Congregational Church of Algonquin 109 Washington Street, Algonquin, Illinois 60102 847-658-5308

email: algonquinucc@gmail.com website: algonquinucc.org

“Living our faith in Jesus Christ through acceptance, service and love.”

Celebrating the Journey December 2016

Luke 2: 11 KJV

INSIDE

Clergy Corners pg. 2 Rev Cope pg. 3 Rev Arn The Bible Challenge/Crop Walk/Heavenly Attic/ pg. 4

Member Care

pg. 5

Group Studies

pg. 6

Activities

pg. 7

Missions

pg. 8 –10

New Members

pg. 11- 12 Celebrations/Notes/Reports

pg. 13

Worship Assistants

pg. 14

Calendar

pg. 15

Caroling/Cookie Sale/Visitation

pg. 16

Memorials/Poinsettias

pg. 17

Heavenly Attic/New Chairs

pg. 18

Faith in Action

pg. 19

About the CCA, UCC

Pg. 20

2 CLERGY CORNERS

Dear Friends,

The following is from an article in the New York Times on January 11, 2011:

Mark DeMoss, a Republican and a prominent evangelical Christian who runs a public relations firm in At-

lanta, initiated CivilityProject.org in January 2009 because of alarm over what he saw as the increasingly

vicious tone in American politics. He asked his friend, Lanny J. Davis, a Jewish Democrat and a lobbyist

who worked for President Bill Clinton, to join the effort.

They sent out 585 letters asking every sitting governor and member of Congress to sign a pledge that said:

I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior.

I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them.

I will stand against incivility when I see it.

Mr. DeMoss said in an interview that he is now folding the project after spending two years and about

$30,000 in expenses on the endeavor. Three legislators had signed the pledge. They were Senator Joseph

I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut; Representative Frank Wolfe, Republican of Virginia; and Rep-

resentative Sue Myrick, Republican of North Carolina. [He went on to say:] Whether or not there’s vio-

lence, whether or not incivility today is worse than it’s been in history, it’s all immaterial. It’s worse than it

ought to be.”

In the book, Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct, by P.M. Forni, 25 rules of

considerate conduct are listed:

I hope that you agree with me that there is not one item on the list that would be difficult for anyone to

accomplish. If we all lived like, this then just think of how pleasant life in our community would be. Throughout 2017

I will highlight two of these rules in each newsletter.

God has given us such a wonderful world; let us rejoice in it. Joy is contagious – so lets see what type of epidemic

of civility we can start.

Rev Cope

Pay attention Apologize earnestly and

thoughtfully

Don’t shift responsibility and

blame

Think the best Assert yourself Acknowledge others

Be inclusive Avoid personal questions Listen

Don’t speak ill Care for your guests Speak kindly

Respect even a subtle “no” Be a considerate guest Accept and give praise

Mind your body Think twice before asking for

favors Respect others’ opinions

Keep it down (and rediscover

silence)

Refrain from idle complaints Be agreeable

Respect other people’s time Give constructive criticism

Respect other people’s space Respect the environment and

be gentle to animals

CLERGY CORNERS 3

Blessings for the Journey… Rev. Arn

FAITH IS…

A great perspective keeper is in the words of the writer of one of the New Testament letters. It is written that…

“...faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval…”

Faith can help us manage our fear and worry. While we know in our minds that few things in life stay the same, we can trust our Christ Source by believing that faith is an ally and advocate within.

When stresses and pressures pile up and threaten to overwhelm us, we can tap into that deep inner reser-voir of faith. We can apply faith to shift the negative thinking by strengthening contact with our ultimate Source. God in turn faithfully directs us to other options and avenues for our persistent questions and needs.

When we are faith-based we become courage-directed in facing others, situations and circumstances. When we are faith-based we can bring something of our best to the challenges and issues in the natural flow of life’s ups and downs. Tapping into our inner resources of faith can renew, refresh, and restore us even in the most uncertain and demanding of situations.

Life often does not unfold as we expect or like. Days may not be as sunny as we would wish. We might continue to disappoint ourselves at times as well as others. Yet we shall be stronger because of the rich re-sources of faith.

I like the words of an anonymous author who wrote:

I believe in the sun—even when it does not shine; I believe in love—even when it is not shown; I believe in God—even when I do not hear God’s voice.

