Bulletin Info - Announcements
from our weekly bulletins
Calendar - Weekly calendar
of events at First Presbyterian
WEBSITE CHANGES
May 1, 2008 - Check out the WF website www.ledbyyouth.com to
view photos including the Second Chance Prom
on March 8, 2008, and the Confirmation Retreat April
18-20, 2008, and for more information and links to
vote for the WF
video online at ymiLIVE, which could
win $25,000 for the youth group if enough people register
and VOTE.
April 27, 2008 - Everyone in
the large crowd enjoyed musical entertainment,
savory homemade tea party treats, and a fashion show
at the PW Reali-Tea.
April 20, 2008 - Vision page - a Great Ends section was added to express The Great Ends of the Church.
April 13, 2008 - The Gospel reading from Mark
16:14-18 was presented as a drama during our 8:40 a.m. worship
service.
March 25, 2008 - Additional photos have been added
to the pages about our church's first Kirkin'
o' the Tartans services on January 27, 2008.
March 20, 2008 - Photos from the Maundy Thursday
drama, The Living Last
Supper, are online.
March 15, 2008 - Our Supper
Club's St. Patrick's Celebration included a
great corned beef and cabbage dinner, jokes by Leprechaun
Jack Wilson, group singing of Irish songs led by Debby
and Denny Lawson, and was highlighted by a wonderful
program of Irish and Broadway songs sung by tenor Mike
Sammer, accompanied by Paul Burgess on the piano.
March 14, 2008 - Our Genesis middle schoolers
gathered at First Pres for March
Madness Night, enjoying activities such as basketball,
ping pong, carpet ball, guitar hero, loaded questions,
pictionary, uno attack, and fear factor food.
March 9, 2008 - Pastor Liz Walker joined the Fifth
Grade Sunday School class for their annual "Interview
with a Pastor" event.
February 28, 2008 - Pledge cards and Electronic
Funds Transfer Forms can now be downloaded from our
new Stewardship page.
February 20, 2008 - Our LOGOS children
of all ages, their families, and additional church
members brought in 480 pairs of new and gently used
pairs of shoes. After dinner our middle schoolers
heard a presentation by Providence Rubingisa about
his ministry called, "Stuff
for the Poor." The
following week the middle schoolers sorted all the
shoes and put them into bags, which were later taken
to Providence Rubingisa's storage lockers. As
soon as the lockers are full, everything will be sent
to Africa.
NEW WF WEBSITE: Got an extra minute… check
out the new WF website www.ledbyyouth.com to
see what is happening in the high school youth program.
Special thanks to Derrick Rohl for developing this
new and youthful website.
THE FUTURE FOR PEACE, A MODEL
FOR CHANGE -
Archbishop Elias Chacour will be our guest speaker at
a breakfast right here at First Presbyterian Church
of Wheaton on
Saturday, May 17, 2008, at 8:30 a.m.
There are a limited number of tickets available
for $10, so please call Janet in the church office
at 630-668-5147 for reservations. See our Upcoming
Events page for more information!
President George Bush, on his trip to the middle-east
in January, met with Christian leaders of Israel, namely,
the Archbishop of Galilee, Elias Chacour. The
President and Condoleeza Rice spent 40 minutes with
Archbishop Chacour, Bishop Marcuzzo, The Latin Patriarch
of Jerusalem, and several nuns from the Church of the
Beatitudes, and even Raed Mualem, the Sr. Vice President
of Mar Elias University. Susan Drinan, Chairman
of the Board of Trustees of Mar Elias University was
asked to compose a letter to the President which would
be handed to him on this occasion. (View
a copy of the letter.) After
the meeting Secretary Rice invited Raed Mualem to
come to Washington, DC to discuss new models for peace
in the middle-east. Who knows what happens; but,
just that somebody finally understood that peace, real
peace, begins on the tops of school desks, it is one
more step in the peace process.
