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This visual prayer is Jesus Appears to Thomas, a mafa from Cameroon. From the Vanderbilt Digital Library
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In today’s gospel the risen Christ appears to the disciples and offers them the gift of peace. Even amid doubts and questions, we experience the resurrection in our Sunday gathering around word and meal, and in our everyday lives. Throughout the coming Sundays of Easter the first two readings will be from the Acts of the Apostles and the first letter of Peter. Even as the early Christians proclaimed the resurrection, we rejoice in the new birth and living hope we receive in baptism.
In peace,
+ Pastor Michael
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Reading the Scriptures:
The Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31
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Morning Prayer: Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus' resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true. Amen.
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Evening Prayer:
Blessed are you, O God of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we receive the legacy of a living hope, born again not only from his death but also from his resurrection. May we who have received forgiveness of sins through the Holy Spirit live to set others free, until, at length, we enter the inheritance that is imperishable and unfading, where Christ lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit. Amen.
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Prayer with Children: Dear God, you love us not because we know everything about you or get everything right, but because you just do! Thank you for being with me even when I am not so sure about you. Thank you Jesus! Amen.
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In our prayers: Paul, Charlie, Tina, Ina, Don, Ashley, Brian, Eric, Nikki, Ahmed, Denny, Theresa, Richard, Dan, Lili, Gabby, John and Sharon, Vereen, Alex and Andy, Steve, Ione, Gene, Tom, Joe, Linda, Sue, and Velda. We also pray for our bishops, Elizabeth and Wayne.
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Community Hour at Ebenezer
Gather following morning worship for coffee fellowship, followed by Community Hour from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
Childcare is provided!
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April 23rd: Islam 101
Our speaker will be Mark Swanson - Mark Swanson is the Harold S. Vogelaar Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
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April 30 – Women In Islam
Using a video from the Discover Islam Series, we look at who are Muslim women, discussing what are seen as media misconceptions about the status of Muslim women. There will be time for conversation.
May 7 - In Our Own Voice: An Interactive Presentation About Mental Health
In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which three trained individuals, living with mental illness, share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. They share insights into what a mental illness is, the effect the illness has had on their lives, and the prejudices and stereotypes they sometimes face in the community.
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Women's Book Group
The Women's Book Group invites participation in their upcoming discussions:
May 15, and June 19 at 7:15 p.m. Happy reading!
May 15–
The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
June 19 -
The Dali Mystery by Sue Swinger- Elbogen
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New Offering Envelopes Available; First Quarter Statements Available
Ebenezer has discontinued, after March, the mailed offering envelope program. But if you prefer to make your gifts using envelopes, you still can! Send a message to Nathan at
ebenezerbookkeeper@gmail.com, or give him a call at the office, and Ebenezer will provide you with a packet of envelopes for use every week of the year.
New boxes of envelopes, enough for a full year, are now available in the Narthex.
First Quarter Giving Statements are available in the narthex. If there are questions or corrections, please email
Nathan.
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May Senior Ministry Events
Are you 60 years of age or older? At Ebenezer we have a number of programs which are specifically designed for you. You are invited to participate in the events listed below. Please call the church office at 773-561-8496 and let us know you are coming.
Monthly Luncheon: Thursday, May 18, 12:00 pm. Join us in the Cafe (the room below the sanctuary) for lunch and the next episode of our 2016-17 program series: The Gift of Years: Limitations and Solitude. Our lunch this time will be pot luck, so bring a dish to share. Also remember, our Parish Nurse, Marcia, will check blood pressures and Ralph will anoint and offer prayers.
Monthly Poetry Reading and Discussion: Monday, May22, 12:00 pm. Bring a sandwich and join us in the Cafe (the room below the sanctuary) as we discuss the poem: Unholy Sonnet 4 by Mark Jarman. Dessert will be provided.
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Celebrate the Ebenezer
Quasquicentennial
What’s a
Quasquicentennial? It’s Ebenezer’s 125th Anniversary! A task force is forming now to plan a celebration that has been 125 years in the making. You’ve felt the joy at Sunday service and many other programs housed at 1650 Foster. Help share that joy in a celebration weekend, September 30-October 1. We need your time, talent and special touch. If interested in helping plan the party weekend, contact Pastor Michael, check the box on the Connection Card, send an email to
ebenezerarchives@gmail.com.
