Little Home Church/UCC

By the Way

APRIL 2023

PASTOR'S PONDERINGS

"So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 NIV


"When you are on a journey, and the end keeps getting further and further away, then you realize that the end is the journey."

Karlfried Graf Durckheim

What a wonderful Lenten Journey it has been this year so far. Thanks to Reverend Jonathon Hutchison, Emma Kaska, Grace Bardsley and Nick Metzger from our music staff, and all of our bread bakers who have led us on our weekly study of the history of communion through the various time periods (click here for the Ezekiel Bread recipe.) As you can see from the calendar below it is still going on—we are still on the journey.


Lent is a time of self-reflection and examination. Coming to the communion table weekly brings us closer to God and each other. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is with us on the journey and upholds us all the way. Durckheim reminds us to be present and 'in the now' on the journey—if we practice this we will have God before us, God behind us, God around us, and God in us all of our days. We are not alone.


Please continue the journey to Easter and beyond with us in worship at Little Home Church by the Wayside.

What’s an Intergenerational Service? Come find out!

On April 16, we will explore Diana Butler Bass’s ideas on the three B’s:


 Believing – What do I believe?

(Where do I put my trust?)

 Behaving – How should I behave?

(How should I act out what I believe?)

 Belonging – Where do I belong?

(Community)

 

April 2 – Communion in the Modern Period 1900 –

April 6 – Maundy Thursday (Potluck Supper at 6 pm and Service at 7:15 pm)

April 7 – Good Friday Service – 1 pm at Little Home Church (we will be joined by our sister churches in Bartlett and Streamwood)

April 9 – EASTER!

April 16 – Inter-generational Sunday


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Larry Dieffenbach

Connect with Pastor Larry

Connect With Pastor Larry

Here is the remaining schedule...

Apr. 2Communion in the Modern Period 1900–

Apr. 6Maundy Thursday (Potluck Supper at 6 pm and Service at 7:15 )

Apr. 7Good Friday Service – 1 pm at Little Home Church—We will be joined by our sister churches from Bartlett and Streamwood.

Apr. 9—EASTER!

Apr. 16—Intergenerational Sunday


(If you miss a Sunday you can always watch on YouTube later in the week)

WE ACCEPT, EMBRACE AND AFFIRM THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EVERY PERSON,

AS WE ARE ALL CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE.

THE ALL-CHURCH READ

The delight continues...


The discussion on our all-church read, The Delight of Being Ordinary by Roland Merullo continues. The next two sessions will be:


Sunday, April 16, 11:30 am—Session No. 2

“Day Three” (pp.153 – 278)


Sunday, May 21, 11:30 am—Session No. 3

“Days Four and Five” (pp. 281-367)

 

Member Emily Miller has graciously offered to host us for the April session. Her address is 33W460 Thorncroft Drive in Wayne.


Even if you missed our first session, there is till time to join us.

Townhouse Books (105 N. 2nd Avenue, St. Charles) is offering a twenty-percent discount to anyone who comes in to purchase a book. Simply say you are with The Little Home Church by the Wayside book read. 

PLEASE RSVP

HAPPENINGS AT CHURCH

Get involved and join a group, an event, or a LHC initiative.


Worship Service

Sundays, 9:30 am (recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel during the week)


Bible Study—Wednesdays, In Person & Via Zoom 

Choir Rehearsals—Wednesdays, 7 pm

Walk 'n TalkSaturdays, 9:30 am

Palm Sunday Worship—Sunday, April 2, 9:30 am

Sisters in SpiritMonthly Meeting—Sunday, April 2, 11 am

Maundy Thursday Potluck (6 pm) & Worship (7:15 pm)—Thursday, April 6

Good Friday Worship—Friday, April 7, 1 pm

Men of LHCMonthly Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, April 8, 8:30 am

Easter Worship—Sunday, April 9, 9:30 am

Children's Easter Egg Hunt Follows10:30 am

Genealogy Group MeetingTuesday, April 11, 7 pm via Zoom

Congregational Life DinnersSaturday, April 15 , 6:30 pm

Intergenerational Worship Service—Sunday, April 16, 9:30 am

All Church ReadSunday, April 16, 11 am

Church Council Meeting—Monday, April 17, 7 pm in Parish Hall

A Book & A Prayer Book Club—Thursday, April 20, 7 pm via Zoom

Game Night—Friday, April 21, 7 pm in Parish Hall

Contemplative Services—Thursday, April 27 , 8 am & 7 pm

Scout Spaghetti Dinner—Saturday, April 29, 4 - 8 pm at Resurrection Church


By the Way Submission Deadline - Wednesday, April 19


CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm—630.584.4013

CHURCH CALENDAR

MODERATOR'S MESSAGE

Celebrating April...


