|
Text Only Version
The SPIRIT of Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church August 9, 2006
Click here to see the August calendar.
|
| A Letter from the SESSION |
The Session has approved the following schedule for the 2006-2007 year (effective the weekend of September 9-10):
- Saturday, 5 p.m. – NewWay alternative worship
- Sunday, 9 a.m. – Early morning worship
- Sunday, 10 a.m. – Education hour
- Sunday, 11 a.m. – Late morning worship
Why not return to last year’s schedule? We found our previous Sunday morning schedule (three services plus a dedicated education hour) was too hectic and not conducive to growth in any of the services. The 8 a.m. service was too early to have a realistic chance of growth outside the current membership. Leaders of the 9:15 NewWay worship felt stifled by the constraints of squeezing an alternative service in with two other services. Meanwhile, the 11:15 service was at or near capacity on most Sundays.
Our schedule for the coming year keeps NewWay on Saturday night. We know some people disagree with this decision, but we believe the best course – not ideal, but best overall – is to keep the commitment we made to try NewWay worship on Saturday evening for a year. Three months’ time, especially during the summer, is not adequate for this arrangement to become established. We are eager to see what new directions NewWay worship takes as we reach out to people who may be looking for an alternative to more familiar patterns of worship.
The Session recognizes a number of people who participate in NewWay will not feel able to make the move to Saturday evening, either because of scheduling conflicts or because they wish to participate in Sunday morning activities such as education. Our worship life is constantly changing and the lines between “traditional” and “contemporary” are not fixed. Our Sunday morning services will continue to include a broad range of musical styles, including gospel, classical, jazz, folk, rock, world music, hymns and whatever else the Spirit moves us to try. We hope some of those who don’t feel able to attend Saturday evening worship will find a home in one of our Sunday morning services.
In addition to worship, we intend to establish a mid-week, multi-generational program combining fellowship, food, discussion and music. Our new associate pastor (when we call one) will be instrumental in developing this program.
All of our services and programs will continue to evolve as we do our best to serve people both within and beyond the congregation. We are called to invite people to experience God’s grace, to nurture them in a life of grace, and to send them out to share grace with the world. This means change, not for the sake of change, but for the sake of Christ’s church and God’s people. We ask your prayers for our congregation and your active support as together we seek to follow God’s call. Thank you.
The Session – David Dees, Karl Dencker, Jim Dutkiewicz, Jim Pracht, Dale Prindiville, Dan Schweers, Tina Stipati, Lori Thompson, Sally Weller, Phil Wesa, and Cary Woodruff
|
| Adult Choir Retreat - Saturday, August 26 |
The annual adult choir retreat brunch is Saturday, Aug. 26, in the fellowship hall, from 9:00-11:30am. All are welcome. If you are thinking about singing in the choir and haven’t yet made the plunge, this is a perfect time to meet new faces, fellowship and sing. Current adult choir members need to sign up in the choir room. Newcomers are our guests. Questions? E-mail Sherri Dees
The “State Fair” date has been changed to Sunday, Sept. 3rd at 4pm at Dorothy Vick’s home. Please sign up in the Connecting Link if you are planning to attend, or call Jodie LeFevre. Please mark your calendars. All are welcome!
Our next volunteer work day for the Crystal Lake Food Pantry is on Monday, Aug. 28. Please call Nancy Vazzano for more information.
Prayers and Pincushions will continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 10am to noon. All are welcome. Questions, please call Marge Hansen.
New phone directories are available in the red box on the table with the name tags. Please pick up yours the next time you are at church. |
| SAVE THE DATE - Sunday, August 27 at 5 pm |
|  Please join us on
Sunday, August 27 at 5 pm
for a potluck
dinner and fellowship to learn about our mission trip to Egypt. All are welcome!
Please sign up in the Connecting Link! |
Lord, in these troubled times
We pray for your peace in the world.
We pray specifically for the people in the Middle East:
For our brothers and sisters in Christ in our sister church in Alexandria, Egypt,
For all Christians, Muslims and Jews in the region,
For our friends and loved ones serving in the Armed Forces.
We pray for Your wisdom to guide all world leaders.
