Friends-
After this past Sunday's talk on "silence", Jen reminded me that we have in Rockford a group that live lives of silence every day!  The Poor Clares are a group of Franciscan nuns who live in a convent in south Rockford.  Part of their commitment is a vow of silence.  They get to speak only a very limited amount, giving their lives to service, worship, and prayer.  I wonder... what would that be like?

So far, this fall has been more full than most for me.  I feel I am scrambling to keep up.  I love what I get to do, but there is so much of it!  All the more reason for me- and you, if your days are also full- to find time to be still, to listen, to relax.  I have to remind myself that God is never in a hurry, that He is always in control, that if God isn't rushing, I don't need to either.  I need to remember what a friend told me once... that every "yes" is a "no" and every "no" is a "yes".  When I say yes to something, I am saying no to something else.  I want to be sure I am saying yes to Jesus and to all he intends for me.

When life gets to be too hectic, too crazy, too busy, too full, give it all to Jesus.  Sit quietly with him for a bit and wait for his peace and joy.  Let him tell you what is, and what is not worth pursuing.  And then resume the work he has given you, yielding to and depending on his strength.

Again, "In repentance and rest is your salvation,  in quietness and trust is your strength."  (Isaiah 30:15)

Have a great month!
Gary

Calendar
Wednesdays - Bible Study - Every Wednesday at 7 p.m. via Zoom.    
                        10/15 - New Women's Book Study - October 15 - 6:00 p.m., Starbucks -7290 E. Riverside

Thursdays - 10/2 - Church Board Meeting - 7 p.m. via Zoom

Saturdays - 10/4 - Oral Staman Memorial Service - 2:00 p.m. - Sunset Funeral Home
                      10/25 - Dorothy Snuggs Memorial Service - 11 a.m. - Church Sanctuary 

Sundays - Worship Service Every Sunday - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom. 
                    10/5 - Communion Sunday    

Other News -
Zoom - Please contact Gary at [email protected] for Zoom links.

Sympathy and Services - We would like to extend our sympathy to the family of Oral Staman, who recently passed away. Oral and Diane attended our church for years, but they had moved to Texas in recent years.  We especially want to remember his wife, Diane, their three children, and their families.   A service for Oral will be held at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine, in Machesney Park on Saturday, October 4, at 2:00 p.m. The visitation starts at 1 p.m. There is no fellowship time after the service. Pastor Gary will be officiating.

We also want to offer our sympathy to the family of long-time member Dorothy Snuggs. She died recently after she turned 101 years old. A service for Dorothy will be held at our church on Saturday, October 25, at 11 a.m. There will be a luncheon in the basement after the service.  Pastor Gary will also officiate at this service.  

New Women's Book Study - A new monthly women's book study is starting on Wednesday, October 15, at 6 p.m. in Starbucks at 7290 E. Riverside.    The study will focus on the book The Expectation Gap by Steve Cuss. There are still 4 books available for sale from Britni Zick in the fellowship room for $18. Or feel free to purchase your own.  Please read the introduction and first chapter for the October 15 meeting. The November date is November 5. If you have questions, please talk to Barb Kohl or Britni. 

Lift Celebration - PieLuck - The long-awaited lift will hopefully be finished in October!  We want to have a ribbon-cutting and celebration sometime after it is finished. We are hoping to have long-time member Marilyn Orr be the first to ride it to the basement.

That corner room in the basement has always been called the Pie Room. The former Ladies Aid held fantastic church dinners and always served homemade pie for dessert. The pies were stored and cut in this little room before being served to the public. Instead of a potluck to celebrate, we are going to have a Pieluck.  We thought it would be fitting to celebrate our new lift by eating pie!  Thanks to Britni Zick for the idea.  Gary had the idea to get Marilyn on it for its inaugural ride. We will let you know when we have a date for this event.   We will  be looking for volunteers to make some homemade pie. 

Friends-
I talk a lot on Sunday mornings about the importance of a relationship with Jesus; of letting him live in you; of becoming like him.  That's really the point of all Christ-centered teaching.  Becoming like him, abiding in him.  Not so we will be comfortable and safe.  But so we can bear much fruit.  So we can change the world in his love, and by his power.

You won't hear me taking on political or social issues much.  But that is not because those issues are not important.  They are very important,  and I have strong opinions on all of them.  Jesus himself, in inaugurating his ministry, said he'd come to "preach good news to the poor... bind up the broken-hearted... proclaim freedom for captives and release from the darkness for prisoners". (Isaiah 61 and Luke 4)  Near the end of his life, he declared, "whatever you have done for the least of these... you did for me," declaring further that how we treat the least determines where we spend eternity. (Matthew 25).  Oh, those issues are important!

But how we live out our faith depends on first having a deep and active faith, one grounded in a personal relationship with Jesus.  He invites us into a relationship of deep intimacy with himself, then sends us out to love and serve the world as he did, and does.  We become his hands and feet.  Never think that just coming to church is enough.  It is but a step towards the end of reaching the world for Jesus.  And that means prayer and worship, as well as standing for justice and truth.

Folks, it's a big assignment.  Way too much for us on our own.  But we are not on our own, are we?

With you in his service-
Gary

Calendar
Wednesdays - Bible Study - Every Wednesday at 7 pm via Zoom except September 3. 

Thursdays - 9/11 - Church Board Meeting - 7 pm via Zoom

Sundays - Worship Service Every Sunday - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom
                  9/7 - Communion Sunday
                  9/14 - Worship Under the Oaks - weather permitting
                  9/21 - Worship 
                  9/28 - Alternate date for Worship Under the Oaks

Contact Gary at [email protected] for Zoom link.

Other News -
Willow Creek Presbyterian Bed Build - Saturday 9/6 - The Willow Creek Church has invited us to help once again with their bed build.  They will be building beds from 9 am to 1 pm this Saturday.  Head on over and offer some help.

Prayer time  We have been trying to meet for prayer once a month without a lot of success.  But we are not giving up!  It is far too important!!  If you would like to gather for prayer, please talk with Gary about your ideas for when it works best.  And watch this month for an email to let you know what we are going to do.  We already have some ideas...

Church Anniversary Celebration - Our 130th anniversary service and picnic were a huge success.  Thank you to everyone who helped in some way. It took many people to make it such a great day!  Thanks for the food, the flyers, the flowers, the fun, and the friends you invited! A special thanks to Kyle and Britni Zick for running with Gary's idea and making it all happen.