UNITED BY FAITH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. A Reconciling in Christ Congregation

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1 UNITED BY FAITH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Voices of Faith FEBRUARY 2017 A Reconciling in Christ Congregation Pastor s Message -- Happy February, UBF! If you walk into any store anywhere this time of year (it actually started right after Christmas, I think!), you ll see stuff about Valentine s Day. Candy and hearts are everywhere. Romantic music is usually playing in the background. But how did we start celebrating Valentine s Day? Here s a secret it was originally a Christian holiday. There were several famous Italian priests named Valentine in the early days of the Church, so it s not clear which one we actually commemorate on that day. Whichever one it was, we know that he was convicted of presiding at weddings for Christian couples in the era when Christianity was illegal, and was executed for it on February 14. His relics are still housed at a church in Rome, and you can see them if you ever go there. Beyond that and that he was a Roman citizen, we really don t know much about him. A later Roman bishop said that Valentine is one of the saints about which we know next to nothing except that they were there, and the Church would not have become what it has without them. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Put This on Your Calendar UBF Phone Tree 2 In our Prayers 3 Homebound/Retirement 3 February Birthdays 3 Welcome, Wanda 4 WELCA Fudge Sale 5 Time Change 5 St. Olaf Choir 6 Pastor Carl s 1st Anniversary Lutheran Social Services Maybe Valentine would have been a member of UBF, were he alive today. We re a collection of people about whom the world doesn t think very much, especially since there are so few of us. We work to take care of the earth, nurture children in the daycare, and keep our buildings and operations intact and running. A thousand years from now, will anybody remember much about us? Nobody, except for God. But that s who remembered Valentine, and who will remember us forever. That s really all that matters. Grace and peace, Pr. Carl

2 Voices of Faith Page 2 February 5, 2017 Pastor Carl s 1-year Anniversary of His Installation (Feb. 7, 2016) February 11, :00 a.m. Make Fudge in HFT Kitchen / Drop off Fudge February 12, 2017 WELCA Fudge Sale Before and After Church April 1, 2017 World Hunger Spaghetti Dinner April 28 30, 2017 New Moon Opera Company (Eric Carlson accompanist) Time and Place TBD UBF PHONE TREE If you receive a phone call from on your cell phone, it is a phone tree message from United By Faith. Please accept the call, say hello and let the message begin to play. The message will disconnect and the phone tree will call you back several times, if you do not say hello after you accept the call.

3 Voices of Faith Page 3 In Our Prayers Lord, we pray for those who suffer, be it suffering of body, mind or soul. Make known to us your boundless grace, mercy and healing. Pat, Rich, Bud, Ron, Carol Ann, Sharen, Tim, Marilyn, Eric, Dan, Robert, Kevin, Tammy, James, Gerry Long, the Bodenstab Family, The Wenner Family, Feliciti, Debra, George, Sue, Samantha, Kelly, Amanda, Linda, Jeanne, Bill, and Caitlin and Julia Janiszewski. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Concha and Eli Reynoso. Homebound If you know of someone who has been hospitalized or admitted to a nursing home or rehabilitation center, please get permission from the person before sharing the information with the church office. Mary Bach Birthday: December S. Keating Avenue, #304, Oak Lawn, IL Phone LaVerne Piecuch Birthday: September 27 Smith Crossing, Emilie Lane, Unit G7, Orland Park, IL Phone Sally Cheatle Birthday: September 16 Lutheran Home for the Aged, 800 W. Oakton St., Arlington Hts, IL Retirement Home Grace Larsen Birthday: June 21 Smith Village, 2320 W. 113th Place, Apt 3327, Chicago, IL Phone February Birthdays United By Faith Haven For Tots 02/07 Leslie Riesland 02/07 Miss Star 02/08 Easton Neal 02/13 Miss Kaitlyn 02/16 Miss Sandy 02/23 Liam Terrell 02/25 Echo Theroux 02/26 Monroe Jordan 02/27 Samiya Razaaq

4 V oi ces of Fai th P age 4 WANDA JACKSON S AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM United By Faith welcomed its newest member, Wanda Jackson, on Sunday, January 15, Wanda has been a regular visitor at United By Faith s services, and it is a privilege to have Wanda join UBF s congregation as a full member. WELCOME TO UBF, WANDA!

5 Voices of Faith Page 5 WELCA FUDGE / SWEET TREAT SALE Sunday, February 12, 2017 (before and after church) Show the ladies your support by buying fudge and/ or making a donated treat. The ladies will be making fudge at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 11 in the HFT kitchen, if you would like to join them. If you prefer to make fudge/treats at home, please drop them off in the kitchen at 9:00 a.m. on February 11. Contact Cheryl for further details. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME...Keep in mind Daylight Saving Time begins March 12. Be sure to turn your clocks ahead one hour before retiring March 11.

6 Voices of Faith Page 6 THE ST. OLAF CHOIR Anton, Armstrong, Conductor Thursday, February 9, :30 p.m. Fourth Presbyterian Church 126 East Chestnut Street Chicago, IL stolaf.edu/tickets $40.00 adults, $10 students CONGRATULATIONS, PASTOR CARL February 7th is the 1-year anniversary of Pastor Carl s installation. The congregation of United By Faith hopes to celebrate many, many anniversaries with Pastor Carl. Best wishes, Pastor Carl, and WELCOME TO UBF!

7 Voices of Faith Page 7 January 18, 2017 United by Faith Lutheran Church 3240 W. 98th St. Evergreen Park, IL Dear Congregation, Happy New Year! Thank you for your generosity this past holiday in making the season so much brighter for the families that we serve. Because of your compassion, over 1,000 children and their families received gifts, coats and/or winter boots this Christmas. The response from churches and businesses was overwhelming. These families wouldn t have been able to provide such items for their children if it had not been for you. We know that at this time of year the need is great, and we also know that there are many places for you to give. That is why we are thankful that you chose to partner with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois; this small act of kindness has made a long lasting impact, not only to our clients but on the staff as well. Sincerely, Joy Medrano Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

8 United By Faith 3240 West 98th Street Evergreen Park, IL Rev. Carl Rabbe, Pastor web: unitedbyfaith.org SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Worship time 9:30 am Haven For Tots A daycare ministry of United By Faith havenfortots@sbcglobal.net web: havenfortots.org Deadline for the February issue of Voices of Faith is February 19, 2017 MISSION STATEMENT To be faithful disciples of Christ for all BY PROVIDING A PLACE OF HAVENAND HEALING AND CELEBRATING GOD S CREATION THROUGH THE ARTS A Reconciling in Christ Congregation Follow us