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A Word from our Interim Minister By Rev. Greg Skiba

Dear CUCC friends, Here’s a little reflection, as your Pastoral Search Committee (PSC) is diligently receiving, reading, assessing and responding to oodles of profiles (resumes) from pastoral candidates. As this process of discerning the pastoral leader God is sending to you, there is an important and exciting challenge for each of you: “patient and active waiting” through this continuing time of Interim Ministry! Patience is easy enough to understand. But what is “active waiting”? Active waiting includes: mutual encouragement of each other; your openness and courage to face the unknown future; and sincere and persistent prayer for each other, your Search team and for pastoral candidates. There is one more aspect of “active waiting” – perhaps more challenging than earlier phases. That is to prayerfully discern (and prepare yourselves for) possible new leadership roles to which YOU might feel called by God and your church. These are not limited to becoming a “Deacon,” but also include looking at the variety of existing CUCC ministry opportunities, and being creative toward developing new ones! We’ve been working together for 17 months now, reflecting on WHO you are as a congregation, and WHAT God may be calling you to do in future mission and ministries together. So, this is also a great time to review your own inventory of personal “passions,” gifts and skills, to consider where you may be needed to “apply” them for the revitalizing congregational work that lies ahead. In that regard, all your interim-transitional work, as led by Council and Transitional Ministry Team (TMT), has been summarized in your “2022 Vision” statement. This collective sense of your “preferred future” has been distributed within the congregation in various ways for your prayerful review – including during worship over four Sundays in Lent and Easter. Most important, it’s also included in your Church Profile. That means it’s being read by each of your prospective pastoral candidates, telling her or him what you have discerned God is calling you and your new pastor to DO together, over the next four or five years. Being familiar with all of this now, in this time of “active waiting,” will help you engage together more quickly in your JOURNEY of faith into God’s new future for this church. If you are ready, your new pastor will be even more able to help lead you there! In the meantime, your TMT will continue to encourage and assist your “active waiting” by supporting Council and helping the PSC in preparing for a warm and energizing welcome to your new pastor, hopefully within the next few months.

The Newsletter of Congregational United Church of Christ

News from the Pews July / August 2017

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Pastoral Search Committee (PSC) Update

By Drea Gates-Ehlers Greetings from the Pastoral Search Committee! As the weather has grown warmer … or even oppressively hot on some days … please be assured that the Pastoral Search Committee has not checked out or gone on vacation! We are still meeting at least weekly to continue the work with which we have been tasked by the congregation. Now that our church profile (description) has been posted to the UCC website, we have been receiving pastoral profiles from around the country. We are taking the time to read and discuss each one at length and pray for discernment and direction as we move through this next step in the process. We want to make sure that we, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are making the right decision for our congregation. We are confident that God has already sent a message to the pastor that is meant to join us and are hopeful that we will find that person soon! Once the PSC feels that we have discerned who God is sending to us, we will schedule

a Sunday for that pastor to plan a worship service with us and, of course, preach a message. After service that day, we invite everyone to remain for discussion and a congregational vote regarding extending a call to that person to become our settled pastor. Please be watching for announcements regarding this important Sunday! The Pastoral Search Committee thanks you for your continued patience and support. Please keep the prayers coming!!

“Second Sundays" Every second Sunday of the month, CUCC will be collecting non-perishable food donations to be brought to the Lutheran Church of the Cross Food Pantry here in Arlington Heights. Baskets will be set at the altar, and donations may be brought up before, during or after the service. This is a small but important way we can support our neighbors in need. Thank you for all you have given and continue to give!

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Wednesday Night Summer Suppers 2017 6:30 t0 8:00 pm

The following are the meals for the remaining Wednesdays, all prepared by John Messina who does this work with joy.

