Glad Tidings: Christ Is Born!

Transcription

1 December 2013 / January 2014 Glad Tidings: Christ Is Born! Prepare for Christ The 2013 Advent Devotional is available in the Narthex literature rack and other places around the building. Take one for your family and share in the daily reflections written by youth and adults involved in youth ministries. May their thoughts and prayers inspire you during this time of waiting and preparation. You can also access the devotional online, on the Worship page at Advent for Families is a class to help you incorporate Advent preparations into your family s Christmas traditions. Class meets three Sundays December 1, 8, and 15, from 9:45 to 10:45 am in Room 101/103. See page 11. Service opportunities abound as we take time during this busy season to serve others in Christ s name. See inside to learn more about helping with the First Pres PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) ministry, the South Dakota Mission Coat Drive, the Heifer Living Gift Market, and more. Celebrate Christ The Glory of Christmas Concert On Sunday, December 8, at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary, The Chancel Choir, Chamber Singers, and orchestra will provide a concert of seasonal favorites to celebrate the birth of the Messiah. Audience participation is encouraged as we raise our voices in singing familiar carols of the season. Come early to get a seat! Child care will be available. The concert will also be webcast for live or later viewing. Christmas Tea Presbyterian Women will hold its annual Christmas Tea on Wednesday, December 11 at 1:00 pm in the Parlor. Turn to page 3. Family Christmas Caroling All are invited to brighten the Christmas season for homebound members and friends (page 11). Christmas Worship Wednesday, December 18 Service of Healing and Comfort 7:00 pm in the Chapel Child care will be available. Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Family Christmas Pageant and Worship Overflow seating in the Chapel with simulcast on the big screen 8:00 pm Christmas Worship Music by The Chancel Choir 11:00 pm Christmas Worship with Holy Communion With participation by college-age young adults All Christmas Eve services will feature special music and candlelight. The services at 4:00 and 8:00 pm will be webcast at The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5 Merry Christmas!

2 From the Pastor The World Order by Rev. Alex Lang The recent devastation by the typhoon in the Philippines left me with some disquieting thoughts concerning my place in the world order. We are all aware on some level that no one chooses to be born into poverty and neither does anyone choose to be born into a life of wealth and opulence. Yet, we are all given our station in life and common wisdom tells us that we must make the best of what God has given us. Many of us, the majority of us, are born into poverty. Fifty-three percent of the world population lives on less than two dollars a day and, even when we take into account cost-of-living differences, 50 percent live in poverty. You and I happen to live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I often fail to reflect on how extremely fortunate I am in this regard. Only 4.5% of the world population lives in the United States. The chances of you being born in the United States are congruent with the same odds that sports analysts give the Jacksonville Jaguars to win the NFL championship this year. In other words, the odds of being born in America are not very good. If you happen to be one of the few lucky people born here, the opportunities available to you can barely In the Philippines, it is rare for people to move beyond their station in life because the building blocks for such a dream to become a reality do not exist. be imagined by the majority of the world population. I m not talking about the American dream of gaining wealth and material possession. Rather, I am talking about something much more basic. Even the vast majority of the poorest in our country are wealthy by comparison with populations in the developing world. Accessible food, health care, and education for most are the basic building blocks that fundamentally undergird our belief that, in America, the potential exists for almost anyone to move beyond the station into which he or she was born. In the Philippines, it is Continued on page 3 Session Highlights by Tom Pardo, Clerk of Session From the November 11, 2013, meeting: Approved, via an vote, the formation of a selection committee to identify church members who wish to serve on an Associate Pastors Nominating Committee (APNC). Members of the selection committee include Chris Conroy, Aaron Mikulsky, Tom Munz, and Bonnie Schaap. Received a positive review of the how the Endowment Fund is managed from Capin Crouse, an accounting firm that specializes in nonprofit organizations, particularly churches. Approved the purchase of 152 