Dear friends,
It was great to be back with you all on Sunday morning during worship! I had a great time away on vacation, but definitely missed being with you all. Thank you to Lottie for stepping in while I was away! I’m glad that you all had the chance to learn from her and be led in worship by her. Speaking of Lottie, I hope you’ll join us on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. for Lottie’s ordination and installation service. It will be a great chance for us to celebrate with her and to have the Presbytery celebrate with us. You can access the service the same way you access our Sunday morning services. If you are unable to join live, the service will be posted to our YouTube page later in the day.
Sunday morning we’ll be continuing in Matthew’s gospel as Jesus teaches about forgiveness and our call to forgive others. I hope you’ll join us for worship as we explore this text and some of the challenges we face when we confront this difficult call.
Friends, I know that many of you are weary! We have been away from one another for more than six months, school has started, cooler weather has arrived (at least for the moment!), and we’re all anxious to be back with one another. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, especially as I struggled personally with the challenges presented when I tried to visit with my parents while I was in California. I’ve realized a few things on my return: first, we need to remember that this isn’t permanent. Yes, it is feeling like a long time, but it isn’t permanent and it will end. Second, I’ve realized that I need to be creative, personally, and as your pastor. I’ve tried to do this by meeting with folks outside, taking distanced walks with others, having counseling sessions over Zoom. There are ways that we can be safe, responsible, and loving while also satisfying our need to be with one another.
See you on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m.!
Peace,
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Erik
P.S. As we transition to our Fall programming, please take a look below at the note about Sunday School for children and youth!
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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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We are excited to announce our Sunday school offerings for youth and children this fall! We will have classes for preschoolers up to twelfth graders. Parents will be receiving more information shortly, but in the meantime you can find topics and schedules on the church website or by reaching out to Lottie MacAulay Friedman.
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Summer Mission Project Book Drive
At the beginning of June the PCWS launch a book drive for Bernie's Book Bank as our 2020 Summer Mission project. Bernie’s Book Bank distributes books to under-served infants, toddlers and children through grade 6 across Chicagoland. Since their founding about 10 years ago, Bernie’s Book Bank has placed over 18 million books into the hands of children who had no books. Even during the pandemic, the staff at Bernie’s continued to reach out to distribute over 750,000 books to young readers in need.
This gift of books is so vital when low income neighborhoods average a ratio of 1 book per 300 children. Research shows over 60% of low income families have no children’s books in their home. Through this collective effort many children will receive books that will make a REAL difference in their life.
PCWS collected new and gently used fiction and non-fictions books, chapter books, picture books and everything in between over the past 3 months. Through the collective efforts of members and friends in our community, we packed 29 totes of books with a total of 8,025 books. Additionally, people provided monetary donation totaling $1,914.68. With the purchasing power of Bernie’s Book Bank, this means they will be able to buy an additional 1,914 books. With the physical books collected and monetary donations received, PCWS will be providing a total of 9,939 books. An absolutely amazing and marvelous gift of books for Bernie’s Book Bank!
An exciting, and totally unexpected benefit, of our summer book drive was Bernie’s reaching out to our mission partners to offer to share books with their clients. One of the organizations was Facing Forward to End Homelessness. You may remember last summer PCWS collected household items and made “Welcome Home Basket” to provide to their clients. Well, this summer Facing Forward clients with children received books from Bernie’s.
Our efforts will help in making READERS and LEADERS for the future! The Mission Committee shares their heartfelt thanks for supporting this summer mission project with your tremendous response. Remember, books can change the story!!!
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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
Ann, friend of Joyce & Herb Smyers
Betty Anderson
Betty Toft
Billye Dvorak
Bob LeMay, friend of Kay Kelly
Brent Young, son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock
Elaine Wood
Family and friends of Wayne Filar, Candice Mares’ cousin
George Bruser, uncle of Donna Kanak & Diane Bonner
Holly Oliver, daughter of Mary Kae Headland
The family of Inez Martinez, friend of the Merrifield family
Jan Fortina
John Kregg
Joshua Haberkorn, grandson of Shirley Pine
Kathleen Kircher
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Laura Querry, daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
Laurie Merrifield
Marc Goldstein, friend of Carol Ulreich
Margaret and Don Swaar, aunt and uncle of Kay Kelly and Jill Dold
Mary Jo Long
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
Wendy Montague, friend of Candice Mares
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We Extend Sympathy to:
Family and friends of Gary Mirlenbrink, uncle of Lori Carsten
Family and friend of Marc Ladene, friend of the Slezaks
Family and friends of Paul, cousin of Elizabeth Slezak
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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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9/10 Clark Wood
9/10 Grace Hughes
9/10 Lauren De Vries
9/11 Maddie Mosher
9/11 Max Strohl
9/12 Scott Banovic
9/13 Craig Harris
9/14 Jan Fortina
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9/15 Laurie Merrifield
9/15 Salvatore Melilli
9/19 Condy Dixon
9/19 Nate Yates
9/20 Jane Boxell
9/20 Kathy Boxell
9/20 Steve Mezan
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As ones who seek to do Christ’s work of love and reconciliation in the world, Pastor Erik invites all of us to join him in learning and growing. To do this, he is asking everyone to commit to reading at least one of the books on this list. The titles were chosen deliberately with the intent that you would engage with them and with others while you seek to grow. He encourages all of us to gather with family, or a small group of people, to read and discuss. Click on the graphic to learn more about this challenge.
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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, while Pastor Erik is on vacation, please email Lottie or leave a message for her on her church extension which she checks regularly, or call her cell - (708) 505-9829. Staff is checking the U.S. Mail daily. The mailbox is 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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Amazon Shopping?
In this unusual time, with so many of us ordering on Amazon, please remember to use smile.amazon.com and 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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