09-01-14 Newsletter - Park Ridge Community Church

THE PARK RIDGE COMMUNITY
CHURCH NEWSLETTER
September 2014
IT’S TIME TO COZY-UP WITH OUR CAT!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Rally Day - September 7
10am worship service only,
with guests musicians,
Jazz Community Big Band;
followed by a picnic
on the lawn.
As you may know by now, our congregation has entered into a time of
discernment during which we are gathering information to guide our decisions
for our future. Recently, you have heard and read about one aspect of this
process: The Church Assessment Tool (CAT). We will utilize this information to
assist with planning for ministry and service for the next 5-8 years, as well as
stewardship and facilities management. For the longer term, this will provide us
with a baseline of data before running the assessment in advance of the
transition in the Senior Minister position ten years from now.
This tool will provide a clearer picture of who we are as a church and what
directions might be important for our future.
Your response is very important to us.
“If you have questions, please contact the church office
or any of us on the CAT team.”
Regular Sunday School
Begins September 14
th
Remember to register!
You will receive either an email or letter that indicates that you have been
selected to participate in the CAT. It will contain the online link to participate in
the CAT. It is not transferable; please do not forward it. We ask that you take the
on-line assessment as soon as possible, but before Friday, September 19. Those
in your home who share this email address with your may participate in the CAT
if they meet the following criteria: Youth who have been confirmed, any other
adult who has either attended worship or made a financial contribution to PRCC
over the past year. A paper version is also available.
All answers are strictly anonymous. We have no way of matching any
assessment to a particular person, so please feel free to candidly share your
perceptions, opinions and experiences. The assessment will take
approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Please set aside enough time to
complete the survey all at one time. Our future together is dependent on your
participation and honest answers.
If you have questions, please contact the church office or any of the CAT Team.
Blessings, and thank you for your participation,
George Brant, Cheryll DeYoung, Michael Harris, Scott Hollingsworth, Susie
Hollingsworth, Dave Kapolnek Lauren Malecki, Christer Mawia, Brett
McCleneghan. John Orr, Katie Reboletti, Keith Reboletti, Lora Schoenholtz,
Heather Simpson, Liz Swanson, Charlie Vinopal
RALLY DAY - SEPTEMBER 7th
We Are The Church Together
Please join us as we gather to prepare for a new year of Christian
learning and fellowship for everyone from preschoolers through adults.
9:00 - 9:50 am Sunday school registration and open house; adult
education information available; light refreshments and crafts.
10:00-11:00 a.m. Worship service
11am - 12:30 pm Church picnic (food provided); lawn games for all ages;
free face painter!
*Nursery care is available on Rally Day 8:45-11:15 am on the lower level.
Please come meet the caregivers and explore the room if you are new to
nursery care at PRCC.
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
IN SEPTEMBER
8:30 am in the Garden, weather permitting*
10:00 am in the Sanctuary
September 7
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Rally Day (see more information above)
One Service Only at 10 am
Sermon: What is Your Job?
Text: Psalm 148:1-13
September 14
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Communion Sunday
Sunday School Begins
Sermon: The Cost of Bearing a Grudge/
The Joy of Forgiveness
Texts: Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 18:21-35
September 21
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Smith Baptism
September 28
The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sermon: Living Faith-fully
Texts: Exodus: 17:1-7; Philippians 2:1-13;
Matthew 21:23-32
October 5
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
*The Garden is located at the southwest corner of Prospect
Avenue and Butler Place. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket
for seating. In case of inclement weather, we will worship in
the Chapel.
FOYF
Fellowship of Young Families is
an energetic group of individuals
who would categorize
themselves as “young families.”
There are no age restrictions, but
we are largely comprised of
families with children between
the ages of 0-8. This group
emerged out of a need for young
families to connect with one
another for Christian fellowship
and support throughout the
earlier years of parenting. The
group holds an event almost
every month and supports
various church activities,
fundraisers, and services. Our
events have ranged from BBQ’s,
holiday parties, cooking for
Lincoln Park Shelter, and an adult
dinner out at Hay Caramba
(thanks to the babysitting talents
of the youth at PRCC.) We
welcome any input for future
events, and hope to see more
young families at our events
beginning in September. If you
would like to be on our list or
have any questions, please
contact us at
prccfoyf@gmail.com.
