March 2014 Newsletter - Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church

March 2014
From the Pastor’s Pen …
Peaks and Valleys
A monthly publication
from
Northbrook
Evangelical
Covenant Church
Barb Beckstrom, editor
In this Issue:
 From the Pastor’s Pen
 Women Ministries Update
 Anniversaries & Birthdays
 March Calendar
 MOPS Update
 Children’s Ministry
 Music Ministry
 Youth Ministry
 Small Groups
Life is filled with ups and downs, with peaks and valleys. A peak is when something excellent happens in life—
the day you get married, the birth of a child, becoming a
grandparent. During those times it is easy to be a Christian. There is no doubt in your mind that God is blessing
you.
But life is not one peak after another. There are valleys, too. When you have been diagnosed with cancer,
when a loved one dies, when children disappoint—then it
is hard to say, “God is good.” Sometimes our faith is
shaken. Sometimes doubts arise.
Peaks and valleys—where are you right now? Top of
a peak? In a valley? Or somewhere in between? Maybe
there is a peak—or a valley—right around the corner and
you don’t know it! As we enter this Lenten Season, the
weeks before Easter, I’ve been thinking about the disciples
of Jesus. They had no idea they were about to enter a valley—a very low point with Christ. Things were going well.
Jesus had performed miracles like walking on water, feeding 5,000 with a small lunch, and healings! Crowds would
gather to listen to his teachings. There was no doubt in
their minds—this was the Son of God! It was one high
point after another!
Right around the corner was the valley of the
shadow of death. Crowds would turn away. He’d be betrayed, arrested, tortured and executed. Even the disciples
were filled with fear and doubt. Soon it would be difficult
to be a follower of Christ.
During the days of Lent, we see the dark days, the
valleys, the struggles that Jesus experienced so we could
all celebrate the peaks. We reflect on our sin, our doubts
Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church 2737 Techny Rd,  Northbrook, IL 60062  847-272-8270
1
and fears as we prepare for the triumphal news. He is risen! Indeed! We celebrate
Christ, who, having taken away our sins, has risen from the dead.
“Lent” comes from the world “lengthen”. The days in spring are getting longer. The
darkness of winter will soon be past. We celebrate that at one level, but how much more
we celebrate that spiritually the darkness is over, for indeed, our Light has come. With
that news, we go from the valleys to the very peak.
May God bless you as you reflect on Him this season!
~Pastor Tom
March Birthdays:
1-Ben Wiberg
2-Eloise Hanselman
6-Marilyn Anderson
8-Tina Hileman
10-Peter Johnson
17-Mary Lynn Dornfeld
17-Anita Lewis-Schmoll
18-Tina Gillette
18-Jeff St. John
20-Ben Schonken
21-Gloria Shoulta
25-Dylan Dornfeld
25-Sally Dornfeld
25-Kim Horlamus
26-David Bray
26-Ed Joseph
26-Jack O’Hara
30-Danny Frownfelter
31-Judy Anderson
March Anniversaries:
14-Peter & Vanessa Johnson, 22 yrs
23-Chet & Jean Larson, 65 yrs
REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES:
Randy & Cheryl Bevis, Thailand
Cheryll Anderson Clark, Ecuador
Don & Lillian Dwight, Taiwan
Dan & Oksana Johnson, Russia
Tim & Andrea Johnson, Japan
Tom & Janice Kelly, Mexico
Francisco & Stephanie Ramos, France
Gary & Mary Lou Sander, Colombia
Shannon & Carol White, Hong Kong
2
Lenten Reflection Service
Saturday, March 15
7:00PM
Fellowship Hall
Join us for a service of reflection on the season of Lent. This
will be a time of contemplation and meditation on this special season of the church. We will worship together through music, prayer, the reading of
scripture, and a special artistic expression.
And don’t forget to stick around after the service for a time of fellowship in the narthex.
We encourage you to bring a favorite mug from home to fill with coffee or cocoa – make it
a good conversation-starter . 
Thanks to all those who were able to join us for the Faith & Fellowship night at the
Allstate Arena for the Wolves game! We had a ton of fun 
Coming up this month:
Sunday, March 2 – Regular Youth Group
Sunday, March 9 – Regular Youth Group
Sunday, March 16 – Regular Youth Group
Sunday, March 23 – Regular Youth Group
Saturday, March 29 – WinterJam Concert at the Sears Centre
(featuring Newsboys, Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch,
Plumb, Colton Dixon, Derek Minor, and others!)
Sunday, March 30 – NO Youth Group
3
"Connecting women...impacting the world"
~ by Bonnie Stephens
Moms/Daughters – The retreat will be held May 2-4 at Covenant Harbor. Desiree Bakken will be the worship leader for the weekend. Registration forms and information can
be found on the Women Ministries bulletin board.
Plant Sale – The annual sale will be held May 16-17. Start planning your flower garden!
Pre-order forms will be available in April. There will be a sign up sheet for helpers. The
event is a fundraiser for Women Ministries and for the Women Ministries scholarship
fund.
JPUSA – There is a great need for items for the homeless people served by Jesus People
USA. Items can be new or gently used. A few needs are: bath towels, washcloths and
sheet sets (especially full and twin). Donations can be dropped off at the church. There
will be a list of others needs posted on the Women Ministries bulletin board. More information can be found at Cornerstone Community Outreach at: ccolife.org
Looking ahead – Our “hands on” project this year will be sewing bags for the women at
Hannah House (part of JPUSA). Hannah House is temporary housing for women and their
children. They are roomed dormitory style in bunk beds. There is a common bath area.
We will be sewing cloth bags for the women to keep personal items needed for their trip
to the shower. We will be collecting bath items to be included in the bags. The bags and
donated items will be taken to the Fall Fellowship to be filled and personal notes written.