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) pew Bibles. The Bibles will be offered for purchase at $10 each and the congregation will be invited to purchase Bibles in honor of or in remembrance of someone. Approved the use of the name Heritage to identify the 11:00 am traditional worship service. Learned that due to a change in customs procedures in the Dominican Republic, in the future, the mission team will carry less over-the-counter medication with them in their luggage. They will instead ask the congregation for funds to purchase medicine in the Dominican Republic. Received a first reading of changes being proposed for the Administration and Personnel and Planning and Coordination Committees. Changes include a proposed renaming of these committees to the Personnel Committee and the Finance and Administration Committee, respectively. For additional Session information, please look for the Session Meeting Highlights report in the Narthex literature rack. The deadline for the February 2014 issue of The Chimes is January 15 at 9:00 am. Submit articles to Kris Mainellis, director of communications, at krismainellis@fpcah.org. 2

3 From the Pastor ( The World Order, continued from page 2) rare for people to move beyond their station in life because the building blocks for such a dream to become a reality do not exist. The Philippines is an island nation where 27.9 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty and a good proportion hover right above that mark. This means that only a small segment of the population can afford modern housing with amenities. The majority of people live in houses constructed of bamboo with thatched roofs. In the last few years, the government of the Philippines has made a push to drop poverty levels to 16.6 percent by However, now that the typhoon has literally flattened the Philippine Islands, destroying much of the infrastructure the government had implemented to promote growth, it is very likely that the poverty rate will skyrocket. The government had many people participating in the Philippines Development Plan (PDP). PDP was designed to address the systemic causes of poverty through education, employment, and infrastructure growth. Sadly, even those who were part of this program, having been provided with an education and marketable skills, will have almost no opportunity to find gainful employment, thanks to the typhoon. We are taught in America to believe that if you simply put forth your best effort and strive to reach your potential, you will have the opportunity to live a decent and modest life. In the Philippines, such wisdom is laughable. Prior to the typhoon, striving to reach your potential for the average Filipino, even in the best circumstances, meant living only one step above abject poverty. Now that this economically precarious country has been leveled by one of the worst natural disasters in a century, we must question the common wisdom that we are all given our station in life from which we must make the best of what God has given us. just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40 Presbyterian Women s Christmas Tea Wednesday, December 11 1:00 pm in the Parlor All women are invited to celebrate the season with a time of fellowship at our annual Christmas Tea. A lovely program of music will follow in the Narthex, where we will welcome the Midnight Blues Jazz Choir of Palatine High School under the direction of Steven Sivak. Midnight Blues is an auditioned group extracted from Palatine High School s Concert Choir. Its members are the ambassadors of Palatine High School, singing for private parties and functions inside and outside of the Palatine community. They have most recently performed on the Channel 2 Morning Show (Christmas Eve, 2009), at the White House (Christmas 2009 and 2012), and for Chicago Cubs home games. They have been featured in Concert Choir tours to London, Hawaii, Disney World, and on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. We hope you will take time out of your busy holiday schedule to enjoy fellowship of the season and a fantastic musical experience. Please make reservations with Ruth Burkholder at or ruthbc@prodigy.net. I think on an individual level we are willing to accept that each person needs to make the best of his or her situation. However, this logic falls apart when the systemic pressures on an entire population prevent them from realizing their potential. These people, because of circumstances that are well beyond their control, cannot make the best of what God has given them. They are simply surviving. The odds of being born in the Philippines are only 1 in 735, much lower than the odds of being born in the United States. Indeed, some might be inclined to call these people unlucky. Jesus calls these people first in the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that when we serve the poor we serve him by extension. Jesus says And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. I would like you to take a moment and consider who Jesus assumes his family is in this verse. If you ask me, the members of Jesus family are the people of the Philippines and we are here to serve. Please give generously to the Philippines disaster relief effort. Visit to donate. 3

