October A sukkah is a temporary three-wall structure in which to dwell among the harvest.

Similar documents
NEW BEGINNINGS JANUARY 2018 FEBRUARY 2018

Our Church is a Nest. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Reflections on the First Month of the Journey. Progress on the Formation of the WPC Pastor Nomination Committee

Called to be an Elder

Peace Within & Peace Without

HINTS, SUGGESTIONS, GUIDLELINES FOR HOSTING INSTALLATIONS & ORDINATIONS

Good News from Knox. March K n o x P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h. Theme of the Year: Baptism!

The Directory for Worship: From the Sanctuary to the Street A Study Guide* for the Proposed Revision

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 4, 2012

THE OFFERING MOMENT 90 SECONDS TO ENGAGE YOUR GIVERS

LEADERSHIP CABINET Presbytery of Yellowstone Report to Presbytery November A BIG THANK YOU to these Task Groups whose jobs are completed:

Willow Creek Presbyterian Church of Argyle 7300 Belvidere Road Caledonia, Illinois July 2017

The Spire. Worship in July. July 10. July 17. July 24. July 31. July 2016 The Monthly Newsletter of Southminster Presbyterian Church

BETHANY ARCHIVES Jan 7 Youth Help At HIHI

November 2016 Sunday School News

Sukkot 2011 : and the Famine in the Horn of Africa. Background

This is our Church. Let s do God s work together!

Chasing After Contentment

Another Year of Lifting Building Reaching ANNUAL REPORT

Grace Church QUARTERLY MINISTRY DIRECTORY. Grace Baptist Church W Jewett Blvd PO Box White Salmon, WA Church Phone:

AVHG Goes To High School. AV Unite! Together In Worship 10/28-29

GOOD NEWS FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) 432 Ferry St. SW, Albany, OR Vol. 60, No. 10 Web site:

A New School Year Prayer

April 2016 Newsletter

MELROSE UNITED CHURCH

From Your Pastoral Presbyter...

heritage highlights Mark 6:30-43 (NRSV)

Grace and peace, Marc Peña Lead Pastor

AUGUST Happy New Year. With love in Christ, Daryl Wilkinson Senior Warden

Mission Statement

HIGHLIGHTS WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY. FAMILY OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 st ALL CHURCH RETREAT

Newsletter January 2019 Vol. 17, No. 1

WILLOW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

November. The Jacksboro Parish_. Contact Us. Lord s Acre Auction Nov. 12th. Church Office. Nov. 23rd & FUMC Fellowship Hall

UCPC Community Care Line

F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h S a n L e a n d r o HIGHLIGHTS

POLICY FOR INSTALLATION AND ORDINATION SERVICES PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA-SYRACUSE

First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM November 2018

4. HOW ARE YOU ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ALLOW GOD'S WORD TO SHAPE THEIR PRIORITIES AND ACTIONS, AND TO NUTURE CONSTANT LEARNING AND THE LIFE OF THE MIND?

The Church Herald Stony Brook Community Church (United Methodist), Stony Brook, New York

Associate Pastor Nominating Committee

Austin Oaks Church Austin, Texas Senior Pastor Opportunity Profile January 2017

Trinity Episcopal Church Congregational Profile

STRATEGIC PLAN. a five-year strategic plan of ministry for at Peninsula Community Chapel KNOWING HIS JOY. CHANGING HIS WORLD.

The Directory for Worship: A Study Guide for the Proposed Revision

Grace Presbyterian Church Discernment Process Session Provisional Decision on Denomination

THE TOWER. Falling Back In. Sunday Worship. September/October 2017 Edition

To be the head, heart and hands of Jesus Christ, driven by God's love for our church and the world beyond. NEWS & NOTES. September 29, 2017

THE SPIRE LIGHT. Church Directory Photo Day

From Bob Railey s Pen

CELEBRATION OF GIVING LITANY

cul ti vate (verb): to foster the growth of CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MINISTRY YEAR SNAPSHOT

Church of Christ India Mission Work

FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY 2 Timothy 3:14-4:1-8 First Presbyterian Church Dr. Michael A. Roberts September 23, 2018

FAKE NEWS vs. GOOD NEWS

A Message from our General Presbyter

In our lifetime, each of us ought to have the opportunity to try something new or

JULY WORSHIP SERVICES

The Missive. 531 West College Avenue, Jonesboro, AR June A Message from Rev. Hannah...

