A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
|
From the Pastor's Desk . . . |
|
|
 |
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Fall is the season of schedules. Over the summer we let our schedules run wild. We throw caution to the wind because we can be outside. And how important being outside was this summer. It is safer to gather and meet outside, so we spent as much time with people we wanted to see - from a distance and with masks - outside. The days are longer, so we tend to make more plans; we travel, and we take advantage of the warmth.
Fall sometimes feels like a magnet for me. It is like I have a force pulling me back into a routine. Having younger kids and a teacher in the family makes a schedule necessary in the fall when school begins again. But there is also something about the cooler weather that makes my nerdy side just want to plan and organize.
Acacia Park has a new fall schedule. As you begin to enter into your fall
|
|
|
|
rhythm, please keep the church schedule in mind. There are two opportunities to worship each week and quite a few opportunities to gather for community and fellowship each month.
Covid is making it hard to build community. It is also making it tricky to keep the community we already have. We are screened out by the end of the day and just can’t fathom yet another Zoom gathering or meeting. Or without the need to get in a car and physically go someplace, the time for the gathering comes and goes by before you even really realize it. Life is so different now, and it is hard to create this new rhythm.
Just know that Acacia Park is here for you. When you need to feel connected, we are here. When you need to talk to your church friends, we are here. When you feel lost and need some grounding, we are here. The worship schedule above and the fellowship opportunities below are the times when someone from the church will be available regularly, but also know that you can reach out to Dawn during office hours (Mon - Thurs, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm) or to me at anytime by texting or calling me at 773-885-9686.
I hope to see you or speak with you!
In Christ,
Pastor Meagan
|
|
|
|
Book Study
Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21 and 28 beginning at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Join Pastor Meagan as we read Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S. by Lenny Duncan, the unlikeliest of pastors. From the publisher: formerly incarcerated, he is now a black preacher in the whitest denomination in the US: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Part manifesto, part confession, and all love letter, Dear Church offers a bold new vision for the church to take on forces of this world that act against God: whiteness, misogyny, nationalism, homophobia, and economic injustice. Duncan gives a blueprint for the way forward and urges us to follow in the revolutionary path of Jesus.
Join the Zoom Book Study meeting:
Meeting ID: 881 6753 1620
Passcode: 862913
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,88167531620#,,,,,,0#,,862913# US (Chicago)
+13017158592,,88167531620#,,,,,,0#,,862913# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 881 6753 1620
Passcode: 862913
|
|
Welcome Back Book Club!
Acacia Park Book Club Resumes in October
Join us once again for fellowship, conversation, and love of books and reading as we resume and adapt our popular book club for Zoom. We'll meet Tuesday, October 20th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Our book selection for October is The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingleman-Sundberg.
From the publisher: Martha Andersson may be seventy-nine-years-old and live in a retirement home, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to stop enjoying life. So when the new management of Diamond House starts cutting corners to save money, Martha and her four closest friends—Brains, The Rake, Christina and Anna-Gretta (a.k.a. The League of Pensioners)—won’t stand for it. Fed up with early bedtimes and overcooked veggies, this group of feisty seniors sets about to regain their independence, improve their lot, and stand up for seniors everywhere. You can purchase a copy at Thrift Books.
Join the Zoom Bi-Monthly Book Club Meeting:
Meeting ID: 872 8764 2749
Passcode: 648104
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,87287642749#,,,,,,0#,,648104# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,87287642749#,,,,,,0#,,648104# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 872 8764 2749
Passcode: 648104
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, December 15, 2020—All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
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
|
|
Introducing . . .
Friday Night Dinner Fellowship
Make sure to set aside the fourth Friday of every month for Friday Night Dinner Fellowship. Beginning Friday, October 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, we'll gather on Zoom to enjoy one another's company over dinner. So order a pizza; make a sandwich; have a nightcap, and join us for a way to connect at the end of each month.
Join the Zoom Friday Night Dinner Fellowship Meeting:
Meeting ID: 857 2585 2258
Passcode: 562393
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,85725852258#,,,,,,0#,,562393# US (Chicago)
+13017158592,,85725852258#,,,,,,0#,,562393# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 857 2585 2258
Passcode: 562393
|
|
Illinois General Election
Early Voting Begins October 19th
“My dear friends: Your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.” – John Lewis, 2012 speech in Charlotte, North Carolina (https://blackalliance.org/john-lewis-quotes/)
The Norridge Village Hall will again be offering early voting for the upcoming Illinois General Election on November 3rd. Early voting begins on October 19th and continues through November 2nd. Dates and times for early voting are as follows:
Monday through Friday, October 19th - October 23rd and October 26th - October 30th,
and Monday, November 2nd
8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 24th and Saturday, October 31st
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 25th and Sunday, November 1st
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
According to the Cook County Clerk's website, the Clerk's Office will also offer secure mail ballot drop boxes at early voting locations, including Norridge Village Hall, beginning October 19th. These drop boxes will be emptied every day and ballots time stamped to make sure they are counted. If you have requested a mail-in ballot and prefer not to return your completed ballot by USPS, you may drop it off at Village Hall anytime during early voting hours (https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/service/mail-ballot-drop-box-locations).
Anyone living in Suburban Cook County can vote or drop off mail ballots at Norridge Village Hall during early voting.
|
|
From the ELCA
Seeds Monthly, August/September 2020
|
|
Journi—Reveal your path to leadership
When someone feels God is calling them to make a difference in the world, the sheer number of questions and options can be overwhelming.
Coming this winter, Journi is a digital tool for everyone who feels called to leadership in this church. Journi will equip future leaders with tools to discover their gifts, practical resources to learn more about opportunities within the church and next steps to move forward in their leadership journey. Watch our video to learn more about our vision for Journi.
“Stories of Faith in Action”
“Stories of Faith in Action” is an annual publication highlighting how God changes lives through ministries funded by Mission Support. Mission Support is the portion of your offering that your congregation shares with your synod, and your synod shares with the ELCA churchwide organization. This publication and the resources that accompany it illustrate how your congregational offering sustains and advances the work of this church. Stories, videos and an interactive flipbook of the publication are available at ELCA.org/SOFIA.
|
|
On Saturday morning, September 26th, Pastor Meagan celebrated Holy Baptism, and we welcomed a new member into the body of Christ: Ziya Jean Tunious Sanford (pictured at right).
Ziya Jean is the daughter of Kathy Felix and Deonte Tunious Sanford, and she is the great-granddaughter of Linda Jenkins.
|
|
|
Acacia Park Community Announcements |
Self-Guided Communion Worship and Fellowship: Every Sunday morning beginning at 9:30 am. Constant Contact self-guided worship bulletins will arrive in your email inboxes on Sunday mornings before service is set to begin. Come for worship and stay for fellowship, text study and discussion.
Join our Zoom Self-Guided Communion Worship and Fellowship meeting:
Meeting ID: 847 5963 2088
Passcode: 554322
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,84759632088#,,,,,,0#,,554322# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 847 5963 2088
Passcode: 554322
Reformation Sunday--October 25, 2020: Pastor Meagan will begin a new Zoom catechism on Reformation Sunday focusing on the history, particularly the early years, of Martin Luther. This will take place during the 11:30 am to 12: 30 pm time slot.
All Saints Sunday--November 1, 2020: This year, Pastor Meagan plans to be at church to ring the bell once for every passing that occurred in Norridge due to Covid-19.
|
|
|
|
Treasurer's Report
As of August 2020
|
|
Allie: nurse at Lutheran General Hospital
Jackie: nurse
Susan Mari: medical student
Shar & George Wyatt: loss of a loved one
Katie, Gene, Sean, Megan: grocery store employees
Kelly Smith: nurse
Diana O’Connell: 911 dispatcher
Rich O’Connell: firefighter
Sheri, Lauren & Dan: Costco employees
Ringelstein Family: loss of a loved one
|
|
Carlie Figliuolo: paramedic
Haley Stec: paramedic
Frank Stec: paramedic
Erv Siemers: health
Family of Doris Mellinger: condolences
Stewart: general prayers
|
|
J.: for the promotion she is seeking
Nettie Richards
Burse Wince
Bonnie Wince
Police and correctional officers: general prayers
|
|
If you have loved ones working in hospitals, grocery stores, or other essential-worker capacities, please share their names so that we may lift them up in prayer. You may also share other prayer concerns such as lost jobs, health, anxiety, etc. Email your prayer requests to: pastormeagan@gmail.com or acaciaparkchurch@gmail.com.
|
|
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
|
|
4307 N Oriole Avenue, Norridge, IL 60706
|
Church office hours: Monday through Thursday, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
