The official newsletter of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
January 2018
12N268 Switzer Road, Elgin, IL 60124 e-mail: [email protected] www.stpauluccelgin.org 847.628.6118
LoveofNeighbor
“...andthegreatestoftheseislove.”1Corinthians13:13
Theremaybenogreaterneedtodaythantheneedtolove—loveofneighbors,loveofchildren,loveofcrea>on.
AstheUnitedChurchofChristintroducedatGeneralSynodthissummer,ourchurchisbeingaskedtobeapartnerintheUCC’s“3GreatLoves”ini>a>ve—anini>a>vethatfocusesonLoveofNeighbor,LoveofChildrenandLoveofCrea>on.ThiseffortbeginswiththeLoveofNeighboreffort.
LoveofNeighborispartofadenomina>on-wideeffortthatisaboutengagingtheUCCtotakeac>onandtoshowtheimpactofourcongrega>on,andtheUCC,workingtogetherasonechurch,withonevoiceandonevision—avisionofAJustWorldforAll.
LoveofNeighborcanbeexpressedinmanyways.Inthenewyear,makeacommitmenttoshowlovetoyourneighborsinawayyouhaven’tbefore.Asacongrega>on,wearethehandsandfeetofChrist.Let’sbeamodelinourchurchandinourcommunity,toliveoutthepurposeoftheGospel:ToloveGodwithallourheart,mind,soul,andstrengthandourneighborasourselves.(Mt.22)
Journeyingwithyou,
PastorJill
ChurchMortgage
In2011,St.Paul’sUnitedChurchofChristvotedtoundertakeaCapitalCampaign,astepnecessarytolayholdofourlong-termvisionofanewchurchonthewestsideofourcity.Wesoldthechurchat220DivisionStreetandpurchasedsixacresofpropertyatthenorthwestcornerofPlankandSwitzerroadsinwesternElgin.Wetookaleapoffaithandinvestedinahouse,propertyandournewchurchbuildingspending$2million.Ittookussixyears,butwenowowenothing!OurchurchisblessedandwehavesomuchtobeproudofandthankfulforthisChristmasseason.
ThanksbetoGodandthankyoutoanamazingcongrega>onforsuppor>ngourBUILDINGTOSERVE—“FromChristThroughUs,ToOthers”CapitalCampaign!Thisisahugeaccomplishmentforoursmallchurch.
We’vehadanamazingjourneysofar.Somuchexcitementhashappenedinthelastsixyears.Wearenolongertalkedaboutasadyingchurch.Wehaveanewbuilding,newmembers,anewpastorandarenewedenergy.Weareachurchonthemove.
Withourmortgagenowpaidoffit’s>metobeginanotherchapterinthelifeandjourneyofSt.Paul’s.
Againcongratula>ons.Hallelujahandthankyou.
InChrist’sService,
DavidThompsonCapitalCampaignChairman
Women’sAuxiliary
WearelookingforsomenewmemberssoIwouldliketotellyoualibleabouttheAuxiliary.Wehavemee>ngsonthefirstThursdayofthemonth,eitherattheMinistryHouseoratanoutsideplaceforlunch.TheThursdaysattheMinistryHousewestartthemee>ngat1p.m.andthehostessesbringadessertofchoiceforeveryonetoshare.ThetwooutsidedatesareinOctoberandourChristmasluncheoninDecember.ThosestartatNoon.Therearenomee>ngsinJanuary,FebruaryandJuly.AttheMarchandAugustmee>ngswebringpaperproductsandschoolsuppliesfortheElginCrisisCenter.InlieuofaBakeSaleinNovember,weeachdonate$10forourannualfundraiser.ThiscoversChristmasgidsandofficesuppliesforUCCandtheElginCrisisCenter.InMay,wehaveourSaladLuncheonwhereeveryonebringsafavoritesaladtopass,andinJunewecelebratebirthdaysofthosemembers85andolder.OurannualpicniclunchisinAugust.
Thehostessesforthemonthplanthe“aderdessert”mee>ngorgames.Apostcardissentouteachmonthasareminderofthemee>ng>meandplaceandhostessesandhappenings.Wehavegreatfellowshipandenjoylaughstogether.
Pleasecomeandjoinusifyouhavethe>meandinterest.AllwomenofSt.Paul’sareinvited.WejuststartedaPrayerCirclethathasbeenputtouseafew>mesalready.Letmeknowifyouwanttojoinour“liblefamily.”
JudyOlsen262.949.1333
MissionsMinistry
TheMissionCommibeewouldliketosendabigTHANKStoeveryonewhotookanamefromtheChristmasGivingTree.Wedelivered62gidstoOpenDoor.Ican'texpressenoughwhatawonderfulfeelingitwastodeliverthesegids.ThestaffwasoverwhelmedasDaleandmyselfpulledupwithhistruckandmycarfullofgids.
BarbKamp
WindyCityBulls
Wehave40>cketsonreservefortheWindyCityBullsbasketballgameattheSearsCenteronFriday,Jan.19at7p.m.Here'sachanceforafunnightoutwithfamilyandfriends!TheWindyCityBullsaretheofficialNBAminorleagueaffiliateoftheChicagoBulls.ComewatchtheWindyCityBullstakeontheWisconsinHerd.
It'salsoFaithNightandwe'llenjoyaspecialhaldimeconcertbyAmericanIdolstarColtonDixon.Ticketsare$15each.OurfinalcountmustbeinbyWednesday,Jan.10.Orderyour>cketsbysigninguporcontac>[email protected].
