Friends,
As the choir of cicadas echoes all around us, I hope you’re taking some time to get outside to enjoy the spring weather. It is so good for us to look around and see God’s handiwork in creation. On Sunday we heard Genesis 1:1-2:4a read to us by folks in our PCWS community. Thank you to the many voices for participating! You might consider
listening to it again and watching the video
but also you might want to just listen as you sit outside in nature or talk a walk. Whenever we need a reminder of who God is, I think we can simply take a few steps and look at the world God created.
The art shows us much about the artist.
A central theme of the text and of my sermon was that all of us - each person - is created in the image of God.
This concept is one that is quite challenging. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we all look like God, but it does mean that God can be seen in us and in others. Our hymnal contains a beautiful hymn that I discovered on Monday (a little late for Sunday!). I encourage you to listen to this recording of
O God, We Bear the Imprint
(words by Shirley Erena Murray) presented by First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a powerful hymn for us today.
On Sunday I will be announcing the dates for our upcoming discussions of the Belhar Confession and the Confession of 1967. I will also be sharing 3-4 titles of books that I’m going to be encouraging us to read in smaller groups.
You’ll be invited to form your own groups as a family, friends (they don’t have to be PCWS friends), or people you think would be good to engage with.
I really am going to encourage everyone to participate in some way. I know some of you are uncomfortable with this and I respect that, but as your pastor I will also lean into that discomfort with you and encourage you to bravely step into that place of discomfort.
Several people in our congregation are involved in the work of the Presbytery of Chicago, our local denominational governing body. I wanted to share with you that our own Kathy Wennerstrum is quite active on the Presbytery Mission Committee! The Mission Committee recently produced
a short video
about their current programming, and Kathy was a part of it (you can skip to 2:14 to see and hear her!).
Thanks for serving the larger church, Kathy!
Finally,
early next week we’ll welcome
Lottie
MacAulay Friedman to our staff
! As you know, the session and I are thrilled to welcome Lottie and I know you’ll join us as well! Watch the weekly for upcoming ways to welcome Lottie, but
in the meantime, feel free to drop a note or a card by the church office and we’ll give those to her next week
. Lottie will be initially reaching out to our youth and their families to connect and introduce herself and I can’t wait for you all to meet her.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday when we’ll be continuing our early summer series in the book of Genesis:
Creative God
. This week our text is
Genesis 18:1-15
.
Peace,
|
|
Pastor Erik
P.S. Our Summer Mission Project: Book Drive for Bernie’s Book Bank is happening! Please learn more about it below and join us in making a change in the lives of young people in our community!
|
|
Watch our Worship Services Live
Sunday morning @ 9:30 a.m.
|
|
No matter where you may be in the world, you can feel close to PCWS!
|
|
Summer Mission Project Book Drive!
PCWS is collecting new and gently used children’s books (birth through 6
th
grade reading level) during our summer book drive. Owning quality books is critical to reading-readiness and becoming a proficient reader. Your valuable support for Bernie’s Book Bank enables children to build a home library of quality books so they can read their way to a better life.
- Books for children of color are especially appreciated
- We are NOT able to accept are activity/coloring books, dictionaries, textbooks, religious books or foreign language books unless dual language includes English.
Please bring your books to the bins
outside the doors from the parking lot entrance. To learn more about our book drive,
visit our website
!
As of last night, we've collected
210
Books!
If you would like to make a monetary donation please use the
PCWS online donation
site to make an electronic donation selecting the Book Drive option or make a donation by check (note “Book Drive” on the memo line) and drop off or mail to our church office at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558. You may contact our
Financial Secretary Patrick Rivers
, with any questions on making an electronic donation.
If you have immediate questions about the book drive or what books are desired feel free to contact
Janet Andersen
.
|
|
Everyone is welcome to join the Mid-Day Prayer zoom sessions. Each day is different. 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. Feel free to invite a friend or family member!
|
|
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.
|
|
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
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
John Kregg
John & Jeanette,
friends of Mindy McMahon
Joshua Haberkorn,
grandson of Shirley Pine
|
|
Kathleen Kircher
Laura Querry,
daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
Marc Goldstein,
friend of Carol Ulreich
Marc Ladene,
friend of the Slezaks
Margaret and Don Swaar,
aunt and uncle of Kay Kelly and Jill Dold
Mary Kate Miller,
step-mother of Julie Garino
Mary,
dear friend of Bruce Geary
Michael De Vries
Michael,
friend of Jane Norman
Mike Liccar and family,
friends of Kay Kelly
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
Steve,
friend of McMahon Family
Teri Tuffner,
aunt of Candice Mares
Terry Moore,
friend of Mike Pelton
Theresa Ybanez,
great niece of Laura Fruit
Parents of Tiffany Sellman
|
|
|
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.
|
|
6/12 Marissa Carsten
6/16 Alena Skeels
6/16 Bruce Barnes
6/16 Jonathan Cushman
6/17 Kendra Baise
|
|
6/17 Sarah Hoffman
6/17 Tyler Fronk
6/19 Jill Dold
6/20 Sue Eck
6/20 Vaida Kovalick
|
|
|
What are You Celebrating?
We know there are many milestones happening in our community - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. How have you been celebrating milestones during our time of social distancing and stay-at-home? Send photos to
mhennessy@presbyws.org
for inclusion in the Weekly Connection!
|
|
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).
|
|
AmazonSmile Customers
You can now support PCWS in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile devices!
Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations to PCWS:
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
- Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
- Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
With so many of us ordering on Amazon, please remember to 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.
|
|
Remember PCWS in your will and estate planning.
Please contact Pastor Erik for more Information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
