Give Thanks to the Lord

Transcription

1 November 2012 Stewardship 2013 Give Thanks to the Lord Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; His love endures forever. I Chronicles 16:34 In 2013, we will have an opportunity to give support to: Ministry and mission Exciting programs and growth opportunities Inspiring worship and music We give with thanksgiving that our combined efforts support the work of the church and advance the kingdom of God on earth. Commitment Sunday is November 4, 2012, at the 9:00 and 10:30 am worship services. Please plan to bring your commitment card to worship for the dedication of gifts. Join the Celebration Fellowship in the Parlor and Narthex after all services.

2 From the Pastor by Rev. Dr. David L. Horne, Interim Senior Pastor Give Thanks to the Lord is the 2013 Stewardship theme, which is based on I Chronicles 16:34: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; His love endures forever. We are inspired to respond to God s goodness through the stewardship of our lives, time, talent, and treasure. Commitment Sunday is November 4. We will welcome guest preachers in the worship services and enjoy Celebration Fellowship following the services. Rev. Dr. Jan Edmiston will be the guest preacher at finding grace at 9:00 am in the Chapel, and in the Sanctuary at 10:30 am. Dr. Edmiston is the interim associate executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Chicago. Jan is a good friend of our congregation. She has more than twenty-five years of pastoral experience. Her education includes a BA from the University of North Carolina; master of divinity from Andover-Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Centre, Massachusetts; and a doctor of ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She has served as pastor and co-pastor of Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Virginia, pastor at Schaghiticoke Presbyterian Church, Schaghiticoke, New York, and a writer for the Alban Institute and Homiletics magazine. Rev. Dr. Chris Clemmer will be the guest preacher at the 9:00 am Sanctuary service. Chris s wife Cathy, and daughter Eleanore are very involved in our congregation. He is a tenured associate professor at National Louis University, where he is chair of the Department of Counseling and Human Services. Dr. Clemmer s education includes a BA from the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio; master of divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago; master of science in social administration from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; and a doctor of ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago. He has more than thirty years of ministerial experience. Please plan to attend worship on Commitment Sunday and welcome these special preaching guests. Worship News by Amanda Agami New Hymnals The Presbyterian Church (USA) is in the final stages of creating a new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church, due for publication in June At First Pres, our Hymnal Subcommittee of the Worship, Music, and Sacraments Committee of Session is studying the contents of the new hymnal to determine whether this church should purchase it. Session is required to give the final approval. Any interested members and friends of First Pres are invited to study the materials on the PC(USA) website under Hymnal Project, or at and give their opinions to subcommittee members: Mary Helfrich, chair; Roger Anderson; Kelly Dean; Gordon Palmer; and Christopher Urban. The subcommittee will work in close consultation with Director of Music Ministries Alison Vernon. It is anticipated that funding will be made by memorials and honorariums and will occur in early 2013, provided the subcommittee recommends the new hymnal and Session approves. November Worship November 4: All Saints Sunday, Sacrament of Holy Communion, Stewardship Commitment 9:00 am Sanctuary guest preacher: Rev. Dr. Chris Clemmer 9:00 am Chapel & 10:30 am Sanctuary guest preacher: Rev. Dr. Jan Edmiston November 11 9:00 & 10:30 am Sanctuary Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Mark 12:38-44; preaching: David Horne Ruth 9:00 am Chapel preaching: Beth Freese Dammers November 18 9:00 & 10:30 am Sanctuary preaching: Barbara Gorsky 9:00 am Chapel preaching: Beth Freese Dammers November 25: Christ the King Sunday 9:00 & 10:30 am Sanctuary II Samuel 23:1-7, John 18:33-37 preaching: David Horne Last Words 9:00 am Chapel preaching: Barbara Gorsky Vision Statement: Inspired by Christ s love, First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights seeks to welcome and faithfully serve all people and to glorify God through worship, education, and mission. The December 2012 Chimes deadline is November 15, 2012, at 9:00 am. Submit articles to Kris Mainellis, communications coordinator, at krismainellis@fpcah.org. 2