While this year we celebrate Easter in April and the holiday dominates the month, below are some 'fun facts' and folklore related to April.


The month of April gets its name from the Latin word aperio meaning 'to open' (bud). April’s birthstone is the diamond and, its flower the Daisy and Sweet Pea.


In addition to Easter, here are other celebrations to take advantage of in April:

April 1  April Fool’s Day & International Pillow Fight Day

April 3   Sweet Potato Day

April 7   National No Housework Day

April 16  Go Fly a Kite Day

April 26  National Richter Scale Day

April 29  National Sense of Smell Day


Astronomy buffs will appreciate April’s full Pink Moon (paschal) that will rise on Wednesday, April 5, reaching peak illumination at 12:37 am ET.


Famous events that took place in April include the Battles of Lexington and Concord-the 'shot heard round the world,' mutiny on the HMS Bounty and, the harrowing flight of Apollo 13. 


Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the following poem about April:

April cold with dripping rain,

Willows and lilacs brings again,

The whistle of returning birds,

And trumpet-lowing of the herds.


While I am sure there will be plenty of rain showers in April, I look forward to enjoying the Easter season, celebrating the “fun days” on the calendar (especially no housework day) and, the beautiful May flowers that April helped prepare. 


Susannah Lesswing, Moderator

Connect  With Susannah

GRACE'S NOTES

Prepare the way of the Lord...


An April Adoration

by Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts


Sang the sun rise on amber morn-

‘Earth, be glad! An April Day is born.’

‘Winter’s done, and April’s in the skies.

Earth look up with laughter in your eyes!’


Putting off her dumb dismay of snow,

Earth bade all her unseen children grow.


Then the sound of growing in the air

Rose to God a liturgy of prayer;

And the thronged succession of the days

Uttered up to God a psalm of praise.


Laughed the running sap in every vein,

Laughed the running flurries of warm rain,

Laughed the life in every wandering root,

Laughed the tingling cells of bud and shoot.


God in all the concord of their mirth

Heard the adoration-song of Earth.


We in the music ministry here at Little Home Church, will add our musical adoration to the rest of the Earth’s in this month of April. There is so much wonderful music to be shared. The end of the season of Lent and Holy Week leading into Easter provides a rich array of music ranging from somber laments which help us to even begin to sense the passion of Christ to the exuberance of the anthems which offer joyful praise in gratitude for Christ’s resurrection, and God’s promise to us of eternal life.


It is a busy season in the church year…a lot happened in the week prior to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. And we commemorate and celebrate that whirlwind of events as they are at the core of our faith.


Here is what lies in store for our congregation — our family of friends in faith:


Sunday, April 2  PALM SUNDAY @ 9:30 am 

Flutist, Chanel Antoshin will join Nick and the choir in an uplifting anthem called Celebrate and Sing by Joel Raney, the composer of our Christmas cantata. Chanel will also play with Larry as Nick sings the stunning Simple Song by Leonard Bernstein.


Thursday, April 6 Maundy Thursday @ 7 pm

Tom Havel, violist and three other superb musicians form the string quartet that will accompany the choir singing Behold, The Savior of Mankind (words by Samuel Wesley and music by Wes Cameron). The string quartet will play other music as well including a most incredible piece…

Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings that has been described as “naked expression of emotion.” Truly, this is one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed and to hear it played live is an opportunity that ought not to be missed if at all possible!!


Friday, April 7 Good Friday @ 1 pm

Nick, Jen Haseltine, and myself will offer a new version of Will the Circle Be Unbroken as we host two other churches to remember the crucifixion.


Sunday, April 9 Easter Sunday @ 9:30 am

A stunning brass quartet led by trumpeter John Lash will join together with Nick at the organ performing majestic music befitting the joy of Easter. The choir will also be accompanied by Nick and the brass quartet on two contemporary celebratory anthems that will raise the roof and your spirit!


And then there is the rest of the month…including the magnificent Wayside Ringers playing on Sunday, April 23 @ 9:30 am.


Clear your calendar. Open your heart. Prepare the way of the Lord.


Peace be with you.

