Moderator's Message
Karen Kaluzsa
Greetings from home!
I’ll bet like me, you miss the fellowship of our church family, and it’s really hard to process all the departures that have occurred in our congregation while we shelter in place. We all will miss seeing Richard, Jane, Tim, Kathy and Nancy when we get back together, as much as we wish them much happiness in their new homes.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our staff, Lori Prang and Larry Dieffenbach for continuing church operations and planning services during these unusual times, and to Samantha, Mike and Lori Prang for filming, editing and uploading our services to YouTube each week. Thanks too to the musicians and church members who have stepped up to participate in our services while socially distancing. We are averaging over 200 views of our services on YouTube each week.
We have services planned with guest preachers and lay leaders through May, and anticipate continuing to use guest preachers and lay leaders through the summer while we search for our next pastor. Our Pastoral Search Committee is hard at work, and I will report on the progress in finding our next pastor soon. We will not celebrate communion during May while we are worshiping online, but will reevaluate in June if the stay-at-home order continues. Our Pastor Emeritus, Ron Purser, is available by phone for pastoral counseling.
With Kathy Haben’s departure I am pleased to welcome Mary Emily Anhalt to Council, serving as chair of the Congregational Life Ministry. Mary Emily is on the slate of candidates to be voted in for our 2020/21 Church Council during our 'Junual' annual meeting on June 7. Be sure to mark your calendars and look for your invitation to join the virtual meeting, since as usual we will need a quorum of members to hold the meeting.
Stay safe and be well,
Karen
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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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'Junual' Congregational Meeting - June 7, 2020
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What's Happening at Church...
Get involved (SOON?) 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
Bible Study
- Wednesdays, 10 am -
POSTPONED
Meditation Group
- Thursdays, 9 - 10 am -
POSTPONED
Queen of Hearts Raffle
-
POSTPONED
Men of LHC Monthly Breakfast
-
POSTPONED
Sisters in Spirit (SiS) General Meeting
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POSTPONED
Plant Sale
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Saturday, May 2, 1 to 3 pm
A Book & A Prayer Book Club
- Thursday, May 21, 7 pm
via conference call
Friday Night at the Movies
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POSTPONED
BTW Deadline
- Wednesday, May 20
Church Council Meeting
- Tuesday, May 26, 7 pm
via conference call
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
- Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm, 630.584.4013
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Worship & Spiritual Growth
Together/Online
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We continue to provide our worship services each week via the LHC
YouTube channel
. We are very appreciative of your kind words.
Our plan is to continue the online services throughout May and into June if need be. If you'd like to volunteer to be a pulpit associate or lead a children's sermon we'd love to have you help out. You can either record it at your home and send us the video or come into the church and we will record you here, always while practicing proper distancing.
Here is what we have planned for May:
May 3
- Lay Led Service
May 10
- Rev. Terry Gallagher preaching
May 17
- Rev. Jim Benzing preaching
May 24
- Memorial Day Lay Led Service
May 31
- Rev. Nancy Schatzeder preaching
We look forward to the day when our lives can hopefully return to normal and we can all worship together again in our beloved sanctuary.
Samantha Prang
Worship & Spiritual Growth, Chair
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Music Notes
Virtual Worship
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I want to take this moment to thank all of the musicians who have provided music for us in our LHC virtual worship services. Greg Abell, Jen Haseltine, Karissa and Gerry James, Matt Jones, and Nick Metzger have all been so gracious to offer the talents and time to us. Your music has been a blessing to many and thank you all for your kind words and notes that you send.
We will continue our services online through May. If there is a piece of music or a hymn that you would like to hear please let me know and I’ll try to work it into the service.
I can’t thank the Prang Production team enough for bringing this all together every week – it takes a lot of time and talent as well. Please consider becoming a pulpit associate or a children’s sermon minister while we continue online.
Peace,
Larry Dieffenbach,
Director of Music, Organist
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In these unprecedented times, ensuring the basic necessities for families in our area is of the utmost importance. Our donations at Easter in lieu of dinners were met at the Resurrection Food Pantry with great thanks and appreciation! Additionally, the RFP, from the front lines of this fight, has shared information with us (above) on how people who need access to food can get it. If you, anyone you know, or anyone you may work with professionally in our area need access to consistent food, please share the information above with them!
In other Outreach news, our cash donations in lieu of Easter baskets organized by SIS for the Crisis Community Center were very well received. Thank you to everyone who took the time to donate, and to Judy Hopkins for assisting me in coordinating this effort! As we cannot provide our usual contributions of holiday treats and toiletries at this time, our donations go a long way.