INFANTS AND
CHILDREN
DURING WORSHIP
Children of all ages are welcome in our
8:30 and 10:00 worship services. We
keep small bags of toys and crayons at
the back of the Sanctuary if your child
will remain with you in worship. Parents
of 3 to 5 year-olds may choose Sunday
school or nursery care, whichever best
works for your child. Infants to age 5 are
offered loving care during worship every
Sunday from 8:30 – 11:15 am
throughout the year in our Nursery,
downstairs, next to Jordan Hall.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CONFIRMATION 2014
Head to Heart Confirmation class
resumes Tuesday, Sept. 16, 6-7:30 pm,
with an introductory get-together for
parents and students. All youth entering
6th to 8th grade this fall are welcome to
learn more about our Christian faith
through study, games, small-group
discussions, and service projects.
Eighth-grade students then have the
opportunity to make their Confirmation
in May 2015. Registration information
will be sent in August. Please contact
Teri (info on back cover) with questions
or to request more information.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Regular Sunday school classes resume during 10:00 worship on
September 14. We welcome all children from preschool through high
school. Please register your children on Rally Day (9/7) or any Sunday,
providing contact and allergy information. Feel free to bring friends!
Weekly Schedule:
10:00-10:15 All gather in the sanctuary to begin worship with family.
Pastors dismiss the children to Sunday school.
10:15-10:30 Preschool to 3rd grade children – music time
SUMMER
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Thanks for a wonderful first year of
Summer Sunday School! Approximately
8-11 young children joined a teacher
and helper(s) weekly for a lesson on
Bible heroes, a craft, a snack, and lots of
fun!
SHUTTERFLY SITE
We have created a free, members-only
site for PRCC Christian Ed. You will find
photos of our many events and of dayto-day Sunday school classes. You can
post your own PRCC photos, order
prints from Shutterfly, or download
whatever you like to your computer.
Check the calendar for Christian Ed
dates and times, and sign up for special
events. It’s free and fun! All you need to
do to become a member is request that
Teri invite you (info on back cover.)
10:30-11:15 Preschool to 3rd graders are led to their classrooms
for lessons and crafts.
10:15-11:15 4th grade to high school students proceed directly to their
classrooms from the sanctuary.
11:15
Parents may pick up children from their classrooms.
Thank you to all our new and continuing teachers and assistants. We
would love to have just a few more join us to help with Sunday school as
a teacher, assistant or substitute. Volunteers can alternate Sundays with
a co-teacher, so they still have time for worship and other commitments.
A weekly lesson plan, music, and crafts are provided. If you are
interested in learning more, please contact Teri Biedke (info on back
cover).
So what will the children be learning in Sunday school?
We are excited to offer preschool through 3rd grade students a
curriculum based on The Story Bible, filled with beautiful illustrations
and the basic stories that we remember and that our children will come
to love. In summer 2013, our committee established a three-year cycle
of stories that offer each child a firm foundation in traditional Bible
stories.
Our 4th through high school students build on that foundation as they
continue studying the Feasting on the Word curriculum, with lessons
tied to the Revised Common Lectionary (which Pastor Brett often uses
for sermon topics). Our teachers, assistants and music leaders are
looking forward to working with your children this year!
YOUTH EVENTS
Mission Trip 2014
The annual PRCC mission trip this year was to McDowell
County, West Virginia through the missions’ organization
“Experience Mission”. We have worked with Experience
Mission for four years now but this was our first trip to
McDowell County. We packed 8 minivans and 1 cargo van
with 16 adult chaperones and 39 high school students and
headed for a week in the Appalachian Mountains. We had 8
work groups spending their week building decks, scrapping
paint, painting, roofing, building a wheel chair ramp,
running “kids club”, and so much more! We learned so
much about ourselves, God, and the people and history of
West Virginia. Thank you all for your endless support of the
mission trip this year (and every year) and I ask that you
consider joining us on next year’s trip! Please feel free to
talk to anyone who went on the trip, I am sure they would
love to share with you about their experience!
The PATCH 2014 – Get Ready!
Get ready to welcome to the 11th Annual Pumpkin
Patch back to PRCC for another year!
Open: October 18 through Oct 31
Hours: Weekdays: 3:30pm-7:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-7:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-7:00pm
Free movie in the Patch at dusk on Friday and Saturday
evenings: It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Lots of
fun for the whole family!
