Current News: May 16, 2010 - May 22, 2010 Archives

« May 02, 2010 - May 08, 2010 | Go Back to the Main Index of Email Updates | May 23, 2010 - May 29, 2010 »

May 22, 2010

Pentacost Sunday

It is Pentecost Sunday. The birthday of the church. Please come and see how the youth of our church interpret this important day in the life of the church.

Scripture readings this Sunday:
Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:15-23 John 17:20-26

And, we will say thanks and best wishes to our music director, Stephanie Escher. She graduated last weekend from Garrett Evangelical Seminary and will be pursuing her goals as a pastor. Best wishes to you Stephanie.

May 23 also is the second day of the Chicago Green Festival at Navy Pier. Lindsey Elton, our Green Team leader, has provided a free entry ticket (attached). She will be working there, so watch for her. http://greenfestivals.org/chicago.

Prayers of thanksgiving for the graduation from Garrett Theological Seminary for these 5 persons – Emily Slavicek, Teri Lafferty, Stephanie Escher, Adam and Ashley Barlow-Thompson. We are proud of all of them! May God be with them, as they move on in their pastoral journey.

Prayers:
For the youngest child of Lowell Allen, David Theodore Allen. His physical this week revealed prostrate cancer. Markers should be between 1 and 3. His is 500. He goes to oncologist tomorrow to begin the procedures. David is 51. He is grandpa of Allison Grace LaFavre. She is scheduled to begin surgery on her spine. Hold the family in your prayers.

Wally Felckowski who came through foot surgery this past week. He is limited to his recliner for now, but is doing well.

Runners/Joggers… join us for our first ever run along the lakefront on Saturday, June 5th at 8:00 a.m. Strollers welcome! We’ll be doing 3-4 miles then go for breakfast afterwards. Meet at Wilson and Lake Shore Drive. Park in the large lot on the north side of Wilson, on the east side of the lot. For more information contact Stacy Blaha mblaha1@aol.com or Pastor Vickie hadvl@comcast.net

Construction continues! If you haven’t driven by the church in the past few days you haven’t seen the scaffolding that is now set up and the work that is underway. Daily working hours will be from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Watch this weekly newsletter for photos and updates!

Caring for Creation 2010 – CANCELLED for this summer
We didn’t get enough interest in this program to move forward with it this summer. Thanks to Tracey and Gregg Mitchell for all of the work they put into the organization and initial start-up. We will try again next year!

Church camp registration forms and funds due. Contact Meg Green: mmrgreen@sbcglobal.net for more information. This is a fun and faith-filled weekend for all. The event is in June, but reservations are due now. $85 adults and youth age 12 and older. $55 youth 4-11. Children 3 and younger are free.

Please keep all those who have suffered loss or illness, lack of work, heartbreak or other life challenges in your prayers. Also raise up your joys! 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

May Mission: Irving Park Community Food Pantry.

--------------------
Coming up:
Wednesdays – after school program (in Spanish) sponsored by Mission Hispana – 4-6 p.m. in fellowship hall for elementary age children.
Wed., June 2nd, 7:00 p.m. Trustees meet in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, June 6th, 11 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall (includes set-up and clean-up) Hispanic Mission’s Dinner Fundraiser. All are encouraged to support their ministry through this fundraiser. More details to come.
Tues., June 8th, 7:00 p.m. Finance Committee meets in Bacmeister room
Sunday – June 13 – New member Sunday and Celebration of Worship Ministries. Don’t miss this important and fun day. According to our organizing chef this will be the “TY BBQ”. Details to follow.
June 13-16 – Northern Illinois Annual Conference in Saint Charles, Pheasant Run. The theme is Radical Disciples - Abundant Fruit. More information available at: www.umcnic.org
Caring for Creation 2010 – Summer Camp June 22 through August 10 @ IPUMC
CHURCH CAMP: June 25 – 27, Wesley Woods, Wisconsin
September 25, Saturday evening. Church Fundraiser. Family friendly program. Details to follow.
Would you like to help your neighbors in need? Hands to Help is currently seeking volunteers to help welcome and register drop in clients on Wednesday mornings between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church. Hands to Help reaches out to homeless people and those in danger of becoming homeless on the Northwest side, with budgeting, referrals, and rental assistance. There will be a training session on Wednesday, June 9 from 9 - 11 a.m. At St. John's (3857 N. Kostner Ave). For more information contact Laura Singer at 773.736.2562 or lts72@aol.com. You can find out more about Hands to Help or donate to our cause at: www.handstohelpministries.org

Posted by vickie at 11:16 PM

Ascension Sunday

Celebrating Graduation Day

May 14 – Graduation ceremonies for students of Garrett Evangelical Seminary. Keep in your prayers these graduates who are close to us here at Irving Park United Methodist! They all receive their Masters of Divinity today and move on to their commissions, or additional steps in their work for our Lord.
Teri Lafferty (she is a member of our church and is staying in Chicago so we’ll look forward to seeing Teri in church soon to congratulate her).
Stephanie Escher (with us at IPUMC for a little longer as music director)
Emily Slavicek (returning to Michigan where she will be a Lead Pastor, see details below)
Adam and Ashley Barlow-Thompson (Adam was the student pastor before Emily at with IPUMC. They are returning to Kansas. We hope to have details on their next steps soon.)

