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INTRODUCING OUR CANDIDATESAfter much deliberation and prayer, the 2005 Nominating Committee is presenting the congregation with its slate of nominees for the Associate Pastor nominating committee, elders for the class of 2008, and the 2006 Nominating committee.Nominees for the ASSOCIATE PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE (APNC):BARB DOLMON has been a member of RCLPC for over thirty years. She has served as a trustee and has been on the nominating committee. She is currently a “collection counter” and a member of the choir.DAVID DEES has been a member for seven years and participates in music (both vocally and instrumentally), drama, and is a “collection counter”. David is currently an elder and will serve as our session representative. LAURA BAUMAN has been a member since 1978. Laura has been involved in mission and stewardship committees and has been Sunday school superintendent. She currently sings in the choir. JOAN JENSEMA joined the church thirteen years ago and has been an elder for the past six years. She has also been a member of the personnel committee, teaches Sunday school, volunteers for Faith in Action, and has served on the mission committee. LOU RABE has been a member for twenty-four years. Lou has been involved in youth groups, the stewardship committee, and has sung in the choir. BRUCE RANDALL has been a member for four years. He has served on the mission committee and has served in numerous volunteer positions. Nominees for ELDERS FOR THE CLASS OF 2008JIM DUTKIEWICZ has been a member for about three years. Jim is a member of the building and grounds committee.DALE PRINDIVILLE has been a member of RCLPC for sixteen years. She is currently an elder and has been the Director of Caring Ministries and a Stephen Minister. Dale sings in the choir and volunteers with Meals on Wheels and the Food Pantry. DAN SCHWEERS joined the church just a year ago. He has been an elder in previous churches and you may have seen him helping at fellowship activities. SALLY WELLER has been a member for seventeen years. She was a member of the Pastor nominating committee and has taught Sunday school and helped in the office. She also helps create and make the beautiful banners in our sanctuary. Nominees for the 2006 NOMINATING COMMITTEETINA STIPATI will be the chairperson. She is currently on the session, and has been a liturgist, usher, and drama team member. She delivers Meals on Wheels and also is a Stephen Minister.KARL DENCKER will be our other session representative. Karl was the chairperson of the Pastor nominating committee and has helped with both fellowship and small group activities. CHERYL BRINCKS has been a member for twenty-five years and has worked on both mission and fellowship committees. She also works with the Food Pantry, coffee servers, and has co-chaired the Cookie Walk. Nominees for the 2006 nominating committee (cont.) GEORGE SCHIELER has been a member for fourteen years. He has served on the stewardship committee and also been an usher, greeter, and coffee server. RICK THOMPSON joined the church twelve years ago. He has been very involved with our video ministry and also has participated in work days, gourmet, and has been the DJ at our annual Valentine’s dances. BARB TURLEY has been a member since 1989 and sings in the choir, heads up Meals on Wheels, and teaches Caring Crafters. She has also been a Sunday school teacher, served on a previous nominating committee and chaired the worship committee. She writes a column for our “Spirit”. This is just a short introduction to all of our nominees. Please check out the bulletin board in the Gathering Place (near the office) for pictures and extended bio’s. ALL CHURCH WORK DAYCome dressed for work this Sunday November 13th from 8:30 to 1:30 for the All Church Work Day. There will be lots of jobs both inside and outside. We can use help from the young and the not so young. Lunch will be provided. This is a great way to meet new people and remember, it is always more fun to work someplace else!NEW OFFICE HOURSStarting this week the office hours will be 9 – 3:30 on Monday through Thursdays. The office will be closed on Fridays.LARGE PRINT BULLETINS AND NEWSLETTERWould you benefit from having a bulletin or newsletter that was a little bit easier to read with a larger font? Ask an usher on Sunday morning for a large print bulletin. They are available for both services. If you would like to receive a large print newsletter, please contact the church office and we will make sure to put you on the list.NEW BROCHURE will help us to be an inviting churchA new color brochure has been created to help introduce RCLPC to people who may be looking for a church home or a church to visit. The brochure is available at the church. Please feel free to take extra copies to share whenever and wherever you have an opportunity to do so.Development of the brochure began in the spring, when the Welcoming ministry advertised an initial meeting to work on the project. The team – Laurie Dayon, Jim Pracht, George Steffen, Rick Thompson, Pastor Richard and me – started by looking at samples of materials from other congregations. We found that the effective ones shared several elements: an eye-catching design, use of color, close-up photos of people taking part in the life of the congregation, and text that made for a compelling and quick read. We adopted the theme of “If You’re Looking … Look With Us.” Our purpose is not to recruit people to attend RCLPC, but rather to make a good first impression on people who may be searching for a place where they will feel welcome to experience God’s grace and people with whom to share life’s journey. As a framework, we used the six commitments adopted by the session earlier this year to help guide our future ministry, restated in short copy blocks and illustrated with photos from various aspects of congregational life. Details were kept to a minimum, partly for readability and partly to reduce the likelihood of information becoming outdated sooner rather than later. We plan to supplement the brochure with a series of visually complementary