Celebrating the Journey November, 2018
The Congregational Church of Algonquin - 109 Washington Street, Algonquin, Illinois 60102
847-658-5308 email: [email protected] website: algonquinucc.org
“Living Our Faith in Jesus Christ Through Acceptance, Service and Love.”
See What’s Inside
Clergy Corners
Rev Cope pg. 2
Rev Arn pg. 3
Member Care pg. 4
Group Studies pg. 5
Ways to Connect pgs. 6-7
Donations &
Recycling pg.8
Literacy & Tutoring pg. 9
Ministry of Missions pg. 10
Member News pg. 11
Child Sponsorship pg. 12
Faith in Action pgs. 13-14
Just for Fun! pg. 15
Items of Interest pg. 16(Birthdays, Scholarships, Treasurer’s Report, Notes, etc.)
Worship Assistants pg. 17
November Calendar pg. 18
Getting Ready for Christmas
pg. 19
About CCA & UCC pg. 20
Heritage Sunday
Honoring those with
25+ years of active membership
in this church
November 4, 2018
2 CLERGY CORNERS
Dear Friends, The history of the Christian Church has been an evolution. The Church that the disciples and Paul left was a series of house congregations. Over time, those congregations developed an institutional structure, with bishops overseeing regions of congregations. After Constantine adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the Church found its identity more in politics than in community; the Church had become a social institution. A social institution wields power, and over time, the Church-as-institution began to split into several institutions: The Roman Church, the orthodox Church, the Reformation Churches – all political insti-tutions. Institutions, as the Church, do not serve all Christians well. While the Church-as-institution could offer some Christians structure, discipline and social/political power and prestige, other Christians found it oppressive. Christians excluded from the power structure of the Church/Institution have included African-Americans,
Christians south of the equator in Africa and Central and South America, evangelical and Pentecostal Christians, and members of the LGBTQ community. Rather than abandon the gospel, these excluded Christians formed communities to express their faith. The Church/Community and the Church/Institution are not two sides of one coin. They are two different encounters with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church/Institution sees the primary purpose of the gospel to change the world at large. Once the world is changed, individuals and their lives will change. The Church/Community sees the primary purpose of the gospel to change the individual. A changed individual will make an impact on the world around them that will lead eventually to social change. Because of its goals, the Church/Institution relies upon its relevancy to the wider society to be effective. If the wider society ignores it, it will lose its effectiveness and, thus, it’s purpose. The Church/Community does not require the acceptance of the wider society; in fact, it can survive successfully in opposition to the community in which it exists. Paradoxically, however, its success can threaten it. Eventually, it becomes too large to be a community, finding itself as an institution. The “mega’ Church movement of the late Twentieth Century is example of this evolution. What does this discussion of Institution and Community have to do with us? Understanding this difference can help us to understand the future for our congregation. The United Church of Christ has roots in the Church/Community side of the history of Christianity, at least through its Congregational heritage. The Congregational Churches began as communities brought together through the oppressive political power of the Church/Institution in England and Europe. Moving to the New World to avoid prosecution, it could pro-vide structures for the colonies. As an Institution it reflected the democratic values of the American society around it. This influence lasted until the 1970’s when, like so many other Christian denominations in America, it became socially irrelevant. For a time, it continued its mission as an Institution by being a counter-cultural voice, but society has stopped reacting to that voice. Now, we are facing a future in which it may not be able to continue as an Institutional Church at all. If we are moving into a post-Institutional phase of our history, what is our place in the future? Do we fade
away? Or do we re-interpret the mission that we find in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Can we exist as a com-
munity, if we cannot exist as an Institution? I will address this next month.
Rev. Cope
Rev. Brian Cope
CLERGY CORNERS 3
On Gratitude
Someone has said that “Our lives are like tapestries of rich and royal hues—glimpses of ever-changing patterns and colors…” Every event of our lives contributes to the rich fabric of our own personal tapestry. Each life tapestry, as it is woven, is unique unto itself, but complimentary to others. And, interestingly, we need others’ rich designs in the creation of our own. We often do not have the foresight to understand the worth or value of a circumstance or happening at its beginning. But hindsight offers us clarity. And, sometimes, it is of value to focus on experiences that have failed to thrill us. In reflection, however, we might discover how we have come to benefit from them. And how, perhaps, they have contributed to some possible changes in life direction. As our trust in God grows, the goodness of all our experience grows as well. And it’s OK to risk believing that “none of our experiences are meant for harm!” Practicing gratitude can help us more fully appreciate what has been offered to us. Gratitude influences our attitude. It can soften our harsh exteriors and take the threat out of new experiences. We are then freer to respond with new hope, believing that for every hope dashed a new one can be realized. Life is indeed a tapestry—the ongoing weaving of new threads and colors into the fabric of our lives.
Blessings for the Journey... Rev. Arn
Rev. Arn Schaper
Remember in Prayer as well as with a card, call, or visit, the following
individuals who are not always able to be with us:
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 .
