from the pastor’s pen… · on that hillside to the crowd so long ago when jesus spoke these...
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Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church | 2737Techny Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062 | 847-272-8270
December 2019 A monthly publication
from
Northbrook
Evangelical
Covenant Church
Editor: Kathleen
Heller
In this Issue:
From the Pastor’s Pen
Announcements
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
December Calendar
Youth Ministry
Children’s Ministry
Music Ministry
Women Ministries
Missions Ministry
Leadership Team
From the Pastor’s Pen…
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. -Psalm 27:13-14 This month we observe the season of Advent, a season where we appropriate Israel’s waiting for the Messiah, realized in Jesus’ birth, in order to remind ourselves of our waiting for our hope to be realized in Jesus’ return. Waiting can be difficult. It calls to mind the image of passing time for something to happen, maybe coming up with things to do to keep us from boredom while we wait for whatever we’re waiting for--a bus to come, our turn at the DMV, or to get called in to the doctor’s office or the like. This is not the kind of waiting the Bible calls us to.
Our waiting for Jesus is more like waiting for a wedding to happen than waiting for a bus to come. Anyone who’s been around wedding planning knows that waiting is busy and active. There are details to arrange, people to invite, dresses and tuxedos to be fitted etc. While the celebration imagery is of primary importance, this aspect of waiting perhaps makes it all the more appropriate that wedding imagery is often used to refer to Jesus’ return and bringing his kingdom in its fullness, and also that Jesus is referred to as a bridegroom and the church his bride (e.g. Mt 22:1-14; Mt. 25:1-13; John 3:29; Rev 21:9-27). The above psalm expresses waiting as an act of confidence in the goodness of God. Such is our waiting.
As we wait in faith for Jesus, we wait in confidence of who he is and what he will do. This reality continually shapes us as we wait. And so we are actively preparing, partnering with God to be shaped more like Jesus, and to shape our world to reflect God’s heart and purposes as we advance God’s kingdom. This Advent as we recognize our waiting for Jesus to return, let us be active in going about the work of the kingdom he will one day bring in its fullness.
Pastor Jose
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Poinsettias– Honor someone you love this Christmas season by purchasing a poinsettia to decorate the sanctuary. Plants are $13 each and order forms can be found at the Welcome Center. Make checks payable to the church, mark “flowers” in the memo line and place in the offering basket. Deadline to order is Sunday December 8th.
Attention all Women!- Women Ministries invites you to attend our annual Advent Night on Thursday, December 5th at 7 pm. The event will be held at the church. A sign-up sheet is in the narthex.
Join us for worship on Sunday, December 15th for our traditional Lessons and Carols Advent service. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m.
Christmas Caroling at Axelson and Brandel will be held on Sunday, December 8th at 9:15 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. There will be no Adult Sunday school that day so please come and join us. We will meet in the narthex at church and carol our way over.
Thank you to everyone who blessed us and the baby to come by attending Kristin's sprinkle. A special thank you to all who organized. Your gifts, encouragement, and prayers are a wonderful blessing to our family. We are grateful to have our baby born into such a loving church community. God bless you all! --Kristin and Jose Gonzalez
Adult Sunday School - In the Gospel of John, Jesus has some very direct and interesting state-ments about who he is--the "bread of life," "the gate," "the true vine" and more. Join us as we examine what these statements and images tell us about who Jesus is. Join us December 1st &15. There will be no Adult Sunday School on December 8, 22 & 29.
13-Charlie Poterek
20-David Dwight
20-Julia Sinople
26-Eric Johnson
27-Vanessa Johnson
29-Eileen St. Clair
31-Ryan Schonken
December Anniversaries:
27-Bob & Betty Olson 47 years
December Birthdays:
1-Josephine Sobecks
4-Chet Larson
4-Kristin Gonzalez
4-Marilyn Wililard-Falkin
6-Judith Frazier
8-Roy Olson
8-Bruce Dornfeld
8-Charles Erickson
9-Don Putman
Happy Anniversary
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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
6 PM Small Group
2 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
3 7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
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9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