fliers on various programs and activities, which will be printed or copied in smaller quantities and updated as needed. Thanks to our church photographers: Chuck Rasmussen, Mary Moltmann, Rick and Lori Thompson, Mike Keyzer, Tina Stipati, Kim Stewart and Claire Weller. Apologies to anyone I’ve missed. Also thanks to Rick for creating the map and to Kim for providing so many photos collected for the church web site, which she maintains so faithfully and always with an eye on improvement and innovation. Again, please take copies of the brochure to share with friends and neighbors. Also, if you know places where churches are welcome to display information, please post the brochure or leave a few copies for anyone who might be interested. The first step in welcoming is inviting. While nothing will take the place of face-to-face invitations, the brochure is one way we can reach out to others. Thank you. -- David Dees for the brochure team ADVENT WREATH MAKING AND SUPPERJoin us on Sunday November 20th at 5:00 pm. We will share some soup and cider together (you may bring a dessert to share). After dinner we will begin the Advent journey 2005 by making an Advent Wreath to take home. Cost for wreath is $10. Sign up in the Connecting Link so we can have plenty of soup, cider, candles, and evergreens. Who knows … we might even sing a few carols!VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDVolunteers are needed for the Christmas Eve services which will be held at 3:30, 5:00, 7:30 (NewWay), 9:00 and 10:30 pm on Saturday, December 24th.A sign up sheet will be in the Connecting Link for Ushers, Greeters, Communion Preparers, and Communion Servers. Also needed are volunteers willing to set out and light the luminaries after the 3:30 service. (The luminaries are being put together by Joyce and Pierre Berube.) This would be a great time to start a family tradition! MISSION TRIP 2006 - EgyptIf you are interested in participating or supporting the Senior High youth trip to our sister church in Alexandria, Egypt in June 2006, please come join us at the church on Tuesday, November 15 at 7:30 pm to learn more about the trip and our sister congregation. We hope to have a former El Sarai church member with us for the evening. Questions - call Jeff or Sheila Mohler or Kim Stewart.THE LATEST WITH OUR KATRINA FAMILYWell, first I really have to thank you for all of your help with the Katrina Family. The help has come in many forms…financial, physical donations of furniture and clothing, people taking time to investigate leads on housing and jobs and people who have helped move furniture. The outpouring has been very affirming for Steve and I (as well, I know for the Floods). It is amazing to me that when we all work together, we can almost completely provide basic needs for a 3 generation family!!The latest with the family is that Catherine and Cynthia have been looking diligently for housing and full time employment. The housing is difficult to find because they are looking for a rental that will allow them to keep all their pets (combined they have 2 dogs and 4 cats). The thought of giving them up is heartbreaking because they are animal lovers and also the animals are the only thing they were able to salvage from their lives in New Orleans (besides their own lives). They also prefer a home with a first floor full bath as Mayland is 84 and has a tough time with stairs. Also on a sad note, Cynthia drove back to their homes this week to try to salvage what they could and found their homes had been looted. I think they were most saddened by the small things that were of big sentimental value that were taken. On a happier note, Catherine has found a temporary job through a temp agency and Joseph (the HS student) has a part time job. If you are still looking for a way to help out the family here are the most current needs: Housing! If anyone knows of anyone who owns a property that would be willing to take 6 animals (and 5 humans) PLEASE let us know! If you can follow up on the lead yourself and get back to me with the results that’s even better as there are many details of this project that I am currently working on! Also a first floor full bath would be a great plus! We would even consider 2 apartments if they were in the same building…they want to keep close to their elderly parents. Woodstock area is their preference. We are currently reopening financial pledges for rent. We have taken on a larger family than originally anticipated so if you were considering pledging and then heard the rent was covered, now with the bigger family I’m sure more is needed. The family knows how much we have and is willing to cover the remainder since they hope to be working full time soon. Nonetheless, if you can provide an addition to our rent money kitty, that would take more pressure off the Floods! Women’s Clothes: We are doing pretty well on women’s, the biggest shortage is in size 24/26 as well as sweats and nightgowns or PJs for 14-26 sizes. The ladies also really need shoes and boots in sizes 8-9. We have had less donations for the men (although some). We need men’s large (36/30) and medium (32/30) stuff as well as shoes and boots in size 9. Winter coats are needed too. Gloves and Hats will be great for these southerners!! Job leads: Cynthia – payroll, Catherine – medical billing Most importantly prayers!! Please pray that they find peace with their losses and strength to forge a new future (also help with finding a home and jobs). Any furniture or clothing donations can be placed behind the grey screens in Fellowship Hall. We check that supply regularly and make frequent deliveries of clothing to the family. Thank you all! Steve and Laura Middaugh IN THE COMMUNITYMadrigal Dinner Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4:00 pm Dinner includes various cheeses, breads, and relishes, cheddar cheese soup, Cornish Hen, roasted red potatoes, corn on the cob, cookies, cakes, brownies, and figgy pudding! The cost of tickets are$25 for all ages. Both children and adults alike will enjoy the food, singing, company, and play. COOKIE WALKBring your friends and join in the fun in choosing from a huge