Community Garden Come Grow With Us!

Transcription

1 May 2017 Vol. CX No. 4 Growing Together in Peace Community Garden Come Grow With Us! Construction has been completed on the new Community Garden which is located north of the Youth Center/Family Life Building. There are 20 beds that are 4 x 8 and 5 beds that are 2 x 8 raised beds. The soil is already amended and ready for planting. The cost for the 4 x 8 beds is $30 and the 2 x8 beds are $15. Registration forms are in the church office and payment must be made when registering. When registering you can select your bed location. You can grow fruits, vegetables or flowers in a family friendly setting without the hassle of soil testing or preparation. All the prep will have been done for you! 1 June 4 Pentecost and Communion Sunday

2 Why do people come to church? By Reverend Philip Price, Interim Senior Pastor I don t think it is for the music. This is in no way intended to slight our talented musicians or our dedicated young singers or choir. It s just that if any of us want to listen to music, any kind of music, we all have access to the greatest choirs, orchestras, organists, soloists, in history at our fingertips. I don t think it is for the preaching. I try to be relevant, thought provoking and insightful, but again, I m well aware that all of you have access through, books, TV and the internet to the greatest preachers in the world. I don t think it is for the praying. We all understand that God is present and hears our voices and our hearts everywhere we are. So why do so many still feel a desire to leave where they are and drive sometimes considerable distances to come to church? The only thing that makes any sense to me is that there is something special in being together. Somehow in togetherness, Christ, God, truth, is revealed. It is one of the few non-paradoxical truths - the only way to experience togetherness is to be together. Christian spirituality is not a solitary journey into the self, nor is it a personal relationship with God. Christian spirituality has always been best understood as a social/covenantal relationship with others, as God is experienced through membership in what the Apostle Paul calls the body of Christ. He tells us straight up that the body has many members. We can t experience the body in aloneness. It is in togetherness that the risen Christ is revealed and experienced. It is in togetherness that we experience the grace of connectedness. In Christ, life is not to be a game of solitaire, rather is is to be a joy filled journey into FAMILY! Pastor Phil New Membership Class May 21st Are you interested in learning more about Peace Memorial Church? On Sunday, May 21st there will be a meeting in Pastor Phil s office following worship for anyone wanting to know more about the United Church of Christ, Peace Memorial, and what activities are available to get involved in. Please call the church office if you plan on attending. 2

3 Graduation Sunday June 4th On Sunday, June 4th, we would like to honor our graduates. If you are graduating or you have a child or youth who is graduating, please provide the church office with the information as well as a recent picture by Sunday, May 21st. Those who turn in a picture will be included in our PMC Graduates photo presentation that will be shared with the congregation during worship on June 4th. All graduates are strongly encouraged to attend worship on Sunday, June 5th and wear their school colors. Red Geraniums For Pentecost June 4 Celebrate someone special Celebrate the mission and ministry of our church Celebrate the blessings and power of God in your life Summer Camp Programs At Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park Registration forms for Summer Camp at Tower Hill or Pilgrim Park for Youth and Adults can be found at the Information Center and in the Church Office. You also may register online at -odm.org. Godstock Camp, ($362.00) directed by Dennis Kirscher and Kelly Kirscher, is July at Tower Hill and Tenderfoot (cost $160.00), ages K -2nd Grade with Cindy White is July Grandparent Camp at Tower Hill is either June or Pastor Sarah s camp, Worship & Wonder, at Pilgrim Park is the week of July 9-14 and is $ Peace Memorial Church helps to underwrite part of the cost of camp each year for church members. There are many other camps available throughout the summer. Strengthen the Church Offering To be received Pentecost Sunday, June 4th 3 For our Pentecost celebration on Sunday, June 4 the Worship and Music Committee would like to fill the sanctuary with red geraniums to symbolize the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So they will again be offering Red Geraniums to decorate the sanctuary on Pentecost Sunday, June 4th. The cost will be $12 for each 7 inch wrapped potted plant. Feel free to order as many as you would like. (Please look for the form order that has been enclosed.) Order forms may also be found at the Information Center. The geraniums can be in honor of living friends, relatives, pastors, teachers, church staff and special occasions. The flowers will be displayed in worship and can be picked up immediately following the service. The flowers must be ordered and paid for by Sunday, May 14th Sunday, May 14th