3 Welcome, New Members! Please join in welcoming the newest members of the family of faith at First Presbyterian Church, who were received Sunday, October 14. Frank and Katy DeGeorge joined by reaffirmation of faith. Frank is a general manager and Katy is a web writer. Frank and Katy have a son, Gavin. Elisabeth Wengronowitz joined by reaffirmation of faith. Lissa is the mother of Tyler and Cecily, and she is married to Keith. From the October 8, 2012, meeting: James ( Butch ) and Cathy Konczyk joined by letter of transfer. Butch is a mason contractor and Cathy is a registered nurse. Approved a revision to the Endowment Fund Charter. Alexa Tharp joined by reaffirmation of faith. She is a part-time attorney and the mother of Charlotte. Alexa is married to (member) Brian. Jim and Kathryn Dieringer (not shown) joined by profession of faith (Jim), and letter of transfer (Kathy). Jim is in the wood flooring business and Kathy works in sales support. Jim and Kathy have two children, Hayden and Bode. Session Highlights by Tom Pardo, Clerk of Session Approved the creation of a Grace Worship Team that would support the pastoral and music work in the finding grace service. Approved that an invitation will be sent to the congregations of Southminster Presbyterian Church, The Presbyterian Church of Palatine, and St. John United Church of Christ to participate in the 2013 Seder Educational Family Dinner, which will be held on Wednesday evening, March 20, Learned that the East Parking Lot fence will be replaced and that an application for a permit has been submitted for the resurfacing/repair of the East Parking Lot. Learned that a churchwide Feed My Starving Children service event will be held on May 11, It is hoped that this event will be scheduled three times per year going forward. For additional Session information, please look for the Session Meeting Highlights report in the Narthex literature rack. Thoughts on Serving God Recently during worship, Beth Freese Dammers asked congregation members to send along their thoughts on the following question: What does it mean to be a servant of God? Here are some answers: We try to help others to give our time and talents to help those in need to spread the word of Christ. To willingly stretch myself to do things I am uncomfortable doing and with a smile To visit homebound people in 2013 To want to extend self, regardless of. Adopt a world view. Food for PADS Serving a PADS shift Being a servant to me is putting others ahead of myself both in serving and in being served. To give to and provide for others To be privileged to do God s work: to be honored to receive God s service Willing to be open to hearing God calling us to opportunities for service Doing something because it needs to be done or because it s requested, not for points or recognition (Mary vs. Martha) To care for those in need prayers-deeds-monetary 3

4 Memorial Prayer Garden A Beautiful Space Maintained With Love by Tom Krigas First Presbyterian Church is a special worship place for our congregation. Did you know there is another special and sacred place within the church? That place is the Memorial Prayer Garden, located in the south most of our two enclosed atrium gardens. The prayer garden is special because it is the site of a dignified final resting place for the cremains of the faith community of First Presbyterian Church. Our garden was the result of thought and effort by several people who desired a beautiful burial place close to the church at a reasonable cost. The trustees developed a plan, Session agreed, the village approved, and the Memorial Prayer Garden opened in 1996 using monies donated by several families and friends. At the same time, a brick program was instituted for the garden to honor loved ones or to commemorate a special occasion. Donations received for the bricks are used to help support the Memorial Prayer Garden. The task of planting and maintaining the garden has been done entirely by a host of volunteer gardeners. This year the garden was given an extensive makeover following the design of Cynthia Goldsberry and Marcia Ryerson. The new garden maintains the beauty and solemnity of the place while freeing up space for more burial sites, enough for the foreseeable future. After many years of service, Marcia is retiring. We thank her for her passion and devotion to the garden. Cindy will retire at the end of 2013, and will focus her efforts next year on training new gardeners to take over the work in the garden. Don Ayers, who has assisted Cindy and Marcia, will continue to work in the garden. To learn more about the Memorial Prayer Garden, pick up the brochure, located in the Narthex, or contact one of the pastors or Cindy Koerner, church business administrator. This area of the Memorial Prayer Garden is the main place where ashes will be interred. The Memorial Prayer Garden is a serene place to sit and meditate near lovely potted flowers and greenery, all lovingly maintained by the volunteer gardeners. Cindy Goldsberry (left), Don Ayers, and Marcia Ryerson have worked tirelessly to maintain the beautiful Memorial Prayer Garden. PADS Update by Helen Ross The First Pres PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) site opened on Tuesday, October 2, beginning our twenty-first year of serving people in our community who are homeless. More Help Needed Thank you to all the volunteers who have already signed up. We still have several spots open for shift work and food donations. We are in great need of people to be on the substitute list for all shifts, especially women for the second and third shifts. Our site will be open on Christmas Day and we still need people for all shifts. If we get enough volunteers, we would like to open early that day possibly around 3:00 pm. New: Sign Up Online Volunteers can now sign up online. This new feature is called Volunteer Spot. Visit the PADS page at to view open dates for food donations and shifts and then sign up. Or, send an to pads@fpcah.org. Questions about volunteering? Contact Helen Ross at Thanks for your support. 4