PW FLOWER SALE TIME: Flower pick
up is Saturday, May 17, 2008, here at First Presbyterian
Church between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m., for all who ordered
flowers prior to March 21. If you are unable
to pick up flowers during pick up time, please arrange
for someone to pick them up for you. If you have
time on Saturday, May 17, we would love to have the
extra hands to unload and sort all that is purchased;
please contact Liz Timmer (630-668-2743 or email gardenbake28@comcast.net)
to volunteer or for more information. Shop’n
Share (May 1-31, 2008, except for Mother’s
Day weekend, May 10-11, 2008) is available for those
want to shop directly at the We Grow Dreams Greenhouse
in West Chicago.
SMALL GROUPS SURVEY - We are responding to
a churchwide need for more small groups with the formation
of the Small Groups Ministry Committee. Step
One is to evaluate the current status of existing small
groups. Step Two is to assess the current desires
of the congregation in order to help develop new small
groups. Step Three is to seek out and train those
individuals who would be willing to receive training
to act as facilitators to those newly-established small
groups. Please take a moment to fill out this
questionnaire to
help us understand futher what types of small groups
would satisfy the needs and desires of our church community. Please
drop off hard copy in the church office, or you may
forward the survey via email to Jack Houser at jhh44@aol.com.
INVITATION TO THE CREATIVE ARTISTS OF OUR TALENTED
CONGREGATION - The Centennial Committee has been
working for some months planning events and activities
to celebrate our Centennial year beginning in September
2008 and culminating in a Celebration Service in April
2009.
One of the activities being planned is centered
on celebrating and making use of the many artistically
talented members in our midst.
We invite you to submit one or two works of art related
to our church for an in-house juried competition. We
will use the submissions in the following ways: (1)
Decorations on note cards to be offered for sale throughout
the Centennial celebration, and (2) Artworks auctioned
off to church members at a Centennial event.
These works of visual arts are greatly valued
by many who have seen prior products. We have
a number of talented artists; and the types of mediums
range over many skill sets – i.e., painting,
photography, clay modeling, various sewing forms, glasswork,
paper creations, fiber arts, etc. In order to
reproduce the art on note cards, the amount of detail
should be minimal. All skills and ages
are welcome. Please contact Knox
Williams if you are interested in contributing to this
exciting effort. Knox
can be reached at 630-665-2096 or jknoxwms@aol.com. The deadline for submissions is no later than July 15, 2008.
ALL MILITARY FAMILIES - You
are encouraged
to contact Judy DenUyl at bdenuyl@comcast.net or
630-406-0968. The information we have regarding
our military personnel needs to be updated in order
to continue our Deacons' ministry to our service men
and women. Please contact Judy with names and
current addresses of those people who are serving our
country.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE NEXT NEW MEMBERS CLASS: If
you have been thinking about joining First Presbyterian
Church, please check your calendar and see if June
29 would work for you! The next three-hour
New Members Class will be held on Sunday, June 29,
2008, from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in room 101-102. A
light lunch will be served around noon, and babysitters can be provided if
the church is notified at the time of registration. The new members will join the church on July 13 at the 8:40 a.m. service. A reception in the rotunda will follow that service. Please contact Ronda Riffle at 630-933-9913 or
riffle34@sbcglobal.net with any questions. Please contact the church office at 630-668-5147 to sign up and join our church family. We look forward to welcoming you as a member of First Presbyterian Church!
CHURCH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AND COMMITTEE - “Celebrating
Our Past, Believing In Our Future” - Committee
members are Diane Easter and Robb Frank, Co-Chairs;
Andie Alvis, Jeff Alvis, Kathy Paradise, Debbie Queen,
Kathy Suhr, and Knox Williams. In early summer 2007, Session called on Diane Easter and Robb Frank to co-chair the planning committee for
the Church’s
Centennial Celebration. The church was accepted
as the 100th congregation of the Chicago Presbytery
on April
20, 1909. Thus far the committee has met monthly since last summer,
brainstormed numerous ideas, received ideas from other
churches, and is currently finalizing a general plan
for the celebration. We have begun to recruit
leadership teams for each
of the general events planned, as well as events associated
with appropriate affinity groups within the church.
