The Good News LYONSVILLE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST "A Home for The Spiritual Journey" Rev. Dr. Thom Bower, Interim Minister June 2017 Gary Boxell, Editor Labyrinthine Summer Inside this issue: Worship Opportunities Birthdays and Anniversaries Remember in Your Prayers Mark Your Calendars 2 3 3 4 Join Us 5 Thank You Notes 5 General News 6, 7 Mission Board News 8, 9 It is unusual for Pentecost to fall in June but that s what we get this year! The birthday of the church, Pentecost commemorates the arrival of the Holy Spirit after Jesus resurrection, empowering believers with spiritual gifts for the good of the church. To symbolize the presence of the spirit, the church and its members are adorned in red. So wear your favorite red shirt or other red clothing on this Sunday! This year, Pentecost Sunday marks our entry into Summer. June 4th will conclude the choir season (Thanks choir! Thanks Mike!) and the Sunday School Year (thanks Sunday School teachers!) (there will be some sort of Sunday School during the summer ). On June 11th we ll begin summer worship in the fellowship hall. This year our summer worship will focus on three things. First, we re going to focus on the labyrinth as a spiritual exercise. Second, we ll look at Bible stories that demonstrate the spirituality of the labyrinth. These will alternate between stories of Jesus and the stories of Elijah as an example of faith-journeying. Third, I am working closely with Jim to create worship experiences so expect a bit more music, but also some worship activities. We ll also be starting up a Wednesday night bible study with Burr Ridge UCC (Thanks Gary!). No longer slaves but free will look at the story of Passover and Exodus as told in different parts of Israel s and Judah s history. This is one part introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, one part history, one part devotional. With the guidance of Jim Molina, we re looking to increase our social media presence. He s already been improving our Facebook events (Thanks Jim!), and plans a much larger push for fall activities. Throughout the summer he is planning several small introductions on ways you can help promote Lyonsville s social media. The first of these is June 11th after worship. (Continued on pg. 2)
Page 2 The Good News The Mission Ministry Board has several summer activities planned. In addition to the monthly service at Greater Chicago Food Depository, there s an afternoon planned at Feed My Starving Children on June 20. There s also a Pizza and Game Night on June 23. We ve got a church picnic planned for July 9th at the Acacia clubhouse. Last year the clubhouse and other sites were not available (that s how we ended up at Patrick Ferguson s house thanks Patrick!). This year we got to planning a bit earlier. More details will be coming, but mark the date on your calendar. All these are good ways to be the church on this winding roadway of faithfulness. Peace! - thom Date 4 June Pentecost Communion Scripture Story Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 Lay Reader Announcements / Joys & Concerns Doug Adams Judy Birmingham 11 June Psalm 119:97-105 Nayna Byers Karen Oberg 18 June Calling of Matthew Matthew 9:9-26 (ord10a) 25 June Elijah & Widow 1 Kings 17: 8-24 (ord10c) 2 July Journey Together: Communion Communion 9 July Journey Together: congregational church picnic Jean Hegner Sherry Suomi Cindi Fiandaca Communion Servers for June 4th: Marcia Homa, Gail Rybowiak, Mary Ellis, Cindy Shurig
The Good News Page 3 Happy Birthday (click here for birthday wishes) Justin Skweres 6/3 Jean Hegner 6/5 Rob Mueller 6/6 Chloe Cihak 6/7 Ellen Corlett 6/9 Justin Hegner 6/16 Pricie Rogan 6/16 Lauren Castner 6/20 Kelsey Byers 6/23 Chuck Helms 6/30 Christy Smith 6/30 Sanna Bashor 7/1 Nick Guglielmi 7/2 Michael Baker 7/3 Marion Randolph 7/4 Peter Schuch 7/6 Adeline Brocken 7/7 Beth Doria 7/8 Dawn Snell 7/11 Penny Taylor 7/11 Jean Dawe 7/14 Melissa Hendricks 7/18 Charlotte Mikat-Stevens 7/24 Bob von Trebra 7/31 Happy Anniversary Aleta & Michael Belletete 6/1 Nicole & Art Helms 6/5 Maria & Chris Korber 6/5 Jean & Robert Hegner 6/10 Marianna Mikat-Stevens & Rom Stevens 6/13 Erika & Joe Wierdak 6/19 Susan & Rob Mueller 6/25 Beth & Larry Doria 6/26 Sanna & Darrel Bashor 6/30 Carrie & Michael Molloy 7/3 Laura & Bruce Cady 7/12 Lauren & Thomas McSweeney 7/29 Sherry & Bob Mueller 7/31 Please contact the church office if any information is missing or incorrect. Remember in Your Prayers Gladys Clendenin Marvin Davis Jean Dawe Jamie Hankus Chuck Helms Chuck Holloway Mike Kelly Barbara Loehman Byron Loehman Kathy Loehman Jeanne Pierson Marion Randolph Beth Smidt Dee Wallace
Page 4 The Good News Mark Your Calendars Craft Sunday - On Sunday, June 4th, we will gather to make fleece pull toys for dogs and cats. If you would like to participate, please bring fleece and we will show you how to cut and braid it. The toys are made by braiding fleece and can be done by all ages. The toys will be donated to the Hinsdale Humane Society. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Birmingham. Our next labyrinth walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 17. Feed My Starving Children - our next volunteer time at FMSC will be Tuesday, June 20th from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Aurora location. Please let Judy Birmingham know if you would like to go. FATHER S DAY is Sunday, June 18. On Friday, June 23rd, at 6:00 we will get together for a make your own pizzas and game night. We will take up a free will offering and the donations will be sent to Feed My Starving Children. I hope you can all attend for a time of fun and fellowship. Bring your friends!
