries.
Please sign up in the Connecting Link at the Missions board to bring finger pastries and breads, bring your family, and join us in giving them a rousing RCLPC welcome. They will not be joining us for the church service, so you will not want to miss their visit!!
Along with our long, enriching relationship through Rev. Gendi and El Saray Church in Egypt and Fairhaven School for the Disabled, we have had a relationship through Jennifer Cate of Hands Along the Nile. This is a rare opportunity to meet and talk with this remarkable group of young people who are changing their world one step at a time. Their schedule only allows for them to be with us Sunday morning, August 1st, for a short time so let's show our RCLPC welcoming spirit and warm hospitality.
~ Mission Outreach Ministry
Food Truck - August 5th at 6pm
Here is the moment we have all been waiting for! …Another chance to really help people and have some fun. We will be giving out food and backpacks with school supplies to the children. Summer is a tough time for people in need; there aren’t any food drives and many people are away on vacation. So, let’s help them when they need it most. If you are able to spare the time and have any energy left after your day, please come and help. A signup sheet is in the Connecting Link. We need angels and shepherds to direct traffic, give out numbers, and hand out food. We need people to give out the backpacks and school supplies. Dorothy Vick has more or less volunteered to make her legendary hamburger soup for RCLPCers and Dave Woodruff will be the food truck shepherd. (There is no truth to the rumor that he claims to have the best voice in the choir.) So please help if you can, give of your time and talent and if you can spare a few dollars, contribute to the cost or give us some school supplies. If none of that is possible, send us your good kind wishes. Bless you all for the many wonderful things you do. If you have any questions, call Teri or myself, Nancy Vazzano.
Men's Breakfast Group News
Listen up mates! Whether you are an Able Bodied Seaman or a landlubber you are invited to the next RCLPC Men's Breakfast on August 7th at the
Colonial Café (route 14 just east of Main Street). We meet at 8 Bells (that's 8:00am for the lubbers) and the sea-biscuits and salt pork is always good. Our topic for discussion will be the 2010 Tall Ships Festival which will take place at the end of August at Navy Pier. Fred Neuschel will present a preview of some of the 25 sail vessels which will visit Chicago from as nearby as Milwaukee and our own Burnham Harbor and as far away as the North Sea. We will also discuss plans for a Men's Group Outing on Saturday, August 28th. Destination? You guessed it. The Tall Ships Festival in Chicago. Spouses are invited and we promise that no-one will be Shanghaied. Details will follow.
The RCLPC Café is about to begin!
Once again the RCLPC Café is open for business! This is a fun gathering that involves food and fellowship with friends. There are five dates throughout the year that the event will be held, and you will be asked to host at one of them. The first event will be a large group one at the church, and the following four events will be held in hosts’ homes with six other Café members joining you for the evening and bringing part of the meal to share. The following will be the dates for the coming year:
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September 11, 2010 - | Large group opening event at the church |
| November 13, 2010 - | Small groups in homes |
| January 15, 2011 - | Small groups in homes |
| March 12, 2011 - | Small groups in homes |
| May 14, 2011 - | Small groups in homes |
Everyone will be asked to bring an appetizer to our opening large group event at church, and the co-hosts will provide drinks (non-alcoholic) and desserts. Anyone who signs up as a member of the RCLPC Café will be responsible for either hosting a small group dinner in their home or co-hosting the large group event at the church on Sept. 11.
The main focus for the RCLPC Café is to have fun and get to know each other. If you are already a member of the Café, we will be sending you an email to sign up to either host a small group dinner in your home or to co-host the large group event on Sept. 11 at church. If you would like to become a member, please sign up in the Connecting Link at church. And finally, if you aren’t quite sure how this all works but think you might like to join the fun, please call Dale Prindiville or Kathy Rabe and we would be happy to talk to you. Bon Appétit!
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Congregational
Meeting Called
The session has called a congregational meeting for 10:30am on August 8th for the purpose of electing deacons for the class of 2013. (See bios below.)
Youth Group
Kick-Off Events
The youth group kick off events are coming soon—if you have not received at least a save-the-date email and you have youth entering 6th-12th grade, please call or email Teri ASAP!
Cajun Luncheon -
August 8th
Wondering what our high school youth DID while they were in Southern Louisiana for a week? Wondering what they learned and who they met? Wondering about the culture they experienced, the stories they heard, and the new stories they helped create? Well, now’s your chance to find out, to ask questions, and to see pictures! Join us for a Cajun luncheon on Sunday, August 8 at noon to hear all about it! We’ll have salad, corn bread, red beans and rice, and lemonade. Cost will be $5/adult, $3/child, and all proceeds will go to RCLPC youth mission.
Sending Off
Our New College Students!
Please join us in wrapping our High School Graduates with RCLPC love and prayer at the luncheon on August 8, and keep them in your prayers as they go off to new adventures!
