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2003 Events
This page includes information and pictures about events that either
took place at First Presbyterian Church or involved
members or supported organizations in 2003. Please contact
Susan Miller at 630-682-0108 or by email at
GGM81@aol.com with any items and photos you would
like to contribute.
Past events from 2002,
2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, and 2008 are
also online, as
well as upcoming events. Some information
and photos about events prior to 2002 can be found in our Church
History Section.
Worship leadership for our Intergenerational
Christmas Eve Service in the Ministry Center
was provided by children grade 3 and older who were
readers and pre-school children through grade 5 who
led Christmas Carols in ringing our tone chimes (grades
2-5), colored bells (K-1), and jingle bells for the
youngest ringers.
Ericka Parkinson's
ordination as a minister was held at First Presbyterian
Church on December 21, 2003. Ericka grew up here at
First Presbyterian, graduated in the spring of 2003
from Princeton Theological Seminary, and has been called
to serve as Associate Pastor for First Presbyterian
Church, Richland, Michigan. Members of both churches
joined in choirs for this celebration. Photos, music,
and messages from this celebration are online.
An Angel Tree
Christmas Party was held for children and their
caretakers in Stewart Hall on December 20, 2003. Angel
Tree is a ministry to the children of prisoners. It
is one of several programs that is a part of Chuck Colson’s
Prison Fellowship Ministries. Angel Tree was started
back in 1982 and is has served millions of children
over the years and over half a million during Christmas
2003. The children received gifts donated by church
members on behalf of their parents in prison. Angel
Tree is now a mission partner of First Presbyterian
Church, with opportunities
to help available throughout the year.
Our Westminster Fellowship (WF) youth enjoyed dressing
as Santas and reindeer
at their meeting on December 7, 2003. They also participated
in a Progressive Dinner
on December 13, 2003.
Church members and visitors enjoyed fellowship, refreshments,
a live demonstration of the church website, information
about Presbyterian Women's activities and projects,
our church library, and some of our small groups and
mission projects at our
Christmas Festival in the Ministry
Center on December 7, 2003.
On Sunday, November 16, 2003, we enjoyed music provided
by our Genesis
Choir as well as our band, Two or More, during
both the 8:40 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. National
Donor Sabbath was observed, with speakers at
all three services providing personal information about
this gift of life; and a table was set up in Stewart
Hall with photos and memories of a few of the people
who have donated tissues and organs or received these
incredible gifts. Volunteers from our Health Ministry
Team provided blood
pressure screenings, as they do the third Sunday
of every month. This was also the Sunday Presbyterian
Women began their holiday sales of one-pound bags of
pecans,
with proceeds going toward PW missions.
Our annual Mission
Fair on Sunday, October 19, 2003, provided information
to all in attendance on ways we can help continue "Walking
in Christ's Steps" by participating in the missions
in our area and around the world.
An abundance of food, fellowship, music, and ethnic
displays of arts and crafts were enjoyed at the Scandinavian
Fest held in Stewart Hall on Saturday, October
18, 2003. The Fox Valley Swedish Children’s chorus presented
a wonderful program of song and dance.
On October 18, 2003, 340 pink tulip bulbs were planted
near Ellis Street for our Garden
of Hope to honor those who have suffered from
breast cancer and to raise awareness that early detection
is the best cure. Please take a moment to pray for those
women who have dealt with the devastating affects of
breast cancer! The garden looked beautiful in April
2004 filled with pink blooms.
We celebrated Randy
Den Braven's 10-year anniversary with First
Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 28, 2003, at
the 11:00 a.m. worship service, followed by a reception
in the Rotunda.
Our traditional Homecoming
Sunday picnic was held in Stewart Hall on September
7, 2003. Our youth band provided music, and everyone
feasted on all the delicious items brought by church
members and friends as well as the hot dogs and hamburgers
provided by our deacons. Fun, food, and fellowship were
shared by all the generations of our church family.
Members of our Westminster Choir had the opportunity
to meet David Lincoln, our new Director of Music, at
the Choir Workshop
held on Saturday, September 6.
On July 27, 2003 First Presbyterian members participated
in our annual trip to Ravinia
and enjoyed a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
a picnic in the park, and the fellowship of friends.
Bible stories, cooking, crafts, and other activities
were enjoyed during Vacation
Bible School, held June 24 - 27, 2003, for children
entering 4-year-old preschool through grade 6. This
year's theme was Marketplace 29 AD.
Our WF Mission Trip in June 2003 was to
Coleman, Michigan.
The Sunday School
Finale was held in the Ministry Center on June
8, 2003. Each of the classes shared the scripture they
had memorized with each other and with parents and other
family members.
Our Pilgrims
of Ibillin Middle Eastern Feast on May 16, 2003,
featured Father Abuna Elias Chacour, founder of the
Mar Elias Schools in northern Israel. Nearly 350 people
filled Stewart Hall, enjoying delicious food and grand
entertainment, and contributed $10,000 to Father Chacour’s
work.
On Youth
Sunday, May 4, 2003, all three services were
conducted by the high school students of First Presbyterian
Church. Our graduating seniors were blessed at the 8:45
service, and the Confirmation Class of 2003 was welcomed
at the 11:00 service. A melodrama, "Sink or Swim,"
was presented at the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services, and
our WF Youth Band played at both of these services.
On Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2003, we had a Living
Last Supper and Holy Communion worship service at 7:30
p.m. in the Sanctuary. Photos from the Last
Supper are online.
On March 30, 2003, Pathways and the Mission Outreach
Committee presented One
Great Hour of Fellowship during our 10:00 a.m.
Sunday education hour. Church members and visitors met
in the Ministry Center for refreshments and information
on our One Great Hour of Sharing program.
Our worship services
on March 23, 2003, included music played
by our Celebration Ringers and Orchestra plus a solo
sung by Robert Wertke and played by Kristen Burge on
the clarinet. Between services Riley Roberts autographed
copies of his book, Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Riley is a sophomore at Wheaton Warrenville South High
School and a member of First Presbyterian Church.
A good time was had by all at our
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Dinner on Saturday,
March 15, 2003, at 6:00 p.m. in Stewart Hall. Attendees
enjoyed a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef, cabbage,
and boiled potatoes, plus entertainment by Irish dancers
and Wheaton's leprechaun, Bernie Hurley. This event
was sponsored by the Friends Across the Generations.
On Friday, February 28, 2003 our church hosted a
Care Team Leadership
Training Conference. Our presenters for the
day were Malcolm Marler, the director of the Care team
network, Kelly Ross-Davis also from the Care team network
in Biringham, Alabama, and our very own Maryanne Kyle.
Our 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. worship
services on February 23, 2003, were contemporary
in style, including music provided by our Praise Band,
Genesis Guitars, and Genesis Chorus. Photos
from the 8:45 a.m. service are online.
Our annual Westminster Fellowship
Spaghetti Dinner was held on Saturday, February
22, 2003, in Stewart Hall. All donations for the dinner
support the cost of the youth mission trip in June to
Coleman, Michigan. Everyone attending had the opportunity
to enjoy great Italian cuisine, fellowship, and entertainment.
Children from our Genesis and Logos
programs participated in our worship service
on February 2, 2003; and photos from the 8:45 a.m. service
are online.
Middle school students and leaders from First Presbyterian
Church went on a retreat
at Timber-Lee Christian Center near East Troy,
Wisconsin, from February 7-9, 2003. Small
photos are available online as well as a page
with links to more
details, large photos, and mpg videos.
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