Celebrating the Journey March 2024 Newsflash *Be sure to click "VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE" at the bottom of the email to see the whole Newsletter!*

Events & Classes

Tuesdays with the Pastor Tuesdays at 2 pm Join Pastor Cope every Tuesday afternoon for important discussions on topics relevant to our spiritual lives.

Boy Scout Sunday Sunday, March 3 at 10 am Members of Boy Scout Troop 151 and Crew 151 will be lending their talents to our service this day. BSA focuses on character development and values-based leadership training for young people throughout the United States. To learn more about BSA, click here.

Women's Bunco Night Friday, March 8 at 6 pm $5.00 entry fee Enjoy a fun-filled, competitive evening of playing Bunco while benefitting a good cause, and bring your friends! We will meet in Fellowship Hall. All proceeds go to a charity of the winner’s choice. February proceeds benefitted Home of the Sparrow.

Men's Fellowship Saturday, March 9 at 9 am Men’s Fellowship will be meeting in Fellowship Hall for excellent conversation and a delicious meal. Bring your favorite breakfast dish, or just come to enjoy the good company! Invite a friend! If you would like more information, feel welcome to contact Bob Benjamin.

Girl Scout Sunday Sunday, March 10 at 10 am We are very excited to have Brownie Girl Scout Troop 425 with us to enhance our worship! The Girl Scouts offer diverse programs throughout the country that allow girls and young women to discover their strengths, meet new challenges, and positively impact their communities and the world. To learn more about GSUSA, click here.

Youth Movies with Meaning Peter Rabbit Sunday, March 10 Following Worship Come for worship and stay for the movie! We will be enjoying the 2018 film Peter Rabbit upstairs in Shepherd U following the service. Juice boxes, popcorn, and bunny-themed treats will be provided.

Bibles & Brew Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 pm Port Edward Restaurant 20 W Algonquin Rd, Algonquin Gather with us for delicious food, an adult beverage, and a guided conversation about the Scripture’s role in our everyday lives. Bibles & Brew meets on the second Thursday of each month. Please sign up in the Narthex, or let Connie Wodziak know of your interest, no later than March 10 so we can give the restaurant a headcount.

Family Easter Event Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 am There will be fun for the whole family at our Easter Event. Join us for Easter-themed crafts, snacks, story time, a jellybean raffle, and an Easter egg hunt! RSVPs are required, so please sign up in the Narthex or contact the Church Office to let us know you'd like to attend.

Kitchen Clean-Out Saturday, March 16 from 2 pm to 3 pm Women's Fellowship will be reorganizing and straightening our Fellowship Hall kitchen following the Family Easter Event. Any and all volunteers who would like to help with this project are welcome!

Women's Fellowship Bible Study Saturday, March 16 at 3 pm Bring an appetizer to share, and join us for our third Bible Study class as we discuss chapters 5 and 6 of Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak. This group is meeting on the 16th of each month through May for a total of five sessions, and we will be using the accompanying workbook to guide our study. Even if you missed the first two meetings, you are welcome to attend! You can purchase the book here and the workbook here. For questions or help ordering study materials, contact Connie Wodziak.

Teen Faith in Action Sunday, March 17 Following Worship TFIA will meet with Pastor Cope at the parsonage after the worship service for fellowship and discussion. Lunch will be provided.

General Primary Election Tuesday, March 19 6 am to 7 pm CCA will be serving as a polling location for the Consolidated Election from 6 am to 7 pm. Voting information for both Kane and McHenry County residents can be found here. Tuesdays with the Pastor will not meet this day.

Easter Handbell Choir Calling all handbell ringers! We are putting together a handbell choir to perform “Easter Song” with our Senior Choir on Easter Sunday. Rehearsals will be Wednesday evenings on March 20 & 27, and we will ring on Easter Morning, March 31. If you're interested and available, please contact the Church Office or Bev Tipps.

Holy Week Schedule Palm Sunday - March 24 at 10 am Maundy Thursday - March 28 at 7:30 pm Good Friday - March 29 at 7:30 pm Easter Sunday - March 31 at 10 am Worship with us during Holy Week as we walk with Christ through his final earthly days of betrayal and crucifixion, and rejoice on the third day as the stone is rolled away and we find him resurrected!

Maundy Thursday Live Last Supper Seeking Participants Our Maundy Thursday service will once again feature a living Last Supper. We are looking for 13 people who would like to take part in this dramatic reenactment. No line memorization necessary! If you are interested, please sign up in the Narthex or contact the Church Office.

Holy Week Set-Up Sunday, March 24 Following Worship We will be preparing the sanctuary for Holy Week following our Palm Sunday worship. If you are able to remain after the service and help, please do! There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Easter Set-Up Saturday, March 30 at 9 am We are looking for volunteers to assist in setting up the sanctuary for our Easter morning service. Please consider giving a little of your time to make our place of worship look as beautiful as possible for the most important day of the Church year!

Missions, Ministries & More

Thank You From the Deacons The Ministry of Deacons would like to thank everyone who helped lead worship while Pastor Brian was away. Whether from behind the scenes or the front of the sanctuary, your contributions were greatly appreciated. Marcie Nordlund, Barb Weitz, and Bill Hellyer hit the ball out of the park with their Meditations. Also, we would like to express our gratitude to Reverend Carol Currier-Frighetto for leading us through our Communion and Ash Wednesday services. We are truly blessed to have such caring, loving, and talented people in our congregation.

