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The SPIRIT of Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church      Sept. 27, 2006
Click here to see the September calendar.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE

CROP Walk

Do You Have a Spiritual Itch?

Upcoming FELLOWSHIP Events

Letters from Iraq

MISSIONS

Native American Opportunities

NOMINATING Committee

OPERATION:
Prayers & Cookie Lift

PUMPKINS are Coming!

SESSION Highlights

WANTED:
Caring People

Children’s Choir Rehearsals

WEDNESDAYS

5:15 - 5:45 pm
Little Lambs
(preschool ages 3 & 4 and Kindergarten)

6:00 - 6:55 pm
Sounds of Joy
(1st - 5th grades)

Youth Choir Rehearsal
SUNDAYS
Noon - 1:00 pm
Jubilation Choir
(6th - 12th grades)

From the APNC

We are happy to report that, at a congregational meeting on Sunday, September 17, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to call Teri Peterson as our new associate pastor.

Working with the pastor and lay leaders, Teri will provide leadership and support for the congregation’s overall nurture ministry, including: education ministry for preschool through adults, middle and senior high youth ministry, and fellowship ministries.

Additionally, we believe building a pastoral relationship with the congregation rightly includes participation in the following ministries: worship planning and leadership, including preaching once every four to six weeks; pastoral care in conjunction with the minister, deacons, and Stephen Ministers; and organizational development, including participation in staff, session, and Presbytery meetings.

We envision Teri devoting approximately three-quarters of her time to the congregation’s nurture ministry, and the remaining one-quarter to these pastoral tasks.

Teri officially starts on October 1st, but we are giving her a few days of “grace” to close on her townhouse, move in, and get settled. She will be ordained by Chicago Presbytery on October 29th during the evening (vespers) service at Fourth Presbyterian Church. You all are invited to take a trip downtown and join with us in showing our support for Teri. More details will be forthcoming. At a later date, Teri will be installed as associate pastor of Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church.

It has been a challenging 10 months, but we are confident that, after considering more than a hundred candidates, we have found the right person for our congregation. We look forward to the gifts Teri will bring to our ministry, and we thank you for your support.

David Dees
on behalf of the APNC

Do You Have a Spiritual Itch?
Do you have a spiritual itch that just cannot be scratched? Do questions just keep coming and coming and the answers are just more questions? Let’s talk!

Using the book The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren as a backdrop for conversation let’s gather to ask questions, share stories and support each other on our journeys. Sound intriguing? Then please come on Wednesday, October 18, at 7 pm at RCLPC to begin the conversation. Together we can decide the when and where of future discussions and begin the journey down a path that looks to be very captivating. For more information contact Jeff or Sheila Mohler.
Upcoming FELLOWSHIP Events

Halloweeen Campfire - Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6 pm
Looking for a spooky good time?

Come to a Halloween campfire with hotdogs, chips, and lots of scary stories around the fire.
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6:00 pm behind the church.
Cost is $2.50/ person or $10/ family.
Everyone is welcome! Sign up in the Connecting Link.
Any questions, please call Joyce Berube.


RCLPC Supper Club invites you to join us for

A MONSTER MASH
a COSTUME PARTY full of fun and fellowship for all adults on
Saturday, OCTOBER 28TH at 7:30 pm
at THE DOLE MANSION (Lakeside Center, Crystal Lake)



SIGN UP NOW IN THE CONNECTING LINK
(THERE WILL BE A CHARGE OF $7.00 PER PERSON PLUS AN APPETIZER TO SHARE)

So dust off that ol’ rubber mask, get out that face paint, dig around for that sombrero, get that old wig out of the closet and don’t forget your smile under that fake mustache ‘cause we’re gonna have a blast. Questions, contact Jodie LeFevre.

Progressive Dinner - Saturday, Nov. 18

Also, being planned is a progressive dinner for adults only on Saturday, Nov. 18. There will be a sign up sheet in the Connecting Link. Please sign up and check off if you would be willing to host one of the courses for a small group at your home. Dessert will be the whole group back at the church. Any questions, please call Joyce Berube.

Pumpkins Are Coming!! - Oct. 14/15 and Oct. 21/22

Our church’s annual pumpkin and fall decoration sale will be the weekend of Oct. 14/15th and again on Oct. 21st/22nd. The hallways will be full of fun things to buy. So please wait and buy your pumpkins here! Cindee will also be taking orders for gourds, squash and small pie pumpkins that are great for school projects, scout groups or for crafts. Call Cindee to order yours today.