4 Special Appeal Supports Mission by Tom Carroll The One in Heart and Mind Special Appeal ended July 4, 2013, and raised more than $360,000 for various projects within and outside the church. The Special Appeal made it possible to upgrade our church home and grow our ministry and outreach in areas that reflect our congregation s love for our home (building and facilities), our future (ministries), and our heart (mission). A total of $20,000 raised was designated for mission, and donations were recently presented to the following organizations: Pathway Development Institute (PDI) (local), The Night Ministry (regional), and Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) (international). Pathway Development Institute ($10,000) PDI is a 501(c)2 notfor-profit housing agency located in Feed My Starving Children All-Ages Packing Event by Nancy Lincoln First Pres is a very generous congregation and it is never more evident than at Christmastime. The Mission Committee is pleased to offer you a Happy New Year experience. On Saturday, January 11, 2014, we have 90 slots available to pack food at the Schaumburg facility of Feed My Starving Children during the 4:30-6:30 pm shift. All are welcome, from age 5 and up. The event will be a great opportunity to help others and enjoy fellowship with friends, old and new. Come as one, or come as a family, or come as a group. The Bridge has participated together, as have Just Friends. The approach is simple; children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and we ship these meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. (fmsc.org) Clockwise from top left: Representatives from the Night Ministry, Feed My Starving Children, and Pathway Development Institute are grateful to receive our generous contributions for their important ministries. the northwest suburbs of Cook County, Illinois. It was formed in 2006 and owns two apartment homes and rents exclusively to people who were once homeless and are currently served by Journeys: The Road Home. This one-time donation to PDI was designated and used to subsidize rent for families in need. We help Feed My Starving Children make a difference. Our congregation s gift from the Special Appeal (see article on this page) funded 22,727 meals enough to feed 62 children for a year! FMSC has already distributed 500,000 meals in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. We can help feed even more people. Participate in our packing event and pray over the food with your First Pres family. Sign up at fmsc.org (our group: FPCAH ) or look for members of the Mission Committee (Narthex and Forum) on Sunday, December 8. Contacts: Tom Carroll (tcarroll60@aol.com), Nancy Lincoln (nancyblincoln@att.net), Candy Meier and Carrie Mikulsky (born2stylize@yahoo.com). The Night Ministry ($5,000) The Night Ministry was created in 1976 in the Lakeview and Lincoln Park communities. It reaches out to people on the street. The streets of Chicago are its parish and its ministers are present in that community, visible to those in need. They seek to break the cycle of abandonment and mistrust felt by those on the nighttime streets. They reach 1,500 persons a month with services including health outreach and education, pastoral care, and youth emergency shelter. This is a onetime donation. Feed My Starving Children ($5,000) FMSC is a Christian nonprofit hunger-relief organization, founded in FMSC developed a food mixture to address the needs of children suffering from malnourishment. The food is packaged by volunteers, but the food product must be purchased. FMSC partners with Christian and humanitarian relief organizations around the world to deliver the food. This is a one-time donation. On behalf of these organizations and the Mission and Outreach Committee, thank you for your generosity and support of mission outreach. 4

5 What s Coming Up Noon Recital December 4 / 12:10 pm Join Michael Gagne, minister of music at Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, for a dazzling organ recital of Christmas favorites in the First Pres Sanctuary. Can t make it in person? Check out the webcast at fpcah.org/webcast Mission Trip Dates The Dominican Republic Mission Trip will take place January 31 February 8. The South Dakota Mission Trip will take place June Mark your calendars and plan to get involved! Prime Time Live (PTL) Christmas Party Sunday, December 8 / 5:30 pm Join PTL (adults 50+) after the First Pres Christmas Concert at the home of Jim and Sue Henderson (731 N. Dryden Ave., Arlington Heights). Co-hosts are Bill and Liz Thompson. RSVP & indicate what you will bring: Sue, , or Liz, Trendsetters Christmas Party