june/july 2015...june 27 @ 4:30pm join us for a fun evening of tennis, fellowship, and dinner. we...
TRANSCRIPT
June/July 2015
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Rev. David Lower Senior Pastor
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Rev. Adam Walker
Cleaveland Associate Pastor
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Rev. Diann Santschi Parish Associate of Pastoral Care and Counseling
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Rev. Kathy Dale McNair Specialized Minister
Mental Health Ministry
Geoff Duffy Director of Music, Associate Director of Worship
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Dina Price
Administrator
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Michael Jin Accountant
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www.winnpres.org facebook.com/WinnetkaPres
twitter.com/WinnetkaPres [email protected]
847-446-7777
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Church, wrote a book called Where God Happens, which gleans from the wisdom of the “Desert Mothers and Fathers,” monastic communities in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in the 3 and 4 centuries. These monastics withdrew from “regular life” and sought to "grow in holiness" and to “live for God.” By disengaging from the complicated, anxiety-driven systems and institutions of civilization, they more clearly discovered the spiritual world that so often gets drowned out by the rest of life. (Some of us may be seeking to do something similar with the breaks and getaways that summer can provide.)
Intriguingly, while these monastics withdrew to a desert hermitage, the experience and reflection heightened their sense of humility, as well as their feelings of compassion for neighbor, drawing them into a greater sense of solidarity with others. Ultimately, identifies Williams, these figures of wisdom discovered that the place where God happens is between each other.
Thankfully, these communities wrote their reflective wisdom down, and it has proven to have surprising spiritual insights for us today. John the Dwarf, an early church father, clarified that these communities did not flee to the desert to escape the world and its follies, but to better understand what life in the world means to followers of Jesus the Christ. “You don't build a house by starting with the roof and working down. You start with the foundation,” John said. “The foundation is our neighbor whom we must win. The neighbor is where we start. Every commandment of Christ depends on this."
It is interesting that as these monastics withdrew from mainstream society, each relationship became more of a focal point and better understood for what it is, which is a gateway for experiencing God. Rowan Williams explains, "Insofar as you open such doors for one another, you gain God, in the sense that you become a place where God happens for somebody else. "Each day we have many opportunities to become a place where God comes alive in another person's life because of our actions, words, or deeds. That is why kindness, compassion, and love are so central in the sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and so central to the way of God revealed for us all in Jesus Christ.
As we withdraw and reflect this summer, I encourage us all to be mindful of the ways that God happens, for all of us in infinite ways, between each other. That realm of the divine can be experienced freshly the moment you let everything else drift away, and find yourself fully present with another, even a friend or family member, trustfully ready to be filled with the blessings of life they bear, and ready to become a place where God comes to life for someone else. The opportunity to enter into this sacred space exists for us at almost every moment of our lives, if we can just let go and look out. Try it wherever you are, or let me know if you’d like to practice! As you do, may the peace of Christ be with you.
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Highlights June/July 2015
Softball Game and
Florida Mission Trip
Fundraiser June 14 @ 12:30pm
Don't Miss This Year's All-Church Softball Game and Florida Mission Trip Fund Raiser! Come one, come all, for an afternoon of softball fun and food! We will gather across the street on June 14th and continue our tradition of playing softball together as a church family. Head home after worship for a quick change, and then come back at 12:30pm. Come to play, cheer on the teams, or enjoy a hot dog hot off the grill by chef Michael Collitte! You can sign up on the sign up sheet in the Atrium or click here to go to the link. Everyone is welcome and if you have any questions, contact Tracy Colitte at [email protected].
Tennis Night June 27 @ 4:30pm
Join us for a fun evening of tennis, fellowship, and dinner. We will gather at A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center, 530 Hibbard Road (across the street from our church), for a round robin event. Then join us for drinks and a bar-b-que at Ro Miller’s home. You can sign up by clicking here or look for the link in your weekly email. Questions? Contact Lynne Frid, 847.441.8761, Ro Miller, 847.784.9136.
Writing YOUR
Statement of Faith
After worship on June 7 and 14! David invites you to join him in the third of 4 weeks workshop designed to help us each write statements of faith. You don't have to be well along in your faith journey to participate, as our expressions will all be different, as snapshots of expression along one's lifetime of faith. You can download the worksheets from your weekly email.
WPC Missionaries to Help Roma
People of Ukraine
Please join us in prayer for safe travels and many blessings as we send Haley Skeens, Lauren Holly, and Nancy Holly to the south west region of the Ukraine to help set up a children's summer camp.
