The Immanuel Herald Sunday, December 3rd 1st Sunday of Advent 10:00 am Communion Worship & Church School Thursday, December 7th 11:30 am Women s Guild Sunday, December 10th 2nd Sunday of Advent Choir Christmas Program 10:00 am Worship & Church School Joyful Noise Collection for Uhlich Children s Home Deadline for Christmas Greetings 11:15 am Hannah Circle Cookie Sale 2:00 pm 2nd Sunday Concert Monday, December 11th 7:00 pm Church Council Meeting Thursday, December 14th January/February Herald DEADLINE Friday, December 15th 6:00 pm Men s Club Christmas Dinner Sunday, December 17th 3rd Sunday of Advent 10:00 am Worship & Church School Christmas Program Dedication of Christmas Fund Offering Poinsettia order DEADLINE Sunday, December 24th 4th Sunday of Advent 10:00 am Worship & Church School Christmas Eve Service 10:00 pm Candle Light Service Christmas Day NO WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday, December 31st 10:00 am Worship Service CHILD CARE is available on the lower level during Sunday worship 9:45 11:15 am A Message from Pastor Michelle Moving into Advent this year our theme is Holding Hope The Advent of Light I anticipate this time with great joy. December 10 th will be the Choir concert and our Children s Program will be on December 17 th. December 24 th is having to do double duty, as it is both the 4 th Sunday in Advent and Christmas Eve. In shared celebration with December 24 th, both of the worship services at Immanuel with begin at 10:00. The first, 10 AM as we celebrate the 4 th Sunday in Advent and then 10 PM for the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Holding onto Hope, as the darkness grows longer in each day, we cling to each other and the reality that Christ has come and is coming into our world with light. To encourage your hope and your journey I share two pieces of poetry that inspire me when the dark days of winter edge their way in. May you be blessed and know the love and light of Christ this season. Pastor Michelle The Sun Never Says - by Daniel Ladinsky Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, You owe me. Look what happens with a love like that, It lights the whole sky. December 2017 The Key Of Light - by IT'S ME K.S.Z On the cloudiest days and the darkest nights The sun still shines though it s not in sight Hidden and locked away within our minds There is this box full of perpetual sunshine Hidden and locked away within our hearts There is an ability to live life and experience all its parts Happiness is the first key to success Without happiness in the heart what is left? Look deep inside your soul and find The key to unlock the box of perpetual sunshine For without this key, this key of light The sun will still shine but will never be in sight Page
Position Date Worship Leaders For December Dec 3rd Dec 10th Dec 17th Dec 24th Dec 24th Christmas Eve Dec 31st Ushers Team #4 Team #1 Team #2 Team #3 Team #4 Team #1 Karen Wyka Erin Taylor Nancy Rahm Art Busse Karen Wyka Erin Taylor Liturgist Jane Feurer NEEDED Debbie Sue Ptak Tristan Taylor Bob O Neill Venhuizen Flowers Karen Wyka Jane & Duane Feurer Bulletins Karen Wyka Jane & Duane Feurer Rahm Family Poinsettia Poinsettia Madelaine Karge Rahm Family Madelaine Karge Madelaine Karge Madelaine Karge Fellowship NEEDED Hannah Circle NEEDED NEEDED N/A Bob O Neill Host Cookie Sale WHAT: 2018 Immanuel Hot Shots Basketball League WHO: Any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grader (boy or girl) WHERE: Immanuel United Church of Christ 9815 South Campbell Evergreen Park, IL 60805 FEE: $145.00 before Dec 2nd* LATE FEE: $200.00 After Dec 2nd *Registration is limited to the first 100 children that enroll in our program. After the deadline of Dec 2nd there is no guarantee that your child will be assigned to a team. DATES: Starts week of January 8, 2018 Ends March 17, 2018 FORMAT: Instructional Basketball Emphasis on fundamentals and team play Everyone plays 10 week Program Practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings Games will be played on Saturday morning. Visit our webpage for Registration Form Questions contact bengemann@sbcglobal.net December 2017 Page 2
Immanuel Community Preschool - Joyce Byrnes, Immanuel Preschool Director The month of November has been quite a busy month for Immanuel teachers and our little preschoolers! We are seeing progress in the classrooms as children learn beginning scissor skills along with other fine motor activities. Children are having fun creating a pinecone turkey table decoration, and children are also learning about being thankful as we celebrate this season! The Immanuel Preschool BASH event at Bourbon Street A BIG thank you to our Immanuel church family and to everyone who attended A special thank you to Bette Engemann who organized & worked so hard on this wonderful fundraising event! Thank you to those who bought raffle tickets, made donations, or helped in other ways. Cash raffle winners are 1st place Phoebe Gero (100 yrs. old!) 