July 9, 2008

The Spirit of Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church


All God’s Children	Bible in 90 Days	Building Expansion
Congratulations to Our Unsung Hero	Head to the Courtyard	High School Mission Trip
Ice Cream Social a Success	Project Burning Bush	Share the Bounty
Teachers Needed	Trip to Rosebud	Update from Interim Search Team
You Are Invited	Youth Group Activities	Youth Group Parents

Update from the Interim Search Team

Following Richard’s announcement of his pending departure, an Interim Search Committee (ISC) was formed by Session. Ann Legg, Lois Johnson, Dan Schweers, and Tom Lilly were appointed to the committee. The ISC has been meeting weekly. We have met with Erica Schemper, the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry (COM) representative. The ISC has updated the Church Information Form (CIF) and will be submitting it to Presbytery for posting on the national site. The CIF is an overview of our congregation and gives interim candidates insight into who we are and what we are looking for. The Presbytery has been sending us Pastor Information Forms (PIF) for review. To date there have been 3 phone interviews. The ISC will follow up on these potential candidates by viewing recorded services and/or attending services led by the candidates, expanding the interviews to include all the members of the ISC and RCLPC staff. The goal is to have an interim pastor in place by September 1st, 2008. Our thanks for your support and prayers as we continue this important work.

You Are Invited…

Everyone is invited to a salad potluck on Monday evening, July 21, at 6pm to say goodbye to Emily, Anna and Ella. Drinks, kids’ meals and dessert will be provided. Please sign up in connecting link so we know how many to plan for.

Thank You!!!

A very big thank-you from the Fellowship committee to everyone who helped us with the picnic this year...from the set up - to the cooking - to the games - to the clean-up. It would not have been a success without you!

~ Cindy Borre

Building Expansion Meeting Set for July 16

The last scheduled meeting to share information and ideas related to possible expansion of church facilities will be held Wednesday, July 16 at 7pm in Fellowship Hall.

Thus far, more than 60 people have seen the Building Expansion Committee’s presentation, which includes conceptual plans for how current facilities could be expanded on existing church property. Response has been favorable.

If you have not yet seen the presentation, the committee asks that you try to attend the July 16 meeting. If you are unable to attend, please contact a committee member about the possibility of scheduling a presentation on another date. The committee believes this information is vital to our congregation’s future and wishes to reach as many members and friends as possible. Thank you.

The Building Expansion Committee – Wayne Prindiville, David Dees, Stan Sumner

Ice Cream Social for the Troops was a Success!

Thanks to everyone who helped make RCLPC's second Ice Cream Social at a Woodstock Band Concert a great success! Patti Hill, Karen Hutchings, Emily Lazar, Lois Johnson, Paula and Lee Ekstrom, Raj Dencker, Nancy Vazzano, Cheryl Brincks, Cheryl Lilly, Kathy Rabe, Sarah Metivier, Sally Weller, Jody LeFevre, Rebecca Floyd, Jayne Zoerner, Beth Esche, Doug and Maggie Crane, Linda Rosquist, and Deb Steele all pitched in. The evening was gorgeous (unlike the tornado watch that we were under last year!), the park was packed with cookie buyers, and we sold the cookies/bars at a brisk pace. Some people came back a second and even third time, and most of them commented on what a large assortment of attractive cookies we had for sale. A number of cookie buyers gave generous donations, and when we counted the money, it came to just over $330.00. Thanks and God Bless, Mary Moltmann and Ed Bennett

Sunday School Teachers Needed for 2008-09 School Year

We are in need of volunteers to teach preschool and 4th/5th grade Sunday School starting in the fall. We are also looking for assistant teachers in the preschool room. The Sunday School schedule would be to teach once every 3 weeks. If interested please contact either Patti Hill at 847-639-3726 or Karen Nelson at 815-477-4862.

High School Mission Trip leaving—

Prayer partners needed!
A group of senior high youth and some wonderful leaders will be going on a mission trip to Chicago during the week of July 13th-18th. This is a time for those attending to get their hands dirty and put God’s love into action, which is fun but can be scary. Knowing specifically that someone is praying for you can be assuring, so we are having prayer partners! It would be greatly appreciated if you would pick up a note card and write your name and possibly any prayer concerns on it. Place it in one of the envelopes with a name written on it, and pick up a card with that same person’s name. Now pray for that person throughout the mission trip week! (You can pray for more than one person and for more than just one week of course!) Whoever you choose will then pray for you! All of these materials can be found in the connecting link. Mission trippers are: Carl, Norma, Kayleigh, Mack, Anna, Laura, Alan, Jessie, Taylor, Giana, Meredith, Charlie, Teri, Cecily, Rick, and Scott.