Betty Blair
Clare Oaks Rehab Center
825 Carillon Dr.
Bartlett, IL 60103
May S. Lehnert The Fountains
965 N. Brighton Cir West Apt. #124 Crystal Lake, IL 60114
Ed Brandwein Eastgate Manor 101 Eastgate Ct. #242 Algonquin, IL 60102
Ollie Lindgren
1735 Heather Dr.
Algonquin, IL 60102
Louise Dahm
1005 South Rd.
Fox River Grove, IL 60021
Edna McCormick
Citadel Health Care Center
180 S. State Street #242
Elgin, IL 60123-6429
Dede & Gary Gray
2001 W. Algonquin Rd #3416
Algonquin, IL 60102
Thea O’Connor c/o Liberty Estates 2080 W. Navajo Dr. #341 Freeport, IL 61032
Joyce Horn
Alden Terrace of McHenry
803 Royal Dr., Room 203
McHenry, IL 60050-4209
Helen Stauffer
Valley Hi Nursing Home—Rm 105
2406 Hartland Rd.
Woodstock, IL 60098
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
Mary Westerbeck
Gardens of Ocotillo Sr. Living 1601 W Queen Creek Rd. Unit 146 Chandler, AZ 85248
Claire Kent
865 Eineke Blvd.
Algonquin, IL 60102
Ethel Yamashita
Sunrise Senior Living
790 N. Plum Grove Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Donna Krueger
Sunrise Senior Living
790 N. Plum Grove Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Valoyce Williams
2001 W. Algonquin Road, Apt 2013 Algonquin, IL 60102
Members who were hospitalized and/or entered into rehab during October: Verna Loacker, Mike Armato, Debbie Carris, Carol Briggs
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
4 MEMBER CARE
Cody Colbert Richard Dowdle Eric Hertel
Dominik Kneip John (Jay)
Hogrewe
Jake Korbecki
Joey Mann Owen Ritsema Ben Sprouse
Would you like a visit from Rev. Cope?
Call the church office at
847-658-5308 or email him at
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 with?
Don’t think he is too busy or that you are
interrupting 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.
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:
Joyce Horn and Erna Houdek
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.
GROUP STUDIES 5
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
lives. The following are our current group studies. Feel free to join any of the groups at any time.
CHRISTIAN L.I.F.E. HOUR
Sundays at 9:00 am
Based upon the documentary— An American Conscience,
The Reinhold Niebuhr Story
A study of the thought and impact of Reinhold Niebuhr, one of the greatest theologians of the 20th Century, and
a member of the United Church of Christ. Niebuhr was pivotal not only
in theology, but in politics as well.
Our study will focus upon the importance of his thought on the
world today.
GROUP STUDIES AND FELLOWSHIP AT CCA
Weekly
Christian L.I.F.E. Hour—Sundays, 9:00—9:45 am Tuesdays with the Pastor—Tuesdays, 4:30—6:00 pm
Bi-Monthly
Monday Bible Study—1st and 3rd Mondays, 10:00 am November 5 & 19
Women’s Fellowship—2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 10:00 am November 14 & 28
Teen Faith in Action— Sundays at 10:00am Teen Room Nov. 4, 11,18, 25 & Dec 2
Monthly
Confirmation Classes—1st Wednesday, 5:00—6:30 pm November 7 Bible and Brew—2nd Thursday, 6:30 pm November 8 Women’s Bunco—2nd Friday, 6:30 pm November 9 Men’s Breakfast Fellowship —2nd Saturday, 8:00 am November 10 Movies with Meaning—2nd Saturday, 1:00 pm November 10
Peace Service—3rd Thursday monthly, 2:30 pm (new time) November 15
Monday Morning Bible Study—That the World May Know, Volume 4—The Death and Resurrection of the Messiah. by Ray Vander Laan. In this part of the series, “being a follower of Jesus does not mean staying away from evil. It means confronting it—face to face—just like Jesus did, every single day, and through his resurrection.” Learn how confronting
evil can be loudly proclaiming the name of Jesus or quietly caring for someone in need.
Tuesdays with the Pastor—Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes— What was clear to the original readers of
Scripture is not always clear to us. Because of the cultural distance between the biblical world and our contemporary setting, we often bring modern Western biases to the text. For example: When Western readers hear Paul exhorting women to "dress modestly," we automatically think in terms of sexual modesty. But most women in that culture would never wear racy clothing. The context suggests that Paul is likely more concerned about economic modesty--that Christian women not flaunt their wealth through expensive clothes, braided hair and gold jewelry.
