WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY CHURCH
A United Church of Christ
(708) 865-1282
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 4, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Welcome on behalf of our pastoral staff
Rev. Joseph E. Mills, III, Pastor 708/562-0759
Bev VanderVelde, Organist/Choir Director
Kathy Moore, Sunday School Superintendent
Joyce Kelstrom, Bell Choir Director
Rev. Godwin Kanaka Raj, Missional Pastor
Thank you for joining us this morning! If you want to learn about membership at Westchester Community, or would like a pastoral visit, please make note of it in the red fellowship pads located in each pew.
USHERS: Kathy Triska, Mary Linville, Charles Marinier, Elaine Hempel, Dianne Diaz, Steve Scheffel, Ben Linville
GREETER: Carol Hoppe
ALTAR FLOWERS: In memory of loved ones Bill and Dee Norton
In memory of Betty Koenig’s parents Lil and Frank Trager
ACOLYTES: Danny Carberry and Justin Linville
NURSERY: Vicky Rowe
INTERNET ACCESS You can access us, and our latest newsletter, at http://www.forministry.com/USILUCOFCWCCUW
Any questions? Email Carl Lindstrom at CarlJohnJr@yahoo.com
WORSHIP SERVICE
“Central as is the relationship between the separate
individual and God, each person needs an experience of life in the great family of God if they are to grow to
understand the real nature of that love and the real
character of their response to that love.”
- Douglas Steere
(We shut the back doors and respect in silence our musical
prelude as the beginning of our Worship Service)
PRELUDE Bev VanderVelde
GREETINGS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
(If you need assistance finding our Nursery, in the
attached building on the first floor,
Or finding our Worship Assistance Hearing Aids,
Please see one of the Ushers in our Narthex)
A GATHERING PRAYER Pastor Mills
*A CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: In You no one is lost -
People: Because of You, we are given Hope.
Leader: In You the world has no ultimate power over us.
People: Because of You, we are empowered to live abundantly and joyfully no matter what we face.
Leader: In You there is Peace.
ALL: AND BECAUSE OF YOU, WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE. COME, LET US BECOME ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE UNIQUE AND DISTINCT. COME, LET US BECOME ONE, AS YOU ARE ONE!!
*WE PROCLAIM OUR FAITH #76
“O For A Thousand Tongues”
A READING FROM GOD’S HOLY WORD George Letz
From the Gospel: John 17:1-11 p. 106, NT, Pew Bible
A TIME FOR THE CHILD IN ALL OF US Pastor Mills
“How Do We Protect/Save/Help One Another?”
We also give Bibles today to our 3rd Graders
In recognition of their growth in faith:
Bonita Baran
CaraAnn Demonbreun
Christina Loresch
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE Pastor Mills
A Hymn Of Prayer #114
“His Name is Life”
PASTORAL PRAYER/LORD’S PRAYER (Please Use Debts/Debtors)
THE MORNING OFFERING
The Offertory WCC Chancel Choir
“Just As I Am,” Elliott, Bradbury; setting by Carter
*THE DOXOLOGY #625
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)
May every gift bring us together, not only because we share in the giving, but because we share in the joy and calling of using them in Your Name. Bring us
Together to use these gifts wisely, honorably, and lovingly toward Your great purposes, through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
THE MEDITATION Pastor Mills
“That We May Be(come) One”
(The United Part of the United Church of Christ)
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The Words Of Institution
The Blessing Of The Elements
The Sharing Of The Gifts
A Prayer Of Thanksgiving (In Unison)
May we truly become Sanctified in Your Truth, not only because of Your Word, but because of this Sacrament. Then, may everything we do reflect our deep and abiding trust in You, and our desire to do Your will in all the days which follow. In and through our Savior Jesus, we pray this. Amen.
*WE SERVE IN THE LOVE OF GOD #92
“Love Divine”
*THE COMMISSION AND THE BENEDICTION
*WE ARE SENT OUT IN PRAISE
POSTLUDE Bev VanderVelde
+ + + + + + + + +
+Large print Bibles, bulletins and hymnals available
*Please Rise where this is marked.
EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK THROUGH May 11
Today: The Seventh Sunday of Easter
8:30 am Choir Practice
10:00 am Worship/Communion
11:00 am CRAFT SALE—South Basement
11:30 am Faith Conversations—Lounge
12:30 pm Tamil UCC
7:00 pm Bible Study—Pastor Mills’ Office
Monday
9:30 am Crafters—S. Basement
Tuesday
10:00 am Pastor Mills at IL Conf. Mission Friends meeting
7:00 pm Deacons—Lounge
7:00 pm Cub Scouts—FFH
Wednesday
All Day Westchester Chamber Commerce trip to Springfield
9:30 am Bible Study—Westchester Health and Rehab
7:00 pm Boy Scouts—S. Basement
7:00 pm Boy Scout Committee Meeting
Thursday
10:00 am IL Conf. FAB Meeting—Lounge
6:30 pm Staff Meeting—Lounge
7:00 pm Emotions Anonymous—1st Fl Classroom
Friday
11:00 am Cook County Police Officers Memorial Service -
Cermak Woods Forest Preserve, Lyons
8:30 pm AA - S. Basement
Saturday
8:30 am Bell Choir Practice-FFH
5:30 pm Tamil UCC
6:30 pm Doers & Goers Movie night
NEXT SUNDAY:
Mothers Day/Music Sunday
8:30 am Choir Practice
10:00 am Worship/Coins for Camp/Coffee Hour
11:30 am Christianity 101—Lounge
12:30 pm Tamil UCC
At The End Of Each Pew Is A Red Folder – please sign your name, and let us know if you are a visitor, or a member. We respond to all pastoral needs, and would love to have you on our newsletter list. Leave your address, phone number, or update.
COME, LEARN, AND GROW WITH US!!!
The Sunday Evening Bible Study will meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, 7:00–8:00 pm. We will next have class May 4
The Wednesday Bible Study will meet each Wednesday, 9:30 am, at Mariner Health. We will meet May 7
Off On A Tangent will meet in May
Christianity 101 meets the 2nd & 4th Sundays, 11:30 a.m. in the 1st floor classroom. We meet May 11
Faith Conversations (open to all) meets the 1st and 3rd Sundays, 11:30 am in the Lounge. We will have class May 4.
Are you willing to help one of our members, Esther Baricza? She needs a replacement car, and because of her MS, is on
limited income. Any gift toward this would be appreciated. Make your check out to the church and mark it: Baricza—on the bottom left corner. Thank you for caring.
Friendship Circle will meet on May 19, at 6:30 pm in the Lounge. Please meet us for movie night and pizza. Hostesses are Mari Kolb and Aldona Kitt. All women of the church are welcome.
Calling All Gardeners!!! Our church needs extra help to keep our flower and shrub areas around the church clean and neat and free of weeds and trash. Please see or contact Betty Koenig 708/482-4267 to take a small/large garden area for the growing season.
PEOPLE AT THEIR HOMES:
Don Hockemeyer, Reagan Stanley, Virginia Knapp, Ginny Hodina, Marilyn Sinde, Judy Farley (sister to Sandy Tavernier), Christine Suva (daughter to Walt and Lil Suva), Don Hoppe, Herb Edelmann, Gary Kasanders, Evelyn Beck, Deb Smith, Bev Woltman, Amy Cooke, Carol Voss, Jean Rowe, Frank Koncel, Jim Patak, Ed Sergey, Elaine & Frank Klika, Martha & Sylvia Hovorka, Mel Siska, Evelyn Compton, Claire Schrader, Fran Wexelberg, Ruth Flanigan, Sean Tavernier
IN IRAQ: Patrick Koenig, Matt Gius, Josephine Gorman, Joshua Geis
PEOPLE AT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES:
Lorraine Rook—Westbury Care Center; Frank Koncel– Beacon Hill; Shirley Galanti—Manor Care, Westmont; Martha Loresch—Brighton Gardens; Eleanor Lyons– Westchester Health and Rehab. Center, Dorothy Letz – Chateau Willowbrook; Jim Woltman – Resthaven Nursing Home; Ruth Barlett—St. Matthew’s, Park Ridge; Hazel Wiegman—Arden Courts, Ed & Shirley Socall—Belmont Village, Steve Tomporowski – Portage, Wisconsin
FRIENDS TO KEEP IN PRAYERS:
Rita Alden, Rosemary Allen, Miriam Alvaizian, Marilyn Anderson, George and Olga Arriaga, Balkrishna and Nirmala, Joyce Barker, P. Beacon, Mr. Belamy, Lea Bluemond, Bill Bollenberg, Daniel Bowman, Braeden, Owen Brasile, Garold Brinkmeyer, Lisa Carey, Carol, Raylene Cassady, Peter Chappel, Irene Clark, Keith Colin, Krissa Conley, Dawn, Angie and Mario DePirro, John Diaz, Sr., Dewey Dotson, Gayle Draus, Joan Dunham, Sharon Dunlap, Robert Ecker, Bret Fairve, Judy Farley, Paul Fava, Rebecca Feeley, Paul Fitzpatrick, Barbara & Donald Friske, Pier Geis, Virginia Geis, Monica Gorski and family, Harriet Green, Mabel Green, Mary Greger, Diane Grove, Ryan Guerrero, Kaitlin Haas, Theresa Hamilton, Mae Hartman, Ruth Hatenbreidel, Peggy Hengels, Geneva Henss, Arlene Hockemeyer, Nina Hoffman, Rene Ingram, Bob Johnson, Sue Kangas, Elaine Kelstrom, Hank Koeck, Heather Koonce, Betty Koran, Kathy Koran, Meta Krause, Mary Kurzawa, Dan Lamzcyk, Ruth Langath, Kris Lawless, Andy Leary, Leo, Kenneth Levoe, Jonathan & Kyle Lighthiser, Howard Linville, Robert Linzmeier, Rich Liotta, Riley and Alexis Listermann, Dick Lynch, Toby Maki, Marty, Michael Mariano, Alewyn Matthews, Trudy Meister, Nancy Michalek, Jason Miller, Tyler Miller, Verna Miller, Paul Mohaust, Mary Montanus, Phillip Murphy, Remo Naegeli, Barbara Nepil, Richenda Noren, Dee Novak, Phyllis Perry, Ann Peterson, Georgeanne Palettieri, John Rapinchuk, Julie Rickerson, Ulla Rose, Eleanor Ross, Krissy, Pete and Andrew Ryan, Anna Marie Saraceno, Walt Sawasko, Dale Schultz, George & Judy Skarda, Laura Schecter, David Simon, Terry Slanker, Jim Sowder, Paula Stuart, LaVerne Suta, Christine Suva, Anna Taylor, Martha Tressler, Bob Tupper, Michelle Turanec, Jeanne Turner, Violet, June Wistain, Nadine Wright
PEOPLE AT AREA HOSPITALS: Martha Loresch (LaGrange), Donna Wright (Manor Care Hinsdale); Shirley Galanti - Resthaven, Downers Grove
We grieve with the Welty family in the death of Paul Welty.