The Roma people are a nomadic people originating from south Asia. Throughout history they have been the target of immense persecution and genocidal attempts. The first WPC Roma trip was 10 years ago and it has taken these years to build the trust within the Roma community and fashion relationships with the Dutch, Hungarians, and Ukraine partners to be able to work with the Roma on this intimate level.
This mission trip will conclude with a few days to explore the historical and cultural sites in Budapest. Please keep this June Roma team in your prayers and thoughts. And think about joining this fascinating mission project on our next trip.
FAITH
Orphaned Roma children we met on the 2013 trip.
Nancy Holly Lauren Holly Haley Skeens
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June/July 2015 Music
What’s Your Favorite Hymn?
Throughout the summer months, we will be including some of your favorite hymns in worship. Last Sunday, we asked for requests from the congregation and then included them in the service that morning...on the spot! There were many more favorites than we could include in one morning, so be on the lookout for them on one of the upcoming Sundays. We will do the same thing again in July and August. You can also email Geoff with your favorite hymns at [email protected].
One hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” which we included in last week’s worship, seems to be at the top of the list for just about everybody!
The Story Behind…
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Thomas Obadiah Chisolm (1866-1960) had a difficult adult life. His health was so fragile that there were periods of time when he was confined to bed, unable to work. Between bouts of illness he would have to push himself to put in extra hours at various jobs in order to make ends meet.
After becoming a Christian at age 27, Thomas found great comfort in the Scriptures. Lamentations 3:22-23 was one of his favorite scriptures: “It is of the Lord's mercies that we
are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”
While away from home on a missions trip, Thomas often wrote poems in his letters to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician. Runyan found one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided to compose a musical score
to accompany the lyrics. Great is Thy Faithfulness was published in 1923.
For several years ,the hymn got very little recognition, until it was discovered by a Moody Bible Institute (Chicago) professor who loved it so much and requested it sung so often at chapel services, that the song became the unofficial theme song of the college.
Thomas Chisolm died in 1960 at age 94. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 1,200 poems and hymns including O To Be Like Thee and Living for Jesus.
Concert Series a Success!
Thanks to everyone who came out throughout the year and made our first ever concert series a rousing success! From a Halloween organ concert for the whole family to a Brazilian trio making their Chicago debut to the beautiful dancing of our own Amanda Lower and Striding Lion Performance Group, there was something for everyone this year. Through your generous free-will offerings, we were able to meet the costs of our musical guests each time and then gave away almost $900 to Good News Partners, A Just Harvest, the YMCA in Evanston, and Striding Lion’s summer program for kids on the south side of Chicago. Plans are already underway for next year’s series...so stay tuned!
Do You Have a Musical Gift to
Share?
We are looking for musicians (all skill levels) to share their gifts in worship during the months of July and August. If you are interested, please contact Geoff.
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Worship June/July 2015
In the Footsteps of Mark by Geoff Duffy Director of Music Associate Director of Worship
During the Easter season, our lectionary readings were taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans. On one of the Sundays, David read this verse, “To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints…” (Romans 1:7) What was amazing about hearing that verse in worship was that I had just returned from a trip to Rome and Venice a few days before. I thought to myself, I was just walking and praying in places that some of those beloved saints had walked and prayed in when our Christian faith was only beginning.
On one of the evenings in Rome, I went on a food tour through one of the oldest sections of Rome, Trastevere, where I was also staying for the week. We ate...and drank...our way through seven different restaurants and local shops. At one of the locations we drank wine in a wine cellar that had been a synagogue during the time of the early
church. There were Hebrew inscriptions still on the walls and our guide pointed out that the floor we were standing on dated from about 1 BC. I couldn’t help but think whether Paul or Peter had stopped off in this synagogue as they preached their way through the city. Had some of “God’s beloved in Rome” actually gathered here to hear some of the first Christian missionaries tell them about Jesus?
When I wasn’t eating my way through Rome, I was visiting many of the city’s beautiful churches: St. Peter’s was huge; St. John Lateran was ancient; and St. Mary Major was exquisite. But there was one church that really stood out for me. Around the
corner from where I was staying was Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome. In fact, the original building had been built over a house church where Christians had been meeting since at least the early 100’s! One evening I went to Evening Prayer and as we said the Lord’s Prayer (me in English and everyone else in Italian) I couldn’t help but think how many of “God’s beloved in Rome” had prayed this same prayer in this same location over the past 2,000 years.
