Friends-
We are entering a season of holidays. November begins with All-Saints day, a day to remember all the people of faith in Christ who have gone before us, and those who are living still. Take time to thank God for all who have blessed you. Thanksgiving is right around the corner- a day to remind us that we should be thankful every day for all that God has done and is doing for us. Think of it as a fresh launch of gratitude that continues through the year.
Right after Thanksgiving, we enter into Advent, the season when we prepare our hearts for the coming of the messiah, Jesus! Let's not hurry through this in our eagerness to get to Christmas. Let it be a season of reflection, waiting, prayer, and joy. And Advent leads to Christmas, when we celebrate the most amazing thing ever to happen in human history- God became a man! Yes, celebrate! Yes, give gifts. But in the middle of it all, don't forget the wonder of this: God so love the world, he sent his son- to love us, to redeem us, to connect with us, to set us free!
The tinsel is still on the tree when we hit New Years, with it's wonderful invitation to begin again, to let God make things new, just as Jesus promises he will!
And don't forget the winter solstice on December 21. Pagan holiday? I don't think so! A time to praise our great Creator God for creating the universe and designing it so that we are not stuck in perpetual winter. But there comes a day when the days start getting longer again- something I always celebrate!
In the middle of all of this, let's keep our eyes on Jesus, and give him the honor that is due him!
Have a great month!
Gary
Calendar
Saturdays - 11/1 - Daylight Saving Time ends - Turn your clock back one hour tonight.
11/15 - Kiki Marske Funeral - 10:00 a.m. - Rock Church in Rockford. More info below.
Sundays - Worship Service Every Sunday - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom.
11/2 - Communion Sunday
11/16 - Lift Celebration and PieLuck
11/23 - Worship Service focused on Thanksgiving
- Decorate the church for Advent/Christmas following the worship service
Wednesdays - Bible Study - Every Wednesday - 7 p.m. via Zoom.
11/5 - Women's Book Study - 6 p.m. - Starbucks - 7290 E. Riverside
Thursdays - 11/6 - Church Board Meeting - 7 p.m. - via Zoom.
Other News -
Zoom - For Zoom link contact Gary at [email protected]
Upper Room Devotionals - The November/December Upper Rooms are out and ready for you to take one.
Sympathy and Service - 11/15- We want to extend our sympathy to the family of Kiki Marske, who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. We especially think of her husband, Dan, and the rest of their immediate family. The funeral will be held on Saturday, November 15, at Rock Church, 6732 Harrison Ave in Rockford. Pastor Gary will be officiating the funeral. There will be a visitation before the service from 9 - 9:45 a.m.. There is also a visitation on Friday, November 14, at Fitzgerald Chapel located at 1860 S.Mulford in Rockford from 4-7 p.m.
New Women's Book Study - 11/5 - A new monthly women's book study is starting on Wednesday, November 5, at 6 p.m. at Starbucks located at 7290 E. Riverside. The study is on the book The Expectation Gap by Steve Cuss. Our October study had to be canceled, so this is the first meeting. Not too late to join. Talk to Britni or Barb if you have questions.
Lift Celebration and PieLuck - 11/16 - We will be having a ribbon-cutting and celebration for our long-awaited lift on Sunday, November 16, after the worship service. 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 the Pie room. The former Ladies' Aid held delicious church dinners and served homemade pie for dessert. The pies were stored and cut in this little room before serving to the public. Instead of a potluck to celebrate, we are going to have a PieLuck. What better way to celebrate our new lift than by eating pie? Thanks to Brini Zick for the idea. Gary had the idea to have Marilyn be on the inaugural ride.
While we probably don't need everyone to bring a pie for the celebration, we would love to have a number of pies for this day. But just like a true potluck, we will see what we end up with! We hope everyone can come! You don't need to bring a pie to join in!
Church Decorating for Advent/Christmas - 11/23 - We will be decorating the church after worship. Please plan on staying if you are able. It is a big job, so the more the merrier!
Thanks - A special thanks to the current and past Trustees who have spent countless hours on the lift project. It has been challenging at times, and they rose to the occasion. So thank you!
Thanks to Judy Murphy for organizing the lunch for Dorothy Snuggs' funeral. Thank you to those who helped in the kitchen that day as well. Thanks to Tim Murphy, who did a lot of cleaning in the basement beforehand
It's a SNAP- Depending on what the courts decide on SNAP funding, there could be a lot of people in need of a lot of help right now. Let's pray for a just conclusion to this issue. Do you know anyone whose food supply may be limited? Do you know of an organization working on this issue that might need help? Let's consider prayerfully how we individually, but also collectively, might be part of the solution.
Peace Pole: The Peace Pole is up! Let's use it as a reminder to pray and work for peace in our world! Thank you to Karen Bieschke for donating the Peace Pole to our church.