5 What s Coming Up Potluck Dinner & Program with the Trendsetters (adults, 50+) Saturday, November 10, at 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall (one week earlier than the usual Saturday), join Trendsetters for a potluck dinner followed by a program by award winning local artist, Jack Musich, featuring his paintings of both historical and new buildings in Arlington Heights. Bring a main dish, side dish, or appetizer. RSVP: Al and Karen Wilson, PDO Book Sale Sunday, November 25, through Sunday, December 2, Parents Day Out will offer a book sale, located in the Christian Education Wing. Stop by between worship services to purchase fun and educational Christmas gifts for your children or grandchildren. Proceeds will benefit our wonderful PDO program. Book purchases will be delivered prior to Christmas. To learn more about PDO, visit Cancer Prevention Study During the week of November 12, the American Cancer Society, in partnership with Alexian Brothers Health System, Buehler YMCA, and Northwest Community Hospital, will be enrolling participants for a new research study to help scientists gain a better understanding of the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer. Participants must be between the ages of 30 and 65 years and have never been diagnosed with cancer (skin cancer is okay). To learn more and get involved with the Cancer Prevention Study 3, which follows up with participants periodically over years, visit or call Maggie Osborne at Champions (cancer survivors) are also needed to help with this effort. Recycling Opportunities We collect a number of recycled items as part of our Creation Care ministry. Please consider bringing in your empty ink jet printer cartridges, as well as cell phones you no longer use. You can drop them off in the office or in the colorful box you will find located in the Narthex. We return these items to a recycling center that pays us cash for each item. We also collect paper (newspapers, magazines, books, and office papers) in the big green bins in the East Parking Lot. Questions? Please contact Cindy Koerner at or Happy Thanksgiving November 22, 2012 Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 4 Remember to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night, November 3, before bed! Coming in December Christmas Celebration with Prime Time Live (PTL) (adults, 50s, 60s, and 70s) Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 9, following the Christmas Concert at First Pres. Stay tuned for more details. Contact: Sue Henderson, , suhenco@comcast.net Christmas Brunch with Pathways (social/service group for young singles, couples, and families) Sunday, December 9, enjoy a family brunch at the home of Courtney and Garett Childs. Contact: Courtney Childs, cechilds@gmail.com Faith Community Forums Three Tuesdays: October 30, November 6, & November 13 1:30-3:15 pm in the Chapel First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights Faith Community Forums is a series of three-week courses sponsored by the Arlington Heights Ministerial Association. First Pres will host this series. Participants will select one from the following class options: Look What They ve Done to My Hymn, Ma: The Classical Music/Hymn Connection, by Gordon Palmer Faith of the Presidents, by Dr. Joseph Morton Beneath the Surface: A Discussion About Adolescent Culture, by Mike Hatch The Essentials of Writing What s Really Important to You, by Bob Schwarz (two weeks only 11/6 & 11/13) Brochures are available in the Narthex and other places around the building. There is no fee and all are welcome. To register, contact Lisa Math at Child care will be available on request (contact Lisa). Faith Community Forums is an opportunity to meet people with similar interests from throughout the area. Our common bond is to stretch our thinking and enrich our faith. 5