4 THE BIBLE CHALLENGE/CROP WALK/HEAVENLY ATTIC

The Bible Challenge – December, Month 12

Have you taken the challenge? It is never too late to start. If you don’t know, the challenge is to read the Bible in a year. The readings are set up so that you can begin anytime; just once you start, keep going. The readings that I am following are set up so that you will be reading the Bible in chronological order: if you would rather read the Bible in a different order, a good website to look at is http://www.christianity.com/bible/year/ They are listed according to date, but still you can begin at any time by inserting the date you are beginning in the box on the webpage. This website will deliver the readings into your email if you wish.

1 Corinthians 12-14 Romans 8-10 Ephesians 1-6 Hebrews 11-13 Revelation 12-18 Dec 1 Dec 8 Dec 15 Dec 22 Dec 29

1 Corinthians 15-16 Romans 11-13 Phillippians 1-4 2 Timothy 1-4 Revelation 19-22 Dec 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30

2 Corinthians 1-4 Romans 14-16 1 Timothy 1-6 2 Peter 1-3 Jude

Dec 3 Dec 10 Dec 17 Dec 24

2 Corinthians 5-9

Acts 20:4-38 Acts 21 Acts 22 Acts 23:1-35

Titus 1-3 1 John 1-5 Dec 4 Dec 11 Dec 18 Dec 25

2 Corinthians 10-13 Acts 24-26 1 Peter 1-5 2 John 3 John

Dec 5 Dec 12 Dec 19 Dec 26

Acts 20:1-3 Romans 1-3

Acts 27-28 Hebrews 1-6 Revelation 1-5 Dec 6 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 27

Romans 4-7 Colossians 1-4 Philemon

Hebrews 7-10 Revelation 6-11 Dec 7 Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 28

Volunteers Needed Heavenly Attic Resale Shop

We can use your help once….

or on a regular basis.

Thank you again for your generosity in sponsor-ing our Crop Walk volunteers this year. Our church raised $1507.50 to fight hunger. The four participating churches together raised $4819.25. One quarter of this total will be divid-ed between the local food pantries and the PADS homeless shelter program. By walking and/or sponsoring, you have made a difference!

Remember in Prayer - as well as with a card, call, or visit, the

following individuals who are not always

able to be with us:

Would you like a visit from Rev. Cope? Call the church office at 847-658-5308.

Going into the hospital for surgery? He will pray with you before the surgery and during recovery.

Want in-home communion? Have something troubling you? Lonely and want someone to talk to? Don’t think he is too busy or that you are inter-rupting him—this is an important part of his job as your minister. Call! We also have members of the church who will come

and visit or help you with transportation, food or errands.

MEMBER CARE 5

HELP US HONOR OUR CHURCH MEMBERS

To help people who cannot come to church feel a part of our family, we are asking you for three things:

Remember them in your prayers.

Send them a note or card letting them know that you are thinking of them.

If possible, call them to say “Hello.”

This month we are lifting up two of our members: Helen Stauffer and Claudette Treadwell. You will find their addresses on this page. Let them know that they are a part of our family and that they are missed and thought about.

The following individuals were hospitalized or in a rehab center in November: Dede Gray Richard Noxon Robert Kelley Art Nesser Vi Colbert

Do you know of persons who are currently serving in

the military? Please let the church office know of their service, and their names will be included so we can

keep them in our prayers.

Betty Blair Clare Oaks Rehab Center 825 Carillon Dr. Bartlett, IL 60103

Edna McCormick 1215 Geringer Road Algonquin, IL 60102

Vi Colbert 101 Eastgate Ct. Apt. 104 Algonquin, IL 60102

Frances Newberg Church Creek 1250 West Central Road Apt 415 Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Louise Dahm 1005 South Rd. Fox River Grove, IL 60021

Thea O’Connor c/o Liberty Estates 2080 W. Navajo Dr. #341 Freeport, IL 61032

Marge Hanley 808 Menominee Drive Lake in the Hills, IL 60156

Ron Reed Florence Nursing Center 546 East Grant Hwy. Marengo, IL 60152

Joyce Horn Alden Terrace 803 Royal Dr. McHenry, IL 60050

Helen Stauffer Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Inc.

