An Open And Affirming Community Of Faith -
We Welcome All Beliefs!
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Sage meets every Friday at 1 pm. Check here for the church calendar for the link
- Thrive with Pride Large Group meeting Tuesday, May 23, 11 am; topic is Parkinson's Disease and the LGBTQ+ community
- Meditation with Mary Ann on May 24th, 7 pm - All are welcome!
- Worship Team meeting May 24th via Zoom - Link will be sent later
- Pints with the Pastor is June 8th 7 pm.
- Garage Sale is May 20th! Can you help out? See below.
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SAVE THE DATE! - Spring Dance is June 10th!
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HOLY COVENANT NEEDS YOUR
DONATIONS TO PAY OUR BILLS!
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YOUR GENEROSITY IS NEEDED!
Your generosity is needed, now more than ever! You may give via:
PayPal — access it through our website or send your donation on PayPal which takes out a fee, to donations@holycovenantmcc.org
Zelle - You can send your donation directly to the church using Zelle via the email address donations@holycovenantmcc.org. It will go directly into the general account and there will be no fees attached to the giving.
Electronic Check
Send an electronic check from your financial institution, or by sending a personal check. Our address is 9145 Grant Ave, Brookfield, IL, 60513.
Please remember that when giving through PayPal they do charge a percentage fee to the church unless it shows an option to help out the church and for you to pay that fee.
See the weekly giving below. Holy Covenant needs at least $4,672 a month to meet its obligations for bills and salary. We are now showing what the percentage of giving is and how we are doing on a monthly basis.
MAY 2023 GIVING
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Giving Needed Weekly
(5 WEEKS) $1,168
The monthly difference is -$1,486
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Our bills are listed for the month of May 2023.
Your generosity helps us pay the bills. Any amount helps us meet our obligations.
If you would like to pay one of the bills,
please designate that in your donation.
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PAINTING DAY - WEATHER PERMITTING! |
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We will be holding a painting day to replace and repair the rainbow on the front steps to place other rainbows elsewhere (trellises, garage door, sign…other ideas?).
Our next painting date is 5/26 to 5/28 to start painting the stairs in the front and the back depending on the weather.
The Sign-Up Genius link will be on our Facebook page soon!
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MEDITATION IN PERSON! WEDNESDAY,
May 24th! MEDITATION IS OPEN TO ALL!
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The next meditation is on Wednesday, May 24th, at 7 pm at the church. Mary Ann will be leading the meditation upstairs in the church. This event is
open to all men and women.
Please be prompt at 7 pm so there are no distractions. The doors will be locked at 7:00 pm.
- Please R.S.V.P. via email only1amar@yahoo or text 708-696-8747
- If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
- We ask that you use hand sanitizer as you enter the building
For more information about meditation please contact Mary Ann Latsaras at only1amar@yahoo.com.
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WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED...AGAIN!
NEW ROOF & SIDING IS IN OUR FUTURE!
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Back in 2021 we placed a claim with Erie our building insurance in which we claimed damage from the storm to our roof, garage and siding. They already had paid on the damage to the Fellowship Hall and paid for the new boiler that had caught on fire which was ruined by that fire.
After denial, appeals, independent appraisers and engineers, we just learned this week that Erie will cover the installation of new siding and the roofs on the building and the garage. Our almost 2-year odyssey is over!
Mary Ann Latsaras brought to the Board's attention about the flooding in the garage and the shingles that are missing on the roof. After every windy storm we lose more singles. At first Erie would only pay for a small portion of the roof to be replaced and the company we are working with C & N Construction appealed for us and they approved the new roofs. Phew!
Next, we had to appeal about the siding and it took quite a while for a decision to be made about the siding but it was approved this week. The work on the buildings is approximately $80K. So, we are blessed again by getting this work covered by Erie Insurance Company. The only drawback is Erie dropped us as a customer and we had to search for another insurance company which we found.
The work should start in a few weeks. The Board and Mary Ann picked out white siding (we are known as the white church on the corner) and lighter colored roofing shingles. With the new painted stairs and garage door and other improvements we will look beautiful!
We will continue to be a pillar to the community! We are showing we are not afraid and will rise up under any circumstances.
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PASTOR'S PICK CORNER -
Rev. Daniels Reading/Listening/Watching Suggestions
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An eclectic collection of books, movies, TV shows, magazines, etc. that I have come across, which I found good or interesting and you might too!
Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
Barbara Kingsolver is a brilliant writer—her “Poisonwood Bible” is an accurate recounting of the lives of missionaries in the 1960s in the Congo and the country’s struggle for independence, and how the two are intertwined. In “Demon Copperhead,” she retells Charles’ Dicken’s “David Copperfield,” setting it in late 20th century Appalachia. Dickens wanted to highlight the plight of orphans in 19th century Britain; Kingsolver does the same for the people of Appalachia. She marries the characters and narrative arc of Dickens’ novel with the planned poverty, addictions, and substandard education of Appalachia. A bonus for readers of “David Copperfield” is recognizing Dickens’ characters (Tommy Traddles, Murdstone, Uriah Heep, Aunt Betsy, etc.) in their southeastern Virginia counterparts.
