from the pastor’s pen… · thank you to everyone for the season of leave after the birth of our...
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Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church | 2737Techny Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062 | 847-272-8270
March 2020 A monthly publication
from
Northbrook
Evangelical
Covenant Church
Editor: Kathleen
Heller
In this Issue:
From the Pastor’s Pen
Announcements
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
March Calendar
Youth Ministry
Children’s Ministry
Music Ministry
Women Ministries
Missions Ministry
Leadership Team
From the Pastor’s Pen…
“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.” (Hosea 6:1) These words from Hosea reference the judgment of God to come on Israel because of its idolatry--it’s destruction by the Assyrian empire. But the verse is an invitation from the prophet for Israel to come back to the God they abandoned and it is followed with words of even greater hope. Verse 3 says, “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. As we enter this month, we enter the Lenten season, traditionally a season in the church where we recognize our need for God’s grace as sinners in preparation to celebrate the hope we have through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. It is often a season of renewed repentance and returning to the Lord. People do this in different ways. Some give things up that they enjoy for the season to humble themselves before God. Some add things like new spiritual disciplines to their lives to help them focus on God. Whether we are led to give something up or add something, the sentiment of returning to the LORD is very appropriate. This Lenten season let us examine the state of our hearts before God, and the areas of our spiritual lives that he wants to see grow, and let us invite God into these places. If God highlights something, or asks for something that makes us uncomfortable, or if God sees fit to discipline us in a certain way, let us not be afraid. Let us return to God and renew our sense of our dependence on the grace made available to us through the work of Jesus. As we do we may find our souls refreshed with his work and presence even as with “...the spring rains that water the earth.”
Pastor José
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March Adult Sunday School- The Holy Spirit In Our Lives, Church, and World: What is it that the Holy Spirit actually does? In March we will explore Jesus' promise of the Spirit to his followers in the Gospels, the Spirit's work in Acts, and how we can expect to see the Spirit move in our lives. Pastor José will lead our discussion in conjunction with Make and Deepen Disciples' new Blazing Center resources. Join us as we learn more about this wonderful and powerful person and promise!
Fight Hunger in Northbrook
If you can donate to the purchase of a bag of groceries, or if you can shop for one, you can help fight hunger in Northbrook. We need people to help with both aspects to help families with students on free or reduced lunch at our
local schools. The more people we have, the more families we can help. Interested? Contact Pastor José: [email protected] or the office at 847-272-8270.
CLON Chat– Our next CLON Chat will be March 10th from 3:00-4:00 pm in the South Village Room. Join us for a time to pray for and discuss whatever is on people’s hearts concerning life, faith, and our church. While primarily directed toward our congregation at Covenant Living, visitors and curious friends are very welcome.
Thank you to everyone for the season of leave after the birth of our daughter. Thank you also for all the prayers, well-wishes, cards, and messages sent to us, and all the love and support that we have received from you. This has been a wonderful and blessed season becoming a four person family and we are grateful to be doing it in such a loving church community. God bless you all! Pastor José and Kristin González
Wednesday Night Small Group--We will begin meeting again every other Wednesday night at 6:15 starting March 11. If you are interested get in touch with Pastor José for location and any questions.
Community Outreach Day--Join us as we and other members of our community help the Hunger Resource Network of Northbrook distribute over 100,000 pounds of frozen chicken to over 100 area food pantries, shelters, and kitchens! We will meet at Sunset Foods in Northbrook at 7am on Saturday April 4th but signing up beforehand is required. Contact pastor José for sign up and questions.