1515 Barrington Rd. Apt. 220 Hoffman Estates, IL 60169

Erna Houdek Valley Hi 2406 Hartland Rd. Woodstock, IL 60098

Claudette Treadwell 731 Longwood Dr. Algonquin, IL 60102

Betty Imhoff 731 Oceola Drive Algonquin, IL 60102

Glen True Polo Rehab & Health Care 703 E. Buffalo St Polo, IL 61064

Donna Krueger Sunrise Senior Living 790 N. Plum Grove Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173

Barb Whitaker Sunrise Assisted Living 751 Terra Cotta Avenue Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Mary Westerbeck 1601 W. Queen Creek Rd #143 Chandler, AZ 85248

Ethel Yamashita Sunrise Senior Living 790 N. Plum Grove Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173

Ben Sprouse John (Jay) Hogrewe Dominik Kneip

Owen Ritsema Cody Colbert Eric Hertel

Dale Navigato

“Living our faith in Jesus Christ through

acceptance, service, and love.”

Following the Faith Lessons series of Ray Vander Laan, we are currently studying “In the Dust of the Rabbi – Becoming a Disciple” – a video se-ries that looks at the complete Bible at the actual places where Jesus walked.

Wednesdays at 10 am Conference Room

Faith, Fun & Friendship

6 GROUP STUDIES

Christian LIFE Hour Conference Room Sundays 9:00 AM

White Privilege: Let's Talk—A Resource for

Transformational Dialogue is an adult curriculum from

the United Church of Christ that's designed to invite

church members to engage in safe, meaningful, substan-

tive, and bold conversations on race. Divided into four

focused parts, each one introduces a different aspect of

the dynamic of white privilege:

1. The Spiritual Autobiography Told Through the Lens

of Race

2. Whiteness as the Norm: Five Loci of Insights on the

Binary of Light/Dark and Black/White

3. The Cash Value of Whiteness or Whiteness as a

Tax-Exempt Status

4. On Becoming an Ally

In all four parts, each author contributes a different view

of the subject matter presented based on his/her unique

personal experiences. The materials include questions for

discussion and reflection.

Tuesdays with the Pastor Conference Room

4:30 - 6:00 PM

Different Faiths and Denominations

Join our study of the major

religions of Hinduism, Islam,

Christianity and Judaism. We

will also explore the different denominations of

Christianity.

Our Group Studies Come in a Variety of Sizes! At CCA, we are committed to studying the Bible and learning how we can live our faith meaningfully in our life. The following are our current group studies. Feel free to join us at any of the groups at any time!

Join us in a relaxed atmosphere - get a drink, order some food and be a part of an exciting discussion about the Bible. We will begin a study of the four Gospels.

Thursday, December 22nd at 6:30 PM

Port Edward Restaurant

Saturday, December 10th 8:00 AM

Yarn Works We knit, crochet, and do all other types of handwork.

New people are always welcome!

We have supplies to get you started and absolutely lovely people to teach you, if you want to learn. Our work helps support our Prayer Shawl Ministry, Snug Hugs for Kids, and our own

personal projects.

Thursdays at 10:00 am in

Fellowship Hall

Justice and Peace Bulletin Board

Be sure to check out our bulletin board in Fellowship Hall for news about climate change and issues of concern for people of faith. In addition, you will find the names and contact information of congress persons so that you may bend their ears on a regular basis about those issues that concern you!

MOVIES WITH MEANING

Saturday, December 10, at 1:00 pm

Here we are – it is Christ-time again. As last

year, I am not going to tell you the name of

our movie this month. It is a Christmas surprise.

I will say this much: it did win both the Acade-

my Award and Global Globe Award for Best

Film in its category. I would guess that even

with these awards, you have not seen this film.

So come, bring drinks and popcorn and

watch a movie that will make you feel good

about life again.

Algonquin Area

TUESDAYS 9:00 AM – NOON

The Senior Center meets weekly at the CCA. It provides a gathering place for senior adults where fellowship, socialization, educational and enrichment opportunities are available. If you have any ques-tions, please contact the church at 847-658-5308 and leave a message for WynnAnn Roggeveen.

