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May 09, 2009

O is for Openness: Making Space for God

The horns were playing as we entered the sanctuary last Sunday. The State St. Brass Quintet blessed us with their music throughout the service. They practice in our church weekly and were happy to join us for service ... and join us they did. It was magnificent and memorable. Thanks to the members and to Mary Martell, our director of music for this extra effort enjoyed by all in attendance. We hope the State St. Brass can come again soon! If you missed the service, you can hear them playing on: www.statestreetbrass.com

Pastor Vickie continued her series on how to "Stay in Love with God.” She is using a model that has broken the Spiritual practices into 7 categories. The Acronym for the seven weeks is WORSHIP: Staying in Love with God takes Practice.

Week One was “W is Wow!”
Last Sunday the sermon series continued with: O – Openness: Making Space for God

This week, in addition to honoring our Mothers, we will hear about:
May 10: R – Relinquish: Letting Go of False Idols

And down the road ...
May 17: S – Share: Moving beyond a personal faith

May 24: H – Hear: Listening for a Word from God

May 31: I – Incarnate: Imitating Jesus' Love for the World (our Rethinking Church Event)

June 7: P – Pray: Communicating with God

We also celebrated the baptism of Aiden John (AJ) Williams!

Church Retreat Registrations needed!
June 19-21 at Wesley Woods
Details are available through the church office ... or anyone who attended last year’s retreat. But, we need reservations now to make sure we have enough space held for our group! We’ve heard a lot of people are thinking about joining us, but we need the registrations completed and deposits turned in asap to secure the best lodging locations.

May Mission: Hygiene Kits
In the face of natural disasters, violence, or grinding poverty, Hygiene Kits can mean the difference between sickness and health for struggling families. See Poster Board in the Bacmeister room. How you can help: 1) Detach one or more of the items on the board.
2) Donate new items only and leave them in original packaging. 3) Bring the items to the church office by May 10th.

Confirmation: On May 17 Kyle Mitchell and Cole Keutzer will be confirmed during worship. The two boys have completed their confirmation class and are looking forward to joining the church. If you would like to affirm the boys in their decision to become members please create a bookmark which they can use in their new Bibles. The bookmarks can include inspirational thoughts, favorite Bible verses, or personal notes. Please put all bookmarks in Pastor Adam’s mailbox in the church office before May 10. Blank bookmarks are available in the church office. Thanks so much!

RETHINK CHURCH
On May 31, we are setting aside a day to worship God in a new way. We’ll gather for a brief worship time and then go out into the community to do two-hour service projects. More information will be available in church and we’ll have the projects and needed talents and tools listed on the website by May 17th! We’re thinking “outside the church” so come and be a part of this great day.

VBS: Vacation Bible School is coming to Irving Park UMC June 22-25 from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. If you have children between 4 years and 5th grade please sign them up by May 31. An informational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. All are invited (moved from May 4). We still have several spots available for volunteers: Craft Leader, Story Leader, Recreation Leader, Missions Leader, Lunch Helper, Class Leader, Teacher Assistant. Hope you’ll consider being present for our young people this week. For more information please contact Pastor Adam. adam.thompson@garrett.edu

Congratulations
Ashley Barlow, the fiancé of our own Adam Thompson, student pastor, was named the 2009 Barrington Woman of the Year. This is an annual award given by a city wide woman’s group. Ask Adam for details. Congrats Ashley!

Other upcoming events/small groups

Tuesday, May 12
6:30 pm Work Niters group
7:00 pm VBS meeting – all interested folks are invited to attend!

Wednesday, May 13
7:00 pm Bad Girls of the Bible group meets. All women are invited to join
us to discuss our next book and the future direction of this popular
small group for women, led by Pastor Vickie. We’ll meet at Superosa
restaurant on Central Avenue. Please rsvp to: vicci@therodgersgroup.com

Written Prayers Requested
The Harvest 2020 Spiritual Formation Prayer Group would like to prepare a
Devotional Prayer Booklet for the 2009 Northern Illinois Annual Conference.
Everyone is invited to write their own devotional to be shared in the booklet.
Please submit your prayers online by e-mailing them to contact@harvest2020.org
prior to May 31st. You may include your name (optional), our Chicago Northwest
District, and name of our church.
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Weekly
Sunday morning bible study, Book of Matthew, 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. All are welcome. We meet in the third floor chapel, up the stairs inside the Grace Street entrance. Contact David Foster for more information: david.foster2@att.net.