In an effort to share all of the amazing things we are doing as a congregation (when we can 'people' again, that is), there is a small group of us who are working on a way to streamline information about our volunteer process. Many of us are aware that congregants are doing great work at our organizations and beyond, but we don’t know exactly who is representing LHC and where. It would be immensely helpful to me as Outreach chair, especially, when I speak to our organizations to highlight in which ways we are supporting them. More information to come!
As you many remember from our 'Janual' meeting, we came into 2020 with a surplus of funding in our Outreach budget, around $2,000. At this moment, I am working together with our organizations and Council to best decide how and when to delineate these funds to maximize their benefit to those in need. Even if we cannot be together in person, we can still help those in need around us as a congregation! Take care and stay safe!
Karissa James
Outreach Ministry Chair
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Sisters in Spirit
SiS + Outreach = Masks!
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COVID19 is taking a toll on all of us in many ways. There is so much uncertainty. So many of our brothers and sisters are suffering from the virus, working to fight the virus, worrying about a friend or loved one, or grieving for a loved one lost to COVID19. What can we do?
Some of our members have begun crafting masks for use during the pandemic. Do you sew? Do you have fabric to share? Do you have ELASTIC, preferably 1/8"? Do you have a pattern to share? Would you like to be a distributor? If yes to any of these questions, please call me or email me and we will see if we can ramp up an LHC Mask Making Machine.
Anne Bouchard
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Stewardship
Spring Campaign
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Last month we delayed kicking off our Stewardship Spring Campaign due to the uncertainties surrounding COVID 19. Well, we have experienced a month to remember and there will be more sacrifices and learning as we move forward with our lives. What we know for sure is:
First, there is not going to be 'the day' – when the switch goes on and everything returns to normal. It will be a gradual process, but we are resilient and it will happen.
Second, what’s important as we cope with a far different world around us, is that it’s very important to 'be there' for each other – our family, our friends, our church, community and country.
Third, our support for the mission and vision of Little Home Church is as vital as it’s ever been – and it feels good too!
Therefore, we have decided to move forward with this important fundraising activity. Letters will go out to all members during May asking for your financial participation. We hope that those who are able, will respond with generosity.
I look forward to seeing everyone once we are able to return to Sunday services and sincerely thank all those who are contributing their time and talent to providing our virtual Sunday Service. It’s a Joy and a great way to start Sunday.
Please stay healthy and safe.
Pete Connolly
Stewardship Ministry Chair
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2020/2021 Church Council
Slate of Candidates
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The Nominating Committee, comprised of Carol Berger, Chip Braulick, Karen Kaluzsa and Chris Thornton has assembled the following slate of candidates for the 2020/2021 LHC Church Council, to be voted on by the congregation at our 'Junual' Annual Meeting on June 7, 2020.
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
- Pete Connolly
Worship & Spiritual Growth
- Samantha Prang
Member-at-Large
- Chuck McDonough
Member-at-Large
- Jennifer Harmon
Treasurer
- Susi Winquist
Financial Secretary
- Ann McLaughlin
Clerk
- Kristin Thornton
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We'll keep y'all posted
on the pop-up...!
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We're taking advantage of our 'hunkered down' time to clear our closets and do a bunch of spring cleaning. Then as soon as we can 'gather again' we'll pop up a quick rummage sale at the church to get some quick cash for the church!
Sound good...? Drop off items NOW.
DROP-OFF
INSIDE
Parish Hall only!
Monday through Thursday during church office hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Friday & Saturday by appointment
Please...DO NOT leave items outside.
NOT a Church Dumpster...
We do ask that you donate thoughtfully. ‘Reusable’ does not necessarily mean ‘re-sellable.’ Help us by asking yourself, “Would I buy this in this condition?” before donating an item. We need things to sell...!
Thank you,
Kathleen Sullivan Kaska and Mary Roach
Pop-Up Co-Chairs
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Meets 3rd Thursday, 7 pm
NEXT MEETING is May 21 via Webex
The Fifth Floor
by Julie Oleszek
Our May book discussion will be held online via Webex on Thursday, May 21 at 7 pm. This month we are reading
The Fifth Floor
by Julie Oleszek, which is a semi-autobiographical coming of age novel that takes place in the western suburbs of Chicago in the 1970s and '80s and explores the life of a teen coping with a traumatic family event.
Thanks to Kathy Haben I am excited to announce that the author, Julie Oleszek who lives in Batavia, will be joining us for our discussion! I have library copies of the book available--just call 630-513-8180 and let me know you are coming, and I will leave a copy for you on my front porch, which is not far from the church. Or,
The Fifth Floor
also
can be purchased on Amazon.
To join the discussion, simply call:
1-312-535-8110
at 7 pm on May 21 and type in the Access Code
626 005 370
. That's all there is to it.