NOVEMBER. Where Diversity is Celebrated!

Birthdays Neill McKay - 9th Melissa Bierer - 17th David Dohner - 20th

ITEM P.002 FOR ACTION

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF PENFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OCTOBER

Immanuel Family News. September/October Youth/ Family News Ministries News JAM flyer Directory letter Calendar

FALKIRK ARCHIVES. Records of Churches. Falkirk Erskine Church finding aid

SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2018

Experience the Hope of Jesus Christ September Grace and peace,

Organizational Structure and Leadership Model

Pilgrim s Progress September 1, 2015 Vol. 57 No. 7

Pastor s Message We re letting go of the old year and getting ready to delve into I have to say that 2014 was a good year for Elk River Lutheran

2018 Committee on Ministry Policies and Procedures

-2- A CELEBRATION OF COVENANT BETWEEN PASTORAL CHARGE AND PRESBYTERY (Clergy name) (Date) (Place)

Makemie Presbyterian Church. Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church. Message from the Pastor. Accomac, Virginia. Onancock, Virginia. Rev.

PART 1 BEGINNING SAN FERNANDO PRESBYTERY RESOURCE: SECURING A PASTOR

The Oak Leaf. Texas Oaks Baptist Church. We Exist to Know Christ Intimately and to Share Christ Passionately

Belleville Congregational Church

Principles, Policies, and Procedures for the Orderly Exchange of Ordained Ministers of the Word and Sacrament

NEW OPPORTUNITY for parents

Ordination Process. The Local Minister s License

A Guide For Planning An ORDINATION / INSTALLATION in Presbytery of Great Rivers

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, James 2:8 *HYMN

l e n t MARCH 2019 Dear Friends and Members of Green Street,

Christus Victor Lutheran s

Home Again Sunday. In This Issue. Schedule. September 2014

2015 Vision Plan OUR GUIDING TEXT

Thank you, God, for the Bible and all the ways it helps me learn about you.

Welcome. The Rev. William Peyton, Rector.

TOWNLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! (Luke 9:35)

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2017 THE RED DOOR FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BIG FLATS, NY

The Presbytery of Carlisle New Church Development (NCD) Policy MISSION/PURPOSE STATEMENT:

Copyright 2014 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago IL 60631

Central Southeast Ohio Association, Ohio Conference April 25, CS Newsletter Subscribe to the CS Newsletter Here

Sermon for the 13 th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 16, Year B Written by Barbara Marshall Sunday, August 23, 2015

St. John the Baptist. Tis the season to examine ourselves. The New Year at St. John the Baptist Giving and Joy are Correlated.

39th Anniversary - Hispanic Congregation

Saint Raphael Religious Education Grade Two Finding God... Our Response to God s Gifts DATE STANDARDS AND INDICATORS EVENT/CHAPTER (1)

Life at St. George s. From Steve s Desk. Inside this issue:

Preparing for The Triduum

Concordia Lutheran Church The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Great Milwaukee Synod Interim Ministry Task Force Manual for Congregations in Transition Interim Ministry

Transcription:

Dear WPC Friends, Grace and peace to all of you during the season of the harvest! Our north shore community is not particularly agrarian. But in those communities that are, with whom we are connected intimately every time we gather at the table, this is a sacred time of year. Poet Wendell Berry describes the holy about it this way: Harvest will fill the barn; for that the hand must ache, the face must sweat. And yet no leaf or grain is filled by work of ours; the field is tilled and left to grace. That we may reap The season of harvest is the season of reaping the greens and fruits of work then left to grace. A sukkah is a temporary three-wall structure in which to dwell among the harvest. This Bible claims this season holy, too, in a rather extraordinary way. The Israelites are commanded to celebrate the Festival of the Ingathering, Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths, by living in temporary huts among the harvest gathering for seven days (Exodus 34:22). The booths signify the way Israelites lived in the wilderness, when God brought them out of slavery in Egypt, totally dependent upon God (Leviticus 23:42-43). The harvest is God s provision in what would otherwise be hungry and hopeless desert wandering. For this, Israelites ritualized their humility and gratitude, as Jewish sisters and brothers do today, linking the harvest to their story of identity as people whom God delivers and sustains. As people of the same book, we are part of this sacred tradition, too. But other calendars in our lives, like school and quarterly reporting, can mask the holy season of the harvest. While many of us may not work the harvest, or sleep in temporary huts among its bounty, perhaps we can abide by the festival s spirit, and take inventory of the blessings God has provided, and behold it as proof that God delivers us from hunger and hopelessness and sustains us with fruit and grace. I am taking some personal inventory, remembering that the blessings of my life are the fruits of work then left to grace, and encourage you to do the same. I am also taking some congregational inventory of the fruits of work then left to grace, and trying to dwell in it for a bit, and hope you will join me for that, too. I am thankful for the marvelous bounty that God provides us, even in a time that feels like transition, in togetherness and teaching. I am grateful for the vibrant engagement of our children in Sunday School and Dance and Song, by our youth in bible study and fellowship, by our congregation in discerning how we can raise compassionate kids in a context of privilege, how we are Making Sense of the Bible with Adam Hamilton s guidance, and how we are giving ourselves to worship, study, and service. If we dwell with these bounties of the harvest, we cannot help but be humble and grateful for what God does with what we sow. And we remember that we are people delivered and sustained by God with a harvest that is filling the barn. If you have not yet enjoyed the fruits of Adam Hamilton s book Making Sense of the Bible, please do. In fact, I ve compiled notes of what I think the fruits of his work are, in the shorthand version available by clicking here. Please remember that you can join discussions this Saturday morning 10/3 at 9am at WPC or next Wednesday 10/7 at 10am. In his book, Hamilton encourages us people of faith: Read the Bible. The Bible is Israel s story. It is the church s story. It is God s story. As we read it carefully, we see that it is our story. When we read with ears and hearts open to hear, God speaks and the scriptures convey to us the wonderful words of life (309). It s our story, with the wonderful words of life, including the command to celebrate the harvest and dwell in it, as a reminder that the God who provides is the same God who leads us out and brings us home. Peace, David

Event Rally Day September October 2015 Rally Day a Huge Success! -by Emily Marshall, Moderator of Deacons Winnetka Presbyterian rallied together on Sunday, September 13 h, for our annual Rally Day programming kick off. For the first time, all of the festivities were held in the CLC, where there were 29 groups and organizations represented at information stations where attendees could learn about opportunities to serve, learn and connect. Everyone enjoyed a delicious cookout luncheon with burgers, brats, hot dogs, ice cream and more. Thank you to everyone who attended and signed up to be part of WPC s community life this year. Thanks to these members of the Board of Deacons who helped prepare for and host the event: Sue Cornelo, Bob Crowe, Susan Langan, Amanda Lower, Alex Martin, Mary Ellen Miller, Bill McNair, Donna Powell, Ernie Palmer, Elizabeth Probst, Virginia Trux and Philip Wagala. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event by staffing one of the information stations and to Dina Price for her help in getting ready for the big day. And last but not least, thank you to our Grill Masters Extraordinaire, Mark Farnham and Ken Probst, who kept the whole crew fed and happy. We couldn t have done it without you thank you! Big thank you to Emily Marshall for organizing Rally Day! L to R: Philip Wagala, Donna Powell, Emily Marshall, Alex martin, Mary Ellen Miller, Ernie Palmer, Kathy Fink 2