DramainJanuary
It'sDramaJanuaryatSt.Paul's!ForthemonthofJanuary,SundaySchoolclasseswillbefocusedonthestoryoftheMagiandwhathappenedAFTERbabyJesuswasborn.EachSundayinJanuary,thekidswilltaketurnsindifferentrolesasactors(speakingsimplelinesanddressingincostume),assingersandasthesetdesignandcameracrew.Ournursery-agekidswillalsohearthestoryoftheMagi.Lights,camera,ac>on!
Thankyou
MydearfriendsatSt.Paul’s,
Thankyoutothoseofyouthatsaidprayers,sentnotesandcalledmewhileIwasrecupera>ngatShermanHospitaladersufferingapulmonaryembolism(bloodclot)onNov.17.Forthoseofyouwhosefaithyouques>on,IamlivingproofthatthereisaGodandthathehasa“plan”foreachandeveryoneofus.
BackinJune2009,Ibrokemyrightfemur.Afewdayslateradertherapy,Ithrewsomebloodclotsthatendedupinmylung,andoneoftheclotscreptoverintomyledbrachialarteryinmyledarminsteadofgoingupintomybrain.MysecondepisodewasthenightofNov.17when,outoftheblue,Ithrewthebloodclotthatendedupinabranchofthepulmonaryartery.Godisnotreadyto“takemehometoheaven”yet.MydaysonthisEartharenotfinished;his“plan”formeisnotcomplete.IfirmlybelievethistobethetruthandIwantedtotellyoumystorysothatyourbeliefinGodcanbestrengthened.
Ineachoftheseepisodestheoutcomecouldhavebeendeath,butGods>llhasplansformeandIamheretotellyoumystory.IjustwantyourfaithinGodstrengthenedandknowthatHelovesandcaresforusall.Iamsohappytos>llbeheretobewithmyfamilyandfriendstocelebrateanotherChristmas.Thankyouagainforallofyourprayers,callsandnotes.AspecialthankyoutoPollyRussell,averyspecialfriend.
LoveinChrist,
JudyOlsen
StewardshipMinistry
TheStewardshipMinistrywouldliketothankyouforyourpledgesandalsoforeveryonewhocontributestothe2018budget.Keepupthegoodwork.
FinanciallySpeaking
ThetotalreceiptsforthemonthofNovemberwere$12,113.09.Ourspendableincomecameto$12,103.09,includingourOCWMincomeof$425.Wehadcharitableincomeof$10forthemonthofNovember,whichwenttoNeighborsinNeed.TherestofourmissionprojectthismonthwasBuild-a-Meal.AlldonateditemsweredroppedoffatFirstCongrega>onalUCCinElginfortheirfoodpantry.
Nowthatthesignispaidoffweareaskingmemberstoturninsugges>onsonhowtospendfutureJDollars.Pleaseputyoursugges>onsintheJDollarjug.
The Holidays at UCC—2017
2017ChristmasMemorials
InMemoryandHonorof: GivenBy:
Family MiaBerna
LovedOnes MarjoryDralle&Family
JohnHarwood MaxHarwood
LovedOnes Dan&AnneHeinrich
SisGunnell HuberFamily
DonnyKamp,Randy&DianaKamp BarbKampFamily
Minna&GertBohner,LauraWiller JonKobel
TheLauber&FieldlerFamilies Arnie&HildyLauber
Harold&CarolMelgin,DelbertSchmidt Myron&LindaMeglin
JanetWursher,NadineGartner Mike&GinnyMursewick
BillMursewick,SharonKagel VeronaMursewick,PaulaDefarno
FrankKaiser ThePebyFamily
JohnDoris,MaryEllenKobel PollyRussell
Stan&TinaSadowski,Velma&WaltSchambach Wayne&LindaSchambach
MickieShircliff,JamesJanson,MichaelFlorence Jay&JoAnnShircliff
AlbertC.Huber,Jr. Smith&HuberFamilies
William&HelenBrown,Carlton&RosemaryStute Mark&CheriStute
RodgerCarlson,Ruby&BillSchultz, DaleVolkeningFamily
Gerda&BertCarlson
John&LeoneDiehs,Herman&BerthaVolkening RuthVolkeningFamily
BrianVolkening,RayVolkening
Edward&HenriebaWerner,NancyWerner Rev.JamesWerner&Family
IreneWerner,Edward&HenriebaWerner JanetWerner
Mary&JamesWesterman Mike&KarenWesterman
BirthdaysandAnniversaries
Thosecelebra>ngabirthdayinthemonthofJanuaryare:
LindaMeglin(Jan.3) WilliamRhymes(Jan.10)
EllenVolkening(Jan.11) AliceEichhorst(Jan.13)
JillTerpstra(Jan.15) BillGuptail(Jan.19)
SallyWilson(Jan.19) DanielHeinrich(Jan.20)
KathleenRabe(Jan.26) CindyHeinrich(Jan.30)
Thosecelebra>nganniversariesinJanuaryare:
DavidandBonnieStarr(Jan.11)
WilliamandSallyRhymes(Jan.12)
ErnaandUlrichDieterle(Jan.23)
DouglasandEllenVolkening(Jan.28)
KimberlyandBillToth(Jan.30)
KennethandRamonaVolkening(Jan.30)
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ StaffJillTerpstra–Pastor LindaBecker–SecretaryJonKobel–ChoirDirector GayBouwmeester–PianoAccompanistLizPatz–MinisterforChildren,YouthandFamilies DaleVolkening-JanitorBillWilson–NewsletterEditor
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Council KarenWesterman–President DanHeinrich–VicePresidentSandyVolkening–FinancialSecretary MyronMeglin-TreasurerLindaMeglin–RecordingSecretary ChristianEducation–KarenSmithEvangelism–PollyRussell Fellowship/Hospitality–JanetWernerMission–BarbKamp Calling&Caring–GinnyMursewickProperties–DanHeinrich Stewardship–JudyReimerWorship–VernonKnaak