First Sunday Special Offering Sunday, March 3 We will be receiving our First Sunday Special Offering for the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry. The ALITH Pantry fosters community awareness and support for our neighbors in need by offering clients immediate access to basic food during difficult times.

Fair Trade Sunday, March 3 Following Worship When you purchase products that meet Fair Trade standards, not only are you supporting compensating workers with fair wages for their talents and labor, you’re also contributing to protecting the planet. Visit our Fair Trade Table in Fellowship Hall following worship, where you can browse and purchase quality Fair Trade products like coffee and tea. Visit our website or contact Nancy Kneip for more information.

Daylight Savings Begins Sunday, March 10 It's already time to "spring forward!" Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night so you aren't late to church Sunday morning!

One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, March 10 Our offering this day will benefit the UCC's One Great Hour of Sharing, a special mission offering that supports disaster, refugee/immigration, and development ministries throughout the world. Contributions provide relief and recovery for the most vulnerable, meeting needs and addressing the underlying causes that create those needs. Click here to learn more about One Great Hour of Sharing.

Candy Donations - Easter Family Event Due Sunday, March 10 The Board of Christian Education is requesting candy donations for our upcoming Family Easter Event on Saturday, March 16. Please make sure the candy is individually wrapped and small enough to fit inside of a small plastic egg. Donations can be placed inside the labeled box in the Coat Room. Also, we will be filling eggs after worship on March 10 and are looking for volunteers to help.

"Fifth" Sunday Sunday, March 24 Our Fifth Sunday offering this month will actually be held on the fourth Sunday of March. Offerings will benefit The Night Ministry, a Chicago-based organization whose mission is to provide human connection, housing support, and healthcare to those who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. Click here to learn more about The Night Ministry.

CCA Scholarship Applications Due April 1 The Endowment Committee is pleased to open annual scholarship applications to qualifying students. Applications are available in the Church Office. Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria: Students graduating high school and beginning their college studies. College students continuing their education. Members of the Congregational Church of Algonquin.

Order Easter Flowers Forms Due March 10 Per tradition, Easter flowers will be available for purchase again this year. Prices will range from $13.50 to $21. Flowers will be displayed on the altar during our Easter morning service and can then be taken home and enjoyed! If you are interested in ordering flowers, please fill out a form on the table in the Narthex and leave it for Karen in the Office. Alternatively, you can call the Office and have Karen fill out a form for you.

Shepherd U We are still looking for assistants to help our teachers on Sunday mornings. Leading our young people through their Bible lessons is a wonderful way to foster a love of church and faith-based living in future generations. So many of us benefitted from the kindness and tutelage of Sunday School teachers when we were children, so please consider fulfilling that role for the youth of our congregation. Just an hour of your time can make a huge impact on the life of a child. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Serve During Coffee Hour If you’ve ever enjoyed coffee and fellowship following worship on Sunday, consider volunteering to serve during Coffee Hour. Your fellow congregants will be grateful, and you will feel good for helping out! If you’d like to serve, there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Food Pantry Donations Food donations for the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry are greatly appreciated. Up-to-date lists of current pantry needs are available on the table in the Narthex and are also posted around the church. Donations can be left in the grocery cart by the elevator. Please refrain from donating items that are past the “best by” expiration date. Thank you!

Heavenly Attic Open Friday and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm In January, Heavenly Attic donated $300 to the church General Fund and $300 to the Emergency Fund. February proceeds benefitted Family Alliance, and March proceeds will benefit The Pioneer Center. While HA is open on Fridays and Saturdays, any congregation member who would like to shop after church on Sunday may contact JoAnn Schindler or Nancy Reebel.

Online Giving If you would like to donate online, please click here. You will find a wide selection of church funds to which you can contribute. Please contact Dennis Kneip with any questions about online giving.

Save the Date

March Newsletter Submission Deadline: March 19 If you have an item you would like included in the next Newsletter, please submit it to the Office by emailing algonquinucc@gmail.com no later than this date!

Click here to see the Church Calendar If you would like to have an event added to the calendar, please call the Church Office at (847) 658-5308 or email at algonquinucc@gmail.com.

Stay Connected

Robert Woertendyke Joseph Scheske Claudette Treadwell Pag Maggio Judy Stauffer Jessica Stengel Martha Wallace Liz Albandia Brent Thorne Donald Schmidt Anna Benjamin Thank you to Mary Beck, June Casterton, Scott Green, Ellen Kuroghlian, Wynn Ann Roggeveen, and Rita Whitney for their memorial contributions in honor of Betty Maicke. Office Hours Regular office hours are Monday - Friday 9 am - 2 pm Staff and Leadership Senior Pastor Brian E. Cope Moderator JoAnn Schindler Vice Moderator Bill Hellyer Past Moderator Michelle Tarosas Ministers of Music Bev and Greg Tipps Office Administrator Karen Jesse Treasurer Steve Guenther Social Media and IT Scotty Dunne

Barb and Dick Elke Undergoing hospital, rehabilitation, or home recovery Ed Church Fred Ekstrom Pat Hemmingsen Jeff Jolitz Norm Jolitz Pat Kramer Rick Stauffer Judy Stauffer If you would like someone's address to send a card, please contact the Church Office. Fred and Nancy Ekstrom Gary Gray Pat Hemmingsen Ron Martens Bobbie Reed Rita Whitney Val Williams Stream Worship Services Algonquinucc.org YouTube Facebook