4 Thank you to everyone who donated items to help the youth group create a labyrinth made entirely of canned goods! We had fun putting it together and hope you enjoyed using it! First Wednesday of the Month. May 3, :30-8:30 PM Youth Center Youth Mission Trip July STL Urban Missions LIMITED SPACE!! Sign-up!! Joint trip w/pilgrim Faith UCC. $50 Deposit due now. On Sunday, April 2, the youth group prepared and served 130 meals with the Night Ministry Health Outreach Bus in Humboldt Park. It was a humbling and enlightening experience and we are glad we went! 4

5 Birthday Greetings May, 2017 May 2 John O Connell Rebecca O Connell May 3 Brian Rudnicki May 5 Christopher Schneider Sr. May 6 Constance Schaefer May 7 Barbara Miller May 8 Timothy Whalen May 11 Robert Jefchak May 12 Kathi Graben Larry Graben May 15 William Jerry II May 18 Dawn Boone May 19 Harriet Bennett May 20 Alesancder Bubash Rudolph Wehofer May 21 Donna Sihler May 22 Kathleen Koch Carol Landow Christopher Schneider, Jr. May 24 Judith Lisak Geraldine Peck May 27 Joseph Ferrantelli Richard Lisak, Sr. Richard Voboril May 28 Megan Hutchinson June Umecker May 29 Betty Jackson May 31 Elaine Chabitch Priscilla Hook On the Lighter Side Methuselah ate what he found on his plate, And never, as people do now, Did he note the amount of the calorie count; He ate it because it was chow. He wasn t disturbed as at dinner he sat, Devouring a roast or a pie, To think it was lacking in granular fat Or a couple of vitamins shy. He cheerfully chewed each species of food, Unmindful of troubles or fears Lest his health might be hurt By some fancy dessert; And he lived over nine hundred years. 5

6 Sun Mon 1 Tue 2 Wed 3 7 am Volunteers Thu 4 Fri 5 Sat 6 Bible Study 9 am Crafters 12:30 pm Bible Study Peace Lounge 7 pm Men s 2 pm Worship 6:30 pm Youth Basketball 2:30 pm Yoga Group Youth 7 pm choir Center Fireside 6:30 pm Bunco 7 pm Search Peace Lounge Committee 7 8:30 am Adult 9:30 am Worship, Communion NO Sunday School Fellowship 11 am Bunco Peace Lounge 11:30 am Mother Daughter Luncheon 8 7 pm Men s Basketball 9 Bible Study 2:30 pm Yoga Fireside May am Volunteers 9 am Crafters 12:30 pm Bible Study Peace Lounge 11 7 pm choir Mother s Day 8:30 am Adult 9:30 am worship 9:45 am Sunday School Fellowship 15 Messenger Deadline 7 pm Men s Basketball 16 Bible Study 2:30 pm Yoga Fireside 7 pm Alzheimer s support Fireside 17 7 am Volunteers 9 am Crafters 12:30 pm Bible Study Peace Lounge 7 pm Trustees 18 7 pm choir :30 am Adult 9:30 am worship 9:45 am Sunday School 10:30 Fellowship 10:45 am New Member Session Pastor s Office 7 pm Men s Basketball Bible Study 2:30 pm Yoga Fireside 7 am Volunteers 9 am Crafters and Messenger 12:30 pm Bible Study Peace Lounge 7 pm choir 1 pm Family Outing to Drury Lane for James and the Giant Peach 28 Messenger Pickup 8:30 am Adult 9:30 am worship Fellowship 29 Memorial Day Church Office Closed 30 Bible Study 2:30 pm Yoga Fireside 31 7 am Volunteers 9 am Crafters 12:30 pm Bible Study Peace Lounge 6

7 Saturday, May 27, 1 PM Outing to Drury Lane Theater, Oakbrook Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased in Zion Hall after worship or in the church office. Deadline to buy is April 30th! Transportation available. ALL ARE WELCOME!!! The Christian Education committee would like to thank everyone who supported the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. We served 126 people! The total proceeds were $513 and we will be donating $260 of the proceeds to the Palos Fire Protection District!! Thank you to everyone who came to help setup, buy and cook food, sell tickets, clean up and more! We couldn't have done it without you. Intergenerational Vacation Bible School Friday, June 23rd 6-9 PM Dinner provided Saturday, June 24th 9 AM-2 PM, lunch provided More details coming soon! All ages are invited! APRIL 2 YOUTH AND CHILDREN LED WORSHIP May 7 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL May 14 May 21 May 27 James/Giant Peach May 28 No 7