2nd place Doris Engemann 3rd place Linda Barrios Also, special thanks to ALL who put together such beautiful baskets for the silent auction! Many thanks to Reverend Michelle for the awesome photos taken of this memorable occasion! The BASH was a great success and a good time was had by all! Your generosity and support is truly appreciated! Other Notable News We are all so grateful and appreciative to Jean Feurer for starting Immanuel Preschool 48 years ago! It was so heart-warming to reunite with so many of our past & present preschool families & teachers. Immanuel Preschool also held its annual Fall Fannie May fundraiser which was also a huge success! We are truly blessed to have the support of so many wonderful preschool families. Mark your calendars for the Preschool Christmas Music Program Wednesday, December 20th - Schmiechen Hall. Morning class sings at 11:00 am Afternoon class sings at 1:15 pm Everyone is welcome! Deadline Sunday December 10th - Christmas Greetings Include your family in the Annual Christmas Greetings to our membership. In an envelope marked Christmas Greetings place an amount usually spent for cards and postage and specify exactly how your name is to appear on the greeting. Envelopes can be found in the church pews. Please place your completed envelope in the offering plate. Deadline Sunday December 17th - Poinsettias This year Poinsettias will grace our altar during the Sunday December 24th 10:00 am worship service and will remain on the altar for our 10:00 pm Christmas Eve candlelight service. Plants may be given in memory of or in honor of someone or just as a gift. NOTE: To blend with our advent theme Light breaking into darkness - hope overcoming despair WHITE Poinsettias are being ordered. The cost of the white poinsettias will be $19.00 per plant. Envelopes can be found in the church pews. Place your completed envelope in the offering plate. December 2017 Page 3
The Christmas Fund This special mission offering provides financial assistance to retired and active UCC-authorized ministers and lay employees, including their surviving spouses. Areas of assistance including pension and health premium supplementation, emergency assistance, and Christmas thank-you checks. Envelopes will be in the church pews beginning Sunday, Dec. 3rd Offering will be collected Sunday, December 17th A Gift Idea for this Holiday Season If you are willing to try something new this year, we would like to suggest A Reverse Advent Calendar. In Cook County 1 in 6 people will find themselves in need of a local Food Pantry this year. The mission of The Reverse Advent Calendar is to give to those most vulnerable in this sacred season. The traditional Advent Calendar we recall from childhood is one where we are invited to RECEIVE a gift, food, candy, or something else each day of Advent... A Reverse Advent Calendar invites you to be a generous giver. Each day you are asked to GIVE an item, something our local food pantry can use. First day of Advent, December 3, place an item in a basket/box/etc. Continue placing an item each day (Our Evergreen Park Food Pantry is happy to take food items as well as personal hygiene items.) OPTION: If you would rather, place $1-a-day aside. The food pantry uses The Greater Chicago Food Depository and can purchase $16.00 of food for each $1.00 given. Do the Math! 22 days in Advent = $22 which becomes $352 at the GCFD Please bring your Reverse Advent Calendar to worship and give it as part of your Christmas offering Sunday, December 24 (either the 10 AM or 10 PM service) December 2017 Page 4
December 24th Please join us for candlelight worship on Christmas Eve, 10:00 pm NO worship services on Christmas Day MISSION AND CARE NEWS: As the weather gets colder, please consider donating coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens. The Mission and Care committee, in collaboration with the Oak Lawn Health Care Rotary project, is helping collect these items. Donation box will be placed outside fellowship hall. Contact Nancy at nancyrahm@sbcglobal.net for more information. Men s Club Annual Christmas Dinner Friday, December 15, 2017 Doors open 6:00 PM Dinner served at 6:30 PM Dinner Menu Roast Pork with all the trimmings & dessert (prepared by Brad and Nancy Rahm) Entertainment by James Libera Tickets: Contact Art Busse at 708-388-1221 Adults $15 - Children (8-12) $7 - Children under 7 Free Ticket deadline Sunday, December 10th Immanuel United Church of Christ 9815 S. Campbell Avenue Evergreen Park, Illinois 60805 December 2017 Page 5