6 First Pres by Alison Vernon, Director of Music Ministries The First Pres music program is off and running at full speed. All of our choirs, including our children s choirs, have sung at least once in worship services. The First Pres Brass and the Handbell Choir have played. We are so rich in music in this church and I am so very thankful as we head into November. This month we look forward to our very own Christopher Urban and Chuck Beech presenting a concert at 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 11, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the installation of the Schantz pipe organ at First Presbyterian. Please invite your friends, neighbors, and relatives to this wonderful musical celebration. These concerts are a great way to introduce people to First Pres. Also, on Wednesday, November 7, at noon, we present organist Leon Nelson in recital. We have lots of great organ music in a beautiful sacred space to look forward to. As always, our choirs are open to people who love to sing. Consider joining us as we prepare for the holidays. As Thanksgiving approaches, I always need to remind myself that Thanksgiving is not a liturgical/church holiday, but then again, it is always appropriate to give thanks to God. So I am especially thankful to be making music with these choirs at a church that loves and supports its music programs so generously. Thank you all and thank you, God. October Music in Worship Sundays in the Sanctuary Traditional Worship, 9:00 & 10:30 am November 4 9:00 am: Chamber Singers 10:30 am: Chancel Choir November 11 9:00 am: Men s Chorus & Handbell Choir 10:30 am: Chancel Choir & Handbell Choir November 18 9:00 & 10:30 am: Chancel Choir & First Pres Brass November 25 9:00 am: Chamber Singers 10:30 am: Chancel Choir Sundays in the Chapel finding grace, 9:00 am Music performed by Compass Upcoming Sunday Concert Series Events Presented at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary The Glory of Christmas Sunday, December 9, 2012 Alliance Brass Sunday, January 13, 2013 The children s choirs and Westminster Youth Chorale came together to sing in worship Sunday, October 7. They sang A Different Drum, by Don Mueller. The kids had fun recounting through this song nearly the entire history of the Bible, from Abraham through Jesus! 28th Annual Organ Fest Sunday, February 10, 2013 Barrington Children s Choir Sunday, March 10, 2013 Spring Choral Concert Sunday, April 21, 2013 Mark your calendars! 6

7 Church Life Sympathy Please join in extending sympathy to: Cheryl Schulz and family, on the death of her mother, Omega Galyon Kelly Dean and family, on the death of her grandfather of Denver, Colorado Donna Holmes and family, on the death of her mother, Agnes Thompson of Florida Chuck Cooper and family, on the death of his mother-in-law, June Griffith Carl Cameron and family, on the death of his father, Richard A. Cameron Kent Walker and family, on the death of his father, Ray Walker Medical Supplies Needed for Dominican Republic The First Pres Dominican Republic Mission Team is collecting medicines for the clinics we will sponsor during the 2013 winter mission trip. A collection bin will be in the Narthex through January to receive donations of the following supplies: Band-Aids; first aid cream; Tums or a similar antacid; adult and children s vitamins; infant, children s, and adult pain medicine; and reading glasses at +1.25, +1.50, and strength. Thank you for your support! Meals on Wheels Ministry Help the community by delivering Meals on Wheels. This year, First Pres volunteers will deliver food to the homebound on weekdays, December The entire activity takes about 1.5 hours. This is a wonderful opportunity for two people to work together and it is a great Christmas present to those who need this assistance. To learn more or sign up, contact Mary Krigas at or Nursery Help Needed Adults (18 years or older) are needed to help Sunday mornings in the church Nursery, especially during the 10:30 am service. Would you please consider this important ministry? Substitutes are also needed. Contact Beth Johnson at bethjohnson@fpcah.org. Celebrating 100 Years The Chapel at First Presbyterian Sunday, October 21, was a wonderful celebration of this remarkable milestone in the life of the church. Here are few snapshots from the fellowship time shared after worship. Fundraiser & Silent Auction by Barbara Gorsky, Interim Associate Pastor Dear friends, one of our own First Pres family members, Dan Tsutsumi, has suffered a traumatic injury to his spinal cord in a freak accident, resulting in significant paralysis of all four extremities. He has a long way to go in his recovery and we want to support him both spiritually and physically in this journey of recovery he is facing. One Wedding Announcement Ron and Bonnie Barczak invite the congregation to attend the wedding of their daughter: Kara Anne Barczak to Ethan Dow Byrd Saturday, December 8, :00 pm First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights Dan served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years; four were active duty, with two years in Iraq. way you can help is to participate in a fundraiser and silent auction that is being coordinated through an organization called Designing for Veterans. The plan is to raise money to support home remodeling that must happen in order for Dan to return home and live as independently as possible. The Fundraiser is set for Friday, November 16, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Durty Nellie s (180 N. Smith Street, Palatine). Please visit forveterans.org for additional information on this important event! 7