July 26 Lemon basil chicken risotto/roasted cauliflower/dinner rolls August 23 Pulled pork sandwiches/Mac-n-Cheese/black bean and corn salad September 27 Italian style roasted chicken/tomato basil penne/buttered peas

Southminster Presbyterian supported our site on June 28 and St. Simons will on September 27. Please consider helping us out for the other two Wednesdays by signing up when sign-up sheets appear on the bulletin board. We need volunteers to do the following tasks:

o Set up tables in Fellowship Hall o Sign in guests o Meal Servers o Staff the drink and dessert table o Provide desserts o Provide take-away snacks and bottled water o Clean up

Any questions please contact Linda or Laura Janus. Summer Suppers are funded through CUCC’s OCWM budget. A big thank you to all who support the OCWM budget!

Sign Up for Tower Hill A great and relaxing time is this all-church retreat/campout at the UCC-owned Tower Hill center in Sawyer Michigan (about 2 hours away) on the Lake Michigan shore. This year the retreat is the weekend of July 27-30. If you are a camper, the campground is available for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. If you prefer a more genteel experience, we have rooms available in the Schrag Center for the nights of Friday and Saturday. If I’ve created interest and you have questions, please contact Andy Loeffler 847-924-4521 ARLoeffler@comcast.net or talk to any of the many who have been to Tower Hill in the past.

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July

Birthdays

1 Bernie Dean 2 Bob Onley 3 Cara Ward 6 Barry Blankfield 11 Mary Perry 12 Cindy Pattee 12 Kiersten Peshek 16 Natalie Kilar 17 Lou Guagenti 19 Connie Stewart 19 Marshall Stewart 19 Jon Staley 20 Zachary Klemens 20 Claire Grasse 23 Linda Janus 23 Laura Janus 23 Betty Charles 24 Anne Bagan 26 Niccole Pattee Fairbanks 29 Alyssa Glass 30 Ken Payne

Anniversaries

1 Kent & Meg Ulery 10 Mark & Anne Bagan 19 Josue Aguilera & Sarah Ruthven 22 Sally & Jim Schiavone 23 Michael & Nicolle Grasse 25 Harry & Erna Thiel

If we’ve missed your special day,

please call or email the church office:

847-392-6650 conguccah1@sbcglobal.net

and we will be sure you are added.

August

Birthdays

1 Ken Stewart 3 Bruce Johnson 8 Maxwell Johnson 12 Maddie Loeffler 13 Anne Silet 16 Anna Harris 21 Barb Livermore 27 Maureen Blankfield 29 Dan Pattee 31 Brian Doktorczyk 31 Alina Doktorczyk

Anniversaries

4 Tom & Norreen Klemens 5 Jim & Mary Perry 8 Herb & Linda Best 24 Betty & Roger Charles 25 Bernie & Dee Dean

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Coloring Book Small Group All Ages Are Welcome

The Coloring Book Small Group will not meet in July, but will resume Monday, August 7. Enjoy an evening of meditative coloring! Contact Linda or Laura Janus for more information.

Daytime Book Club Daytime Book Club meets July 3 at 9:45 am (offsite). Read A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline. Book Club will meet next August 7. Call Donna Blankfield or Barbara Goldsworthy in July for the book selection.

Please note: No gift card orders will be taken

in July. Orders will resume in August, with

payment due August 20 and gift card pick up

August 27. Thank you!

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From your Social Justice Deacons, Laura Robinson & Roberta Ward

Zatoun Palestinian Olive Oil Thank you to all who placed an order for a bottle (or three) of olive oil! The order has been placed, and you will be notified when it arrives at church. You’ll be able to pay by check payable to Congregational UCC (please write “olive oil” on the memo line), and it is $20 for each bottle. Stay tuned for delivery info! You can learn more about Zatoun at www.zatoun.com . Palestine Peace Awareness Inc. is a registered non-profit organization. Proceeds are used to directly benefit Palestinian farmers and children living in occupied Palestine and to create awareness for peace in Palestine. The name "Zatoun" could not be registered because the legal name of a non-profit must reflect its purpose. However, Zatoun continues as our trade name because it speaks to people through its Arabic character and direct translation to the word "olive". Zatoun helps to create a context based in ordinary everyday life to view and discuss the situation in Palestine-Israel. No longer is it an abstract geopolitical issue involving power elites and undefined national interest. Farmers are paid fair trade prices through Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA). Also, one dollar of each bottle sold will go to help support Project Hope, an arts and education program for young people in Palestine. An additional amount goes to replant olive trees inside Palestine which have been destroyed by the occupation. Thank you for helping to promote peace!

Heart’s Place Project Update By JoAnn Rapp

At the June 19 Arlington Heights Board of Trustees meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Heart's Place project! After a seven-year effort by various community groups to secure approval for supportive housing , including FIA (6 AH churches, including CUCC, united as Faith in Action), a hallelujah and praise the Lord at long last. The meeting didn't close until 10:20 p.m. It was a bit of a nail biter, though, given the building commission's 4-4 vote (hence no recommendation), plus the one absentee and one recusal triggered a requirement of 6 of the 7 attending trustees with the mayor to vote yes. Good to have staff open with their positive recommendation to proceed. Excellent presentation and Q&A by the developer. Our Lou Guagenti made a great lead man for the "yes" folks under "public comments" (14 speakers, including 3 against). The room was packed with a standing-room-only crowd. Good to have Shirley G. and Carol & Roger Petty there, too. Chalk up a big one for social justice!

Social Justice

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Is There a Burning Bush Moment for Each of Us? By JoAnn Rapp, a creation care nudge

These words spring forth from a June 9th Illinois Conference break-out session titled "Invitation to a Journey: Sustaining Creation" facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Terry Gallagher, chair, Illinois Conference Environmental Justice Committee. Food for thought – upsetting though it may be. In the Exodus 3 story, fire never consumes the burning bush. Not until Moses pauses does he actually realize that the bush is not burning up; only then does he hear God's voice. Are we not also called to slow down, perceive God's holy presence, and be intentional in our relationship with God so as to recognize what we are called to do? Today there is a conspiracy of silence. We know the truth, yet we refuse to talk about the urgency of environmental care. We cannot afford to postpone the conversation any longer.

The rate of DAILY global warming equals the heat of 400,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs. We human beings, consuming at our current rate, will need four earths to survive. Want to be challenged by Rev. Terry's provocative preaching and teaching? Let us come together on Sunday, July 9th when Rev. Terry leads us in worship and joins us for Q & A after worship. His first career as a chemical engineer and plant manager certainly inform his passionate advocacy and call to immediate action to sustain this one Mother Earth our Creator God has entrusted to our care.

Dr. Gallagher’s Bio Rev. Dr. Terry Gallagher is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and graduate of Doctorate of Ministry at the Chicago Theological Seminary with an emphasis in developing a prophetic ministry to actively engage Christians in ethical living rooted in Gospel Values. Terry brings to this prophetic ministry an unusual & diverse background. His life Faith path includes being a member of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and now UCC denominations. He came into the ministry following a 30+ year career as a manufacturing executive. Educated initially as an Engineer/Manager and now as a Pastor/Theologian, Terry brings a unique understanding & perspective to the intersection of Science & Theology that can be of assistance in the decision process of determining the appropriate actions that we, as followers of the Way of Jesus, should make in our individual lives and in our society in response to the Global Warming crisis. Rev. Gallagher’s blog: https://revgallagher.wordpress.com/ On Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user5698657 You can learn about his Sustaining Creation video here: http://sustainingcreation.org/contact/ Or email him here: terrenceggallagher@hotmail.com

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Highlights of the June Meeting, Illinois Conference of the UCC JoAnn Rapp, acting voting delegate to the UCC Illinois Conference

❖ The Rev. Dr. Jorge Morales, Illinois Conference minister, stressed that organizational

success is based on relationship for covenant and that relationship must build from serious commitment. With that in mind, the 2017-2018 Illinois Conference goal is to develop new leadership, especially by engaging children now. We must do better at "giving away the church" in excellence to so many craving Jesus.

❖ To date, $1,295,000 has been received from local churches for OCWM.

❖ The Conference Council and Finance Business and Administration Committee are now

more involved in helping sustain conference camp programs. At least $2,000,000 will be invested to (1) keep camp programs viable; (2) offer leadership training to clergy and lay leaders; (3) develop and support new churches, as well as renewal of existing churches; and (4) staff associate conference ministry, support Justice and Witness Committee, and meet search and call expenses. This three-year (2014-2017) Major Gift Initiative has reached 80% of the stated $2,000,000 goal.

❖ Advocate Health Care donated one million dollars to help renovate Tower Hill Camp. This gift, in addition to the $480,000 raised to purchase the adjacent easement, has enabled the conference to renovate and upgrade the A-frames to make them suitable for families e.g., refrigerators, microwaves, TVs, bathrooms. A few cottages had to be torn down, but new cottages with decks and screened-in porches should be ready for the fall or winter season at the latest.

❖ Community Renewal Society is undergoing major organizational changes to better represent its 90-member congregations. Dr. Sammie Doertsch assumes the position of president July 1. 2018 goals: (1) social and economic justice; (2) police accountability; (3) violence reduction; (4) F.O.R.C.E. program that advocates for and supports individuals with police records to make a successful transition back into the community and family life.

❖ The Great Lakes Region 6 Youth Conference will be held at Elmhurst College on July 5,

2018 under the leadership of the Rev. Kim Whisler-Vasko.

❖ Delegates overwhelmingly voted to endorse the Fox Valley Association's resolution seeking local congregations' initiatives in support of a ban on fossil fuel subsidies and opting for investment in renewable, clean energy sources. Note that the resolution is not a binding mandate to local congregations, but rather strong encouragement to become creation care agents.

❖ In 2018, the Illinois Conference will return to Elmhurst College June 8-9 for its annual

meeting.

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“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.” —Peter Marshall

Please note Office Summer Hours. The office will be closed on Fridays through Labor Day, except for

July 7. The calendar is a living thing. Find the most current one here:

https://73899941.view-events.com/calendar/73899941/month/2017-07-01

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Please note Office Summer Hours. The Office will be closed on Fridays through Labor Day.

The calendar is a living thing. Find the most current one here: https://73899941.view-events.com/calendar/73899941/month/2017-08-01

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Congregational United Church of Christ 1001 West Kirchhoff Road

Arlington Heights, IL 60005-2420 Phone 847-392-6650

Website: www.CongUCC.org Email: conguccah1@sbcglobal.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/conguccah

Sunday Worship at 10:30 am all year ❖ Infant and toddler child care is offered in the Nursery (first floor)

❖ Church School for children (downstairs) (Sept-May) ❖ Reflections for Youth (in the Garden Room, first floor) (Sept-May)

On Communion Sundays, Children & Youth in church

Open and Affirming Statement Adopted June 10, 2007

The Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington Heights, IL, in accordance with our shared value of inclusiveness, declares itself open and affirming. We welcome and accept into the full life and ministry of our church people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We maintain that every person has sacred worth as a unique creation made in the image of God. We believe that human sexuality is a gift from God. We reach out to those who are disenfranchised from the religious community, and we seek growth and understanding as we continue toward inclusiveness.

CUCC Staff & Leadership

Rev. Greg Skiba pastorcucc@sbcglobal.net

Interim Pastor

Norreen Klemens norreen@comcast.net

Organist & Dir. of Choir Chimes

Megan Murray mmurray84@gmail.com

Choir Director

Nancy Pardo conguccah1@sbcglobal.net

Church Secretary & Bookkeeper

Bob Carpenter Moderator Lou Guagenti Co-Moderator Craig Brooks Treasurer Linda Janus Financial Sec’y Ron Hulka Asst. Fin’l Sec’y Sandy Hake Clerk Laura Janus & Pat Harris

Deacons, Spiritual Growth

Bruce Johnson Deacon, Music/Worship/ Spiritual Space

Tom Harris Deacon, Stewardship/ Nominating

Whitney Waters Deacon, Evangelism

Laura Robinson & Roberta Ward

Deacons, Social Justice

Bill Robinson Deacon, Mission Support

Diane Lanigan Deacon, Bldg & Grounds

Cindy & Jeff Pattee Deacons, Hospitality

Sally Schiavone Care Deacon