We are also planning for some fundraisers throughout the celebration.
The church will celebrate its centennial with monthly
events lasting throughout the 2008-2009 program year
(September 08 - April 09) beginning with the all-church picnic in September of
2008 and culminating in a community-wide Service of
Thanksgiving on Centennial Sunday, April 19, 2009. We will be
setting up a link on our website with Centennial Event
plans. The theme chosen for the Centennial celebration is: “Celebrating
Our Past, Believing In Our Future.”
An official Centennial Logo is being designed by church
member Tad Mallery.
We believe that one of the most important charges of
our committee is updating, archiving, and digitizing
church history.
Many pieces of our church history are scattered
around Wheaton, or have gone amiss. We feel that this
single project (though it may stretch beyond the celebration) is our
utmost legacy to the Centennial celebration. We are
currently working with other churches, businesses, and an archivist from
the Chicago Presbytery. If you have any items
in your homes or know of items that should be part of our church’s
archives, please contact a committee member. We
will also be approaching long-time members for additional assistance
in researching details of our church’s history.
Any questions, feel free to talk to any committee member.
We look forward to some exciting Centennial
festivities as we “celebrate our past and believe
in our future.”
THE 2008 PICTORIAL DIRECTORIES ARE HEREand
are available for pick up in the church office. If
you had a picture taken with Lifetouch, there is a
directory reserved with your name on it. If
you didn’t have a picture taken and would like
a directory, or if you would like an extra copy, there
will be some available for $6. Please call Janet
or Tiffany with any questions at 630-668-5147.
PLEASE BRING IN YOUR OLD CELL PHONES AND INK
JET CARTRIDGES
and put them in the green bin in the church office. The
Genesis middle schoolers are collecting them to recycle
as a fundraiser for the child we sponsor through Compassion
International.
CHCF - COFFEE HOUSE
COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP - needs your help. We are still
looking for prayer partners for our college-age students. There
are at least a dozen students who we have not been able to pair
up with a partner. If you are interested in being a prayer
partner and would like some additional information, please contact
Sue Massaro at smassaro@sbcglobal.net.
THE PEOPLE’S RESOURCE CENTER FOOD PANTRY is
in desperate need of food donations. The combination
of rising food costs, fewer government commodities,
and an ever-growing number of clients has left the
shelves bare at the pantry. The People’s
Resource Center food pantry serves more than 1800 families
each month. Low income residents of DuPage County
can use the pantry one time each month, and they usually
receive 6 to 7 days worth of food. The pantry
needs all kinds of food items such as canned fruits
and vegetables, soup, cereal, tuna, peanut butter,
and canned pastas. Donations are accepted at
the Resource Center Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.
until 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until
noon. If you have any questions, please contact
Melissa Travis at 630-682-5402. Please also remember
to bring food to church with you on Food Pantry Sundays,
which are the second Sunday of each month.
SUPPORT PADS – CLEAN YOUR CLOSETS! Please
drop off donations of clothing and soft goods at the
green donation bin located at 703 West Liberty. Fundraise & Recycle
Clothes Now will reimburse DuPage PADS for donations
collected which helps raise funds for programs that
assist people who are homeless in our communities. If
you are having a clothing collection drive, and have
surplus items at the end of your event, our partner Fundraise & Recycle
Clothes Now will pickup that surplus for
you. For more information, please call DuPage
PADS at 630-682-3846 x 222.
GOD SPEED AND GOD BLESS: Worship Planning Committee
is starting a tradition of "God Speed and God Bless" for
people who are moving away. If you are moving in the near
future, please let us know so that we will have the opportunity
to recognize you during the service on the last Sunday you are
in attendance. Please do not take this as an invitation
to move, rather an opportunity to recognize your service in the
life of our congregation. Please contact Janet Rynne in
the church office with upcoming move dates or changes to your
contact information.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE FIRST PRES NEWS ELECTRONICALLY? If
so, please contact Janet at the church office at 630-668-5147
or by
to update your email address and preferences. We can email your monthly
newsletter to you, instead of mailing, which will allow you to
receive it sooner, view it from anywhere, and help us save on
mailing expenses. You will also receive notice every Thursday of the weekly happenings with our “This Week at First Pres” email. Sign
up today!