Pumpkin unload Saturday, Oct 18 at 9am
Proceeds benefit PRCC youth activities and the Navajo
Indian Tribe of New Mexico
Located at 100 S. Courtland Ave, Park Ridge Look on our
web-site at www.parkridgecommunitychurch.org for
more info and volunteer opportunities or call Lauren
Malecki with questions at 847-823-3164.
YOUTH PROGRAMS:
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
LUNCH WITH LAUREN
Days off of school, students are invited to spend the
afternoon sharing in fellowship and play at church.
Students bring friends and money for lunch (restaurant
decided that day) and we will play games in the church
after the meal!
SMALL GROUPS
Sunday 6-7:30pm Carriage House!
Small group is a time for students to eat a homemade
dinner together, play games and to choose a topic they
are most interested in and join in conversation,
fellowship and action about that topic in small groups of
others interested in that topic as well. This is a great
way for our students to get to know each other and to
focus on issues important to them!
If you are interested in providing or donating a dinner
for a Sunday evening, please contact Lauren Malecki!
Sept. 14th Progressive dinner kick off!
Sept. 28th- Introductions of the small groups!
DATES TO REMEMBER:
PARENT MEETING
Sunday, September 14th after Worship
Parents and youth are invited to talk over the youth accounts
that PRCC uses to help raise money towards personal
payments for the mission trip. This meeting will be a chance
for you at ask any questions you might have about the youth
program and the youth account system and for details on
specific fundraisers (requirements, dates, etc.) to be made
clear!
APPLE PICKING
Saturday September 27th 10am - 4pm
County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana. All are invited to join
in of a day spend picking apples, riding hay rides, running
through a corn maze, eating donuts and so much more!
Drivers needed, please contact Lauren if you would be willing
to drive and spend your fall day at an apple orchard with
some great middle and high schoolers!
PLEASE JOIN THE
“Park Ridge Community Church"
FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATES
AND NOTIFICATIONS ON EVENTS
AND PROGRAMS!
YOUTH PROGRAMS:
HIGH SCHOOL
YOUTH GROUP
Wednesday 7-8:30pm
During our time together, we play games, meet in small
groups to share our highs and lows, and focus on a
relevant issue for high school students! ALL are
welcome so please bring your friends!
September 10th- KICK OFF
CUP of JOE with LO
Sunday after church
High school students are invited every Sunday afternoon
to share a cup of coffee/tea/water and conversation
with Lauren Malecki and other students at the
Starbucks in Uptown (on Northwest Highway).
MIDDLE SCHOOL
CHIP and CHAT
Wednesday 2:30-4pm
Jr High students are invited to come eat chips, play
games, and hangout at church on Wednesdays after
school! Be sure to grab a registration form from Lauren
Malecki or grab one on the youth board next time you
are at church! Friends are always invited!!
COLUMBUS DAY RETREAT
October 10-13, at Covenant Point Bible Camp
Middle School students will have the opportunity to
spend the weekend in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of
Michigan at Covenant Point Bible Camp playing games,
climbing high rope courses, worshiping, team building
projects, eating great food and so much more! We will
be meeting at PRCC at 4pm Friday October 10th and
returning to the church Monday October 13th around
5pm. If you are interested in learning more about the
camp and retreat please visit cpbc.com. The retreat cost
$150. (If you are in need of any financial assistance
please let me know.) Please fill out the registration form
and return it to the church office/bring to youth group
by October 5th. Registration forms will be available by
September 14th, 2014. Please contact Lauren Malecki
with any questions or if you are interested!
OPPORTUNITIES
KNITTING KNIGHTS
Knitting and crocheting still meets Mondays @ 7p.m. in Jordan Hall on
9/15. Our regular first and third Mondays of the month resume in
October. Come join us to work together to make items for the homeless
as well as craft items for sale at the Spirit of Christmas.
“SAVE THE DATE” FOR THE
2015 WOMEN’S RETREAT
The 2nd annual Women’s Retreat is set for Fri. and Sat., Feb. 6 & 7, 2015.
Please make your reservation early for this exciting time together. The
topic is Woman – God’s Masterpiece and Peggy Fergus will be leading.
Please see the next page for the registration form.
“SAVE THE DATE”
NILES/PARK RIDGE CROP WALK 2014
Sunday, October 19
Members from 12 area churches raise money and walk together to fight
hunger locally and globally. Last year PRCC had 45 walkers and raised
over $6,000. Help us reach our goal this year of 49 walkers and $6,500.
