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September 24, 2009

Welcome to the Fall Season!

Greetings as we kick off the Fall season

From the mission committee
The United Methodist Women are gathering this Saturday, September 26 to celebrate Lisa Falconer's eminent delivery with a baby shower. All are welcome at this celebration. Financial gifts given will go to the Rainbow Covenant support for our Cambodian missionary. Should you be unable to attend, you can still honor the new baby by making a gift contribution. Just put your check in an envelope marked Lisa's shower.

Our Mission for October will be the Children’s Fund. Donations will be collected throughout the month of October. This is the Yellow Band in our Rainbow Covenant. Watch for more information to follow.

Prayers
Ellen Star’s mother, Edith, is going into surgery Thursday, Sept. 24. Ellen would appreciate some meals for her elderly father (he eats anything but beans). Call Ellen to make arrangements for meals or other ways to help: 283-1807 bepeace27@yahoo.com

The Keutzer family thanks the church family for the support provided. This link is to Kent’s sister’s obituary in the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. The picture was taken when Kelly traveled to Hawaii in April 2009.
http://www.legacy.com/Daily-Chronicle/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=133274810. Visitation (10 – 12 noon) and services (12 – 1) Saturday, Sept. 26 at Ginger Creek Community Church, 2850 Ginger Woods Parkway, Aurora, 60502, www.gingercreek.org.

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If you are interested in being part of our Prayer Network, or would like to have them pray for a special person or cause, contact Tina or Wally Felckowski: bwf79@sbcglobal.net
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Don’t miss the Blessing of the Animals in our church garden October 10.

Friends of Hands to Help Ministries
Shop & share days at the local Jewel Osco – October 5, 6 & 7 to benefit Hands to Help Ministries. Hands to Help will receive 5% of your purchase. The funds raised will be used for rental, utility, and transportation assistance. Hands to Help Ministries reaches out to homeless people and those in danger of becoming homeless on the Northwest side.

The Annual Earth Festival is this Saturday at St. John’s Episcopal Church located at the corner of Kostner and Byron in Old Irving Park. Stop by from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and see products that are earth friendly from vendors throughout Chicago. Great food and entertainment too.

Independence Park Farmer’s Market at Independence Park Sunday, Sept. 27 and Oct. 11. Don’t miss it. Here’s a video of a recent bluegrass jam at a recent market: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t89Oi3gwObI

Coming up ...
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 4-6 p.m. - Hispanic Ministry After-School Program Start-Up – Continues every Wednesday through Oct. 28
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. - Trustees meeting in Fellowship Hall
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m. - Dog blessing in our church garden followed by sidewalk doggy parade and benefit to help our service men and women.
Tues., Oct. 13th, 7:00 p.m. - Finance team meeting
Bible 101 class, begins Wed., Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m. Bible overview and what ties the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments into one book. Lowell Allen will lead the 6-8 week sessions.

Wed., Oct. 21st, 7:00 p.m. - Church Council meeting
Saturday, Oct.31, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Nothing But Nets Benefit, District Youth Event Kickoff. Glenview UMC.

Children are welcome in worship!
NURSERY CARE is provided for infants to 4 years old located beside Fellowship Hall in the lower level and SPROUTS, our Christian Education for children ages Pre-K to 5th grade. SPROUTS have their own special room, also in the lower level. No matter what age your child, we encourage them to stay for “A Time for Young Christians.”

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

Spanish Worship Service, Sunday at noon.

Tuesday - An Hour of Prayer with Pastor Vickie
Tuesday’s from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.- 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.

Posted by vickie at 01:02 PM

September 21, 2009

Welcome Emily Slavicek, new student pastor!

Last Sunday we bid farewell to the Houchins-Witt family who moved to Iowa. We pray for their safe travels as they get settled in their new home and community. They said we’ll see them at future church retreats!

We also welcomed Emily Slavicek, our new student pastor. And, we started the sign-up for our Fall classes, which continues this week. As you’ll see in the attached picture, there are many small group opportunities ... take time to sign up this week if you missed the chance last week. You will find a list of the small group opportunities on our web site and many are listed later in this email.

Prayers
This week Kent Keutzer and his family said good-bye to his sister, Kelly McCoy, who passed away at home on Sept. 16 with her husband and three daughters at her side. Thanks are extended to the IPUMC family for all of the support and prayers received over the past seven years that Kelly fought her breast cancer. Visitation (10:30 – 12 noon) and services (12 – 1) will be Saturday, Sept. 26 at Ginger Creek Community Church, 2850 Ginger Woods Parkway, Aurora, 60502, www.gingercreek.org.

Ellen Star’s mother, Edith, is going through extensive evaluation by doctors. Please keep Ellen, her father Edward, and her mother in your prayers.

Don’t miss the Blessing of the Animals in our church garden October 10.