New Hymns
You may know that the PCUSA is in the process of developing a new hymnal (still several years away from publication). They have congregations around the country testing out some of the new hymns they are thinking of including—and we’re one of those test churches! Not all the inserts we have are new hymns they’re thinking about, but some are—so sing with gusto and if we ask how you experienced a hymn, let us know honestly how it was part of worship for you. Thanks!
Team Night is coming, August 16!
Have you ever wondered how stuff happens at church, or what kinds of ministries we do, or how you can be in ministry here at church or out in the world? Well—come on Team Night to find out! We have 8 ministry teams at RCLPC, all doing all kinds of things—the Worship team, Stewardship team, Administration team, Education team, Mission Outreach team, Fellowship team, Welcoming team, and Caring team. Team Night is open to everyone, and we love having people join us in ministry, so come to Fellowship Hall at 7pm on August 16 to participate!
Got Pictures?
Have you ever walked the halls of RCLPC and said hello to folks, but for the life of you, could not remember their names? ...Happens to me all the time. That’s why a photo directory of the membership of the church would be so helpful. If you didn’t get your picture taken last time, or don’t like the one that’s included in the directory now, you can still bring one in to the office, or send a jpeg by way of e-mail and Kim can include the new picture in the directory. A new photo directory will be available after August 1st, but you need to get your new pictures in now so you can be included in our next update.
Tuesdays at Borders
Please join us every Tuesday at 10:15am at the Borders book store in Crystal Lake. We will be the talkative group at the book group table found at the back of the store! Questions? Contact Kathy Rabe.
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Will you Be The Church with us?
Youth and Children are an integral part of the church—not just the future of the church, but the NOW of the church too! No, this isn’t a plea for Sunday School Teachers or Youth Leaders (thanks to those of you who do those things!)…this is a plea for the church community to help our children and youth in other ways. The National Study of Youth and Religion found that one of the most important factors in children’s and youth’s spiritual and faith development is:
“simple, ordinary relationships between teenagers and mature adults. Adults other than family members and youth ministers need to make better efforts to learn teens’ names, to strike up conversations with teens, to ask meaningful questions of youth, to be vulnerable themselves to youth in various ways, to show some interest in teens, to help connect them to jobs and internships, to make themselves available in times of trouble and crisis, to work toward becoming models and partners in love and concern and sacrifice. This would no doubt resound positively in broader areas of youth religious belief, commitment, and practice and in youth outcomes more generally. None of this takes a Master of Divinity degree. It is simply a matter of appreciation, attention, effort, and continuity from ordinary mature adults.”
So—can you be an adult willing to do some of these things? How about praying for our youth and children, and for their parents? These simple things can help children and youth feel included, and can help you as you seek to be the Body of Christ with them, and they help all of us live out our baptismal vows together. You might not know it at the time, but these relationships and prayers make a world of difference. Thanks! |
Gentle Hatha Yoga Class Offered at RCLPC
Grethe Christensen is offering "Gentle Hatha Yoga" in the Fellowship Hall at RCLPC on Tuesday mornings from 9-10am throughout the month of August. These classes are for men, women and children--all ages. Donations will benefit the youth programs at RCLPC. The double glass doors in front of church will open at 8:45am. No reservations needed. Please bring a yoga mat. Grethe has been teaching yoga for over 30 years. You can call Grethe if you have questions.
July’s Mission Focus
This month's mission is well known to many RCLPC members and friends with about 15 people actively involved as volunteers.
Faith in Action of McHenry County is a network of religious congregations, community agencies, and civic-minded individuals with a tradition of concern for others.
This translates into qualified volunteers who assist seniors 60+ in our community who live at home with needs such as transportation, light housekeeping, light yard work, friendly phone calls and visits, respite care and small household repairs enabling them to stay independently in their homes for as long as possible.
Please check out the display in the Connecting Link and consider signing up to indicate your interest in learning more about becoming a Care Giver or Care Receiver. ~ Mission Outreach Ministry
Financial Report from Stewardship Team |
| JUNE | YEAR-TO-DATE |
| Actual | Budget | Actual |
| Total Income | $19,499 | $162,626 | $152,855 |
| Total Expenses | $24,900 | $207,891 | $145,833 |
| Income - Expenses | - $5,401 | - $45,265 | $7,022 |
However, since our actual income is only
and our budgeted expenses are
... we are actually running a deficit of | $152,855
$207,891
- $55,036 |
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Teri Out of Town
August 11-24
Deacons and Elders will be on call while Teri is away during this time period. If you have an emergency, please contact your deacon or the church office at 815-459-1132. Kim will be able to reach one of the church leaders on call.
Upcoming Native American
Video Series
These videos will be presented in the Conference Center at McHenry County College (MCC) on Tuesdays from 1:30 - 3:30pm. Cost is $20 and the presentations are as follows:
NRA S73 001 Video Series:
August 3 - Cauldron of War: Iroquois Democracy and the American Revolution & Removal: War and Exile in the East
August 10 - Roads Across the Plains: Struggle for the West & Attack on Culture: "I Will Fight No More Forever".
Did you know your church
is online too?
RCLPC is using social media all over the place!
