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Partners in Christ's Service
Christian Education
Martha Mendoza, Director
Music
Richard Stultz, Director & Organist
Church Office Staff
Margaret Bixler, Office Manager
Mary Anne Bixler, Admin. Assistant
Pastoral Support
Rev. Dr. Jan Davis
Rev. John Gibbon
Emeritus Minister
Rev. Dr. Ernest H. Huntzinger
Contact Us
Phone: 630-832-2580
Fax: 630-832-9142
Facebook:
YouTube:
For general information about our Boards and Committees, click here. |
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Supporting our members during everyday occurrences, ailments, and even the passing away of a loved one is highest among our calling as a church. During this period of a pastoral search, Rev. Jan Davis will be available for pastoral care. She will be reaching out to those of us who have enjoyed regular pastoral visits and for any emergency that may arise.
If you have any pastoral needs, please don't hesitate to contact the church office at 630-832-2580.
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It's been a year now since we said goodbye to our interim, Phil Price, and started our search for a new full time minister. Overall it has been a very good year, with many great highlights marking the way:
- Our Sunday School Program continued to shine as a hallmark of our church's vibrancy.
- Our Mission Outreach stayed very active with programs like PADS, Teen Parent Connection, the Souper Bowl Food Drive and Noisy Offering.
- The Choir continued to delight and inspire us with their beautiful music, highlighted by their wonderful Fall Variety Concert.
- Our newly-founded Spiritual Life program began expansion with a second team.
- Our youth had the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico on a life-changing Mission Trip.
- For the second year, our week-long De Colores summer program for kids was a major hit, drawing 46 attendees and kudos galore.
- We closed out the year on a spiritual high elevated by the Children's Advent Program, the Choir's Lessons & Carols, and two heart-warming candlelight services on Christmas Eve.
We have many leaders in our church and they stepped up in 2016 to be sure we kept our momentum going as we searched for our next minister. Thanks to all of them for their positive attitude and superb effort. Thanks also go out to everyone who got involved in carrying through one of our church missions or activities...... or simply attended. I believe that we are the church and involvement, at whatever level, is what makes us who we are.
2017 is sure to be an exciting year for us. We have some financial hurdles to take care of, but we have great things planned and a new minister should be arriving before too long. This church is a very special place, full of warmth, caring and spiritual togetherness. That's what keeps us going. That's what we need to preserve. And if we do, all the pieces will fall into place.
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by Allen Sloma and Bob Kanzler, Co-Chairs
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Mark your calendars and plan on joining us. We are thrilled to present a combination of new and familiar faces for our upcoming Sunday services.
January
January 1 - Rev. John Gibbon
January 8 - Rev. John Gibbon
January 15 - Rev. John Gibbon
January 22 - Rev. Anthony Sullivan
January 29 - Rev. John Gibbon
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Happy New Year!!
Can't wait until we meet again,
Wednesday, January 11th, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
We will want to be looking ahead to what 2017 will bring, but we all agreed to
"show and tell" one Christmas object that is especially dear or precious to us, one of sentimental or historical interest.
January, a month named for Janus, the God with two heads, one to look forward, one back.
Whatever direction you are headed, come to the church parlor.
For there, in 2017, for friends and joy, you will not lack.
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| CHRISTIAN EDUCATION UPDATE |
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
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Our Magi Star Gift Giving Project
Thank You
A
BIG thank you to those of you who purchased gifts for the children of Ford Heights and the greater Humboldt Park communities.
Smiles were brought to the faces of so many children at God Can Ministries and San Lucas United Church of Christ during their Christmas and Dia de Reyes (Three Kings Day) community festivities.
The organizing of gifts could not have been possible without the leadership of Margaret Chittaro-Kanzler, Pam McCann, Kim Brigman, Heidi Linhart, and Gail Ogdon.
You, the members of First Congregational, demonstrated such generosity and love with care of all the amazing gifts. Thank You.