News of the Membership DEATHS Laverne P. Bresnahan Born: February 8, 1930 Died: November 5, 2017 Survived by: Son - Gregg (Susan) Bresnahan Son - Scott Bresnahan Daughter Jamie (Larry) Jungman Step-Daughter - Carly Skjelvik Bresnahan Grandmother of 3 1 sister and 3 brothers KEEP IN OUR PRAYERS Ruth Berg 4th - Brad Rahm 19th - Sue Ptak Judy Borowiak Marilyn Buikema Randy Ebling December Birthdays Don Mattz 14th - Ronnie O Toole Jr. 19th - Hannah Rahm God, if I m running, let It be from the stress of this hectic world and to your saving grace. 2nd Sunday of Advent Presents A Joyful Jubilee! Join us for an afternoon of your favorite Christmas carols and songs December 10th at 2:00 pm In this hectic season take a moment to relax and enjoy an afternoon of Holiday music. Invite your family, friends and neighbors to this beautiful event. In the Sanctuary at Immanuel United Church of Christ 9815 S Campbell Ave Evergreen Park 60805 Doors open early. Refreshments provided after the recital. Free will offering to be donated to local charity Happy Birthday to You! News from Hannah Circle Hannah Circle will be hosting their annual cookie sale on Sunday, December 10th after worship service. Purchase a box for $5.00 and then have fun filling with your favorite holiday goodies! If you would like to donate baked goods for our event, please see any Hannah Circle member. Women s Guild Meeting The Women s Guild will meet on Thursday, December 7th at 11:30 am in room #105. Hosting the luncheon will be your Executive Board. Following lunch we will enjoy hearing the Holiday Program of our Pre-School children. Guild members, remember to bring a $5.00 grab bag gift. Please join us for our Christmas Get-Together! December 2017 Page 6
ALTAR FLOWERS AND WORSHIP BULLETINS October 29th Altar flowers given in honor of Lauren and Jeff Brown on their 8th anniversary by John and Sue Ptak. November 5th Altar flowers given by Elsie Murlowski in thanks for everything - her health, her family, all of the many blessings and the goodness God has given. Worship bulletins given in celebration of the BASH. The success, the joy, and the combined effort that made it happen. November 12th Altar flowers for wonderful weather and fellowship during our time away by Gloria and Susan Artwohl. Worship bulletins for safe travel to and from Florida by Gloria and Susan Artwohl. November 19th Altar flowers and worship bulletins by Rev. Michelle giving thanks and praise to God for the amazing gifts of the spirit in each member and friend at Immanuel. The UCC StillSpeaking Writers Group will provide the Advent Devotional this year. The devotion is called Watch and will be out on the Narthex Tables beginning November 26 th. The following is from the UCC StillSpeaking Writers Group as they encourage us to invest our time each day in Advent in reading a bit from the book. What a Comeback! The Thief of the Lord Holy No We Are the Miracles If the above phrases don't scream Advent to you, and you're looking for a different way to experience Advent, check out Watch: 2017 Advent Devotional from the Stillspeaking Writers' Group. These devotions will satisfy your need for something different while providing a meaningful Advent journey you won't soon forget. We used to wear watches. Now we wear devices. Still strapped to the wrist. Still sometimes called watches. Still showing us the time. But mostly we check them for everything but the time our heart rate, driving directions to Fred s, how many steps we ve taken in a day, that there s a chance of rain. Which can be hazardous if we get absorbed in all that information and smack into a pole. (There s a reason the Advent scriptures tell us to lift up our heads.) But which can also be useful because for people of faith, telling time always involves more than a swift glance at digits on a screen. To know its half past three is simple. But to know the hour of judgment and grace is complex. It requires additional effort. To know that crucial hour and not miss it, you need to check your heart. Is it even beating? Racing in hope or sluggish with fear? You have to find directions. Which way now? Lost or found? And scan for gathering clouds. What kind of storm is coming? Will it rain down justice or sweep away the poor? And count your steps, to see how far you ve come by faith. For Advent s hour is not where the hands on the dial are pointing. It s where the signs of the times are pointing pointing me and you. Jesus says, Watch! So check yours often this season. (With your heads up, please.) And may these devotions help you to tell time truly: to feel your pulse, find the way, scan the skies, and count your steps on your way to God, who is even now finding a way to you, in flesh and blood and time. Watch, pay attention, stay wide awake, for the hour is coming.... - Mark 13:35 Mary Luti, for the Stillspeaking Writers Group December 2017 Page 7
Remembering our past, building our future The Immanuel Herald A Publication of IMMANUEL IMMANUEL CHURCH: SERVICE TO GOD S PEOPLE SINCE 1883 UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 9815 S. Campbell Avenue FIRST CLASS MAIL Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Phone: 708 424 3755 Fax: 708 424 0379 Visit our website: immanueluccep.org immanuel_uccep@att.net Help us save paper and postage and receive The Herald via e-mail. Please send your request to Immanuel_uccep@att.net December 2017 December 2017 Page 8