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
PRESHOOL has been serving the community
since 1967. Preschool is often a child's first
school experience and sets the stage for future years
of formal education. First Presbyterian Preschool provides
a safe, caring, Christian environment that stimulates
the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development
of children. Registration
for the 2008-2009 school year is open to church members
and returning families beginning November 1 and is
open to the public beginning January 1. Contact
Carol Rooney (3 Year Old Program) or Chandra Gravit
(4 Year Old Program) at 630-668-5147 ext. 27 to request
an application or to set up a classroom visit.
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL ANNOUNCES A NEW PROGRAM,
the Terrific
Twos. This is a preschool experience created especially
for 2½ year olds beginning in September of 2008. The
Preschool is currently accepting applicants for a teaching
position in the Terrific Twos. For more information
about the program, or the teaching position, please
contact Chandra Gravit or Carol Rooney at 630-668-5147
x 27.
THE WESTMINISTER CHOIR is the primary choir
for many services at First Presbyterian Church. The Westminster
Choir consists primarily of adults, but high school age singers
are encouraged to attend. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings
from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. You do not have
to commit to an entire season; you can join us for special occasions
or whenever it works with your schedule. Please
contact David Lincoln for more information.
WORSHIP SERVICE CDs - a CD of one of each Sunday
morning's worship services is available in the library in the
Parish House. Homebound members are now able to receive
CDs of Sunday morning worship services. The
sermons can be accessed as a track on the CD. Homebound
members can call their Deacons or the church office to arrange
for the CD delivery.
First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton now has two separate
podcasts - one for sermons and a separate one for adult
education classes. Our podcasts
page includes details including how to subscribe to either
or both of these free podcasts. In addition -
All recent sermons are
available online in both MP3 and Real Audio format for listening
or downloading; and the sermon dates, titles, and presenters
are all listed on our sermons page.
All sessions of Dr. Paul Kirbas' 2007 classes In
the Beginning, GOD: Can Creation and Evolution
Peacefully Coexist? and Dangerous
Religious Trends of Our Time and Navigating
the Uncharted Seas can also be downloaded directly
from our website from our Prior
Classes Online page. They
are also available in our church library.
KEMMERER VILLAGE UPDATE: Kemmerer Village,
in Assumption, Illinois, is a mission agency of the Presbyterian
Church that cares for neglected and dependent children. Our
church has been helping them for a good many years to acquire
academic and athletic items by participating in General Mills’ “Labels
for Education” and “Box Tops for Education” programs. There
has recently been a change in their request. They will
no longer accept the front label from the Campbell soup can. They
will only accept the UPC bar code and the little Campbell soup
man together. Box tops are still acceptable, but please
be sure the words “Labels for Education” are included. They
are most appreciative of our help and support in this project. Please
continue to put the labels and coupons in the pantry off of the
dining room on the shelf marked Kemmerer Village.
DR. PAUL J. KIRBAS received a PhD.
Degree in Theological Studies and Biotechnology from the
Graduate Theological Foundation, a consortium of universities
with offices in South Bend, Indiana, in late March 2007. As
a major component of his degree program, Dr. Kirbas wrote a thesis
entitled Navigating
through a Stipulated Freedom, in which he developed a theological
and ethical compass to evaluate the moral implications of biotechnical
subjects such as stem cell research, prenatal engineering, and
artificial intelligence. His book, Navigating
Through a Stipulated Freedom: Discovering a Guiding Biblical
Compass For the Journey of Biotechnology, published by Cloverdale
Books in August 2007, is available for purchase in the church
office, from the publisher, or from other booksellers such as
Amazon.com or Books.com.