Saturday, December 14 / noon Join the Trendsetters (adults 50+) at The Moorings (811 E. Central Rd., Arlington Heights) for dinner and a white elephant gift exchange. Seating is limited and reservations are required. RSVP by December 9: Edie Jolly, ; Billie Kresge, ; or Matt and Lois Meisterheim, (after 12/1). The Bridge Christmas Party Saturday, December 14 / 7:00 pm Join The Bridge (adults 30s, 40s, & 50+) at the home of Kate & Kirk Ingemunson (123 S. Kaspar, Arlington Heights). Bring an appetizer to share; $5 per person for the beverage fund; and an unwrapped toy, to be delivered to the Wheeling Township Toy Drive. RSVP by December 12: Kate Ingemunson, kate.ingemunson@gmail.com or Collecting Leftover Christmas Cards The deacons Prison Ministry is once again collecting extra Christmas cards. These cards will be used next year for the deacons card ministry to Stateville Prison in Joliet, Illinois. During the month of December, please place your extra, unused cards and envelopes in the marked box in the Narthex. Contact: Denise Poy, Gift Wrappers Wanted Do you like to wrap presents and have a good time doing it? WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) is requesting volunteers to wrap gifts on Saturday, December 14 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, in Safe Sanctuary On November 11, Session approved changing the name of the program known as Child Protection to Safe Sanctuary. The reason for this change is that our policy is intended to reduce the risk of child abuse and sexual misconduct not only for the children and youth of our church, but also for their families, our church workers, church leaders, and the church community. Many other churches have already adopted this change, to reflect the broader scope of the policy. Questions? Contact Bonnie Schaap at bonaap@gmail.com. It s a Pasta Party! Sunday, January 5 Noon in Fellowship Hall Come to the CollegeCARE Ministries Pasta Party Fundraiser! Proceeds will support the college age Boundary Waters canoe trip next summer. Thank you, and enjoy! Mount Prospect. You do not need to bring anything, just helping hands. For directions and to sign up, contact Lynn Eischen at or leteddybear@gmail.com. Aluminum Can Drive Saturday, January 25, :00-11:00 am Bring your aluminum cans to the church s East Parking Lot. Proceeds benefit charities supported by the Men s Bible Study. Contact Stan Conning to recycle copper items. Your cans make the difference. Contacts: Stan and Nancy Conning, Per Capita Apportionment Each year, every Presbyterian church is apportioned a share of the ecclesiastical expenses of the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly. These are the activities that make us Presbyterian. This apportionment is based on church membership. In 2014, this apportionment is $31.18 per member. Funds you designate for the apportionment will free up our General Fund dollars to be used in supporting the overall work and mission of our congregation. Please consider contributing your share of the Per Capita Apportionment. An Initial Offering Envelope for this purpose has been included with your weekly offering envelopes. If you do not receive envelopes, please use one of the Per Capita envelopes from the pew pockets in the Sanctuary. 5

6 Music & First Pres Find Peace at the Service of Healing and Comfort by Rev. Barbara Gorsky As Christmas approaches and the busyness of the holiday season swirls all around us, so often there is a sadness that takes hold of our hearts and we feel out of step with the world around us. Instead of anticipating the gathering together of family and friends, we dread facing the emptiness that fills us within. It s important to honor where we are, with all that we bring to the holiness of this season. Come, join us on Wednesday, December 18, at 7:00 pm in the Chapel, for a Service of Healing and Comfort. Let your hearts be open to the healing that can help you remember the past with thanksgiving and move into tomorrow with hope. Christ came into this world to give us the strength and courage to embrace all that life gives us. Come and be with us; together we can find peace! Worship Services 8:30 am finding grace (Chapel) Music led by Compass 9:30 am Crossroads (Sanctuary) Music coordinated by Adam Hendrickson and Christopher Urban 11:00 am Heritage (Sanctuary) Music by choirs and ensembles December & January Worship (Turn to the front cover for Christmas worship.) Dec. 1 First Sunday of Advent Sacrament of Holy Communion Genesis 32:22-32 preaching: Alex Lang Movements of God: Israel 9:30 am: Chancel Quartet 11:00 am: The Chancel Choir Dec. 8 Second Sunday of Advent Exodus 3:1-12 preaching: Barbara Gorsky Movements of God: The Burning Bush 9:30 am: Children s Choirs 11:00 am: The Chancel Choir Dec. 15 Third Sunday of Advent Numbers 7:84-89 preaching: Alex Lang Movements of God: The Tabernacle 9:30 am: Chamber Singers & The Chancel Handbell Choir 11:00 am: Chamber Singers, The