Larry's Notes
Transitional Lay Minister
A dear friend of mine would often say to her quarreling children “I really don’t care who started it, I care more about who is going to stop it.” I’ve been looking at several passages in the Bible recently regarding this topic and thinking about our “church siblings”—the folks we worship with, pray for and pray with, serve on committees with, and fellowship with. The following scripture passages are good lessons for me and for you. These lessons can and should be repeated often. We learn a little bit more about each lesson every time we study them.
Here are just a few:
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and tell them their fault, between you and them alone. If they listen to you, you have gained your brother or sister. But if they do not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If they refuse to listen to them, tell it to the church." - Matthew 18:15-17
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” - Ephesians 4:29
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4
It is June and we will soon be voting to approve a new church council in our 'Junual' meeting, as with all other councils in the past we will have some challenges (or opportunities) coming up and that includes all of you in the congregation. We are “congregational” so we need and want to hear from you—talk to a member at large on the council. We need to listen to each other and build each other up, respect each other’s ideas, and ask God to give us direction as we continue to move forward as the people of God at The Little Home Church by the Wayside.
Peace,
Larry Dieffenbach
Transitional Lay Minister/Director of Music, Organist
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WE ACCEPT, EMBRACE AND AFFIRM THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EVERY PERSON, AS WE ARE ALL CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE. |
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What's Happening at Church...
Get involved and join a group, an event, or a LHC initiative.
Explore / Belong / Learn
Worship Service - Sundays, 9:30 am - Tune-in to our YouTube Channel
Walk 'n Talk - Sundays, 9 am - Meet in the Church courtyard weather permitting
Bible Study - Wednesdays, 10 am - via Zoom
Men of LHC Monthly Breakfast - Saturday, June 12, 8:30 am in Parish Hall
'Junual' Congregational Meeting - Sunday, June 13, 11 am via Zoom
Wayne Flag Day Celebration - Sunday, June 13, 4 pm
Church Council Meeting - Monday, June 14, 7 pm via Zoom
Sisters in Spirit (SiS) - General Meeting - Cancelled this month!
BTW Deadline - Tuesday, June 15 EARLY FIRM DEADLINE
A Book & A Prayer - Book Club - Thursday, June 17, 7 pm via Zoom
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS - Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm, 630.584.4013
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'Junual' Congregational Meeting
Sunday, June 13, 11 am
This meeting will include the election of new Council leadership
and important updates on the Wayne Community House and our
150th Anniversary celebration.
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Moderator's Message
Carol Berger
This will be my last By The Way article as Moderator, however, I intend to continue my LHC historical articles up to the present day ending with our October celebration. When we celebrate our 150 Anniversary on October 17, I am hopeful we all have learned many things about our past and will give us gratitude for what we have as a church today and for the future.
I left off last month with the decade of the 60s. The big news of the 70s was that religious institutions survived at all. In a time when people were looking for big answers, big authority, and big experiences, many maintained their loyalties to the church. They were called by Jesus Christ to act out their faith in a fallen world where death, disease, despair, and doubt often appeared to have the upper hand.
Pastor Gene Lackore arrived at LHC in 1967. In 1971, LHC celebrated the joyous Centennial! Many activities took place throughout the year with special celebrations in June and October. A special church service took place and three generations of the Pratt family attended whose family was one of our charter members. Many dressed in the 1871 period for the picnic lunch at the Dunham Woods Riding Club and the entire Wayne community participated.
During the decade of the 70s, LHC faced challenges, as did many churches. Raising funds to meet the budget and maintaining the physical properties, including the parsonage, was always a concern. In 1972 Pastor Lackore resigned and Rev. Wayne Barton was called in 1973 and installed as the new pastor on March 31, 1974. The church once again became a vital factor in the Wayne Community. In March 1975, all church properties became mortgage free. The memorial garden was also created and dedicated in 1978.
The Sunday School was active in the 70s with 80 elementary children attending most Sundays. And the high school youth group had a membership of 45. A need for additional Sunday School space was realized in 1977 and plans began. A $90,000 expenditure expanding the Guild House and Pastor's office was approved. Construction was completed and was ready for occupancy in 1979-80.
