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.
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.
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