Click here to see the November calendar.Click here to see the Worship Teams Schedule.
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A Stewardship Celebration Event! Food, Fun, and Fellowship Sunday, October 30th, 9 am - 1:00 pm Everyone is invited to attend a celebration of our ‘Growing Together’ in Fellowship Hall on the last Sunday in October. God has blessed us so richly, and we want to celebrate that! Come before, after, or between services. No classes for adults, high school or middle school that morning, preK-5th grade classes are meeting only. Please join us as we celebrate our church and its ministries and the wonderful things God continues to do in our lives! |
 CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGThe session has called a congregational meeting for November 20 at 10:15 am for the purpose of electing the associate pastor nominating committee, elders for the class of 2008, and the nominating committee for 2006. Short bios of each candidate will be in the next Spirit.
Tricia Frerman, our secretary and administrative assistant, will be leaving us soon. The Personnel Committee would like to extend a great big, heartfelt THANK YOU to Tricia for her years of service here at RCLPC. Tricia’s last day will be Friday, November 4th. Please give her a call or stop by before then to thank her for sharing her talents with us. Also, please look for a sign and card to wish her well in her new endeavors; you will find it in the Connecting Link during the next few weeks. The Personnel Committee has begun a search process for a new church secretary. Kim Stewart has agreed to be our “interim” secretary until someone new is hired. (Thanks Kim!). The church office hours will be slightly changed starting November 7. Kim will be in the office Monday-Thursday 9:00-3:30. The office will be closed on Fridays. If you know of anyone qualified and interested in the position please contact Joan Jensema or any other member of the personnel committee. |
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS (October)
* Received financial report for July, August, and September. The congregation’s finances continue to be strong.* Requested cookie walk organizers to make a proposal for the distribution of funds raised.
* Called a congregational meeting for November 20 at 10:15am for the purpose of approving elder nominating committee, elders for 2008, and nominating committee for 2006.
* Approved moving the Taizé service from 7pm to 7:30pm, starting in December.
* Received preliminary report from structure task force on proposed new structure. Task force is still working on specific transition plans.
MISSION TRIP 2006 - Egypt
If 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 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.RCLPC YOUTH GROUPS Christmas Greens!!
Snow is still some time away (we hope!) but now is the time to show your support for our youth by ordering your Christmas greens. This fundraiser helps support our retreats and mission trips. Youth will be available this Sunday, Oct 30, outside Fellowship Hall to take your order. Greens should arrive the week of Thanksgiving. Please show your support and enjoy these beautiful holiday decorations.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
Join 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 November 5th at 9 a.m. Questions? contact Karl Dencker.TUESDAYS at BORDERS HAS A NEW EVENING GROUP
Great discussion, delicious coffee and good friends - all can be found at "Tuesdays at Borders".Join the morning group at 10 am on Tuesdays at the Crystal Lake Borders Cafe. We will begin discussing the book called "Broken for You" by Stephanie Kallos. Books are available at Borders.
OR ... Join the new evening group "Books at Borders" at 7 pm on Tuesdays at the Borders Cafe. They will begin discussing the book called "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore. Books are available at Borders.
Come join us on Tuesdays ... mornings or evenings at the Borders Cafe in Crystal Lake. Share your story over a great cup of coffee or tea. (They have an awesome bakery too!) For questions, feel free to contact Dale Prindiville, Kim Stewart, or Kathy Rabe. See you next Tuesday!
ALL CHURCH WORK DAY
Come dressed for work on 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!THANK YOU
30 walkers represented RCLPC. Senior High, Middle School, Scouts, and others walked and received sponsorship in the amount of $2640. Thanks to everyone who helped and special thanks to Jeff Mohler and Melanie Wesa for inspiring the students and scouts. With their assistance we doubled our contribution of last year. We doubled our support to PADS and the FOOD PANTRY.MJ Towne
A special thank you to everyone who supported Crop Walk this year! On October 16th a dozen Senior High and Middle School youth walked the 4 1/2 mile Crop Walk through Crystal Lake. The youth raised $1,400. towards food, shelter and medical care for people locally and around the world.
The Middle School Youth Group wants to send a BIG thank you to Cheryl Lilly for chaperoning the lock-in on October 21st. Your help was greatly appreciated!!
ABOUT TAIZÉ
Be still and know that I am God ~ Psalm 46:10This has long been a favorite verse of mine. But…with such busy lives how can we possibly “be still”; do we even know how or even believe it’s a necessary part of our Christian walk? I’ve learned that God speaks the loudest to me when I am the quietest. The music of Taizé brings me powerfully to that place of internal stillness. The soft, meditative tone of the music and the wonderful words (such as “o Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me”) soothe all the weary and wounded places in my heart. Sometimes my tears flow, either from gratitude for God’s loving presence in my life or from grief. Other times I will be filled with such joy that I want to shout “Thank you God!”. The service and the music of Taizé are both healing and uplifting and are such a gift to us. I encourage everyone to come with an open mind and heart and allow yourself to experience a powerful way to connect with God.