A PLAY GROUP is being held in the 2 year old nursery
on the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 10:00 -11:30 am. Come let your
infants/toddlers play and chat with other moms, dads, grandparents,
etc.
OUR CHURCH OFFICE hours are Monday – Friday
from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
FACILITY SCHEDULING: Janet Rynne, our Administrative
Assistant, is now scheduling our facility and coordinating all
requests to use the Church space, including equipment, weddings,
meetings, activities, and programs. As First Pres continues to
be a busy place for our members, committees, and programs, and
for outside groups inquiring about using our facilities, it
is imperative that requests be made to Janet as soon as you know
your schedule, preferably at least two weeks prior to an event.
Outside groups may not reserve the facility more than three months
in advance to give our own staff, committees, members, and programs
the first opportunity to reserve dates. If you need to use the
Church building for any reason, please contact Janet in the church
office at 630-668-5147. Also, if you plan to sell or advertise
tickets to an upcoming church event, or display/sell items between
services, we have reserved Stewart Hall (right up the ramp) for
you - please reserve your dates with Janet so a table might be
provided.
CARENOTES: There are CareNotes on
display in the Rotunda which are available to you. CareNotes
are little booklets of encouragement on a myriad of topics. Take
one for yourself or a friend. Be alert, as titles may change
from week to week, and always monthly. Teen CareNotes
are also available!
HELP WANTED
HELP NEEDED - CELEBRATION SERVICE AUDIO
/ VISUAL TEAM: The Celebration Service
Audio Visual Team is looking for some additional help
with the monthly Celebration Service. We are
looking for some electronic “Gurus" who
would be willing to help set-up, execute, and tear-down
our Audio and Visual Equipment. This includes
computers, projectors, screens, and all sound equipment. The
monthly commitment is 90 minutes minimum. Please
help support the monthly Celebration Service by sharing
your gifts. Please contact David Lincoln at 630-668-5147
x 22 if you would like to join the team. Thanks
and God Bless!
DO YOU HAVE ½ HOUR THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO THE CHURCH? If
you do, the ranks of the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton
Volunteer Usher Corps needs you! Ten teams,
made up of a crew of seven, are needed to staff the
8:40 and 11:00 a.m. services each month. All that we
need from you is one service on one Sunday per month,
to come 15 minutes early and to stay 15 minutes after
the service to clean up. This volunteer opportunity
comes with on-the-job training by your crew’s head usher and usher
captain so there are no meetings to attend! Women, youth,
men, and families are welcome. Please give Paul Luhrsen, our
usher coordinator, a call at 630-588-9369; and he will assign
you to one of the 10 teams. Remember, you only get one
chance to make a first impression! You can make that first
impression by presenting your smile and a weekly bulletin to
both old and new members one Sunday a month. Being an usher
is a great way to meet and greet your fellow Christians. If
you can’t
join one of the teams, we can make you an assistant usher. All
you have to do is return your hymn book and Bible to the pew
racks, take your bulletin home, or throw it into the recycle
bin at the end of the service. Help us prepare the sanctuary
for the next service.
ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF QUESTIONS LIKE: How
can I share my time and talent as a steward of God’s
gifts to me? How can I help others? How
can I have fun meeting other people who have similar
goals and interests? All you have to do is call
Paul Burgess!! He’s the Connections Ministry
Coordinator, and he can help you answer these questions!
Contact him at 630-668-5147 x
33 or by email at pnburgess@mindspring.com.
CALLING ALL RETIRED AND ACTIVE ELDERS AND DEACONS: Have
you ever thought about serving your fellow brothers and sisters
in Christ through Communion? The list of available Communion
Servers is getting old and out of date. The only requirements
are that you be either an active or retired, ordained elder or
deacon and your willingness to be a servant of God. If
you are interested in becoming an instrument of God through this
service, please contact Cerena Fischer at 630-289-4942 or the
church office to request a sign up form. If you are already
participating and being called to Communion service, please let
us know so we can be sure our lists are updated. Thank
you for you prayerful consideration of this important service
in the life of our church. If you have any questions, please
feel free to contact Cerena Fischer at email: cmfischer2@aol.com or
630-289-4942.