You can continue your connection to the community, conversation, learning, and sharing on our Facebook Page and on our blog (rclpc.wordpress.com).
Check it out and be part of the community in a variety of ways! |
Joan Jensema was born and raised in the small town of Oostburg, Wisconsin which is 50 miles straight north of Milwaukee—a proud Cheesehead! Joan and Linda Peel have known each other over 30 years and have been committed for over 27. Her parents are still in Oostburg and Joan also has 2 sisters and a brother and the best nieces and nephew anyone could ask for! Joan is a Physical Education teacher in McHenry School District 15 at a K-3 school and has 525 enthusiastic children with whom she gets to discover new ways to “play” and “move” each and every school day…and then take the summers to recover!! Joan was raised in the Reformed Church of America, went to a Lutheran College (Carthage), taught at a Catholic school for 3 years and now is Presbyterian. After many, many years of struggling to find a church where she could honestly and truly fit in, Dorothy and Jack Vick enthusiastically suggested RCLPC to Joan and Linda. Here they found that RCLPC is a place that not only welcomes and accepts them unconditionally but supports and encourages their gifts and spiritual growth with no limitations… mirroring the love that Jesus showed and what God intends for all people. Joan teaches Pre-school Sunday School. She has served 6 years on session, and has served on the Personnel Committee, Mission Committee, was a Stephen Minister, she was on the APNC when Teri was called, she is on the Covenant Network Board and she and Linda organize the Communion servers. Joan is excited to be called to be a deacon and feels like it was an answer to prayer. Joan says, “I LOVE the people of RCLPC, because of their passion, love, and desire to reach out to people of the community and the world. The “heart” of RCLPC is filled with much love and compassion so my hope and dream as a deacon is to help better spread all that “good stuff” to each other, everyone around us, and the world.”
Marge Stewart was born and raised in Chicago and when they moved to Wonder Lake right after high school (many years ago) she thought they had moved to the ends of the earth! But now she’s become a real “country bumpkin” with no desire to go to the city. Marge is retired now and keeps busy by getting together with family and friends, traveling, playing games, and helping at the food pantry, with cookie walk and PADS lunches, as well as serving on the worship enhancement team. She would like to be involved in the Caring Team, helping people who are sick or helping with funerals. Until finding RCLPC, Marge was Catholic, and she and her husband were looking for a smaller church and found RCLPC very welcoming and warm. When her husband died almost three years ago, the church was there for her in so many ways, which “I will never forget.” She also has 4 children, 13 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild, many of whom live in the area. Marge says about RCLPC, “I hope we will always be the warm and welcoming congregation that makes RCLPC so special.”
Karen Leuchtmann grew up in Florissant, a suburb of St. Louis, and in the Florissant Valley Baptist church. She now lives in Crystal Lake with her most wonderful husband, Stephen. Stephen and Karen have two grown children: Amy is married, lives in Elburn, works for Exelon, and has two children (Macy Dru and Hatcher); Andrew is also married, lives in Houston, and is an attorney. Karen and Stephen found their way to RCLPC through the phone book, and over the years Karen has been involved in the Caring Connection, the Cookie Walk, Vacation Bible School, Gourmet Dinners, Christmas decorating, the garden committee…and she’s served as an usher, a Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, and an elder. Phew! She also has three part time jobs: she’s a massage therapist, she works at the Ela Township Senior Center, and she’s a Grandma! Karen says about RCLPC, “I hope we can find our way to build a network of care around our membership.”
Aage Christensen was born in Denmark and came to the U.S. with his parents when he was 18 months old, and then grew up in Algonquin. He was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Algonquin and later moved to Light of Christ Lutheran Church. Aage and Cathy were married 9 years ago, and after the wedding they decided to compromise (Cathy was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock) and become members of Faith Community Church in Huntley. Due to some changes there, they started looking for a new church in early 2009. For 30 years Cathy had been driving by the "pretty white church in Ridgefield" and had always wanted to check it out. Aage and Cathy attended a few services at RCLPC and also tried out a few other churches in the area, but kept coming back to RCLPC and decided that this was the place! Aage has 2 daughters—Ashley, who just graduated from Kent School of Law and Kelsey, who just graduated from Elk Grove High School and will go to DePauw this fall. He also has two step-sons—Michael, who is in the Coast Guard and lives in Eureka, CA, with his wife Britta and their children Finn and Lily, and Jason, who also attends RCLPC and is an active advocate for people with disabilities. His parents Grethe and Knud live in West Dundee during the summer (Grethe is teaching the yoga classes at RCLPC!). Aage has been working as a union concrete carpenter for over 30 years. Since coming to RCLPC, Aage has been active in the Men’s Group and the building and grounds team (putting that concrete expertise to work!), he’s served as a greeter and an usher, and he’s even baked for the Cookie Walk! He hopes to be involved in the fellowship ministries of the church, and he reminds us, “A church is not the building. It is the people that make up the church. I hope that RCLPC continues to be a welcoming and friendly church to all people.” |
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