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March 24, 2010
The Spirit
of Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
A Lenten Discipline challenge for all RCLPC
Lent is a time for focusing, or re-focusing, on our relationship with God. Traditionally this has been a time of fasting, or giving something up. Another form of Lenten discipline is to take something on—and this Lent, I challenge each of us to a Lenten Discipline that has two parts.
Pray every day for this church. Remember that prayer is a two-way conversation with God—so spend some time EVERY DAY talking with God about RCLPC.
Every week, make a phone call to someone you haven’t seen at church in a while. I know this is beyond most of our comfort zones, and it’s possible you’ll find they’ve just been going to another service or that they don’t want to talk about it...or it’s possible that you’ll find there’s stuff going on that needed to be talked about and that you can pray for and about!
These two seemingly small things can be the most important things we do for RCLPC during this time of transition. I will take on this discipline, and I hope and expect that you will all do the same. May this Lenten season be one of growing together in God, re-focusing our attention, and preparing for a new season of resurrection.
~Teri |
Congregational Meeting Called
Session has called a Congregational meeting for Sunday, April 11, 2010 immediately following the 9:30 service for the purpose of electing an elder and two deacons.
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Men of RCLPC
 Join us as we welcome Easter with a devotional message from Jim Bauman, last minute discussion on our Easter Breakfast, and some great fellowship with friends. As always it takes place at our Men's Breakfast at 8:00am on Saturday, April 3, at the Colonial Café in Crystal Lake. Join us in our Easter sharing!
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Easter Breakfast - April 4, 8:30 - 11:00am
The Men’s Breakfast Group cordially invites you to breakfast on Easter Sunday, April 4th. The menu is planned, the men are ready to serve you and we look forward to a great breakfast. Proceeds from the breakfast will support the Deacons Family Emergency Fund that supports members of our church in need. We will start serving around 8:30am and will finish when your appetite is satisfied. More information will be shared with you during the announcements on the Sundays before Easter. Put a note on your calendar and join us for breakfast on Easter Sunday morning.
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Family Seating Area
The Family and Accessible Seating area in the front of the sanctuary has been returned to regular pews. As we continue to explore ways to be an accessible sanctuary, the left rear pew has been removed to provide space for wheelchairs. Our hope is to continue to work toward a permanent plan that is inclusive of all who would worship with us.
Holy Week schedule:
March 28, Palm Sunday:
We join the crowds shouting “Hosanna” as Jesus enters the week of his passion.
April 1, Maundy Thursday, 6:30pm:
We remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, as we worship and share a light dinner together in Fellowship Hall. (We need to plan for the number of people attending dinner… Please sign up in the Connecting Link if you plan to attend.)
April 2, Good Friday, 7pm:
We enter the darkness, remembering Jesus’ death on the cross.
April 4, Easter, 8:30, 9:30, 11:00:
We come and find the tomb empty...God has made the world new, Jesus has risen!
Community Drum Circle Comes to RCLPC April 5
You don’t have to be a drummer to participate—everyone has something to offer, and everyone is welcome! A Community Drum Circle is a fun, family friendly event designed to build community and help us experience release, stress relief, healing, and empowerment. Rev. Phyllis Mueller facilitates these “drumming for health” drum circles in many places around the county, and now is coming to RCLPC! Come to Fellowship Hall on the evening of April 5 for an Easter drumming experience. For more info, contact Phyllis at 815.382.0004.
God’s Tapestry
A new WEAVE class begins April 7. How do we read the Bible in our 21st century context of religious diversity? This class will explore how to live as people of the book in our post modern, pluralistic world.
Import Peace
This Sunday you will have an opportunity to support Palestinian farmers by giving them a market for their high quality olive oil. This is certified organic cold pressed extra virgin fair trade olive oil. This Holy Week we especially remember the people in the land where Jesus lived. See Alice Haznedl in the Connecting Link at 10:30 and noon.
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Food Pantry Needs Your Help
Volunteers are needed, so please see the signup sheet in the Connecting Link. Give us whatever time you can spare. We serve once a month from 10am to 2pm. Please note that all Wednesday hours have been extended to 10am - 2pm due to the growing number of families in need. Each month we set a new record for the number of people being served. The growth rate is slowing, but the numbers still expand. We appreciate any help. Thank you. Call me if you have any questions. Nancy Vazzano.
PADS Help Needed
We will still be assembling PADS lunches on Sunday, April 11, and Friday, April 23. The assemblers made 85 lunches during the month of February. The need is great and your assistance is much appreciated. Please consider this mission and sign up in the Connecting Link.
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Native American Trip Planned
A mission-in-reverse trip into the culture and spirituality of American Indians is scheduled for June 21-26th through a trip to Rosebud and Pine Ridge American Indian Reservations in South Dakota. If you are a first-timer, there will be three classes and homework that is necessary to prepare yourself for this experience. We need to know your serious intentions by the end of March to include you in the trip and allow the proper time for advance study. For more information, contact Joy Martin
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 Presbytery Mission Trip
Presbytery Wide Mission Trip to New Orleans Area...April 26-30—Sign Up Now! This will be the 4th year that Blackhawk Presbytery has coordinated a mission trip to Slidell, LA to work in the New Orleans area. Please get in touch with Rev. Anita Stuart-Steva at 815.335.2609 or anita.middlecreekchurch@gmail.com.
