Past Events 2007

This page includes information and links to pictures about events that either took place at First Presbyterian Church or involved members or supported organizations in 2007.  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 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002 are all online.  Some information and photos about events prior to 2002 can be found in our Church History Section.  Information about our church's initiatives, classes, activities, and upcoming events can be found online in our Weekly and Monthly Newsletters, our Sunday Bulletin, Church Life, and our Weekly and Monthly Calendars.

A reception was held in Stewart Hall following the 11:00 a.m. worship service on December 9, 2007, to honor and thank Matt Wright, our High School Ministry Coordinator, for his work with the youth of our church since November 2005.  Although no pictures were taken at the reception itself, Derrick Rohl had prepared a group of photos showing some of Matt's activities with our high schoolers in the prior two years.

Our Genesis middle schoolers had a BLAST at the Wheaton Sports Center on November 30, 2007, enjoying swimming, racquetball, and a massive sundae bar, and especially participating in Hoops of Hope, the world’s largest shoot-a-thon, with 71 students together shooting 5,726 free throws and raising over $3,200 to help build a medical lab in Zambia, a country hit hard by HIV/AIDS.  

Everyone enjoyed a delicious brunch and catching up with each other at the first CHCF (Coffee House College Fellowship) Thanksgiving Brunch, which was held in Stewart Hall on November 24, 2007.

An All-Church Men's Chorus with about 60 singers ranging in age from 17 to 75 provided worship leadership singing "Crown Him with Many Crowns" at the 8:40 a.m. worship service on Sunday, November 11, 2007. 

On November 4, 2007, Rev. Elizabeth G. Walker preached her candidacy sermon at our 8:40 and 11:00 a.m. worship services.  At the Congregational Meeting held after the 11:00 service the church members voted to approve the recommendation of our Associate Pastor Nominating Committee to call her as our new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care Elect.  Photos and more information about her are online.  Meanwhile just down the link in Stewart Hall was the Presbyterian Women's Mission Project Bake Sale.

Commencement for the first graduating class of Mar Elias University, Ibillin, Israel, was held on October 29, 2007.  This was the first graduating class of the first Arab University in Israel.  Among the speakers at the graduation ceremony were Archbishop Elias Chacour and Susan Drinan, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Mar Elias Campus and First Presbyterian Church member.

Our high school students had a great time at the WF Fall Retreat at Stronghold Conference, October 26-28, 2007, in Oregon, Illinois.  The retreat focused on the theme of "Transformation."  Photos are online at the WF website - www.ledbyyouth.com.

Our Genesis Middle schoolers had a BLAST facing the challenge of the world’s largest corn maze at Richardson Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois, on October 14, 2007.

We thanked God for the wonderful gift of animals at our our Blessing of the Animals worship service on Saturday morning, October 13, 2007. 

Six of our choir members participated in a presentation of bread from different countries on World Communion Sunday on October 7, 2007.

On October 2, 2007, Afrizo, the touring choir from Daystar University, a Christian Liberal Arts College in Kenya, Africa, offered a spirited concert of music and dance in our Ministry Center.

Everyone had a good time enjoying food and fellowship on October 2, 2007, at our Senior Luncheon, which is hosted by the Deacons each year.

We welcomed our fall return to our three-worship-service schedule and enjoyed a terrific picnic on Catch the Spirit Sunday, September 9, 2007.  Photos from the worship services and the picnic are online.

Our Coffee House College Fellowship (CHCF) had a great start during summer 2007.  Current CHCF information is also available on the website.

At our Presbyterian Women (PW) Mission Possible start-up on Thursday, September 6, 2007, we assembled school bags with school supplies for shipping to the Church World Service warehouse where they are sorted and sent to disaster areas at home and abroad.  We then enjoyed lunch and an overview of our 2007-2008 Horizons Bible Study, which will be held during Circle meetings.   

Our Genesis middle schoolers had a BLAST on August 26, 2007, at Holes and Knolls miniature golf course in Glen Ellyn. 

Everyone had a great time at the WF Road Rally on August 26, 2007, and photos are available on the new WF website, http://www.ledbyyouth.com.  The Road Rally is a scavenger hunt where all participants load into vans and scavenge around town in search for the answers to clues.

Hospitality "Southern Style," plenty of delicious food, and entertainment were enjoyed by the large crowd at First Presbyterian's Supper Club gathering, Southern Delights, on August 18, 2007.

Genesis helped clean up the church grounds and enhance the preschool area in another mission project on August 14, 2007.

