Dear friends,
What a wonderful Sunday we had this past weekend! On Sunday morning we worshipped together and looked at the call of Christ to be ones who forgive. The difficult challenge in our lives is to understand more and more who God is and how we can live into our created image to live out God’s acts of love … and this includes forgiveness. I wonder if you’ve had time to think about ways that you might be forgiving in your life. Are there people or situations where you might be called to forgive?
Also during worship, Steve Wennerstrum provided us with an update from the Session regarding our continued closure of our campus buildings due to the pandemic. We will remain closed, at this point, at least through the end of 2020. This means that worship will continue to be online. We’ll be coming up with new and exciting ways for us to remain connected with one another through virtual and in-person ways. Join us on September 27 after worship for a time of Fellowship to learn more and talk about ways we can stay connected. You can view a video of Steve’s update here.
On Sunday afternoon we gathered again for worship as we celebrated the ordination and installation of The Rev. Lottie MacAulay Friedman as our Associate Pastor! What a wonderful day it was. In case you missed it, you can view the service here. Thank you to all of our musicians who participated in the service and to Stephanie Coates for coordinating the music. Jim Koning produced a beautiful virtual choir video of the Canticle of the Turning. You won’t want to miss that and the entire service! What a wonderful next step in the journey for Lottie, and PCWS will always be the church at which she was ordained!
Finally, we also celebrated the wonderful success of the PCWS Summer Mission Project and we shared that we passed the 10,000 book goal! Wow! Between books and cash contributions, the impact of this mission project was truly monumental. Thank you all so much, and a special thank you to Janet Andersen for her coordination of the project.
I look forward to joining you in worship on Sunday! Be sure to see the information below about the start of Sunday school programs this week. Parents, you really won’t want to miss these great new offerings. Especially during this pandemic and time of separation from church, it is so valuable for kids to connect with other kids and with God.
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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Sunday school starts THIS Sunday for Elementary and Middle Schoolers! We are so excited to kick off our fall classes. Parents should have received an email with details and Zoom information earlier this week, but even more information can be found on the PCWS website or by contacting Lottie MacAulay Friedman. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Let's Fill the Can and Support Second Baptist Church of La Grange Food Pantry
What started as a Lenten Project, continued through summer and now fall. We wanted to increase our support and the response has been overwhelming! Please come by and do a “drive by” drop-off of non-perishable food items. Presently they are low on boxed cereal and canned corn or green beans. Looking forward to seeing what we can do next!
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COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES
College is a little different for most students right now but we want our college students to know that our love for them is still the same.
The Deacons are collecting items to be included in care packages that will be sent to our PCWS college students. These care packages have been appreciated by many youth of our church in the past and help these students feel connected to our congregation. The following items are suggestions of things that have been popular to receive but if you have other ideas please feel free to include:
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candy
gum
cocoa mix
ramen noodles
granola bars
kleenex packets
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post it notes
popcorn
mints
pen/pencils
chip bags
individual cookie packets
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hand sanitizer
toothbrush
floss
chap stick
words of encouragement
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There is a black container outside of the church side entrance where any donations can be left. All donations should be left by October 6th.
Thank you for helping us share our PCWS love and care!
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Summer Mission Project Book Drive
At the beginning of June the PCWS launch a book drive for Bernie's Book Bank as our 2020 Summer Mission project. Bernie’s Book Bank distributes books to under-served infants, toddlers and children through grade 6 across Chicagoland. Since their founding about 10 years ago, Bernie’s Book Bank has placed over 18 million books into the hands of children who had no books. Even during the pandemic, the staff at Bernie’s continued to reach out to distribute over 750,000 books to young readers in need.
This gift of books is so vital when low income neighborhoods average a ratio of 1 book per 300 children. Research shows over 60% of low income families have no children’s books in their home. Through this collective effort many children will receive books that will make a REAL difference in their life.
PCWS collected new and gently used fiction and non-fictions books, chapter books, picture books and everything in between over the past 3 months. Through the collective efforts of members and friends in our community, we packed 29 totes of books with a total of 8,025 books. Additionally, people provided monetary donations over $2,014. With the purchasing power of Bernie’s Book Bank, this means they will be able to buy an additional 2,014 books. With the physical books collected and monetary donations received, PCWS will be providing more than 10,000 books. An absolutely amazing and marvelous gift of books for Bernie’s Book Bank!
An exciting, and totally unexpected benefit, of our summer book drive was Bernie’s reaching out to our mission partners to offer to share books with their clients. One of the organizations was Facing Forward to End Homelessness. You may remember last summer PCWS collected household items and made “Welcome Home Basket” to provide to their clients. Well, this summer Facing Forward clients with children received books from Bernie’s.
Our efforts will help in making READERS and LEADERS for the future! The Mission Committee shares their heartfelt thanks for supporting this summer mission project with your tremendous response. Remember, books can change the story!!!
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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
Ann, friend of Joyce & Herb Smyers
Betty Anderson
Betty Toft
Billye Dvorak
Bob LeMay, friend of Kay Kelly
Brent Young, son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock
Elaine Wood
Family and friends of Wayne Filar, Candice Mares’ cousin
George Bruser, uncle of Donna Kanak & Diane Bonner
Holly Oliver, daughter of Mary Kae Headland
The family of Inez Martinez, friend of the Merrifield family
Jan Fortina
John Kregg
Joshua Haberkorn, grandson of Shirley Pine
Julie Garino
Kathleen Kircher
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Laura Querry, daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
Laurie Merrifield
Marc Goldstein, friend of Carol Ulreich
Margaret and Don Swaar, aunt and uncle of Kay Kelly and Jill Dold
Mary Jo Long
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
Wendy Montague, friend of Candice Mares
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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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9/19 Condy Dixon
9/19 Nate Yates
9/20 Jane Boxell
9/20 Kathy Boxell
9/20 Steve Mezan
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9/24 Kim Fronk
9/24 Nick Bonner
9/25 Katherine Gacek
9/26 Kami Booth
9/26 Lottie MacAulay Friedman
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As ones who seek to do Christ’s work of love and reconciliation in the world, Pastor Erik invites all of us to join him in learning and growing. To do this, he is asking everyone to commit to reading at least one of the books on this list. The titles were chosen deliberately with the intent that you would engage with them and with others while you seek to grow. He encourages all of us to gather with family, or a small group of people, to read and discuss. Click on the graphic to learn more about this challenge.
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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. Staff is checking the U.S. Mail daily. The mailbox is a locking box, so please feel comfortable dropping off correspondence directly (including contributions).
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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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Amazon Shopping?
In this unusual time, with so many of us ordering on Amazon, please remember to use smile.amazon.com 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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