Biblical scholars Brandon O'Brien and Randy Richards shed light on the ways that Western readers often misunderstand the cultural dynamics of the Bible. They identify nine key areas where modern Westerners have significantly different assumptions about what might be going on in a text. Getting beyond our own cultural assumptions is increasingly important for being Christians in our interconnected and glob-alized world. Learn to read Scripture as a member of the global body of Christ. Women’s Fellowship Bible Study—Experiencing Contagious Joy, by Christa Kinde. Joy has a way of working its way from the inside out. When our lives are filled with joy, the symptoms are unmistakable. A twinkle in the eye, a ready smile, a skip in our step, a song in the heart. Joy lends a glow to the face and a lift to the voice. It is also the birthright of every be-liever. But rainy days have a way of distracting us from that fact. In this study, readers will take a careful look at this uniquely Christian characteristic and discover they have every reason to be joyful.
Bible and Brew— Do you have questions about your faith, the Bible, the church or Christianity? Write them down and bring them to the study. For November, we will have a free-wheeling discussion about some of the questions we have always had—questions that don’t always seem to get answered.
November Themes and Dates
6 WAYS TO CONNECT
Please share our events on Facebook. It is a completely free way to promote the happenings at our great church. If you need help with Social Media, contact the church office. We will set you up with a tutor for a customized, easy-to-understand lesson.
Everyone is welcome.
Bring $5 and a snack to share
The winners get to chose which charitable
organization we donate to for the evening.
Friday, November 9, 6:30 pm
There’s even a prize for the biggest loser!
Movies with Meaning, Saturday, November 10, 1pm
Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Show-
man is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show
business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create
a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. “The Great-
est Showman aims to be a old-school musical in every best
sense of the word. Hugh Jackman shines and catchy lyrics
make for a great extravaganza.”
Come join the fun!
There may be a sing-along!!
Saturday November 10, 8:00 am Hosts: Bob Benjamin
& Dan Reebel
Sign up in Fellowship Hall
Saturday
November 3
Starting at 9:00 am
The Ministry of Trustees is ready for our Fall Cleanup!
We have jobs for all abilities and skills, inside and out!
Please be sure to bring:
Work Gloves, Good Shoes, Jacket for Working Outside. We could use a few rakes and outdoor tools as well!
Please join us. Many hands make the work light.
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT 7
PADS HOMELESS SHELTER
ublic
ction
to
eliver
The homeless issue is prevalent all year. Our church’s service to PADS
begins in October.
We are always looking for: new socks, lightly used men’s sweat-shirts, coats, hats, gloves and
boots.
The collection bin is located in the Coatroom.
We will also be packing lunches
on November 1. Items we will need are:
Snack Packs, Crackers, Snack Bars, Chips, Lunch Meat or
Cheese, Bread.
Maybe you would like to help with the lunch packing!
Sign up in Fellowship Hall,
The Music and Worship Committee has an opening. This Committee
meets quarterly, making decisions on special music and worship ser-
vices. The next meeting is Wednesday, November 14 at 7:00 pm. If you
are interested, contact Sharon Stengel at [email protected]
FOR MORE INFORMATION
AND TO GIVE, VISIT
UCC.ORG/DISASTER_PUERTO_RICO
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IN PUERTO RICO
$20 Provides a reusable lifetime WATER FILTER for a family (no electricity is needed.
$15 Provides a SOLAR LAMP when electricity is not available.
$250 $250 helps purchase TOOLS for doing repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Maria.
$300 $300 offsets the cost of utilities and upkeep for HOUSING VOLUNTEERS
$500 Purchases a CHAINSAW that ensures a commu-nity has the ability to clear roadways so aid and medical support can reach those in need.
$1,260 Provides a seminary student (disaster survivor) with TUITION ASSISTANCE for one semester.
$1,500 Repairs a leaking CEMENT ROOF.
$2,000 Repairs a wooden and METAL ROOF.
Go the Extra Mile and Give More! We have been challenging ourselves to do just that. Towards this goal, we post monthly the needs of a few of the
groups which we are currently working with to serve the needs of our community.
8 DONATIONS AND RECYCLING
Canned Meats Nuts Peanut Butter
Beef Jerky Canned Fish/Chicken Crackers w/Cheese
or Peanut Butter
Sardines Toilet Paper Paper Towels
Hats Gas Cards Protein Bars
Gloves Hygiene Items (shampoo, razors, soap)
There is a bin for these items in the
Coatroom. Thank you for your help!
VARIOUS DONATION BOXES AND BINS ARE
LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH!
In the Multi-Bin Area in the Coatroom
• Pop Tabs
• Inkjet Toner Cartridges
• Eye Glasses
Please note we can no longer take batteries as we have
nowhere to take them. Most alkaline batteries can be thrown
into the regular trash.