Several Genesis volunteers went to the Milton Township Food Pantry on one of their mission outings and helped sort and stack cans of food on July 19, 2007. 

Worship leadership at our 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, July 15, 2007, was provided by the talented children who participated in our SHINE program this summer.

Children from four-year-old preschool through fifth grade had a wonderful time at Vacation Bible School from June 26-29, 2007.

Our Genesis middle schoolers had a BLAST celebrating Christmas in June and welcoming our new 6th graders into the ministry on June 24, 2007.

Everyone had a great time at our Supper Club Scandinavian Fest on June 2, 2007.  Organized by Kay Nelson Jenner, assisted by Paul and Marlene Luhrsen, there were displays of many Scandinavian items, clothing, and photos, as well as plenty of delicious food.  Our featured guests were the Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago.

On Youth Sunday, May 20, 2007, all of the sermons were presented by our high school seniors.

At our annual Sunday School Program on May 13, 2007, the children in classes from 2 year olds through grade 5 gathered in Stewart Hall to share their scripture memory with each other and their parents.  Everyone also enjoyed a slide show with photos of various Sunday School activities from 2006-2007.

A Taizé Prayer Service was held on Friday, May 11, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rotunda here at First Presbyterian Church.

Everyone enjoyed our Senior Spring Luncheon sponsored by the Board of Deacons on May 10, 2007.

A busload of 45 First Presbyterian Church members and friends enjoyed visiting Springfield on Saturday, April 21, 2007, as part of the Red Carpet Fellowship Trips program.

Our WF youth attended a retreat at Dickson Valley Retreat Center April 13-15, 2007.  This retreat was mandatory for our 2007 Confirmation Class. 

Our Genesis middle schoolers had a BLAST at Chasers Laser Tag in Aurora on April 13, 2007.

Easter Sunday services on April 8, 2007, gave those attending a choice of three very different types of worship experiences.

Children age 3 through Grade 3 and their adults had a wonderful time at the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Craft Party on April 7, 2007.

On Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007, our choir led the pastors and the members in a procession from our Parish House entrance on Carlton Street around to the front of the church and into the Sanctuary, with everyone carrying palm fronds, before both the 8:40 and 11:00 a.m. worship services.

The First Pres Saturday-Nite Supper Club kicked off this year’s season with the Second Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner held in Stewart Hall on March 17, 2007.

Our Genesis Middle schoolers had a BLAST at First Presbyterian Church during their March Madness Survivor Night on March 9, 2007.

Forty members of First Presbyterian Church and their guests made the trek into Chicago on a snowy winter day on February 25, 2007, to attend the Inaugural Red Carpet Fellowship Trip to the House of Blues for their Gospel Brunch.

Hollywood Daze, a tribute to Hollywood starring Dr. Paul Kirbas (and many other local community members) was presented in the Ministry Center on February 16 to18, 2007.  Proceeds benefited the Outreach Community Ministries Older Adults programs in Carol Stream.

Dr. Paul Kirbas joined the Fifth Grade Sunday School for their fourth annual “Interview with the Pastor” on Sunday, February 18, 2007.

Our middle schoolers had a great time with their friends and connecting with God at the Genesis Winter Retreat  at Covenant Harbor Retreat Center, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, February 9 - 11, 2007.

Scout Sunday was held on February 4, 2007.  Scouts served as ushers, and a display about scouting was presented in the Ministry Center between the 8:40 and 11:00 a.m. worship services, along with freshly made donuts.

Our Genesis Middle Schoolers had a BLAST bowling at Brunswick Zone in Carol Stream on January 28, 2007.

Our annual congregational meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2007, began about 12:15 p.m. with a lunch in Stewart Hall.  The meeting was held next, and then Dr. Paul Kirbas presented his outstanding “State of the Church” address.  He laid out what was right and wrong plus the directions we should go. It was very informative and well received. Everyone then enjoyed singing, accompanied by David Lincoln on the piano. The meeting was very well attended as was the first annual congregational meeting in recent memory in which we combined food, fellowship, and music with handling church business.

Our WF group (high school ministry) hosted a Second Chance Prom with a theme of Old Hollywood on the evening of January 27, 2007. This was designed as an opportunity for adults to attend a prom of their own and was also a fundraiser for the WF June mission trip to Westmoreland, TN, to rebuild homes and restore hope.

Twenty-nine First Presbyterian members traveled to Pearlington, MS, to help provide post-hurricane (Katrina) assistance to members of that community January 14-20, 2007.  Photos and reflections from this mission trip, including a slide show, can now be viewed on our website.