“A Community of Faith, Family and Friends”
Pastor: Rev.
Christopher Druce Jones
Dear Members and Friends,
By the time you receive October’s Herald, our 11th Annual Pig Roast for missions will have occurred. Once again, we hold this event every year to help meet the needs of people around the world as a faithful response to God’s immeasurable goodness towards us. I take this opportunity to thank the Pig Roast planning team for all their time, energy, and efforts in making this year’s Pig Roast a success. I also thank all of our sponsors, special donors, caterer, musical guests, and everyone who helped and attended. I do believe we make a difference when we are united in spirit, working together.
There is yet another time for us to be united in spirit and work together. It is for our annual stewardship series, where we reflect on and contemplate our part in strengthening and supporting our church through prayer, worship, service and finances. As I think about our working together on this effort in the month of October, I think of geese and what science has discovered about them.
It has been learned there is a method to the madness of why geese fly in a V formation. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation, to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gun shot or falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help protect him. They stay with him until he is able to fly or until he is dead; and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their original group.
So, what can we learn from this? 1) Christians who share a common direction and a sense of community can also get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust and uplift of one another. 2) Stay in formation with those who are heading the same way we are. 3) What do we say when we honk from behind? 4) It pays to take turns doing hard jobs with people at church or with geese flying south. 5) When we take time to help and protect one of our own or others who need our help, we make a difference in their lives. We learn the art of sharing, serving, and giving.
Yes, geese can teach us a lot of things about living our faith. During the month of October, we will be hearing a series entitled, “Matters of the Heart.” This series will focus on worship, prayer, service, study, and giving. I hope that you will be able to attend each Sunday during the month with the end goal of reflecting on how we can make a difference in our church through time, talents, and treasure. I hope that you will be able to make another yearly commitment to the church that will help the church continue to fly in a strong V formation; fulfilling our purpose, mission, and vision.
In God’s service,
Pastor Chris
Fall Worship Schedule: 9:00 am - Christian Education
Stewardship Series: October 1 “Love: A Matter of the
Heart” - A commitment to love I Corinthians 13 October 8 “Worship: A Matter of the
Heart” - A commitment to
Daniel 3: 16-28 worship God October 15 “Service: A Matter of the
Heart” - A commitment to serve
Ezekiel 2:1, October 22 “Prayer: A Matter of the
Heart” - A commitment to prayer
2 Chronicles 7: 11-14 October 29 “Giving: A Matter of the
Heart” - A commitment to giving
Mark 12: 41-44
MINISTRY REMINDERS
We are in need of Sunday Helpers for the months of ______________
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Statement for
September on Pledges
The Church has paid the July-2006 apportionment.
However, we have been unable to pay our August apportionment because of
insufficient money in the General Fund.
General Church Expenses – (January through
August)
Expenses - $87,287.75
Income -
$85,717.38
Behind -
$ l,570.37
Anyone behind in their 2006 Church pledges,
please do all that is possible to catch up.
- - Finance Committee
As we are in the last part of the year 2006,
the Mission Committee would like to remind you of the following
Coin Buckets - in back of the
Sanctuary will remain through
November. We are still quite away from our goal
of $100.00 for each
bucket; therefore, buckets will
accept bills and
checks.
Crop Walk
- Sunday – October 15 – (10K)
(approx. 6 miles)
(Starts at
Rich Rubietta - our final band
for Rainbow Covenant for 2006
Rich is our district
“musicianary” and has been a friend
of our congregation for many years.
Please mark envelopes “Rich Rubietta” if you wish
to make a donation.
Thank you all for your support !!
PRAYER LIST
(At Home)
For All Our Service
Men and Women
Betty Schneider’s son
Marilyn Dugger – Wauconda Health Care Center Lafayette Withrow’s son
(daughter of Lois Stachel ) Carol Whitney’s husband
Patty Reinarts’ father
Gerry Gonsowski’s aunt
Pastor Chris’s
grandmother
Best Wishes are sent
to all who will be celebrating
a Birthday or
Anniversary in the month of October
Happy Birthday to:
Peter Audrain 10/1 Ryan Miller 10/1
Michael Reijonen 10/1 Connie
Olker 10/3
Elaine Gruber 10/4 Carol Cox 10/5
Beverly Amburgey 10/7 Jim Kiernan 10/8
David Roath 10/8 Brian Hartman 10/9
Tyler Deboer 10/10 Janet Bocox 10/12
Monty Fox 10/12 Bob
Johnston 10/13
Kathlyn Welfer 10/13 Leroy Rosenberg 10/14
Terry Dewar Jr. 10/15 Joyce
Sjostrom 10/16
Kaitlin Dobner 10/18 Olga Lindahl 10/20
Anthony Hunsberger
10/21
Jeanne Lexer 10/22
Julia Churchill 10/23 Nathan Styx 10/24
Brooke Drabek 10/29 Joe Loncsar 10/29
Jordan Mitchell 10/30 Jamie Baldino 10/31
Happy Anniversary to:
Rick & Suzanne Dinardi 10/2 Gerald
& Ann Gonsowski 10/6
Michael & Debbie Effinger 10/6 Jim & Dawn Revell 10/11
Barry & Tammy
Schneider 10/12 Dale & Connie Olker 10/20