Also in the Coatroom
• Styrofoam—picked up weekly by our volunteers
• Plastic Grocery Bags—T-shirt style bags
(no newspaper or other plastic bags)
These are used by the Heavenly Attic and ALITH Food Pantry
• Donations for PADS-on the shelves you face as you enter the
coatroom
• Donations for TLS Veterans (see below)
Beside the Elevator 2 carts
• Donations for Food Pantry (note ongoing & monthly requests)
• Donations for the Heavenly Attic Resale Shop
Algonquin /
Lake in the Hills
Food Pantry
Suggested for November—
Peanut Butter, Honey, Jams and Jellies
The Food Pantry always welcomes
donations of personal care items:
Shampoo / Conditioner
Soap
Toilet Paper
Disposable Razors / Shaving Cream
Deodorant (men’s and women’s)
Laundry Detergent
Diapers
Feminine Hygiene Products
Items for the Food Pantry may be left
in the cart on the main floor,
near the elevator.
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. See schedule below. Brochures are available at the Literacy Tutoring Display in Fellowship Hall that explain more about the classes and tutor/learner assignments. Questions? Please talk to Pastor Cope or JoAnn Schindler, or visit the websites for either of these agencies: elginliteracy.org & mchenry.edu/volunteer
LITERACY AND TUTORING 9
Tutoring Update I recently heard a comedian comment that Thanksgiving was a holiday set aside to foster gratefulness, followed by the biggest shopping day of the year! Now shopping is an essential life skill that we all seem to master pretty quickly, but shopping where you don’t speak the language is another thing altogether. For this reason, shopping was one of the first themes I used to create lessons for my English language learner. As it turned out, my student easily grasped the meaning of the words that were nouns or action verbs as we pretended to shop using all of the props I had gathered from home: pretend money, coupons, and old credit cards. We also worked with charge and coupon vocabulary, which gave my student confidence to shop outside of his community, where he had never needed to speak English to shop. But getting back to that joke about Thanksgiving, how was I to teach the vocabulary of gratefulness? There are no props or pictures that clearly convey the meaning of THIS EMOTION. After giving it much thought, I decided to at least start on a plan by looking up the Spanish word for gratitude. It is spelled g-r-a-t-i-t-u-d, which is just one letter short of the English translation. Yeah! And let me say that during this time when we focus on being grateful, this translation is much appreciated by this tutor. Happy Thanksgiving and may the sales be ever in your favor!
JoAnn Schindler
The Literacy Connection Tutor Training
Course Schedule and Registration Volunteer Tutor Training is offered several times per year at a variety of locations. You must start with Part A, and it must be completed in person. Additional information about on-line training options are provided at that session. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. To register: (1) by phone at 847-742-6565, (2) online at http://elginliteracy.org/how-to-help/become-a-tutor, or (3) email [email protected] with your full name, address, phone number, and the course date you plan to attend. You will receive a confirmation email within a couple of days. Course Materials and Cost There is a $35 fee to cover materials and a background check, and can be paid by cash or a check made payable to The Literacy Connection. Payment is collected at the first course meeting. For more information about the training schedule, contact: Literacy Connection at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin—847-742-6565.
The Literacy Connection Tutor Training Schedule
through November is posted at the Literacy Table in Fellowship Hall
[email protected] www.elginliteracy.org
10 MINISTRY OF 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?
Please put your item into the mail slot marked
Missions Bulletin Board
Please include your name
Ministry of Missions
Do You Want to Know
more about a
charitable organization?
Look in the Charity Research Notebook
in the church office. If the charity is not there, fill out one of the forms in the display holder near the Missions’ Bulletin Board
and place it in the Missions mail slot. Please be sure to sign your name.
Ministry of Missions
Heavenly Attic Resale Shop
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. You may place donated items for Heavenly Attic in the marked cart by the elevator on the main floor.
Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4pm
Saturday 10am to 2 pm
307 South Main Street Algonquin, IL 60102 Phone: 847-854-4552
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 your own personal projects. What would YOU like to get started on?
Thursdays at 10:00 am Fellowship Hall
A Tale of Love in Action
Promoting our Tutoring Program is just one of
JoAnn Schindler’s mission efforts
In addition to promoting our tutoring program, JoAnn Schindler is a tutor herself. She finds it very rewarding, and says it is a learning experience for both the learner and the tutor. But tutoring isn’t her only “mission work” in the community. She is in her fourth year of volunteering at the McHenry County Conservation District. Every two weeks, from April through Sep-tember, she goes into the woods to check on the blooming pro-gress of many native plants. That sounds like fun! In yet a different context, JoAnn has loved being a camp counsellor since 1991 at Hug Camp, a one-week camping expe-rience for children in grades 4 through 11. Hug Camp is a part of the program at Tower Hill in Sawyer, MI, a ministry of the Illinois Conference of the UCC. JoAnn also sponsors a yearly garage sale to support the camp.
Sandy Ferguson for the Ministry of Missions
****************************
Our church encourages members of the congregation to become involved in tutoring adults who wish to improve their ability to speak, understand, read and write English. We refer anyone who would like to tutor to either the Literacy Connec-tion of Elgin or McHenry County College for training, certifica-tion and assignment to a learner. Information is available at the Literacy Tutoring Information Center in Fellowship Hall.