8 Building Solomon s Temple A Peek at Sunday Morning Children s Ministries Children ages three years through fifth grade have dedicated the month of October to learning about King Solomon and his building of the temple. While they do not have access to cedar planks or gold leaf, their creative use of cardboard and craft sticks is impressive. Central to the learning rubric of Kingdom Sunday school is hands-on learning that engages all senses and multiple intelligences. This month children have been research scientists studying our own 100-year-old Chapel, used Kate B. and Will H. Drew T. and James J. computers to design a house of worship, and put their acting Tommy C. and building skills into play. Stop by the third floor Joshua R. and Larkin C. of the Christian Education Wing Campbell T. any Sunday to see learning in process! From My Perch on the Fencepost by Janelle Osborne On Speaking Terms With Happiness As the saying goes, If you never learn the language of gratitude, you will never be on speaking terms with happiness. In this month of thanksgiving, we should follow the lead of the Women s Ministries. Growing in Gratitude is the theme of their retreat this month, and it s an appropriate one for us all. Within our church, we have much to be grateful for as we have continued to grow. The hiring of new, wonderfully talented staff members, the completion and updating of our Fellowship Hall and PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) area, and the beautification of the gardens surrounding our church are just a few of the things we ve accomplished. We are thankful for those individuals in our congregation who have devoted their time, treasure, and talents in making these achievements. Beyond our church home, we have much to be thankful for in our own personal lives. Individually we think of all the blessings God has bestowed upon us, and how God, our friends, and our families have contributed to our spiritual growth and happiness. Just as our forefathers came to this country to build new lives based on religious freedoms, others followed and contributed to the well-being we enjoy today. How can we begin to show our gratitude? One way is to lift up the spirits of those around us. God is always at our side to help us do just that. He is our cheerleader. He sent his son to show us how to be compassionate and caring of our fellow man and to be grateful for what we have. For this we should always be thankful. We should be mindful of Psalm 106:1: Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. If we keep those words in mind, then we will always find ways to be grateful to not only God, but also to others who assist in life s journey. Let us show gratitude to those whose acts of kindness make our lives and the lives of others complete. Let us all be on speaking terms with happiness. 8