This summer, we will be hearing stories from the Gospel of Mark in our worship. While the “adult preaching” will be focusing on readings from 2 Corinthians and Ephesians, our children will be learning about Mark during their own special worship time.
Mark had accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, and was also a close companion and friend of the apostle Peter. In fact, many scholars believe that Mark wrote his gospel based on Peter’s own accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. And most scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark was written sometime between 65-75 CE in the city of Rome.
As I teach the Gospel of Mark to our children this summer, I will be thinking about my time in Rome. I will be wondering if Mark had ever prayed in the synagogue where I was drinking wine that evening. Or if his gospel had first been heard in the house now buried underneath Santa Maria in Trastevere. And I will be thinking about how the faith that Peter, Paul and Mark first gave witness to in Rome still inspires “God’s beloved in Winnetka!”
Wine tasting in an ancient
Roman synagogue
Interior of Santa Maria in
Trastevere, Rome
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Rummage Sale Update by Sherri Lewis
We had several objectives for this grand effort; to build Christian community, to see our work as service and mission minded, and of course to generate funds to further serve Gods purposes. Your leadership team is grateful beyond words for how God showered his love and blessing upon this endeavor, helping us succeed on every level. The final total is hovering at $24,000!!! We took delight in seeing our church come together with such spirit and creativity.
A huge thank you to those who along with Sherri, Kathy, and Lynne assumed major tasks with a month of sorting and displaying. First, our dynamic duo Deb Sanders, Rebeca Massey who could and did do almost everything. Sally Christie made linens look easy, Sally Weber, Linda Black, Denise Dellva, Margie McInerney, Donna Powell and Judy McNett were constant, amazing, and made it fun. They were assisted by Robin Scheier, Barbara Scott, Jill Vint, Anya Crama, Leslie Galer, Ro Miller, Madeline Weston, Alexandra Marks, Tracey Colitte, Liz Crowe, Jo Strong, Mary Ellen Miller, Jessica Ortega, Amy Schutz, Jan Hubbard, Allison Farnen, Beth McCormack, Sandy and Tori McCausland, Nancy Logan, Susan Colten, and Virginia Trux.
Special gratitude goes to Nancy and David Holly for leadership with furniture moves. These guys were tireless: Kirk McInerney, Pete Dellva, Kevin Frid, Scott McNair, Bob Lewis, Steve Miller, Tom Eilers, Rob Sanders, Henry Mueller, Bernie McKee, David Carlson, Ray Ortega, Tom Miller, Mike Cornelo and Chad Galer.
Liz Carlson took on the task of scheduling workers for sale day and making that day work so beautifully. Joan Bacon and Kendal Reis brought excellent marketing skills, Karen Tokmakoff created signage that made everything look classy, Mark Weston set up music that kept every day festive, and Robin Wright made sure we were well fed on sale day. We also send a special thank you to David, Chris, and Dina for your creative and always helpful support. Our ultimate success was won by the efforts of each of you and the huge effort
our entire church made on sale day. You extended the love of Christ to all who came through the door and we are grateful, Sherri Lewis, Lynne Frid, and Kathy Fink – Co Chairs.
June/July 2015 Missions
A long line of eager shoppers
wrapped around the parking lot!
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Children June/July 2015
Summer is here and we are excited to begin our new summer Sunday school program. Beginning on May 31, we have some special “Summer Sundays” planned for our children in grades kindergarten through 6 through the summer months. Following the children’s sermon, the children will go with Geoff, our music director, for their own special time of worship. The children will sing, have an interactive object lesson based on the stories of Jesus from the gospel of Mark, and create their own prayers using a variety of models. They will rejoin their families in the sanctuary during the sign of peace.
We are trying something new in the hopes that our Summer worship will be a little more “family friendly,” and we could use your support. Each Sunday, we need a volunteer to go out with Geoff and help with the children . . . no teaching or preparation needed! If you are interested, please contact Nancy Holly at 773-960-8377 or [email protected].
Look for our new Children’s Bulletin in the brown basket outside of the Sanctuary.
Meet Our New
Children’s Ministry Elders
Kendal Reis and Amy Schutz are up and running as our amazing new Children’s Ministry Elders. They have both been in the classroom teaching and guiding and understand all of the aspects of Children’s Ministry at WPC. We are grateful for their dedication, support and care of our children’s program. Thank you Amy and Kendal!
