Click here to see the January calendar.
SURVEY WILL HELP IN SEARCH FOR ASSOCIATE PASTORThe Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC) plans to conduct a written survey after each worship service on Sunday, Jan. 22. The U.S. Congregational Life Survey is used to gather demographic information, take a snapshot of how worshippers view a particular congregation and their personal faiths, and compare the results with national averages, or benchmarks.Why a survey? As our congregation begins to seek an associate pastor, the APNC wants to ensure that we describe and represent our church accurately and appropriately, based on current information. The APNC will use the survey results to help craft our Church Information Form (CIF), the main document that will introduce Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church to prospective associate pastors. The APNC also will draw on meetings with focus groups representing various aspects of the congregation’s life, but we expect the survey to provide data on the congregation as a whole. Individual answers are all confidential; worshipers are asked not to put their names on the survey. The research group will combine the responses and provide summary reports. On Jan. 22, we will follow our regular worship schedule except that all services will be abbreviated to allow for time to conduct the surveys. The survey is designed to be given on a “typical” Sunday when a church can expect a representative mix of regular worshipers, people who come less often, and visitors. Most worshipers can complete the survey in 15 minutes or so. No one is required to fill out the survey, of course, but the APNC hopes that you will choose to do so because we value your input. Anyone with questions concerning the survey process may contact Laura Bauman. Thank you in advance for your participation. We ask for your prayers on this exciting journey toward calling an associate pastor. Thank you. The APNC: Laura Bauman, David Dees, Barb Dolmon, Joan Jensema, Lou Rabe and Bruce Randall
BEYOND THE WORSHIP WARSThe adult group which meets at 10:15 in the Fellowship Hall is beginning a conversation about worship, guided by Thomas Long’s book, Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship. Long studied several congregations that have waded through the treacherous waters of “traditional vs. contemporary” and created something new: vital and faithful worship that is connected to the great worship traditions of the past and also relevant to the culture of the present. We will look at how these congregations did it and ask what makes for vital, faithful worship in our time and place. Everyone is welcome.BUILDING and GROUNDS CORNER
How do we keep up with the painting requirements of a large building like ours? |
PANERA BREADYou know you enjoy it when you see it in Fellowship Hall on a Sunday morning... bagels, cookies, maybe a loaf of bread to take home. How come it's not there more often? Because we need people to pick it up on Saturday night and set it out on Sunday morning. It's really not that difficult. If you'd like to try it, you can pick a day and sign up in the Connecting Link. If you'd like more information on how it works, call Tina Stipati. |
 VALENTINE DANCEWe're putting a team together to plan the Valentine dance on February 11th at the Four Colonies in Crystal Lake. If this sounds like something you'd like to help with, call Tina Stipati. |
THE COOKIE WALK TALK
Huh? Are you sure?? Let me write that down! Wowweee!!! I can't believe it!! Let me tell everyone!Hey everybody! The total on the Cookie Walk Sales this year is $3,608.72!!! WooooHooo!! Isn't that amazing?? And with about $125 in expenses, we made just under $3500! Yaahooo! Pat yourselves (and each other) on the back! You did a magnificent job! This is an impressive increase over last year (just under $3000). Again, we thank you for ALL your hard work!
Next, Nancy and I will be asking for video volunteers for a 'wrap up' session for the congregation. Please consider being part of this! We want to represent you and all you have done. We hope to film on Jan. 15 right after the 8:00am service. Don't worry...you don't need any formal training (or costumes)...we'll let you know exactly what you need to do! And then later this month (Jan. 29th), be sure to come and see yourselves on the 'big screen' and enjoy a reception to celebrate the success of the Cookie Walk along with pictures from the highlights that day (and before)!
See you soon, Marypatriece Raupp and Nancy Blakely
Cookie Walk Coordinators 2005
OUR KATRINA FAMILY
Well the Floods had a very nice Christmas. With a donated tree, food and gifts from many of you they were able to enjoy some of the wonderful traditions of the holiday.Something that really made me feel the spirit of the season was the news that Paul Dolmon had collected gift cards for the Floods in lieu of gifts for himself at his birthday party. We were all so touched by his selflessness!!
We still need $2040 in additional pledges to cover the year’s rent. If you can help out with this, please let me know. Even if you can only help in a small way…it all adds up!! Also, if you have made a pledge, please be sure to put this month’s contribution in the offering and mark the memo KATRINA FAMILY.
I will list out any further items needed for donations, if any, in future Spirit’s.
Thank you all!
Laura Middaugh
THANK YOU!