While Dickens focused on the lack of a social safety net for orphaned and abused children, not sugarcoating their frequent descent into crime, Kingsolver doesn’t hesitate to point out the (many) shortcomings of the modern foster care system—inadequate foster parents, rapid turnover from home to home, leading to attachment disorder, depression, and other ills.
You could say it’s a depressing book, but I would simply call it realistic. Were there times when I wished I could reach into the book and say, “Stop, Demon, you don’t want to do that!”? Absolutely—because Kingsolver writes realized characters that you care about. Demon, for various reasons relating to his childhood, never really believes anyone cares about him for himself—he always looks for an ulterior motive and wonders why the other person would care about him at all. He has many supporters on his side—an art teacher and her counselor/history teacher husband (who are a mixed race couple, which does not go down well in that small town), a sort-of related mother figure, a foster sister, and a fellow sufferer of the foster system in Tommy.
I highly recommend “Demon Copperhead,” it’s just outstanding. And now I’m off to re-read “David Copperfield”…
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UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST |
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THRIVE WITH PRIDE - LARGE GROUP
Parkinson’s Disease & the LGBT+ Community:
Research for a Cure
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The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease for the 6 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s. Maddie Kutler (they/them) at MJFF is part of a team increasing diversity and inclusivity in research initiatives such as the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a study to better understand how the disease starts and changes over time. Karen Williams (she/her) and Dr. Danielle Larson (she/her) are aiding in these efforts on the PPMI team at Northwestern University.
Join Maddie, Karen, and Dr. Larson at our May Thrive with Pride event, where they will discuss what Parkinson’s disease is, how it impacts the LGBT+ population, and why research participation is so important.
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GARAGE SALE - MAY 20TH!
OUR GARAGE IS FILLED TO THE ROOF!
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Garage Sale, Saturday May 20th! This is the date of the Brookfield-wide garage sale, so we expect a good turnout
for it.
We are not accepting any more items. Please save them for the fall garage sale!
We are also looking for volunteers to work the garage sale. Roxann and her mother Cheryl will be setting up that Saturday morning and needs help. Please sign up to help below at Sign up Genius. Click here to sign-up to help at Garage Sale
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GRASS CUTTING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! |
If you can operate the lawn mower in the picture, then we need you!
We need volunteers for lawn-mowing! If you can commit to mowing the lawn once a month, please contact Rev. Martha or Mary Ann Latsaras at only1amar@yahoo.com or sign up below at the Sign-up Genius link.
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FREE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CLASSES |
CPR instructors often tell learners to administer chest compressions to the rhythm of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. That’s one of the many useful take-aways for applying first aid in the case of an emergency.
But what do we do when there’s a mental health emergency? How would we respond? What strategies and skills should we apply?
My name is Camilla Best, and I’m the Mental Health Training Manager for NAMI Metro Suburban.
We are a branch of the National Alliance on Mental Wellness (NAMI) and we actively partner with NAMI DuPage and Community Memorial Fund to provide FREE Mental Health First Aid classes to western Cook County and eastern DuPage County.
Mental Health First Aid is a research-based course designed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, qualifying as 6.5 - 7.5 hour continued education units (CEUs) for learners at zero cost.
MHFA courses teach participants how to do the followingd :
- Identify the impact of mental health challenges, as pertaining to individual well-being
- Explain the five steps of the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (referred to by its acronym, ALGEE)
- Apply the ALGEE action plan for early intervention, for mental health challenges, for worsening mental health challenges, and for mental health crisis.
- Reduce stigma surrounding having mental illness and utilizing mental health resources.
- And more!
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WEEKLY SERVICE INFORMATION |
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
HYBRID - IN PERSON AND ON YOUTUBE
REV. MARTHA DANIELS PRESIDING
10:00 AM CST
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Our worship celebration is every Sunday at 10 am CST. If you would like to join us you may join us in person or go to our Facebook page at Holy Covenant Facebook Page and click on the LINK to YouTube to watch the service.
Sunday May 21, 2023
Reading: Mark 16:9-20
Sermon Title "They Refused To Believe It"
Have a candle ready to light, a cookie or bread, and a glass of your favorite libation for communion if you are watching online.
You can also find previous services on our YouTube Channel here.
Rev. Martha is available by email, phone, Facebook Messenger, and text for any pastoral needs you may have revmarthadaniels@gmail.com
- Masks are now optional. If you want to sing you have to wear a mask.
- No temperature check required
- Social distancing required
DO YOU WANT TO HELP WITH WORSHIP?