The church also provides a support group for tutors. For more information, see Rev. Cope or JoAnn Schindler
MEMBER NEWS! 11
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS!
Marcie Nordlund grew up Congregationalist, so she is a natural fit.
She has been a member of several UCC churches wherever she has
lived, from Austin Congregational in Chicago, to Glen Ellyn Congre-
gational and Manitou Springs Colorado Congregational. Marcie
has moved back here to be closer to her children. She has been in
education for 30 years as a teacher and elementary school
principal. She loves living at Del Webb and is active in the Wood-
chucks Club. She makes fancy birdhouses, loves
gardening and arranging silk flower arrangements and wreaths.
Tina Ash lived here as a young girl, and attended CCA for about 3
years. She fell in love with our church then and always wanted to
come back to join, but her family moved away. She now has two
grown children and two grandchildren. She loves to read, cook and
bake. Last, and certainly not least, she is a Chicago Blackhawks fan
for life.
May Lehnert is 99 years young. She says she has always felt like this is
where she belongs, even though she lived in California for 30 years.
Recently, she moved into the Fountains and `is happy to be “back
home”. May enjoys music and loves to read—she actually won our
summer reading competition for the adults. She also participates in
the Yarn Works group and Christian LIFE Hour.
Congratulations to our
Summer Reading Champs:
Adult: May Lehnert 62 books Teen: Madison Thornsberry 30 books Child: Jessica Thornsberry 23 books
Help us to continue sponsoring 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. • C. Sheeba Jasmine is a hard-working girl whose favorite subjects are
math and English. She is a now a10th grader with dreams of becoming a cardiologist.
• Praveen Kumar R. (our new assignee) is energetic, attentive and cheer-ful. This 8th grade boy has dreams of becoming an engineer.
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 can. You may also write a check payable to CCA and designate it for “Child Sponsorship.” If you would prefer to help in another way, we need people 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
12 CHILD SPONSORSHIP
Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program
A Change in our Sponsorship
We have received a letter from The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship organization informing us that one of the children we have been supporting, Velmurugan, no longer attends the King’s Matriculation School (KMS). He has returned to his village to be with his
mother following his father’s death. The organization has assigned Praveen Kumar R. to CCA. He is an 8th grade boy, who does well in his studies and has dreams of becoming an engineer. He is a day-school attendee at KMS at the campus of the Family Village Farm in Pannai. Praveen comes from one of the surrounding commu-nities, where there are families who cannot afford to pay their children’s tuition. The parents/guardians understand the importance of a good education. The children are served a daily hot meal when school is in session, and transportation is also provided. The school gives the children a broader education than is available in the public schools in India.
Praveen’s Profile is Posted on the Bulletin Board
A letter from C. Sheeba Jasmine 9/ 19/18
My dear loving aunty and uncle
I am fine here. Hope you are taking proper care of you and maintaining good health. I am now in the tenth grade. My father is painter. I have a sister called Getsiyal Jasmine, who is studying third grade in the same school. In the May vacation I attended voca-tional Bible studies. I also attended special classes. My favourite subject is maths. I am good in maths. I like blue colour. I like to dance. I belong to betty house. Recently our house (w)on the overall championship. We hoisted our national flag on Independence Day. I enjoyed the Teacher’s Day Celebration. Being in tenth grade, I have to take up many tests and exam(s). We are not allowed to take part in the extra curricular activities. We are made to put all our focus in studies. My ambition is cardiologist. My board exam are nearing. It will take place in the month of February. Please uphold me in your prayers. I thank you sooooo much for supporting my study expenses. You are a real blessing to me. I can and I will never forget your help.
With a thankful heart
C. Sheeba Jasmine
Sheeba’s letter is also posted on the Bulletin Board
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 ear on a regular basis about those issues that concern you!
Fair Trade Remember to stop
by our table on the 2nd
Sunday of each month
November 11, 2016
Remember Coffee Leaf Rust? The 2012-2013 coffee harvest was a very rough time for Central American coffee farmers. The roya (fungus called “leaf rust”) crisis was beginning, and farmers saw drops in productivity of 25-60% during that harvest. Equal Exchange joined others with financial assistance to combat roya. Our church coffee purchases provided 15c/pound for this. In Guatemala, growers began hybrids of various coffee varieties. This summer, Manos Compesinas organized a research experiment to evaluate coffee varieties. Coffee trees require a few harvest cycles to reach full productivity. 2018 is the first year that the plants have produced enough coffee cherries to cup (taste) the coffees and evaluate their cup pro-files. Many of these hybrids have been cultivated and bred with some Robusta coffee (Coffee canephora), considered by many to be of lower quality than Arabica (Coffea Arabica), but the plants are much more resistant to disease and more productive. The goal is to find the coffee that retains all of the high quality attributes of Arabica while preserving the resilience and productivity of Robusta. The early results are encouraging. They plan to improve and expand the variety research in the smallholder context. Equal Exchange plans to continue to support Manos Campesinas through their research efforts. Our church’s continuing purchases will contribute to this research.
From Equal Exchange blog
Thank you for your
continued support.
FAITH IN ACTION 13
HOLIDAY
CHILDCARE
Fridays,
November 30
& December 7
6:30pm to 8pm
$10.00/hour
Ages: 2 – 10 years old
The teens from CCA want to earn money for the Feed My
Starving Children charity and are offering this childcare so
Mom and Dad can have a dinner out or do some secret
shopping. The teens will be supervised by adult volunteers
in the church who have completed our Safe Church training
and background checks. Childcare will be provided in the
Algonquin Preschool rooms. Games, snacks and crafts will be
planned. Please reserve your spot as space is limited.
Call the Church office 847-658-
5308 to reserve your spot(s)
Teen Faith in Action
We will be taking up a final collection for the year for Holy Joe’s Café
on Sunday, November 11 at the 10:00 am service
Then we will set the can aside until next year!
Ministry of Missions
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES
We are continuing Round Table
Discussions on issues related to social
justice. If you haven’t joined us yet, please
give it a try. We don’t have the dates firmed
up yet for November—but keep your eyes out
for announcements and information.
* November Round Table Discussion.
* The next regular meeting of the
Social Justice Advocates
All Views Are Valid & Welcome!
14 FAITH IN ACTION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Yes, it’s time to vote in our
General Election
*VOTE NOW!* REGISTRATION: Be sure you are registered to vote, at https://ova.elections.il.gov/registrationLookup.
If you are at a new address, you can register online at that website until October 21
October 9, is closing day for “regular” registration at any voter registration location (the library, schools, village office).
The Grace Period then runs through November 5, the day before the election.
Register in Person at your polling place on election day (from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm) & vote that day!
EARLY VOTING By Mail details differ depending on the county. - Kane County begins September 27 when mail ballots will be sent out. Request a mail ballot at www.kanecountyclerk.org/Elections. - McHenry County requests for a mail-in ballot now until November 1 at
https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/home/showdocument?id=87575.
In person, starting October 22 at the McHenry Administration Building, Country Inn in Crystal Lake, Cary Library, Huntley Park District, Township Offices, or the Lake in the Hills Village Hall. GENERAL ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 6. Some polling places in our town have been moved. Find out where you should be voting by visiting https://ova.elections.il.gov/Registration/Lookup You can also find your polling place by calling: McHenry County Clerk Mary McClellan’s office: 815-334-4242 Kane County Clerk John Cunningham’s office: 630-232-5950 HELP OTHERS by finding rides for your neighbors who may need assistance getting to their polling place.
Please Join us for the Monthly
PEACE SERVICE
held on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
This might be just what you were looking for!
Thursday,
November 15,
2:30 pm
JUST FOR FUN 15
Just For Fun
Telephone Scrambles: Each set of telephone push-buttons contains a hidden Bible word. You’ll need to determine which letter of each three-letter combination is part of the word. Puzzle from The 365-Day Bible Word Game Challenge! This one is designed by Nancy Bernhard.
1. Lappidoth & _________ Judges 4:4
2. Elemilech & __________ Ruth 1:2
3. Adam & _____________ Gen 3:20
4. Zechariah & __________ Exod 6:23
5. David & _____________ 2 Sam 11:27
6. Abram & ____________ Gen 11:29
7. Isaac & ______________ Gen 24:67
8. Hosea & _____________ Hosea 1:2-3
9. Aquilla & _____________Acts 18:2
10. Jacob & _____________ Gen 29:28
11. Felix & ______________ Acts 24:24
12. Nabal & _____________ 1 Sam 25:14
13. Esau & ______________ Gen 36:12
14. Elkanah & ___________ 1 Sam 1:10
15. Boaz & ______________Ruth 4
Use the Bible Verses to find the answers
Please submit all items for the December
Newsletter to the church office no
later than noon, Monday, November 15th. Items submitted after the 15th may not be included in the December edition.
Birthdays in November
01 Shirley Basler 02 Erna Houdek 02 Billy Hellyer 02 Skylar Mainiero 03 Ian Wilson 04 Patrick Sprouse 04 Larry Venzon 08 Karen Guenther 10 Rick Stauffer 11 Nancy Kneip 12 Joy McLaughlin 13 Oliver Lindgren 14 Kim Jamison 18 Pat Voegeli 22 Dena Pelletreau 23 Jordan Guenther 25 Kenneth Hemmingsen 30 Chris Wodziak
Total Operating Fund Income
Month of September $22,827.34
YTD $192,606.13
Total Operating Expenses
Month of September $18,959.75
YTD $188,434.29
Mortgage Balance * $143,818.64
*The mortgage with Home State Bank was paid off on December 28, 2017. The “NEW” mortgage balance represents the amount taken from the Endowment Investment account (approved by the Congregation) to pay off the mortgage. The balance reflected above is to repay that loan to ourselves. For more information, contact the Church Treasurer.
