- Ready to return to in-person services? See below!
- Vaccination event on Monday, May 24th - see below
- Thrive with Pride Plenary (large group) will be meeting on Tuesday, May 25th at 11:00 am via Zoom. The discussion will be about laws protecting and supporting seniors.
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RETURNING TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP! |
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Holy Covenant’s Board of Directors is eager to resume worshiping together with everyone! We have been reviewing guidelines and statistics every month for the last year in preparation. Our goal is to balance the desire and need for in-person worship in Holy Covenant’s building with the desire and need to protect each other. We will make a decision at the May Board meeting (May 26—note change of date), and we are aiming for June 6th as our first Sunday to return to in-person worship.
We are working on the details, but we do know that we will not be singing, we will be masked and socially distanced, and that we will continue to live-stream the service. Once the details are worked out, we will let everyone know.
Our building is looking so fresh and beautiful after the renovations, we cannot wait for you to see it and to share worship in person once again!
Board of Directors, Holy Covenant MCC
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Holy Covenant has started to use an online software program called SignUp Genius to create volunteer opportunities and for future worship.
With this online software, you will be able to sign-up to help with a variety of different events being held at the church. By signing up you will receive reminders for what you have signed up to help with and can keep track of other volunteer opportunities that may arise.
When you see a volunteer opportunity for a sign-up like grass cutting, garage sale, etc. there will be a link that will take you to the sign-up sheet. Please fill it out as needed.
Our partner at Share Food, Share Love uses this online software with great success! Let's make it successful for our church too by everyone clicking on the provided link and sign up to help out Holy Covenant as needed.
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Martha or Barbara Adams Latsaras at socialmedia@holycovenantmcc.org.
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YOUR GENEROSITY IS NEEDED!
Your generosity is needed, now more than ever! You may give via:
PayPal — access it through our website or send your donation on PayPal to donations@holycovenantmcc.org
Electronic Check
Send an electronic check from your financial institution, or by sending a personal check. Our address is 9145 Grant Ave, Brookfield, IL, 60513.
Square
There is a button below to give via Square. Or click this link here
Please remember that when giving through Square and PayPal they do charge a percentage fee to the church unless it shows an option to help out the church and pay that fee. If you would like to give to help with the flooding funds, then please notate that in your message so that money will go to that designated fund.
See the weekly giving below. Holy Covenant needs at least $4,650 a month to meet its obligations for bills and salary. We are now showing what the percentage of giving is and how we are doing on a monthly basis.
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MAY 2021 GIVING
Needed Weekly
(5 WEEKS) $931
The Difference is -$1,354
'
The raffle at the garage sale netted $246 and the garage sale netted $502. These numbers are not reflected above in the chart.
Please consider contributing to
Holy Covenant via PayPal, Check or Square.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP ONLINE 10:00 AM CST
ZOOM &
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Our worship celebration is every Sunday at 10 am CST. If you would like to join us, you may go to our Facebook page at Holy Covenant Facebook Page and click on the Live button to watch the service, or you may join via Zoom (link is below).
Sunday Reading:
Acts 2: 1 - 21
Sermon
Rev. Martha Daniels
"Fire in a Crowded Upper Room"
Topic: Holy Covenant Worship Celebration!
Time: May 23, 2021, 10:00 AM Central Time (U.S. and Canada)
Meeting ID: 828 1827 5027
Passcode: 299339
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,82818275027#,,,,,,0#,,299339# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,82818275027#,,,,,,0#,,299339# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 828 1827 5027
Passcode: 299339
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb1pgOacn
Have a candle ready to light, cookie or bread, and a glass of your favorite libation for communion.
You can also find the sermon on our YouTube Channel here.
Rev. Martha is available by email, phone, Facebook Messenger, and text for any pastoral needs you may have revmarthadaniels@gmail.com
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ILLINOIS RENTAL PAYMENT PROGRAM |
Monday, May 17th, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act, a bill passed by the General Assembly to expand tenant protections and direct federal funding to dramatically expand the state’s rental assistance program. At least $1.5 billion has been set aside for rental assistance in 2021, nearly four times the amount of rental relief given out last year.
The Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) will provide one-time $25,000 grants to cover missed rental payments for tenants unable to pay due to a COVID-19 related loss of income. These grants, paid directly to landlords, cover missed payments as far back as June 2020 and prepay payments through August 2021, or until the $25,000 is exhausted, whichever comes first.
The ILRPP has a two-step application process with one section to be completed by the landlord and another section to be completed by the tenant. Both sections must be completed in order for the application to be considered.
The landlord's only application section is open now through Monday, June 7. Landlords can complete the application now by going to ILRPP.ihda.org.
After the housing provider completes their section, the tenant will be contacted by email with instructions to complete their portion of the application, which must be submitted by Monday, June 14.
After the housing provider and tenant have both submitted their application, they will each receive an Application ID by email from DocuSign. Applicants may use this ID to check the status of their application at ILRPP.ihda.org/status.
In order to qualify for ILRPP rental assistance, tenants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Tenant is behind on their rent for at least 30 days.
- Tenant lives in Illinois and rents their home as their primary residence
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Tenant’s total gross income does not exceed 80% Area Median Income
- Household must have experienced a financial hardship directly — or indirectly — due to the pandemic, for example:
- Unable to participate in previous employment due to the workplace’s high risk of severe illness from COVID-19
- Having to stay home with children due to closure of day care/school
- Inability to find work due to COVID-19
- Loss of spousal/child support
- Reduction in hours of work
- Place of employment has closed
- Being laid off
- Tenant is at risk of homelessness or housing instability
ILRPP rental assistance is available to all eligible renters in Illinois regardless of immigration status. This assistance is not a “public charge” benefit.