Carol Hoefer
TAIZÉ PRAYER SERVICE - Thursday November 3rd @ 7:00 pmwhen you need REFUGE ...when you need PEACE ... when you need time to BREATHE ... when you need QUIET ... when you need HOPE ... no creeds to say ... no standing up and down ... no sermon ... no saying what you believe before you're sure you believe it ... simply pray BEAUTIFUL CHANTS ... simply enjoy the silence MEDITATION ... simply come CONNECT ... |  |
USHERS NEEDED
Ushers will be needed for the following special service:Thanksgiving Eve service: Wednesday, Nov. 23rd at 7:00 pm.
Two ushers are needed for this service. A signup is in the Connecting Link.
LIBRARY NEWS
Check it out ! Where God Was Born, by Bruce Feiler. Bruce goes back to Israil and also visits Iran and Iraq to explore religion as a source of peace instead of conflict. This book is part, memoir, part theological discourse, this is a spiritually thoughtful work. Also check out all the other New Books for this month. The share cart in the hall is getting empty, if you have any books you would like to donate just put them on the cart. Don’t forget those credit card points can be turned into Gift Cards at Book Stores (Borders or Barnes & Noble). I have a wish list of books to get for the Church Library. It is growing.~Joyce
BIG BROTHERS / BIG SISTERS OF MCHENRY COUNTY
Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County is currently seeking caring adult mentors to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters in our community based program. Volunteers are matched with a child in their area in need of a positive adult role model. Volunteers visit with their "Little" approximately 2-4 times per month, enjoying fun and meaningful one-on-one activities. The children range in age from 6-14 years, many of which have been waiting for an extended period of time. If you are interested in becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, please call 815/385-3855, or contact Marie Randall.OPERATION PRAYERS AND COOKIE LIFT
Please come to Fellowship Hall during the Stewardship Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 30, and send Thanksgiving greetings to two soldiers who are friends of RCLPC:Andy Pohl (nephew of the Pohl’s and Bauman’s) - back in Iraq for his second tour
Katie Pelz (friend of the Steele’s)
I will be mailing care packages to them along with your messages. I am placing a sign-up sheet in the Connecting Link if anyone would like to donate items such as individual packages of cookies or brownies, microwave snacks, sox, Pringles, etc. Please keep all of our soldiers in your prayers.
Mary Moltmann
COOKIE WALK
Ahh,,,don’t you just love fall? The crunch of leaves, the cooler air…..overcast days that inspire you to stay home and ….. BAKE! Yes, that’s right! It’s the perfect time to bake!! The warm scent of cookies heralding that favorite holiday! There’s nothing like coming home to one of those tasty treats! RCLPC is gearing for the annual cookie walk and would love your help in bringing this annual tradition to life! Please consider becoming apart of our one and only fundraiser at RCLPC! 75% of the profits benefit charities like Turning Point, Fairhaven (our sister Egyptian church’s school for children with special needs), Northern Ill. Hospice, the McHenry County Food Pantry, Crystal Lake Pads, Home of the Sparrow, our sponsor family, and church youth programs. The leftover goes to RCLPC’s general fund. If candy is more of your forte, that would be fabulous too! We promise we won’t ask for your secret recipes but we can’t promise to keep your name secret if someone wants to know where your bakery is! Please think of us in the upcoming weeks as you’re baking away. If each family could donate just two dozen colorful lovelies, we would have a very successful fundraiser! Too busy to bake after Thanksgiving? No problem! We have the means to freeze your tasty treats! More information on how coming soon!STEPHEN MINISTRY MESSAGE
In 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.
THE HURRICANE KATRINA FAMILY
The family has 5 members whom we will be housing. Mayland, 84 and Carolina, 71 along with their 2 adult daughter’s Catherine and Cynthia and their grandson Joseph, who is 17. Believe it or not their last name is Flood! They owned 3 separate homes on the same block in New Orleans and all 3 lost their homes. They all had homeowner’s insurance but not flood insurance.Carolina, Catherine and Joseph evacuated in a van before the storm, but Mayland wanted to stay, thinking they could get through and not wanting to leave his pets. Mayland and Cynthia stayed and were evacuated by helicopter after 5 days on the roof. The family came to Woodstock because there is a brother Mayland Jr. who lives in a 1 bedroom apartment in Woodstock. They are staying in a hotel but spending most of the days at his apartment.