Treasurer’s Report
September 30, 2018
If you would like a copy of the
entire monthly Treasurer’s
Report, please contact the
church office
16 ITEMS OF INTEREST
November Anniversaries
04 Michelle & Nate Bockrath
16 Bob & Alice Woertendyke
19 Kurt & Kay Boyer
21 Richard & Lore Sprouse
21 Chris & Constance Wodziak
24 Kevin & Tina McMahon
A special THANK YOU to the
members of the Congregational Church of Algonquin.
It is great to be part of this church.
Thank you for all your prayers, cards, phone calls, and visits on my behalf, while I was at Good
Shephard Hospital and the Springs in Crystal Lake.
May the Lord richly bless each
and every one of you.
Love, in Christ, Verna Loacker
Brian & Sally Cope
Betty Paldauf
Bev & Greg Tipps
Contributions made during
October to CCA in memory of
Barbara Whitaker
The Newsletter Committee has noted
that two donations were made during
August in Memory of Marge Hanley
that went unacknowledged.
These donors were:
Martha Wallace & Betty Maicke.
Our sincere apology for this oversight.
Thank you so much to the Women’s
Fellowship and all those wonderful people who
helped to set up and serve such a lovely lunch-
eon for us. It is very much appreciated by John
and myself
Mary Ann Mickelau
(sister of Barb Whitaker)
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS 17
11/4 Guenther and Carney Families
11/11 Albandia, Barham and Thornsberry Families
11/18 Hertell and Maicke Families
11/25 Carpenter Family
The 2018-19 Schedule is posted in Fellowship Hall. If you cannot make your scheduled date or would like to volunteer for a Sunday, please contact the Church Office.
Worship Assistants
Date Ushers Greeters Announcer Acolyte Liturgist
11/4 Ron Martens
Lori Martens
Kris Panzloff Sharon Stengel Madison Thornsberry Barb Weitz
11/11 Ron Martens
Bob Benjamin
Karen Guenther Dave Aggen AJ Albandia Bill Hellyer
11/18 Ron Martens
Dave Carris
Dan Reebel Jen Jazwinski Scott & Abby Kapusinski Ann Armato
11/25 Ron Martens
Ed Turk
Judy Stauffer Michelle Tarosas Macy & Ella Barham Wynn Ann
Roggeveen
Styrofoam Recycling Week
Beginning
Volunteer
11/4 Dick Elke
11/11 George Roby
11/18 Lori Martens
11/25 Art Nesser
Date Nursery Staff Volunteer
11/4 Cory Kirkpatrick Wynn Ann
11/11 Pam Elliott Kim Carney
11/18 Pam Elliott Janet Kelley
11/25 Cory Kirkpatrick Barb Schmidt
We follow “Safe Church” Standards
Childcare is available each Sunday
during worship service from 9:45-11:15
Lawn Care Team
Dave Aggen, Bob Benjamin, Dave Carris,
Brian Cope, Steve Guenther,
William Hertel, Art Nesser, George Roby,
Loren Twarling and Ann Venzon
Many thanks to our fantastic volunteers for a
Job Well Done!
Ministry of Trustees
We will begin in the Sanctuary at 10:00 am,
November Teacher: JoAnn Schindler
Shepherd U. Weekly Assistants
11/4 Karen Thornsberry
11/11 Barb Schmidt
11/18 (Needed) call the Office to volunteer
11/25 Ann Armato
Meets Every Sunday
at 10 am
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ALGONQUIN
NOVEMBER 2018
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
9:30 AM Tutoring
10:00 AM Yarn
Works
7:30 PM AA
2 Woodstock Play Group - Little Women
The Musical
3 9:00 AM ALL CHURCH FALL CLEANUP (inside/
outside)
4 1st Sunday Food Pantry Offering Heritage Sunday 8:00 AM Worship Srvc 9:00 AM Adult Study 10:00 AM Shepherd U./Teen FIA 10:00 AM Worship Service-Sr. Choir
11:15 Heritage Recep
5 10:00 AM Bible Study 4:00 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Trails
Swim Team
6
GENERAL
ELECTION
10:00 AM Tutoring 12:00 PM Tutoring
3:00 PM Tutoring
7 1:30 PM Visit.Comittee 5:00 PM Confirm. Class 5:00 PM Tutoring 6:00 PM Worship Team 7:00 PM NA 7:30 PM Sr. Choir
Rehearsal
8 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works 6:30 PM Bible&Brew
7:30 PM AA
9
Set up for Men's
Fellowship
6:30 PM
Women's Bunco
10 8:00 AM Men's Fellowship
Breakfast
1:00 PM MOVIES
WITH MEANING!