In 1977 Mrs. Ernest Niederer gifted our beloved Moeller pipe organ which we still enjoy today. Rosalie Cassiday became the new organist and performed at the dedication on October 15, 1978. The congregation all spoke in unison, "We dedicate this organ to the praise and glory of God, and ourselves to His worship and service in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
Under the leadership Pastor Barton, many "firsts" took place. Luminaria lighted up Army Trail Road for the first time on Christmas eve in 1978. Music series took place on four Sunday afternoons. A refugee Resettlement Committee was established. The membership remained vibrant and strong with over 258 active members.
The decade of the 80s also had many milestones in the life of the church. Stay tuned next month.
Our congregational 'Junual' meeting will take place on Sunday, June 13 via zoom at 11 am. The slate for the new 2021/22 Council will be presented, and I encourage all members to attend and submit your votes. We are a congregational church, and your vote is important.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Luke 12:20
Our treasure is the Little Home Church, and, hopefully, our hearts will remain together and give us strength to continue on a path towards a great future. I've tried as your moderator to lead with joy and appreciation for all God has given us as a congregation. He has given us a house of worship for the past 150 years, and we continue to prepare for the next 150 as we give thanks to our Lord, Jesus Christ. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your Moderator for 2021-22, and one of the many blessings in my life.
Blessings,
Carol Berger, Moderator
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Worship & Spiritual Growth
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Father's Day is right around the corner and like we did last year, we plan to devote our worship service that Sunday, June 20 to those special men in our lives. We'd like once again to include photos of our fathers, grandfathers and husbands during the service. While we have the photos used for last year's service, if you'd like to send a new one please do. Send them to the Church Office.
We continue to monitor the CDC guidelines and vaccination progression to determine when it might be safe to meet again in our small sanctuary. We are grateful for your continued support and understanding. Until that time, keep watching us on Youtube each week.
Samantha Prang
WSG Ministry Chair
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Facilities
Thank You!
Once again, I get to say THANK YOU to those hardy souls who were able to join in the fun digging in the dirt around the Guild House on Sunday April 25 and Saturday May 22. Realizing that plants, flowers and even bushes residing around the perimeter of our soon to be removed Guild House could potentially get a second life in yards and gardens of our congregation, we scheduled the first day for everyone to dig and take a plant as a piece of our church yard. We certainly made a dent by removing many special plants (Anne Bouchard is best to ask what!) and bushes. Many were placed in pots and bags for sale at the Sis Plant Sale the following weekend. I know that I myself have been watering and praying over a few transplanted plants now residing in Mom’s and my yards. Send photos to Lori everyone, we can’t wait to see our church yard blooming again!
We look forward to that day when we will be able to actually gather in the courtyard for a coffee klatch or small service—our church home will be ready for that day….with bells on…and we shall RING THAT BELL!!!
If you happen to be lucky enough to visit our church home outdoors, or even indoors, please know that my ministry is ready, willing and able to tackle any wish-list item you may have on your mind. If you see something that needs some TLC or attention, please let me know! We will get it done!
In God's love
Kit Dewitt
Chair, Facilities Ministry
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Save the Date...
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Our 150th Anniversary celebration will be here before we know it! SAVE THE DATE, Sunday, October 17. A series of special events are in the planning which the Committee would like to share:
Saturday, Oct. 16
A welcome Wine & Cheese reception, 5-7 pm, hosted by the Men of LHC in Parish Hall
Sunday, Oct. 17 - Day of Celebration
We are planning two identical worship services, 11 am & 2:15 pm (to accommodate over flow) and will include a special commissioned orchestral piece at both services. Between the two services, a social celebration and LHC reunion will take place. Stay tuned for more details in a future BTW.
In the meantime, we need your help! We are looking for wedding and baptism photos of all those who have been married or baptized in the church. We would like to use them in our virtual services.
We are also collecting names, addresses and email addresses of former members to send the 'Save the Date' card. If you have any information, please send to the Church Office.
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Please join LHC members on Flag Day, June 13 in the 4 pm Wayne parade and assist with carrying the Christian flag, LHC flag, American flag and our new 150th banner, so graciously donated by FlagSource and long time member, Janice Christiansen.
If you have any suggestions, ideas and/or old photos for the committee, please never hesitate to pass them along.
Respectfully,
Kathryn & Dave Karwowski
150th Anniversary Chairpersons
with Carol Berger, Larry Dieffenbach,
Lori Prang, and Jane Shelton
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2021/22 Church Council
Slate of Candidates
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The Nominating Committee, comprised of Carol Berger, Karen Kaluzsa, Bob Kaska and Chris Thornton has assembled the following slate of candidates for the 2021/22 LHC Church Council, to be voted on by the congregation at our 'Junual' Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 13, 2021, 11 am.