CROP Walk
Sunday, Oct. 15

The Walk will be Sunday, October 15th. RCLPC Senior High and Middle School are accepting pledges, as well as several adult members of RCLPC. Please contribute as we assist Church World Services in their effort to alleviate world hunger. 20% of your contribution will remain with the local Food Pantry and 5% will be given to the Soup Kitchen. Please sponsor a walker from church or sign up to walk in the Connecting Link.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE SEEKS CANDIDATES

The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for elder and next year’s nominating committee. Their recommendations will be presented for action at the next congregational meeting.

Among the qualifications for church leadership are: church involvement (attendance at worship, commitment to the church and its mission, participation in church activities); evidence that one’s life-style reflects the qualities of compassion, grace, and maturity; and personal qualities such as cooperativeness, willingness to learn, ability to follow through, openness to new ideas, and readiness to listen.

If you think you know someone who might be a good candidate to serve as an elder or on next year’s nominating committee, please write the person’s name and why you think they’d make a good leader on a prayer card and drop it in the offering plate. You could also drop off your suggestions to the church office, or email Tina Stipati, chair of the Nominating Committee. Thank you.

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

* Approved minutes from last session meeting (Aug 21) and congregational meeting (Sep 17).

* Approved moving Erik Ekstrom from inactive to active roll.

* Approved baptism for Andrew Ekstrom, son of Erik and Julie Ekstrom, for Oct 15.

* Approved expenditure from the Meyers’ Bequest to cover moving expenses for Teri Peterson

* The session also decided to lead a visioning process over the next 9-12 months, guided by the book “Discerning Your Congregation’s Future: A Strategic and Spiritual Approach” by Roy Oswald. More information on this process will be forthcoming.

WANTED: Friendly, Cheerful, Caring People

If you have any of these qualities then you are perfect for the job. We need people to greet at all services. All it takes is about 15 minutes before each service to greet or direct visitors to the sanctuary. It’s not a hard job, but a very important part of our ministry. Please call or email one of us to let us know what Saturdays or Sundays you would like to greet. Hope to hear from you soon. We are making the schedule for October, November and December. So please look at your calendar and let us know what would work best for you. You can sign up for one week, two weeks, or even a month we are not fussy. Please prayerfully consider to greet at one of the services. Thank you. Please contact Dorothy Vick, Linda Peel, or Cheryl Dutkiewicz.

Taize Prayer Service

when you need REFUGE
when you need PEACE
when you need time to BREATHE
when you need QUIET
when you need HOPE

no creeds to say
no standing up and down
no sermon
no saying what you believe before you're sure you believe it

simply pray …… BEAUTIFUL CHANTS
simply enjoy the silence …… MEDITATION
simply come …… CONNECT

Join us at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary on Thursday, October 5th
for our Taizé prayer service.
Nursery care will be provided.

Operation Prayers and Cookie Lift
HELPS SANTA IN IRAQ
Major Tom Lenhardt has contacted his sister, Patti Hill, to ask if we could help him surprise his squadron of over 300 men and women with a party on Christmas Eve. His family has sent him a Santa Claus hat and beard, and he would like our help in sending him inexpensive, nonperishable items that he could pass out.

He has requested that we not wrap the gifts, and he has suggested items like playing cards, socks, t-shirts, and paperbacks. I also would suggest other items that are popular with the soldiers in Iraq: scented candles, body lotion, Starbucks coffee in pre-sealed packs, CDs, DVDs, batteries, disposable cameras, crossword puzzles, or international phone cards.

If you do not wish to buy gifts, please consider sending cards - Tom hopes to have at least one card per soldier. Most of the soldiers have said that they really appreciate reading words of support from back home. Tom has requested that the items and cards be shipped in October to ensure that they arrive in time. I am asking that you bring your gifts and cards to RCLPC by Sunday, October 15. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks, Mary Moltmann

LETTER OF APPRECIATION from Major Thomas A. Lenhardt, USMC
(See the entire letter posted in the Connecting Link)

… Your gifts placed many smiles on the Marines and Sailors out here. Marines and Sailors started using the gifts the moment they were made available. Your gifts help to improve morale amongst the many people in this unit. Your thoughtfulness was very much respected. I especially liked the double shots of espresso coffee that you sent. The movies were a nice relief to our daily regime as well. Many people enjoyed reading the letter written by Juanita Miller. … I also want to send a special thanks to the church members at Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church. The support you provide with your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to every marine, Sailor, and Soldier out here. We Americans enjoy a special liberty that allows us to express our own opinions spanning every possible thought about any possible subject. That is exactly what we are fighting for. Hopefully, the Iraqi people will eventually enjoy the freedoms of expression that we hold close to our hearts. I am here so that my children and eventually my grandchildren will enjoy the freedoms that we come to expect on a day to day basis. While I am here, I pray for your safety. I find gratification in knowing that we are fighting for the long term safety of our great nation by attempting to control the world of terrorism.

