Worship Services
Apr.
1 – 10 AM Palm Sunday Service
Apr. 5 – 7:30 PM Maundy Thursday Service
Apr. 6 – 1-4 PM Good Friday Open Meditation
Apr. 6 – 7:30 PM Good Friday
Taizé Prayer Around the Cross
Apr. 8 – 10 AM Easter Sunday Service
Apr. 15 – 10 AM Sunday Service
Apr. 22 – 10 AM Sunday Service
Apr. 29 – 10 AM Sunday Service
HOME COMMUNION If anyone would like home communion please call the church office.
good friday coMMUNITY SERVICE sponsored by the Elmhurst Ministerium will be held at Christ United Methodist Church (920 Swain, Elmhurst) at 12:00 p.m. on April 6th. For more information please call (630) 833-7723.
Joy Dawned Again, a TV program produced by the United Church of Christ, will air in the Chicago area on WLS, channel 7, on Easter, April 8, at 11:35 a.m. The UCC's worship special focuses on a picturesque UCC congregation as it gathers on Easter Sunday morning. Before long, the worshipers experience the power of the resurrection in unexpected ways as current reality intersects with the ancient narrative. It’s more than a drama and more than just a broadcast of a worship service. Set your VCR’s!
LOOK FOR OUR BLOG DISCUSSIONS on the Bethel website. Visit www.bethel-ucc.org.
The newsletter and other important releases are available on the Bethel website (www.bethel-ucc.org) under Publications.
A Message from the Pastor
Our time together was winding down when the young person asked me about forgiveness. Someone had wronged them. How should it be responded to? What words of wisdom did this Pastor have? I mumbled a couple of platitudes and sent them on their way feeling like I had just given out a garden rake to someone who needed to build the Alaska highway. To be sure, it wasn’t one of my better pastoral moments. The adult standing with us who overheard the question and response simply said, “It’s not easy.” They got no argument from me.
Earlier that very day I had read some readers’ responses to an article in the Christian Century (a theological journal) entitled, Letting Go by Miroslav Volf (Dec. 12, 2006, p. 28ff). I remembered the article clearly, in spite of it appearing some months ago.
Ironically, the article was about remembering, or to be more precise, the forgetting that goes with genuine forgiveness - according to the author. The article was a short excerpt from a just-published book: The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World.
“Forgive and forget,” is the advice the writer gives, for in the forgetfulness we are closer to that heavenly realm where evil is consigned to nothingness and “...our minds will be rapt in the goodness of God...and the memories of wrongs will wither away like plants without water.”
I have a hope that it will be so. Have you ever seen the movie Places in the Heart? It’s worth the time.
Still, my hunch is that on this side of that heavenly realm forgetfulness is tougher to come by. I have experienced that joyful healing that comes from a greater consciousness of blessings than wrongs, as well as the healing that comes when positive and trustworthy experiences begin, over time, to push aside suspicion and hurt. In this way the wrongs are relieved from dominating my memory and I am free to be myself. And yet complete, total forgetfulness may not be possible, short of a stroke.
I do know that at the heart of this season is a story that is dramatically connected with wrong and forgiveness. The cross is not forgotten. But it is transformed from a symbol of death to a symbol of life. So while the events leading up to Easter are not forgotten they are remembered differently.
I need this story. Maybe you do too?
See you in worship.
Rev. Stephen Schuette
Council Notes
Greetings!
I wish to extend a warm welcome to all of the new members of the congregation, council and committees. And welcome back (and thank you) to those of you who are returning to serve on the various committees and councils at Bethel Church.
Have you noticed the Bethel yard signs popping up around town (next to your Ward Alderman's pitch?) These signs are a new means of generating awareness of Bethel UCC. By extending the invitation to attend our upcoming Bethel Easter Service, our church community and congregation is making it clear that all are welcome.
As we dig into the upcoming year the church council agenda grows each time we meet. Council members look forward to sharing updates by communicating where we are and where we are going. An important part of this process is the Bethel congregation input to council and committees. Without the input, the debate and the discussions, we cannot continue the journey together. We have many significant objectives and discussion ahead ranging from Long Range Planning, Capital Campaigns, Open And Affirming, Youth and Adult programs and our wider mission through Human Concerns.
I'm participating in my first Baptism as Council President in May (and will try to stay dry next to Steve.)
I look forward to a great year.
Jim LaPalermo, Council President
Open and Affirming discussion A special coffee hour program will be held after worship on Sunday, April 29, to discuss the topic of becoming an Open and Affirming congregation and to develop ideas for writing a statement of declaration of our beliefs about being Open and Affirming. Six coffee hour discussions have been held to learn more about this. Now is the time to share your thoughts about this important decision. Please plan to join us on April 29. For more information, contact a member of the Open and Affirming Task Force: Ellen Braun, Georgia DeClark, Kathy Gray, Jim Harris, Jude Hines, Rebecca Love, Michael Moulds, or Rev. Steve Schuette.
