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July 22, 2009

Reconciling Ministries Celebration Sunday

This week we celebrate being a Reconciling congregation. Audrey Krumbach the Young Adult Outreach Coordinator, and G-ETS graduate, will preach. Come hear personal testimonies from our partners in ministry upstairs, Reconciling Ministries Network — working for full inclusion in our denomination for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual folks. Irving Park UMC has been passionate about being open and welcoming to ALL people since 1988 — long before it was “fashionable!” Pastor Vickie hopes you will make the time to come hear about the inspiring and difficult work that is being done.

Remember Sprouts is happening during the summer so come to worship and bring your children. Sina Kraneis will be your leader this week. This is Sunday School for our youths up to 5th grade. We also have full nursery care every Sunday for our babies and toddlers.

Progressive dinner to support Hands To Help Ministries – tomorrow night – July 23!
Join Pastor Vickie and Mark at the 7 p.m. seating. Explore local restaurants, eat a great meal, support a good cause! Thursday, July 23, 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. First course at Meisa Café, 4908 W. Irving Park Road (soup, salad) Second course at Artemio’s, 4918 W. Irving Park Road (quesadillas and burritos) Third course at Las Tablas, 4920 W. Irving Park Road (steak, yucca and desert). Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. To purchase tickets, go to handstohelpministries.org or call (773) 685-8693. Sponsored by the Six Corners Association, proceeds benefit Hands To Help Ministries, a volunteer organization that fights homelessness in Portage Park and Irving Park.

Eco Movie Night at IPUMC, Next Wednesday, July 29, 7 – 9:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall
Movie - Disney's "Earth," or "Happy Feet."
Extras - We'll be watching the large screen, popping up some fresh popcorn, BYO beverage.
Tables and chairs will be set out, but all are free to bring blankets and pillows to sit on the floor.
RSVP – by Sunday, July 26 (just to get an idea of who's coming) to Lindsey Elton (leelton@gmail.com)

Nevada Iowa United Methodist Church Youth Group Arrives Thursday, July 30!
Plan to Join This Great Group Who Returns for a 4th Time to Help Our Church & Community. If you are interested in being involved, please contact Vicci or Kent Keutzer, vicci@therodgersgroup.com, coachk1620@yahoo.com.

Pastor Adam Thompson (our student pastor) and Ashley Barlow (a student pastor at Barrington UMC and co-leader of our summer VBS and 2009 confirmation class) will be married on August 1st, 2009. We send our shouts of joy, prayers and best wishes to them, their families and friends. We’ll have a gathering when they return from their honeymoon.

The Polish American Camp group continues their summer day school here. It is held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday every week, 8:30 – 5:00 p.m. and will last through August 13th.

Keep worship on your schedule this summer. Here is a rundown of who will be leading us on Sunday mornings. AND, send a reply email to this message if you have a vacation or summer spiritual experience you want to share! We’ll be featuring these in our weekly messages.

Summer 2009 Worship Schedule

August 2: Pastor Vickie preaching. Special music by Nevada Iowa Youth Group
P.M: Join Pastor Vickie and others at a Sunday night Rally at Evanston UMC. Featured speaker is Rev. Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church. Pastor Vickie says this is someone we need to hear! This event is part of the School of Congregational Development and is free.

August 9: David Foster preaching

August 16: Pastor Vickie preaching

August 23: Pastor Vickie preaching

August 30: Pastor Vickie preaching

July Birthdays and Anniversaries
July 22 Marian Van (born 1913)
July 25 Tracy and Gregg Mitchell – anniversary
July 29 Kathy Verschoor

Prayer requests:
Strength, patience and humor for Adam and Ashley as they enter these final days of planning before their wedding on August 1st
Safe travels for our visiting Mission group from Nevada, Iowa UMC
Anna Certa — health issues
Lisa Falconer’s mom
John & Lynn Trant — their daughter Tricia recently died. She had two teenage daughters.
Pastor Vickie’s niece, Kalie, and her husband Ken, who are due to have their first child August 1
All who are suffering with illness this summer

Prayer Network: If you are interested in being part of this group, or would like to have them pray for a special person or cause, contact Tina or Wally Felckowski: bwf79@sbcglobal.net

We are a Recycling Church! Please observe all posted signs which explain the “green church” process. Lindsey Elton from our congregation is leading our “Stewards of Creation” small group. Contact: lindseyelton@hotmail.com

Posted by vickie at 09:42 AM

July 21, 2009

Pastor Returns from Vacation

Pastor Vickie is back and we’re on track again. Here’s her message:

“Mark and I had a wonderful time in Michigan. Mark played 10 rounds of golf on his favorite championship course. The staff remembered him from last year and that made him feel good. You’ll have to ask him how he did. While golfing he spotted various forms of wildlife—turkey, fawns and their moms—sharing “their” golf course with him.

We spent time with family and friends. One old friend, Sara and I have known each other since we were little. Both our grandfathers were Methodist ministers and we met up at the lake each summer. She was up north from New York. It was great for me to catch up with her, and for Mark to get to know her too.

