Dear Friends,
On Tuesday at noon when our midday prayer group was starting to gather on Zoom, I immediately knew there was
a problem. Things were a little “glitchy” with some frozen faces and warnings of instability
(of the internet connection, that is)
.
I immediately felt frustrated and anxious — knowing that I couldn’t control the situation and also recognizing that I was extremely agitated by that.
As you can imagine, it was hard to lead the exercise, but not just because of the technological challenge, but even more so because of my frame of mind.
Throughout this time of gatherings online (I’ve decided to stop using the term “virtual” — we
are
gathering), I’ve tried to control as much as possible. I’ve tried to reduce the variables.
I finally realized on Tuesday afternoon that what made me so frustrated was that something I thought I had control over was clearly out of my control.
One more thing was out of my control.
I took some time on Tuesday afternoon and I prayed the prayer exercise again, outside, alone.
The prayer is one I’ve prayed hundreds of times. It is the midday prayer from a book called
Common Prayer: a Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals
. While the book has daily morning prayers that are unique, the midday prayer is the same each day. It is designed to be used each day to carve out space in our days to center us on Christ.
As I sat down to pray, I found that in praying the words, my anxious, control-thirsty, frustrated, sad, emotions of earlier in the day were replaced with a peace and a calm that come from the re-centering.
I wonder what helps you re-center?
Here’s a link to the
midday prayer
that I mentioned above. If you haven’t had the chance to join us for our midday prayer, I invite you to do so, but even if you don’t, I encourage you to click on the link and give this practice a try (at noon or any time during the day). Spiritual practices are just that - practices. Like any practices, we have to make the choice to do them - they don’t just happen!
On Sunday we’ll gather again online for worship and I look forward to seeing you! After worship, we’ll be having a congregational meeting utilizing Zoom. We will be hearing from Elder Steve Wennerstrum on behalf of the Session and formally meeting Lottie MacAulay Friedman and voting on terms of call. All members should have received the background information and everything you need to know to join the meeting. Please call or email me with any questions.
Peace,
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Watch our Worship Services Live
Sunday morning @ 9:30 a.m.
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No matter where you may be in the world, you can feel close to PCWS!
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Congregational Meeting, Sunday, May 17, 10:30 a.m.
The Session has called a congregational meeting for May 17, 2020 following the worship service (at approximately 10:30 a.m.) for the purpose of voting to call Lottie MacAulay Friedman to serve as a pastor at PCWS and approving the proposed terms of call. The meeting will be held over Zoom.
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Join by clicking the picture above, or through the Zoom app on your phone, tablet, or computer by entering this Meeting ID: 571 092 483.
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You can still join this morning! Email
Pastor Erik if you're interested.
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Announcing PCWS Summer Mission Project Benefiting Bernie’s Book Bank!
The Mission Committee is thrilled to announce 2020 Summer Mission project in support of
Bernie's Book Bank
. Through the PCWS book drive, we will help this vital organization process and distribute books to under-served infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout the Chicagoland area. Bernie’s distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to provide book ownership among children. In the 10 years since their founding, they had placed
15
MILLION
books into the hands of children who don’t have books.
Starting our book drive this month seems a perfect time for our housebound congregation. As we continue our 'stay-in-place' protocol during the month of May,
we ask you to check around your home for gently used books that would be appropriate for children from birth through 6th grade reading level.
The books can be fiction, non-fiction, chapter books, picture books and everything in between. Bernie’s won’t accept collecting textbooks, dictionaries, coloring books or religious books. Bi-lingual books are accepted as long as English is one of the languages.
Watch the Weekly Connection and the PCWS website for more information about our summer mission project in the coming weeks and start collecting used and new books!! If you have immediate questions about the book drive or what books are desired feel free to contact
Janet Andersen
.
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Online Giving
During this time of virtual worship all are invited to continue supporting the mission and ministry of PCWS by dropping off or mailing your contributions directly to our church office at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558 or
by donating online.