Heavenly Attic Resale Shop

307 South Main Street Algonquin, IL 60102-2655

Phone: 847-854-4552

Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4pm

Saturday 10am to 2 pm

The Heavenly Attic Resale Shop stocks gently-used items and is open to the public. Proceeds from the Attic support

the missions and ministries of the CCA.

ACTIVITIES 7

8 MISSIONS

The Ministry of Missions is looking for items of interest for the Missions Bulletin Board

Do you have an article, a letter, a notice, or a photo related to missions of our church?

Please put your item into: The mail slot marked

Missions Bulletin Board Please include your name

TUESDAYS WITH THE PASTOR study group is chal-lenging itself and the congregation to “Go the Extra Mile, and Give More” whenever possible. Towards this goal, we are choosing two items every month for us to give above our regular giving to the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Food Pantry and the Home of the Sparrow Women and Children Shelter. Items for the Food Pantry may be left in the basket near the ele-vator. Please leave items for Home of the Sparrow in the basket in the coat room.

Breakfast Food - cereal –wholegrain & oatmeal

Extension cords

Offering will be received Sunday, December 18

Provides direct financial assistance to retired and active United Church of Christ authorized ministers and lay employees and their surviving spouses, including pension and health premium supple-

mentation, emergency assistance, and Christmas thank-you checks.

MISSIONS 9

Help us sponsor two children in India!

Our church sponsors two children at King’s Matriculation

School at the Family Village Farm near Vellore, India. Their

families cannot afford to send them to school, and our

gifts cover tuition and lunch for them each school day.

Sheeba is a hard-working girl whose favorite subjects are

math and English. Velmurugan is an energetic, attentive

boy who is cheerful and highly motivated. Their pictures

are on the Missions Bulletin Board in the hallway outside of

the office.

While the members of the Faith in Action group contribute

to the sponsorship fees ($20 per child per month), we are

asking the whole congregation to participate with us.

There is a can on the desk in the narthex, and anyone

who would like to help us is encouraged to drop a few

dollars or even your loose change into the box. Or you

may write a check payable to CCA and designate it for

“Child Sponsorship.”

If you would prefer to help in another way, we need peo-

ple willing to write to the children. If you are interested,

please see Rev Cope.

We sponsor the children through the United Church of

Christ Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program. All of

the money that we raise goes directly to the support of

the children; there are no administrative fees.

Faith in Action

Literacy and ESL Tutoring(English as a Second Language)

Do You Wish To Tutor? You only need to be certified. You can do that by taking tutor training classes, available through: >The Literacy Connection of Elgin (12 hours of free instruction, plus $25 purchase of textbook) Note – They will then assign you to a learner in or south of Algonquin. >McHenry County College - classes will resume soon. See the Tutoring Display in Fellowship Hall or visit mchenry.edu/volunteer. MCC has learners north or west of Algonquin.

Brochures are available at the Literacy Tutoring Dis-play in Fellowship Hall that explain more about the classes and tutor/learner assignments. Questions? Please talk to Pastor Cope or JoAnn Schindler.

The Literacy Connection’s website: elginliteracy.org

McHenry County College’s website: mchenry.edu/volunteer

Thank You!!!

Tutoring Library filled!

The Tutoring Library has received a very generous amount of books and supplies. Thank you all for your donations!

We are currently out of space and need to ask that donations be held until further notice.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for your generous donations

for the Standing Rock Reservation. Five

large bags of warm clothing plus $50.00

were sent to our Native American

neighbors in North Dakota.

-Faith in Action

10 MISSIONS

Fair Trade Sunday Sunday, December 11th

Another Christmas celebration will soon be here!

While we are planning gifts and meals, let’s

remember to use organic fair trade items whenever

possible. For baking, we have Equal Exchange

chocolate chips and cocoa, and locally harvested

honey. We can put gift baskets together again this

year. They make very nice hostess or Christmas gifts!

There’s a good selection of teas and coffees, and

Grande and Mini chocolate bars that are great stock-

ing stuffers too. Happy Holidays!

A Tale of Love in Action

Martha Wallace volunteers in many capacities

Martha Wallace has been volunteering at the Heavenly Attic Resale Shop for approximately 10 years. Every Thursday morning, between waiting on customers, she sorts and prices items. She began volunteering because she wanted to help others. Her work gives her an opportunity to meet people and she feels good that the proceeds are given to local charities.