Heard some excellent preaching at Bay View. Rev. Dr. Leslie Griffiths preached on July 12. He’s the Senior Minister at John Wesley’s Chapel in England. He was very engaging and funny. When I went over to thank him for his message, we found out that we have some common friends. Just another reminder of how small the United Methodist world is!

In order to enjoy the extra ‘goodies’ I love to have on vacation, I made sure to get in a few runs along Lake Michigan. The dogs, Mark and I enjoyed going to a local nature preserve on Lake Michigan that has trails and sand dunes. Read two books –not on ministry—and enjoyed sitting in the cottage or at a coffee shop not doing much of anything!

Overall, it was a restful, laid back vacation. We are both looking forward to seeing all of you this Sunday, or in the near future, to reconnect.”
– Pastor Vickie

Remember Sprouts is happening during the summer so come to worship and bring your children. This is Sunday School for our youths up to 5th grade. We also have full nursery care every Sunday for our babies and toddlers.

Join us in worship on July 26 as we hear personal testimonies from our partners in ministry upstairs, Reconciling Ministries Network — working for full inclusion in our denomination for gay, lesbian, transgendered, and bisexual folks. Irving Park UMC has been passionate about being open and welcoming to ALL people since 1988—long before it was “fashionable!” Pastor Vickie hopes you will make the time to come hear about the inspiring and difficult work that is being done.

Progressive dinner to support Hands To Help Ministries
Explore local restaurants, eat a great meal, support a good cause! Thursday, July 23 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.
irst course at Meisa Café, 4908 W. Irving Park Road (soup, salad) Second course at Artemio’s, 4918 W. Irving Park Road (quesadillas and burritos) Third course at Las Tablas, 4920 W. Irving Park Road (steak, yucca and desert). Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Ice tea and soft drinks included; alcoholic drinks not included. Reserve today for first course at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, go to handstohelpministries.org or call (773) 685-8693. Purchase tickets by July 20. Sponsored by the Six Corners Association, proceeds benefit Hands To Help Ministries, a volunteer organization that fights homelessness in Portage Park and Irving Park.

Eco Movie Night at IPUMC, Wednesday, July 29, 7 – 9:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall
Movie - Disney's "Earth," or "Happy Feet."
Extras - We'll be watching the large screen, popping up some fresh popcorn, BYO beverage.
Tables and chairs will be set out, but all are free to bring blankets and pillows to sit on the floor.
RSVP – by Sunday, July 26 (just to get an idea of who's coming) to Lindsey Elton (leelton@gmail.com)

Remember, July 30 – August 7th - Nevada Iowa United Methodist Church Youth Group returns to our church to help with projects we need done and with work in the community. This is the third time over the past six years that youth and adults from this church have come to help us. In the past they have built fences, done gardening, cleaned, painted, repaired walls and doors and done much more. If you are interested in being involved in planning and hosting this group, please contact Vicci or Kent Keutzer, vicci@therodgersgroup.com, coachk1620@yahoo.com.

Summer 2009 Worship Schedule

July 19: Pastor Vickie preaching

July 26: Reconciling Ministry Sunday
Audrey Krumbach the Young Adult Outreach Coordinator, and G-ETS graduate, will preach. RMN staff will worship with us.

August 2: Pastor Vickie preaching. Special music by Nevada Iowa Youth Group

August 9: David Foster preaching

August 16: Pastor Vickie preaching

August 23: Pastor Vickie preaching

August 30: Pastor Vickie preaching

July Birthdays and Anniversaries
July 14 Betty Dietschak
July 22 Marian Van (born 1913)
July 25 Tracy and Gregg Mitchell – anniversary
July 29 Kathy Verschoor

Prayer requests:
Anna Certa — health issues
Lisa Falconer’s mom
John & Lynn Trant — their daughter Tricia recently died. She had two teenage daughters.
Pastor Vickie’s niece, Kalie, and her husband Ken, who are due to have their first child August 1

Prayer Network: If you are interested in being part of this group, or would like to have them pray for a special person or cause, contact Tina or Wally Felckowski: bwf79@sbcglobal.net

Upcoming meetings, events, opportunities

June – August – Polish American Alliance will once again use our Fellowship Hall and grounds for a summer camp for youth. This group was here last year and has asked to return. They will be here on weekdays. This building use was approved at the May Church Council meeting.

July 15 – Deborah’s Circle will meet at 7 p.m. at the Veranda Restaurant on Irving Park Road. We are studying parts of the book “Inheriting our Mother’s Gardens.” Contact Pastor Vickie for more information.

July 26 – Reconciling Ministry Sunday

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.

Spanish Worship Service, Sunday at noon.

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Small Groups

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

Deborah’s Circle – This is a small group for women who want to do book study and pray together. We meet the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. Call Pastor Vickie for more information.

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. We are calling our team the “Transitions Team” and we are looking at a 12-Step Resident home in the area to focus our work. 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 01:05 PM