7 PM Properties
Team Meeting
5 7 PM WM
Advent Night
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9:15 Christmas
Caroling CLON
10:30 Worship
Small Group Christ-
mas Luncheon
1PM GN
6 PM Youth Group
9 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
10 3 PM CLON
Chat
7 PM LT Mtg.
7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
11 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study
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14
15
9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
6 PM Youth Group
16 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
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7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
18 9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
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20
21
22
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
23 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
24 4 PM Worship
25
26
27
28
29
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
30 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
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December 2019
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Ministry Update
Sunday Night Youth Group On Sunday nights this fall, we will be in a series about our culture of divisiveness. Everything is black and white. People want to know what you are for or what you’re against. This isn’t new though. Jesus answered these questions all the time. What can we learn from His example today?
Givethanksing Recap Our annual backwards Thanksgiving meal was full of way too much fast food and abounded with fun! This has become a wonderful tradition for our youth group to celebrate what God has brought together. Winter Camp 2020 The theme for Winter Camp 2020 at Covenant Harbor from January 17-19th for Jr./Sr. High has finally arrived! The theme is Relentless coming from John 3:30, “He must increase; I must decrease.” We’ll be looking at the example of John the Baptist and welcoming Metzli Doles from North Park Theological Seminary as our speaker for the weekend. The cost is the same as last year ($159/student). Please start talking to your students about this early so we can get a good idea of how many we will be bringing! Registration is done completely online at https://covenantharbor.org/winter-camp-6th-12th-grades/ Please select our church and fill out the register from there. The deadline to register is December 20th!
Vision Dinner Thanks to your generous donations through tips at this year’s Vision Dinner, the youth group raised $283! Thank you for supporting our youth!
Christmas Party & White Elephant Exchange On December 15 from 6-8PM, our youth group will host our annual Christmas party! Come for games, warm beverages, and lots of holiday spirit! We’ll also be doing a White Elephant Gift Exchange! Please bring a wrapped present to participate in the game (something under $10 or something unwanted from your house).
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Northbrook Covenant Kids Children and Family Ministry Update
For Unto Us a Child is Born
Merry Christmas!
Our children had a great November. We have continued to learn about children from all over the world and how their circumstances have shaped their lives. One thing that is a commonality between them all, is Jesus has been there for each one of them and their family! What a wonderful and mighty God we serve. I am not only thankful to the ECC for providing such a deep and meaningful curriculum for our children, but also to all of our volunteers for teaching! THANK YOU!
Our children did a wonderful job accompanying the Praise Team with sharing in the song of a Psalm. Thank you Dawn for including our children! We look forward to our Lessons & Carols service where our children will be singing once again.
Sunday December 15th - Lessons & Carols.
Our children will be singing
...more details to come in the next few weeks.
Calling All Kids: Join us for our Annual Kids Christmas Party - Saturday, December 21 from
10am-11:30 am as we celebrate Christmas. This year we will be decorating pre-made Christmas cookies to take home to share with your family! We will also
be playing a few games, sharing in treats & fellowship.
As We Look Ahead....
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From the Music Director:
REST FOR YOUR SOULS
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke up-on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How often in our days do we long for the kind of rest that nourishes and fills the deepest parts of our souls, that comes only from God knowing us so well and loving us so well. The kind of rest that says, “Come to Me and you will never hunger or thirst or fear or despair again.”
Jesus alone has the power to give us rest for our souls – and He displays that power through humble servanthood. Jesus came – as a baby in the manger, as a man on the cross - to bear our burdens, to lay down His life for us that we may be saved and freed to accept true rest from Him – a rest that will inhabit our souls.
On that hillside to the crowd so long ago when Jesus spoke these words, and to each one of us today, Jesus says: “I know you. I love you. I know your burden. I know what is weighing you down today.”
The rest Jesus offers is renewal for our spirits and in our lives – it is the end of restlessness, the end of seeking and searching, the end of uncertainty, and the beginning of rest and peace and purpose.
We can trust that we will find lasting rest in Jesus because we trust that God is faithful and trustworthy. We are fragile and broken, and He is humble and gentle with our fragileness and brokenness – “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” We can trust Jesus to carry us, gently and lovingly – even in our most difficult days.
Jesus promises to all who come to Him that we will find rest in His merciful love and purpose and peace for our souls. The yoke of Jesus is easy and light to carry because Jesus carries it for us – through the strength of God’s forgiveness, mercy, and love.
Now, as we are on this Advent journey, may we trust in Jesus – that he alone is the promise of rest and peace, of purpose and certainty that we seek. Jesus, Messiah, Lord and Savior, Emmanuel, God with us.
Dawn Holt Lauber 2019
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-by Bonnie Stephens
"Connecting women...impacting the world"
WOMEN MINISTRIES REPORT
December 2019
Giving Tree – Our annual Giving Tree is located in the narthex. These funds are in support of Christmas gift items (PJ’s, towels, etc.). If you are able to make a monetary donation you may do so by taking one of the envelopes off the tree, placing your donation (checks to Women Ministries) in the envelope and putting the envelope into the WM wooden box. Thank you for helping to brighten the Christmas of those less fortunate.
Request from CCO – Last year we started a Christmas “grab bag” project. The grab bags were distributed at the Christmas party to the shelter residents of CCO. We assembled and wrapped 140 grab bags containing a towel, 2 wash cloths, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant as well as a few small items. Recently CCO contacted us asking, if at all possible, if we could make an additional 80 for the single men’s program. The single men sleep on the floor of the dining area and they are often overlooked. We want to help out the single men by providing the additional 80 gifts. Each bag costs about $8. If you would like to help fund this outreach you may do so by cash or check (checks made out to Women Ministries). Your donation can be placed in the Women Ministries wooden box in the narthex or given to Bonnie or Mary. Thanks for your support and helping to make the single men special!
CCO – Our support of Cornerstone Community Outreach (CCO) continues. Periodically we are able to purchase a large quantity of new underwear. We launder it before sending to CCO and laundering help is greatly appreciated! This is an on-going outreach. We are CCO’s main source of new underwear and bras. Thank you to those who have helped in the past and also to the future.
Updated Items needed for Cornerstone Community Outreach –
I received an email from Eve and they can use the following items (available from the Dollar Tree): Cleaning supplies: Bleach, laundry soap, and garbage bags. Other items include: birthday gift bags/tissue paper/wrapping paper, birthday cards, reading glasses, lotion, deodorant, shaving cream, razor, bars of soap, pump hand soap/refill for hand washing, small birthday items for singles (boxes of chocolate, scarves, books, crossword puzzles, art stuff, bags of nuts, jerky, nail polish, lip stuff, encouraging plaques, etc...), plastic table cloth (for events), pens, tape, sticky notes. Thank you to all who are donating!
Another way to donate – If you have unexpired Kohl’s Cash (or Yes2You rewards) that you would like to be used to purchase needed items for CCO you can give it to Bonnie and the Kohl’s Cash will be put to good use. If you want to donate at the register you can put your points on Bonnie’s Yes2You account (see Bonnie for the account number).
Looking ahead - The annual Advent Night is planned for Thursday December 5 at 7 p.m. The program planned is about the meaning of the Advent wreath and readings. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex to indicate if you plan on attending. Bring a friend!
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Stephens
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Missionary Update: Mary Lou and Gary Sander: “Bread and fishes” (from Matthew 14) might be translated into Wayuunaiki as “goat and yucca”. (Wayuunaiki is the native language of the Wayuu Indigenous nation of the northern cone of South America.) When we were visiting the Epeiyu Pushaina Rancheria/Community that the Pacto Wayuu Covenant World Relief project is partnering with, everyone who came to the soccer tournament final game and reward ceremony left with some roasted goat and yucca—a real blessing.
The clan is also sharing their blessing of raising a goat herd. The Pacto Wayuu project purchased 20 female goats a little over a year ago and the Rancheria provided the ram. Through careful pastoring of this small herd, the herd has grown to 116 goats. The Rancheria has begun to bless their neighboring clans with pairs of goats (male and female), in order to encourage them to grow their own herds and to bless them because they have been blessed. The hope and desire, as these goats are gifted to the other clans, is to pass on this same desire for blessing others because they are being blessed.
