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February 2018 Newsletter

Regular Worship Times

Saturday

5:00 p.m. - Spoken

Sunday 8:30 a.m. – Traditional

9:43 a.m.—Casual, Come as you are

11:00 a.m.—Blended

Souper Bowl of Caring Want to join with youth across the nation to help fill our local food pantries? Every year, on a day when many feast and cele-brate the last football game of the season, youth from around the nation gather in their local con-

gregations to make sure that those without enough food are not forgotten. Youth can help out, with Soup Pot in hand at the end of each worship service on the weekend of February 3rd/4th as we collect money and canned food for this spe-cial cause. To sign-up for a worship service shift, check out the smaller bulletin board outside the youth room. It would be great to have youth of all ages helping to support this cause and rallying our congregation to give more!

ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICES Wednesday, February 14th 12:00 pm & 7:00 pm Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes

THANKOFFERING WEEKEND

WELCA will celebrate Thankoffering on February 24 & 25. This annual appeal supports the life-changing ministries of the

Women of the ELCA. Specially marked envelopes will be provided, with half of those offerings going the synodical WELCA and one half will go to Reclaim 13 which deals with human trafficking and justice.

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Glad You Noticed… Some of you noticed that my newsletter article for this past month was the same as the previous. I am glad you noticed. It is good to know that some of you read what we on staff take time to write. My excuse…well…Last week, I was away at a conference at Luther Seminary. While I was away, the newsletter deadline came and gone. A better man would have worked ahead. Mi culpa. So since return-ing, I am in a bit of catch up mode with being gone all week and rushing right into worship and then into our annual meeting. It’s life…we all live it. I would like to share with you a few things that I learned from the Luther Seminary conference on Sci-ence and Religion. One thing was the complexity of God’s Cosmos. Did you know that for every grain of sand on the seashore of all our earth’s ocean shores there are 10,000 stars in the universe. That is just those stars that are presently visible. And with the distance it takes for light to travel across the universe, some of those stars that we can observe no longer exist as we take notice of them. I also learned that our brain off-loads some of our memories much like computers, when their hard-drive get full, have to off-load data to external hard-drives. We can access those off-loaded memories when we interface with friends and loved ones, but when friends and family die or move far away, the ability to access those memories becomes extremely difficult and sometimes even disappears. With those disappearing memo-ries, a part of us dies. Dr. Rich Melheim used this research to share the importance of churches doing inter-generational events…like church night suppers, weekend worship, coffee hour, etc. Without continued connec-tions with others our memories will disappear and a part of us emotionally, relationally, spiritual dies. May we at Gloria Dei continue to seek different ways to link our diverse generations. Last, it is no secret that science and religion are at times at odds. Walls go up between scientists and faithful folk, when either side closes itself off to dialogue. Some of these proverbial closed doors have been closed by the faith community. In addition, we the faithful have closed doors when our poor actions/behaviors have turned off and turned away outsiders. Some scientist like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris are very antagonistic to religion. Dawkins calls religion, “dangerous” and/or a “virus.” So the question remains; how do we of faith interface, dialogue and find kinship with those who reject our faith? The first step is to admit where we have been wrong (violence, prejudice, slavery and genocide to name a few). At the same time, we must love all those with whom we share this planet (including those who might besmirch our faith). Hopefully through love and respect, we can together grow relationship, love, peace and understanding. We live in an increasingly scientific and technologically advancing world. The question for we who are faithful is how will we embrace and incorporate the advances of science and at the same time embrace the God of the Cosmos who created such a stunningly beautiful and complex, ever-expanding universe? All of the above still has my brain swimming…hopefully it has stirred your soul too. Give ‘em Heaven! P.T.

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Women Singers and Instrumentalists Wanted for Sunday, February 25, Thankoffering Weekend!

We are looking for women to participate as special musicians and/or sing in an all-women’s choir on Sun-day, February 25. The choir will sing at the 8:30 am service and will rehearse on Wednesdays, February 7 th & 21st from 6:30-6:55 p.m. in the Lounge. Please sign up on the Green Sheet or contact Betsy Waldon.

Midweek Lenten Worship Services: A Lenten Journey to the Easter Vigil

Wednesdays, beginning February 21st 7:00 p.m.

Join us for services of evening prayer as we reflect on readings from the Easter Vigil service. We’ll hear a description of God, a metaphor of the resurrection, and a reference to baptism through the stories of creation, the flood, deliverance at the Red Sea, salvation freely offered to all, and deliverance from the fiery furnace.