Martha also helps with the Senior Center at the church, donates knitted items to Yarn Works, and loves working in the church kitchen. She says that there are many ways to help others through our church, and that the best way is to find missions in which you have a special interest.

********

The Heavenly Attic Resale Shop is located at 307 South Main Street Algonquin, IL 60102-2655.

Phone: 847-854-4552. Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 2 pm. The shop stocks gently-used items and is open to the public. Proceeds from The

Attic support the missions and ministries of the CCA.

Ministry of Missions

CCA WELCOMES SEVEN NEW MEMBERS TO OUR FAMILY

Joe Varhula You may recognize Joe Varhula. He is a drummer

with the Dixieland band. He and his beautiful wife

Karen were actually married at CCA a few years

back. Joe loves travel, football, golf, boating and

people. He said about this church, “you do

missions like a big church”.

Jennifer Kotke Scott

Jennifer Kotke Scott was actually in the last confirmation

class conducted by Rev. Miller. She is a former member

that has reactivated her membership. She and her

husband have one daughter and Jennifer participates in

the choir when she is able.

Pat Maggio

Pat Maggio has actually been attending

our church for years and comes to us as a

dual member of her home Church of St.

Paul’s and CCA. Pat is now serving as the

librarian for our Literacy Program and has

the resources straightened and ready for

use. She is also a tutor in our Literacy

Program.

Barb Weitz Barb Weitz is a former member who reac-tivated her membership. She has already been elected to our Ministry of Deacons and she is also serving and liason/member of Church Growth. She is a big believer in prayer and may soon be working in this area in our church. She and her husband Robert have three grown sons who were confirmed here at CCA.

MISSIONS 11

CCA WELCOMES SEVEN NEW MEMBERS TO OUR FAMILY

Karen Thornsberry Karen Thornsberry has been attending for just

two years. She and her husband Joe have two

beautiful, smart daughters that participate in

our Shepherd University Program. Karen likes

reading, traveling, line dancing and scrapbook-

ing.

Kristin Panzloff

Kristen Panzloff and husband Robert have

two grown children. She enjoys spending time

with her family, gardening, reading and walk-

ing. She was a Girl Scout leader for 11 years

and she has volunteered for the Food Pantry.

Kristen brought us a bonus as she joined with

her Mom. Meet her next.

Carol Briggs

Carol Briggs is not only a new member, but a

new neighbor. She received one of the most

glowing membership transfer letters from her

former Pastor in Deltona, Florida. She enjoys

reading and is already a regular at Tuesdays

with the Pastor and Movies with Meaning.

12 MISSIONS

CELEBRATIONS, NOTES & REPORTS 13

01 Donna Brown 17 Janet Kelley

02 Kathy Hadler 17 Constance Wodziak

06 Brad Haug 22 Lauren Aggen

07 Lynn Brown 25 Fred Ekstrom

08 Ronda Feltes 25 Eugenia Szekely

09 Dede Gray 26 George Roby

12 Ann Venzon 28 Matt Elliott

16 Carol Briggs 28 Susan Kreibich

16 Jo Martenson 29 David Kistler

17 Bill Hellyer

12/07 Howard & Kathleen Dittmann

12/17 Richard & Barbara Field

12/18 Ken & Patricia Thime

12/27 Brad & Carol Haug

12/27 Rick & Judy Stauffer

12/28 Jeanine & Tony Woodman

If you would like a copy of the entire monthly Treasurer’s Report, please contact the church office.

As of October 31, 2016

Total Operating Fund Income

Month of October $21,651.65

YTD $207,106.55

Total Operating Expenses

Month of October $25,655.55

YTD $216,322.32

Mortgage Balance

$132,519.03

A Note from Rev. Cope—

My service to you is one of the most important parts of my ministry. To make an appointment with me, it is best to call or text me (use my cell # 224-535-1778) or email me at cope.brian@gmail.com. You can stop in the office—if I am not in a meeting, come in. So many people say they do not want to interrupt me. If the door to my office is open, you will not interrupt me. That is a promise!

Please submit all items for the

newsletter to the church office no

later than the 15th of

the month!

To our amazing church family,

During the recovery from Bob’s injuries, we have been so blessed to have such a fantastic church family to support us. Bob and I want to

thank each and every one for their wonderful support, constant prayers, and anonymous gifts. You are all a blessing in our lives.