Tracy, Nikki, and Nolan, Avis,
Fritz, Grace, and Will Baumgartner,
Margaret and Craig Bixler, Connie Bryant and Daniel Briggs,
Brian, Kim, Abby, and Luke Brigman, Phyllis Crosley,
Jan and Champ Davis, Gayle Dawson, Linda and Jack Donahue, Marcia Fleming, Sue Forsyth, Susan Graybill, Dorothy, Chris, Greg, Suzanne, Cady, and Jack Hamby, Jennifer and Terry Hennen, Margaret, Robert, and Carina Kanzler, Heidi, George, Samuel, and Andrew Linhart,
Carolee Luppino, Pam and Tom McCann, Martha Mendoza, Paula Fabbri,
Jeff, Julia and Amelia Morrow, Amarelis Morales, Gail and Dave Ogdon, Roy Price, Amy, Nilesh, Sejal,and Nik Reshamwala, Claire Richter, Lynette, Mike, Jack, Sam, and Keil Rosen, Dave, Beth, Mason, Miles, and Matthew Schacht, Jean Schildbach, Karen, Allen, Paul, and Jeff Sloma, Joyce and Dale Stevens, Carrie, Erin, Julia, and Alex Stone, Linda Trenhaile.
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| Margaret Chittaro-Kanzler Kim Brigman Heidi Linhart |
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Without the amazing contribution of the above listed members, we could not have met our goal. So grateful! Thank you.
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Youth Service Project
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The majority of our youth are off of school during January 2 through 6.
This gives us a great opportunity to prepare and serve lunch to folks in need of a warm meal. Parents, please talk to your youth about being a part of this effort
Tuesday, January 3. We will meet at 8:30 a.m. at First Congregational and carpool to our sister church San Lucas United Church of Christ. While there, we will prepare and serve food at the lunch that they serve every Tuesday for those who are hungry.
Our youth rarely have a Tuesday off of school, so this is a great opportunity to have a meaningful experience serving others. Adults are needed to drive and chaperone this amazing experience. Please let Martha Mendoza know if you can help. Thank you.
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SAVE THE DATE
Annual Chili Cook-Off
Sunday, January 22, 2017
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Our Youth
are hosting their Annual Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser. It is our hope that you will consider attending and maybe even submit your own special recipe.
For a free-will donation, you will get to sample and vote for your favorites. You will also receive a bowl of gourmet chili, toppings, cornbread, dessert and a
beverage.
For your convenience, you can go to this link for a registration form.
Invite your family and friends to "Stuff the Ballot Box"
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REFLECTION ON DECEMBER MUSIC EVENTS
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by Dick Stultz, Director of Music
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Kudos to the choir and guest singers for a beautiful Festival Service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 18. From Carina Kanzler's poignant first verse of "Once in Royal David's City" to Dan Forrest's beautiful new setting of "See Amid the Winter's Snow", accompanied by Dan Hennel, the beauty and meaning of Christ's birth was present in our sanctuary.
Christmas Eve brought a new schedule of celebrations, with a candlelight service for families with young children at 4:30 PM, followed by the traditional candlelight service at 8:00 PM. Young soloists Sajel Rashamwala and Andrew Linhart blessed the early service with their songs. The choir at the 8:00 PM service was thrilled to see Keith Boland in attendance. We had not seen Keith since his move to Madison, Wisconsin last spring. Hugs and warm wishes were everywhere.
December music ended on Wednesday, December 28, with a new celebration entitled "Carols and Cookies". About 20 revelers gathered in the choir area to sing favorite popular and sacred carols, from "Jingle Bells" to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Everybody got to pick their favorite carol to sing. We sang for an hour, then adjourned to the parlor for a wonderful array of cookies and fruit, baked and hosted by members of the choir.
Perhaps you have noticed a tall young man singing in our bass section. His name is Robert Hussey, and he is the choir's new bass section leader. Robert is s senior at Elmhurst College, majoring in musical theater. Please greet him warmly when you see him.
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by Karen Pachyn, Chair, Green Team
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Happy New Year from the Green Team!