THE WELCOMING TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ENJOYED OUR 3RD ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF!

Our Chili Chefs:

Bob Agnoli John Schrage Jeff Anderson Alan Stanek Karen Ericson Pat Tyree Jim Gunner Marge VanderWagen Tom Konieczka Jeremy Vrtis Katie Marek We look forward to our 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off in 2019! Our team would like to invite you to join us on February 6, 2018 7:00 pm. All are welcome! Be a part of this great team I-inviting N-nurturing G-growing in Christ together! God Bless; Deb Kotovsky, Tony and Susan Marek, Gloria Parker, Brad Pelhank, Jacque Ortegel, Mary Rakowski, Mari-lyn Seelander, and Lissa Trice

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Contact Information: Jan Barker, Family Ministries Coordinator – jan.barker@gloriadeichurch.org

Happy New Year! I want to thank our children who so graciously took a role in our Christmas Eve story at the 4:00 p.m. worship service. They all did a wonderful job and it was so much fun getting to know all of them. I hope they all had a wonderful Christmas! We have some fun events coming up so please check out our plans!

MOVIE/PIZZA NIGHT There will be a Movie/Pizza Night on Saturday, March 3rd in Fellowship Hall. Children from kindergarten through 4th grade, and their parents will attend a showing of “The Lion King” with a short discussion following the movie. Then we will enjoy a pizza dinner from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Children may wear their “jammies” and bring a blanket and pillow to lay near the screen. Chairs will be set up for the parents. The 5th – 8th graders are invited to join us at 6:00 p.m. for the pizza dinner and then will watch the movie “My Dog Skip” at 7:00 with a short discussion following the movie. Parents are encouraged to join us and act as chaperones as well! “Jammies”, blankets and pillows are welcome for this age group too. Please R.S.V.P. by February 25.

GLORIA DEI MISSION TRIP 2018 - HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 30 - JULY 7

Not just for students anymore! All students high school and older are welcome to join, but we are also looking for skilled and passionate adults to come and help us rebuild homes after Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding. Registra-tion is open now! You can find these forms on the welcome desk in the gathering area. Registration fee is $400. Scholar-ships are available.

CONFIRMATION SIGN-UPS New Sign-up sheets are up for Youth Worship Assistants (acolytes), youth readers, family greeters, and youth ushers. Please see the bulletin board outside the youth room to sign-up as part of the confirmation expectations. Sue Scharping will be in touch with you with reminders about worship assistant dates, and Mary Rakowski will be sending readings to youth readers no later than the Thursday before the scheduled date.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP Things will continue as before with our youth group meeting on Wednesday nights at 7:00PM. We discuss a wide range of topics from Bible to social justice and current events. Please join us for the 100th time or come for the first time. Friends are always welcome to this fun and lively group of young people.

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WHAT’S AN ELCA SOCIAL STATEMENT? Would you be interested in knowing what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has to say about things like abortion, the death penalty or education? Pe-riodically, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America issues documents that help congregations think about and discuss social issues that affect the church and broader society. These documents – Social Statements – provide background and both explain ELCA’s policy and guide their advocacy efforts. The Gloria Dei Me-morial Library now has a binder with ALL of these statements, including the new-est one – on women and justice – which is still under discussion. Look on the shelf to the left of the catalog computer, where you’ll also find Church Council docu-ments and back issues of Gloria Dei’s monthly Messenger.

RECLAIM13 – HELPING CHILDREN RECLAIM THEIR CHILDHOOD January was Human Trafficking Awareness Month. But the crime doesn’t stop when the next month be-gins. Reclaim13, a local organization, works to end the abuse by providing a safe place for rescued children and by education programs designed to help potential victims protect themselves. Please join Gloria Dei’s Reclaim13 team in praying for those involved in human trafficking – whether victims or protectors. The team’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14 in Room 109.

ELCA WORLD HUNGER’S

40 DAYS OF GIVING

More than 800 million people – that’s 11 percent of people in our world today are hungry. As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities throughout the world that are in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger support sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty. During Lent 2018, the ELCA is again focusing on 40 Days of Giving. The church is calling on members to donate to programs identified in the United States, India and Malawi (an African country). This will be a targeted fundraising appeal with specific monetary goals and areas of impact for each country. A bro-chure will be available at church to explain each program and you may go to www.elca.org/40days for more information. World Hunger envelopes are always available in the pews for your use. The Mission & Justice Committee encourages all members to make a gift to ELCA World Hunger as part of your Lenten sacrifice, February 14 through March 31, 2018. Reverend Robin Brown, Assistant Director of ELCA Hunger & Disaster Appeal, will bring greetings and preach the sermon at all Worship Services on the week-end of February 10/11.