Chancel Handbell Choir, & The Chancel Choir Dec. 22 Fourth Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 24:36-44 preaching: Beth Freese Dammers Waiting Expectantly 9:30 am: Men s Chorus 11:00 am: Men s Chorus, The Chancel Choir, & First Pres Brass December 29 guest preacher: Nancy Dolan, candidate for ministry (see page 7) 9:30 am: featuring Bruce Blanck 11:00 am: Soloist January 5 Genesis 12:1-9 preaching: Alex Lang God Said What? 9:30 & 11:00 am: Soloist January 12 Baptism of the Lord Genesis 12:10-20 preaching: Alex Lang Big Pimpin 9:30 am: Chamber Singers 11:00 am: The Chancel Choir January 19 Genesis 14:17-24 preaching: Beth Freese Dammers Finding God in the Unexpected 9:30 am: Men s Chorus 11:00 am: The Chancel Choir January 26 Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-16 preaching: Alex Lang When God Isn t Enough 9:30 am: featuring Bruce Blanck 11:00 am: The Chancel Choir 6

7 Church Life A New Birth Congratulations to: Cathy and Ed Harding, on the birth of their grandson, Henry Andrew Weil, on November 4 in St. Louis, Missouri. Proud parents: Keddie and Tim Weil Baptisms The following children were welcomed into the family of faith on Sunday, November 17: Lucas Chatham Lang, son of Alex and Courtney Lang Brennan Palla, son of Brian and Laura Palla Sympathy Please join in extending sympathy to: Cathy and Butch Konczyk, on the death of Cathy s mother, Janet Chartrand Jane and Jeff Treppa and family, on the death of Jane s stepmother, Marilyn Damian Family and friends of Margaret Cermak Family and friends of Keith Bryant Ray and Phyllis Green, on the death of Ray s brother, Lawrence R. Green December Special Offerings The special offering for Sunday, December 1 will support the First Pres Dominican Republic Mission. The special offering for Sunday, December 22 is designated for the Christmas Joy Offering of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The fund provides financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families as well as opportunities for deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools. South Dakota Mission Coat Drive Through Sunday, December 15 Temperatures on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in far northern South Dakota can reach 30 degrees below zero. Please consider donating new or gently used, clean winter coats, in sizes Toddler to Adult XXL, to the families from our summer Vacation Bible School. New hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves are also appreciated. Please place donated clothing in the large receptacles in the Narthex or near the Chapel. Thank you! Contacts: Lynese Pearson, lgpearson@hotmail.com or Michele Holifield, mkholi field@yahoo.com Guest Preacher Nancy Dolan, MDiv, will be guest preacher Sunday, December 29. A recent graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary, she is a candidate for ministry within the Presbytery of Chicago and is seeking her first ordained call. God led Nancy to ministry from a 20-year career in corporate human resources. She has found this experience helpful in her work within the church, including conflict ministry, visioning, group facilitation, and teaching. Nancy is also an experienced Stephen Leader who assists congregations engaged in Stephen Ministry. PADS Help Needed Extra volunteers are needed to staff our PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) ministry on Christmas Eve and morning, as well as on New Year s Eve. Will you help? Contact Helen Ross to learn all the details, at or hj926@aol.com. You can sign up for other 2014 dates on Sundays January 12 and 19. Visit fpcah.org/pads to learn more. Holy Communion for Homebound Members If you would like to receive communion or know of someone who would, please contact Mary Ahlers at mimiahlers@sbcglobal.net or Carol Frieburg at or carol.frieburg@att.net. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! The church office will be closed December 25 and 26 as well as January 1. In Remembrance of Departed Saints On All Saints Sunday, we took time to remember the members of this congregation who joined the Church Triumphant between November 1, 2012, and November 3, Walter Siegfried November 16 Virginia Meier November 18 Charles Bennett November 21 James Castles November 27 Ralph Kittredge December 1 Elaine Dreier December 15 Margaret Lytle December 20 Marie Kluesing January 11 Ralph Lidge January 26 Carol Holbrook February 1 Dave Makeever April 16 Doree Pouk May 13 Fred Stroud May 16 Marilyn Meyer May 22 Ruth Beisler May 23 Mary Takla June 9 Charlotte Hay June 16 Vernon Hipwell July 16 Peggy Newell September 24 Edna Stuart October 14 Glen Talley October 22 7

