A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
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Acacia Park Community Announcements |
When more people wear masks, more people are protected: As the weather begins to turn colder and we move our activities indoors, the wearing of masks becomes vital. As many as half of all people who have Covid-19 don’t show symptoms, “so it’s critical to wear a mask because you could be carrying the virus and not know it,” a new CDC report indicates. “While a mask provides some limited protection to the wearer, each additional person who wears a mask increases the individual protection for everyone” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/coronavirus-close-contact-cdc/). So please wear a mask—if not for you, then for someone else.
Covid-19 resurgence mitigation measures now in effect for Suburban Cook County: Indoor gatherings have been reduced to 25 people or less, depending upon room capacity. Therefore, attendance for our Wednesday Healing Worship with Communion is limited to 23 people plus Pastor and Katherine until further notice.
Daylight Savings Time Ends: On Sunday, November 1st, remember to turn your clocks back one hour.
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Sunday November 1, 2020
For All the Saints, Known and Unknown
We remember the faithful at rest in the Lord.
Our congregation lifts up the lives lived among us of:
Lorraine Johnson
Doris Mellinger
Ingeborg Vruno
Laurie Bujalka
They now enjoy the sight of God's face forever with all who have gone before. We pray that their families and friends, and all of us who lift up our beloveds in love and memory will be comforted in the sure and certain promises of life eternal and our communion with the saints of every time and place.
On Sunday, November 1st before the start of our Zoom worship service, Pastor Meagan will be at the church to ring the church bell once for each person from Norridge who has passed due to Covid-19.
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Stewardship 2021
Time, Talents, Treasures
At Acacia Park, stewardship is using the gifts God has given us to grow in our relationship with Jesus and our neighbors. Our 2021 Stewardship Campaign begins soon, so please consider these ways, big and small, that you can help:
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Participate and commit to being involved. Can you commit your time? Even if that time is attending a Sunday morning worship service, the time to do that is now.
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Contribute to the congregation--whether it is through acts of service or financially, the congregation needs your support.
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Pray for our congregation, our church, and our church leaders.
2021 pledge cards will be included in Advent boxes being sent out the week of November 8th. Please take some time to prayerfully consider what you can commit to the church in 2021, and then return your pledge card in the envelope provided by December 15th. You can also submit your pledge online through the link provided here.
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From the Pastor's Desk . . . |
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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings to you and God’s blessings as we end another church year and prepare for the Advent season. This year we prepare differently as 2020 has taught us the skill of being flexible. The coronavirus pandemic upended life as we knew it, and many things have been done differently this year to keep the majority of people safe. We have learned that even though the physical way we do things has to adapt, there are things that are never changing and they are: Faith. Hope. Love. Joy. We lift up these human traits during the season of Advent when we light a candle of the Advent wreath each week. We believe in a God who offers grace indiscriminately and beyond measure, and that in gratitude to God we open our hearts and our minds and ourselves to others. And with this being stewardship season, we acknowledge that if we are able to during this stressful time, we open up our wallets too.
When you receive you Advent Box, look inside to find your 2021 envelopes, a stewardship letter, 3rd quarter statements, and a pledge card with a return envelope. Please take a moment to fill out the pledge card to share your financial commitment with Acacia Park for the next year and mail it back to the church. And new for this year: if you would like to share your pledge electronically, we've created a Google pledge form for that! I know this year is not like others. It is hard to make plans for three weeks from now let alone make a financial commitment to the church for 2021.
I know there have been changes in income and work for many of us. Our needs have changed, so our budget needs have changed. The request to fill out the pledge card is not to make you feel guilty or to shame you if your situation changes and your pledge needs to change as well. Pledging simply allows Acacia Park to make plans, as much as we are able to during this time.
Our expenses have gone up even without us being in the building as often. Council needed to buy computer programs and recording equipment. We are spending more on mailings and ways to keep the
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community connected. Our staff is working more hours without earning extra pay; the hours are being donated to the church to help us get through this trying time.
This is a time of sacrifice. We all had to make huge changes in our day-to-day in order to benefit the greater community. This is being Christian. This idea of taking care of others, giving love freely, thinking of those who are the most at risk in society - this is us living out our Christian promises made in our baptism to fight for justice and peace. So we social distance; we wear masks; we wash our hands, we donate food to the food pantry, and we support the church as well if we are able.
As I prepared the 3rd quarter statements, I wrote personal thank-you notes on each statement. I want you to know how much it means to me and the council that those who have been able to have continued to make donations to the church. Many have been able to keep up with their 2020 pledges; some have not. We are grateful for all donations that can be made during this time! I also realized that some people may have stopped donating after we stopped in-person worship simply because it is unclear how or where to send donations.
There is a link in this newsletter under the Treasurer's Report to make an on-line donation. You can also find the link in the Sunday morning worship bulletin sent to your email with the link to the worship service. Additionally, our website, acaciaparkchurch.com, provides an option for donating under "Quick Links." You can mail checks to the church. Someone is in the building regularly to collect the mail. We can also help you create an electronic withdrawal so your monthly donation automatically comes out of your bank account (this is how my husband gives to his church). A final way to physically give to the church is my placing your donation in the offering plate in worship on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm when we gather for in-person healing worship with communion.
You are part of this. My Pastor's Message to you this month is that you consider filling out a pledge card and share the commitment of your already generous gift to the church for the 2021 calendar year. Uncertainty abounds these days, including financial uncertainty. Of one thing we are certain: the need for good news, the need for the people of God to engage and invest in the work of God, has never been greater. Please pray about this invitation, and respond as God enables you.
In Christ,
Pastor Meagan
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Advent Boxes
Delivery begins the week of November 8th
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Thanks-4-Giving
Friday Night Dinner Fellowship
Get your Thanksgiving leftovers ready, and join us for our Friday Night Dinner Fellowship on November 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. We'll gather on Zoom (log on information below) to enjoy one another's company over dinner, to share what we're thankful for this season, and to discuss what stewardship will look like in 2021. So heat up those leftovers; make a sandwich; have a nightcap, and join us for a friendly meal together.
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Congratulations to Our Confirmand
Jenna O'Connell
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On Saturday, October 24th, we celebrated the confirmation of one of our young members: Jenna O'Connell. With great happiness, members of Jenna's family joined her in affirming her baptism and bearing witness to the Spirit's work in and through us. Jenna is pictured at left with her parents Rich and Diana O'Connell. |
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Seeds Monthly, October 2020
From the ELCA
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Treasurer's Report
As of September 2020
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You may also mail your donation to:
Acacia Park Lutheran Church
4307 N Oriole Avenue
Norridge, IL 60706
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To join our Zoom Self-Guided Communion Worship and Fellowship meeting on Sunday mornings (including Unity Sunday, November 8th) beginning at 9:15 am, click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:
To dial in by your location (audio only):
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 847 5963 2088
Passcode: 554322
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To join our Zoom Friday Night Dinner Fellowship meeting on November 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:
To dial in by your location (audio only):
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 857 2585 2258
Passcode: 562393
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Mark Your Calendars!
December Book Club Selection
We'll meet Tuesday, December 15th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm on Zoom. Our book selection is All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot.
From the publisher: Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic animal patients. For over 40 years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot's marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye. You can purchase a copy at Thrift Books.
Book Club will meet every other month on the third Tuesday via Zoom. If you'd like to secure your books and read ahead, upcoming dates and book selections are as follows:
Tuesday, February 16, 2021—The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Tuesday, April 20, 2021—Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
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Prayer Requests
Please keep the following people in your prayers . . .
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Family of Laurie Bujalka
Bonnie Cousins
Katie Dupree
Linda Engler (in rehab at Norridge Gardens)
Marion Engler
Frank Gondela
Dorothy Hauserman
Ruth Igoe
David & Ann Jones
Nancy & Bob Komada
Helen Lanners
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Family of Doris Mellinger
Elsie Michelsen
Everly Ramirez
Nettie Richards
Ringelstein Family
Erv Siemers (recent fall)
Family of Ingie Vruno
Bonnie Wince
Burse Wince
Sondra Wince
Shar and George Wyatt
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. . . and essential workers, health care workers, police officers, correctional officers, and the more than 228,000 Americans lost to Covid-19. |
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Psalm 100:1-2 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
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4307 N Oriole Avenue, Norridge, IL 60706
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Church office hours: Monday through Thursday, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm |
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