Dear Friends,
I hope everyone is having a great week! With the variety of weather that we’ve been having, it can sometimes feel like we’re in various seasons at one time. I guess that’s Spring in Chicago! I’ve commented before that I find it hard to plan ahead these days. But watching the dancing seasons, I’m realizing that while it is hard to make concrete plans, the world still goes on, and as I’ve said, this episode will all be in our past.
Like all things, though, the question I’ll continue to ask is …
how will history tell the story?
How will history tell the story of the pandemic across the country and the world, but also in our congregation -
how will this chapter look in the history of PCWS?
History will tell the story of people coming together to love one another by sewing masks and shopping for others for essential items.
History will tell the story of musicians sharing their talents from their living rooms — and of families gathering for worship from the same spaces where they eat and study.
History will tell the story of the most epic weekly collections of nonperishable foods we could have imagined — with an SUV load each week to benefit people in our local community.
History will tell the story of dozens of people connecting with one another for midday spiritual exercises and children and their families gathering twice a week for stories, connection, and prayer.
History will tell the story of sustained financial support enabling us to provide income to our staff and continued support of mission agencies during a time of particular need.
History will tell the story of a creative congregation calling a new associate pastor to work with our youth and with all of us and a congregation willing to dream about our future.
History will tell the story of members of our community reaching out to one another in love and connection and a congregation opening its arms and hearts to those who happen by our worship services on the Internet.
History will tell the story of the Body of Christ seeking to be the Body of Christ.
And isn’t that always our story?
It has been our story since our charter members started this church, but it has also been the story of Christians for more than 2000 years. And, friends, may it be our story - our history - well into the future!
I look forward to being back with you on Sunday morning (hopefully at 9:30!). As a reminder, if you miss the service, you can always watch it later on Facebook or on YouTube. The links are below and on the PCWS website!
Peace,
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Pastor Erik
P.S.
This edition of the
Weekly Connection
is full!
Be sure to scroll down for a note from Lottie, information about the Pentecost Special Offering, and an important article from Hank Vaughn … plus the birthdays and our prayer list!
ALSO - If you have a graduate in your family, please click on the graphic above and give us the details so we can recognize them!
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Congratulations & Welcome to Lottie MacAulay Friedman!
This past Sunday following our worship service, we held a Congregational Meeting to act on the recommendation of the session to call Lottie MacAulay Friedman to be an associate pastor at PCWS to work primarily with our 6th-12th grade youth (3/4 time) and with other ministry programs as well. Elder Steve Wennerstrum made the motion and presented Lottie to the congregation. There were great questions about Lottie’s call to ministry, her faith journey, her perspectives on youth ministry, and about her family. The motion to call Lottie was unanimously approved! And then, on Tuesday afternoon, in a first-in-history moment, the Presbytery of Chicago Assembly met using Zoom and Lottie was examined for ordination. Again, Lottie did a wonderful job answering the questions posed to her and she was unanimously approved for ordination and her call to PCWS was approved as well! We’ll have an ordination and installation service in the coming months.
Lottie will begin her work at PCWS on June 15.
Lottie's PCWS email address is
lottie@presbyws.org
, and you can send her notes of welcome, but please don’t expect a response until after Lottie begins working on June 15.
The hope is that Lottie and her husband Jack will have the chance to get moved into their new place and enjoy these few weeks before she hits the ground running. Again ... she's not working yet!
In the coming weeks we’ll have information about ways to connect with Lottie after she starts working, especially for our youth and their families, but also for everyone!
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Greetings from our
Associate Pastor-Elect
Lottie MacAulay Friedman!
Hello PCWS,
My heart is full of joy!
Thank you for your thoughtful questions, encouragement, and warm welcome at the Congregational Meeting last Sunday. Thank you also to those who attended the Chicago Presbytery Zoom meeting to offer online support. This journey towards ordination has been part of my life, in one way or another, for nearly 10 years. To ultimately land here, at PCWS, with you lovely people is nothing short of a blessing! I feel incredibly grateful and honored to join in the work that God is doing at PCWS.
Jack and I are so excited to be a part of this community.
In Christ,
Lottie MacAulay Friedman
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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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Phishing Emails
We have been seeing a lot of Spear-Phishing emails lately. This is when a scammer sends you an email impersonating a person or company you know. Some emails want you to click on a button or link and ask you to fill in personal financial information. Others, like the recent ones directed at PCWS, want you to respond to them and send money, usually in the form of a gift card. Note: If you look closely at the email address, you might see that something is not right.
What do you do when you get one of these emails – they usually sound URGENT?
Don’t Panic!
Don’t Click on anything.
Take your time and read the entire email.
Now, think!
Does this sound right? Would this person do this? Does it look like it is really their email address?
Use your intuition.
If in doubt, try reaching the person or company by phone
(yeah, 20
th
century style). Or call your favorite neighborhood tech guy, like me.
NEVER enter personal information
, like account numbers, etc., into a website you reached from an email.
NEVER give money to anyone who contacts you via email
– this includes providing gift card information.
Here is a link at AARP regarding
spear phishing
. Also, on their
Scams and Frauds
page, AARP lists all the types of online scams and how to protect yourself from them.
Hank Vaughan
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Pentecost Offering
Sunday, May 31st is the
Day of Pentecost
, one of the most joyful days in the Christian year. We celebrate Pentecost remembering the gift of the Holy Spirit to the first Christians. Those early believers, in receiving the gift of the Spirit, were provided with a new sense of power and courage. Through a renewed sense of mission they set forth to claim the world for God preaching the gospel and ministering to human need. Pentecost is often noted as the birthday of the Church.
The denomination's Pentecost Offering aims to minister in those in need through programs aiding at-risk children, youth and young adults. The funds raised through this Offering allows PCUSA to support youth and young adult ministries, as well as provide child advocacy and programs for children at risk nationwide.
If you are able to provide a gift to the Pentecost Offering it would be greatly appreciated and wisely utilized. You may send a check to PCWS (noting Pentecost on note line) or make an
online donation via the PCWS website
.
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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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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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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
Family and friends of Paul,
cousin of Elizabeth Slezak
Family and friends of Wayne Filar,
Candice Mares’ cousin
Gary Mirlenbrink,
uncle of Lori Carsten
Holly Oliver,
daughter of Mary Kae Headland
The family of Inez Martinez,
friend of the Merrifield family
Jan Palmer,
mother of Lori Carsten
John Kregg
John & Jeanette,
friends of Mindy McMahon
Joshua Haberkorn,
grandson of Shirley Pine
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Kathleen Kircher
Laura Querry,
daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
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
Nathan,
friend of McMahon Family
Norb Mirlenbrink,
Uncle of Lori Carsten
Pat McTiernan,
friend of Phyllis DiFrancesco
Pat White,
friend of Becky Glasscock
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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5/21 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
5/25 Claire Carsten
5/25 Matt Booth
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5/26 Alison Glickman
5/26 Paige Dold
5/27 Katie Martin
5/28 Ben Sinele
5/28 Mark Dold
5/28 Scott Karstens
5/29 Marcia Buell
5/29 Sheryl Allen
5/30 Neil Pendleton
5/31 Ryan Maus
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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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