—Bob and Janet Kelley

December 4 Dave Aggen

December 11 Sally Cope

December 18 Michelle Tarosas

December 25 Sharon Stengel

December 4 Fry/Martens Families

December 11 Ministry of Trustees

December 18 Aggen Family

December 25 Sprouse/Scheske Families

If you cannot make your scheduled date, please contact the church office.

December 4 A. J. Albandia

December 11 Scott Kapusinski

December 18 Macy & Ella Barham

December 25 Madison Thornsberry & Abby Kapusinski

No Shep U Classes in December

Date Ushers Greeters

December 4 Ron Martens Pam Elliott Sally Cope Lynn Brown

December 11 Ron Martens Nidia Kulack Sandy Ferguson Lois Carpenter

December 18 Ron Martens Bob Benjamin Sally Cope Sharon Stengel

December 25 Ron Martens Dave Carris Sally Cope Lore Sprouse

Date Nursery Staff Volunteer

December 4 Brittany Mainiero Ian Wilson

December 11 Pam Elliott TBD

December 18 Brittany Mainiero TBD

December 25 Pam Elliott TBD

“To give real service you must add

something which cannot be bought or

measured with money, and that is

sincerity and integrity.”

- Douglas Adams

14 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS

December 4 TBD

December 11 Dick Elke

December 18 Sally Cope

December 25 Andrew Brown

CALENDAR 15

Questions? Go to algonquinucc.org and choose the “Calendar” page for the most up-to-date listing of CCA events.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 27 Heavenly Attic Christmas Sale 8:00 AM Worship Service 9:00 AM Christian L.I.F.E Hour 9:00 AM Confirmation Class 10:00 AM Shepherd University 10:00 AM Teen Faith in Action 10:00 AM Worship Service- Senior Choir 11:15 AM Ministry of Missions

28 2:00 PM Newsletter Proofing 4:30 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Ministry of Deacons

29 9:00 AM SeniorCenter 10:00 AM Tutoring 2:30 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind Martial Art Academy

30 9:00 AM Newsletter Folding 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 4:30 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM NA 7:30 PM Senior Choir

1 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works 2:30 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 7:30 PM AA

2 3 12:00 PM Teen Christmas Project 2:00 PM Service of Remembrance - Wait Ross Funeral Home 5:00 PM Chicago Church of Christ Event

4

Heavenly Attic Christmas Sale 8:00 AM Worship Service 9:00 AM Christian L.I.F.E Hour 10:00 AM Worship Service- Senior Choir 11:15 AM Congregational Meeting

5 Poinsettia Orders Due 4:30 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Memorial Committee Meeting 7:00 PM Trails Swim Team 7:30 PM Strategic Planning Meeting

6 9:00 AM SeniorCenter 10:00 AM Tutoring 2:30 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind Martial Art Academy

7 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 4:30 PM Tutoring 6:00 PM Staff Meeting 7:00 PM NA 7:30 PM Senior Choir

8 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works 2:30 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Girl Scouts 7:30 PM AA

9 Set up for Men's Fellowship 7:00 PM Women's Bunco

10 8:00 AM Men's Breakfast 1:00 PM Movies with Meaning 11:30 PM Christmas Pageant Rehearsal and Costuming

11

Fair Trade Sunday Womens' Fellowship Cookie Sale 8:00 AM Worship Service 8:45 AM Ministry of Trustees 9:00 AM Christian L.I.F.E Hour 9:00 AM Confirmation Class 10:00 AM Worship Service-Kids Program 11:15 AM Ministry of Finance 2:00 PM Christmas Caroling

12 4:30 PM Tutoring

13 9:00 AM SeniorCenter 10:00 AM Tutoring 2:30 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind Martial Art Academy

14 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 4:30 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Boy Scout Committee Meeting 7:00 PM NA 7:00 PM Preschool Board Meeting 7:30 PM Senior Choir

15

Newsletter Deadline 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works 2:30 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Faith inAction 7:30 PM AA

16 9:00 AM Algonquin Preschool Program

17 10:00 AM Cantata Rehearsal

18

Christmas Fund Offering Received Womens' Fellowship Cookie Sale 8:00 AM Worship Service 9:00 AM Christian L.I.F.E Hour 10:00 AM Worship Service-Senior Choir-Cantata 11:15 AM Ministry of Christian Ed

19 4:30 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Ministry of Deacons

20 9:00 AM Senior Center 10:00 AM Tutoring 2:30 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind Martial Art Academy

21 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 4:30 PM Tutoring 5:00 PM Church Growth 6:00 PM Staff Meeting 7:00 PM NA 7:30 PM Senior Choir

22

9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works 2:30 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 6:30 PM Bible & Brew 7:00 PM Quilters 7:30 PM AA

23 24

7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service 11:00 PM Christmas Eve Service-Choir

25

Christmas Day 10:00 AM Worship Service

26 4:30 PM Tutoring

27 10:00 AM Tutoring 2:30 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor

28

9:00 AM Newsletter Folding 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 4:30 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM NA

29 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works 2:30 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 7:30 PM AA

30 31

16 CAROLING/VISITATION/COOKIE SALE

Sunday December 11 at 2 pm Sign up now!

The Gift

A poem by Ann Weems We had everything she did not have And so we gave to her our singing At Christmastime. Young and healthy, we came from homes With trees and lights she’d never see And gifts she’d never open. Bedridden, she greeted us with clapping hands And a smile that never left Her wrinkled face. We caroled and caroled in that tiny room, And she closed her eyes in ecstasy And even sang along from time to time. As we were leaving, she thanked us all profusely And passed to me her “offering.” I looked in my hand and saw a crumpled dollar bill And looked into her eyes And saw a million stars. She had everything we did not have, And so she gave to us The singing of her heart At Christmastime.

Join in caroling with us for a special gift this

Christmas time. And if you know of someone you would like

to have us carol, please call the church office.

Help Women’s Fellowship make this a Great Christmas Season!

Calling all bakers to donate homemade Christ-mas goodies for the annual Women’s Fellow-ship Cookie Sale on Sunday,

December 11th and Sunday, December 18th. We sell them on a mix-and-match basis, so that people can buy them for their holiday parties.

Cookies must be at the church no later than Saturday, December 10th.

The Visitation Ministry Committee is a group of our church members who visit our shut-ins. The com-mittee meets once every three months on Wednes-days at 1:30 PM in the church. If you would like to join us in comforting those who are not able to attend church or would like more information, please see Dick Elke.

MEMORIALS/POINSETTIAS 17

Beverly Tipps June Casterton

Siobhan (McGorrian) Cottone Beverly Stewart

Donald Donelson David & Janet Aggen

Ann Armato Michelle & Tony Tarosas

Brian & Sally Cope Beth Miller

Memorials were received in honor of Rev. Gary L. Miller from:

Orders for Christmas Poinsettias will be taken through Monday, December 5th. The price is

$11.00 per plant. You may indicate if the poinsettia is given in honor or in memory of a loved

one. Poinsettias will arrive in time for the Cantata and will be left in the Sanctuary through Sun-

day, January 1st. Those wishing to take their plants with them may do so after the Christmas

Eve worship services. A list of poinsettia donors and honorees will be included with the Christ-

mas Eve worship bulletin. Please return this slip with payment to the church. office.

Your Name: _______________________________ Number of Plants: _________

In Memory of: In Honor of:

Honorees Name(s): _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to pick up my plant: I would like to donate my plant to the church:

Amount Enclosed: _____________ Check Cash

It is so exciting getting ready for Christmas at Heavenly Attic. Our Richard Noxon’s daughter, Julie, decorated the front window with her beautiful treasures. It looks like a Marshall Fields window from the past. The characters are animated. It is beautiful. Stop by to see what’s happening. Remember we are al-ways in need of jewelry, women’s clothing and kid’s clothes, houseware items, toys, and books. We are ac-cepting only fall and winter clothes at this time. Do not leave donations on the porch. We have a new open sign on the front porch donated by Ed Turk. We are always looking for friendly help. Even once a month or a sub would be helpful. There’s a very rewarding feeling when you volunteer. Visit our shop at:

307 So. Main for hundreds of “finds” at rock bottom prices.

Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm. Proceeds from the Attic support the missions and ministries of the CCA.

The Heavenly Attic is decked out for Christmas!

The front window, shown here, was decorated by Julie Noxon Anderson.

If you have been in our Conference Room recently, then you have enjoyed our new conference chairs. We want to thank the women of

the church who spent so much of their time researching and then choosing these chairs for us. They offer excellent support for both

Bible Study and church meetings.

Each chair cost $180.00. We want to offer the

chairs to those who would like to make a me-

morial gift in honor of a loved one. We have

purchased 12 chairs; some of them have already been designated by

church members as memorials. If you would like to help us by desig-

nating one or more chairs in memory of a loved one, please contact

the church office.

18 HEAVENLY ATTIC/NEW CHAIRS

FAITH IN ACTION 19

Tips for Adults to help children resist

bullying (from Stan Davis)

If your child or teen has been mistreated, you can

try the following techniques:

Decide how important what happened is. As you talk

with a young person, I suggest thinking about the seri-

ousness of what has happened. How unhappy and/or

frightened is this child? How seriously do you take what

happened? You may want to get advice from a friend

who has good judgment and who knows the child in

making this decision.

If the behavior toward the child is just annoying or is having little impact, it can help to advise the

child to ignore the actions, to stay away from the person, to spend more time with other peers,

or to ask the other child to stop. Even in this situation, it may be a good idea to check back with

the child periodically in a calm, supportive way to see if things have gotten better or worse. The

child or teen should not be surprised if the actions listed above do not change the other person’s

behavior.

If the behavior toward the child is bothering him or her moderately, it can help to brainstorm with

the young person. Find out what he or she has already tried and what has happened when he

or she tried those strategies. You may want to begin a log of events, including words, actions,

times, and places, in case the behavior or the child’s reaction escalates. As with the more trivial

actions described above, it is important to stay calm as you discuss these events with the child to

avoid increasing his or her anger, fear, or concern. You and the child may choose to approach

the school at this point if the behavior has happened at school. In my experience it is most often

helpful to talk with the teacher calmly, providing a list of what has been done to the child. Ask if

these actions are considered acceptable at school. If not, ask what the school will do to prevent

them and to help the child build positive peer connections. If talking with the teacher does not

lead to improvement, you may need to have the same conversation with the principal. Ask

about how the child will be protected against possible retaliation for reporting the behavior.

If the behavior toward the child, and the child’s reaction to it, are clearly having a negative ef-

fect on sleep, eating, learning, and other daily activities, it is important to approach the school if

this is a school-based problem. If the problem behaviors

are happening outside of school, you will most likely talk

with the people who supervise the setting in which they

are happening. Depending on the actual behavior and

on relevant state law, you may also want to make a po-

lice report. If you see signs of disruption of daily activities

or of rage or depression, you may want to have a mental

health professional assess the child’s need for counseling.

Talking with the parent of the child who is mistreating the

child may help, and it may not. Some parents do not

welcome other parents telling them that their child is be-

having badly, and in that case, this kind of conversation

may lead to conflict. It may be more helpful if someone in authority (at school or otherwise) talks

with the parent of the mistreating young person.

The Congregational Church of Algonquin is a congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ. It is one of the oldest churches in McHenry County. Members have been worshiping in its current sanctuary since 1868.

The church is located a block east of Main Street (Route 31) and a block south of Algonquin Road (Route 62) in downtown Algonquin.

The United Church of Christ is a denomination with over 1.4 million members in nearly 6,000 congregations. The UCC was founded in

1957 by uniting several different Christian traditions. From the beginning we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto -"that they may all be one" - is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the U.S.

Affirming that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the UCC claims as its own the faith of the historic church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of

Protestant reformers. Yet the UCC also affirms the responsibility of each generation and community to make faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world.

For more information about the United Church of Christ, go to www.ucc.org.

The Congregational Church of Algonquin

A United Church of Christ 109 Washington Street

Algonquin, Illinois 60102

Phone: 847.658.5308

Website: www.algonquinucc.org

Email: algonquinucc@gmail.com

Senior Pastor Rev. Brian Cope

Pastoral Counseling Rev. Dr. Arn Schaper

Administrative Assistant Dianne Sharma

20 ABOUT CCA AND THE UCC

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ALGONQUIN A UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 109 WASHINGTON STREET ALGONQUIN, ILLINOIS 60102