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Pastor Floyd and RCLPC members: Faith in Action has experienced a very Merry Christmas in large part due to the generosity of many of your church members. You were kind enough to include us as part of your Christmas ornament project. We have received many of the needed “gifts”. -Postage stamps, with the promise of more throughout the year -Post it notes -Cordless mouse -Gift cards All of these items are very important to our central planning and scheduling center. Because of the generosity of your church members and others, Faith in Action can continue to meet the needs of senior clients in McHenry County. We wish each of you a very blessed new year. On behalf of McHenry County Seniors, Rhonda Anderson, Executive Director Faith in Action of McHenry County 111 S. Virginia St., Crystal Lake, IL 60012 815 455 3120, office www.fiamchenrycounty.org |
PASTA DINNER
Faith in Action is holding a pasta dinner fund raiser at the St. Thomas Community Center on Saturday, January 28th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Please call 815-455-3120 to purchase tickets or go to Faith in Action’s web site at www.fiamchenrycounty.org for more information.POT LUCK
Are you interested in some good food and fellowship at RCLPC? Plan to attend the lunch time pot luck on January 29th in Fellowship Hall. Sign up in the Connecting Link. Any questions, please contact Tina Stipati.
JOURNEY of FRIENDSHIP AND DISCOVERYGood News! We have 13 participants going to Egypt in June on the mission trip. There are 5 youth, 2 youth leaders, 4 parents, 1 previous traveler, and 1 pastor. The participants are Kayla Stewart, Peter Larson, Giana Stipati, Kim Larson, Laura Kay, Jeff and Sheila Mohler, Kim Stewart, Tina and Dennis Stipati, Peggy Larson, Joy Martin and Rev. Richard Floyd.Please keep us in your prayers as we begin firming up our travel arrangements and itinerary. We will keep you posted on upcoming fundraising events to help defer costs of the trip and to raise money for the Fairhaven School in Alexandria, Egypt. If you would like to help out with any of the fundraising events, please let one of us know how you would like to participate. The Egypt Planning Team: Jeff and Sheila Mohler, Kim and Kayla Stewart, Laura Kay |
TRAVEL EGYPT
Doors open at 6:45 pm |
VBS PLANNING MEETING
Saturday, Jan. 14th, 9 - 10:30 am
It's hard to think about the summer when winter is looming, however, it's time to start planning VBS 2006. Anyone who is interested in being involved may join our planning meeting. We'll choose a curriculum and set a date for VBS 2006. We need your help to build upon the success of last year. Come out and support a wonderful activity for the children. Questions? Contact Emily Floyd.MUSIC CONCERT
FUND RAISER to SUPPORT THE CL FOOD PANTRY
On Saturday, January 28th, the Crystal Lake Food Pantry is having a musical fund raiser at Willow Creek Church on Exchange Drive in Crystal Lake (in the industrial park where Health Bridge and the post office are located.) This will be a wonderful folk concert with some outstanding talent and it will cost $25 a ticket. We hope to raise $20,000. The Chamber, the pantry and yours truly will have tickets. Please come if you can. ~ Nancy VazzanoFOOD PANTRY WORK DAYS for RCLPC
Our Food Pantry work days for 2006 are February 13th, April 3rd, and May 22nd. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Nancy Vazzano.“SPARE CHANGE for A BIG CHANGE” is coming your way!.....
Soon we’ll be announcing the details about a new program that will transform your spare change from a lifeless dust-collecting nuisance into an active life-enhancing force for those in need. Until this new program takes effect, we’re asking you to obsessively hoard your coinage. Now, it’s perfectly OK to dole out coins for your wee one’s school lunch, but please hold yourself back from dropping your change off at the bank to be counted or from giving exact change at the supermarket. Also, if you could refrain from frequenting gum ball machines and metal newspaper dispensers, it’d be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your cooperation!
Joan Jensema, Phil Wesa, and Jim Bauman
NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTION
How about some ‘good reading’ and ‘easy listening’ as 2006 begins to unfold?! A book written by Bonovin Arleigh Sprague and published by Arcadia Publishing is hot off the presses, entitled “Images of America, Rosebud Sioux”. Last December, a book on the Pine Ridge Reservation was published and available at both Borders and Barns and Nobel for $19.99. We believe you will find this current publication to be an ambitious, extensively researched, historical, pictorial archive well worth reading. To order directly from the author, and online, please log onto www.arcadiapublishing.com.And, while reading, you can listen to “Sacred Ground – A Tribute to Mother Earth” which has been nominated for a Grammy Award. This compilation features all new records of soul stirring songs by celebrated stars in the genre of Native American music, including Bill Miller, 2005 Grammy winner, Joanne Shenandoah, a two time Grammy nominee as well as Grammy Winners Primeaux and Mike, best selling artists Robert Mirabal and Walela (Rita Coolidge, Priscilla Coolidge, and Laura Satterfield) and highly acclaimed artist Star Nayea. This album was released on September 13, 2005, by Katahdin Productions and distributed through Silverwave Records. It was quickly praised as one of the coolest collections of contemporary Native music to be released in years.
