Dear friends,
If you were with us on Sunday in worship, you heard the wonderful news that we were able to make a contribution to BEDS Plus for $40,000 to help with their Emergency Rental Assistance program. Janet Andersen and I visited with Joann Boblick whom you all heard from in worship last month and delivered the check to her. One of the things she said to us is that when people come seeking assistance, when there’s money available, the caseworkers have more flexibility in determining what will be of greatest help to keep the individuals in their homes. As a result of this tailored approach, they’re often able to keep people housed without the need for further help. What a gift it was for us to partner with BEDS as we contributed $1,000 for each of the 40 days of Lent. Thank you all, and thank you to our Mission Committee and Session for their leadership.
Joann reiterated her request that we speak the message about the availability of rental assistance. As she mentioned, we never know who might be on the verge of eviction or who might have a family member at risk. Please help spread the word!
As we head toward Holy Week, I want to invite you to stop by PCWS either today, tomorrow, or Saturday to pick up palms to wave at home during worship on Sunday. We’ll have two types of palms available, but I don’t know the best way to describe them! "Fronned ones" and "strips of palms" are the best way I can put it. If you’ll be joining us for the congregational meeting on Sunday after worship, I’d encourage you to pick up a strip palm as I’ll be teaching you how to make palm crosses out of them. But the fronned palms are beautiful, so you might want one of those too! If you need a palm delivered to you, please let me know and we have deacons ready who will deliver them before Sunday. If you’re not able to get a palm before Sunday, find a piece of green fabric or maybe a branch from outside to bring with you to worship.
When you pick up your palm, there will also be a container of small items for you to pick up for our Easter worship service. The contents are a surprise (don’t get too excited!) for you to open during worship on Easter Sunday. Please pick one up for each member of your household. Again, if you’re local and it would be helpful for us to bring them to you, just say the word! We’ll have them available starting today and through next week.
I hope you’ll look at our Holy Week offerings and find time in the coming week to participate in our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services as well as our Easter Services. All of these will be available online in case you are unable to participate live. In particular, the Good Friday service is designed to be experienced sometime during the day on Friday and into Friday night. Traditionally, it is believed that Jesus was crucified at noon but spent about 6 hours on the cross. There’s something powerful about the thought that folks from our community will be worshipping wherever they might be throughout the day, walking with Christ during those most difficult hours. Information about all of our Holy Week services (and how to connect to them) is available by visiting the Holy Week page of our website.
I look forward to seeing you in the next few days as you pick up palms! And see you on Sunday for worship and then the Annual Meeting of the Congregation which will be held on Zoom (click here for connection information). A link to the written materials will be sent to members in advance of the meeting (hopefully by Saturday). See you Sunday as we wave our palms and contemplate God’s mysterious work in our lives and the week ahead.
Peace,
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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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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.
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IT’S BACK…..
The annual clothing donation opportunity for the Cara Program through CD One Price Cleaners. Each March we share this chance to sort through your closets and take gently used professional attire to any CD One Price Cleaners in the city or suburbs. CD Cleaners will professionally clean all professional attire donations through March 27th. Clothing items will be given to Cara, a non-profit organization helping people affected by poverty find and keep quality jobs while rebuilding hope, self-esteem and opportunity for themselves and their families. Cara has been going strong for 30 years in this critical mission helping people
The most needed items are suits, blouses, ties, sport jackets and dress pants. The detailed list of accepted women’s and men’s clothing is at the Cara website
If you wish to avoid contact with store employees due to Covid, place your clothes neatly in a bag, seal and label the bag “Cara” and drop the bag at one of the donation bins at the select locations in our area:
2425 75th Street, Darien
5555 S. Brainard Avenue, Countryside
640 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove
You can learn more about the Cara Program’s impact as they celebrate their 30th anniversary as a vital mission in employment and life stabilization at their website. If you have questions contact Janet (Ande) Andersen.
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SPRING CLEANING!!
Reading those two words may make you shudder or maybe it inspires you to finish going through those last closets, rooms or basement space you didn’t clean during the pandemic!
One of our mission partners, Sharing Connections in Downers Grove, is in immediate need of gently used furniture, household and kitchen items which will quickly go to a new and very grateful household of one of their vetted clients.
- If you have larger furniture items, many of our communities are now in the Sharing Connection pick-up area. You can schedule a pick-up from the volunteer team who will come in the Sharing Connection truck.
- For smaller furniture or household items, drop them off at Sharing Connections at 5111 Chase Avenue (by Belmont BNSF commuter station) Monday thru Friday (9am-3pm) or Saturday (9am- noon).
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Not sure what Sharing Connections accepts? This link lists the many items they accept for helping those in need.
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Have questions, contact Sharing Connections at 630-971-0565 or contact Janet Andersen.
remaining!"
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Interfaith Community Partners
Did you know? ICP volunteers can drive older adults (60+) to get their Covid vaccines if they have no other way to get there. Please think about your older adult neighbors who may need help during this difficult time and share ICP's office phone number: (708) 354-9328
Interfaith Community Partners is a non-profit organization that works together with volunteers to provide escorted transportation for people 60 and better to get to places like physician appointments and therapies. We do not charge our clients and ask for suggested donations, when able.
Interfaith Community Partners also offers Library Home Delivery Service.
We need volunteer drivers! We'll train you via Zoom. We'll work around your busy life. Background check required. Find out more about Interfaith Community Partners - visit their website!
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One Great Hour of Sharing:
Because We Are the Church, Together
Life during COVID has been challenging. That feels like an understatement, right? At times, we have all felt disconnected, confined. Missing family, missing friends. Lonely. Worried about the groceries holding out. Unsure of what the future may hold. Imagine feeling all of those things but living in a place or in a situation that was already challenging each and every day without the added pressure of the pandemic. A place where access to food is day-to-day. Access to vital health care is questionable. Finding clean water is a daily struggle. A place where you are denied racial justice or plagued with outright violence and oppression.
But one thing remains steadfast and true: We are the Church, together, no matter where we are, and the Church belongs with those struggling for justice, righteousness and peace for life.
Click the image above to learn more about this year's One Great Hour of Sharing offering.
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Our siblings at Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church in Cuba, especially this week we pray for Grecia, Maria Eugenia, Nilda, and Raul
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
Brent Young, son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock
Caryle Aitken Wilkie
Dan Lewis
Eva Kelly, mother of Tom Kelly
Family and friends of Antonina Glos, friend of Cheryl, Peter, Erik, & Alex Hanson
Gary Miller, Brother-in-law of Laura Hepburn
George Bruser, uncle of Donna Kanak & Diane Bonner
H. Edward Jordan, father of Laura Fruit
Holly Oliver, daughter of Mary Kae Headland
The family of Inez Martinez, friend of the Merrifield family
Jake Trego, friend of Tom & Kay Kelly
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Jan Fortina
John Kregg
Joshua Haberkorn, grandson of Shirley Pine
Julie Garino
Larry De Vries, father of Mark DeVries
Laura Querry, daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock
Marc Goldstein, friend of Carol Ulreich
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
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
Will McLawhorn, nephew of Julie Kelly & Eric Boeckmann
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Stephen Ministers Are Available
Does COVID-19 have you feeling some type of way? Depressed maybe? Have you suffered the loss of a job and just can't get back on your feet? Going or gone through a divorce? Grieving the loss of a loved one? Everyone hurts at some point in life and can benefit from a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministers are specially trained members of our very own congregation who provide one-to-one Christian Care to people who need someone to talk to. All caring relationships are completely confidential, free (meaning no charge), and provide emotional and spiritual support to those in need.
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3/27 Luke Mosher
3/28 Cindi Karstens
3/29 Rachel Galloway
3/30 Stephanie Carlisle
3/31 Frank Adelphia
4/2 Allison Neal
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4/2 Laura Cordell
4/3 Grayson Tester
4/5 Addison Cushman
4/5 Stephanie Coates
4/6 Jake Tinaglia
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Ministry Support
During this time of virtual worship all are invited to continue supporting the mission and ministry of PCWS. There are 2 convenient ways:
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Dropping off or mailing your contributions directly to our church office at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558, or
- Donating online - click the button below.
Did you know 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, this would be a good time to set-up electronic payments. Please contact our Financial Secretary Patrick Rivers, with any questions or for instructions for setting up payments through your bank.
If you choose to use a credit card, we appreciate if you will include the amount of the fee charged by the credit card company.
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Thank you for your ongoing support of our ministries, particularly during this uncertain time.
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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).
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Remember PCWS in your will and estate planning.
Please contact Pastor Erik for more information.
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