Grace Bardsley, Director of Music

Connect With Grace

SCOUT CHARTER ORGANIZATION

BSA Troop 99 and Pack 99


If you aren’t already aware, we are now the official Charter Organization for Scout Troop 99 and Cub Pack 99. Little Home Church has replaced Resurrection Catholic Church in this role. However, the troop and pack will continue to use Resurrection for most of their meetings for the near future. As we get more aligned with each others’ calendars, you will see more activity by the troop and pack.


One of those activities was the volunteering of the troop to assist with our Spring Cleanup. We had 6 scouts and 8 adults assist with a complete overhaul of the storage room and attic. In addition, there was some reorganizing of the basement and assistance with vacuuming up some spring melt water. They did an awesome job!


One of the primary functions of the Charter Organization is to support fundraising activities of both the troop and pack. For the pack, this is popcorn sales in the fall. For the troop, it is their annual Spaghetti Dinner. It will be held Saturday, April 29, at Resurrection. Some of the costs are offset by parents of the Scouts donating various items. Pre-pandemic there were 60 Scouts in the troop. Today 20. Due to this significant decrease, we have agreed to donate items for the dinner as well. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall.


If you see boy or cub scouts around the church, or any of the adult leaders, please be sure to say hello!


Chip Braulick

LHC Charter Organization Liaison

Connect With Chip

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY

Sunday School update...

All children from kindergarten and up are welcome to attend Sunday School. We’ve detoured from our regular curriculum during Lent to work on a large group project. We’re reflecting on the theme of generosity and thinking about how we can strive to be like Jesus and give of ourselves to enrich the lives of those around us. In that spirit, we are making a tree mural to be hung in Fellowship Hall in hopes it brings joy and inspiration to all who see it.


We have a nursery for infants/toddlers/preschoolers on an "as needed" basis. If you would like to ensure that any given week we have nursery services available, please contact Lori in the Church Office or Pastor Larry by the Thursday before the service.


We are in need of volunteers for Sunday School, so please consider signing up for a week or two. It's always a lively time!


Katherine Brito

Christian Education

Connect With Katherine

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE MINISTRY

Breaking bread together...


Our next Congregational Life Dinner is scheduled for April 15 at 6:30 pm. All are welcome! Kids and adults alike. These dinners consist of small groups (6-9 people) and are held in the homes of volunteer hosts. "Breaking Bread Together" will be the theme and will be a nice follow-up to our wonderful Communion series. The host will provide the main course and drinks with guests providing bread sides and desserts. We invite everybody...adults and children alike! The groups are assigned randomly unless you indicate otherwise. Please sign up to be a host or a guest. There is a sign up sheet in the Parish Hall. Our last two have been fun and it gives folks a nice opportunity to get to know one another in a more intimate setting.


Our "Walk 'n Talk" continues every Saturday starting at 9:30 am. Come for some fellowship and exercise!


Our next Game Night will be Saturday, April 21 at 7 pm. Our last two have been very well attended. Bring a favorite game to share or try your hand at learning a new one!


Diane Dippner, Congregational Life Ministry Chair

Connect With Diane

PRAYER CHAIN

Congregational Life Ministry...


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.


Diane Dippner, Congregational Life Ministry Chair


To Make a Prayer Request: Click Here

Homepage: littlehomechurch.org

Email: info@littlehomechurch.org

Click HERE to Join the Prayer Chain

CELEBRATION OF HOPE

A night out to support refugees


Since 1988 Exodus World Service* has welcomed and befriended over 61,000 refugees with the help of over 85,000 volunteers. Exodus has 127 churches and 27 community agency partners in the Chicagoland area. On April 13, they are hosting Celebration of Hope, a fundraising event to further benefit their mission and activities. The event will take place at The Waterford in Elmhurst and will include a complimentary dinner and a program featuring meaningful stories of connection between refugees and volunteers.

 

Anne Bouchard will be the Hospitality Team member for LHC and she would love to have you join her that evening! Please contact her if you are interested in joining her at the Little Home Church table. 

 

*Exodus World Service is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Connect With Anne

FACILITIES MINISTRY

New furnaces...


For those of you who attended the Janual meeting I had mentioned that one of the reasons we needed to increase the budget for Facilities this year, was the impending need to replace the furnace. Well unfortunately that day came and we had to replace not one but both of our furnaces. Three bids were sourced out and the work was completed in early March. Please know that all of your generous donations are greatly appreciated and go to not only helping people in our community but also towards the daily necessities of keeping our buildings up and running. 


As I write this, we are planning for our first clean-up day of 2023. For all of those who helped and donated their time I am very grateful and for those who could not make it not to worry as we will have a second opportunity to help in early Spring focusing on the outdoor clean up of the garden beds. The date will be announced shortly.