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The Bread Basket Ministry needs your help this spring!
As you may know, when visitors worship with us and provide a local delivery address, we acknowledge their visit with a note and a tasty baked treat during the week following worship! Many of our new members have had this first sweet "taste" of RCLPC hospitality. There is a new signup sheet for March-June in the Connecting Link. Volunteers are needed right away!
Please consider signing up for one or two weeks to continue this welcoming tradition! And please include your email address! We like to track who has received a delivery, so please plan to call or email back to Sarah Jane when the delivery has been made. Any questions, call Sarah Jane Campbell.
Session Hi-Lites
March 16, 2010 – Stated Session Meeting
The minutes of the Congregational Meeting of January 24 and the Stated Session Meeting of Feb. 11 were approved and the Treasurer’s report was received. Congregational guest, Jonathan Horvath, shared his faith story with the Session.
Team reports were received with discussion as follows:
- Worship Team – The pews will be reinstalled in the Family seating area before Easter. There will be provisions made for handicap seating. Communications about this will be in the Spirit and the Order of Worship.
- Education – A change will be made in the Child Protection Policy to include any renters to our building.
- Administration – The team is in the process of searching for a bridge pastor.
- From the Mission Team – It was questioned whether the Global Gift Shop fit into the criteria for our Fund Raising Policy. The policy was reviewed and it was agreed that the Gift Shop does fit the policy.
- The Nominating Team is working on finding replacements for one Elder and two Deacons. A congregational meeting for the purpose of electing those positions will be called for Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 10:30am.
A discussion was held about the communications between Elders and Deacons and the congregation. It was felt that we are right on target with our proposed action items and are doing a better job in our communications.
Rev. Roy Backus will continue to moderate our Session meetings until we get a bridge pastor or a permanent pastor.
Rev. Teri Peterson will be out of town from April 16-23. Elders will need to be on call. The Confirmation Class will meet with the Session on May 16 at 3:15pm. This is in preparation for them to join the church.
The next stated Session Meeting will be Tuesday, April 20, 2010.
Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia
Churches across the nation will be observing Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia in March and April. At RCLPC over the past several years we have hosted a number of Colombian church leaders and, most recently, Alice Winters, a Presbyterian mission worker in Colombia for over 30 years. The pastors shared their experiences of being threatened by the paramilitary and of having to move from their homes within Colombia or, in the case of Rev. Milton Mejia and his family, leave altogether for several years. Nearly 4 million Colombians are internally displaced.
You are invited to an Open House at the home of Ann Legg on
Saturday, March 27, from 3 to 8pm.
Please RSVP to Ann Legg.
Please come even if you can stay for only a short time. Each guest will have the opportunity to frame a portrait of a displaced Colombian with a message to President Obama, calling for policy changes to alleviate rather than exacerbate the crisis. Later, all the portraits will be sent to Washington, D.C. and presented to representatives of the Obama Administration.
Spring Cleaning?
Build a Dream
Is holding its semiannual clothing sale
April 30th and May 1st.
We are in need of donations of gently used
spring-summer
clothing, towels, sheets and blankets.
Drop off bagged items in Fellowship Hall.
Questions or wish to help??
Contact Wayne Prindiville 815 477-4484 |
BENEFIT CLOTHING SALE
at Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church
221 Dean St., Woodstock
(2 blocks south of the Woodstock square)
Friday, April 30th 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
&
Saturday, May 1st 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
100% of the proceeds will assist school children in El Vaquero, Mexico.
Donations:
We are in need of gently used spring-summer clothing,
towels, sheets and blankets.
Donation Drop Off Dates and Time:
Thursday, April 29th: 10:00am – 6:00pm @ UUC church
Or at Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
8505 Church Street, Crystal Lake
Sunday mornings in April or April 26th – 29th 9am to 5pm
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Please contact Wayne Prindiville if you are able to help with
set-up on Thursday during the sale or clean-up on Saturday.
Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Phone: (815) 477-4484 | Email: wprindi@hotmail.com
Project: Build a Dream is a program sponsored by the McHenry County Latino Coalition a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
Your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |
Immigration Reform Educational Forum
Put Sunday, April 18, from 4-6 p.m. on your calendar for an Immigration Reform Educational Forum at RCLPC. This event will be cosponsored by the Jewish Congregation, Resurrection Catholic Church and First Congregational Church. The main speakers will be Fred Tsao, Policy Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Rosa Maria MacNeil, an immigration attorney, and Maralee Gordon, rabbi for the Jewish Congregation. We would also like anyone who has a personal immigration story to share that story with the participants. Contact Ann Legg at 815-338-4838 or aglegg@sbcglobal.net if you have a story you are willing to share. An agenda for the forum will be coming out in a couple weeks.
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