Soften our hearts to be your loving people. |
|
Operation Prayers and Cookie Lift Salutes
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER |
Sunday, August 20, come to Fellowship Hall to send greetings to our soldiers in the Middle East: Matthew Trummel (son of Betty and Chris Trummel), Andy Hushek (friend of Sue Hayden), Josh House (son of one of our Caring Crafters), and Tom Lenhardt (brother of Patti Hill). Feel free to draw you favorite dog or bring photos of your favorite dog to tape to the banners. A sign-up sheet will be in the Connecting Link with the opportunity to donate items (sun block lotion, anti-itch cream, ice pops, etc.) that will help the soldiers cope with the heat – average daily temperature in Baghdad is 110 degrees. Please pray for our soldiers and all of the people in the Middle East.. If you have a loved one serving in the military in the Middle East, please contact me. - Mary Moltmann |
|
|
My heartfelt thanks to the members of my church family who called, sent cards with notes of comfort and who came to the visitation and memorial service when I lost my brother, Jim. These acts of kindness and concern will always be remembered by me and Jim’s family, Pat, Kevin, Kristi and Abby and Becky. ~ Midge Fish |
I would like to thank Wayne and Dale Prindiville and Ed Waters for all their help in getting the file room and music staff office set up. The kitchenette is now our “File Room” and the music room has storage and working /office space for Sherri, Emily and Sheila. Thank you all. ~ Kim Stewart |
|
Thank you for making Compassion Sunday a success at RCLPC. Five new children got sponsored which brings the total to 13 children sponsored by people at our church. Please keep these children and sponsors in your prayers.
~ Laura Middaugh and Rick and Lois Johnson
|
The Flood family continues to do well and build for the future. Both daughters are now employed full time and are saving to hopefully purchase a home in Woodstock for the whole family when the lease with us runs out in November. Thank you again for your support and prayers for this family.
Laura Middaugh |
|
Dear RCLPC Members:
As you may know, "Missions" is now a subcommittee under the Deacons Board. Co-chairs Ann Legg, Rick Johnson and Joy Martin will provide leadership at this time for two groups: Mission Funding and Mission Outreach Ministry. Since you have indicated an interest in "Mission" and the allocation of such funds, we are writing to invite you to join one or both groups.
On August 28th there will be a regular Deacon's meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the first hour designated for Mission Outreach Ministry members to meet each other and begin to plan RCLPC's future in this area.
On August 30th at 7:00 there will be a Mission Funding meeting to distribute RCLPC Mission restricted funds to local as well as global mission organizations. If you would like to be a part of this team, please let me know by August 25th and plan on attending the meeting on the 30th. If you prefer to render a report on a particular mission's needs, we ask that you send said report via email or hard copy to Ann Legg, Rick Johnson, and Joy Martin no later than August 20th.
This may require you to contact the mission's in which you are involved and find out what their current needs include and the dollar amount and volunteer numbers necessary to meet those needs. Bear in mind that we have an active mission program with upwards of 20 missions in which we are currently involved. Funds are not available from the restricted church missions account to enable us to support a program with a great sum of money. For instance, if you learn that there is a special need not covered by a certain agency's regular funding sources, that might be the ideal item to bring before Mission Funding for consideration. Otherwise, an update on what has been happening in the life of a mission during the last year would be helpful in making informed decisions.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration as we move forward with this new endeavor ever mindful of our Christian calling to help those in need both in our community and abroad.
Love, in Christ, Joy Martin |
| Native American Connection |
A few issues ago we talked about the mammoth Wind Cave in the Black Hills of North Dakota. A recent edition of the Dakota/Lakota Journal writes that a reintroduction of Black-footed ferrets is in the planning phase. These ferrets are one of the rarest animals in the world with the last reported sighting at the Wind Cave in 1977.
Ferrets were thought to be extinct until eighteen animals were discovered in 1981 near Meeteetse, Wyoming. Since then a propagation program was started and has been quite successful with over 300-400 animals annually available for release into the wild. The Wind Cave National Park is seeking public comments to determine issues involved with the plan and possible alternatives. All comments received will be used to develop alternatives to be addressed in the EA (Environmental Assessment). We invite you to stop in the Connecting Link to see a picture of this cute little animal and to tender your comments to Superintendent, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Highway 385, Hot Springs, SD 57747 or send an e-mail by visiting the website http://parkplanning.nps.gov/wica by August 17th.
~ Joy Martin, Dawn Condill, Alice Haznedl, Ann Legg, Janet Pearce, Rod Russell,
Gloria Thorson. |
|
|
Four years ago RCLP undertook an extensive renovation of the Courtyard, which had declined badly. We changed it from an overgrown jungle into the lovely spot it is today. We felt that a Columbarium would be a fine addition for those of us who have a special closeness to RCLPC, and there are many. Members already have taken advantage of this place of interment. Please consider it. Enclosed with this issue of The Spirit is a brochure explaining the Columbarium. |
 |
|
<<<< back to top
| |