MAY 2018 BRING PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO ALL THE WORLD JANUARY 2018 MESSENGER NORTHBROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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1 NORTHBROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH JANUARY 2018 MESSENGER I have not been one to make specific New Year resolutions. Rather, it seems I'm always making resolutions in my head. New Year's Day becomes simply another day to make my resolutions. I will often wake up in the morning and remember what I did not do yesterday and resolve to do it today. Maybe, the "trick" of making a New Year resolution that I can remain faithful to is bringing it from only in my head to my heart also. I want to make a resolution this year to write in a journal as often as I am able. I used to journal quite faithfully. I have a shelf in my bookcase filled with journals. My practice disintegrated gradually. I can't tell you exactly when I stopped. It may have had something to do with the development of the practice of writing a weekly sermon, although that I don't want to use that as an excuse. I am able to do both, I believe, both write a weekly sermon and daily or every-other-day journaling. I'm reminded of the gospel phrase we hear quite often in these first weeks of the year: "And Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart." In her book Christianity After Religion, church historian Diana Butler Bass writes: Strange as it may seem in this time of cultural anxiety, economic near collapse, terrorist fear, political violence, environmental crisis, and partisan anger, I believe that the United States (and not only the United States) is caught up in the throes of a spiritual awakening, a period of sustained religious and political transformation during which our ways of seeing the world, understanding ourselves, and expressing faith are being, to borrow a phrase, born again. Indeed, the shifts around religion contribute to the anxiety, even as anxiety gives rise to new sorts of understandings of God and the spiritual life. Fear and confusion signal change. This transformation is what some hope will be a Great Turning toward a global community based on shared human connection, dedicated to the care of our planet, committed to justice and equality, that seeks to raise hundreds of millions from poverty, violence, and oppression.... There is so much to ponder these days, too much maybe, but I want to try this resolution. The time is right. Pastor Sherrie Lowly MAY 2018 BRING PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO ALL THE WORLD

2 UPCOMING DATES OF INTEREST Sunday, January 7: Celebration of the Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12 Sunday, January 14: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday Baptism of the Lord, Mark 1:4-11 Sunday, January 21: 3rd Sunday After the Epiphany Mark 1:14-20 Sunday, January 28: 4th Sunday After the Epiphany Mark 1:21-28 SAVE THE DATE! LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Interested in these auction items? Get your tickets now: Wine Tasting for 4 at Coopers Hawk Renaissance Hotel Shedd Aquarium Chicago White Sox Tickets NUMC Auction Saturday January 27, light-up-the-night/ Cora Lee Candies Concerts at Bienen Chicago Master Singers Chicago Wolves Tickets Ron of Japan Chicago White Sox tickets

3 MOVIE / DISCUSSION Join us for a two-part screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary "13th" at the Northbrook Public Library on successive Tuesday evenings -- January 23rd and 30th, 7-8:30 pm in the Pollak Room on the first floor of the Northbrook Public Library. The movie was directed by the same woman who directed Selma, and it explores the intersection of Race, Justice and Mass Incarceration. There are some violent scenes so parental discretion is advised. The movie ends on a hopeful note, however. Presented by the Library in partnership with RAIN -- Racial Awareness in the Northshore -- an inter-faith group that includes Carol Konvalinka, Ramon Sanchez, Alice Lonoff and Pastor Sherrie Lowly. Registration through the library website is suggested but not required. Contact Alice if you have any questions. alonoff72@gmail.com. Winter Warming Join fellow Reconciling Methodists on Saturday, January 13th at First UMC in Arlington Heights (Melissa's new church) for a day of worship, instruction and fellowship for those of us working toward inclusion of ALL people in the United Methodist Church. The keynote address will be by Reverend M Barclay, a powerful speaker. If you google: Winter Warming 2018 Arlington Heights you will get information about the event and how to register. 11 a.m. - 4 pm. $20 registration fee which includes lunch. Alice Lonoff is going and will be happy to carpool html

4 FOOD PANTRY DONATION The Northfield Food Pantry is asking for coffee, tea and other beverages during the month of January. Please help out those not as fortunate. Please bring all donations to Penberthy. STARTING UP ANEW Small Group Bible Study All are welcome to join, don't let anything get in the way of bringing your self into a good small group community. All of us are searching! First Meeting, The evening of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day, January 15, 7pm Where? The Church Parsonage, 2203 Illinois Rd., Northbrook BOOK CLUB January 17 "Born A Crime" By Trevor Noah, Host TBD The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Trevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison.