8 Our Members And Friends Funerals March 22, 2017-Norma Bluethner, nee Schneider, passed away March 18, 2017 April 1, 2017 Ida Matuska passed away March 28, 2017 Baptisms April 23, 2017-Austin Wyatt Stille son of Steven and Ashley, nee Badali April 23, 2017-Bruce Edward Watson, son of Robert and Cheryl, nee Polzin April 30, 2017-Abigail Fay Finn daughter of Christopher and Rebecca, nee Kujawa Congratulations Rich and Judi Lisak on their 54rd wedding anniversary on April 20th. Thank You Lou Ann Boone would like to thank everyone who has called, sent cards, said prayers and visited her while she has been in rehab and in the hospital. All the support shown to her has helped to keep her going and she wanted everyone to know how much she appreciates it! June Messenger Deadline Articles and news for the June issue of The Messenger are due into the office by Monday, May 15th. The issue will be available for pickup on Sunday, May 28th. PEACE MEMORIAL UCC West 131st Street Palos Park, IL Monday, May 29th Memorial Day Church Office Closed Pause and Ponder To find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird s nest, or over a wild flower in spring these are some of the rewards of the simple life. John Burroughs 8 Peace Memorial Church West 131st Street, Palos Park, IL Phone (708) FAX (708) Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Church School 9:45 a.m. Rev. Philip Price......Interim Senior Pastor Rev. Sarah Lohrbach.....Director of Youth and Children s Ministries Robert Mohr.... Director of Music Ministry Tom Osborne Organist Pamela Kueltzo Office Manager/ Editor April Krzeczkowski Financial & Record Keeping Secretary Peace Memorial Residences 3200 W. 101st Street Evergreen Park, IL Village Circle Drive Palos Park, IL (708) Linda Beushausen Executive Director Circle Inn (708) Diane Oremovich Administrator Circle Inn

9 May Mission - Nurturing and Mentoring Our Youth By Gaile Sprissler Many young people want to have an impactful life, to help others and to give back. They want to use and promote natural resources and organic products. There are youths creating high quality products that are accessible and affordable right now. There are others raising donations for numerous worthy causes. It is important to accurately capture the full potential of all young people to learn and thrive. The predominant view often underestimates the true capacities of young people by focusing on their deficits rather than their potentials. We need to adapt a positive approach to accurately capture the full capacity of each. Every child has talents, strengths, and interests that offer the potential for a bright future. Youths need respect rooted in valued skills. They need to be helped to develop skills to serve within the group, and then have those skills affirmed as valued by the group. Many youths in church feel like unneeded and unappreciated extras. We have to give them a meaningful place in our ministry. Youths need a sense of self-worth. We want to consistently show our youths that they are deeply valued and loved as individuals. They need reliable and predictable relationships. In particular, they need a few relatively close relationships with members in our group. Our goal is to see that each youth is connected to other youths in friendships, and to at least one non-parental adult in a mentoring relationship. Youths spend much of their lives searching out the fulfillment of their needs. They can seek to meet these needs in unhealthy, ungodly ways - in developing dangerous habits or joining gangs - for example. They should have these needs met in ways that help them come to know Jesus and then grow as His followers. We have to give youths opportunities to learn and then to perform tasks that are valued. As they perform well, tell them. Show respect based on real achievement, and let them know that they are special and essential. We often send a contrary message by ignoring young people, interacting with them only when we need to correct them. But for them to feel loved and appreciated, positive interactions need to far outnumber the negative. Spend time with a few youths, learn about their world. Get to know their concerns, culture, preferences and challenges. Find out what they watch on on-line, on television and in movies; what they listen to; what they read. How do you find out? Ask them, then listen without criticizing. It may take some time for them to learn to trust you with their inner thoughts. Be patient and keep an open ear. By making a strong and positive first impression, being consistent and having confidence in their views, young people can make amazing changes, both within and for others. To our youth: The best way to make changes to the world around you is to live the changes you want to see and show everyone how much fun you are having at the same time! 9

10 RED GERANIUMS FOR PENTECOST JUNE 4 Celebrate someone special Celebrate the mission and ministry of our church Celebrate the blessings and power of God in your life Order a red geranium (or two or more) In honor of In appreciation of someone Or to celebrate something special For our Pentecost celebration on Sunday, June 4 we would like to fill the sanctuary with red geranium to symbolize the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So please feel free to order as many as you want! Cost is $12 per 7 inch potted Red Geranium that is wrapped ******************************************************************* PERSON ORDERING Number of $12 Total Due: $ In honor of In appreciation of (You can order in honor of LIVING friends, relatives, pastors, teachers, church staff and special occasions) PLEASE RETURN TO THE CHURCH OFFICE WITH YOUR PAYMENT BY SUNDAY, MAY 14 10