Happenings Wednesdays Bible Study @ 10am in Conference Room B Do you ever wish you could delve a little deeper into the scripture readings you hear on Sunday? Pastor David Lower leads a Bible study and discussion group every Wednesday morning that takes a closer look at the scripture for the upcoming Sunday. All ages and gendersare welcome! Making Sense of the Bible Book Study Cliff Notes Saturday, October 3 at 9am This Saturday join us for a discussion on Alexander Hamiltion's book, Making Sense of the Bible. You can download the study notes by clicking here. Raising Compassionate Kids Bonus Hour After Worship We are inviting the congregation, from every generation, to installments of conversation about raising compassionate kids in a context of privilege. So far, we have identified the elements of compassion, the challenges of developing it, and shared experiences of blessing and challenge. Please join us on October 4, 18, and 25 for more conversation about this important topic for us all, as followers of Christ in this place! Book Club October 27 @ 7:30 pm An astonishing story that puts a human face on the ongoing debate about immigration reform in the United States, now updated with a new Epilogue and Afterword, photos of Enrique and his family, an author interview, and more the definitive edition of a classic of contemporary America. Mental Illness Awareness Week October 4-10 Faith, Hope and Recovery supports people impacted by mood disorders by offering skills to increase hope and deepen faith. All are welcome. We meet every third Tuesday of the month (October 20) at Kenilworth Union Church, 211 Kenilworth Avenue from 7-8:30pm. Contact Rev. Kathy Dale McNair, 847.989.1989. We Need Your Smiling Face! October 4 Ever struggle to remember everyone's name at church? Ever find someone's name and wish you remembered what she/he looks like? Well we are about to leap beyond these issues by way of the 21st century! Brianna Huff, who is a professional photographer and daughter of Michael Huff our Youth Elder, will be taking pictures in the Atrium after worship. 3

Music & Worship October 2015 That Long Prayer Geoff Duffy Director of Music, Associate Director of Worship As difficult as it is to believe, next month we will be celebrating Thanksgiving! If your family is anything like mine, you will begin your festive meal with a prayer of thanksgiving that usually goes something like this: Dear God, we thank you for the blessing of this past year. We thank you for being with us around this table. Bless this food to the strength of our bodies and for your service. Amen. There are variations from family to family, but the form of this prayer usually stays pretty much the same. So it is with Christians when we gather around our festive meal of holy communion. Each time we celebrate the Lord s Supper, we pray the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving...that long prayer that the pastors prays! But have you ever wondered why we do that and what it means? The early Christians brought many of their Jewish ways with them into their new faith. One such practice was that of table thanksgivings. They would begin their meal with Baruch ata Adonai...Blessed are you, Lord, who has given us this bread to eat. It was only natural then that when they gathered around the bread and wine of holy communion, they would begin their meal with a similar prayer of thanksgiving. And this table prayer evolved into the Christian practice of the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving. One of the earliest witnesses of this Great Prayer of Thanksgiving comes to us from the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, written around 115 AD. And one of the earliest surviving prayer texts is that of a Roman pastor, Hippolytus, around 215 AD. What s amazing about this prayer is how little it has changed over 2,000 years. Just as our prayers around the table on Thanksgiving Day have common themes, so does this great prayer...it just may sound a little different depending on which family is praying! Listen carefully to the prayer this Sunday in church and you might be amazed at what you hear! Here are some ideas for making this prayer your own. The prayer is addressed to God, the Creator, and gives thanks for the world around us: Loving and gracious God, you have summoned galaxies into being During this first part of the prayer, think about all the things you are thankful for this Sunday. The prayer then recalls the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: At this table we remember our brother, Jesus, who healed the sick and freed the oppressed As you listen to this abbreviated story of Jesus ministry, recall a moment when you have especially felt God s saving embrace. The prayer concludes with a petition to God, the Holy Spirit, to bless this meal and to bless our life together: Pour out your Holy Spirit upon this meal...by the power of your Spirit, lead us to do justice. Where do you need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to reinvigorate you for a life of service to others? As I say to the children, put on your listening caps this Sunday and see what surprises you can find in that long prayer we hear around the table! 4

Music & Worship World Communion Sunday Sunday, October 4 @ 9:45 This coming Sunday is World Communion Sunday. This is always a great morning when we celebrate the unity we have with Christians all around the world. Our worship this Sunday will include music from around the globe, as well as stories from some of our members about four of the places in the world where we are engaged in ministry: Cuba, Ukraine, Kenya, and South Sudan. Come Sing in the Choir! Thursdays @ 7:30-9:30 pm The Choir has resumed regular Thursday rehearsals and we would love to have you join us. We have some great music (and an awesome Christmas concert) planned for this season. All singers are welcome. We ll provide the music and the robe...you provide your voice and a smile. Spooky Organ Concert Sunday, November 1 @ 4 pm Don t miss this fun family-friendly event! If you were here last year, you know just how fun it was to see so many children (and adults) in the sanctuary dressed up in costume, listening to an organ concert of Halloween music. Well, spread the word...we re doing it again this year! This year s theme, Saints and Sinners at the Mighty Organ will be celebrating Halloween (Oct 31) and All Saints Day (Nov 1). So come dressed up as a saint or sinner and see if you can win that coveted first place prize! The concert will also benefit Family Promise with a free will offering. 5

