The official newsletter of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ

12N268 Switzer Road, Elgin, IL 60124 e-mail: stpauls4me@yahoo.com www.stpauluccelgin.org 847.628.6118

February 2018

LoversandFools

ThisyeartheLentencalendarisplayingdoubledutywithAshWednesdayfallingonValen:ne’sDayandEasterfallingonAprilFool’sDay.TheUCCPastorVinceAmlinsaidthisaboutthisuniqueseason:

AsChris:ans,wealwayslivebetweentwocalendars.WecelebrateanewyearinNovember.We’reconfusedwhenourpastorinsistsongreenparamentsforthefirstweekinJuly,notred,whiteandblue.Wesetasidethisseasonforsolemnstudyandreflec:on,andtotherestoftheworlditremainssixordinaryweeksbetweenValen:ne’sandAprilFool’sDay. Howthenshouldweobservethiscrowdedseason?WhatdoesLenthavetodowithloversandfools? Sincetheanswertoeveryques:oninachildren’ssermoniseither“love”or“Jesus,”maybethatone’seasy.ButisLentforfools?Leaveyourashesonforthatroman:cdinner,andyoumayhaveyouranswer.OrtelloneofyoursmartAtheistfriendsyoubelieveintheResurrec:on.Thisseasonanditsstories,setusapart,putusonadifferent:meline.WespendourdaysworshippingaGodinlovewithweakness;followingafoolishsavior,eventothecross.

ThisLentwewillexplorethetheme“LoversandFools”inworshipandattheLentenretreat.

Wednesday,Feb.14-AshWednesday(7p.m.) ADifferentKindofValen:ne

Sunday,Feb.18 MyBeloved

Sunday,Feb.25 FoolishFollowers

Sunday,March4 WiseFools

Sunday,March11 Ul:mateLove

Sunday,March11 Ul:mateLove

Sunday,March18 DeepInOurHearts

Sunday,March25-PalmSunday GeniusorFool?

Sunday,April1-Easter(7a.m.&9:30a.m.) TheUl:mateJoke

AnnualLentenRetreat-Saturday,March10,9:00a.m.–1:00p.m.AjendeesgetacopyoftheUCCDevo:onBookLoversandFools.

Journeyingwithyou,PastorJill

SundaySchool-Workshopsareback!

WechangedthingsupinSundaySchoolforthemonthofJanuaryanddedicatedthreeweekstodrama—ac:ng,propsandcostumesgalore!(IfyoumissedthepremierviewingofourWiseMenproduc:oninworship,checkoutSt.Paul’sFacebookpage.)

Sunday,Jan.28,kicksoffournextnine-weekworkshoprota:on.We’llbestudyingthreebiblestories:theLord’sPrayer,theFourFriends(andthemantheyloweredthroughtherooftoJesus)andtheHolyWeekstory,theWomanAnointsJesus.WorkshopsplannedincludeArt,Science,Cooking,Drama,MusicandStorytelling.

Ournurserystaffisalsoreadywithageappropriateac:vi:esforouryoungestfriends.Bringyourgrand-kidsandremindkidstobringtheirfriends!

ScoutSunday

CallingallGirlScouts,BoyScoutsandScoutleadersofallages!AreyourkidsinScouts?Areyourgrand-kidsinScouts?SuitthemupandgetthemtochurchonSunday,March4,forScoutSunday,anannualrecogni:onandcelebra:onofthekidsandadultsdedicatedtoscou:ngandservice.Wewillrecognizethescoutsatthestartofworshipandthencon:nuethecelebra:onanerworshipwithcake!

HolyHumorSunday

ThisHolyHumorSundayonApril8weareexcitedtowelcometoSt.Paul’stheRev.Dr.ThomBowerandhisperformanceministryProverbialFools.PastorThomexplainsHolyHumorSundayas“aninvita:ontosetasideourfears,ourworriesandthetroublesofourheartstolaughinjoybecausewearecertaininourfaithoftheresurrectedChrist.Onthisday,wecometoworshipwithanewsenseoffreedom,arenewedcommitmenttocelebra:on,adesiretoriskbeingtransformedbylove.Thisisadaytogentlyprovokeques:ons,tolaughatourownhumanity,andtosmileattheonen-oddwaysthatGodhasshownlovetous.”

ProverbialFoolsisanonprofitorganiza:onthatpromotesplayandwonder,comingtogether,seekingwisdomandpursuingjus:ce(proverbialfools.org).Getthewordout!

PancakeBreakfast

PleasejoinusonFeb.11asthechildrenofStPaul’swillbeservingyouapancakebreakfastrightanerthechurchservice.Themenuincludespancakes,sausage,coffee,milkandjuice.TherewillbeagoodwillofferingandtheproceedswillgototheLentenProjectofpajamasandbooksforchildren.Anyoneinterestedinhelpingwiththisfunevent,pleasecontactKarenSmithorJanetWerner.