If a housing provider or tenant needs assistance completing the application, housing stability service providers are standing by to help. You can find the organization nearest you on this list of providers or by calling the ILRPP call center at 1-866-454-3571.
Again, if there is any way we can assist you or your family, please do not hesitate to email me at Greg@GregHarris.org or call 773-348-3434.
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Thank you to everyone who came and helped at the garage sale on 5/22. It rained but that did not stop the shoppers. We raised $502 from the garage sale and $246 from the raffle gifts that were donated by the Victory/Bartik family! |
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FREE COVID-19 VACCINATION EVENT |
MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021
FROM 9 AM – 7 PM
West Suburban Senior Services
439 Bohland Ave, Bellwood, IL
Pfizer Vaccine will be provided.
Click on the image to the left to download the PDF.
Register here:
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HOLY COVENANT SPRING THING 2021 - MAY 29 |
Our Building and Grounds Manager, Mary Ann Latsaras, had decided to reschedule Saturday's 5/22 spring planting at the church because of the predicted temperature and humidity. She has rescheduled it for Saturday, May 29th with a rain date of Sunday, May 30th same time frame. She understands that it is Memorial Day weekend, but the gardens need to be weeded and flowers planted.
We are looking for all those who love to work in the dirt and beautify the church outside. We will be weeding, mulching, planting, and other clean-up outside of the church on Saturday, May 29th from 8 am to 2 pm. We will have cool drinks and lunch for all!
Mary Ann has been working outside doing some work and many people walk by and tell her how beautiful the grounds look. Please consider coming and helping next Saturday for an hour or two or whatever time you can.
Many hands make light work and she sure would like to see many hands!
PLEASE USE OUR NEW SIGN-UP PORTAL TO LET MARY ANN KNOW YOU CAN COME HELP!
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Ann Latsaras by phone or text at 708-692-6270 or email her at only1amar@yahoo.com
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MEDITATION IN PERSON IS BACK! |
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Meditation has returned! The next meditation is on Wednesday, June 2nd at
7 pm at the church. Mary Ann will be leading the meditation in Fellowship Hall. This event is free and open to all women.
Please be prompt at 7 pm
so there are no distractions.
We will be following CDC/Illinois guidelines.
- You must be wearing a mask inside
- Your temperature will be taken
- We will be practicing 6 feet apart
- We ask that you use hand sanitizer as you enter the building
- You must be vaccinated or have a negative COVID test.
If you have any questions, please email Mary Ann Latsaras at only1amar@yahoo.com.
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Our grass is growing and has been cut once already! We need some volunteers that would be willing to come and cut the grass! You can volunteer to do it once, twice, or whenever you want. If you feel you can help, please let Mary Ann know by dropping her an email at only1amar@yahoo.com or you can sign-up on our new volunteer portal called Sign-up Genius. Click SignUp Genius to Volunteer!
We started with a sign-up date of Saturday, but you can come and cut the grass any day of the week that is convenient for you.
We have a lawnmower and all the lawn equipment you will need!
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THRIVE WITH PRIDE - MAY 25TH |
Our next “plenary” session – the open, informational presentations we host once a month – is on May 25th. In preparation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th, we will be hearing from AgeOptions’ own Jamie Farrell, our Aging and Disability Rights coordinator. Jamie’s presentation will go over the types of elder abuse, and what to look for, as well as how we can keep each other and ourselves safe in the community and in long-term care. Click on the image to download the flyer.
You can also attend via Facebook! You can follow this link to find the event:
FINALLY: Don’t forget to spread the word about BINGO in June! Find details and sign up to receive a bingo card and link to join on the Thrive with Pride website: www.thrivingwithpride.org/bingo
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BOARD MEETING ON 05/26/21
The monthly Board meeting has been changed to Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 pm. We possibly will be doing the meeting at the church for the first time in a year!
You can find the April Board minutes on our website and the May Agenda one week before our meeting on our website here.
You can find a PDF of the past Board Meetings Agenda and Minutes here
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PINTS WITH THE PASTOR
THURSDAY, 06/10 - ONLINE WITH ZOOM
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Grab your dinner (carryout from Irish Times?) and a beverage and come chat with Rev. Martha and your friends from Holy Covenant about whatever is on your mind!
Topic: Pints with the Pastor
Time: 6 pm, Thursday, June 10, 2021
Join Zoom Meeting by clicking the link below!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 848 3374 7327
Passcode: 481744
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,84833747327#,,,,*481744# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,84833747327#,,,,*481744# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 848 3374 7327
Passcode: 481744
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WE ARE AN AMAZON CHARITY! |
You can make an impact while you shop on Amazon. Simply shop here at Holy Covenant Amazon Smile Link and AmazonSmile will donate to Holy Covenant Church - M C C, at no cost to you.
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NEED POWER OF ATTORNEY OR WILL?
Contact the Center for Disability & Elder Law
Click this link to see the information and links. |
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PLEASE DONATE TO HOLY COVENANT
Click on PayPal or Square to Donate!
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Prayers for healing for Barbara R. for her macular degeneration.1
Prayers of thanksgiving for good neighbors The Hernandez who brought over their tent for Cheryl & Roxann to sit under when it rained at the garage sale.1
Prayers for Kristi and her wife Lisa who is taking care of Kristi’s mom with dementia.3
Travel mercies for Tony and Jim.3
That God will provide for those who are hungry, unemployed, and homeless
or in financial difficulties.
All those affected by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, COVID-19, and other life-threatening illnesses.
All communities of faith
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LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION |
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SUICIDE HOTLINE
If you or someone you know is in an emergency call 911 for help.
NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Health
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Missed a sermon?
Click here to catch up and watch on the Holy Covenant YouTube channel!
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Every day brings something new—and God is
with us always!
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