Local Missions October 2015 Family Promise October 4 11 Family Promise is a national movement with a mission to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response. The goal is to keep families together in times of crisis by providing food and shelter in local congregations. WPC is one of 21 North Shore host congregations that participate in local Family Promise efforts. During our tri-annual hosting weeks, WPC volunteers make and share meals, play with children, spend the night at the church and lend their passion and expertise to help families get back on their feet. Our dedicated volunteers prove that motivated, generous people can help solve family homelessness. Will you join us next month? WPC will host from Sunday, October 4, through Sunday, October 11, and we'd love you help. If you're interested in volunteering or would like to learn more, please contact Stacey Baker. ACHIEVING SUCCESS More than 75% of the families we serve find housing in less than nine weeks because of our intensive case management and community support. ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS We mobilize more than 160,000 dedicated volunteers who make a tremendous difference in families lives and in their communities. WORKING SMART For every dollar invested, we return $3 in donated goods and services. INSPIRING INITIATIVES Our volunteers don t stop at shelter, meals, and support services. We have created programs for housing, homelessness prevention, health care, life skills, and mentoring. CHANGING PERCEPTIONS We help people understand what life in poverty is like. Family Promise builds greater understanding of problems and of solutions. This year in America, more than 2.5 million children & their parents will experience homelessness. One child out of five lives in poverty. From Homeless to a Seat on the Board Amanda and Teddy Lane lost their jobs, and found themselves homeless with their two sons. With the help of Family Promise they are back on their feet. Amanda is now on the Family Promise board. 6

Local Missions The Difference-Making Meal After School Program Sunday, October 4 @ 9:45 Please help serve James Crockett s, Boy s After School Program by helping with a meal for the 15 or so boys getting valuable programming, bible study, and mentoring at an impressionable age of their lives. I'm thrilled that James is building upon this program for the current academic year, and ready to start up next week! The program will again meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, excepting days that CPS schools are out. As ministries go, this one has rated high at WPC in three departments: 1) Making a meaningful difference (the deserving kids have loved the meals you've provided, Good News Partners has saved thousands of dollars through your donations of meals) 2) Generating wide and good participation (you stepped up in a major way last year, providing two meals per week), 3) Those of us who regularly volunteered at the program (primarily John Christie, myself, and Scott McNair) also received the precious gift of relationship with the remarkable boys who are gathered. I'm so happy that all these ratings are poised to go up this year as the program builds and improves, including an important way for our volunteers. You know that we began providing meals knowing that for many of the boys it would be the only square and potentially warm meals they would get outside of school that week. Well, James has also noticed in the relationships he's built with these boys that at least several of them end up needing to prepare meals at home. So James is requesting that we this year add a component to our support of their program, and build even more bridges with them, by helping teach these boys to cook! Can't think of better people to do this than the wonderful chefs of WPC. Click here to sign up! Good News Partners Celebrates 40th Anniversary Annual Dinner: Friday, October 9, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston. The evening will feature an enriching program, sumptuous dining, live auction and fellowship with a goal of raising $40,000 for Good News Partners comprehensive housing, educational, workforce development and support programs. Tickets are $60 per person, $500 per table of eight. BRING A FRIEND! For more information, contact Jan Hubbard 773.764.4998 or jan@goodnewspartners.org. A Just Harvest serves a hot, nutritious meal 365 days per year to anyone in need. They also distribute tens of thousands of pounds of food each year. A Just Harvest Community Kitchen Third Monday of every month, October 19th We are looking for cooks to make casseroles for A Just Harvest! We also need volunteers to help serve every third Monday of the month. Please join with us in serving our community. You won't regret it! Click here to sign up! The Youth Group is all smiles as they serve meals. 7