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U.S. CITIZENSHIP TUTORING AT GLORIA DEI

“Part of our baptismal covenant is being a light to the world and loving our neighbor…. It’s messy, serendipi-tous, and involves risk. We do that because of what Christ has done for us.”

(Living Lutheran, p25, Jan 2018) Up and running!!!!! Gloria Dei officially opened its citizenship tutoring site on Monday, January 15, 2018. Staffed by six trained and enthusiastic tutors, we welcomed our first two students that evening. Legal perma-nent residents who have lived in the United Stated at least five years are eligible to apply for citizenship. Stu-dents study 100 questions about U.S. government and history, as well as prepare for an interview conducted in English which covers their personal background and character. Applicants are carefully vetted. Because ap-plicants pay a $725 application fee to the government, they need help preparing for the interview. That’s where Gloria Dei comes in. A tutor will work one-on-one with their student for four to six months, until their interview date with Citizenship and Immigration Services. We meet every Monday evening for 1 ½ hours. It’s exciting to watch their growth. Meet our tutors, who come from Gloria Dei and our community: Chris Simpson, Sandi Moser, Maria Trusewych, Sue Scharping, Mary Ann Smith, Jim Gaw, and Pat and Harriett Barry. Some have a background in education, some don’t. Each has completed, or will complete, a six-hour tutor training offered by our part-

ner, World Relief. And, each is personally welcoming the stranger in our midst. Please keep this fledgling ministry in your prayers!

REFUGEE UDATE!

Since the arrival of our refugee family, Gloria Dei’s Friendship Partner Group has had several productive visits with our family and we are working diligently to help them acclimate to the Chicago Area and become self-sufficient. They are an adorable family who very much appreciates all of the help and assistance from Gloria Dei, it’s so easy and rewarding to spend time helping and supporting our family. The dad has already completed his driver permit class and also started job training last week, with a focus on enhancing his English. He attends class 4 days a week. The mom and the kids began ESL (English as a Sec-ond Language) classes last week and are beginning to speak and understand a little English which is exciting. The family is eager to learn English and doing quite well, in fact the little boy, who is only 4 years old, can already recite his ABC’s! The family is attending a Burmese Christian Church near their home with help from a neighbor who provides transportation as they have no car at this point. We are working on outfitting our family for the winter months with boots and winter clothing. We are still in need of pants/slacks for the dad, he is a size 29/30. If you are able to donate a pair or two please leave them at the church office and we will deliver them during one of our visits. Mom could use a few maternity clothes as well, she is a size small and due in April. Thank you for your prayers and generous support for our family as they continue to transition to a new country and culture.

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COUNCIL CORNER

December 19, 2017 Minutes and Addendum Council minutes from the November 21, 2017 meeting were reviewed and discussed. John Schrage moved to approve the minutes and Dave Pauly seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The Addendum for the December 19, 2017 meeting was reviewed. Bob Agnoli moved to accept the addendum and Wayne Bormann se-conded. The motion passed unanimously. Committee Reports Mission & Justice Mark Hewett reported that the Friendship Partners refugee family com-mittee met with the new family of four from Burma/Myanmar. Earlier the committee had cleaned and prepared their Glen Ellyn apart-ment. While the new family is English challenged, we are all off to a good start. Also see Action Item Youth Ministry/ Children & Family Ministry Jen Hodson said that they had meeting to discuss how to get kids in-volved with other committees. Wayne Bormann informed us that four people from Tivoli Hotel came to the special luncheon that we offered. Those that came had a good experience. Jillian Scott commented that in regard to Aaron’s recognition, youth want to be involved with the hiring process. Pastor Tim also had a con-versation with them outlining his 4 Step process involved with staffing. Wellness Cabinet Wayne Bormann reported that our parish nurse served 91 people during the past month. In conjunction with Darien-Woodridge Fire District we offered CPR certification and had 13 participants. Also See Action Item Tech Team Dave Pauly advised that the team met in November. There are plans for 2018 to upgrade Wifi. and also to upgrade Gloria Dei website. They would like to get our youth involved to help re-design and maintain site. We also need to address an office phone system back up plan. Welcome I.N.G. Susan Marek advised that the Chili Cook Off is planned for January 21st . We have 10 signed up to enter the contest as well as 30 folks so far signed up to attend. Endowment Ann Klicar reported that the Gloria Dei Endowment Committee met in November to review and distributed the 2017 grants. They had a record $20,000+ to distribute. $5,000 went to Missions, $6,553.93 to Outreach, $4,500 for Scholarships and $4,000 to Capital Improvements. Also they are pleased to report that Kim Maschoff was awarded both an Endow-ment Scholarship and the Pastor Wittman Scholarship for 2018. Action Items: Gloria Dei Church Emergency Action Plan Council guests, Mike Gilbert and Jeff Anderson, from Property Commit-tee, presented their updated Emergency Action Plan for Council approv-al, which they have been working on since July. During church services, our ushers will be the key, trained active leaders. Angie Erickson moved to have Council give their approval of the plan and proceed with training classes. Jillian Scott seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Parish Nurse Mike Richard reviewed the Advocate Network Community Nurse pro-gram change - the expectation being that churches would take over their