We've also planned three restaurant fundraisers for Crop Walk:
Riggio’s on Oakton in Niles on September 16, donating 15% of sales.
Wendy’s at Dempster & Potter on September 30, donating 15% of sales.
Chipotle in Park Ridge on October 16, donating 50% of sales.
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH
On Sunday, September 28th PRCC will be serving dinner for the Sunday
Night Supper which is held at St. Luke's here in Park Ridge. Many
servers are needed to help provide the homeless in our community with
a nutritious meal. If you would like to assist with this worthwhile
Outreach Project please contact Luan Zoellner at 847-823-8353 or
lzoellner@ameritech.net. Families with children over the age of thirteen
are encouraged to participate.
ADULT
EDUCATION
FALL 2014 CLASSES
All are invited this autumn to join us in
adult Bible study. Books are available for
purchase in the office. To register or
receive more information, contact Teri
Biedke (contact info on final page).
COVENANT BIBLE STUDY is broken into
three eight-week modules—each
dealing with a different aspect of what
covenant means: Creating, Living, and
Trusting. This Covenant experience will
guide participants in a comprehensive,
in-depth study of the whole Bible over
the next eight months, emphasizing the
biblical concept of covenant as a
unifying pattern through the books in
the Old and New Testaments. It
underscores the unique relationship
that God chooses to have with us as
God’s people. This relationship is
grounded in the faithfulness of God’s
love and on our ongoing commitment
to stay in love with God while we share
signs of that love with others.
Saturdays, Sept. 13 – Nov. 8,
8:30-9:30 am (no class Oct. 11) OR
Thursdays, Sept.18 – Nov. 6, noon-1pm
Cost: $18 (includes the participant
guide for the first 8-week module)
The Christian Outreach Committee is also looking for volunteers to help
cook and serve dinner for Lincoln Park Community Shelter in October.
We will be cooking on Oct. 1st and serving on the 2nd. Please contact
Luan Zoellner if you would like to help.
Or $50 for the full set of 3 participant
guides, covering the whole year
(Families with children over the age of 5 are welcome to help.)
Or at covenantbiblestudy.com, an iPad 2
or Android app purchase offers each
participant guide for $9.99
Optional $10 book of meditations (a
one-time purchase)
STEPHEN
MINISTRY
MESSAGE
How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and
spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things
both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan,
which you formed to frolic there. Psalm 104:24-26 (NIV)
By Anita Rifkind
Have you ever seen a whale? Up until last week, I had not. Now, after a
week in Alaska, I can say I have seen too many whales to count.
I've seen them playing: a humpback put on quite a show for us one
morning - breaching repeatedly and pounding the sea with his (or her)
flippers for more than an hour as we watched from the side of the boat
taking pictures and applauding. Scientists have no rational explanation
for breaching; it appears to be done just for fun. It was sure fun to
watch.
I've seen them in the evening as the setting sun turned the usually
mercurial sea deeply blue and purple. The captain maneuvered the
boat until we were in what he described as “whale soup.” We were
surrounded by hundreds of whales either alone or in groups of two or
three. We watched and listened to the blowing and snorting and
bellowing until it got too dark to see them slipping down into the water,
waving their flukes as they gracefully circled the boat.
I even got to see them creating bubble nets to fish. Four or five whales
form a little group (if little can ever be used to describe anything whales
do) and when they spot a school of fish, the lead whale dives and the
others follow. They form a circle around the krill penning them in with
bubbles created by their blow holes. The krill won't swim through the
bubbles, and are essentially herded into a circle. Then the lead whale
gives a signal and the whales surface, mouths open, raising rapidly up
through the krill in a foaming mass of whales, water, fish and seagulls.
Many times we were close enough to see their pink, striped tongues.
The Psalmist says God created life, including these graceful giants and
the abundant fish to feed them, to frolic in the ocean! Often human
beings struggle to understand why they were given life, why we were
created at all. It seems to me that we can look to Psalm 104 for at least
a partial answer – the God who gave all creatures life intended them to
be happy. You are entitled by your very creation to find joy in being
alive.
Some of us struggle with that concept.
Robin Williams, who gave so many of us
so much pleasure, apparently could not
find happiness himself. He was not
alone. Creativity and mental health
problems have been found to be linked:
Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Van Gogh
just to name a few. But it does not take
genius to have difficulty finding joy in
living. It can also be caused by illness
(which seemed to be what pushed
Robin Williams over the edge) or
financial problems or loneliness or loss
or change you cannot control.