All women of the Central Conference are invited to participate. There are 24 women with
children and about 85 other women (without children). An Arts & Crafts room has been
established for the children. We will also be sewing bags for the children to keep art supplies in. We will need various art supplies. The project is in the planning stage by the retreat committee. We will have a sewing night when we have more information. Watch
the bulletin board for more information.
MamaNatalie – Monetary donations are being accepted for this project.
Gratitude Jars – How full is your jar? There are still a few jars with instructions left in
the narthex if you need one.
Women’s Bible Study – The group meets at the church each Wednesday from 9:30 to
11:00 a.m. All women are invited to attend.
4
The Mothers of Preschoolers group will only be meeting once in
March (the 14th), because of spring break. Our own Moppet
Leader & Director of Children & Family Ministries, Victoria Gilmore, will be speaking about "Embracing Faith with your Kids."
So, mark your calendars! New moms of infants to kindergartners are always welcome.
You may begin to drop off kids at 9:15 a.m., and moms gather from around 9:30-10:45
a.m. Please contact MOPS coordinator, Michaela Ward, @ (847) 903-0797 with any questions. Or, to help with the children, please contact Moppet Leader, Victoria Gilmore, @
(847) 272-8270. Thank you!
MARCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
Sunday Mornings at 9:15 am
Fellowship Hall
March 9: A question and answer time, starting with “Will Islam conquer the world?”
Bring your questions for Dr. Larsen. Class begins at 9:15 am, meeting in the Fellowship Hall.
March 16-April 6: Dr. Boaz Johnson, professor at North Park University, will be our
guest teacher.
SUNDAY SMALL GROUPS
SUNDAY AFTERNOON SMALL GROUP: For those ages 30-40, we meet every Sunday at
2:00 pm, and March 2nd, we'll begin journeying through the Gospel of Luke. Questions?
See Andy Gehron.
SUNDAY NIGHT SMALL GROUP: This group is open to everyone and meets at 6:00
p.m. in the church narthex. The group is currently studying, “Christ in the Psalms” by
Stonecroft Ministries. For more information, contact Donna Frownfelter at 847-942-0611.
The School of Music at North Park University presents:
“SING A NEW SONG”
FRIDAY, March 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Winnetka Covenant Church (1200 Hibbard Rd., Wilmette)
First concert in the 2014 University Choir Tour / Everyone is welcome!
5
Join the FBI!
Our midweek program back up and running on
Thursdays. This time we’re determined to get to the
bottom of the most challenging cases that come our
way, as we take our positions as newly instated
agents of the FBI (Faithful Bible Investigators)!
Join us from 3:30-5:00 every Thursday to help us
crack the cases and capture the Bible’s most wanted
promises!
Here’s the recipe for the Winter Carnival Award-Winning Gallegos Chili:
1 pound ground beef or turkey
4-5 cloves garlic-minced
1 large yellow onion-chopped
28 oz. can of whole tomatoes-crushed by hand
2 large cans of chili beans (with cumin)-undrained
1 large can of kidney beans (or whatever beans you prefer)-undrained
3-4 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 large bag of frozen corn
1 can tomato soup
2 six oz. cans of tomato paste
dash of catsup
Directions:
Brown meat, drain fat.
Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent. Add rest of ingredients.
Fill large kidney bean can with water, and add slowly to mixture, stirring pot as you go.
Add cumin.
Add chili powder ONE tablespoon at a time to desired flavor.
Cook 3 to 4 hours on low heat.
Stir occasionally; every 30 minutes.
Congratulations, Raun, on your first place award!!!!
6
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
9:15 SS/Sonrise
Kids
10:30 Worship
12:30 Nanoom
6:00 SNSG
6-8 Youth Grp
9
10
9:15 SS/Sonrise
Kids
10:30 Worship
12:30 Nanoom
6:00 SNSG
6-8 Youth Grp
16
6
3:30 FBI
7:30 Choir
9:30 Women’s
Bible Study
7:00 Fellowship
Hall reserved
11
12
13
7
8
14
15
9:15 MOPS
3:30 FBI
7:00 Lenten
Reflection Service
7:30 Choir
17
18
19
9:30 Women’s
Bible Study
3:00 CVON
Fellowship
7:30 Choir
24
9:15 SS/Sonrise
Kids
10:30 Worship
12:30 Nanoom
6:00 SNSG
6-8 Youth Grp
30
5
9:30 Women’s
Bible Study
9:15 SS/Sonrise
Kids
10:30 Worship
12:30 Nanoom
6:00 SNSG
6-8 Youth Grp
23
4
25
26
7:30 Choir
9:30 Women’s
Bible Study
7:00 Leadership
Team
20
21
22
28
29
3:30 FBI
27
31
9:15 SS/Sonrise
Kids
10:30 Worship
12:30 Nanoom
6:00 SNSG
6-8 Youth Grp
7
MARK YOUR CALENDARS …
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014
10:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE
Gabriel Goldstein of Chosen People Ministries will be with us,. His topic will be “The Messiah in the Passover with Communion”. You won’t want to miss this meaningful message
just before Holy Week. Watch for more information.
March 2014
Lead Pastor, Tom Beckstrom
tombeckstrom@gmail.com
Children and Families Intern, Victoria Gilmore
vgilmore@vikings.northpark.edu
Director of Music Ministries, Desiree Bakken
desireebakken@gmail.com
Director of Youth Ministries, Desiree Bakken
youth.northbrookcov@gmail.com
Office Manager, Barb Beckstrom
northbrook.covenant@gmail.com
Pianist, Vera Vasilenko
8