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For the week of
December 9
, 2018
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Online Calendar
Looking for even more details about what's coming up? See our online calendar
here
.
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CAN Network - Remember Our
College Kids:
Adriana Barrera and Rachel Arlington
,
Illinois State University
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WF Mission Trip Fundraising for Guatemala 2019
Buy a Door, Buy a Window...Build a House
Stop by the mini-house in the Rotunda this week for our fundraiser. The materials to build two houses cost $18,000. We are asking for your joyful generosity to donate those funds by purchasing building materials to help us reach our goal. Your purchase can also make a meaningful Christmas gift, and we will provide a certificate for you to wrap up and give as a gift! Donation envelopes are provided in the mailbox by the house and can be dropped off in the church office.
Butter Braids On Sunday, December 16 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. you'll be able to sample the most popular flavors of braids and take home your favorites. Braids
are $14 each.
Bags and gifts You can still place your order
online until December 12.
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Saturdays through December 22
7:00 a.m. Stewart Hall
Please join us for our gospel Christmas study, Awaiting the Already.
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Jesus Is Calling You to K'tizo!
Thu
rsday
, December 27
9:30 a.m.
Join us for a deep breath of peace and calm with a "Jesus Calling" devotion. We will meet in the K'tizo Tea & Coffee Shop, 19
15 N. G
ary
Av
e
nu
e.
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Thursday, December 20
7:00 p.m.
Living Room
Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews is our book for December. Please join us for good discussion and great fellowship. Contact
Mary Kinsey.
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Poinsettias adorn our chancel each Christmas. To dedicate a poinsettia in honor or memory of a loved one, please complete the form in Sunday's bulletin and submit to the church office by December 17. Your dedication will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletin.
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Visit the First Pres
website for more details.
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Worship 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Recordings of our past sermons are available on our website
here.
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Sundays through December 16, 9:45-10:45 a.m.,
December 23, 9:00-9:45 a.m.
Stewart Hall 102-103
Led by Dr. David Lauber,
Professor at Wheaton College
During these four Sundays in Advent, in anticipation of the birth of Christ, we will examine a number of face-to-face encounters with Jesus. We will seek to learn more about Jesus and ourselves, and to understand more fully what the incarnation and these encounters tell us about God.
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HOPE. JOY. LOVE. PEACE.
Sundays through December 23
During the four Sundays in Advent, in Advent is
a season of waiting. As we wait, we purposefully prepare for the coming of Christ. During this Advent sermon series, we'll learn what the birth of Jesus means and how to wait with hope, joy, love, and peace. Join us this Advent as we prepare to celebrate the Savior's birth.
Click
here
to download a special Advent Preparation Guide.
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Community Art Gallery
Emmanuel, God with Us
Calligraphy by Timothy Botts
Through January 31
on the link
Artist Reception
Sunday, December 9
9:45 - 10:45 a.m. in the Rotunda
Immediately after the 8:30 a.m. service on December 9,
we are unveiling a new mission mural, an original art piece by Timothy Botts, which will grace the Rotunda.
Timothy Botts began his study of calligraphy at Carnegie-Mellon University where he holds a BFA in graphic design. He was greatly influenced by Japanese brush writing and related arts while teaching conversational English in Tokyo for three years. For 40 years he designed books at Tyndale House Publishers. He has 10 books of his own work published including
Doorposts, Messiah, Botts Illustrated Bible, Portraits of the Word
, and
Bound for Glory
.
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and Carols
Sunday, December 16
8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
You are invited to the third concert in our
Community Concert Series, as part of our
Sunday morning worship. Living out our mission
of inviting all generations into a growing life with
Jesus Christ, the music ministry will be taking
an all generations approach to Lessons and
Carols. Featured in the music-making will be the
Westminster Choir & Orchestra, Children and
Youth, and the 2-or-More Worship Band. This
musical experience will not only invite all
generations, but will also unite all genres of music, from medieval chants of France to the modern music of Matt Maher.
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Giving Trees 
Select a gift tag from the Giving Trees on the ramp, then place your wrapped gift(s), with the recipient's gift tag taped to the package under that tree. The deadline for giving is December 16.