nurse’s compensation. At this time Jean is covering her own medical benefits, as our current budget not set to cover them While Advocate has indicated that they would help congregations out with funds, when and how much is to be determined. Wellness Cabinet will continue to assist in helping her to keep up her license.. Mike Richard moved to extend Jean Runge-Versaci a contract to be a Gloria Dei Ad-vocate Community Nurse Mark Hewett seconded. The motion passed unanimously. CCDG License Agreement Mike Richard has consulted with a law firm. Instead of a lease agree-ment it was recommended that we extend a license agreement, because CCDG would not have exclusive use of Gloria Dei property. It includes a Letter of Understanding, with a Building Use policy attached. Susan Marek moved that we agree to send the license agreement as amended to CCCDG. Bob Agnoli seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mission & Justice Recommendations Wayne Bormann moved to approve the M&J recommendation for the disbursal of the remaining 50% of the 2017 budgeted non-synod Benev-olence funds. Dave Pauly seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Proposed Agenda for the Gloria Dei Annual Business Meeting President Mike Richard has prepared an agenda for Council approval Ann Klicar moved to approve the agenda for the January 28, 2018 Con-gregational Meeting and Dave Pauly seconded. The motion passed unanimously Premium Only Plan (POP) Finance has approved the Premium Only Plan, which allows employees working 20 hours per week the opportunity to elect to pay a portion of medical insurance premium costs. This currently would apply to three Gloria Dei employees Mike Richard moved that we approve Finance recommendation to offer the POP and Jen Hodson seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Pastor Tim Robertson Sabbatical Leave In compliance with Metropolitan Chicago Synod Guidelines for Ros-tered Leaders, Pastor Tim is requesting a two month sabbatical leave from June 1, 2018 - July 31, 2018..Sabbaticals are “privilege to be granted” for continuing education, personal growth, or in this case for Pastor Tim to write his intended book for mainline protestant churches: “How to welcome back people to the church.” Pastor Kral has agreed to be full time during that two month period..John Schrage moved to ap-prove Pastor Tim’s request for sabbatical leave and Bob Agnoli second-ed. The motion passed unanimously. Updates Staffing With Aaron Shoppa leaving in January, Pastor Tim is involving Gloria Dei youth in their choice for interim position coverage, as well as deter-mining who to hire. The process could entail a task force or study group Preliminary Budget Finance reports that pledging $$ are up slightly, with possibly ten fami-lies still anticipated to respond. Finance knows that there will be 10% increase on health care. The Synod is recommending 2% raises for staff. Finance will have a budget to present at January Council meeting. January Worship While Pastor Kral will be on leave for the month of January, worship services will be covered. Pastor Kral will be back for the weekend of the annual meeting.

Financial Secretary Report Looking at page three, November numbers came in a bit light, but every-one is aware that this was an aggressive budget. Finance feels that that December will close that gap and we will be OK. Ann Klicar moved to accept both reports subject to audit. Mark Hewett seconded. The mo-tion passed unanimously.