Have you ever considered using online tools as a way to manage your contributions to PCWS? You can use our giving site to set-up recurring or one-time payments (there's no fee when you use your checking or savings account.) Since we’re not gathering in-person each week, this would be a good time to get yourself set-up with electronic payments. Please contact our
Financial Secretary Patrick Rivers
, with any questions or instructions for setting up payments through your bank.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our ministries, particularly during this uncertain time.
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Our siblings at Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church in Cuba
Our men & women serving our country in the Armed Services
The people of Syria,
and especially the relatives of PCWS’ Interfaith Women’s Book Group
First responders, nurses, doctors, and others
providing care to others
Betty Anderson
Betty Toft
Billye Dvorak
Brent Young,
son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock
Cheryl Donchez,
friend of Theresa & Condy Dixon
David Young,
nephew of Amy Malone
Dorcas Dvorak,
friend of the Merrifield family
Gary Mirlenbrink,
uncle of Lori Carsten
Holly Oliver,
daughter of Mary Kae Headland
The family of Inez Martinez,
friend of the Merrifield family
Jessica DeFano
, niece of Michelle Hennessy
John Kregg
John & Jeanette,
friends of Mindy McMahon
Joshua Haberkorn,
grandson of Shirley Pine
Kathleen Kircher
Laura Querry,
daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
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Linda Bell,
daughter of Margot Walsh
Marc Goldstein,
friend of Carol Ulreich
Marc Ladene,
friend of the Slezaks
Marge Sandrik
Mary Kate Miller,
step-mother of Julie Garino
Mary,
dear friend of Bruce Geary
Michael De Vries
Michael,
friend of Jane Norman
Mike Kelly,
friend of Candice Mares
Mike Slesicki,
cousin of Barb Farr & Joe Benson
Nate & Joann Dardick,
friends of Laurie Merrifield
Norb Mirlenbrink,
Uncle of Lori Carsten
Pat McTiernan,
friend of Phyllis DiFrancesco
Pat White,
friend of Becky Glasscock
The family and friends of Paul,
cousin of Elizabeth Slezak
Paulette Erickson,
friend of Carol Ulreich
Peggy Mirlenbrink,
aunt of Lori Carsten
Peter Wilkie
Phil Kasik
Ruth Kaduke,
niece of Herb & Joyce Smyers
Teri Tuffner,
aunt of Candice Mares
Terry Moore,
friend of Mike Pelton
Theresa Ybanez,
great niece of Laura Fruit
The family and friends of Toni Potenza Moya,
daughter of Harriett Potenza & Craig Harris
Parents of Tiffany Sellman
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Stephen Ministers Are Available
We are a congregation that prays with one another and for one another. You are encouraged to pray for the concerns on this prayer list even though you may not know the details. Our Stephen Ministers are praying as well. If you would like to have a Stephen Minister pray for you or with you (over the telephone, or videoconference), please reach out to
Joyce Rodos
, the Stephen Ministry leader.
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5/15 Kathy Wennerstrum
5/16 Drew Petersen
5/18 Brian Sullivan
5/18 Julie Tinaglia
5/19 Joyce Smyers
5/20 Abby Sindelar
5/20 Megan Sindelar
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5/21 Phil Kasik
5/22 Cara Haeske
5/22 Jon Metcalf
5/22 Kalie Hoskins
5/23 Dorothy Andersen
5/23 Nana Mintah
5/24 Ann De Vries
5/24 Connor Cushman
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PCWS Office Closed
The PCWS office remains closed for the immediate future. Our office staff are still working remotely and on a limited basis. If you need immediate assistance, please email
Pastor Erik
or leave a message for him on his church extension which he checks regularly, or call his cell - (708) 505-5409
.
Pastor Erik is checking the U.S. Mail daily. The mailbox is also now a locking box, so please feel comfortable dropping off correspondence directly (including contributions).
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Amazon Shopping?
In this time, with so many of us ordering on Amazon, please remember to use
smile.amazon
and designate Presbyterian Church of Western Springs as your charitable organization. This does not change your cost, but enables Amazon to contribute a small portion of the sale to the church, above and beyond your regular giving.
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Remember PCWS in your will and estate planning.
Please contact Pastor Erik for more Information.
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