Ascension Sunday

Scripture readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, John 17:20-26
Pastor’s sermon: “Open the eyes of your heart.”

Last Sunday was a celebration of Mothers and our Confirmation Class. The bi-lingual worship service with Mision Hispana, included Rev. James Preston, our district superintendent. The four Pastors sent our five confirmands out with blessings from the church and the charge to spread the word of the Lord. We heard individual faith statements from Ruby Keutzer, Jackie Schulz, Abraham Dadoub, Daniela and Alejandra Ruiz. Thanks also to their mentors who guided these young lives along with Pastor Emily and Pastor Vickie over the past nine months: Pam Kleinert, Lindsey Elton, Kristi Carpenter, Gregg Mitchell and Vicci Rodgers Keutzer. Gratitude from the confirmands and their families to all who helped with the celebration meal that followed worship, for the bibles and other gifts the youth received from the church! REMEMBER: Sunday – May 23 – on Pentecost Sunday these Youth will lead worship at 10 a.m. They are excited and working hard to make this an inspirational and “contemporary” service including lyrical dance, Christian rock music and much more! Let’s show them our support.

We had a teary and emotional sendoff for Pastor Emily as she completed her internship with us. She leaves graduation today and returns to Michigan where she will complete her CPE (Clinical Pastoral Care) at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo starting in mid-June and ending in August. Then Pastor Emily will report to her commission at Girard United Methodist Church in Coldwater, Michigan where she will be the Lead Pastor. We know how lucky this congregation is to have her guiding their faith journey. Thank you Emily for all you did for us. We will always remember your smile and your spiritual gifts! Girard United Methodist Church 990 Marshall Road, Coldwater - (517) 279-9418. In the attached picture, Emily is wearing the stole given to her by our congregation as a gesture of thanks and blessing for her future.

Construction is underway! If you haven’t driven by the church in the past few days you haven’t seen the scaffolding that is now set up and the work that is underway. Daily working hours will be from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Watch this weekly newsletter for photos and updates!

Garden Clean-Up – Thanks to Karyn Prather and her Mom for weeding and to Brent Prather for the new prayer bench and arbor. Karyn said there is more work to be done and asks anyone who is interested to contact her. She will have another gardening “event” in the near future. 773.907.5335 (work) 312.480.5874 (cell)

Prayers
From Rebecca Flores: "A few days ago my aunt Angie got a disease called celluliase. Today 5/11/10 my uncle's uncle died. His name was Fritz Riess. My cousin Sarah is really sad and so is my uncle. May the Lord be with them."

Tim Rasey is having an angiogram today. Wally Felckowski is preparing for foot surgery. Prayers for them and their families.

Please keep all those who have suffered loss or illness, lack of work, heartbreak or other life challenges in your prayers. Also raise up your joys! 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

May Mission: Irving Park Community Food Pantry.

Would you like to help your neighbors in need? Hands to Help is currently seeking volunteers to help welcome and register drop in clients on Wednesday mornings between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church. Hands to Help reaches out to homeless people and those in danger of becoming homeless on the Northwest side, with budgeting, referrals, and rental assistance. There will be a training session on Wednesday, June 9 from 9 - 11 a.m. At St. John's (3857 N. Kostner Ave). For more information contact Laura Singer at 773.736.2562 or lts72@aol.com. You can find out more about Hands to Help or donate to our cause at: www.handstohelpministries.org

--------------------
Coming up:
Wednesdays – after school program (in Spanish) sponsored by Mission Hispana – 4-6 p.m. in fellowship hall for elementary age children.
Wednesday, May 19, 7 p.m. - Church Council meets in Fellowship Hall
Thursday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. - Communications Team meets at Vicci’s home
Sunday – June 13 – New member Sunday and Celebration of Worship Ministries. Don’t miss this important and fun day. According to our organizing chef this will be the “TY BBQ”. Details to follow.
June 13-16 – Northern Illinois Annual Conference in Saint Charles, Pheasant Run. The theme is Radical Disciples - Abundant Fruit. More information available at: www.umcnic.org
Caring for Creation 2010 – Summer Camp June 22 through August 10 @ IPUMC
CHURCH CAMP: June 25 – 27, Wesley Woods, Wisconsin
September 25, Saturday evening. Church Fundraiser. Family friendly program. Details to follow.

Posted by vickie at 11:10 PM