Catherine and Cynthia are both actively pursuing full time employment. Catherine worked as a medical biller and Cynthia in payroll. They both hope to use this year to get established so they can purchase a home after the year of our rental. Their goal is to stay in the area permanently.
Cyhthia is looking for a job in payroll and worked at a nursing home in New Orleans in payroll. Catherine is looking for a job in medical billing and worked at Tulane University Hospital. If you know of any openings in these or related fields, please contact the Middaugh’s.
Updated list of stuff we need (10/20)
Women’s clothing sizes 14/16, 16/18 and 26
Men’s clothing sizes medium (32/30) and large(36/30)
Bedding, chairs, towels, garage stuff, end tables, cleaning supplies, 1 twin bed, microwave also…
People to help with moving and/or people who have access to trucks!! Thank you!
NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTION
As you are out and about, may we give you some interesting Native American places for you and your family to visit:52nd Annual POW WOW
November 11, 12 & 13th
This exciting event is held at the UIC Pavilion 1/2 mile west of downtown Chicago (Harrison & Racine). A group of us from the Native American Connection plan to attend on November 13th if you would like to join us on that Sunday. Otherwise, directions are Route 90-94 to downtown Chicago and then I-290 towards west suburbs, exit on Morgan Street and travel right one block, left 2 blocks to the UIC Pavilion. Please note the article in the Connecting Link. Public transportation is available.
Native Peoples of Illinois (1675-1835)
November 12-December 29th
Prairieview Education Center at 2112 Behan Road,
Crystal Lake is presenting an exhibit on the history of Illinois as Native American tribes shaped it. Hours are 9 - 5 weekdays and 10-4pm on Saturday, Noon - 4 pm on Sundays. 815-479-5779
Environmental Adventures
Native American Stories - Facts
Native American Stories - Fun
Educational programs through the Conservation District for children and adults at Prairieview Education Center. Call 815-479-5779. Directions: From the intersection of Routes 31 and 176 in Crystal Lake, travel East on 176 approximately 3 miles to Behan Road. Right turn onto Behan and follow the signs.
Tribal Expressions 7 South Dunton Ave. Arlington Heights, IL. 60005
13th Anniversary celebration with antique and unique jewelry and carvings and native art.
Call 847-590-5390, www.tribalexperessions.com Hours weekdays Tues & Wed. 10-6, Thurs & Fri. 10-8, Sat. 10-5 and Sunday 12-5.
Trickster Gallery
190 Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL. 60193
Call 847-301-2090 and visit Tues/Wed/Thu/Sat. 11-6 pm, Fri. 11-8. Current special exhibit entitled "Beauty Before Me, Beauty All Around Me" through Jan. 13, 2006.
IN and AROUND RCLPC with BARB
As I am writing this article we are again being threatened by a hurricane. I do believe we have had enough of this devastating weather, and I pray it does not come ashore.* I’d like to start with a big THANK YOU to the Meals on Wheels Drivers who came through for me at the last minute (as I forgot the date L .) They are: Leanna Miller and grandson Josh, Tina Stipati, Laurie Jensen, Ann Legg, Marie Randall, first timer Joan Black, Laurie Dayon, Lori Thompson, Kathy Rabe and Ellene Schmidt. The Sunday following delivery I met one of the ladies to whom we had taken food and she said, “You just don’t know how much I look forward to seeing your smiling faces each day.” This is what it is all about, and I sincerely thank you.
* In the last Spirit I suggested you might like to send cards to two of our good friends who were in need of some cheering up. I forgot one of my very special friends - ERV HUCKSTAEDT (husband of ESTHER, father of DALE and WAYNE PRINDIVILLE). Erv has been undergoing many tests and will be having surgery in the near future. I know he would like to hear from you. Get better Erv!
* On Sunday the 30th we will be having an All-church intergenerational Musical - Moses and the Freedom Fanatics. This will involve a cast of 3 year olds on up - WAY up, who will become frogs, insects, slaves, and Bible characters. Just wait until you see some of the rather large dancing insects. It is a sight you just won’t want to miss. Believe me!
* A few weeks ago I found a very nice rubber stamp of a birthday cake in my church mailbox. I do not know who the donor was, but The Caring Crafters and I thank the giver very much. It will be used!
* Congratulations are sent to FRED and SUE NEUSCHEL, the proud grandparents of a brand new baby girl - Cassandra June Floyd. She came into this world on Friday the 21st at 11:18 PM . Cassandra is the baby of REBECCA and BRIAN FLOYD - daughter and son-in-law of Fred and Sue. I know you will enjoy her very much, and congratulations to you all!
You can tell that I didn’t get any notes or phone calls for this article, but , “It’s those small daily happenings that make life spectacular.”author unknown Thank you for spending this time with me. I am, Barb Turley