If you have any questions, please let me know, and I look forward to a lively discussion.
Best,
Karen Kaluzsa
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SiS Plant Sale
Pick-Up Details
It’s time!!! Our plants will be delivered
Saturday, May 2
.
The plants will be ready for pick up in front of the sanctuary
AND
we are staggering pick up times between 1 and 3 pm:
Last names A-L pick up between 1 and 2
Last names M-Z pick up between 2 and 3
.
If that doesn't work for you, please come when you can between 1 and 3.
If you would like to have your plants delivered, please contact me directly.
We do have some extra annuals, veggies, strawberries, and herbs for sale. Quantities and prices are included
here.
First ordered, first sold and limited quantities.
Let me know if you want to reserve any of these.
Please bring a check or cash if you have not yet paid for your plants.
Anne Bouchard
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Friday Night at the Movies
POSTPONED
The Peanut Butter Falcon
The movie tells the story of a man with Down Syndrome who runs away from the residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a pro wrestler. Along the way he befriends an outlaw who becomes his coach and ally. It's a real 'feel good' movie that will pleasantly surprise you!
We look forward to the time we can all gather together and enjoy a good movie, and fellowship!
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The Queen of Hearts raffle remains inactive during this period of shut down. However, we will be selling tickets at the Plant Sale this Saturday, May 2, for anyone who wishes to purchase tickets for our next raffle when we are able to return to The Spotted Fox. Thank you to everyone who has supported us in the past, and we are looking forward to resuming the Queen of Hearts when our establishments, churches and restaurants are able to reopen.
Fundraising Committee
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Graduation Time
Class of 2020
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It's that time of year when we want to know who's graduating so that we may recognize their achievements in next month's By The Way. Do you have a child, or grandchild who is graduating high school, college, technical school, or graduate school?
Please tell us:
--Graduate's full name
--Degree or program and name of school
--Future plans
Email the
Church Office
so that it can be included in BTW next month!
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Meet the Search Committee
The Pastoral Search Committee was called together by Moderator, Karen Kaluzsa on March 25, 2020. They have virtually assembled for five meetings and have contacted members of the previous Search Committee to understand 'what went well and what did not.' They have established Cloud storage for sharing documents such as meeting minutes, contact info, schedules, Profile drafts and Job Description updates. The committee will also be training with UCC on profile review and interview skills, and working with Council to determine Pastor goals and options for the search process. This new team welcomes your questions and comments.
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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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Flowers, Fellowship,
Ushers & Pulpit Associate
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With temporary suspension of our worship services we are tabling our need for ushers, flowers, fellowship, and pulpit associates. But don't you worry...we'll be bugging you to volunteer soon.
In the meantime...here's a little flora from the LHC courtyard garden...!
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May 1
- Jennifer Rosenzweig
May 3
- Allison & Samantha Prang
May 6
- Dan Roach
May 9
- Kelly Hochstetter
May 10
- Maggie Purser
May 11
- Carol Thielman
May 14
- Rachael Abell
May 18
- Jan Marchese
May 23
- Hilari Fix, Ginny Sweeny
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To those recently ill or hospitalized...
Kathi Abell, Jeff Schramuk, Don Heinrich
Prayers for...
All those working in the medical field, first responders, truck drivers, grocery store employees and all those who are considered essential employees.
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Special Church Angels
Hard at Work
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During this time of social distancing, our church angels have not slowed down. I wanted to share a piece of extraordinary artwork, kindness, and love I received for my first grandchild due May 4 from our amazing church angel, Susi Winquist. The baby blanket is the most beautiful work of crochet I've never seen in my lifetime, and I wanted to share with our church family for all to see. Thank you, Susi, with tons of love.
Carol Berger
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When things are moving fast forward sometimes it's fun to take a peek behind you.
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THANK YOU TO OUR CHURCH STAFF, COUNCIL, AND ALL VOLUNTEERS
Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Dr. Don Heinrich
Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Ronald Purser
Director of Music/Organist
- Larry Dieffenbach
Office Manager
- Lori Prang
Custodian
- Geraldine Fields
BTW Editors
Lori Prang and Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
Graphic Design
Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
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CHURCH COUNCIL
Moderator
- Karen Kaluzsa
Moderator-elect
- Carol Berger
Stewardship
- Peter Connolly
Evangelism
- Mary Roach
Outreach
- Karissa James
Congregational Life
- Kathy Haben
Christian Education
- Nancy Schatzeder
Worship & Spiritual Growth
- Samantha Prang
Facilities
- Mark Lesswing
Members at Large
- Jen Haseltine and
Scott Johnson
Financial Treasurer
- Susi Winquist
Financial Secretary
- Ann McLaughlin
Clerk
- Kristen Thornton
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