Congratulations to Our Unsung Hero of the Month!

Joy Martin was awarded the radio station Star105 “Unsung Hero Award” for the month of June. Way to go Joy!

Attention current and future

Youth Group Parents!

If you are the parent of a youth who will be in grade 6-12 in the coming year, please contact Teri after August 1 for info about the coming year and to fill out the various forms that are required for participation in youth group events. If you have questions about the youth ministry programs, feel free to contact Teri or any of the other leaders. Middle School: Tom and Cheryl Lilly; High School: Cecily Weber, Laura Gilmore, Dawn Gilman, Jim Pracht. See you soon!

Bible in 90 Days blog

Behind on the reading? Unable to make the class (which is still meeting each Wednesday evening)? Don’t worry—you can follow along by reading the blog! Each day (or sometimes every other day…) we post reflections on the daily reading. Check it out, and feel free to join the conversation by clicking the link at the end of each post that says “comments”! http://rclpc.wordpress.com, or click through from the church website.

Thanks

Thanks, friends, for all your prayers and for taking care of me while I recovered from having my wisdom teeth removed. I’ve been joking that I want to be the one people bring food to, and now I was (though all the food was soft, it was certainly delicious!).

I’m well on my way to being well, so thanks! peace, Teri.

Head to the Courtyard

Don’t forget… Our camera crew will be taping on Sunday mornings out in the courtyard between services for Richard and Emily’s farewell. Please take a moment to say a few words on Sunday to contribute to these personal gifts.

Summer Youth Group Activities

Middle School:

Six Flags Great America!

August 7, leaving church at 10am. Cost: $30 plus money for food. RSVP to Teri by August 1.

High School:

Canoe Trip! July 26, leaving church at 7.30am, returning around 3pm. Cost: $30 (includes everything!). If money’s an issue, just ask—we can work something out. Bring: swimsuit, sunscreen, bug spray, towel, and dry clothes! RSVP to Dawn Gilman by July 18.

Six Flags! Same info as the middle school, above—August 1, 10am, $30. RSVP to Teri by August 1.

Movie Night! August 15, 6pm: Life of Brian! Join us for an evening of fun and funny!

Share the Bounty

The first cucumbers, beans, and squash will be picked from gardens in the next few weeks, and tomatoes won’t be far off. You can pick up some of this fresh produce on Sunday mornings at the Share the Bounty table in the Connecting Link. Help yourself, then place a donation in the basket to support those in need in our community. This summer’s donations will provide funds for lunch supplies for the next PADS season. If you’re a gardener, please bring whatever extra garden produce you have. By sharing it with our church family, you share beyond the church’s walls with those in need. Thanks to Rebecca Floyd, Karen Leuchtmann, Marie Randall, Rick Thompson, and MJ Towne for assisting with this program during May and June. ~ Mission Outreach Ministry

Anna Z off and running at Project Burning Bush

Anna is off at Project Burning Bush until July 12. You can check our church blog for updates on her activities there! Thanks for all your support and prayers as Anna discerns how God is calling her.

Trip to Rosebud and Pine Ridge

A few reflections from our latest trip to Rosebud and Pine Ridge Reservations:

First timers: Connie, a friend of RCLPC commented, “I think everyone came back a different person than they went. I know I did. I returned with a sense of love, sisterhood, appreciation and tolerance I did not have when I started the journey.

Sally added, “I felt so welcomed by our Native American brothers and sisters and was inspired by the dedication of Tillie and her family. Their openness was comforting. The knowledge I gained was almost overwhelming. I hope to be able to share that experience.”

Second timer: Dawn Condill shared her thoughts, “As deep breathing exercises expand the lungs to take in more oxygen, being on the reservation expands my heart with more ways to love. The love of God flows through Tillie Black Bear, Frances White Lance, the Rev. Dr. Claude Marie Barbour and others who teach us.”

Third timer: Ann Legg said, “On other trips I participated directly in all the sweat lodge ceremonies. However, this time, because of health concerns, I sat outside Medicine Man, Rev. Francis White Lance’s lodge at Pine Ridge. In his talk prior to the ceremony, he talked about how the trees, birds, grass and wind speak to us. So while those inside the lodge prayed, I also prayed for those inside, for our Native American hosts, and for friends, family and the world. At the end of my prayer I remembered Francis words about nature speaking to us and spent some time listening and hoping to hear a message. Although the time was too short to gain any significant insights, it was enough to make me realize the importance of spending quiet time outdoors and to listen to nature speaking. In the voice of nature we likely will hear god’s voice.”