Marklund Homes Giving Tree
DuPage Convalescent Center
Zomi Giving Tree
The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans
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Hibernate and Hydrate
Older Adults Christmas Luncheon
A $12 donation will provide one older adult a place at the annual
Outreach Christmas Luncheon at First Pres on December 14. We
need many volunteers to provide and serve lunch to make this day
special. Donation envelopes are available in the Rotunda. Checks
should be made payable to Outreach Community Ministries and can
be mailed or dropped off at the church office. If you have questions
or would like to volunteer that day, please contact Kim Van Oss
(630) 609-6956 or Alice Lechiara (630) 462-0536.
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Explore God Series
Beginning in January, join us for a 7-week series where we will explore the big questions of life and faith along with nearly 1,000 churches around Chicago. Questions will include: Does life have purpose? Why does God allow pain and suffering? Is the Bible reliable? Explore God will include a sermon series and adult education discussion groups. It will be a great opportunity to invite others to explore God. Learn more here.
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Israel 2020:
Join Pastor Kellen at an
informational meeting on Sunday,
January 6 at 9:45 a.m. for an
opportunity to learn more about a spiritual journey to the Holy Land
for First Pres members and friends March 20-30, 2020.
Email
to sign up for trip updates.
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Northern Illinois Mobile Food Bank
Volunteers needed on
Saturday, December 15, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Village Brooks Apartments, 278 E St. Charles St., Carol Stream
Volunteer sign-up sheets are at the information desk in the Rotunda.
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Ring in the New Year at the BRIDGE!
First Pres will be hosting the men, women and children at the Bridge in Chicago on Tuesday, January 1. We will be providing a meal for nearly 100 people and sharing the worship experience. If you would like to help we have a few slots available, we will car pool from the church. Please reach out to Anth Lechiara at [email protected] for details and to sign up.
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In December our food pantries are in need of canned goods: fruits, veggies and soups, especially low-salt or no sugar added; high proteins: peanut butter, tuna, beans, canned chicken, chili, or stew; whole grains: whole wheat pasta, brown rice, low-sugar cereal; personal items: shaving creams, disposal razors, feminine hygiene products, bar soap, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry and dish detergent; and diapers, especially sizes 4, 5 & 6. PRC and the Interfaith Food Pantry always express their gratitude for the many pantry items we send each month.
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Transitional housing is one of our long-time mission projects. We are currently assisting three families. One of our families is in need of a car for transportation. If you have a car you are not needing and would be willing to donate it to this mission project, call Chet Henry at (630) 665-4230. Your help would be greatly appreciated and you would receive a tax deduction.
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Christmas Eve Family Service
Children-Led Family Service at 4:00 p.m. (Pre-service music starting at 3:45 p.m.) Soon we will come together and share the wonderful story of Jesus' birth! All of the children will have an opportunity to create artwork in Sunday School and play the chimes/bells during the service.
We are looking for musicians to play as we prepare to worship and readers to lead the service.
Contact
Lynn Nuzzo
if your children would like to participate.
Sunday School
Come join us as we gather together to pray and sing and learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and a part of God's big family.
The children will be creating artwork for the Christmas Eve service this week.
12/9 Mary
12/16 Mary and Elizabeth
12/23 & 12/30 No Sunday School
LOGOS
Wednesday nights through March 13, 5:00 - 7:15 p.m. K-8th Grade
12/12 Duct Tape Night
12/19 Happy Birthday Jesus!
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We invite all Middle Schoolers to anticipate our Savior's birth by attending Sunday School in December.
Even if you haven't attended before, now is a great time to start! Join us from 9:45-10:45 a.m in Stewart Hall rooms 105, 106, 107.
We have doughnuts!
LOGOS
- The Middle Schoolers will be visiting with our senior members on December 12 and assembling luminarias on 12/19!
Luminarias
We are still looking for families to set up the luminarias around the outside of church anytime before 4:00 p.m. on December 24. Email Laurie Meissner if you are willing to help beautify our church for our special Christmas Eve services.
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Progressive Dinner
Sunday, December 16 from 5:00
-
9:00 p.m.
Get all dressed up and we'll have a fun night eating appetizers, entrees and desserts at different homes around town. This event is one that the students really look forward to each year. We may even have a visitor from the North Pole!
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On Friday night church and preschool families had a fun night creating
gingerbread nativities to begin celebrating the Advent season.
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To stay connected to the the Chicago Presbytery, click here.
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