This past week the Greater Chicago Food Depository announced that our Irving Park Community Food Pantry will receive the 2009 GCFD Best Community Outreach Award on September 25th during the Agency Day Luncheon. Thank you to all who help to make a difference by supporting our IPCFP.

This Sunday: Sprouts Sunday School will be held during worship this week for youth in K-5th grades. Choir rehearsal at 9 a.m.

The start-up meeting for the 2009-2010 confirmation class is postponed. Watch for new date.

From the mission committee:
The United Methodist Women are gathering Saturday, September 26 to celebrate Lisa Falconer's eminent delivery with a baby shower. Financial gifts given at this gathering will go to the Rainbow Covenant support for our Cambodian missionary. Should you be unable to attend, you can still honor the new baby by making a gift contribution. Just put your check in an envelope marked Lisa's shower.

Thanks
To Kent Keutzer and Gerry Mylander for completing long-overdue repairs to the church sign on the Keeler corner. It now shines brightly day and night.

To the Prather family for the beautiful fall mums on our Keeler steps. If you would like to help bring more fall colors to our gardens, please feel free to place them in pots in the Keeler garden.

This week ...
Kids sale and Farmers Market at Portage Park this weekend www.friendsofportagepark.org for more information. Shop for gently used kids' clothing, toys or equipment at reasonable prices. $1 suggested donation at the door. All proceeds will go towards the playground renovation project.

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. – Deborah’s Circle meets at the church. Bring a dish to pass.

Also coming up ...

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m. - Dog blessing in our church garden followed by sidewalk doggy parade and benefit to help our service men and women.
Saturday, Oct.31, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Nothing But Nets Benefit, District Youth Event Kickoff. Glenview UMC.

Posted by vickie at 02:30 PM

Good luck Houchins-Witt family & Teri Lafferty/Fall Program Kickoff

We have a lot to share this week, so please read on to hear about: our farewell to the Houchins-Witt family this Sunday, our Fall program kick-off, our new Student Pastor - Emily Slavicek, Teri Lafferty’s report as she enters her final year of seminary, donation of backpacks to children at a local school, confirmation sign-up, and much more.

Thanks go out to Rev. Dwight Stewart who joined us as guest pastor last Sunday. Pastor Vickie returns this Sunday as we kick off our Fall programming.

This Sunday: Come early or stay a little late to learn more about the small groups and programs available to all ages – some are established and others are being considered based on level of interest. Sprouts Sunday School will be held during worship this week for youth in K-5th grades. Choir rehearsal resumes at 9 a.m.

Following worship we will enjoy cake and fellowship as we say thanks to the Houchins-Witt family for all they have contributed to our congregation and community during their time with us. They are moving to Iowa. A BBQ will be held at the Kleinert/Knutson home starting around 12:30. 5834 W. Eddy (one block south of Addison) Chicago. Meat will be provided. Please bring a dish and beverage to share.

Welcome to Emily Slavicek – Our New Student Pastor
Emily’s picture is attached so you can try to pick her out in worship this Sunday – sans the antlers! The photo was taken during a recent trip to Alaska. Yes, she loves the outdoors. Emily is a third year seminarian at Garrett Evangelical Seminary, working toward ordination as an elder in the West Michigan Conference. Last year she worked with University Christian Ministry, a campus ministry at Northwestern. She hails from Stevensville, Mich., where her parents still live. Emily likes to hike, backpack, bake, read, eat and try new things. She says she is very excited to be a part of the ministry at Irving Park this year.

“I like to meet people where they are and just walk together in faith, asking the big questions, learning together more about our great Creator. I look forward to new experiences at Irving Park, especially working with Pastor Vicki in worship. This will be a great year of new experiences.” - Emily

Update from Teri Lafferty – she is entering her final year of seminary
Teri is known to many in our congregation as she has been a member for a very long time. A few years ago she got her calling to enter the ministry and we are her sponsoring church. Starting this month, Teri will serve at Bethany/Methodist Hospital on Ashland. Teri and Emily know each other as they are both students at Garrett! Teri’s update is attached and follows later in this email. We’re excited for you Teri.

Looking for Confirmation Candidates!
Parents and youth interested in the 2009-2010 class should attend this meeting following church on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 11:45 a.m. All youth ages 12-14 are invited to come learn about this important life journey.

Back to School
With the start of Chicago Public Schools this past week, children are back to classes and adults are returning to their various institutions of higher learning. The attached picture shows our Blessing of the Backpacks service two weeks ago when we joined together to bless the donations made to children in need, as well as to pray for our own students (children and adults) who are returning to school. This week, when Pastor Vickie realized we had a few additional backpacks she called the Disney II Magnet school and they identified children who were in need. With the help of several members of our congregation, and the Food Pantry, we were able to help more students get off to a good start. Thanks to everyone who helped with this important outreach.

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

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In case you missed it, the September issue of the Old Irving Park Association newsletter is chock full of stories about activities underway and upcoming here on the corner of Grace and Keeler. We even made the cover photo!

Posted by vickie at 02:29 PM