Get Involved at RCLPC
There are several very active RCLPC groups: Book Group, Earth Care Team, Matthew 25 Group, Women’s Bible Study, Men’s Breakfast Group and others.
Please contact the church office for more information: 815-459-1132 or email the church office here.
We invite you to check out how you can get involved and find what interests you.
Contact: Ann Legg or Barb Dolmon
Group reads and discusses one book per month on the first Tuesday and reads and discusses short stories on other weeks. All reading selections are determined by the members. Download reading list: Reading List 01/23-04/23
The Book Group meets at 10am each Tuesday morning.
Contact: Dave Steele
The Building and Grounds Team ensures that the buildings and the grounds are maintained – both in appearance and in repair and ensures that the church is properly secured and cleaned.
The team is responsible to see that the Session’s will regarding the use of church building and associated properties is implemented and enforced.
Wednesday Warriors meet each Wednesday from 8am – Noon
Contact: Mike Rugh
The Compassion, Peace, and Justice Team advocates for justice in various areas of life and for peaceful solutions to conflict. In all undertakings, the example of Jesus’ life, his compassion for God’s world and his passion for justice, should guide the team’s efforts.
Meets at 7pm on first Mondays in odd months.
Contacts: Laura Bauman, Mary Finch, Janet Holub, Katy Holub, Joan Jensema, Chris Pickett, Mike Rugh, Cara Vandermyde, Mary Ellen Shine
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus challenges us to “serve the least of these” – those who are marginalized or in need – in the community and the world around us, for those are the ones Jesus holds most dear. We are called to perform ordinary acts of compassion in daily life. Even more, we are to consider the factors that led to these conditions, to confront the causes of inequality, to correct the problem of poverty in our own neighborhood, our nation and around the world.
Our mission is to reach out into our community to be the voice for the unheard, advocate for those who suffer injustices, and to care for those who are in need: We listen, learn, and act. We have presented two series of Conversation Circles: Recognizing the injustices that result from our own biases against those who are different; having difficult conversations on controversial issues in a non-violent manner, resulting in a deeper understanding of each other.
If you have a passion for caring for those who are the “least of these”, we welcome you to meet with us.
Contact: Beth Holland
The Earth Care Climate Lobby is part of the McHenry County Climate Lobby.
Earth care is both a moral and spiritual commitment, and as such, we recognize earth care as a central concern of the church and a focus for local and global mission, justice, and peacemaking.
In 1990 the 202nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) adopted a Call to Restore the Creation. Congregations were invited to participate in a certification program to become an Earth Care Congregation. These congregations agree to answer the call to the human vocation of “tilling and keeping” the garden from Genesis 2:15.
This certification requires the church to commit to the PC(USA) Earth Care Pledge and to care for God’s earth in four categories: worship, education, facilities, and outreach. RCLPC has been Certified as an Earth Care Congregation for the 11th Year in a Row.
Meets first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Ann Legg or Joan Jensema
Group educates congregation about environmental issues and suggests ways to make the church building and grounds environmentally friendly. Read more about the Earth Care Team here.
Meets monthly as needed on Zoom usually on a Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Raechel Sowa, Coordinator of Children & Family Ministries
The Education Team coordinates, organizes, and oversees all education and faith formation aspects of the life of the congregation.
Engaging our heads, hearts, and hands as we grow in Grace
Contact: Mary Ellen Shine
Matthew 25 is a living translation of Jesus Christ in our community and the world around us.
Jesus is calling us to perform ordinary acts of compassion in daily life. But we have also been called to consider the factors that led to these conditions, to confront the causes of inequality, to confess the sin of greed and to correct the problem of poverty — whether in our own nation and neighborhood, or around the world.
There are three areas of focus: congregational vitality, eliminating racism, poverty.
Matthew 25:31–46 presents a vision of care for “the least of these who are members of my family”. In the vision, Jesus names six specific forms of care that were enacted or neglected:
- I was hungry and you gave me food;
- I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink;
- I was a stranger and you welcomed me;
- I was naked and you gave me clothing;
- I was sick and you took care of me;
- I was in prison and you visited me.
Fifteen of the churches in Blackhawk Presbytery have signed on to the Matthew 25 initiative, and meet on a regular basis throughout the year. RCLPC was one of the first in the Presbytery to become part of the initiative.
Meets at 8pm on various calendar dates. Check web calendar.
Contact: Mary Ellen Shine or Mary Finch
We are a church in mission. We believe that the church exists for mission that flows from the love of God for all people.
Through our support of organizations that tend to the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the lonely, and the powerless, we are making a difference. The organizations are local and global. Each mission we support has a champion within the congregation; someone who is directly connected to the organization.
Locally, we support Turning Point, the Diaper Bank, Earth Care, the Woodstock Pride Parade, CASA, to name but a few.
Globally, our mission partners are in Egypt, Central America, Haiti and Palestine.
Our Living Waters of the World Team has grown to 16 who have installed clean water filtration systems and offer hygiene education to people in five rural communities in Guatemala. Living Waters of the World is a global organization with 1080 water partnerships around the world in 26 nations!
We are blessed to be a congregation that cares about others.
Meets at 7pm on first Mondays in even months.
Contact: Steve Connell, Technical Director or Will Emmanuel, Technical Assistant
The Worship Team is responsible for making provisions for regular services: sharing the Word, celebrating the Sacraments, joining in prayer, and worshiping through music.
Included in this responsibility are such things as preparing for the celebration of the Lord’s supper, providing the water for baptism, etc. Any proposed major shift in worship should come through the Worship Team and be approved by the Session. The team should offer feedback to the worship leaders on the effectiveness of various elements of the service.
The Worship Team also works with the Pastors and Director of Music to ensure that worship is meaningful and uplifting for members and acceptable to God. They care for worship spaces, special appointments, such as flowers, candles, banners, and other objects of arts, and those who lead worship through music, drama, dance, and other arts.