25– Kyle Joseph
26– Jack O’Hara
26– Edward Joseph
30– Daniel Frownfelter
March Anniversaries:
14-Peter & Vanessa Johnson - 28 years
20-Anthony & Carol Sinople- - 25 years
24-Jose & Kristin Gonzalez - 8 years
March Birthdays:
1– Greg Schneider
6– Marilyn Anderson
9– Daniel Joseph
10– Don St. Clair
10– Peter Johnson
17– Anita Schmoll
17– Mary Lynn Dornfeld
20– Ben Schonken
Happy Anniversary
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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
11:30 Swedish Pan-
cake Breakfast
1PM GN
6 PM Small Group
2 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
3 7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
4 9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
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7 12 pm Chil-
dren’s Ministries
Shopping Trip
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9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
6 PM Youth Group
6 PM Small Group
9 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
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3 PM CLON
Chat
7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
11 9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
6:15 PM
Wednesday Night Small Group
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13 Youth-Winter
Jam Concert
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15
9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
6 PM Youth Group
6 PM Small Group
16 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
17 7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
18 9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
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20
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22 9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
6PM Small Group
23 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
24 7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
25
9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
6:15 PM
Wednesday Night Small Group
7 PM Leadership Team Meeting
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27
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29 9:15 Adult Sunday
School
10:30 Worship
1PM GN
6 pm Youth Group
6 pm Small Group
30 6AM-GN Prayer
(M-F)
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7:30 PM Choir
8:30 PM
Worship Team
1
9:30 am Women’s
Bible Study
2
3
4 7 am Community
Outreach Day
March 2020
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Ministry Update Sunday Night Youth Group This month, we will be concluding our series on the life of Jonah by watching Jonah and the Big Fish, a VeggieTales Story! Then, we will be starting a new series called, “That’s Really In There?!” where we will be looking at the strange (and sometimes crazy) stories found in the Scripture and see how these texts can be “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Hunger Free Northbrook This month, our youth group will be collecting two bags of food (Bag A and Bag B) for a family in our community in a tangible way. Make sure to check the list in the youth room for what’s left!
Our annual Swedish Pancake Fundraiser on March 1 immediately following service. This is an annual fundraiser that goes to support our students attending Unite 2021. Students will prepare and set up the night before (February 29) for this event. Please try to help during AT LEAST one of these (if not both).
Winter Jam 2020 Lastly, Winter Jam is coming back to the Chicagoland area this year on March 13 at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates! This is a night of fun with Christian artists including Andy Mineo, David Crowder, Hillsong Young and Free, RED and many more--with special guest speaker Louis Giglio! Tickets are $15 at the door.
RECAP: Faith-Promise Dessert Potluck Our youth served at our annual Faith-Promise Dessert Potluck on February 9. We were able to raise $153 that will go toward Unite 2021 registration! Thank you to our youth for serving and thank you congregation for your generosity and support of our youth!
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Northbrook Covenant Kids Children and Family Ministry Update
Kids Loving Kids!
As We Look Ahead....
Our children have been busy this past month digging into the book of Mark. In this series, our children have discovered that Jesus teaches us how to out-love the rules. They have learned about how Jesus' good news message spreads his love and life-changing message with all.
Our key verse this month was: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength and with all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” Luke 10:27 The kids have done a great job memorizing it!!!
In March, our children will begin a new series in the book of John. We're excited to see what we'll learn this month.
Our children will be meeting as group on Saturday March 7th to shop for Hunger Free Northbrook. We will meet at McDonald's for lunch at 12:00pm and then head over to Jewel. Our Children's Ministry Team is really excited to be a part of this important mission.
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From the Music Director: OUR JOURNEY TO THE CROSS
In Lent, we begin our journey to the cross – a journey we make with Jesus and with each other. For some this is new, unfamiliar journey. For others, a well-loved road. The journey to the cross is not an easy journey, but one marked with loss, sacrifice, and death. But we must know this loss to allow God to fill us up with His love and His spirit. We must know this sacrifice to know fully the depth of God’s faithfulness to us. We must know this death to receive new and abundant life in Christ.
I invite you to meditate on our psalms for the month of March as we prepare for worship each week and walk with Jesus to the cross.
March 1, Psalm 32: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing all who are upright in heart!
March 8, Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
March 15, Psalm 95: O come, let us sing to the Lord; Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
March 22, Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul:
March 29, Psalm 130: Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
We are thankful for all new members of our worship team and choir, and for those who have served in music for many years. Join us in music for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday. Choir meets Tuesday nights (7:30-8:30 PM) and Sunday morning (10 AM). Worship team meets Tuesday nights (8:30-9 PM) and Sunday morning (9:30 AM). We would love to have you share with us in music! Dawn
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-by Bonnie Stephens
"Connecting women...impacting the world"
WOMEN MINISTRIES REPORT
March 2020
Pillowcase project continues – We received several donations of fabric suitable for pillowcases (much of it is Christmas fabric). These handmade pillowcases will be used by CCO throughout the year. Our need now is to launder the new fabric. If you are able to help out by doing a load (or more) of fabric please contact Bonnie or Mary and they will gladly supply you with the fabric. We will also be looking for help in cutting the laundered fabric to size so that it is ready to sew,
Plant Sale is coming! – The annual plant sale will be held at the church starting May 15-16. The truck will arrive Friday May 15 at 7 AM. Pre-order forms will be available in April. Think Spring!