Moderator - Bob Kaska
Moderator Elect - Susannah Lesswing
Christian Education - Rev. Ron Purser
Congregational Life - Mary Emily Anhalt
Evangelism - Jennifer Harmon
Facilities - Kit DeWitt
Outreach - Jessica Alex-Lampugnani
Stewardship - Peter Connolly
Worship & Spiritual Growth - Samantha Prang
Member-at-Large - Chuck McDonough
Member-at-Large - Julie Graham
Treasurer - Susi Winquist
Financial Secretary - Ann McLaughlin
Clerk - Kristen Thornton
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Joyful Joyful We Restore Thee
Joyful Service
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We are down to a handful of items on the punch list for Phase 1 of the renovation project and we will wrap it up within a week or two.
Throughout the month of May, the Guild House has been the site for on-the-job training of sorts for several local fire departments. The opportunity to use actual homes for training is rare, and more so when the building is older and quirky like our Guild House. This was a perfect final act of community service for a building that has served us well for so many years.
We received preliminary budget figures for Phase 2 (the Wayne Community House) and they are shocking! The increase in building materials has driven estimates through the roof (pun intended!). We are working with architect Lisa Sharp to get as close to the actual costs as possible without sacrificing our hopes and plans for the new building. We hope to have more details at the 'Junual' meeting. Stay tuned!
Anne Bouchard
'Joyful' Committee Chair
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Sisters in Spirit
Spring Update
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Spring sprang with the May 1 SiS Plant Sale! We had a third successful sale, which garnished over $2,200 in profit. Discussions are ongoing about how to share our success. Beyond the annuals, the sale included some plants removed from the foundational plantings around the Guild House. We are inviting everyone to share pictures of their Guild House transplants for possible use in one of our online worship services.
We discussed the upcoming 150th Anniversary celebration in October. SiS agreed to sponsor an early coffee hour prior to the 11 am service on October 17. In addition, we discussed offering an ornament in recognition of the anniversary, which could also be sold at the Holiday Bazaar in November. SiS members are researching options.
We decided to skip our June meeting as it coincides with Father’s Day. We will be back together on Sunday, July 18, possibly in person outside in the church courtyard. Details to follow!
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The men's group is excited to announce that our annual Kane County Cougars baseball All Church outing is back after a year hiatus. This year we are doing an evening game with a fireworks show after the game. Details are:
Friday/July 30/6:30 pm
Kane County Cougars
vs. Sioux Falls Canaries
Tickets: $10 per person
General Game-Day Parking Pass: $10
Email Chip Braulick to reserve tickets and/or parking pass. Tickets are limited so please let Chip know as soon as possible if you're interested. Family and friends are invited.
We hope you can join us for what is always a fun outing.
Chip Braulick
Men of LHC
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Outreach Ministry
Golf for Fox Valley Hands of Hope
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One of our Outreach organizations we support, Fox Valley Hands of Hope is hosting their Second Annual Golf Classic on Monday, August 9. If you're a golfer and able to participate, please consider supporting them. Click here for more information and to register. Fox Valley Hands of Hope is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing expert support for youth, families and adults who are experiencing grief, loss, or a life-threatening illness.
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And don't forget to continue to save the little square plastic bread tags. We are collecting them for an organization called Danielle Cares for Chairs. They collect and recycle plastic bread tags for funds that will enable them to purchase wheelchairs for those in need. It takes about 260,000 bread tags to purchase a basic wheelchair so every tag counts! Just bring them to the Church Office.
Be well!
Karissa James
Outreach Ministries Chair
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Bible Study
Wednesdays, 10 am & Virtual
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Our weekly Wednesday morning Bible Study continues with a good group of participants. They would love to have you join them. Rev. Ron Purser leads the study via Zoom and the group continues to studying the book of Matthew. No preparation is necessary. The Bible Study meeting begins at 10 am.
Meeting ID: 814 1245 7155
password: biblestudy
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A Book & A Prayer
LHC Book Club - Via Zoom
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Meets 3rd Thursday, 7 pm
NEXT Meeting - June 17
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is the selection for June. A post-apocalyptic novel that details the grueling journey of a father and his young son over a period of several months across a landscape blasted by an unspecified cataclysm that has destroyed industrial civilization and almost all life. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.