This small Rancheria of the Epeiyu Pushaina clan, consisting of about 30 members, is living out the “blessed to be a blessing” idea in their relationship to other Rancherias. They have begun gathering other Rancherias together through their soccer tournaments. The youth began these tournaments and the men just finished their tournament. During the school vacation at the end of the year now, the children will hold their tournament. Because soccer is not a native game to the Wayuu, soccer tournaments are not very common, but they have proven to be effective in generating community connection and relationships.
Already, through the contacts being made through the tournaments, some of the other clans are wanting to participate in the adult alphabetization program and the children tutoring program by sharing teachers and some other resources amongst themselves. In fact, the Rancheria represented by the winning team, not only wants to participate in the adult and child education program, but this Clan has started planting Christian communities in other Rancherias and has 50 planted so far. They are hoping to be able to establish a strong relationship with the Epeiyu Pushaina clan and walk with them in their spiritual growth as they pass on this blessing. As well, the water reservoir project, geared to make sure that drinkable water can be stored in the Rancheria, is negotiating their next two reservoirs that will be built.
Slowly and steadily, this small Epeiyu Pushaina clan, which almost disappeared a few years ago when their chieftain passed away suddenly, leaving them, literally, extinct from legal recognition, has begun to resurrect itself and be a blessing to others. A recognition is being formed amongst the local clans and this small Rancheria is receiving inquiries asking how they are doing what they do. The Pacto Wayuu project has been able to establish itself as a trusted partner, friend and servant as it walks alongside of the Rancheria, seeking to strengthen the Rancheria into its own community NGO which can advocate for its own growth, stability, provision, and ability to bless others.
WORLD MISSIONS
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The Leadership Team did not meet in November. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday December 10th—if you have any items you would like to bring to the LT, please let Pastor Jose or David Dwight know.
One of the significant architectural features of our church was a 52 ft brick arch tower on the northwest side of the building. On top of the arch was a 9 ft cross that in many ways came to symbolize our church in the Northbrook community. Unfortunately with time and the effects of weather, the brick arch structure became unstable, requiring us to take it down. However, we were able to save the cross on top of the structure, always intending to use it in another location either on the building or grounds. I am pleased to report that goal has been accomplished, in large part due to the efforts of the Properties Team. If you have driven by the corner of Pfingsten and Techny you may have noticed the cross has now been installed on a post that was constructed (down 5ft in the ground) to support the structure. The project is not yet entirely complete as it will be attractively landscaped and lighted but at this point will need to wait until the spring to finish the work. Memorial funds were used to complete the project. We will plan for a dedication and recognition of donors once the project is complete and weather allows.
******************************************************************************* Financial Notes Thanks to all of you who use your offering envelopes. They help our office manager and the Financial Team more easily handle contributions and help eliminate errors. The 2020 (can you believe it?) envelopes will be available December 1 at the Welcome Center. If you haven't used envelopes in 2019, you can request them by contacting the church office or leaving a note in the offering basket.
We are still accepting Commitment Cards for 2020. Your response is a commitment between you and God to support the work of our church, but also helps us in planning our budget for 2020.
Just a reminder that and Staff Gifts must be received by Monday, December 9 to be distributed on December 15.
Also please remember that according to the IRS, any contributions you want credited to 2019 need to be in the offering by Sunday, December 29 or in the mail postmarked by December 31. Going into December we have a deficit of $7500 in tithes and offerings giving. With a strong finish by the end of the year we can reach our goal.
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Lead Pastor, Jose Gonzalez
Director of Youth Ministries, Thomas Cellilli
Director of Music Ministries, Dawn Holt Lauber
Children’s Ministries Coordinator, Melissa O’Hara
Office Manager, Kathleen Heller
Pianist, Vera Vasilenko
Northbrook Covenant Church
2737 Techny Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
847-272-8270
www. Northbrookcovenant.org
Worship with us!
Sundays at 10:30am