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Confidential Wellness Screening May 20
Lipid/Chemistry Profile and Complete Blood Count (CBC) - $52
Blood Pressure Screening
Other tests available including: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Thyroid Profile, Vitamin D, Hemoglobin A1C, Bone Density.
Saturday, May 20th, starting at 8 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Elmdale. Take advantage of this discounted rate, a fraction of the cost of these tests at a doctor's office or hospital. Questions? Contact Parish Nurse Marcia Smith.
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March 2017 Statement of Income/Expense
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Facilities Feedback
Ebenezer's facilities are busier than ever, which is both a gift and a challenge! To help us understand areas where cleaning and repair could be improved, you are invited to use this
form to provide feedback to Jesse, our sexton. This is a more reliable method than verbal reports to staff or volunteers on Sundays, when our focus in on worship. Please let us know how we can continue to make Ebenezer a place of hospitality for all! The link is also available at any time at the Ebenezer Facilities
webpage.
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It's Time to Update the Directory!
- Final Week!
Periodically, Ebenezer publishes a directory to help members and friends stay connected. Distributed only to members and friends of the congregation (and never posted online), it helps us stay connected to one another. There are two ways to submit the information you’d like included:
By email: Send a message with your preferred name(s) (including kids if applicable), address, phone number(s), and email to:
ebenezerbookkeeper@gmail.com. Include “directory” in the subject, and
only include information you’d like published.
Using the Communication Sheet. Follow the above instructions but on the “purple sheet” and place it in the offering, writing “directory” on top. Even if you information hasn’t changed, participating will help us confirm our records, and know exactly what you’d like published.
The deadline for submissions in April 30th!
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Community and Announcments
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INTERFAITH DISCUSSION & Justice Fair
“The Prophetic Tradition Today: Defining Justice in Society”
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Emanuel Congregation 5959 N Sheridan Rd, at Thorndale Parking Lot
0.2mi W of Thorndale Red Line | 36, 147, 151 Buses 2:00 PM
Justice Fair 3:00 PM Interfaith Program & Discussion 4:00 PM
Reception & Justice Fair Information Tables
Hosted by ECRA (Edgewater Community Religious Association)
For more information contact Pastor Fred Kinsey |
pastorfred86@gmail.com
| 773-697-4612
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Benefit Concert for Augusta Victoria Hospital
On my second visit to the Holy Land, not only did we see where Jesus lived and walked, we also saw where His work is still going on today. One of those places is Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. This hospital is owned by the Lutheran World Federation and gives life saving care for adults and children with cancer and kidney disease.
On Sunday, April 30, 3:00 pm, at Luther Memorial Church, 2500 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, we are honored to have Ali Paris perform for a Benefit Concert for Augusta Victoria Hospital and their life-saving work with children in the West Bank and Gaza. Quincy Jones describes Ali as an “unrivaled unique artist.” There are only a handful of people who have mastered the Qanun, a 76-string zither dating back to the 14th century. NO TICKETS - FREE WILL OFFERING AT THE DOOR.
We are thankful to our sponsors, Luther Memorial Church, Ethnic Specific & Multicultural Ministries of the ELCA and Metro Chicago Synod’s Working Group on the Middle East, for supporting Ali’s appearance so that
ALL your Door Offerings will go directly to help children at Augusta Victoria Hospital.
Checks may be made payable to:
ELCA.
In the memo portion:
Gmg 0739 Augusta Victoria Hospital.
You may also mail to:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Gift Processing Center,
P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
AVH serves very poor, mostly Palestinian, people. It is supposed to be paid for this care by the Palestinian Authority after the Israeli government gives back the taxes it has collected. Unfortunately that is not a steady stream of income and insurance is not available to most. Your supporting this concert by coming, making a donation or sending in a check, will allow the hospital to remain open and keep
saving lives.
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Give with Goodshop
Shopping online at
goodshop.org allows you to do the shopping you'd do anyway at your favorite sites, while supporting the ministry at Ebenezer! Simply register and then select Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago, as the beneficiary of the donation Goodshop makes when you shop through their site. Check it out today!
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Office Hours
Monday-Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Closed Friday.
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Our Mission:
God calls Ebenezer to be a Christian home for all who seek the sustaining nature of the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate faith and trust in God through the ministry of its people, and to let Christ's model of service, justice and love give expression to how we share God's gift with the world.
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