The Good News Page 5 Join Us MEN S BREAKFAST GROUP meets on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at Willow Hills Restaurant, next to Walgreens at Joliet Rd. and Willow Springs Rd. in Indian Head Park. All men are welcome to join us for this chance to eat and talk! For more information contact Gene Martin. WOMEN S BABY BOOMER BUNCH (WBBB) will meet for breakfast at Juicy-O restaurant at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 3. They will also meet Saturday, July 1 at Juicy-O. All boomers and their friends are invited. Contact Judy Birmingham for more information. Thanks to Patti Haigh for donating the proceeds from her garage sale to the church, and thanks to all who helped with the sale. Thank you, thank you, thank you to our entire Lyonsville family for you kind thoughts, prayers, precious phone messages, beautiful sympathy cards and your generous donations to Lyonsville in loving memory of our beautiful mother, Jane Hyde Kuhn. We would like to thank Pastor Thom for his comforting words, support, and reflection given at our mother s memorial service. A very special thanks goes out to Laurie Tsukuno, Cindy Schurig, Melissa Corlett, Karen Oberg, Kathy Richel, Doug Adams, and Judy Birmingham for all your help in the kitchen at the memorial reception. Finally, we would like to thank the following members of the Lyonsville Cemetery Board: Bruce Cady, Mark Richel, and Michael Belletete for ensuring Mom s final resting place. May God bless all of you with gratitude and love, The family of Jane Hyde Kuhn
Page 6 News from The Pews The Good News Sunday Discussion Group: Noon in Pastor s office. We have selected Dietrich Bonhoeffer s The Cost of Discipleship as a discussion starter for insight to addressing our own present social issues. All are welcome, and anyone may bring up what current social issues concern them. We will challenge one another, and we will hold one another accountable to civil discourse. UPDATED CHURCH DIRECTORIES are available in the church office. We have stopped placing them in the back of the sanctuary. Manna gift card orders Forms will be ready May 1 and will be in the Narthex. The orders will be due on June 4 and the will be distributed on June 11. Please see Cindi Fiandaca for more information. Gift cards for Constance Morris House - We have been in touch with the Constance Morris House and they are in need of gift cards for their residents. In particular, they would like Target, Walmart, Walgreens and gas cards. As we are currently processing orders through Manna, we thought this would be a good way to help out both the Constance Morris House and Lyonsville by purchasing gift cards through Manna. If you are interested and need an order form, please let one of us know. Orders are due by June 4th with a delivery date of June 11th. Thank you, Judy Birmingham, Nayna Byers, Cindi Fiandaca, Melissa Corlett Summer Bible Study 2017 We are no longer slaves but Free Wednesday 7-8:30 June 7 to August 30 The repeated theme of Passover and Exodus through the Hebrew Scriptures. This is one part introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, one part history, one part devotional.