The Stephen Ministry program was
designed to be support for people
struggling to find pleasure and meaning
in their lives. The point of the program
is to make absolutely certain that
anyone who needs someone to talk to
about anything and everything can in
fact find such a person. The point of the
program is to make sure that anyone
who needs a reminder that God created
life for the sheer joy of it can get it.
Pastor Brett (847-823-3164) or Ginny
Feurer (847-299-1781) can put you in
touch with a Stephen Minister. I can
promise you that the help you get will
be not be just a fluke.
OUR PRAYER
MINISTRY
As summer winds down, please pray for a safe return for all who are
traveling and on vacation – and as school starts back up; for families to
find peace in the new routine and the comfort to turn to God in all their
needs.
We pray for those in our congregation including: Martha Bridges,
Evelyn Claire, Lou Limper, Elsie Matthys, Pauline Numrych, Eleanor
Rowley, Dot Southerington, Ginny Sutton and Liz Wagner.
We pray for our loved ones including: Michael Bianchi, Alice Keating,
Candace Kidston, Walter and Christina Kotecki, Jim Lego, Jan McCallum,
Nancy Muenzer, Lynn Nelson, Lurana Nelson, Leo Netko, Jimmy Rancich,
Ann Stutts, Yoshiko Urasaki, Ben Wright, Sally Wright, and Kate Zoellner.
We also keep in our prayers the following friends and family:
Prayers of joy for Scott and Siri Nelson’s 30th wedding anniversary.
Prayers of joy for the return of a wallet that was lost at church by a kind
member.
Prayers for David Waring, Bernice Zabawski’s cousin, who underwent
surgery to remove tumors.
Prayers for Stewart Aronesti, Lynne Braden’s father in law, who suffered a
severe heart attack.
Prayers for Jack Durrbeck who underwent bypass surgery.
Prayers for Matt McHugh who is recovering from brain surgery.
Prayers for Marge Curtis, Grace Curtis’ stepmother in law, who is in
hospice.
Prayers for Frank Turano, Carl Turano’s brother, who entered into life in
the resurrection on July 15.
Prayers for the Peak family on the loss of Bobbe Peak, long time PRCC
member, on August 1.
Prayers for two friends who need to feel God’s love for them and their
love for one another.
Prayers for Pauline Pigget who suffered a stroke recently.
We hope you take comfort knowing that Stephen Ministers are praying
for those above. Please include your prayer concerns during regular
Sunday services or contact the office.
A NOTE OF THANKS…
Dear PRCC FAMILY
I want to thank all of you for the
care and support you have given me
in the months following Audre’s
death. Our church members have
huge hearts, and I’ve been the
grateful recipient of you love and
care.
Peace and blessings to all of you, for
all you’ve done for me, and all you
do for others.
Ginny Feurer
Circle 10 Invites You…
Decorative Paint Demonstration
Wednesday, September 24th
7:00 pm in Jordan Hall
Women’s Circle 10 invites you to an
evening with Di Lucca Design. Come
and learn the latest DIY paint
techniques for your home, featuring
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and finishes.
Please RSVP to Jamie Knoblauch at
jlknoblauch@gmail.com. Bring a
friend!
PARK RIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH
100 S. Courtland
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Non-Profit
Org. U.S.
Postage
PAID
Park Ridge, IL
Permit No. 268
RETURN SERVICE
REQUESTED
Contact Us:
847-823-3164
office@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
parkridgecommunitychurch.org
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Our Staff
Rev. Dr. Brett W. McCleneghan, Senior Minister
Lauren Malecki, Associate Pastor
Teri Biedke, Director of Christian Education
Patrice Dombro, Parish Secretary
Sasha Gerritson, Minister of Music
Rick Hagedorn, Parish Organist
Nic Kremer, Parish Coordinator
Christer Mawia, Student Intern
Tasha Sargent, Social Media Coordinator
Liz Swanson, Director of Pastoral Services
Angie and Andrew Weber, Musicians
Extensions and Emails
x 14 brett@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 17 lauren@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 21 teri@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 11 office@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 15 sasha@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 11 office@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 10 christer@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 10 tasha@parkridgecommunitychurch.org
x 16 liz@parkridgecommunitychurch.org