Thank you everyone for your generous donations of both your time and resources to our beautiful Church!


Be safe and be kind,

Julie Graham, Facilities Ministry Chair

Connect With Julie

EVANGELISM

Gift of the Spirit...


"They were men and women whose lives were transformed demonstrably by the love and forgiveness of Christ, and it was out of that full heart they shared the gospel with others. When we neglect to share Jesus with others, we might ask if a fresh rekindling of God’s love needs to be generated so that his grace may again flow freely.” - Jerry Root

 

I think of Evangelism, not in terms of being selfish and only increasing our numbers, but I think of it as informing others of the 'gift of the Spirit and life in the Spirit' that we have at LHC. As Jonathan Hutchinson spoke last Sunday, he emphasized, during this Lenten Season that it is Communion that unites us, and 'there was Jesus to unite us.' Let us bring others to our Communion table. I always get excited when I talk about our church, there is so much joy as we worship our Lord, Jesus Christ together. I want to tell the world! I hope you do, too! We have a great story to tell on behalf of our Christian leader, who lived over 2,000 years ago.

 

I encourage you to help the Evangelism Committee spread our good news. There are multiple ways. A few suggestions would be to greet and introduce yourself to a visitor, offer to walk a visitor to fellowship and provide with a few introductions, invite someone who might not have a church to our Sunday Worship service and/or to a church activity, or include a friend to one of our outreach activities. Perhaps your children have met someone at school who didn’t have a church. There are multiple ways to demonstrate evangelism, and it takes a village.

 

Our committee had a successful Meet and Greet Pizza Party on March 26, and we are hoping to have new members join our congregation. Our next Membership Class will be May 7. Please let me know if you know of someone who would like to attend. 

 

Many thanks to our congregation who continue to make our church a friendly place to be.

 

Evangelism Committee: Carol Berger, Chair; Mary Emily Analt; Grace Bardsley; Jennifer Harmon; Lori Haseltine; Ann McLaughlin; Mary Roach and Rose Wade

Connect With Carol

Fine Dining—Musical Entertainment—Silent Auction—Major Prize Raffle

$60 per Reservation — Cash Bar

Invitations will be going out soon! 

Reservations are DUE by May 8.


SPONSORSHIPS

$1,000 GOLD Sponsor—includes all 10 reservations at a table

$500 SILVER Sponsor—does not include any reservations

RSVP & Pay Online

Grateful Gifts Committee:

Emily Miller, Chairperson; Kit DeWitt; Julie Graham; Kathleen Sullivan Kaska;

Susannah Lesswing; and Andrea Redmond

Connect With Emily

Grateful Gifts Silent Auction—DONATIONS WANTED!

The auction committee is looking for donations. Please consider providing one or more of the following:

—Themed baskets (example: Movie Night basket) Ideally valued over $50 each

—Items that can be placed in baskets (example: gift cards to embellish baskets, items valued over $20 each)

—Baskets and Cellophane Wrap

—Experiences: airline tickets, destination trips, use of condo/second home etc.

—Stand-alone items to auction (higher valued pieces over $100 to be considered for grand raffle)


Any questions, please contact Susannah Lesswing or Kit DeWitt. Thank You for your help!

Connect With Susannah
Connect With Kit

BIBLE STUDY

Wednesdays, 10 am

In person & via Zoom


The Wednesday Bible Study will finish studying a method of exploring scripture known as Lectio Divina. By examining the effect of selected scriptures on a person’s faith journey, the class will discover the spirit inspired meaning found in scripture. There is no outside preparation involved. Please bring your Bibles to each class.

After Easter, the group will determine what next to study. Rev. Jonathan Hutchison will lead this session.

 

This has been a great group participating both in person and via Zoom and they would love to have you join them...no preparation is necessary!


Click here for Zoom link

Meeting ID: 883 5425 6478

Passcode: biblestudy



Click for Zoom Link

A BOOK & A PRAYER

LHC Book Club—Via Zoom

Meets 3rd Thursday, 7 pm

Next Meeting—April 20


The selection for April is The Library Book by Susan Orlean. The Library Book chronicles the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries; brings each department of the library to vivid life; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago.


Click here for Zoom link:

Meeting ID: 891 0088 0154

password: bookclub


Click here for the 2023 Book List



Click for Zoom Link

WAYNE COMMUNITY HOUSE

The Joyful Team has narrowed the search to a final construction firm for the Wayne Community House!