The Celebration
Ringers are looking
for more Bell Ringers! Rehearsals are on
Thursdays from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m. Adults
and high school students are welcome! Come and
join us! Contact David
Lincoln for more information.
The Celebration
Service Planning Team is continually seeking participants
of all ages who are gifted in the areas of music, dance (including
interpretive movement and American sign language), art, and drama
of any kind. IDEAS TO SHARE? Please call
Jo Albert at 630-681-8175 or email jo.albert@comcast.net for
more information.
Are you creative and love to write? Would you
like to give just a little bit of your time to help? We have openings
available on the Communications Committee to help us create
and write advertising, press releases, and web content. If you
are interested or have questions about what is involved, please
call Ron Hands at 630-670-6710.
Do you or would you like to run PowerPoint
presentations for church functions? Are you sure how to use
the church laptop and projector to make your presentation come
alive? The Audio/Visual team members are available to help you
learn how to use this equipment properly. We would like any member
that would like to use the laptop and/or projector to have a good
experience. This will also help extend the usable life of our
equipment. To arrange for training or ask questions, please contact
John Herndon at 630-653-1338.
NEWSLETTER COLLATERS -
A huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers
who join us on the last Thursday of the month to
collate the newsletter! We will continue to meet
at 9:00 a.m. in the Dining Room or Stewart Hall.
The schedule for 2008 is as follows:
May 29 - June newsletter,
June 26 - July newsletter,
July 31 - August newsletter,
August 28 - September newsletter,
September 25 - October newsletter,
October 30 - November newsletter.
New volunteers are always welcome so please join us!
THE OUTREACH COMMUNITY CENTER in Carol Stream
serves many of the senior citizens in southeast Carol
Stream who are in need of friendship and assistance. There
are many opportunities for service, but the two that
need volunteers are the Friendly Visitors and Activities
Programs. If you feel you could give a few hours
a month, please speak with Janet
Cederquist, Alice Lechiara, or Jean Williams.
YOUTH - Our Youth
Permission Form is online in both Word
(doc) and Adobe
Acrobat (pdf) formats, and our Youth Medical/Travel
Release Form is also online in both Word
(doc) and Adobe
Acrobat (pdf) formats. These forms can be saved
or printed from the website, completed, and returned to the church
in person or by mail with the original signature of the parent
or guardian.
YOU CAN HELP PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS - The Olive Branch
Chapter of Pilgrims of Ibillin is continuing to sell the beautifully
hand-carved olive wood items that were on display at our Advent
Festival on December 3, 2006. These carvings come directly
from Bethlehem and Beit Sahour - the town of the Shepherd’s
Field next to Bethlehem. Proceeds go directly to Palestinian
Christians to provide employment and education for the children
at Mar Elias Elementary School, founded by Archbishop Elias Chacour.
For more information or to purchase these beautiful items, contact
Cerena Fischer at 630-289-4942 or by email at cmfischer2@aol.com.
You can also view photos and obtain more information on the Bethlehem
Imports website - http://www.bethlehemimports.org.
KEEPING IN TOUCH: One of the ways we can most efficiently,
quickly and inexpensively keep you informed of upcoming church
events is via email. You could help us keep in touch
with you better by providing us with your current email address and
by letting us know when your email address changes. Simply
your current address to Janet Rynne at the church office, and
we will take care of the rest! Your email address will
not be added to the church website unless you request it, either
by noting this in your email to the church office or by emailing
Susan Miller at GGM81@aol.com.
Wellsprings 2: Joyful - the new CD of piano
and flute music by Glauber Ribeiro and Jack Urban - is now available
on the internet at http://cdbaby.com/cd/glauber3.
Like their original CD, Wellsprings, it features
the same style of peaceful musical conversations, perfect for
meditation, prayer meetings, or personal relaxation at home.
Wellsprings2: Joyful was recorded in our church
sanctuary on December 23, 2005.