The Good News Page 7 We are in need of volunteers for Lay Reading, Announcements and, Joys and Concerns, Ushers and Offertory. Please contact Wilam Mrazek, Doris Beutel or Jean Hegner if you wish to sign up for any of the above. Thank you to those who already help out, and welcome to new volunteers. Dear Members and Friends of Lyonsville Congregational UCC; I come as chairperson of the Stewardship Committee with a request. Sunday May 14th began Lyonsville's 174 th anniversary. As you may know, for a number of years, our finances have been running at a significant deficit. Recently the number and dollar amount of annual pledges has been declining, so our budget deficit is getting larger. When we ask for donations for one of the many missions we support, your response is regularly overwhelming. Our church s food pantry, Heifer International, Feed My Starving Children, the Christmas Fund, Crop Walk, One Great Hour of Sharing, etc., have all received generous support from our congregation and friends. As we prepare to call a newly settled Pastor, we ask ourselves: if we can be generous to others, can we be as generous to Lyonsville? We are asking everyone who can, to please give a birthday present to the Lyonsville general operating fund this summer. We are hoping you can symbolically match the number of years our worship community has been together with a $174.00 donation. Of course, donations can be made in smaller amounts or installments. Whatever you can give will be gratefully accepted. We will have envelopes with a birthday cake in the Narthex to use for your donations, or write 174 in the memo line of your check. Paraphrasing the words of singer Lonnie Donegan, if everybody gave, then we could save Lyonsville church. Please add Lyonsville Congregational UCC to your prayers and prayerfully consider making this small gift for the sake of our worship community and the future of our church. On behalf of the Leadership Council Thank you, Doug Adams Stewardship Committee, Assistant Moderator
Page 8 The Good News News From Your Mission Board Household items/clothing for Food Pantry - We have set up a few shelves to display household items (pots, pans, small appliances, etc.) and a rod for clothing for items to be donated to our food pantry guests. They are welcome to take whatever they can use. Linda Hankus is monitoring this and if an item sits too long, she takes them to the Good Will store. If you have gently used household items or clothing that you would like to donate, please bring them to church and give them to a member of the Mission Board or Linda Hankus. In June we are collecting peanut butter and jelly for the Lyonsville food pantry. If you would like to donate, please bring your items and put them in the donation box on the landing. Thank you. GOOD SAMARITAN FUND On Communion Sundays, donations are invited to the Good Samaritan Fund, which is used to provide assistance locally to persons in need. You may use the white offering envelopes in the pews, and indicate that the gift is for the Good Samaritan Fund. Thank you for your generosity! LYONSVILLE CHURCH FOOD PANTRY Come and help out at our own food pantry for just 45 minutes. It is on Sundays from 11:30am to 12:15pm. We would like to have two people there to help assist our guests/visitors during this time. You just need to help restock any food dropped off, check expiration dates, and help bag food. Please contact Karen Oberg or anyone on the Mission Ministry Board for June and July dates. Pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House We are collecting pop tabs to take to the Ronald McDonald House. We will have a collection container located in the fellowship hall. If you have any questions please see Cindi Fiandaca. Box Tops for Education We are also collecting Box Tops for Education to give to Byrne School. Collecting Box Tops is an easy way for schools to earn cash. It s easy to find Box Tops (a list will be by the collection box). In fact, you may have some in your home right now. All you have to do is clip the Box Tops from your favorite products and put them in the collection container located in the fellowship hall. If you have any questions please see a member of the Mission Board.
The Good News Page 9 Donation/Recycling Center Doug Adams and Judy Birmingham have put together a Donation/Recycling Center which will be kept in the west fellowship hall. We have six bins and will collect or continue to collect the following items: batteries (please bring in a plastic bag); empty pill bottles (please remove the label, if possible); baby items for the LaGrange Community Nursing Association; Hats, gloves, scarves, white tube socks for The Night Ministry; pop tops for the Ronald McDonald House and Box Tops for Education. By leaving these out in the fellowship hall, we hope that groups who meet at Lyonsville will learn about, and participate in, some of our missions. If you have suggestions for other items we can collect to either donate or recycle, please contact a Member of the Mission Board. GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Please come join us to help volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) on Saturday, June 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15. We will meet at church to carpool at 7:45. We also go every Wednesday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. (meet to carpool at 5:15). The GCFD, Chicago s food bank, is a non-profit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 678,000 adults and children in Cook County every year. They rely heavily on their volunteers to help repack bulk products, assemble boxes with assorted food, check expiration dates, glean produce, etc. Participants must be at least 14 years old. For more information go to www.chicagosfoodbank.org or see/call Cindi Fiandaca or Judy Birmingham to sign up. The depository would like all volunteers to register in advance. Please see our website (Volunteer Opportunities post) or contact the church office for a link to their website where you can easily do this.
Contact Lyonsville The Good News is produced monthly, except for a combined July/ August edition. Phone 708-246-1255 Email Lyonsville@sbcglobal.net Visit us on the web at www.lyonsvillechurch.org Please submit your articles to lyonsville@sbcglobal.net. The deadline for the next issue is June 18. Please return this form to update your contact information. Please correct the information on the mailing label. No thanks. Please remove from mailing list. I prefer email delivery. Here s my email address: LYONSVILLE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 6871 Joliet Road Indian Head Park, IL 60525