Meeting ID: 891 0088 0154
password: bookclub
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Prayer Chain
Congregational Life Ministry
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As Christians, one of the most powerful privileges of our spiritual life is the invitation to feel God’s grace and presence through ongoing prayer. Believing in the power of individual prayer, a prayer offered up by many becomes even more powerful. With that thought in mind, Congregational Life Ministry is happy to be introducing the inauguration of an email Prayer Chain to support the spiritual life of the members and friends of Little Home Church.
Mary Emily Anhalt
Congregational Life Ministry Chair
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To Make a Prayer Request:
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What is a Prayer Chain?
A prayer chain is a group of individuals who've decided to pray together: to intercede on other's behalf before God; to increase the power of prayer; and connect with one another.
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How will the Prayer Chain work?
Opt-In - You must opt-in to be a part of the prayer chain. It will not be automatic.
Prayer Request - When a prayer request is received, the office will send an email with that specific request to all those on the prayer chain email list.
Say a Prayer - There is no need to forward it on, or reply...as a member of the chain, simply say a prayer relating to the request.
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Other things you should know...
—Anyone may submit a prayer request. You do not have to be a part of the prayer chain email list.
—Prayer requests can be made via email to the church office or via the website, and will be emailed to the prayer chain exactly as written. Or make the request by calling the church office 630-584-4013 if you prefer.
—Prayer requests can be for either a concern or a joy.
—The requests can be anonymous if you like.
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Join the Prayer Chain Email List
It is our hope that in offering this it will provide another way for us as a congregation to remain connected in our spiritual journey. We hope that you will sign up.
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Congratulations to Our Graduates! |
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George Bouchard
Washington & Lee
School of Law
Lexington, Virginia
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Corinne Thornton
University of Illinois
College of Medicine Chicago
Corinne will go on to do her residency in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine.
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Mary Alice Roach
Millikin University
B.A. - Music Business
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Alex Karwowski
South Elgin High School
Alex will attend
University of Minnesota
and will play tuba for the University of Minnesota Marching Band.
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Josephine Myers
Westminster Christian School
Josie will attend
Judson University and major in Accounting.
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Moriah Leigh Hopkins
(granddaughter of Judy Hopkins)
Xavier University
BSBA in Marketing/Psychology
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Will Lesswing - Miami University of Ohio: B.A in Economics/Minor in Computer Science
Reese VandenBerg (great granddaughter of Ruth Lishamer) - Fremont High School in Fremont, Michigan and will attend Valparaiso University as part of their Physicians' Assistant Program.
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Flowers, Fellowship,
Ushers & Pulpit Associate
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If you'd like to provide flowers to dress up our altar table for the YouTube worship services we'd love it! You would need to get the flowers here by the Tuesday of that week so they're there when we film. We presently have a lot of openings for June, July and August. Contact Office
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June Birthdays
June 1 - Bob Kaska
June 4 - Mary Alice Roach, Brittany Winquist
June 6 - Kathi Abell, Jorge Brito
June 8 - Nancy Schatzeder
June 12 - Lori Haseltine
June 13 - Jessie Burkoth
June 16 - Caroline Berger, Julie Graham
June 17 - Peter Roach
June 19 - Rebecca Allen
June 24 - Barbara Braulick
June 29 - Eleanor Karwowski, Alex Kentfield
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To those recently ill or hospitalized...
Ruth Lishamer
Our sympathies to:
Church member, Ron Dippner on the recent loss of his sister, Karin.
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THANK YOU TO OUR CHURCH STAFF, COUNCIL, AND ALL VOLUNTEERS |
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Transitional Lay Minister and
Director of Music - Larry Dieffenbach
Pastor Emeritus - Rev. Ronald Purser
Office Manager - Lori Prang
BTW Editors
Lori Prang and Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
Graphic Design
Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
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CHURCH COUNCIL
Moderator - Carol Berger
Moderator-elect - Bob Kaska
Christian Education - Jane Shelton
Congregational Life - Mary Emily Anhalt
Evangelism - Mary Roach
Facilities - Kit DeWitt
Outreach - Karissa James
Stewardship - Peter Connolly
Worship & Spiritual Growth - Samantha Prang
Members at Large - Chuck McDonough and Jennifer Harmon
Financial Treasurer - Susi Winquist
Financial Secretary - Ann McLaughlin
Clerk - Kristen Thornton
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Thank you...
for continuing to remember Little Home Church by the Wayside.
Your support is greatly needed and appreciated.
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