Dear friends,
"For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this."
- Esther 4:14 (NRSV)
More than 2500 years ago the people of God were in exile. They had lost their homes and they were taken away in chains into captivity. They’re living in a foreign land as exiles. Interestingly, a woman named Esther becomes the queen. She’s an unlikely queen as she’s been raised as an orphan and, it turns out, she is also a member of the Jewish community living in exile. She’s an unlikely person in a position of power and privilege - a power and privilege that she doesn’t seem to even understand or acknowledge.
Her cousin comes to her and says the words above. Basically, he says,
you can’t keep silent now
. But he also says,
maybe you’re in this position so that you can do something
.
This two-fold observation is what brings us to where we are today.
We can’t be silent.
Maybe this is the time for us to do something.
Friends, this invitation is pretty straight-forward. I’m inviting all of us in our PCWS community to engage in some way and to endeavor for some personal growth.
No one is trying to judge anyone else, but rather, we’re looking for the courage to grow. To try something new. To acknowledge our discomfort. To pray through the difficult.
There are a couple of very simple things we’re going to do right now:
First, you are invited to join us on
June 24th and July 8th at 7 p.m.
as we look closely at the Confession of 1967 and the Belhar Confession. These are confessions that have been adopted by our denomination and both of them are relevant to the way we look at the world today, and particularly issues of racial justice. We’ll gather on Zoom and learn about the confessions and then have some discussion.
Click here
for links to the confessions and more information about the sessions including the Zoom connection info.
Second,
I’ve selected five books for you to choose from.
I ask everyone to choose one of the books and read and discuss it with at least one other person.
There are four nonfiction books and one young adult fiction book. It is really up to you how you go about forming your discussion group.
Perhaps you have family members who you could invite to read with you?
Maybe there’s been some discord or disconnect with others around issues of race and this might be a good way to learn together?
Or maybe you know of someone who you feel comfortable talking with because you see the world similarly?
If you don’t have anyone, let me know and I can help connect you with others.
Click here
for a brief guide to choosing among the five books and ways you can order them.
As an alternative, or supplemental option,
there are two films
,
Just Mercy
and
13th
. I strongly encourage you to see both of these films. They would be great for a discussion among your family and/or friends as well. Both are available online and streaming for free at least through the end of June.
Just Mercy
is
streaming for free
on many platforms and
13th
is
streaming for free here
.
I hope to see everyone at our first discussion and learning session next Wednesday night on Zoom, and I look forward, also, to hearing what book you’re choosing to read.
I will ask you when I see you next and I encourage you to ask one another!
So, hopefully you’ll have an answer.
I’ll also keep asking you whether you’ve seen 13th or Just Mercy.
Friends,
I love you all very much and I love our community. I also believe that God has called us “for such a time as this” so that we can learn more about ourselves and how we can bring God’s love into the world more fully and completely.
It is time for us to grow together and do some work toward that growth. May God bless us as we endeavor to do so!
Peace,
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Pastor Erik
P.S - There’s a LOT in this edition of the Weekly Connection! Please keep reading to learn more, including about how you can easily earn a free PCWS water bottle!!
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Watch our Worship Services Live
Sunday morning @ 9:30 a.m.
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No matter where you may be in the world, you can feel close to PCWS!
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Welcome Lottie!
This week our new Associate Pastor Lottie MacAulay Friedman started! We’ve been anticipating her arrival for several weeks and she’s hit the ground running. Join us next Sunday, June 28, for a drive-by opportunity to say hello and introduce you and your family to Lottie and her husband Jack. Feel free to email an introduction to Lottie in the meantime at
lottie@presbyws.org
. Lottie will join Erik in leading worship on Sunday!
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Summer Mission Project Book Drive!
PCWS is collecting new and gently used children’s books (birth through 6
th
grade reading level) during our summer book drive.
Please bring your books to the bins
outside the doors from the parking lot entrance. To learn more about our book drive,
visit our website
!
As of last night, we've collected
1,060
Books!
If you would like to make a monetary donation please use the
PCWS online donation
site to make an electronic donation selecting the Book Drive option or make a donation by check (note “Book Drive” on the memo line) and drop off or mail to our church office at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558. You may contact our
Financial Secretary Patrick Rivers
, with any questions on making an electronic donation.
If you have immediate questions about the book drive or what books are desired feel free to contact
Janet Andersen
.
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Our siblings at Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church in Cuba
Our men & women serving our country in the Armed Services
The people of Syria,
and especially the relatives of PCWS’ Interfaith Women’s Book Group
First responders, nurses, doctors, and others
providing care to others
Betty Anderson
Betty Toft
Billye Dvorak
Brent Young,
son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock
Cheryl Donchez,
friend of Theresa & Condy Dixon
Dorcas Dvorak,
friend of the Merrifield family
Family and friends of Paul,
cousin of Elizabeth Slezak
Family and friends of Wayne Filar,
Candice Mares’ cousin
Gary Mirlenbrink,
uncle of Lori Carsten
Holly Oliver,
daughter of Mary Kae Headland
The family of Inez Martinez,
friend of the Merrifield family
John Kregg
Joshua Haberkorn,
grandson of Shirley Pine
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Kathleen Kircher
Laura Querry,
daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
Marc Goldstein,
friend of Carol Ulreich
Marc Ladene,
friend of the Slezaks
Margaret and Don Swaar,
aunt and uncle of Kay Kelly and Jill Dold
Mary Kate Miller,
step-mother of Julie Garino
Mary,
dear friend of Bruce Geary
Michael De Vries
Michael,
friend of Jane Norman
Mike Liccar and family,
friends of Kay Kelly
Nate & Joann Dardick,
friends of Laurie Merrifield
Nathan,
friend of McMahon Family
Norb Mirlenbrink,
Uncle of Lori Carsten
Pat McTiernan,
friend of Phyllis DiFrancesco
Pat White,
friend of Becky Glasscock
Paulette Erickson,
friend of Carol Ulreich
Peggy Mirlenbrink,
aunt of Lori Carsten
Peter Wilkie
Phil Kasik
Ruth Kaduke,
niece of Herb & Joyce Smyers
Steve,
friend of McMahon Family
Teri Tuffner,
aunt of Candice Mares
Terry Moore,
friend of Mike Pelton
Theresa Ybanez,
great niece of Laura Fruit
Parents of Tiffany Sellman
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Stephen Ministers Are Available
We are a congregation that prays with one another and for one another. You are encouraged to pray for the concerns on this prayer list even though you may not know the details. Our Stephen Ministers are praying as well. If you would like to have a Stephen Minister pray for you or with you (over the telephone, or videoconference), please reach out to
Joyce Rodos
, the Stephen Ministry leader.
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6/19 Jill Dold
6/20 Sue Eck
6/20 Vaida Kovalick
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6/25 Robert Mansfield
6/26 Mark DeVries
6/26 Natalie Carlisle
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What are You Celebrating?
We know there are many milestones happening in our community - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. How have you been celebrating milestones during our time of social distancing and stay-at-home? Send photos to
mhennessy@presbyws.org
for inclusion in the Weekly Connection!
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PCWS Office Closed
The PCWS office remains closed for the immediate future. Our office staff are still working remotely and on a limited basis. If you need immediate assistance, please email
Pastor Erik
or leave a message for him on his church extension which he checks regularly, or call his cell - (708) 505-5409
.
Pastor Erik is checking the U.S. Mail daily. The mailbox is also now a locking box, so please feel comfortable dropping off correspondence directly (including contributions).
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Online Giving
During this time of virtual worship all are invited to continue supporting the mission and ministry of PCWS by dropping off or mailing your contributions directly to our church office at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558 or
by donating online.
Have you ever considered using online tools as a way to manage your contributions to PCWS? You can use our giving site to set-up recurring or one-time payments (there's no fee when you use your checking or savings account.) Since we’re not gathering in-person each week, this would be a good time to get yourself set-up with electronic payments. Please contact our
Financial Secretary Patrick Rivers
, with any questions or instructions for setting up payments through your bank.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our ministries, particularly during this uncertain time.
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AmazonSmile Customers
You can now support PCWS in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile devices!
Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations to PCWS:
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
- Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
- Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
With so many of us ordering on Amazon, please remember to designate Presbyterian Church of Western Springs as your charitable organization. This does not change your cost, but enables Amazon to contribute a small portion of the sale to the church, above and beyond your regular giving.
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Remember PCWS in your will and estate planning.
Please contact Pastor Erik for more Information.
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