January 28, 2021
Weekly Connection
Dear friends,

Late this past weekend there was a winter storm warning and much excitement about the coming weather. I’m always amused because even though we all know that there’s little that can be predicted, many of us read all the predictions we can get our eyes on. Some of the warnings were dire: stock up with several days worth of food, etc. When the snow finally started falling, I had to laugh a little bit. Mega storm? I don’t think so … this is just Chicago in January! In fact, it was a beautiful storm and while it certainly brought inconvenience to people, it certainly wasn’t worthy of panic.

This is sort of how life can be sometimes. Sometimes our worries are good - they help us to be prepared and to avoid harm. Other times, we spend so much time worrying that we become distracted from life, or even paralyzed. This past Sunday I talked about how, just like cookies, we are influenced by those around us. Our choices about the people with whom we associate, and, even more importantly, our decision to follow, love, and worship God, impacts how we see the world. Like our fears or worries, we can gauge our actions and thoughts against the backdrop of others and God.

In the 1990s there was a movement in popular Christian culture memorialized by the letters WWJD. Do you remember this? It was an acronym reminder to ask the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” as we engaged the world. I wonder if another variation on this might be, “What would Jesus have me do?” When we ask this question, we begin to see the world a little differently - taking on the fragrance of Christ. Speaking of fragrance, below you’ll find the full text of the prayer I mentioned in my sermon that Mother Teresa used regularly with her community.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and I want to encourage you to join us for worship as we’ll be ordaining and installing elders and deacons and then join us for Fellowship right after the service ends! (Feel free to come as you are!) You can click the graphic above for the Zoom link.

Finally, I mentioned last week in the Weekly Connection and on Sunday morning that our former Interim Pastor Bill Ingersoll has been having some cardiac health issues. I wanted to share that Roberta Ingersoll provided an update that Bill had quintuple bypass surgery this past Monday and he is recovering well. Please continue to keep them both in your prayers! If you’d like to drop a card by the church, we will get them to him.

Peace,
Pastor Erik
Fragrance Prayer of Mother Teresa
Inspired by words of John Henry Cardinal Newman
Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly,
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.

Shine through us, and be so in us,
that every person we should come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus.

Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as you shine;
so to shine as to be a light to others;
the light, Jesus, will be all from you.
None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.

Let us thus praise you in the way you love best,
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching:
not by words, but by our example,
by the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear for you.

Amen.
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Let's Continue to Fill the can and
Support Second Baptist Church of La Grange Food Pantry

Our regular Monday morning delivery has helped to make a greater impact on the community that 2nd Baptist serves. Please continue to remember our neighbors who struggle with hunger and, as you are doing your grocery shopping, consider adding a couple extra items for the pantry. Food items can be dropped off Sunday mornings or any time during the week in the can near the entrance from the parking lot.
Pray
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
Bill Ingersoll
Brent Young, son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock 
Caryle Aitken Wilkie
Don Heizer, friend of the McMahons
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
Julie Garino
Laura Querry, daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
Marc Goldstein, friend of Carol Ulreich 
Mary Jo Blough
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 
Nate & Joann Dardick, friends of Laurie Merrifield 
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 
Shannon Cavanaugh, niece of Phyllis DiFrancesco
Steve Coates, husband of Stephanie Coates
Steve, friend of McMahon Family
Teri Tuffner, aunt of Candice Mares 
Terry Moore, friend of Mike Pelton
Wendy Montague, friend of Candice Mares
Stephen Ministers Are Available

Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. Stephen Ministers share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.

Stephen Ministers are matched with the individual and meet with that person on a weekly basis to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. The caring relationship lasts as long as the need for care exists. If you are interested in learning more about Stephen Ministry, please email Pastor Erik or Joyce Rodos.
Celebrating Birthdays:
1/29    McKenna Slater
1/30    Taylor Kelly
1/31    Kara Leslie
1/31    Tanner Booth
2/2      Alex Burt
2/4      Jim McMahon
2/5      Jim Koning
2/7      Joyce Habermann
2/7      Judy McAtee
2/9      Kevin Remiker
Support
Thank you for your ongoing support of our ministries, particularly during this uncertain time. 
PCWS Office Closed

The PCWS office remains closed during the pandemic. Our office staff are 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. Staff is checking the U.S. Mail daily. The mailbox is a locking box, so please feel comfortable dropping off correspondence directly (including contributions).