Tuesday - An Hour of Prayer with Pastor Vickie
Tuesday’s at noon join Pastor for a time of prayer in the Bacmeister Room. Stay for the entire hour or a portion of the hour. If you’re not in the area, pray from wherever you are at Noon on Tuesdays. For more information, contact Pastor Vickie.

Wednesday – After school program with Pastor Cecilia, 4 – 6 p.m. for school-aged children. Volunteers are needed and appreciated. Contact Pastor Cecilia for more information: ceciobret@yahoo.com

Thursdays, Bible 101, 7:00 p.m., led by Lowell Allen. Join in and become more familiar with your Bible. lowelldallen@att.net

Adult Choir Rehearsal – Sundays, 9:00, in Bacmeister room with Mary Martell.

Spanish Worship Service, Sunday at noon.

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Planning Ahead!

Sunday, May 17
Confirmation for Kyle Mitchell and Cole Keutzer
If you would like to share a favorite bible passage, a spiritual message or other thoughts with them, please send your contribution to their parents or to: Adam Thompson adam.thompson@garrett.edu or drop in Adam’s mailbox in the church office by May 10.

We receive the Passionate Spirituality Award for 2009 at the Aldersgate Celebration to be held at Bethany Retirement Home on Ashland Avenue. This is when the district celebrates healthy, growing churches and leaders in our district who are making a positive, transformative difference in the world for Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, May 20
7 p.m. Church Council meets in Fellowship Hall

Saturday, May 30
1 p.m. United Methodist Women will meet at the church in the Bacmeister room.

Sunday, May 31 - Special community outreach “Rethinking Church” Sunday.

June 14 – 18
Bear Lake Michigan Youth Group staying at our church and working on projects that benefit our church and the community.

Annual Church Retreat on June 19-21 at Wesley Woods in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. REGISTER NOW PLEASE.

Vacation Bible School June 22-25
“Lift Off! Soaring to New Heights with God.” Volunteers will be needed before, during and after VBS, in a variety of ways. Your help, for as little or as much time as you have to give, will be greatly appreciated. An information letter is available by contacting the church office. Please talk with Pastor Vickie and/or Pastor Adam as soon as possible. Together we can all make this summer outreach a success!

Summer Camps: Registrations are being taken for summer camps. For more information about Outdoor Retreat Ministries within the Northern Illinois Conference, check out: www.niccamp.org

Posted by vickie at 12:59 PM

May 07, 2009

W is for Wow!

Last Sunday Pastor Vickie started a sermon series on Spiritual Practices. In an effort to "Stay in Love with God" we are using a model that has broken the Spiritual practices into 7 categories. The Acronym for the seven weeks is WORSHIP: Staying in Love with God takes Practice.

W is Wow! Staying in the moment. Look for the things you are grateful for each day. Consider starting a journal and make an entry each day to remind yourself of something special that happened that day - a reason to be grateful - a Wow!

This week the sermon series continues with: O – Openness: Making Space for God

Looking ahead:
May 10: R – Relinquish: Letting Go of False Idols

May 17: S – Share: Moving beyond a personal faith

May 24: H – Hear: Listening for a Word from God

May 31: I – Incarnate: Imitating Jesus' Love for the World (our Rethinking Church Event)

June 7: P – Pray: Communicating with God

AND, join us this Sunday for the baptism of Aiden John (AJ) Williams!

Mission: In April, we exceeded our goal of $500 in financial donations to the Irving Park Community Food Pantry and came close to meeting our goal of 600 items. Thanks to all who participated in this mission work. You can continue to donate regularly to the pantry by bringing items to worship on Sundays or dropping items in the containers at the bottom of the Grace Street entrance. Non-perishable food items they are always in need of include: boxed meals, canned meat, cereal and soup. Non-food items include soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, disposable diapers and other toiletries. Thanks to Gerry Sikora for organizing this mission project.