This collection gives “thanks and recognition to our planet with the unique Native American perspective and as a positive call to action to save the environment”, says Katahdin Productions President Lisa Thomas. “Life is precious and our planet is precious and we need to regard it in a sacred way.” For more information, please log onto www.katahdin.org.
Joy Martin, Alice Haznedl, Ann Legg, Janet Pearce, Ginger Robinson, Rod Russell, MJ Towne, Gloria Thorson.
IN AND AROUND RCLPC with BARB
Good (dreary) morning! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are feeling fine. It’s been awhile since we last got together and I have lots to share with you.* The Christmas Eve services were wonderful and many attended and did a lot of work to make them special. We thank you. It was nice having CAROL STOLZ (wife of MIKE, mother of JUSTIN, AMY, AARON, and BRANDON) and Amy back worshipping with us from Colorado. (I miss you Carol) - oops, that should be WE really do miss you folks and hope you come back often.
* A note from a friend: Merry Christmas to my family at RCLPC. I wish you joy and peace throughout this season and may 2006 bring big blessings to everyone. Sending my Christmas greetings in this manner in lieu of the usual cards with postage has enabled me to increase my year end giving to our church where the extra $$$ will be well spent. We can all rejoice in that! May the Lord bless us and keep us. My love to all, Marge Hansen.
* We’ve all heard of Surprise Parties, but I have a party where the surprise is on us. Read on. PAUL DOLMON (son of BARB and LOU, brother of BECKY) turned 14 on Dec. 2nd and had a birthday party. He invited 8 of his friends but asked them NOT to bring gifts for him. Instead, he asked them if they would please buy gift cards that he could give to someone else. They did, and he gave those gifts to the Flood family, our Katrina friends. The gifts ranged from $20.00 to $50.00 each. Paul, this is amazing and we are truly proud of you and your generosity!
* More news of “our” kids. MARISSA BLAKELY (daughter of BILL and NANCY, sister of CHRIS) sang a solo for us on Christmas eve - her first solo ever. This experience gave her the assurance to try out for the talent show at her school - Coventry Elementary. She sang the Martina McBride song “Happy Girl“. That is so cool Marissa and we will be keeping our fingers crossed for you.
Another: ELLIOTT WESA (son of PHIL and MELANIE, brother of CARL and DALE) starred in Coventry’s Christmas play -“Moosical”. He played THE MOOSE. Elliott, I heard rave reviews of your performance. Fantastic! Marissa Blakely played the “Sugar Plum Fairy”. Coventry is so lucky to have these talented 2nd graders at their school.
* An exciting event will be happening on January 20th. No, it’s not my birthday. That date marks the 61st wedding anniversary for ERV and ESTHER HUECKSTAEDT. WOW!! I was excited that I made it to my 20th, but I can not even imagine lasting for 61 years. I do know that It takes a lot of working together, and these two really work. They are such special people and I love them both. Congratulations to you two from all of us.
* BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: TA DA!! SCOTT and JENNY MOHLER (son and daughter-in-law of JEFF and SHEILA) had their babies! On Jan. 5th at 8:00 P.M. they gave birth to twins: Samuel (weighing in at 4lb. 3oz. - 17in.) and Emi ( 5lb. 8oz. - 19in.) Congratulations to all!
In closing, “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.” I thank God every day for my friends and pray that I am a good friend back. Thank you for spending this time with me. I am: Barb Turley email me or call.
FIGHT THOSE WINTER BLUES AND GET YOUR KIDS MOVING!
call Emily Floyd or email her for more info.Jan. 27 Crystal Lake Nature Center 10am-noon 330 N. Main Street - Crystal Lake located at the back of Veteran's Acres Park possible hike if weather permits Feb. 3 Springhill Mall 10am-noon meet at the playplace in front of J.C. Penney's kids must wear socks to play lunch at the food court afterward for anyone who desires Feb. 10 Fellowship Hall 10am-noon meet for games, exercising, and crafts kids love to run around in open spaces Feb. 17 Cary Gymnastics 10:15-11:30 am 600 Industrial Dr. in Cary www.carygymnastics.com open gym costs $5 per child Feb. 24 Chuck E Cheese 10am-noon on Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake |