MESSENGER JULY, ACTion Packed Summer. Getting Ready to Implement the Strategic Plan Melissa Earley

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1 NORTHBROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MESSENGER JULY, 2013 Getting Ready to Implement the Strategic Plan Melissa Earley For over a year the Strategic Planning Team has been working towards completion of a strategic plan for our congregation for the next three years. Our final draft, including specific strategies, has been mailed or ed to members and participants. It is available at the church office or on the website northbrookumc.org. MISSION STATEMENT At Northbrook United Methodist Church, we live out God s generous welcome to all and love for all creation. We learn from the life and teachings of Jesus how to seek God and serve our neighbors. Through supportive relationships and joyful worship, we experience the love of God. CORE VALUES At Northbrook United Methodist Church, we value Accepting all people whoever they are and wherever they are on their own spiritual path. Children and Youth as important parts of our intergenerational church family. Worship, music and education that nurture our spirits. Reaching beyond ourselves and finding joy in service. VISION STATEMENTS All people in our church develop habits of worship, prayer and learning. We attract and integrate children and youth into the life of our church. We provide intentional support and care to all our members and participants. We invite our neighbors to join us in joyful service and care of the earth. We increase our visibility as we live out our identity as a Reconciling Congregation. Our leaders invite, equip and encourage others to share their gifts of ministry. In order to create this plan, the team: Met with several community leaders. Hosted 10 focus groups in our congregation with approximately 75 people from our congregation attending. Held open meetings for feedback on language specific to the mission statement and core values. Held a brainstorming session on March 9 for the whole congregation. Has received regular feedback and input from the church council. The Strategic Planning team has hosted meetings to hear congregation members responses to the strategic plan. The team will seek an endorsement from the congregation on Sunday July 21 after worship. Please share your thoughts at an information session or by contacting one of the Strategic Planning Team members by July 14 (Chris Greulich, Julie Hakim, Judy Emmert, Bruce Woolman, Margaret Moyer, and Melissa Earley). The Strategic Planning Team will use your responses to perfect the document before the July 21 meeting. ACTion Packed Summer During Sunday morning worship this summer we will explore the stories of the early church and learn what the church was like at the beginning. In many ways the times we live in are more like the context of the early church than they have been since Constantine. We can no longer assume that the world around us is Christian or sees the church as relevant. Fewer and fewer of our neighbors are active in organized religion. We will find inspiration for new ways to be the church. July 7 Acts 7:54-60 The Stoning of Stephen. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith will preach. We will also have a praise band from St. John s UMC. July 14 Blessing of the Animals (see above) July 21 Acts 9:1-26 Conversion of Saul (Paul) July 28 Acts 16:6-10 The Macedonian Vision: Sometimes God changes our plans August 4 Acts 16:16-24 A Slave Girl is Cured and The Disciples Escape from Prison: The Apostles Deal with Oppression August 11 Acts 16:25-40 Conversion of the Jailer Special Guest Band on July 7 Join us for worship on July 7 when the youth praise team from St. John s UMC lead us in music. They have provided musical leadership at events across our district and conference. Annual Conference Report 2 Interesting Articles 2-3 Youth 4 Children 5

2 Report on Annual Conference June 5-7, Alice Lonoff Every year clergy and lay members for the Northern Illinois Conference gather to worship, learn, discuss and pass legislative measures at Annual Conference. I represented NUMC as lay member at the gathering of folks this June in St. Charles. The theme this year was Who is my neighbor? This was the first time our new Bishop, Sally Dyck (pronounced Dick ) presided. She showed grace and humor as she moved us through potential bottlenecks. You can view videos, and see photos and presentations at kitportal.com/knorthic/ ac2013_videos.php Below are some highlights from my experience at the Conference. Break-out Sessions I attended a 2-hour break-out session discussing how a church can be more welcoming to (a) young adults, (b) minorities, and (c) people with physical challenges. We are doing many things right, which was heartening. I learned, though, that just the simple phrase please stand as you are able can be hard for a person in a wheelchair to hear. The wheelchair-bound presenter said but I can rise in my seat!! Isn t it wonderful when a simple thing like that can have a positive impact?! The second break-out session related to a church being a good neighbor in its community. They spoke about going out and asking various organizations how can we help you? I think our Vision Task Force did a lot of that during its discernment process. A challenging question to all of us: Who in Northbrook (besides our church members) would notice if we closed up shop? Ending Malaria Bishop Dyck is making a big push for our Northern Illinois Conference to make a large financial contribution toward the effort to eliminate Malaria. Next Year Election of Delegates for General Conference Every four years United Methodists gather from all over the globe to discuss issues like our Discipline (which is the equivalent to our constitution). The last General Conference was in 2012, and the next one will be in We are now permitted to choose to elect delegates in 2014 (instead of 2015), and we voted this year to do so. Accordingly, next year will be a big deal at Annual Conference as we go through vote after vote to determine who will represent us at General Conference. Next year More Lay Members Going forward there must be equal representation of clergy and lay members. Currently lay members are underrepresented. There is a formula for determining how many NUMC will be entitled to have. Because next year is a big deal (see above), it will be a big deal for us to be sure to send to Annual Conference all lay members to which we are entitled. Legislation There were fewer legislative initiatives, and less time to discuss them than in past years. I liked the resolution, which passed by a wide margin, that was supportive of churches and ministers that perform gay marriages. It has been heartening to me to witness the shift over the years at one time such a resolution would have been the subject of heated debate, even in our generally liberal Conference. This year there was little comment. Call me if you have questions. Pastor Melissa also attended and can provide you with her own insights. She already shared with us some observations from the Bible Study. Thank you giving me the opportunity to attend! Alice Lonoff Hilda s Place Sharon Noha Many thanks to the cooking and serving crew of Colleen Yudell, Mary Pat Kincaid and Linda Nixon for their dinner for Hilda s Place, one of Connections shelters in Evanston. Anyone else that is interested in serving in this capacity, please see me. We d like to sign up again soon! Sermon Study Group Join Pastor Melissa on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 AM at Caribou Coffee to talk about upcoming sermons and debrief that last one (no meeting July 9). Northfield Food Pantry Help out your hungry neighbors by bringing food items to church on Sundays. Each month we collect a different item: July will be pasta and August will be macaroni and cheese. ALL food is greatly appreciated, don t limit yourself to the food of the month.

3 Book Group Summer Calendar Chris Greulich Page 3 All are welcome! We will meet on the 3 rd Wednesday of each month, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in people s homes, and details will follow about who is hosting each month. If you re interested in hosting an evening or leading a discussion, please let Chris Greulich know. fled by the engulfing chaos of the 1960 s, Joe Allston and his wife Ruth have left the coast for a California retreat. A respected American writer and 1972 Pulitzer Prize winner for Angle of Repose, Stegner is also known for his novel Crossing to Safety. August 21 at the home of Carol Lewandowski: Jodi Picoult s Sing You Home (2011). This book explores what it means to be gay in today s world, and how reproduction science has outstripped the legal system. What challenges do samesex couples face when it comes to marriage and adoption? What happens when religion and sexual orientation enter the courtroom? The main character Zoe loses a pregnancy with her husband Max after 10 July 17 at the home of Lona Louis: Wallace Stegner s All the Little Live Things (1967). This short novel showcases many of Stegner s recurring ideas: living consciously in an increasingly unethical environment; suicide as an easy escape from responsibility; and how the choice is not between life and death as much as it is a decision about how you want your life to affect those around you. A brief summary of the story: Scarred by the senseless death of their son and bafyears of trying to get pregnant. The marriage falls apart, but Zoe finds healing by throwing herself into her career as a music therapist. Through her work, she meets a woman with whom she falls in love. Zoe allows herself to think about having a family again, and then remembers there are still frozen embryo s that were never used by herself and Max. Other book ideas for your general reading pleasure: Blame (2009) by Michelle Huneven; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lax (2011) by Rebecca Skloot; for fall NUMC book discussion, The Prophet (2012) by Michael Koryta. Cooking Class Offered for Farmer s Market Shoppers Handy Human Days Saturday, July 21, 9AM to noon & Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 8:30 PM Join others in the church for a morning (or evening) of gardening and other simple fix-it projects around the church. Do you like to play in the dirt? Have you always wanted to learn how to fix a pothole? Do you like keeping your feet on the ground or do you like going up ladders? There is something for everyone. Help weed the memorial garden, fix the pothole in the parking lot, or check the gutters. All ages are welcome. Stay for an hour, stay the whole time. Work supplies will be available, but you ll be glad to have your own trowel (if you re gardening) and work gloves. Please let us know to expect you by contacting the church office at office@northbrookumc.org or calling or signing up on the bulletin board in Penberthy Hall. Do you see all the lovely fruits and vegetables at the farmer s market but don t know what to buy or what to make with it when you get home? Now is your chance to learn. Paige Brooks will offer three cooking classes in which participants will learn how to make a main course, a side dish and dessert from in season offerings at the Northbrook Farmer s Market. The class will be Wednesdays, July 31, August 28 and September 25. Meet at the Northbrook United Methodist Table at 11 AM to shop with Paige and then head to the church to cook. The class (including shopping time) will be about two hours. Participants are asked to give $5 per person to offset the cost of the groceries. To sign up for the class please cont a c t t h e c h u r c h o f f i c e (office@northbrookumc.org or ) or sign up on the bulletin board in Penberthy Hall. Drink Water Save a Life! Participate in The H2O Project! As a part of Playful Praise, our new worship experience, Northbrook UMC is offering the opportunity to participate in The H20 Project, a campaign to raise money to provide clean water around the world. Here s how it works: Choose two weeks during the summer to drink ONLY TAP WATER (no coffee, soda, juices, alcohol, or even bottled water). Keep track of the drinks you would normally drink and save the money you would have spent on these drinks. After two weeks, bring the money to the church to help Northbrook UMC reach its goal of $1000 for charity:water, a nonprofit organization that provides clean drinking water to persons around the world. 100% of donations go to water projects. The goal is to raise $1000! This would provide clean drinking water for 50 people across the globe. You can bring your donations to worship on Sunday mornings, Wednesday Mornings at NUMC's table at the Northbrook Farmer s Market, or Playful Praise on Wednesday Evenings at NUMC. You can also visit my.charitywater.org/playfulpraise to donate online!

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6 Rev. Shannon LeMaster-Smith and her husband, Jonathan LeMaster-Smith On June 21st at 8:30am, Bishop Goodpastor of the Western North Carolina Conference commissioned me as a Provisional Deacon of the United Methodist Church. It was a very moving ceremony as I, along with twenty others, committed our lives to proclaiming the gospel & equipping the church for ministry. Deacons are ordained to Word, Service, Compassion, and Justice. For me that means developing and nurturing communities where people feel loved and accepted and where they can experience the fullness of God s love in such a way that then sends them forth into the world to share that love with others. God s love has transformed my life and has given me peace and joy greater than I could ever imagine. I am so deeply grateful for the love that you all have shown me at Northbrook UMC. I pray God s blessing upon our ministry together as we join together to share God s love with the world. Ongoing Prayer Concerns Claudia Braden is in a lengthy recovery from recent surgery. Nancy Metzler s sister Carol, who is battling cancer. Brian Boyer s mother, diagnosed with cancer. Colleen Yudell s two high school friends, who are ill with cancer. Shannon LeMaster-Smith s grandfather is under the care of hospice in Florida as he has end stage emphysema. Laura Mosteller s friend s father, Wolfgang Brielmaier, brain tumor is shrinking. Debbie Jo McCorkle requests prayers as she is attending to her father and stepmother s health and living situation. IS IT YOU? Are you responsible for collecting the Campbell s Soup labels each month? We want to say how much we appreciate all you do, so give the office a call if it is you! Blessing of the Animals Bring your dog, cat, bird, reptile, rabbit, horse, or other four legged, two legged, feathered or furry beast to church on July 14. We will give thanks for the animals God has given us. We will plan to worship outside. In bad weather we will worship in Penberthy Hall. (Please be sure your animal is appropriately leashed or caged). This is a wonderful service to invite friends and neighbors to.

7 NORTHBROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Seek God Serve Others Support All 1190Western Avenue Northbrook, IL Phone: Fax: Mailing Label Reconciling Worship Service August 25 Please plan to attend our annual celebration of NUMC becoming a Reconciling Congregation that welcomes all into the life of our church, especially our LGBT friends. Our theme this year is Draw the Circle Wide and we plan on having some wonderful music! If you wish to be part of the service, please let Alice Lonoff (alonoff@sprynet.com) know. Please also plan to attend our planning meeting for the service on Monday, July 15. SAVE THE DATE! RUMMAGE SALE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28