Nursery
Our three nursery classrooms, Little Lambs (birth-early walker), Noah’s Ark (2-3yrs) and Whales Tales (4-5yrs) will continue with their regular Sunday school lessons bringing the children, Bible stories, creative crafts, and lots of fun with their Sunday school classmates!
Little Lambs
Whales Tales Noah’s Ark
Kendal Reis Amy Schutz
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June/July 2015 Youth
With Gratitude for the Ministry of
Adam Walker Cleaveland
We are grateful for Adam's two years of ministry at WPC, which are coming to a close at the end of June. As some of Adam's primary duties come to a close and get handed off, Adam's office hours and work schedule have been modified for the remaining weeks of his service to WPC. Adam will be in the office Tuesday morning and all day Thursday, checking and responding to email during those times.
Additionally, Adam will cover the church's pastoral needs during David's upcoming vacation, June 16-27.
We look forward to celebrating Adam's ministry and service to the church during and after worship on Sunday, June 28th.
David’s Senior High Bible Study June 4 & 11 only, will resume in August, 6-7:30pm in the Atrium
We have begun reading through the Gospel according to Mark, the first of the four gospels, and try to read this gospel account through by June. Hope to see you there!
An important part of this offering's success is being able to provide dinner. Would you be willing to bring dinner one night? If so, you can sign up here , and plan to prepare dinner for 10. Thank you so much!
Florida Youth Mission Trip &
Fundraising Efforts August 1-8, Cedar Kirk Camp, Florida
Those who have gone on mission trips in the past know these are really meaningful experiences to have outside of our North Shore context, so that we can grow in faith and grow the group together.
This summer’s journey will take 15-16 WPC’ers to Cedar Kirk, Florida to work alongside agricultural workers in the area, and help build housing for deserving families.
Would you please consider donating to help cover costs for the trip? Please designate your donation to Florida Mission Trip. If you have any questions please call the office at 847-446-7777.
You can also support the mission trip by coming to the Annual Church Softball Game!
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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
12pm Men’s Group Wilmette Golf Club
2 10am Staff Meeting 7pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm AA Meeting
3 9:30am Women’s Group 10am Bible Study with David
4 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David
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8pm AA Meeting
6 8am Men’s Group
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8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11am Bonus Hour with David
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9 10am Staff Meeting 11:30am Senior Club 7:30pm AA Meeting
10
9:30am Women’s Group 10am Bible Study with David 7:15pm Deacon Mtg
11 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David
12 8pm AA Meeting
13 8am Men’s Group
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8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11am Bonus Hour with David 12:30pm Softball Game
15 4:30pm A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen, East Rogers Park
16 7pm Faith, Hope and Recover, Kenilworth 7pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm AA Meeting
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9:30am Women’s Group
18 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
19 8pm AA Meeting
20 8am Men’s Group
21
8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School
22 6:00pm Gong Mediation
23 7:30pm AA Meeting
24 9:30am Women’s Group
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9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
26 8pm AA Meeting Ukraine Mission Trip
27 8am Men’s Group 4:30pm Tennis Night
28 8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11:00am Adam’s Reception
29 30 10am Staff Meeting 7:30pm AA Meeting
July 1 9:30am Women’s Group
2 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
3 Office Closed 8pm AA Meeting
4 8am Men’s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary
5 9:45am Worship & Sunday School
6 12pm Men’s Group Wilmette Golf Club 4:30pm A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen, East
7 10am Staff Meeting 7pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm AA Meeting
8 9:30am Women’s Group 7pm Mission Team
9 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
10 8pm AA Meeting
11 8am Men’s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary
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9:45am Worship & Sunday School
13 14 10am Staff Meeting 7:30pm AA Meeting 11:30am Senior Club
15 9:30am Women’s Group
16 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
17 8pm AA Meeting
18 8am Men’s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary
19 9:45am Worship & Sunday School
20 21 10am Staff Meeting 7pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm Book Club 7:30pm AA Meeting 7pm Faith, Hope and Recover, Kenilworth
22 9:30am Women’s Group 7pm Session Meeting
23 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
24 8pm AA Meeting
25 8am Men’s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary
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9:45am Worship & Sunday School
27 28 10am Staff Meeting 7:30pm AA Meeting
29 9:30am Women’s Group
30 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma
31 8pm AA Meeting
June/July 2015