We are entering a season of holidays. November begins with All-Saints day, a day to remember all the people of faith in Christ who have gone before us, and those who are living still. Take time to thank God for all who have blessed you. Thanksgiving is right around the corner- a day to remind us that we should be thankful every day for all that God has done and is doing for us. Think of it as a fresh launch of gratitude that continues through the year.
Right after Thanksgiving, we enter into Advent, the season when we prepare our hearts for the coming of the messiah, Jesus! Let's not hurry through this in our eagerness to get to Christmas. Let it be a season of reflection, waiting, prayer, and joy. And Advent leads to Christmas, when we celebrate the most amazing thing ever to happen in human history- God became a man! Yes, celebrate! Yes, give gifts. But in the middle of it all, don't forget the wonder of this: God so love the world, he sent his son- to love us, to redeem us, to connect with us, to set us free!
The tinsel is still on the tree when we hit New Years, with it's wonderful invitation to begin again, to let God make things new, just as Jesus promises he will!
And don't forget the winter solstice on December 21. Pagan holiday? I don't think so! A time to praise our great Creator God for creating the universe and designing it so that we are not stuck in perpetual winter. But there comes a day when the days start getting longer again- something I always celebrate!
In the middle of all of this, let's keep our eyes on Jesus, and give him the honor that is due him!
Have a great month!
Gary
Calendar
Saturdays - 11/1 - Daylight Saving Time ends - Turn your clock back one hour tonight.
11/15 - Kiki Marske Funeral - 10:00 a.m. - Rock Church in Rockford. More info below.
Sundays - Worship Service Every Sunday - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom.
11/2 - Communion Sunday
11/16 - Lift Celebration and PieLuck
11/23 - Worship Service focused on Thanksgiving
- Decorate the church for Advent/Christmas following the worship service
Wednesdays - Bible Study - Every Wednesday - 7 p.m. via Zoom.
11/5 - Women's Book Study - 6 p.m. - Starbucks - 7290 E. Riverside
Thursdays - 11/6 - Church Board Meeting - 7 p.m. - via Zoom.
Other News -
Zoom - For Zoom link contact Gary at [email protected]
Upper Room Devotionals - The November/December Upper Rooms are out and ready for you to take one.
Sympathy and Service - 11/15- We want to extend our sympathy to the family of Kiki Marske, who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. We especially think of her husband, Dan, and the rest of their immediate family. The funeral will be held on Saturday, November 15, at Rock Church, 6732 Harrison Ave in Rockford. Pastor Gary will be officiating the funeral. There will be a visitation before the service from 9 - 9:45 a.m.. There is also a visitation on Friday, November 14, at Fitzgerald Chapel located at 1860 S.Mulford in Rockford from 4-7 p.m.
New Women's Book Study - 11/5 - A new monthly women's book study is starting on Wednesday, November 5, at 6 p.m. at Starbucks located at 7290 E. Riverside. The study is on the book The Expectation Gap by Steve Cuss. Our October study had to be canceled, so this is the first meeting. Not too late to join. Talk to Britni or Barb if you have questions.
Lift Celebration and PieLuck - 11/16 - We will be having a ribbon-cutting and celebration for our long-awaited lift on Sunday, November 16, after the worship service. 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 the Pie room. The former Ladies' Aid held delicious church dinners and served homemade pie for dessert. The pies were stored and cut in this little room before serving to the public. Instead of a potluck to celebrate, we are going to have a PieLuck. What better way to celebrate our new lift than by eating pie? Thanks to Brini Zick for the idea. Gary had the idea to have Marilyn be on the inaugural ride.
While we probably don't need everyone to bring a pie for the celebration, we would love to have a number of pies for this day. But just like a true potluck, we will see what we end up with! We hope everyone can come! You don't need to bring a pie to join in!
Church Decorating for Advent/Christmas - 11/23 - We will be decorating the church after worship. Please plan on staying if you are able. It is a big job, so the more the merrier!
Thanks - A special thanks to the current and past Trustees who have spent countless hours on the lift project. It has been challenging at times, and they rose to the occasion. So thank you!
Thanks to Judy Murphy for organizing the lunch for Dorothy Snuggs' funeral. Thank you to those who helped in the kitchen that day as well. Thanks to Tim Murphy, who did a lot of cleaning in the basement beforehand
It's a SNAP- Depending on what the courts decide on SNAP funding, there could be a lot of people in need of a lot of help right now. Let's pray for a just conclusion to this issue. Do you know anyone whose food supply may be limited? Do you know of an organization working on this issue that might need help? Let's consider prayerfully how we individually, but also collectively, might be part of the solution.
Peace Pole: The Peace Pole is up! Let's use it as a reminder to pray and work for peace in our world! Thank you to Karen Bieschke for donating the Peace Pole to our church.
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