Spring/Summer landscaping opportunity – WM provides (and tends) the flowers that beautify the grounds of the church. It is a lot of work keeping the flowers watered and weeded. We are always in need of helping hands throughout the summer months. If you have some spare time this summer and would like to help out please let Bonnie know! In the fall we can use some help with the clean up.
Supporting CCO – Our support of Cornerstone Community Outreach is an on-going mission of Women Ministries. We supply much needed items, not only at Christmas but all year long. If you would like to help out financially you may do so by placing your donation in the wooden WM box on the welcome center in the narthex. Checks should be made to the order of Women Ministries. There are envelopes with the wooden box for your convenience. Thank you for supporting this vital ministry.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Stephens
“Connecting women...impacting the world”
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Our Faith Promise desert potluck was held on Sunday evening, February 9. The main
speaker was Mark Seversen, Director of Missional Congregations for our Evangelical Covenant Church; the focus of his talk was our world missions giving ample time for questions. Special music was a duet with Dawn and Jim. Nancy Dahlberg gave
information about our missionaries including Randy Bevis, Paul De Neui, Don & Lillian Dwight, Dan & Oksana Johnson, Peter & Anna Kim, Gary & MaryLou Sander, Fransisco &
Stephani Ramos, Lisandro & Patricia Restrepo and Shannon & Carol White. The deserts and the young people serving was a blessing. We promised $14,600. If you didn’t attend and would like to donate from additional monies you receive this year, please place a
check or envelope in the offering marked “Faith Promise 2020”.
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Northbrook Covenant Church receives our communion wafers from Home of Hope in India. Our donation to pay for the wafers goes towards supporting this mission.
Home of Hope: From Rescue to Lives of Dignity Covenant World Relief has been partnering with the Hindustani Covenant Church and Covenant Social Service (CSS) in India since 2006 to bring hope and restore dignity to women who are rescued from human trafficking.
CSS works to break the cycle of violence in human trafficking in three ways: 1. Rescue and rehabilitate women involved in commercial sex work. 2. Provide income generation support to former commercial sex workers. 3. Restore lost childhood to children of commercial sex workers. Prisha* is from the southern part of Maharashtra. After her father died, her family experienced a severe financial crisis, so Prisha moved to Pune to look for work. But her friend who claimed to be helping her deceived her, and Prisha ended up in the red-light district for seven years. When CSS staff met Prisha, they brought her to the Home of Hope. The staff are providing counseling support as Prisha works through past trauma and toward a future of hope. Now she is learning to make bread and earning a monthly income. Covenant churches can partner with CWR to support the continued work of CSS. CWR is committed to working with CSS to rescue 50 women and their children from the red-light district by 2022.
*Name changed for protection.
WORLD MISSIONS
Women at Home of Hope make communion wafers as one way to generate income for themselves and their families.
Our neighbors in Puerto Rico are recovering from the largest earthquake the island has experienced in over a century, all the while continuing to recover from hurricanes Irma and Maria. Love Mercy Do Justice is providing assistance through their partnerships. If you would like to contribute to the recovery of our neighbors you will find a link to donate at covchurch.org/justice/domestic-disaster-response or go to covchurch.org and search "Domestic Disaster Response." Click the link with the same name and you'll find the link to donate under "Earthquake Response." Thank you for your care for our neighbors.
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The Leadership Team met on Tuesday February 25th for our monthly meeting. The following summarizes our discussion:
1. This was the first meeting of the newly constituted Leadership Team and we welcomed Debbie Poterek to the team and we thank her for her willingness to serve in this capacity.
2. We also welcomed Pastor Jose back from family leave. He reported that his family (especially baby Isabel) are doing well.
3. The Properties Team has been dealing with 2 major concerns: roof leaks and episodic leaking of the heating system which in the office area. Both of these matters will at some point require major repairs so the team is reviewing our vendor relationship to assure that we are being effectively served for a realistic cost. Grant Erickson is chairing the Team.
4. If there are needs or concerns within our church family that would benefit from the involvement of the Care Team please let Pastor Jose or Bettty Olson know.
5. A new Sunday school curriculum for children is being used. Melissa O’Hara reports that is has been well received by both the children and teachers.
6. The January (first month) financials shows that early in the year our budget is being managed. Giving is behind budget (not unusual for early in the year) but expenses are also less than budget.
The next LT meeting will be Wednesday March 25th. Please let any member of the team know if there are any items you would like to bring to our attention.
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Lead Pastor, José González
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
We exist to glorify God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit –
by becoming mature disciples of Jesus Christ
and inviting others to join us.