Worship this Sunday, April 24, 10:00 a.m.
In Person and Online
"For God and country" is one of the those phrases that just sort of lives in the American lexicon. Its roots go much deeper than 1776. ‘Pro Deo et patria’ is the original Latin from which we derive the phrase, and it has served as a motto for families, military regiments, educational institutions, and the American Legion. Some of the time, this makes perfect sense. I (Grant) can confidently say that my gratitude for the freedom of speech, for example, sits comfortably in both the ‘God’ and ‘country’ categories. However, what happens when these two value systems aren’t on the same page? What happens when the duly-appointed authorities of the time and place are not acting in accordance with God’s hopes for the world?
In this week’s lectionary reading from Acts, Acts 5:27-32, this is the dilemma the apostles are faced with as they continue to preach in Jesus’ name. They are arrested over and over again, and told in no uncertain terms to stop what they are doing. As you can probably guess, they don’t stop.
This Sunday, Grant will be discussing how this passage might speak to our own lives. We, of course, are not being explicitly asked not to be Christians; however, there are many different competing narratives in our lives that try to make/define meaning for us. Some of these are explicit, and some are more hidden, implicit. Grant hopes to shed some light on ways our faith is inviting us into a life of costly discipleship, not simply passive existence. Hope to see you there!
Join together this Sunday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. We will be in person and we will livestream from the Sanctuary on our YouTube Channel, here, starting just before 10:00 a.m. We hope to see you this Sunday! Remember, masks are recommended, due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in our immediate area.
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Also, this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
We will be continuing with a Union Church rite of passage as we present Bibles to our 3rd graders. During Sunday school we will learn more about our Bibles and everyone (adults and children) is encouraged to bring their own Bibles. We will also be incorporating our youth group members into the service and celebrating our Wednesday Gather + Grow Youth Group that ran from September thru late March. This group's activities included games, service projects, lessons about church rituals and most importantly, brought our kids, grades 2 – 8, together in fellowship in their church home. To join the G+G youth group for the 2022/23 school year, contact Penny Johnson or Grant Glowiak.
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9:07 a.m. Worship at Union
An Outdoor Weekly Service: All Things Bright and Beautiful
The 9:07 service is beginning its spring and summer series "All Things Bright and Beautiful" as we move into Earth Week and enjoy the wonder of spring blooming all around us. We will also discuss the Bible and the special role it plays in our lives as third graders receive their Bible at the 10:00 service.
We embrace movement and busy, curious little minds at this service that lasts 25-30 minutes. While it is designed as an introduction to Christian worship for young children, we welcome anyone of any age or family stage.
You can access The Close area thru the archway on Garfield (parking in HMS garage) or park in our lot and come thru the building or around it from the outside.
Pray then Play
The playground near the parking lot is open after church and often families play in it after the 9:07 service or take their coffee there.
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A Heartfelt Welcome To Our New Members |
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A warm and heartfelt welcome to our new member class. If you have not gotten the chance to get to know them yet, we suggest you do! They are an interesting and friendly group of 22. We are so glad they are a part of Union Church. Learn more about them here and introduce yourself next Sunday morning.
Also, while we're on the topic - let's all get back in the habit of wearing our name tags as we greet new faces and get reacquainted with each other after the pandemic! We'll move the trays back out to the Gathering Place and if you need your name tag updated, let Melanie Burton in the church office know.
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Adult Christian Education |
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DEI, CRT: WWJD?** An Adult Education Series
April 24, and May 1, after 10:00 a.m. worship, in the Youth Room
How do such short strings of letters inspire such heated debate? What is DEI? What is this CRT? How can we reflect on our own experiences while understanding that others have walked similar paths with different results? Let’s learn and talk about it.
In this three-week series, we will discuss ideas that can be hard to talk about, but that are essential for our faith, our community, and our world. Over the years, our Adult Christian Education programs have been wonderful for learning more in our Christian faith. We are so pleased to be back after a pandemic break and hope you will join us to learn and share your thoughts.
** DEI = Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; CRT = Critical Race Theory; WWJD = What Would Jesus Do?
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All Ministry Members Take Note... |
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Annual Leadership Meeting on April 30
Saturday, April 30, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
All members of our Ministries are eagerly encouraged to attend our Annual Leadership Meeting on Saturday, April 30, from 8:30 - 12:30. We will meet in the Youth Room.
This leadership event will help Ministry members lead and serve faithfully and effectively for the coming year and beyond. We will review important practical information about your work, talk about the difference between church leadership and leadership in other realms of life, and strategize about our church goals for the year.
Please be sure to attend this important time of leadership development for the church. Contact Mike Solberg with any questions. Thanks!
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Steinway Q&A and Mini Concert
On MAY 1, immediately following the 10:00 a.m. worship service, Stephen C Edwards and Stephen Uhl will present a short 20-minute Mini Concert featuring our new Steinway (Rachmaninov, Gershwin, Kandor, Ebb and more)! Additionally, CJ, our amazing Steinway rep, will be here to help answer questions about this marvelous instrument.
We will also have some photos and video from our NYC Steinway selection trip and a reception following the concert/presentation. We are almost 45% of the way with our total campaign goal, and 65% of the way to paying off the piano portion of the goal. There are only 25 days before the final invoice for the piano is due. Join us to know more and contribute here (select "Steinway Fundraising Campaign" from the drop down menu!).