Children October 2015 A Great Beginning for Dance and Song! -by Geoff Duffy Seventeen children signed up for our first-ever "Dance and Song for Children" program this fall! Geoff Duffy and Amanda Lower have been working with the children over the past few weeks as they get ready to lead the psalm in worship on November 1. We've used sticks and shakers to learn about rhythm, tried to expand our tummies like a balloon to learn about proper breathing, and created movements to illustrate the words we are singing. We've also spent some time talking about the Psalms (there are 150 of them!) and finding out what "Hallelujah" means (ask one of the kids!) If you're child missed out on this season's offering, be sure to sign them up in January for our next round of "Dance and Song". Noah s Ark -by Dori Schnieder October 4th we will be starting our Fall curriculum. Our lesson plan is entitled Creation. It tells the story of the 7 days of creation. We will be having a creation snack, pretending to be God s wind, and will make a creation mobile. The children will each be given their own little creation book to take home. Faith Explorers -by Nancy Holly Our wonderful Faith Explorers, grades kindergarten through 5, are exploring the book of Psalms in Sunday school. Children learn that the Psalms are a collection of poems, prayers, and songs many written by David. Through the Psalms they learn that David loved to talk to God and told God his troubles but also praised God and thanked God for God s faithfulness. Children learn ways the psalmists expressed themselves to God through song, poems, and prayers and how they can too. They learn all this through an array of workshops including Art, Dance, Storytelling, Games, a Memory Challenge and a Journey workshop. At the beginning of our lesson each Sunday we are also working with the children on memorizing the Lord s Prayer. Geoff Duffy leads a demonstration of what will be taught during the Dance and Song program. Amanda Lower demonstrates liturgical dance moves. 8

David s Senior High Bible Study Thursdays, 6-7:30pm in the Atrium We have begun reading through the Gospel according to Mark, the first of the four gospels. This month, we'll also learn from excerpts of Adam Hamilton's book, Making Sense of the Bible, which helps us understand what it is, what it isn't, and how we should read and study it. We hope to see you there! An important part of this offering's success is being able to provide dinner. Would you be willing to bring dinner one night? If so, you can sign up here, and plan to prepare dinner for 10. Thank you so much! Senior Highs Save the Date Lock-In Movie Night Friday, November 6th at 6pm. World's Largest Corn Maze Adventure Sunday, October 11th After Worship Come to worship on Sunday 10/11 and then we will depart for Richardson Farm in Spring Grove, IL. We will caravan out, eat lunch, enjoy the farm's activities (hay rides, zip line, orbiting, and lots more) and return after dinner. Make sure you're along for this fun day together! It is recommended you bring $30 for admission and food, and $20 more if you want to go orbiting. Rev is happy to pay for anyone who needs the help, just make sure you come! Click here for more information on the maze. Get Involved with WPC Youth Ministries If you would like to be involved helping to make youth ministries happen at WPC, we need you to volunteer! Please contact David if you can pitch in, and we will put you to work for the good of our wonderful kids. Youth Introducing Junior High Youth Group!!! Sunday, October 25th from 4pm to 5:15pm We are starting a great new adventure as a church, by introducing a program just for Junior High kids. At the center of activity will be a twice-monthly Junior High Youth Group, for 6th to 8th graders, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 4pm to 5:15pm. Included in the regular activities at Junior High Youth Group will be fun games, engaging discussions, bible study, and service activities. David will lead the group, and we have fun adult volunteers lined up, but the kids will come up with their own agenda and activities going forward, so that the group will grow and flourish. All the new Junior High Youth Group needs is kids to come and families to make it a priority! Thanks for your help launching this great new offering for our deserving junior highers. SPAGHETTI DINNER NIGHT Sunday, November 1st, 5pm, After Spooky Music Concert! WPC is offering a special afternoon of fun music at 4pm and a delicious spaghetti dinner from 5pm to 7pm. For dinner, WPC youth will prepare and serve a delicious Italian meal for us all, in order to raise money for their mission travels to Havana, Cuba next summer. Great music and great times with the church family on November 1st! Make sure you plan to bring friends! 9