Unfunded Mission Requests - Can You Help?
In the last Spirit issue, were listed needs expressed by Family Alliance, Joy Community Church and Faith in Action. Below are the rest of the unfunded Mission requests for your consideration.
Joy Martin, Ann Legg, Rick Johnson.

YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU: Sue Krause, Executive Director, has informed us of their dream to use a new Lapsit Library and Literacy program for the children who come into the program. It will necessitate a bilingual staff member to travel to Springfield to receive the necessary training in Spanish. Costs will be $250.00 for the training, $50 for the book, $72 for lodging and $78 to cover the cost of driving the four hours round trip. Total cost will be $550.00.

LIFT (Pre-Hospice Program that recently opened in Crystal Lake), Julie Zuidema, the Director, has told us are running into needs that are difficult to cover. For example, a young mother, 32 years of age, died a few weeks ago. Dad works very hard but makes a modest salary and has been trying to cope with the funeral and burial expenses as well as getting two children outfitted for school. Joy Martin helped with some of the needs through Home of the Sparrow but a request from LIFT to start a Discretionary Fund to cover the unexpected expenses of families in crisis such as this family would be of immense value to their program. Call 847-381-5599, Ext. 256 or email Julie at Jzuidema@HospiceAnswers.org

TRICKSTER GALLERY (Native American Mission at 190 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg, IL. 60193-847-301-2090, trickstergallery@aic-chicago.org). Funds to operate programs for intercultural workshops and supplies as well as operating costs are sorely needed as they continue their efforts using art as a medium for building a bridge of friendship between Indian and non-Indian peoples in the community. Please read about upcoming programs in the Connecting Link and the sign up to visit the Gallery as well as attend a Pow-Wow.

FAIRHAVEN SCHOOL, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT: Help to sponsor a handicapped child at Fairhaven. Cost for expenses is $100.00 a month. For full particulars, contact Sheila and Jeff Mohler.

CLINIC IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT: Funds are needed to help in the purchase of a slit lamp for the ophthalmologist and an X-Ray for the dentist. The Clinic serves 900 low income patients every month. Contact Sheila and Jeff Mohler for address and particulars.

UPCOMING NATIVE AMERICAN OPPORTUNITIES

Ever been to the Trickster Art Gallery at 190 S. Roselle Rd., Schaumburg??

A new exhibit opened on September 12 and will run through December 16th entitled

IMPACTED NATIONS
Presenting contrasting views of one beautiful earth. Sacred places versus dams, culture versus coal mining, livelihoods versus oil exploration, reverence versus exploitation. Come view more than 50 works of mesmerizing art illustrating the consequences of destruction and the hope of renewable energy.

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Ever been to a Pow-Wow?

THE HEARTBEAT OF MOTHER EARTH

Place: University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion, 1150 W. Harrison Street
Dates: Nov. 17, Friday at 5 pm, Nov. 18, Sat. at 10 am, Nov. 19, Sun. at 10 am
Grand Entry: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 5 p.m., Sunday at noon.

The Midwest’s largest and most colorful gathering of Native American singers and dancers from throughout the United States and Canada – Shop at 45 authentic arts and crafts booths and feast on Native American food ------ Must have Fry Bread!!

A sign up sheet is posted in the Connecting Link in case you want to go with a group from RCLPC like we did last year.

- - - - - -
Ever been to The Mitchell Museum of The American Indian, 2600 Central Park Ave. Evanston, IL. 60201, www.Mitchellmuseum.org?

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 6 12:30-3 pmThe Sacred Use of Plants by Native Americans
Oct. 8thSongs of the Native American Flute and Buffalo Roase
Oct. 14thWisconsin Mounds Bus Tour
Oct. 15thIntroduction to Collecting Southwest Pottery
Oct. 22ndFrancis Parkman at Starved Rock: History, Literature, Race
Oct. 28thKids Craft Morning: Masks

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