In 2017 we're celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition. Our church has been part of the Coalition since the very beginning. Dora and Arnold Schenk were our original representatives and spent many years working with the Coalition. Today we are represented by Jennifer Hennen and Karen Pachyn. The ECCC has a number of fun and interesting events coming up as part of their yearlong celebration. Mark your calendar and plan to attend those that interest you. Here's what we have to look forward to:
- Monthly business meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m., Elmhurst Public Library (check the ECCC website calendar for any cancellations)
- Jumpstart Your Natural Lawn Care Plan: Thursday Feb. 23, 7 p.m. Elmhurst Public Library
- One Earth Film Festival's Environmental Documentary Screening: Early March (film title, date and time, as well as sponsorship opportunities will be announced shortly)
- The Plight of the Monarch: Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m., Elmhurst Public Library
- Food Scrap Recycling: Late April
- Children's Monarch Festival: Sunday, July 9, part of the Elmhurst Garden Club's Garden Walk & Faire
- Field Trip to Bob's Fresh and Local Organic Farm: Coming this Summer
- 10th Anniversary Celebration: Coming this Fall
or talk to Karen or Jennifer.
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| SPECIAL EVENTS THIS PAST MONTH |
Children's Christmas Pageant
Lessons and Carols
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Carina Kanzler & Becky Swanson
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Children's Candlelight Service
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CELEBRATIONS AND CONCERNS
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January
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| Mary Moy Gregg |
1 |
| Jim Mowers |
8 |
| Sandy Dubois |
10 |
| Martin Pecheco |
13 |
| Diane Wells |
13 |
| Miles Schacht |
14 |
| Paula Fabbri-Morrow |
16 |
| Mitchell Kurzweil |
17 |
| Jim Achen |
18 |
| Evan Dubois |
20 |
| David Vastola |
22 |
| Aleta Dallas |
23 |
| Dave Schacht |
29 |
| Jim Winfield |
30 |
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| Judy Bixler |
Sandy Lange |
| Betty Bryan |
Amy Lynch |
| Robert Cooper |
Michael Magana |
| Aleta Dallas |
Sue Antoinette Martin
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| Dan Dallas |
Dorothy Moncrieff
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| Jenny Donahue |
Sung Lee Moy
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| Wayne Dreyer |
Lori Myers |
| Yvonne Dreyer |
Joseph Organ |
| Katherine Ehrenberger |
Kim Rudakas |
| Earleen Graham |
Arnold Schenk |
| Bertha Hahn |
Charlotte Schenk |
| John Hampton |
Karen Sloma |
| Marjory Herder |
Mary Strock |
| Kelli Hodina |
1st Lt. Edward Tolle
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| Kosich family |
Emma Underwood |
| Lu Krass |
Diane Wells |
| Amy Kritz |
Welzenbach family |
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January
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Event/Room
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Time
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| 1 |
Communion Sunday Worship Service with
Rev. John Gibbon |
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. |
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Council Meeting - Blue Room
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7:00 p.m.
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3
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Youth Service Project |
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| 5 |
Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary
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7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
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| 8 |
Sunday Worship Service with Rev. John Gibbon
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10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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| 10 |
Missions - Blue Room |
7:00 p.m. |
| 11 |
Staff Meeting - Office |
9:00 a.m. |
| 11 |
Heritage Bunch - Parlor |
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
| 12 |
Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary |
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. |
| 15 |
Sunday Worship Service with Rev. John Gibbon |
10:00 a.m. |
| 17 |
Trustees Meeting - Parlor |
7:00 p.m. |
| 19 |
Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary
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7:00 - 8:30 p.m. |
| 22 |
Sunday Worship Service with Rev. Anthony Sullivan |
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. |
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22
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Chili Cook-Off - Fellowship Hall |
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| 24 |
Council Meeting - Blue Room |
7:00 p.m. |
| 25 |
Staff Meeting - Office |
9:00 a.m. |
| 25 |
Heritage Bunch - Parlor
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10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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| 26 |
Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary
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7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
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| 29 |
Sunday Worship Service with Rev. John Gibbon |
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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