8 Missions The Dominican Republic: Why We Go Back by Jane Reinschmidt, BS, RN, CAPA In 2012, I made my first trip to the Dominican Republic (DR) as the First Pres team nurse. I d heard about previous trips our church had made to this area but the time had never been right for me to make the trip. I witnessed people from Gaspar Hernandez and the surrounding impoverished barrios following our mission model and assuming responsibility for some of the work we have done in the past. Besides agriculture, the primary industry on the island is the resort industry. The best jobs go to those who speak English. The ESL program started by our church is now run year-round by Miguel, a scholarship communications major. The program has expanded from high school students to grade school children. There are also evening ESL classes for adults. ing in the local schools. They support themselves and their families, as well as provide education to the next generation. Two scholarship recipients have graduated from seminary and are now pastors, spreading the Gospel locally. Currently, 39 students are in our scholarship program; two of whom are in medical school and intend to practice in the DR. Our funds provide a physician and medications for the four medical clinics that are held when we are there. Women from the local church have assumed responsibility for the operation of the clinics. These women learned from women in our church and now function independently. Irene Bertelson teaches English as a Second Language. The water mission continues to be one of the most important missions for the Gaspar Hernandez church. More than 4,000 people currently benefit from the reverse osmosis systems installed in two churches as well as several hundred bucket systems installed in homes. As their own mission and outreach grows to other areas, they are taking health clinics and bucket-water filter systems to areas as far away as the Haitian villages set up on the borders of the DR. Funds we have invested in scholarships are benefiting the graduates and the community. Many scholarship recipients have graduated with degrees in education and are teach- An Evening With Paul Meincke by Matt Meisterheim First Pres was founded in While there is no mandate that we have an Anniversary Speaker every year, more often than not we have one, and this year our presenter drew raves from an enthusiastic audience. On October 20, we welcomed Paul Meincke from ABC News Channel 7 into our Sanctuary. Paul s topic was communication and the problems we all face in a field experiencing severe changes. In addition to explaining the effects new technology has on news gathering, Meincke related anecdotes of his life in journalism before taking questions from the floor. The medical equipment I took in 2012 has been used in the barrios by the women I taught. It was lovingly cared for and brought back to the classes I taught in Last January I saw two cinderblock foundations, overgrown with vegetation, in a remote community and questioned what they had been. I was told: That was two houses started by another church group. They came once and started the houses but never returned. Nobody here has the money to finish the houses. One of the scholarship students took my hands, looked into my eyes, and said, Your church has been coming here most of my life. I don t remember you not coming every year. You are a part of our life here. Christian relationships have been developed. We have started a good thing. And yet we go back because there is much to be done as we partner with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the DR. 8

9 Youth Ministries High School Retreat Recap by TC Anderson On the weekend of November 1-3, a group of 18 youth and 5 adults braved the harsh trek all the way to Covenant Harbor, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for a Fall Retreat. We experienced many amazing things: We worshiped together, played some football, had a wonderful time in small groups, met more than 140 other youth from the Chicago and surrounding areas, and in general had a blast! We also heard about being immersed in the city. The speaker, Andrea Kirksey, taught us how to see ourselves as full instead of looking at ourselves as half empty, and then transferred that learning to our beautiful city, Chicago! Immersing oneself into the city to do ministry helps to restore faith in the city and see it as a hopeful place rather than a scary danger zone. CollegeCARE Ministries by Nancy Williams Confirmation Mentors Announced in January by Rev. Beth Freese Dammers On Wednesday, January 8, confirmands, their parents, and mentors will gather for the grand announcement of mentor pairings. Confirmands and mentors alike will be excited to greet one another for the first time and have an evening of casual conversation over ice cream sundaes. Mentors support confirmands for the final 5 months of study and preparation of confirmation. They will share in Treks to other houses of worship, mission experiences, and conversations about faith beliefs. Christmas Eve 11:00 pm Worship Mike Noble and TC Anderson are organizing collegeage involvement in the 11:00 pm service. It is tradition! Chime in if you ll be around. Winter Break Event: January 2 If you