variety of homemade cookies and candies. To make this fundraiser a success, we need you! Yes, you!!Bake, buy, help display posters around our community or help the day of the Cookie Walk. Sign up sheets are in the Connecting Link. If we could all bake a couple dozen cookies (or more, if you can) this would be a great success! When should you start baking? Right now if you would like. We have the means to freeze. And for your convenience, we will have a Sunday drop off table just inside Fellowship Hall for those tasty treats. If you would like to freeze your own, there will be helpful hints on how to freeze them. Also, on the table will be quick, easy and fun recipes. Proceeds benefit Fairhaven (Egypt mission), our Katrina family (the Floods) our youth program, local charities and RCLPC. For more info, contact Nancy Blakely or Marypatriece Raupp. STEPHEN MINISTRY MESSAGEIn Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one to one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.Please call Richard Floyd for more information on Stephen Ministry here at RCLPC. MEN'S BREAKFASTJoin together with other men in the church and enjoy a breakfast together while you study the following Sunday's scripture. We will meet in Fellowship Hall on Saturday December 3rd at 9 a.m. Questions? contact Karl Dencker.NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTIONIn addition to the Native American museums and galleries listed in the last Spirit here is one more place you will find interesting:Mitchell Museum of the American Indian 2600 Central Park Avenue (Central Street & Central Park) Evanston, Illinois 60201 We hope you have stopped by Fellowship Hall to look at the Turning Point exhibit concerning Domestic Violence. It will be up until the end of November. Since October was Domestic Violence month, we thought it appropriate to mention such violence on Reservations as excerpted from the Lakota Journal newspaper as follows: The director of Sacred Circle National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women, Karen Attichoker says, "Six out of eight or 75% of Native women are battered. This is much higher than the figure for the overall U.S. population, which at the most is estimated to be one in three women. In addition to this, one in three Native women are raped." Artichoker continues, "Between 49 and 51 percent of her Cangleska, Inc. shelter population in South Dakota are Native women, averaging 1,000 battered women and their children per year. The sad irony lies at the roots of this situation. Traditionally, Native American people did not believe in or tolerate violence against women and children. The band or tribe would protect women and children from this kind of behavior by banishing a man from the tribe if he committed such violent acts. Unfortunately, the colonization of native lands along with the reservation system included the forced adoption of the Euro-American system under which women and their children were the property of the husband, with no rights. It was expected that the man would beat his wife and children when he deemed it necessary to keep them in line". This along with the poverty on most reservations is a major player in these high rates of violence. " Watch the next Spirit for goals to end domestic violence. Contributed by Joy Martin, Alice Haznedl, Ann Legg, Janet Pierce, Ginger Robinson, Rod Russell, MJ Towne, Gloria Thorson. IN and AROUND RCLPC with BARBGood morning! And it is a beautiful, warm, sunny morning as I am writing this.It is also written with a heart full of sadness with the passing of KEN McCreary, husband of BARB. Ken was a wonderful, talented, loving and beloved friend of us all and we will truly miss him. Our love and prayers go out to you, Barb, and to your family. God bless you all! * Wasn’t last Sunday’s presentation WONDERFUL! From the tiny little jumping frogs, to the little ones that were tired of gruel, the beautiful voices of the high school brick makers, to the larger than life insects - the sanctuary was full of beautiful music. Then came the talents of the hysterical pharaoh (and his bear), Aaron, Miriam and Moses. It was enhanced by the sounds of drama and excitement of the percussionist and keyboard players. Wrap this all together with the expertise of the producer and director and you have THE FREEDOM FANATICS of RCLPC I think a fun time was had by all - actors and spectators alike. Thanks go to all of you! * Our music director SHERRI DEES (wife of DAVID, mother of BEN and LAWSON) was in Ohio attending a music seminar on percussion. She was pretty excited as she not only spent time learning but was reunited with some college friends. * Our Administrative Assistant, TRICIA FRERMAN, left us on Friday the 4th. She is now working at RMA Transportation in Lake Zurich in the accounting department. This is a full time job. We will miss you very much, Tricia, but wish you much success in this new endeavor. Please stop by to see us when you can. * Catch up time: MARGE HANSEN did not have hip surgery - put it on hold; MIDGE FISH was back with us after a lot of time spent in the hospital getting “stuck”; GRACE HAMILTON is up and around but still needs our calls and cards: DON MARCH was in the hospital for angioplasty and had good results; and ERV HUECKSTAEDT will have kidney surgery on Nov. 10th - and needs our prayers. God’s blessings on all of you, and any others I have missed. In closing, “Under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be loved and appreciated.” author unknown Let us treat each individual with love and caring, as we don’t know what is under their “shell”. God loves us all! Thank you for sharing this time with me. Keep those notes and e-mails coming. I really NEED you. I am Barb Turley RCLPC’s 15th Annual Christmas Cookie Walk It’s just around the corner, Saturday, December 10th 9 am – Noon In Fellowship Hall Bring your friends and join in the fun in choosing from a huge variety of HOMEMADE cookies and candies. To make this fundraiser a success, we need you! Yes, you!! Proceeds benefit Fairhaven (Egypt mission), our Katrina family (the Floods) our youth program, local charities and RCLPC. |