Do you feel a call to help with worship? To read a prayer, or a reading, or to usher or serve communion? Whether you are here in person or virtually, we need and want your gifts! Contact Rev. Martha or Roxann at roxann.victory@outlook.com.
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Join us all month long for informative seminars, health programs, fitness, entertainment, and more!
Hello Neighbors! Below is our March schedule. Join us all month long for informative seminars, brain health programs, fitness, history, entertainment, and more online and in person! Just click here for the list of classes.
We encourage you to share our class schedule with friends, family, and neighbors, near & far, of any age – everyone is welcome to join us! All of our classes are free & no advance registration is required. We hope to see you soon on Zoom!
Thank you all for being a part of the Aging Well Neighborhood!
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HOLY COVENANT BOARD MEETING - MAY 15TH |
The next Board meeting will be on
May 15th at the church.
You can find all the Board agenda, minutes and financials on our website. They are also posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.
You can find a PDF of the past Board Meetings Agenda, Minutes and church financials here
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SHARE FOOD, SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
FOOD INSECURITY UP BY 19%!
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Food insecurity has continued to rise throughout our communities. Overall, the number of households facing hunger is up 19% compared to pandemic levels, and the number is 37% higher for Black households. The recent cancellation of extra money in the SNAP program makes it even more vital to help keep Share Food, Share Love going with your donation.
This is a public health crisis!
Our communities are in great need of healthy food to survive and thrive and just by giving to the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry you can help those in the area not go hungry!
You can make a real difference. Donating just a $1 can help provide 3 meals for a family. It is so important please take a minute to give so we can feed the hungry in our area.
There are two food boxes located in front of Tischler's and in front of Share Food, Share Love located at 9030 Brookfield Avenue which is across from the train tracks west of Prairie. You can drop off your non-perishable food into these boxes 24/7!
Thank you!
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Join us at Pub 78 in beautiful downtown Brookfield for no-host dinner and/or drinks. conversation and good times from 6 pm - 8 pm.
Time: 6 pm, Thursday, June 8th.
Pub 78
3733 Grand Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
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WSSS (SAGE) CALENDAR, EVENTS & MENU |
West Suburban Senior Services (previously known as West Suburban SAGE) will host a Pride Party Cookout on Friday, June 2 at the Bellwood center (439 Bohland Ave). Lunch will be served about 11:30, but you are welcome to come earlier and take part in the morning's activities. The menu will be some of your summer cookout favorites! Entertainment provided! Cost is $5, and please make a reservation with Eric at evironet@cmsschicago.org. WSSS is an LGBTQ+ senior support program--all LGBTQ+ and allies 50+ are welcome!
SAGE, a social support group for LGBTQ seniors, meets both via ZOOM and in person on Fridays at 1 pm. We hope to resume our lunches in July. Please contact Eric Eugenio Vironet (evironet@cmsschicago.org) if you plan to attend in person as space is limited. Click here to join the meeting
West Suburban Senior Services website click here
WSSS Facebook Page click here
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AMAZON HAS OUR LIST OF NEEDS! |
We have a "needs" list online at Amazon. We ask that you look at our list of what items we are in need of and purchase something for the church.
This list is available to see here Charity Lists and is updated as needed. You can order and pay for anything off this list and have it shipped directly to the church. We appreciate anything you can order for us!
We thank you for your continued support of Holy Covenant!
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NEED POWER OF ATTORNEY OR WILL? |
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We mourn and pray for all the families who have suffered personal losses from gun violence at our schools, churches, and hospitals. public venues and other places.
Prayers for Tony P. who had a heart attack.1
Prayers for the family of Diane G. who passed away from cancer and her wife Traci for strength.1
Prayers for Prayers for God to watch over and bless Barbara R.'s daughters, Son-in-law, and grandchildren.1
Prayers for Kim, Michael, Kate, Annette and Marion and for their health battles.1
Prayers for Cheryl, Meg, Annie and all bereaved mothers & everyone missing their mother or grieving from a bad relationship with their mother.1
Prayers for those with harden hearts that feel the need to deface places of worship.
Prayers and strength for Ukraine, for those who are relocating, and to end the war and unnecessary deaths.
Prayers for all our first responders that they stay safe while helping others.
That God will provide for those who are hungry, unemployed, and homeless,
or in financial difficulties.
All those affected by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, COVID-19, and other life-threatening illnesses.
All communities of faith.
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LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION |
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There is now a universal help line 211 for Cook County. They can help residents with housing, food, health services and more. It is a 24 hour seven day a week operation and trained professionals answer the phone and are able to help you |
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Missed a sermon?
Click here to catch up and watch on the Holy Covenant YouTube channel!
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If you or someone you know is in an emergency call 911 for help.
Need someone to talk to? Call the suicide lifeline by dialing 988.
NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Health
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Every day brings something new—
and God is with us always!
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9145 Grant Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
Phone: 708.387.1611
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