are college age (even if you are not in college), come to this late afternoon/early evening (4:00 pm) gathering (location to be determined)! We ll have an update on the Boundary Waters canoe trip, scheduled for August 1-9, 2014, and, of course, we ll enjoy some food and a fun time together. Pasta Party Fundraiser January 5 Everyone in the congregation is invited to join our lunchtime pasta party at noon on Sunday, January 5 in Fellowship Hall, and to get excited about the Boundary Waters canoe trip being planned for the college age group. We re starting now to paddle toward raising funds that will reduce the trip costs. Your participation can help our young people have this once-ina-lifetime experience. Save Your Stuff: Rummage 2014 Benefiting Youth Missions Do you have one of those aunts who gives you something every Christmas that you just wish would go away? Your wish is granted! That s right! Stow it in the closet and save up for June when you can make the First Pres youth happy by donating all* your un-cherished items to the Rummage 14 sale! *Sorry, no mattresses, clothes (though we will take accessories like belts, purses, and shoes), large exercise equipment, computers, or console or tube TVs (flat screens accepted). If your family has excellent taste and you love all your gifts, there are lots of other ways to help other than donating. As June draws near (and you know how fast that will be!), we will need folks to help transport the youth as they rummage about to pick things up from church members. Have a van or SUV to help with the pickup? Let us know! We ll also need expertise in item pricing. Watch The Chimes for further information as the sale draws closer, or contact TC Anderson in the church office for more information. Store up treasure in your heavenly home by donating clutter from your current one! Save your stuff for Rummage 14, June 27 and 28. 9

10 Adult Education Books to Help You Learn and Grow by Bill Ginnodo That s the title of a booklet published in November by the Adult Education Committee. Look for its blue cover in the Narthex literature rack, at the Welcome Center, and in the Chapel. All 88 books in this collection were recommended by First Pres members and pastors, who were asked to identify books that helped them grow spiritually. The books fall into six categories: Currently popular and enduring books Books for daily devotions or study Books about prayer Books for strengthening our faith Also recommended by our contributors A book about important books Each listing contains the book title, the author s name, the name of the publisher, the number of pages, and a description of the content. All of the books are available for browsing and borrowing in a special section of our church Library. Look for the freestanding shelf unit just inside the Library door. The booklet also contains information about borrowing the books from the Arlington Heights Memorial Library or purchasing them through book stores, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. From My Perch on the Fencepost Celebrating our giving spirit by Ingrid Kaufman New Wednesday Afternoon Commune Group Study The pastors sermon outlines will be the basis for discussion January 8 February 16, 2014, for the Commune Group that meets in the Boardroom 1:00-3:00 pm on Wednesdays. These weeks cover Genesis Discussion each week will center on the previous Sunday s sermon. Sermon outlines are available via the Weekly Highlights e-newsletter as well as on the Worship page at fpcah.org. All are welcome to join in at any time. Questions? Contact Betty Launer at Look for the Winter / Spring Adult Ed brochure, coming soon. It s your ticket to learning! When our interim senior pastor resigned, associate pastors Beth Freese Dammers and Barbara Gorsky became our spiritual leaders. We thought the burden may be too great. But look at how their dedication, enthusiasm, and selfless service led us to believe in ourselves. We celebrate Beth and Barbara. When the Pastor Nominating Committee search seemed to go on forever, we wondered whether we would ever have a new pastor. But look at what a perfect gift came to us in Alex and Courtney Lang and their beautiful children. We celebrate their arrival and the potential for the future of our church. When the great storm of 2012 flooded Fellowship Hall, we faced going into debt to restore it. But look how our response to the One in Heart and Mind campaign not only paid for the restoration but took care of other needs, too. We celebrate our generous hearts. When we struggled for oh, so long, to find an acceptable way to reintroduce worship in the Chapel we wondered whether there was a solution. But look how our new leadership in Adam Hendrickson has invigorated this service. Standingroom-only is often the case. We celebrate our new leadership. When Vacation Bible School started in July we wondered if there were enough volunteers to fill the openings. But look how it all