At the time of this writing, we are going to ask this firm to act as Construction Manager for the project. We are also in conversation with our liaison at the UCC Cornerstone Fund, our lender for the project. She will review (on our behalf) each contract prior to signing. If we can agree on contract terms and price, the Construction Management firm will be directed to obtain bids for us with a Guaranteed Maximum Price of $1M for the WCH project. Depending upon the final contract amount, a conservative estimate is that we will most likely require a loan between $350-425,000. You will recall that the congregation approved a loan up to $484,000 at the 2022 Junual meeting.


In 2022, we expected that any loan would be needed only for a short term, to cover us until pledges were complete at the end of the campaign, or, for a limited period of time after that. Unfortunately, material costs have risen sharply in the past few years, and, even after revising the design, the projected budget for the building will most likely be several hundred thousand dollars in excess of the funds we expect to have on hand once all pledges are completed. As a result, our Cornerstone loan will be a fixed-rate, 30-year mortgage. After the first year (which requires interest only payments), we will be responsible for principal and interest monthly payments, in addition to our annual operational expenses.


Your Joyful Team is committed to constructing a building which is aesthetically appropriate, 

functional, and current. Keep the team in your prayers as we ‘hammer out’ the details. We will notify the congregation as soon as possible to share all of the specifics with you and receive your feedback.



'Joyful, Joyful, We Restore Thee' Committee:

Anne Bouchard, Chairperson; Steve Anhalt; Larry Dieffenbach; Kit DeWitt; Bob Kaska; 

Kathleen Sullivan Kaska; Susannah Lesswing; and Susi Winquist

Connect With Anne

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

Apr 1 - Anne Bouchard

Apr 2 - Heather Bragg, Kay Brynelsen, Alex Karwowski

Apr 6 - Lane Harling

Apr 12 - Ron Dippner, Gerry James

Apr 14 - Joe Sterner

Apr 15 - Rik Alex

Apr 17 - Cooper Hadfield

Apr 18 - Rose Mayer

Apr 20 - George Bouchard

Apr 23 - Spencer Christiansen

Apr 24 - Peg Schramuk


FELLOWSHIP / USHERS / PULPIT ASSOCIATES / FLOWERS

Time to sign up!


A simple way to give the gift of your time and enhance our worship experience at the same time is by signing up to be an Usher or a Pulpit Associate! We have upcoming openings this winter where we can use your help! It's easy and appreciated. Our Fellowship coffee time after worship is in full swing. Consider hosting one Sunday. You provide the goodies, we provide the coffee and tea. You can also check out the flower sign up sheet to provide Flowers one Sunday to decorate our altar table. The sign up sheets are up in the Parish Hall. If you have any questions, just contact the Church Office.

Click for USHER/PULPIT ASSOC Sign-up
Click for FELLOWSHIP Sign-up
Click for FLOWERS Sign-Up

LOVE AND PRAYERS

Group of christianity people praying hope together

To those recently ill or hospitalized...

Carli Zelaitis; Rev. Ron Purser; Janice Christiansen; Ray Prang; Don Martisauski; those affected by the recent tornadoes; people of Ukraine; earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria and those affected by gun violence.

Thank you for continuing to remember

Little Home Church by the Wayside.

Your support is greatly needed and appreciated.

THANK YOU TO OUR CHURCH STAFF, COUNCIL, AND ALL VOLUNTEERS

Pastor - Larry Dieffenbach


Pastor Emeritus - Rev. Ronald Purser

Director of Music - Grace Bardsley

Office Manager - Lori Prang

Organist/Pianist - Nick Metzger


BTW Editors

Lori Prang and Kathleen Sullivan Kaska


Graphic Design

Kathleen Sullivan Kaska


CHURCH COUNCIL

Moderator - Susannah Lesswing

Moderator-elect - Emily Miller

Christian Education - Katherine Brito

Congregational Life - Diane Dippner

Evangelism - Carol Berger

Facilities - Julie Graham

Outreach - Andrea Redmond & Mary Fleischmann

Stewardship - Peter Connolly

Worship & Spiritual Growth - Jane Shelton & Sharon Bergland

Members at Large - Jen Haseltine & Kit DeWitt

Financial Treasurer - Susi Winquist

Financial Secretary - Ann McLaughlin

Clerk - Kristen Thornton


LITTLE HOME CHURCH BY THE WAYSIDE

32W128 ARMY TRAIL RD, WAYNE, ILLINOIS 60184

630-584-4013

littlehomechurch.org

info@littlehomechurch.org

Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  LinkedIn  Pinterest  YouTube