HOSPITAL VISIT UPDATE: In an effort to respect
everyone’s
privacy, hospitals no longer contact the church automatically
when you become a patient. You must request that your
church be notified. When we learn that you have entered
the hospital, members of the pastoral visitation team
will visit you Monday through Friday. Members of the
team are Pastors Paul, Jay, and Liz, as well as Rev.
Ed Lanier, Mabel Koshy, and Andrea Schewe. If you
would like to be on the prayer board, just call the
church office and inform us. If you do not want a
visit, for any reason, let us know; and we will honor
your request. We understand! All of us need different
kinds of support when we are ill.
DO YOU SING OR PLAY AN INSTRUMENT AND ARE NOT INVOLVED
IN
THE MUSIC MINISTRY AT FIRST PRES? – Contact David
Lincoln by
or by phone at 630-668-5147 (ext. 22) to get involved
in Worship at First Pres.
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER (EFT) IS NOW AVAILABLE! –
Your monthly pledge commitment can be automatically withdrawn
from your checking account, savings account, or credit card!
Sign up forms are available at the information desk, online,
or you can also call the office for one. There are many reasons
to sign up for this program:
No need to write checks or bring cash to church
Peace-of-mind knowing that the church is receiving your contribution
even if you are unable to attend, which also makes for a more
even cash flow for our church
More secure than checks
All contributions are recorded for you on your bank statement
with date of settlement
IT COSTS YOU NOTHING!
If you have any questions regarding the EFT program, please
contact Denny Lawson.
GLORY BANNER: The beautiful
Glory to God banner was first hung in the Sanctuary in September
2004. It was begun by Leana Fay and completed by Timothy Botts
and is a gift from the late Jack Strunk back to the congregation,
reflecting Jack’s mission here on earth. . . Glory to God!
JOIN A PW CIRCLE
- We invite you to join other women in fellowship by attending
one of the following Circle meetings. These groups meet on a regular
basis and participate in Bible studies, mission projects and take
time to get to know each other. For more information please contact
Judy DenUyl (630-406-0968) or Liz Timmer (630-668-2743).
HELPING HANDS CARITASTEAM IS AVAILABLE! The ministry
goal of this CaritasTeam Ministry is to maintain and strengthen
ties among the Body of Christ by providing specific remedial
repairs required for the health and/or safety of members of this
church. We will perform minor home repairs or household odd jobs
members cannot do themselves due to physical limitations (perhaps
temporary) or lack of required tools, equipment or know-how.
If appropriate, we’ll offer you an honest assessment and recommendation of a local
service professional that will meet your needs. No member of our
congregation should feel they must face a home repair problem
alone. To request assistance or get more information simply call
the church office at 630-668-5147 and leave a message at the CaritasTeam
extension *840 or call the team’s coordinator Stuart MacDonald
(630-510-8944).
ARE YOU AWARE THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL FUND to help with
congregational needs on an emergency basis? Due to the downturn
in the economy we have received several requests from church members
for assistance, and the fund is rapidly becoming depleted. If
you would like to help, you can make a contribution to First Presbyterian
marked for the congregational special needs fund. Place it in
the offering or mail to the church.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE FIRST PRES
WEBSITE? The only requirement is access to a computer and
email; we can teach you the basics of preparing and updating
web pages. We can also use photographers and reporters
- people who attend some of the various events at our church
and are willing to take a few photos and/or prepare a brief
summary of them, even just occasionally. For more information,
please contact Susan Miller at 630-682-0108 or by email at GGM81@aol.com.
DONATE YOUR USED CAR TO A HOMELESS FAMILY THROUGH BRIDGE
COMMUNITIES - Bridge Communities, a non-profit, transitional
housing program serving homeless families in DuPage County with
headquarters in Glen Ellyn, is looking for individuals or businesses
that would like to donate used cars. The cars are used by homeless
families who are in transition to self -sufficiency; donated cars
allow Bridge clients to commute to better paying jobs. Donations
are tax deductible. To donate your used car to help homeless families
served by Bridge Communities, or to find out how to support Bridge
in another way, please call Mark Milligan at 630-545-0610, ext.