PancakeBreakfast

PleasejoinusonFeb.11asthechildrenofStPaul’swillbeservingyouapancakebreakfastrightanerthechurchservice.Themenuincludespancakes,sausage,coffee,milkandjuice.TherewillbeagoodwillofferingandtheproceedswillgototheLentenProjectofpajamasandbooksforchildren.Anyoneinterestedinhelpingwiththisfunevent,pleasecontactKarenSmithorJanetWerner.

PajamaandaBookDrive

TheMissionsMinistryteamispartneringwithChris:anEduca:ontohostaPajamaandBookDrivethisLentenseasonatSt.Paul’s.Thedrivewillcollectbrandnewpajamasandanage-appropriatebed:mebookforkidsinneed.

WearepartneringwithU-46andtwoElginelementaryschools.Ourgoalistodonatebrandnewpajamasandnewbooksfor30localstudentsinneed.SizesandageswillbereadyattheAshWednesdayserviceonWednesday,Feb.14.WewereinspiredbytheNewYork-basedPajamaProgram’sGoodNightBillofRights:“Everychildhastherighttowearfresh,cleanpajamastobedandtoenjoyabed:mestorythatfirestheirimagina:on.Everychildhastherighttofeelvaluedandvalidatedasahumanbeing.Everychildhastherighttoagoodnightandagoodday.”

HolyWeekWalk

Children(andtheirparentsorgrandparents)areinvitedtooursecondannualHolyWeekWalkworkshoponSaturday,March18,from10a.m.-12:30p.m.Throughstorytellingandhands-onac:vi:es,welearnthestoriesofJesusandthedisciplesduringthelastweekofJesus’life.

LastyearwewerejoinedbythedisciplesPeterandMajhew!TheworkshopendswithanEasterEggHuntonthechurchgrounds—aresurrec:oncelebra:onofEasterSunday.Moreinfotocome.

ChurchBenchSt.Paul’siscollec:ngplas:clidsthatcanberecycledtomakeabenchforourchurch.Pleaseseethelistforwhichlidsareacceptable.Containersforcollec:ngthelidsarebythecoathooksinthebackcrossfromthenursery.Formoreinforma:on,contactGinnyMursewickat847.354.0796.

Lidsthatareacceptableare:cojagecheesecontainerlids,mayonnaisejarlids,yogurtlids,peanutbujerjarlids,icecreambucketlidsunder8in.,coolwhipcontainerlids,coffeecanlids,creamcheesecontainerlids,bujercontainerlids,prescrip:onbojles(labelsremoved).Caps

FinanciallySpeaking

ThetotalreceiptsforthemonthofJanuarywere$14,883.85.Ourspendableincomecameto$14,883.85,includingourOCWMincomeof$355.

Wehadsuchgreatcharitabledona:onsinthepreviousmonthsthatwehavetakenahiatusun:lwestartcollec:ngforourLentenMissionproject,whichwillbepajamasandbooksforsomeU-46schools.

WevotedonJan.28atourcongrega:onalmee:ngtouseour“J”Dollarsforahandicap-accessibleentrancetotheMissionHouseandahandicap-accessiblewashroomintheMissionHouse.

SavetheDate

Wepaidoffthemortgageandnowitis:metocelebrate!OnSunday,May20,wewillbecelebra:ngtheterrificmilestone.Ifyouareinterestedinplanningthisevent,pleasecontactKarenWestermanat847.727.9973

BirthdaysandAnniversaries

Thosecelebra:ngabirthdayinthemonthofFebruaryare:

MarilynStraub(Feb.7) TadGluchman(Feb.8)HildegardLauber(Feb.8) BrejWolfe(Feb.9) StephanieSchmidt(Feb.12) DebbieMonteith(Feb.16) PaulaDeFarno(Feb.20) RalphWard(Feb.22)

Thosecelebra:nganniversariesinFebruaryare:

DouglasandJenniferVolkening(Feb.17)LorrelandSusanPejy(Feb.18)MarvinandMarilynStraub(Feb.19)

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ StaffJillTerpstra-Pastor DaleVolkening-Janitor LindaBecker-Secretary BillWilson-NewsletterJonKobel-ChoirDirector GayBouwmeester-PianoAccompanistLizPatz-MinisterforChildren,YouthandFamilies St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Council KarenWesterman-President DanHeinrich-VicePresidentSandyVolkening-FinancialSecretary JayShircliff-TreasurerAnneHeinrich-RecordingSecretary ChristianEducation-KarenSmithEvangelism-PollyRussell Fellowship/Hospitality-JanetWernerMission-BarbKamp Calling&Caring-GinnyMursewickProperties-DanHeinrich Stewardship-JudyReimerWorship-VernonKnaak