Needed: A good recommendation on where we can get t-shirts for Rethinking Church. We’re designing the copy and graphics, but we’re seeking a good supplier. If you have suggestions, please contact Kent Keutzer: coachk1620@yahoo.com. Remember we are going out into our community during worship on the last Sunday of May as we show how we are “Rethinking Church.” Please contact the church office for a form about this important Sunday and community service.

Weekly
Sunday morning bible study, Book of Matthew, 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. All are welcome. We meet in the third floor chapel, up the stairs inside the Grace Street entrance. Contact David Foster for more information: david.foster2@att.net.

Wednesday – After school program with Pastor Cecilia, 4 – 6 p.m. for school-aged children. Volunteers are needed and appreciated. Contact Pastor Cecilia for more information: ceciobret@yahoo.com

Thursdays, Bible 101, 7:00 p.m., led by Lowell Allen. Join in and become more familiar with your Bible. lowelldallen@att.net

Adult Choir Rehearsal – Sundays, 9:00, in Bacmeister room with Mary Martell.

Spanish Worship Service, Sunday at noon.

---------------------------------------

Planning Ahead!

Wednesday, May 20
7 p.m. Church Council meets in Fellowship Hall

Saturday, May 30
1 p.m. United Methodist Women will meet at the church in the Bacmeister room.

Sunday, May 31 - Special community outreach “Rethinking Church” Sunday.

June 14 – 18
Bear Lake Michigan Youth Group staying at our church and working on projects that benefit our church and the community.

Annual Church Retreat on June 19-21 at Wesley Woods in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. REGISTER NOW PLEASE.

Summer Camps: Registrations are being taken for summer camps. For more information about Outdoor Retreat Ministries within the Northern Illinois Conference, check out: www.niccamp.org

Small Groups

In addition to our bible study and prayer groups listed under “Weekly” ...

Bad Girls of the Bible – contact Pastor Vickie for more information about this small group for women.

United Methodist Women – Please contact Joyce Mylander for more information. irvingparkumc@sbcglobal.net

WorkNiters – Join this group of men who do odd jobs around the church and gather for fellowship. Regular meetings are the second Tuesday night monthly, 6 – 9, and the 4th Saturday monthly 12-3 p.m. For more information contact Kent Keutzer, coachK1620@yahoo.com or 773-316-9755.

“Stewards of Creation” - contact Lindsey Elton for more information on this group dedicated to doing what’s right for our planet. lindseyelton@hotmail.com

Ministries of the Church - contact Pastor Vickie. hadvl@comcast.net

Gardening Group – contact Janet Spencer. jan_spencer@yahoo.com

Prayer Network - To become part of our praying group contact Tina & Wally Felckowski, bwf79@sbcglobal.net

Service & Outreach Opportunities

Mission Work. We are a Rainbow Covenant congregation. For more information about how you can be a part of this exciting work, check with Joyce in the church office or contact Lowell Allen: lowelldallen@att.net or Gerry Sikora at: gesikora@sbcglobal.net.

The Irving Park Community Food Pantry. This pantry operates out of the basement of our church where it was founded by one of our members over 25 years ago. Regular distribution is Wednesday morning, 9 – 12:30. The web site provides contact information if you have questions or want to volunteer. www.irvingparkfoodpantry.com

SPSARV, Substance Abuse And Related Violence. If you are interested in knowing more about this opportunity to becoming trained to help those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse contact Gerry Sikora at: gesikora@sbcglobal.net

Reconciling Ministries Network – this group has its national offices here in our church. For information on how you can help, contact Audrey 773-736-5526.

For more information about what’s happening in our part of the Northern Illinois Conference:
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/nillconf/Districts/ChicagoNorthwest/index.htm. If you would like to receive a weekly e-News update from the Northern Illinois Conference, send an email to: communications@umcnic.org and ask to be added to the distribution. This is a very useful update on what’s happening around the greater Chicagoland area.

Posted by vickie at 03:33 PM