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"See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are."
1 John 3:1
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Questions?
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First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette
600 Ninth Street
Wilmette, IL 60091-2779
847-256-3010
[email protected] |
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Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! I pray 2018 is off to a healthy and promising start for you, despite the bitter cold. You have my prayers for courage, wisdom and joy over the next 12 months. This year really can be different as we follow the Way of Jesus together at fpcw.
Two quick things I'd like to share. First, a favorite poem I reread each Epiphany from W.H. Auden, "For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio." We read an excerpt of it in our church staff devotions yesterday.
Here's a link
to the portion I most enjoy.
Second, I want to invite you to attend worship this Sunday, January 7, as we celebrate Epiphany. The Scripture text for this Sunday is Matthew 2:1-12, the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem. It reminds us that Christ is a light for all people, including star-gazing astrologers from the East.
In addition to sharing communion together, we will also receive a special "Star Gift" this Sunday. It's a card with a single word on it that is meant as a gift from God to you in the year ahead. We will draw from a list of over 150 words (e.g. kindness, understanding, hopefulness, acceptance, grace), each with its own significance. You'll be encouraged to take it home and put it up in a place where you'll see it everyday. And then let God speak to you through this simple word as the year goes on. I still have my Star Gifts from the past two years in my office: "focus" (2016) and "adventure" (2017). I'm eager to see which word God will bless me (and you!) with in 2018.
With gratitude and love in Christ,
Jeff
P.S. If you can't be with us for worship this Sunday and would like a Star Gift word, please let us know and we can send one to you! We will also have them in the church office to pick up in the days ahead.
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Sunday, January 7, 2018
Epiphany Sunday
8:45 am
Childcare
Confirmation Class
9:00 am
Adult Faith Formation
10:00 am
Worship service
10:15 am
Sunday School
Club 56
11:15 am
Fellowship Hour
5:00 pm
Tower Youth Fellowship
Faith and Fellowship
Explore your Faith
Join Pastors Jeff and Erin as they delve into the basics of our Christian faith. Each week we'll watch a short video featuring a leading Christian voice who will introduce us to the following topics: God, Religion, Jesus, Salvation, The Cross, Bible and Church. We'll spend time discussing how these core tenants apply to our everyday lives. This is a perfect class for parents of Confirmation students. Sundays, 8:45 am, Upper Room,
January 7 - February 11.
Chili Cook-off
Join us Saturday, January 20, 5 - 8 pm at the home of Jenni Holt and Michael Staab. Think you have the best chili recipe? Come warm up on a chilly evening at this all-church event with hot chili and warm fellowship. Bring a pot of chili or side and a beverage to share. Questions? Contact Fran Langwish.
New
fpcw
Phone App
Our new app doesn't replace the website, but does offer you up to the minute information and easy links to connect to members of the church and sign-up to participate in church activities. You can also make a donation or a recurring contribution, but there is so much more! Some of the features are:
Connect to any small group, read Arianne's blog, listen to Peggy's favorite music, sign up for a mission project, see what is happening with Children or Youth, see upcoming events, read the Bible, and so much more.
To get the app, go to the app store on your phone or iPad and download the My Church app by eChurch and select First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette. If you have questions and need more information, please contact
Sue Sklansky
.
New fpcw Giving Opportunity
We have engaged a new company, PushPay, to process our giving options. This company is as secure as a bank, and is streamlined for ease of use and processing by our staff. We hope you will consider processing your next gift through this method. We have 4 giving options available at fpcw. This link
will take you to the News & Publications page of our website. Scroll down to the Giving Opportunities announcement and learn more about the giving options offered at fpcw.
Shop on Amazon, Support
fpcw
fpcw
is now a registered charity through the Amazon Smile program! So, next time you're shopping on Amazon, select "First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette" as your charity of choice and we will receive 0.5% of the total order as a gift. Here's how it works. Click here to visit our unique link and it will automatically select our church. T
hank you for your support of the life and mission of our church. We are grateful.
Coffee Hour Hosting
Please consider hosting a Fellowship Hour this winter and help to continue our wonderful tradition of hospitality. Please check out the
SignUpGenius
link and choose a Sunday that works for you.
Women's Retreat
January 26 - 28
Weaving Together Our Stories of Faith
Friday, January 26, 7-9 pm
, Gather at the Wine Cellar in Wilmette for casual fellowship and introduction to our guest speaker, Rebecca Anderson.
Saturday, January 27, 9 am - 1 pm
, Join us in the Wallace Moore Fellowship Center for a light breakfast, a time to connect together through our shared stories and lunch.
Saturday Evening 7-9 pm
, We'll gather at the home of Pastor Erin for a time of Q & A with Erin and Rebecca.
Click here
for a brochure/registration or pick one up in the main office. Questions? Contact
Rev. Erin Raska
.
Men's Retreat February 23 - 24
Relearning Our Stories
Friday, 7-9
pm dinner at a member's home, for fellowship, connection and conversation.
Saturday, 9 am-4 pm at an off site location TBD. Inviting all men to join us for this opportunity to relax, connect and grow in faith! Rev. Dr. David Hogue, professor at Garrett Seminary, will be our facilitator as we relearn our stories and connect them with the story God is writing in the world. Interested in participating? Please contact David Bennett, Dan Chow, Will McGrath and Jeff Lehn.
Winter Film Series
fpcw
and Saint Francis Catholic Parish are teaming up to offer a four-session film series that will invite our congregations to reflect and discuss how our faith informs our thinking and acting around issues such as climate change and technology. Of course, we all won't agree, and that's ok! Each gathering will begin at 11:30 with a brief introduction followed by a thirty minute film and thirty minute guided discussion. A light lunch will be served. The 1st session will be Sun., January 14 at fpcw.
"Chasing the Ice" -
In the spring of 2005, acclaimed environmental photographer, James Balog, set out on a tricky assignment for National Geographic to, through deploying revolutionary time-lapse cameras across the brutal Arctic, capture images to help tell the story of the earth's changing climate.
Mission and Care
Stock the Shelves
Is a partnership between
fpcw
, Sukkat Shalom and First Congregational Church Wilmette who, as people of faith, are responding with God's love and welcome as refugee families make new lives in the Chicago-land area.
The mobile store is the missing link that unites an abundance of North Shore resources with under-resourced refugee families, as these families continue to build sustainable and thriving lives. Please
click here
to read more about how you can support the Mobile Store mission.
To help make donations easy,
click here
. A wish list has been set-up and donations made will be shipped directly to the church. Thank you for your continued support.
Wilmette Food Pantry
fpcw
contributes food and non-food items to the Wilmette Food Pantry. Donations may be left in the containers located in the
fpcw
parking lot lobby.
Need some glad tidings?
More activities, inspiration, and cheer
available on our
website
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