11 Fair Trade Sunday 8:00 AM Worship Srvc 8:45 AM Min Trustees 9:00 AM Adult Study 10:00 AM ShepU./Teen FIA 10:00 AM Worship Service-Sr. Choir-Baptism of Liliana
Elizabeth Allen
11:15 AM Min Fin
12
4:00 PM Tutoring
13 10:00 AM Tutoring 12:00 PM Tutoring 1:30 PM HA Bd 3:00 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind
Martial Arts
14 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 1:00 PM Pastoral Rela-tions Committee 5:00 PM Tutoring 6:00 PM Worship Team 7:00 PM NA 7:00 PM EPRT Meeting 7:00 PM Preschool Board Meeting 7:00 PM Worship and Music Committee 7:30 PM Sr Choir
Rehearsal
15 Newsletter Deadline 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works-Snug Hugs Pack up Day 1:30 PM Prayer Team 2:30 PM Peace Service
7:30 PM AA
16 5:00 PM Wedding
Rehearsal
17 Ruetsche / Santa-
gato Wedding
18 Memorial Sunday 8:00 AM Worship Srvc 9:00 AM Adult Study 10:00 AM Shep U./Teen FIA 10:00 AM Worship Service-Sr. Choir – Dedication of Snug Hug Gifts 11:15 AM Min CE 11:15 AM
CPR Training
19 10:00 AM Bible Study 2:00 PM Newsletter Committee
4:00 PM Tutoring
20 10:00 AM Tutoring 12:00 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind
Martial Arts
21 4:00 PM Tutoring 5:00 PM Church Growth 6:00 PM Worship Team 7:00 PM BS Committee Meetings 7:00 PM NA 7:30 PM Sr Choir
Rehearsal
22 THANKSGIVING DAY OFFICE CLOSED
7:30 PM AA
23 Woodstock Play
Group -
A
Christmas Carol
24
25 8:00 AM Worship Srvc 9:00 AM Adult Study 10:00 AM ShepU./Teen FIA 10:00 AM Worship 11:15 AM Hanging of the Greens
26 4:00 PM Tutoring 7:00 PM Ministry of
Deacons
27 10:00 AM Tutoring 12:00 PM Tutoring 3:00 PM Tutoring 4:30 PM Tuesdays w/ Pastor 5:00 PM Westwind
Martial Arts
28 Folding Team 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship 5:00 PM Tutoring 6:00 PM Worship Team 7:00 PM NA 7:30 PM Sr Choir
Rehearsal
29 9:30 AM Tutoring 10:00 AM Yarn Works
7:30 PM AA
30 6:30 PM Holiday
Babysitting
December 1
Snug Hugs Event Christmas Caroling
Event
Fall Back one hour, Sunday, November 4, 2:00 am
18 NOVEMBER CALENDAR
GIVING ANGEL PROGRAM
(just for fun!)
The Teen Faith in Action group is sponsoring a “Giving Angel” program for the holiday season. Participation is strictly voluntary, and here are the rules: 1. Fill out a “Giving Angel Form” found in the Narthex, the Church Office, and on the Church Website. Forms are due to the office by November 30. 2. You will be notified by the Church Office who the recipient of your gift will be. Assignments are random. Notifications will be made by December 2.
3. You may make something or you may purchase something. Purchased gifts cannot exceed $10 and MUST be from an organization that is improving the world (i.e., Feed My Starving Children, Heavenly Attic, Home of the Sparrow, etc.).
4. Gifts should be given between December 15 and 24. You can reveal your identity at that time by signing the gift or just handing the gift to the recipient.
5. Enjoy the season!
Your Name: ____________________________ # Red Plants: _________ #White Plants: _________
In Memory of: In Honor of:
Name(s): ________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
I would like to pick up my plant: I would like to donate my plant to the church:
Amount Enclosed: _____________ Check Cash
Orders for Christmas Poinsettias will be taken through
Monday, December 3, 2018. Cost is $13.00 for each 7.5” Poinsettia.
You may indicate if the poinsettia is given in honor or in memory of loved one. Poinsettias will arrive in time for
the Cantata (December 16) and will be left in the Sanctuary through Jan. 3rd. 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 Christmas Eve worship bulletin. Please return this slip with payment to the church office.
Orders for Christmas Poinsettias will be taken through Monday, December 3, 2018. Cost is $13.00 per plant.
2018
GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS! 19
Teen Faith in Action
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: [email protected]
Senior Pastor Rev. Brian Cope [email protected] Pastoral Counseling Rev. Dr. Arn Schaper Music Ministry Bev Tipps Senior Choir Director Greg Tipps Administrative Assistant Teri Franklin
20 ABOUT CCA AND THE UCC
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ALGONQUIN
A United Church of Christ
109 WASHINGTON STREET
ALGONQUIN, ILLINOIS 60102
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 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’s prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian denom-inations 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 pros-per its creative and re-demptive work in the world.
For more information about the United Church of Christ, go towww.ucc.org.
About CCA and the UCC