Volunteering & Studies October 2015 Stephen Ministry A Call to Serve -by David Holly Approximately 2 ½ years ago, I felt drawn to an announcement in the program bulletin regarding Stephen Ministry. The announcement highlighted the role of Stephen Ministers as providers of one-on-one Christian Care to people in our congregation who are experiencing a variety of difficulties such as grief, job loss, divorce and/or a major life transition. The announcement ended with a Call-to-Action request to reach out to the Stephen Leader to learn more about this wonderful ministry. I remember thinking this ministry sounded great and aligned well with my spiritual gifts. However, there was one noteworthy exception, I needed to commit to 50 hours of training to become a Stephen Minister. At the time, I thought this was a real deal killer! I thought, there was no way with everything on my plate that I could do it all It just wasn t practical. Each Sunday, I continued to experience the same draw to the program announcement until one Sunday after worship, I decided to talk to the Stephen Leader about the ministry and training commitment. I learned that the training would be structured around the time preferences and availability the incoming Stephen Ministry class. While I still felt it was a big time commitment, I decided to listen to the call and commit and trust that God would provide the balance needed to manage my new schedule. (Our class agreed to meet weekly over a period of months and have a couple of Saturday extended sessions) Today, I know it was a blessing to heed a call to serve in a ministry that allows me to hone and apply my spiritual gifts. The topics covered in the training proved to be invaluable to my ongoing spiritual and personal development. Stephen Ministry has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my Christian life, one that I d like to see shared with others who have received a similar call. Yes, 50 hours is a lot of time, but in the context having an opportunity to serve as Christ has served us, it s really a manageable time commitment. We are actively seeking participant our next class of Stephen Ministers in 2016 If this ministry has been on your heart to explore, please contact anyone of your WPC Stephen Minister Team Members listed below: Stephen Ministers L to R: Bob Crowe, Liz Crowe, Allison Farnen, Lynne Fride, Margie McInerney, Linda Black. Not shown: Kirk McInerney Susan Colten Stephen Leaders David Holly We are actively seeking participant our next class of Stephen Ministers in 2016 If this ministry has been on your heart to explore, please contact anyone of your WPC Stephen Minister Team Members : 50 hours of skill based informative training Ongoing commitment of at least two years Speak to one of our Stephen Ministers to find that it is as fulfilling as you thought Applications are available through Susan Colten and David Holly Pray for your role in God's leading for this ministry 10

Presbytery of Chicago Presbytery of Chicago Assembly Meeting Summary First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, 9/15/15 The Presbytery of Chicago gathered at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn to worship, to do the work of the church and to thank Rev. Robert (Bob) Reynolds for his sixteen years of service as Executive Presbyter. It was a full meeting. The Presbytery Assembly examined two candidates for ordination: Terra Winston and Doreen Sterba DeZur. Terra, who comes to us from Western Reserve Presbytery (Cleveland, OH), has been called to serve as Christian Peacemaker Team Delegation Coordinator. Doreen, a member at the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange, has been called to serve as a chaplain resident at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. The Assembly approved an increase in the Presbytery share of per capita. With the General Assembly and Synod shares, the total per capita for 2016 is $33.00. The Presbytery s share has not increased significantly in years, and Chicago Presbytery has one of the lowest total per capita rates in the Synod of Lincoln Trails, even after this increase. The Assembly approved the sale of the of the Oak Lawn Community Church building for $1.2 million. The Oak Lawn congregation, which is facing a significant financial shortfall, put up its manse for sale. They were approached by a thriving Hispanic congregation that wished to purchase the church building instead of the manse. The session and congregation agreed. In the short run, the Oak Lawn congregation will rent space in a neighboring congregation. In the long run, the congregation hopes to renovate the manse as a worship space. The sale proceeds will allow Oak Lawn to hire full time pastoral leadership and revitalize its ministry to the community. The Assembly voted to form an administrative commission that would walk alongside three north-side Chicago congregations: Ravenswood, Rogers Park, and St. James. All three congregations asked the Commission on Ministry for an administrative commission to assist them in discerning God s will for their ministry. The Assembly also appointed a discernment team to work with the congregation and session of the Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, which is attempting to discern God s will for denominational affiliation, and received for first reading a revised version of the Presbytery s Personnel Manual. All was not work. The staff and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn extended generous hospitality to the Presbytery. The Glen Ellyn Sanctuary Choir graced the Assembly with an anthem based on the Prayer of St. Frances, which begins Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. The assembly also enjoyed vibrant music from the Contemporary Worship Team. Rev. Dan McNerney, of the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, preached a sermon entitled Waging Peace for the Kingdom of Heaven, based on Romans 12:9-11. Together, the Assembly shared the sacrament of the Lord s Supper, and made a generous offering to the Peace and Global Witness Offering, a new name for the Peacemaking Offering. As with the Peacemaking Offering, 25% of the offering can be used locally to support peace and global witness. In 2014, the 221st General Assembly proposed five peacemaking affirmations, and asked for presbytery feedback. The Presbytery reviewed the affirmations and submitted their straw votes and suggestions for alternate language. All suggestions are welcome and should be sent to the Stated Clerk (bbundick@chipres.org). This was the last Assembly Meeting for Executive Presbyter, Bob Reynolds, who retires on September 30, 2015. The incoming Transitional Executive Presbyter, Rev. Deborah (Debbie) Rundlett, was briefly introduced. She will begin serving on October 15, 2015, and will be featured at the November 21st Assembly Meeting in Lake Forest. The Commission on Ministry invited Bob, as a retiring teaching elder, to share his wisdom with the Assembly. Bob was honored over dinner as different people who have worked with him over the years spoke about his ministry to Chicago and the gift of his quiet leadership. The Assembly meeting ended with Litany of Farewell. Bob thanked the Assembly for its love, kindness and support. The Assembly thanked Bob for the ministry he offered, and released him from the duties of Executive Presbyter. The Assembly prayed together and sang together. The meeting ended, looking forward to an exciting future for Chicago Presbyterians. 11

