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Dear Friends,
I recently came across a clip of an appearance of Fred Rogers on the Charlie Rose show in the mid-90s, in which he said this:
“In the nursery school where I worked when I was doing my master’s degree in child development, there was a man who would come every week to sculpt in front of the kids. The director said, “I don’t want you to teach sculpting, I want you to do what you do and love it in front of the children.” During that year, clay was never used more imaginatively, before or after. A great gift of any adult to a child, it seems to me, is to love what you do in front of the child. I mean, if you love to bicycle, if you love to repair things, do that in front of the children. Let them catch the attitude that that’s fun. Because you know, attitudes are caught, not taught.”
Mr. Rogers wasn’t specifically talking about passing along faith, but of course his wisdom applies there as well.
More than anything we as parents and church family might tell our children about following Jesus, it matters more that they witness us delighting in our own discipleship.
Do what you do and love it in front of the children.
Blessings,
Lindley Traynor
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Suyun Son Presentation – Watch Now
Due to a scheduling conflict, we could not hold the virtual event with Suyun Son on September 20. So instead she hopped on Zoom with Pastor Jeff and recorded her presentation and answered a few questions afterward. The title of her beautiful and inspiring presentation is, “Art, Identity and the Hybridity of Faith.” She shares a number of her art pieces and discusses the way in which we are all artists inhabiting various identities. She reflects on her experience of being Korean, American, female, Christian, a parent, and more. Learn more about Suyun’s work at suyunson.com.
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A Tour of the Holocaust Museum
A couple of members of the church staff are going to attend the Illinois Holocaust Museum in the early afternoon (1:00 pm) of Thursday, September 22. We would love to invite anyone to join us! If we can put together a group of 15 people, we can line up a tour with a docent. Please email Madeline Weston at ([email protected]) if you are interested in joining us
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Blessing of the Animals – Oct, 4, 5-5:30 pm
Join us for this brief and informal blessing of the animals service! Held outdoors in the church parking lot, bring your pet (or a picture of your pet, if that’s better) and celebrate the special bond we share with them as creatures blessed by God. We’ll gather on October 4 because it’s the feast day of St. Francis, who had a particular love for animals and all creation – seeing them as windows into God’s presence in the here and now. Reach out to Pastor Jeff with any questions or suggestions. And, if you have a few minutes, watch thanks for submitting all of the pictures of your pets. It's a joy to rewatch!
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Slowing Time for Women
Wed. Sept. 21st, 7-8:30 pm - Upper Room
Rev. Laura Sherwood will lead us in an exploration of different meanings of and relationships with Time - Chronos-Human Time/Productivity focus and Kairos-God’s Time/Fruitfulness focus. Questions? Contact: Marcia Baylin.
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Men’s Council BBQ
Friday, September 30th, 5 pm Manse backyard
Village President Senta Plunkett will join us for a casual meet & greet fresh off the heels of the sesquicentennial celebration (9/10/22).This BBQ is Men’s Council annual event to kick off their program year. They will begin their regular Saturday morning gatherings on Saturday, October 8th, at 8 am in the WMFC. Questions? Contact Steve Reinhart.
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"CONSIDER THE BIRDS"
5 Weeks, 8:45 - 9:45 am Sundays (Sept. 18 - Oct. 16)
Join us for an engaging adult formation class this fall, led by Pastor Jeff, using the provocative book by Debbie Blue, “Consider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible.” From the well-known image of the dove to the rooster that announced Peter’s betrayal, birds play a dynamic role in Scripture. We will take a closer look at five of the ten birds Blue discusses in her book: pigeon, quail, eagle, sparrow, and cock. Through study and conversation, we’ll explore what these birds have to teach us about gratitude, vulnerability, desire, and insignificance. In a word, we will “consider the birds of the air” today, as Jesus taught his followers in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. This hybrid class will meet for five weeks in person on Sundays in the church lounge and virtually via the Zoom platform. (Zoom Link; Meeting ID: 840 3593 7190; Password: 815640)
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CHILDREN'S CHAPEL:
Children’s Chapel resumes Sunday, September 25!
After beginning in worship in the sanctuary with their families, children ages 3 years through 6th grade are invited to the chapel each week for a meaningful time encountering God and connecting with each other, through simple liturgy, songs, prayer, and the stories of our faith, led by Lindley Traynor, Director of Children & Family Ministry, and Scott McElhenie, Director of Youth and Family Ministry.
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MIDWEEK MEETUP:
Our fall season of Midweek Meetup begins Wednesday, September 21, from
5 pm to 6 pm, followed by church family dinner!
Kids ages 3 through 6th grade are invited to join us for crafts, music, games, and fun with friends. We’ll be meeting outside on the church lawn, with Wallace Moore Fellowship Center as our backup in case of bad weather. Parents may drop children off and go, or stay and join our parent fellowship group for a relaxed but meaningful time of connecting with other parents in our family of faith.
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Contact Peggy Massello, Director of Music Ministries, or Lindley Traynor, Director of Children and Family Ministry for more information about Midweek Meetup, and Pastor Laura Sherwood for more information about the parents’ group. | |
Beginning Wednesday, September 21st,
Join us for Church Family Dinner! We’ll gather at 6 pm in the Wallace Moore Fellowship Center and Chef Amy will create yummy, delicious
meals. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other families and to get a
mid-week break from kitchen duty at home. This gathering will be Wednesday evenings, at 6 pm, and all are invited.
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The Family Matters community house in Rogers Park is looking for tutors. The school year has begun and there is a waiting list of students who need support. A tutor's commitment is 1 ½ hrs per week, in one-on-one evening tutoring sessions. Interested in making a difference in a young student's life? Please contact Greg Korak (847-256-7251) and learn more about this opportunity.
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