10.
WORSHIP FLOWERS - Church members or friends may donate
flower arrangements for the Sunday services. Arrangements,
which are made by Expressions Flower & Gift Shop, cost between
$45 and $60. After the services, arrangements are delivered
by the Deacons to the hospitalized or ill. Special announcements
are posted in the bulletin before Easter and Christmas, when
donations are taken for the Easter lilies and Christmas poinsettias. Please
call Mary Burge at 630-665-7623 for additional information.
PORTABLE COMPUTER PROJECTION SYSTEM AVAILABLE -
A computer projector, laptop, VCR, screen, and cart were
purchased with funds from a gift to the church. The system has
the ability to project computer slide shows (e.g., Powerpoint),
DVD movies, VHS video tapes, and can be useful for Sunday School
classes, committee meetings, retreats, youth fellowship, worship
and special presentations. For reservations contact the church
office 630-668-5147.
EXPANDING AUDIO VIDEO MINISTRY TEAM - The A/V Ministry
Team is broadening its scope and would welcome new members who
are comfortable with (or want to learn about) audio or video recording
and projection equipment or computers or media content tools.
It is a ministry to our church and its organizations and members,
and it is a chance to learn and grow with the team. Meetings are
currently Saturday mornings twice a month. Contact John Herndon
(630-653-1338, johnherndon@comcast.net)
for more information.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, AND WHEN . . . The Communication
Ministry Committee strives to provide church news through the
church publications, the website and press releases. If you or
your group has news to disseminate outside of the church, please
be aware of the following guidelines:
The website is updated weekly with information from the Sunday
bulletin. Pictures are welcome and should be emailed to the
web contacts. Hard copy photos can be put in the web team’s
mail slot in the church office. All photos should be accompanied
by a contact name, phone number and/or email address, and any
other pertinent information. Website contact: Susan Miller, 630-682-0108,
GGM81@aol.com.
Press releases are submitted regularly to the newspapers
for church news of community interest. Press release
requests or suggestions are welcome and can be submitted
to the press release contacts by either email or telephone
and should include a contact name, phone number and/or
email address. At least four weeks lead time is required
for press releases. Please be aware that press releases
are used as the newspapers choose. Press Release Contact:
Beth Gustafson, 630-871-9572, bgustafson5@sbcglobal.net.
The Committee wants to get your news out - please help us!
CARE CARDS - Please write a note on the Care Card located
in the pew racks. Sign your name, place it in the offering plate
or in the care box at the Welcome desk in the rotunda, and we
will send them. You may also send Care Cards from our website
anytime - just click on care
card, type in the information, and then click on send.
WORSHIP ASSISTIVE DEVICES CARTS are available in both
the Narthex and the Son-Light Rotunda. These HELP carts provide
a uniform site for parishioners with special needs to choose from
an array of items that can enhance their worship experience. The
items on each cart include large print hymnals and Bibles, as
well as audio devices and individual pew cushions. Help yourself
to items on the cart or ask an usher for assistance prior to each
service. Please remember to return items to the cart after each
service so that other parishioners may use them. The individually
packaged ear piece portion of the personal hearing devices are
available for $3.00 each and should not be returned (for hygienic
reasons).
WHEELCHAIRS - Thanks to the generosity of Marion Glendenning,
Grant and Theresa Lawson, and Denson's Medical Shop, First Pres
has a wheelchair stationed at each of the four main entrances
of our church. Whenever these wheelchairs are used, please be
sure to return them to the proper location marked on each chair
- Narthex, Rotunda, Parish House, or Madison Street Entrance.
If there are any problems with the wheelchairs, please contact
the church office.
Please contact Susan Miller at 630-682-0108 or by email at
GGM81@aol.com with any items
you would like to contribute to the news and events sections of
the First Presbyterian Church website. Pictures are also appreciated!