9 Youth Ministries Thanksgiving Dinner for the Sage and Wise by Bill and Sue Lyon On Sunday, November 18, our high school students will prepare and serve a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. The sage and wise of our church are cordially invited to meet in Fellowship Hall at 5:30 pm to enjoy this wonderful dinner. This is an annual gift from the high school students to the senior citizens. Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can be sure to make enough gravy! Call the church office at Summer Trip Information Meeting by TC Anderson, Director of Youth Ministries It is again time to hear about the summer trips! The informational meeting for high school summer trips and the middle school summer trip will be on November 18 right after church. The middle school meeting will be at 11:30 am, and the high school meeting will be at 12:30 pm. Both meetings will be held in the Chapel. Both youth and parents or guardians are encouraged to come. Please come and learn about the opportunities this summer for amazing experiences and service. Confirmation News New Bibles The following confirmands received a new Bible on Sunday, October 14, during worship. The students received the Common English Bible (CEB), a new translation of the Bible that incorporates common English. Confirmands and third graders received their Bibles in worship either in the Chapel (shown) or Sanctuary. Lauren Anfenson Autumn M. Ashe Jack Churchill Hannah Elizabeth Haeberle Joshua Scott Hellyer Lara Catherine Mitchell Lahey Jack Harris Martin Bryant Jason Morrow Jack Rasmussen John Anthony Treppa Katherine Jean Wills Sign Up for Youth Basketball There is still time to sign up for youth basketball. There will be teams for girls from fifth grade through eighth grade and boys from fifth grade through high school. Contact Bill Lyon at sbtalyon@comcast.net. This is a program for all ability levels and is especially good for first time players. All are welcome. Advent Devotionals by Trip Kinzie Advent is a special time of preparation for all Christians as we ready ourselves for the birth of the Christ child. This year, youth and adults from the Youth Ministries programs invite you to receive our gift of an Advent devotional book. Our gift to you is inspired by our writings and our reflections on God s Word and the meanings of Advent. Prepare your hearts, explore your faith, and bear witness to the mystery and the magic of this holy time. Advent devotional books will be available in the Narthex on Sunday, November 25. 9

10 Adult Education First Forum Update To what extent do a leader s private religious views influence his or her public actions? The final fall First Forum class is Religious Views of Presidents, presented by Dr. Joseph Morton on Sundays October 28 through November 18, from 10:30 to 11:30 am in the Chapel. Come and learn about past presidents personal lives in order to gain a better understanding of the nation s political, social, economic, and cultural history over which they presided. Visit the Adult Education page at to learn more or check out the First Forum fall brochure. Greg Athnos Lecture Series You are invited to attend a series of Wednesday evening lectures by Greg Athnos at The Moorings (811 W. Central Road, Arlington Heights). This popular series by the retired professor of music from North Park University welcomes members of First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights and Moorings residents. The lectures will begin at 7:00 pm in the Harbor Room in the Mid- Rise building. Topics will include: November 7: The Music of Frederic Chopin, the Intimate Romantic November 14: Poland, 1989: The Soviets Fall (Greg s personal experience while touring with the North Park University Choir during the elections that started the downfall of the Soviet Union) November 28: Handel s Messiah, the Work You Thought You Knew (Part I) December 5: Handel s Messiah, the Work You Thought You Knew (Part II) You are cordially invited to attend any or all of the sessions. If you have any questions, please call Cathy Dillon at Presbyterian Women by Denise Poy Thanksgiving Baskets During the month of November, Presbyterian Women (PW) will collect nonperishable food items for families served by Christopher House (Chicago), Firman Community Services (Chicago), and Faith Community Homes (Arlington Heights). Please deposit healthy food items into the containers labeled Presbyterian Women in the Narthex. Lighter, boxed items are preferred to cans. They are easier to carry on public transportation. Christopher House ( topherhouse.org) offers educational and supportive services for at-risk and low-income children, youth, and families. Firman Community Services ( is a multifaceted human service agency that offers support for at-risk children and families. Faith Community Homes (www. fchomes.org) serves local families in need with housing assistance, mentoring support, financial guidance, counseling, education, employment, and child and family enrichment. Christopher House Holiday Bazaar The annual Holiday Bazaar at Christopher House will take place Friday, December 14. Presbyterian Women will welcome the donation of new and like-new items to be purchased by Christopher House clients at low prices. Suggested items include toys, gloves, scarves, colognes, packaged gift items, baby clothes, jewelry, glassware, and kitchen items. Please deliver these items to the church office, marked For Christopher House, by Tuesday, December 11. Christopher House Family to Family Program On November 11 and 18, please stop by the PW table in the Narthex between worship services to sign up for this program, which serves more than 350 families. Donors buy gifts and other essentials to meet the needs of families and ensure a special holiday season. Please consider participating individually, as a family, or together with friends. Christopher House serves more than 4,000 families at six sites, helping parents and at-risk children from birth to age 18. For more information on any of these PW activities, please contact Denise Poy at