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support. I am so honored to be a part of this amazing community! ~ Stephen C Edwards - Director of Music and Worship
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In the Music Pipeline
The Music Pipeline:
Concert Series - Featuring our New Steinway
- 6/5 - Allegrezza - 3:00 p.m.
- 6/12 - The Official Steinway Dedication Recital featuring Stephen Uhl - 3:00 p.m.
- 6/26 - Stephen C Edwards - Tenor, Dana Brown - Piano present "La Bonne Chanson" by Gabriel Fauré, along with a string quintet. These are songs of joy and known as one of the happiest song cycles ever written. Additionally, Stephen will sing a few Haydn pieces that he will be recording with Lexicon Classics in the fall, along with songs about pianos!
Upcoming TBD - Concert Pianists, Élider DiPaula and Brian Locke (joined by violinist John Heffernan)
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Want to Support Our Amazing Music? |
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Steinway Fundraising Campaign
Our Steinway Fundraising Campaign is now underway! Our goal is to raise $250,000 to pay for the beautiful new Concert Grand, and to create a fund that enables us to maintain and properly care for this fabulous instrument (and the chapel piano) in the future. We have already raised more than $100,000! If you would like to give today, click here, and select "Steinway Fundraising Campaign" in the dropdown menu. Donations large and small are most welcome! Contact Stephen Edwards for more information.
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48 Steps to a Sustainable Way of Life
In honor of Earth Day, the Care for Creation team wants to share some ways to create a sustainable way of living. There are some simple suggestions that can be included in everyday life. Take a peek at the list and choose some ways that work for you and start creating (or maintaining!) values that help our planet.
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Reach Across the World to Help a Friend
Collection on Easter Sunday and beyond
The Ministry for Change warmly invites you to give generously to a special Easter Offering this year. Through our Angolan guest, Rev. Moma, we have come to know a woman in Angola facing a tragic situation. Julia is the widow of a long-time IECA pastor who died five years ago. She cares for five children; one of her own (with developmental disabilities), three she took in when their parents both died, and one from extended family members also facing severe difficulty.
Julia is a member of our partner congregation, the Peregrinos Church ("Pilgrim Church") in Huambo, and is able to work, but unskilled labor in Angola often earns only about $2 a day. In many situations the widow of a pastor would receive a small "pension," but the church authorities who control the pension funds, and don't allow drinking of alcohol by pastors, condemned her husband for drinking and have shunned Julia.
Although she has managed to survive to this point with her small income and help from friends, she will soon lose her living space (a dirt floored, two-room adobe house). In August, the rent will more than double. With no extended family able to take her in, Julia and her children are sure to be homeless.
Our Easter Offering this year will go to build a new house for Julia, in which she can care for her family and live out her years. A small but solid and livable home can be built for about $10,000 in Huambo, so that is our goal for this Easter Offering. When he returns home in early June, Rev. Moma will personally assure that the funds are used properly, and that the home is built promptly.
It's not too late to give now, online at this link. Be sure to select "Easter - Angola" in the drop down menu to give to this special offering. You can also select "Easter - UCH" to make a special gift to the general ministry of Union Church in celebration of Easter. Any funds raised for "Easter - Angola" over $10,000 will go to support the work of the Dondi Mission Station Hospital, specifically upgrading their solar and battery capacity. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Rev. Grant Glowiak.
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Vacation Bible School Registration is Open: It's A Food Truck Party!
Food Truck Party is our theme for VBS this year. It will be catchy, fun and full of energy. Each day of VBS will have the familiar activities of music, Bible story, recreation, art and mission. The daily themes combine together to form the familiar dinnertime grace: "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed, give us Lord Our Daily Bread."
VBS is open to children of Union Church and UCECP ages 4 through 5th grades. (We also need middle school and high school youth helpers.) Follow this link or register with the QR code above. Contact Penny Johnson with questions.
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Women Who Are Lit Book Club
Friday, April 22, at 9:30 a.m. in the Lounge
This lively book club with rich discussions meets monthly. We’ll be discussing The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, which is on the stacks at the Hinsdale Public Library now. It is a fast read and one you can't put down once you start. Egar is motivating and spiritually uplifting. Any and all are welcome!
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Women of a Certain Age
Sunday, May 15, at 11:15 a.m., in Rowell Hall
Jackie McGrury, an independent esthetician, will discuss proper skin care and that May is National Melanoma Month. Jackie has her own salon in Orland Park.
The purpose of WOACA is for fellowship, friendship, and fun. We will sit socially distanced and no food/beverages will be served. For more information please email Melissa Barnes Mann. ALL are welcome and encouraged to attend!
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Need a Meeting Space?
Union Church is bustling and we LOVE IT! With that being said, rooms are not as readily available as they once were. If a committee, ministry, or group needs to use one of our rooms please contact Adriana Kieffer to book a space for a specific date and time.
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Need Something Announced in the Midweek Email or Online?
Send any requests to disseminate information to the Union Church congregation to communications@uchinsdale.org. This allows the email to be distributed to everyone involved in getting the word out. Please put "Email Blast" in the subject line. Thanks!
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The Union Church of Hinsdale, U.C.C.
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