worked out with your generous volunteerism. We celebrate our gifts of time and talent. When we expected new hymnals, we wondered how to pay for them. But look how they arrived without incurring any debt, thanks to your generous hearts. We celebrate our gifts in honor of loved ones. When a change in the time of worship was proposed, we wondered whether we could adapt to it. But look at how we not only adapted to the change, but accepted the addition of a third service to meet a large increase in attendance. We celebrate our flexibility. Let us celebrate not what we expect, but with a thankful heart, what is. Let us celebrate our achievements in 2013 and the opportunities before us in 2014 as we share a giving spirit with our time, our talent, and our treasure. 10

11 Children s Ministries Children s Mission Sunday Kicks Off Season of Giving by Monica Sparreo Building on the success of last year s mission projects for our Sunday school children, the first Mission Sunday of the school year took place on November 10. Children in preschool through fifth grade joined together in a variety of hands-on activities that reinforced what mission work is all about giving our time, talents, and gifts to improve the lives of others and spread the love of Jesus. Join First Pres Children & Families Sunday, December 15 4:00 pm Meet in Fellowship Hall for instructions 4:15-5:45 pm Caroling in small groups throughout the community 6:00 pm Pizza dinner back in Fellowship Hall Please confirm your attendance: Katy Allen, , katyallen@fpcah.org During Kingdom time the children rotated through three stations. They created uplifting Thanksgiving cards for homebound or hospitalized church members; crafted written responses to our South Dakota pen pals and made introductions to new kids; and learned more about the Children s Ministries commitment to Heifer International, a charitable organization that was supported and warmly embraced by the Sunday school children last spring. To communicate how gifts to Heifer are put to meaningful use in countries throughout the world, Michele Holifield demonstrated the organization s premise Passing on the Gift by having several children tear a sheet of paper and share half with someone who didn t have one. Then everyone holding a piece of paper did it again. Soon everyone had a part of the original. This is the idea behind what Heifer does every day. Advent for Families Three Sundays: December :45-10:45 am, Room 101/103 Come and explore ways to prepare for the Christ Child. On December 1, we will make an Advent wreath for your family with fresh greens. Bring fresh-cut greens from your home garden or from your own Christmas tree. Wire framing and candles will be provided. Cost per family: $10. Make checks payable to FPCAH, noting Advent for Families in the memo line. Important: Please RSVP to Beth Freese Dammers at or bethfreesedammers@fpcah.org to ensure sufficient supplies for December 1. We ll also review how to mark the waiting days of Advent with faith and reverence and fun, and will include a look at the Jesse Tree traditions. Animals are provided to impoverished families who are then empowered to help others in their community become self-sufficient and build better lives. Before departing Sunday school, each class was assigned an animal such as rabbits, chickens, sheep, or pigs for the Living Gift Market that will be held for the entire congregation in the Narthex and Parlor on Sunday, December 15. Our Kingdom shepherds will work with their classes between now and then to ensure the children can communicate how their animals would be useful in a community with few resources. Those wishing to purchase an animal will receive a gift card that can be presented to a family member or friend (see back cover for more). What Is PDO Sunday? by Courtney Childs, PDO Board Co-Chair Parents Day Out (PDO) Sunday is a day when the students present to the church the food they have collected during our PDO food drive. A representative from the PDO board will speak to the congregation and talk about PDO. PDO Sunday is January 26, This date is the kickoff for registration PDO Registration All registration begins at noon online. Sunday, January 26: PDO Sunday & registration for church members Sunday, February 9: Registration for currently enrolled & alumni families Sunday, February 16: Registration for Wait List Families Sunday, February 23: Open enrollment begins 11

12 The First Presbyterian Church 302 N. Dunton Avenue Arlington Heights, IL Phone: Fax: / mail@fpcah.org 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. Give Someone Hope This Christmas Living Gift Market To Support Heifer International Presented by the kids in Preschool, Kingdom, and Fifth Grade Sunday School Sunday, December 15 9:00-11:00 am Church Narthex and Parlor For each $10 donation, receive a gift card to share with someone special. Stop by and learn more about the mission work of our Sunday school children.