5 Martha Circle will meet again on February 8 at 10:00 am in the Library For information or for a ride call Linda Reed at CHOIR Love to sing? Love making new friends? Love being part of a group? Join the church choir. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Please see Shirley Mosteller for more information

6 MLK Service Day Mark your calendars for Monday, Jan. 16 th to join in our 2017 MLK Service Day. We ll have seven projects out in the community and six activities at NUMC. I am looking for volunteers to man a project at the church. All the supplies and instructions will be provided. Let me know if you are interested and available that day from 8:30-10:30 AM. These are all family-friendly projects. Registration is now open on the NUMC Website at Registration / Coffee: 7:45 am Worship Service: 8:00 am NUMC Projects: 8:30 am to 10:30 am Offsite Projects: see below: Free Will offering to cover the cost of food and supplies NUMC projects: All projects from 8:30 to 10:30 am Make and Create: Dog Treats Military Bracelets Placemats for Meals on Wheels Project Linus blankets Love and Peace Project Gift Baskets for Mary Lou s Place Community Art Creation Community Projects: Participate in the following: Bernie s Book Bank, Lake Bluff: 9:15 to 11:30 am The Boulevard, Chicago: 8:30 am to 2:00 pm Wings Warehouse, Elk Grove Village: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Feed My Starving Children, Libertyville: 2:20 pm to 4:30 pm

7 Faith Formation at NUMC: All Ages/ All Church/ Friends Welcome Board Game Night!! January 7, 5-7 pm The Hides family will be hosting a board game night on January 7 th. This evening will be a time to catch up with NUMC friends after the holiday rush and is our family s gift to yours. We ll provide a mac n cheese entrée. Please bring a side dish to share and your favorite board game (we ll bring our collection, too). RSVPs are greatly appreciated!!! January 14 th Faith Formation Classes Resume for PreK-7th: PreK-2 will continue Godly Play with beautiful lessons about the parables of Jesus. 3-5 th grade (and 6 th and 7 th graders who would like to join us) will be preparing to lead worship on February 5 th. Please mark your calendars for that day. We would love to have all the 3-7 th grade students be a part. There may even be a little Moana thrown in. Ready to LAUCNH! Five Minute Faith at Home: Our Faith at Home blog posts have been very helpful for families looking for short, interactive discussion starters and activities to use at home during the week. Over winter break, NUMC will be launching a new Facebook group and list where these blog posts will be shared. This will be open to anyone, anywhere who is seeking to incorporate faith into family life. While there may be other sites geared toward a theologically conservative audience, we will be one of the few groups whose welcome knows no boundaries of race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic reality, education, faith background, family status, physical or mental ability. I ll send you an and invite you to the group when we launch. Please join us! Save the Date! Peace Camp: June 11-16, 9-3 pm Christine@NorthbrookUMC.org to learn more and to be notified when registration opens on February 1. Northbrook UMC is finalizing plans to partner with Little Friends for Peace to offer a camp which empowers children ages 5-11 to become peace makers. Campers cooperate in games, art, storytelling, and more. Little Friends for Peace envisions communities where everyone has the opportunity to experience, learn and practice peace.

8 January 2018: Faith Formation Calendar- Updated December 2017 Winter Calendar updates are highlighted in blue 7 10 a.m. All Ages Worship 5-7 p.m. Board Game Night a.m. Faith Formation for PreK-5th 11:15 a.m. Children and Youth Ministry Meeting re: Lent & Summer NO Youth Group - FINALS 15 8 a.m. MLK Day of Service a.m. Faith Formation for PreK-5th 5-7 p.m. Youth Group End of Finals Celebrate 27 6 Annual Church Auction a.m. Faith Formation for PreK-5th 5-7 p.m. Youth Group February 2018: 4 10 a.m. All Ages Worship 3-7 th grades lead worship No Youth Group Super Bowl Sunday a.m. Faith Formation for PreK-5th 11:00 a.m. Pretzel or Pancake Sunday 5-7 p.m. Youth Group 14 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday a.m. Lent 1- Faith Formation for PreK-5 th, Youth (6-12 th grade) Series 2 Class 5-7 p.m. Youth Group a.m. Lent 2 - Faith Formation for PreK-5 th, Youth (6-12 th grade) Series 2 Class 5:30-7:30 p.m. Youth Group at Glenview UMC Gaga Ball and Gym Games

9 March 2018: 4 10 a.m. Lent 3 -All Ages Worship 5-7 p.m. Parent and Youth Discussion re: Coping with Stress a.m. Faith Formation for PreK-5 th, Youth (6-12 th grade) Series 2 Class 11:15 a.m. Children s and Youth Ministry Meeting re: Summer 5-7 p.m. Youth Group Innovation Lab a.m. Lent 5- Faith Formation for PreK-5 th, Youth (6-12 th grade) Series 2 Class 5-7 p.m. Youth Group a.m. Lent 5- All Ages Worship (Spring Break) No Youth Group (Spring Break) 29 Holy Thursday 30 Good Friday

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11 Northbrook United Methodist Church 1190 Western Avenue Northbrook, IL Phone: Mailing Label