11 Children s Ministries Inspiring Stewards, Sharing Gifts by Monica Sparreo and Michele Holifield Being good stewards of everything God has blessed us with is important no matter what our age. This year, our Kingdom and Preschool Sunday School children are learning firsthand what stewardship means by having the opportunity to share their time, talents, and treasures throughout the year. Our Children s Stewardship and Mission program is intended to foster a sense of compassion and responsibility in each child, providing a variety of ways for them to express their thanks to God and allowing them to join together in mission projects that benefit the local, national, and global communities. At the start of the year, every child received offering envelopes, and bringing our gifts to the Mountaintop has become an important part of Kingdom. We talk about how, in addition to our offerings, we can donate our time and talents to help those around us and demonstrate our love for God. November 4 will be our first Children s Mission Sunday. During Kingdom meeting time, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, children will participate in stewardship projects that will brighten the lives of many in our church community and assist the Presbytery of Chicago with its mission work. Four stations will give our young stewards the opportunity to: (1) use their artistic talents to make Thanksgiving cards for First Presbyterian members who are not able to come to church for health or other reasons; (2) assemble hygiene kits that will be donated to the Chicago Presbytery s Hygiene Kit Harvest for disaster relief; (3) take a tour of our PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) site and learn how the program serves people in our local community; and (4) hear how stewardship of all types makes a positive impact on the lives of others. This unique, hands-on experience will allow our children to put into practice the important lessons we reinforce each week. If you would like to support our efforts by donating items for the hygiene kits, please drop them in the collection baskets in the Narthex or the Christian Education Office by November 4. We are in need of new hand towels (approximately 16 x 28 in size); washcloths; wide-tooth combs; nail clippers; bars of soap (in wrapper); toothbrushes; and standard size Band-Aids. Thank you in advance for your support of the Children s Stewardship and Mission program. Third Grade Bibles The following third graders received a new Bible on Sunday, October 14, in worship: Elise Anfenson Kate Armsey Elizabeth Margaret Bay Alex Warren Beihoffer Sean Thomas Beihoffer Caitlin Mary Blair Leah Desserich Ana Vivian Downing Lane Gerber Kathryn Greenbury Annabelle Hilder Jack Tyler Ingemunson Alec Kinzie Mollie Jane Lumsden Katelyn Jean Mahalek Kelly Lynn Marr Get Involved in the Christmas Pageant by Lynda Gaug, Director of Children s Ministries Once again, the Christmas Pageant will be presented at the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve service with narrators, actors and actresses, and choirs from preschool age to fifth grade. Sign-up for both nonspeaking and speaking roles will be in the Kingdom hallway Sundays November 18 and 25 and December 2. Preschool age children will dress as animals at the manger, so save your Halloween animal costumes. There is a mandatory rehearsal Saturday, December 22, at 9:00 am. Please mark your calendars now. We want this to be a meaningful worship experience for all involved. Questions? Contact Lynda Gaug. Brianna Marie Michalczyk Jacob Matthew Park Ethan John Rossi Matthew Jack Ruzanski Lily Sanger Adam Mark Stanhope Colin Frank Stanhope Adele Julianne Vincent Carter James Wachtel Katelyn Elizabeth Wagner Samuel Ryan Walker William Frederick Wascher Emma Campbell Zientara Both the third graders and eighth grade confirmands received the Common English Bible (CEB), a new translation of the Bible that is in contemporary language meaningful to all generations. The children s version of the CEB, called the Deep Blue Kids Bible, has many special features to help make reading and learning the messages of the Bible easier. 11

12 The First Presbyterian Church 302 N. Dunton Avenue Arlington Heights, IL Phone: Fax: / mail@fpcah.org Thanksgiving Dinner for the Sage and Wise A Gift from the High School Youth to the Senior Citizens of First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights Contact the church office to RSVP: or mail@fpcah.org Sunday, November 18 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall