Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022

Dear Friends,

It is my joy to share the psalm of thanksgiving that the kids wrote collaboratively at Midweek Meetup on Wednesday. We chose to open and close with familiar lines from Psalm 118 (and others), and then I provided a basic structure with a series of prompts. (E.g., “Remember when God ________? We thank God for _______” and so on.) The kids took it from there!  

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good!

God’s love endures forever.

Remember when God promised the world to the meek?

And gave Moses the ten commandments?

And led the people out of Egypt through the water?

Remember when God sent Jesus to us?

And when God resurrected Jesus?

God is gentle!

God is loving!

God is kind!

God is smart!

God is giving!

We thank God for watching over us,

For creating the universe,

For time off from school and time to play,

For friends and family,

For philosophy,

For special stuffies and toys,

For life!

Even when things are hard

We know God is there for us

And loves us.

Let Eden, Max, Bronwen, Lark, Eve, Sabra, Chloe, Evan, Emery, Brooke, Griffin, Simon, Adair, Stellan, Liam, Xander, Rose, Lindley, Peggy, and JJ give thanks!

Let our whole church give thanks!

Let all God’s people give thanks!

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good!

God’s love endures forever.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Lindley Traynor

Exciting Update from the APNC

The APNC is pleased to give a progress report on our search for a new Associate Pastor. In late August/early September, we connected with an outstanding candidate, who has a passion for Christ and the Good News, particularly as it relates to children and youth, among her many gifts and talents. Since that time, we have gone through a rigorous process to get to know her and mutually discern a call – a call that we discerned unanimously as an APNC. We have been grateful for guidance from the Holy Spirit throughout.

Last week, Session voted to call a congregational meeting for Sunday, January 8. Our Associate Pastor Candidate will preach during the worship service. 

After the service, the congregation will vote to determine if a call will be extended. Please SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, January 8 for worship and a congregational meeting.

APNC wants you to know how excited we are about the candidate we are bringing forward. We appreciate her heart and her faith and the type of genuine commitment she is willing to make to FPCW and our work together. We feel truly blessed to have found her and we hope you will feel the same way. Thank you!

Calling all FPCW Scouts!

Did you know our Scouting Ministry will be 100 years old at FPCW? We signed the charter for Scouting USA on 12/26/1922 and have continued a strong bond with FPCW and Boy Scouting/Scouting over these past 100 years. Our Centennial Celebration will be next Saturday, 11/26 at Michigan Shores Club, 6 pm We have over 100 scouts, friends, family, and leaders - we welcome all who want to mark this momentous occasion. If you are interested in attending, feel free to reach out to Amy McJoynt.

From Generation to Generation… An Advent Devotional

Art, Poetry and Reflections for the Season of Advent.

“From Generation to Generation… reminds us of the ways our lives, histories, actions, and stories are interconnected and woven together. May you remember that you belong to a story etched into the wrinkles of time, to generations that have come before and will come after, to a love that won’t let you go.”

The devotional is available for you in the narthex, please feel free to take one.

Please help us give the children and families of The Erie House and Family Promise a happy holiday by purchasing a gift from their wish list off of FPCW’s “Giving Tree”. Just visit our tree outside the office, select one of the hanging tags with someone’s gift wish on it, write your name on the bottom of the tag and leave it in the basket so we know who is providing that gift, and return UNWRAPPED gifts by Sunday, November 27th to the boxes outside the office! Any questions, please call Jenni Holt at 630-887-6505.

Poinsettias

Help beautify the church during the Advent season by buying a poinsettia in memory of a loved one or in appreciation of a special person. The cost is $15 per plant. Order forms are available in your Sunday bulletin and the church office. Orders are due in the church office by Wednesday, November 23rd.

Come one, come all! Young and old, families and singles. Deck the halls of our church on Saturday, December 3rd starting at 9 am. Drop in when you can – we will wrap up around 11 am. 

Come join the fun as our church family prepares for advent by bringing your family to The Giving Tree's gift-wrapping parties! Our congregation has generously purchased over a 100 gifts for the children and families of The Erie House and Family Promise, and now we get to join together to wrap them with loving care. These events, along with the Hanging of The Greens are for everyone—a way for our congregation to work side by side and enjoy getting to know each-other and have fun as we prepare our church for advent and do good for others at this special time.

Wrapping parties (all wrapping and child-friendly materials provided)

• Wednesday, November 30th, 5-7 pm, WMFC

(As part of the Pageant rehearsal and Church Family Dinner)

• Saturday, December 3rd, 9-11 am

(As part of the church decorating "Hanging of the Greens" activity for all in the Fellowship Hall.)

DEACON MINISTRY

CHRISTMAS COOKIES* AND

TINS COLLECTION

*Please deliver cookies in zip-lock bags (1 batch/each)

Bring donations to the Main Floor Kitchen beginning December 4th

Calling all bakers (and shoppers)! The Deacons are looking for donations of baked goods (homemade or store-bought). We are also looking for donations of Christmas tins. Please drop them off in the main floor kitchen the week of December 4th. (Be sure to label them for the deacons.) Your donations will help the Deacons deliver Christmas Cheer to some of our members. THANK YOU! Contact: Pastor Laura Sherwood lsherwood@fpcw.org or Deacon Moderator, Wendy Lundgren claddison19@yahoo.com

Lessons and Carols and Wassail Party - Dec 4, 4pm

Join us for afternoon worship in the Sanctuary and a festive Wassail party afterward downstairs in the fellowship hall. There will be beautiful music, heartfelt readings, and a bagpiper to open and close us! The service will also be Livestreamed. A friendly reminder that there will be no 10 am worship service that day.

We are looking for volunteers to bring either a sweet or savory snack to help make our Wassail Party a wonderful event. Please contact Fran Langewisch at franlangewisch@gmail.com to let her know you are able to help with this event. Thank you!

Advent Faith Formation Class:

“From Generation to Generation”

Sunday, 8:45-9:45 am, Nov 27, Dec 11 and 18 (no class on Dec 4)

 Join Pastor Jeff this Advent as we go deeper into our theme, “From Generation to Generation.” Each week, we’ll spend time reflecting on the Scripture passages for the day and discuss the beautiful artwork created by various artists from A Sanctified Art. The hybrid class will meet in person in the Lounge and virtually via Zoom for three Sundays in Advent: Nov 27, Dec 11 and 18 (no class on Dec 4). Zoom Link; Meeting ID: 840 3593 7190; Password: 815640

Winter Clothes for Refugees 

World Relief has a great need for winter clothes for children and adult refugees/immigrants coming to Chicago. For the long winter ahead, they will need winter clothing for children and adults.

• hats
• scarves
• gloves
• coats
• boots

FPCW had a successful winter clothing drive for World Relief in the fall of 2016 and members were very generous in their donations. We will have a drop-off location near the Narthex for the next several weeks to accommodate your gifts.

2023 Stewardship Update: A Great Start!

So far, 61 households have submitted their pledge for our life and ministry together in 2023. That's a great start! Thank you for your commitment and generosity to FPCW - every gift of every size matters. If you haven't yet submitted your pledge and are able to do so in the coming days, it will allow the Session to plan for our 2023 budget. You can mail a pledge card to the church office, submit one in worship on Sunday or pledge online here. Thank you for your past support of FPCW, whether it has been financial, elbow grease or any other method of showing support. You have helped us weather the pandemic and to grow into who we are and who God desires us to be. We are grateful to be "together for joy" with you!

Christmas Pageant

After a two-year hiatus, we are delighted to be presenting a live Christmas pageant again this year on Sunday, December 18 at 10 am! 

Our rehearsals will be Wednesdays 11/30, 12/7, and 12/14 from 5-6 pm, and a dress rehearsal Saturday 12/17 from 9-11 am. If your child would like to be in the pageant please email Lindley Traynor or Peggy Massellor by 11/20, including any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule.

Our Call to Racial Justice:

Racial Microaggressions

Have you ever heard the term “death by a thousand cuts?” This is a metaphor for the racial microaggressions aimed at people of color constantly and continually throughout their lives. The term microaggression is defined as “an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.” Studies show that the macro impact of microaggressions can “increase stress in the lives of people of color, lower emotional well-being, increase depression and negative feelings, assail the mental health of recipients, impede learning and problem-solving, impair employee performance and take a heavy toll on the physical well-being of targets. (1)” Learning how to recognize, acknowledge and stop microaggressions is a way we can show love and compassion to those around us.

Learn:

Microaggressions Explained

(1) Microaggressions: Death by a Thousand Cuts

Advocate: 

Examples of Racial Microaggressions

Activate:

Responding to Microaggressions