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David 2 2pm After School Program 8pm AA Meeting 3 8am Men s Group 9am Making Sense of the Bible 9am Yoga Sanctuary 4 8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11:15pm Dance & Song 11:15pm Raising Compassionate Kids 5 12pm Men of the Church - Wilmette 6 10am Staff Meeting 7pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm AA Meeting 7 10:00am Bible Study with David 8 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 9 8pm AA Meeting 10 8am Men s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary 11 8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11:15pm Raising Compassionate Kids 12 13 10am Staff Meeting 11:30pm Senior Club 7pm Mission Team 7:30pm AA Meeting 14 10:00am Bible Study with David 7:15pm Deacon Meeting 15 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 16 8pm AA Meeting 17 8am Men s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary 18 8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11:15pm Dance & Song 19 4:30pm A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen, East Rogers Park 20 10am Staff Meeting 7pm Stephen Ministry 7pm Faith, Hope, Recovery, Kenilworth 7:30pm AA Meeting 21 10:00am Bible Study with David 22 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 23 8pm AA Meeting 24 8am Men s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary 25 8:45am Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11:15pm Dance & Song 11:15pm Raising Compassionate Kids 4pm Jr. High Youth Gr 26 27 10am Staff Meeting 7:30pm Book Club 7:30pm AA Meeting 28 10:00am Bible Study with David 7pm Session Mtg 29 9:30am LifeTalk at Café Aroma 6pm Youth Bible Study with David 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 30 8pm AA Meeting 31 8am Men s Group 9am Yoga Sanctuary 1255 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093 847.446.7777 Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 9am - 5pm Friday: 9am - 1pm www.winnpres.org facebook.com/winnetkapres twitter.com/winnetkapres office@winnpres.org 847-446-7777 Rev. David Lower Senior Pastor david@winnpres.org Rev. Ashley-Anne Masters Temporary Worship Supply Pastor Rev. Kathy Dale McNair Specialized Minister Mental Health Ministry kdmcnair@comcast.net Dina Price Administrator office@winnpres.org 12 ext ext 20 Geoff Duffy 24 22 Director of Music, Associate Director of Worship geoff@winnpres.org Rev. Diann Santschi Parish Associate of Pastoral Care and Counseling diann@winnpres.org Michael Jin Accountant mike@winnpres.org Chris Kenneally Custodian chris@winnpres.org 25 26