Our Spring Craft Sale is TODAY!!!, please join us in the South Basement—beverages and cookies will be served while you shop.
Nursery Volunteers are needed, just one Sunday every month or so, please call Vicky Rowe 708/223-0529.
Please stop by the table in the narthex, we have an old photo from the early days of our church, see how many people you can identify.
Please use our Ministry of Touch cards, located in the Red Books in your pew. When you want to pray for someone or just send them a note of encouragement, fill out a card and put it in the offering plate or give it to the Board of Parish Fellowship. We will mail it out. Just a little note and a prayer can make all the difference in the world for someone hurting!
FOR PRAYER REQUESTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: There is a stand in the narthex to write prayer requests and announcements—or see Sharon Sancken before church.
Our Annual Pet Blessing will be on Saturday May 17th at Noon. Bring ANY pet!!
We will have a Youth Overnight on May 16/17!! Come, bring $4 for food and a favorite game to play, video game to play, or movie to share!!
Meghan Kasanders and Ben Linville are in the Hinsdale South High School production of We’re All In This Together on Thursday, May 8th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased at the door. Any questions contact Mary Linville at 630/734-8295.
Birthdays through May 11
5/5 Howard Benson
5/6 Dawn Slanker, James Tsilivis, Donna Hansen
5/7 Ryan Kiley
5/8 Jerry Kec, Ruth Edelmann, Jean Stanger, Charlotte Schwass, Betsy Grimm
5/10 Malar Raj Kanaka, Amanda Sagan
5/11 Barbara Hildebrand, Delores Patak, Allison Powers
Anniversaries through May 11
5/5 Serene & Rev. Peter Vethanayaga Mony, 22 years
St. John UCC is in need of: Dry goods such as pasta, cereal, rice and beans for their food pantry, workers to help in the pantry on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am—2 pm, youth groups to help with rummage sales on the 2nd Saturday of each month, and financial assistance. Any way you can help, is greatly appreciated. In addition, if you can help our Missions Board deliver items on any Tuesday or Wednesday, please call Jan Monahan. The hours of operation are 10 am—2 pm.
The Christian Brothers Golf Outing will be on Wednesday, May 28 at Flag Creek, Dinner after at 6:00 pm at Wolf’s Head. Call Hans by May 19 if you are golfing 708/345-9156.
WCC Staff will meet Thursday May 8—6:30 p.m. If you have information to help our staff work more faithfully and helpfully, please contact Pastor Mills or Sharon Sancken (Chair of
Trustees).
The Board of Parish Fellowship has note cards for sale in the Narthex, these beautiful cards have a drawing of our church done by Hedy Kniesel. They are on sale 10 for $2. Please put money in the plate marked Parish Fellowship.
The Board of Deacons cordially invite you to be a greeter on any given Sunday, please see Dianne Diaz or Kathy Triska to sign up! This is a wonderful way to welcome fellow parishioners and visitors. On the Sunday you’ve chosen please be at church by 9:30 am and wear your nametag. You’ll enjoy the warm friendly feeling it gives you to exchange handshakes and hugs!!!
1st Car Wash of the Season: Please help raise money for our youth for their mission trip. Cost is $5 per car, $8 per truck or van—Saturday, May 17, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Transitions Dinner will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30 pm. At Rascal’s 1136 Maple Ave., LaGrange Park 708/354-7000. Please RSVP Sharon Ross 708/344-5306 or Esther Baricza 630/521-8497.