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Dear Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, On behalf of the volunteers in the FISH organization, I want to thank you again for your donation of food and winter coats. Your gift of warmth speak volumes about you and your concern for those in our com-munity. You have always shown compassion for our most vulnerable citizens and have led the way in trying to reduce the burdens of everyday living for those who are struggling. You make more of a differ-ence than you could ever know. Thank you again, June Miller Corresponding Secretary

Thank you for all the prayers and comforting words. The Gloria Dei church family has been a great comfort in the loss of our wonderful daughter-in-law, Marie Flowers. Many thanks, Phyllis & Richard Flowers

Dear Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, On behalf of all of us in the FISH organization, I want to thank you and the congregation of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for your very gen-erous donation of $500.00 for your Benevolence Funds Account. You have supported us many times in the past, and we’re grateful you thought of us again. We are currently assisting 211 families a month. We use our combined donations to not only buy food, but to help with an occasional rent payment, or a car repair bill, or a utility bill. I can assure you we will use your gift in the most beneficial ways. We so appreciate your compassion for our neediest neighbors, and also for your partnership in helping those who need us most. What a differ-ence you continue to make. Thank you again, June Miller Corresponding Secretary

Dear community Partner, Thanks to you, neighbors in need like May, have the resources to meet their immediate needs while finding information and solutions to make long-term changes. We thank you for your generous contribution on 12/31/17 for $4,238.98 to HOPE’S FRONT DOOR. Your donation will help provide for those items that are desperately needed such as assistance with food, transportation, medication and access to emergency dental care. In addition, your gift will help clients end the cycle of living crisis to crisis through the receipts of referrals, job lists and financial literacy. Thanks to donors like you our clients no longer feel as if they are going through their trials anonymously. Your friendship to community members experiencing a financial or medical crisis is key to pathways of opportunity and self-sufficiency. Sincerely, Janell Robinson Executive Director

Dear Friend in Christ, Thank you for your recent gift of $12,800.00 Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). We are grateful to your congregation for invest-ing in the wellbeing of all Illinois citizens, offering people the opportunity to reach their full, God-given potential. Your generosity helps bring health, healing and wholeness to thousands of people across the state. Over 60% of LSSI’s clients have an income of under $15,000 per year. The faithfulness of congregations like Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is critically important in this work. Peace and prayers, David P. Novak, JD Vice President, Advancement

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THE WHAT AND WHYS OF THANKOFFERING As the time of our Thankoffering service approaches questions always arise about the origin and reason for Thankoffering. Thankoffering has a long and interesting history that reflects the growth of the church in the United States. In the early 1800’s the first ‘mite’ or ‘cent’ societies were formed. These societies were formed by women to col-lect money, usually in small boxes in their homes. The money collected was used to fund projects that in-volved social justice issues such as child labor, prison reform and literacy. The women printed Bible studies and other literature to educate congregations about the social justice issues of the day. The earliest Lutheran women’s missionary society in the United States was formed in New York City in 1837. The society was formed to raise money for two women who wanted to become foreign missionaries but were denied funding by the Board of Missions. Women of the church banded together and formed a new organiza-tion which raised the money, with contributions by the ‘mite’ societies, to fund the missionaries. In 1879, this fledgling women’s organization became the General Synod’s Women’s Home and Foreign Mis-sionary Society. The first Lutheran Thankoffering service was held in 1889 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Through the growth and development of this organization many missionaries were sent to locations both here in the United States and overseas. Starting in the early 1800’s women were given small boxes to collect their offerings which were made in grati-tude for the many blessings in their lives. The collection of the many small offerings put together achieved great things. It is a tradition grounded and formed by women gathering together to celebrate what God has given. Thankofferings are an opportunity to say thank you!

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Changes for the Church Directory

Deaths Beatrice (Bea) Koski New Members Baptisms Shane David Fesemyer Jinora Jean Khatri

Lessons & Gospels for FEBRUARY

February 4 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31 Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 February 11 1st Reading 1 2 Kings 2:1-12 Gospel: Mark 9:2-9 February 18 1st Reading: Genesis 9:8-17 Gospel: Mark 1:9-15 February 25 1st Reading: Deut. 18:15-20 Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Staff

Tim Robertson Senior Pastor

Rhonda Kral

Associate Pastor

Elizabeth Waldon Director of Music Ministries

Wayne Bormann

Interim Director of Youth and Family Ministries

Sue Scharping

Director of Kids of the King-dom Choir, Festive Strings, Hope Bells, Blessed Notes

Chime Choir

Jean Runge-Versaci Parish Nurse

Joyce Pauly

Office Administrator

Mary Rakowski Administrative Staff

Jan Barker

Family Ministry Coordinator