Financial summary
|
|
Income |
Income YTD |
% of Budget |
Expenses |
Expense YTD |
% of Budget |
|
February |
28,915 |
102,197 |
24 % |
31,881 |
72,888 |
17 % |
If you have questions or would like further detail please contact Rod Stipe, Treasurer.
From the Board of Trustees
The tankless water heater for Schiffman Hall has been purchased and will be installed by Dhamer Plumbing. The water heater will provide hot water to both sinks in the kitchen. Installation is scheduled for the first week in April. The Women of Bethel have allocated $2,200 to fund this project. It will be great to have usable hot water in the kitchen.
Three bids have been received to replace the roof on the Poplar House. Bids range from $4,750 to $5,650. After an evaluation by the Trustees, a contract will be issued in early April.
Spring Cleaning Day will be Saturday, May 5, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Tasks scheduled to be preformed include: preparing a place to move the garbage cans to the west side of the parking lot, spreading dirt to fill low lying areas, cleaning the Sanctuary windows, light dusting and cleaning in the building. David Hartlage will be in charge of these efforts. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. Come and be part of the fellowship of this worthy event.
April 29 is the first of four Fifth Sundays in 2007. All Fifth Sunday donations will be utilized for debt reduction. Look for a letter and envelope that will be included with the 1st quarter giving statements. Your participation in the Fifth Sunday offerings is greatly appreciated.
From the Board of Elders
PLAN TO ATTEND EASTER BREAKFAST – The Board of Elders will be planning our annual Easter Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt. Breakfast will begin at 8:15 a.m. and Egg Hunt will gather at 9:15 a.m. Plan to join us on April 8, Easter Sunday before church.
From the Board of Deacons
College Care Packages The Deacons will be assembling college care packages for our college students at Bethel as they enter the season of finals. Please check with the church office that your child is listed as a college student and that the shipping address is correct.
April Birthdays: 1 Jenny Pozen, 3 Ali Carney, 3 Jim Scheib, 4 Bill Scheib,
5 Emily Naumann, 5 Greg Ritter, 6 Julia Riddle, 6 Stefan Salzano, 7 Kyle Stipe,
8 Warren Hineline, 8 Megan Salek, 9 Phoenix Melvin, 10 Mike Pavlik, 10 Paul Schuette,
12 Don Buik, 12 Kayla Mullaney, 13 Dan Murphy, 13 Mae Pearson, 13 Rod Stipe,
16 Aiden Landreth, 17 Adriana McCarthy, 17 Jennifer Wilk, 19 Brianna Murray,
20 Cathy Kveton, 20 Dinah Oberlin, 23 Carol Botsch, 28 Marie Hostetler,
29 Suzanne Hamby, 29 Jeanne Stuart, 30 Kristina Murray
April Wedding Anniversaries: 04/16 Neil & Julie Garlock, 04/18 Ev & Meta Polak,
04/24 Audra & Corey Stanley
Directory Updates
contact the church office for updates
Youth Fellowship
BYF Continues to Offer Service Opportunities.......
The end of the cold winter weather has come and with it we hope to all get out and about again!! On Saturday, March 17th, a group went out to work the 8a.m.-noon shift at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in St. Charles. This is a very large facility that provides much needed support to many living in northern Illinois. We would like to make this a “regular” event. Who knew that work could be so enjoyable?
We hope to get back in the swing of things with our car detailing project as soon as the weather cooperates. Exceptionally cold weather just shut us down for awhile! We will be in touch with those who expressed interest to see if we can be of service to you. Anyone interested should call the Dondlingers at 630-941-1037, for information.
We have continued to staff P.A.D.S. at the Salvation Army facility in Oak Brook Terrace. In February some of us were there for the over-night shift rather than our typical breakfast preparation and service. The next date is Sunday, April 22 at 5:30 a.m. We are always looking for helpers!
The annual plant sale is coming up soon and will give everyone the opportunity to purchase beautiful plants while benefiting our youth accounts for work trip costs. Orders are due on Sunday, April 15th and the pick up will be on Wednesday, May 9th, just in time for Mother's Day. Order forms and details are available at church. Thanks to the Gray family for organizing this big event for us again!
The over-night camping and houseboat trip on the Mississippi River followed by the work trip to Moline is organized. We still have some space available, especially for the guys. Anyone who would like more information or would like to come along should let us know as soon as possible. Dates are Thursday, August 2nd to Friday August 10th.
We continue to have scheduled meetings on the first and third Sunday afternoons of each month so the upcoming dates are: April 1st and 15th and May 6th and 20th. Winter participation has been “slow”. We hope to see many of you in the warmer weather!
Happy Easter to all............ The Ds
Join the Club
FILM & FAITH Our next meeting will be April 20th at 7:30 p.m. Join us as we watch and discuss the movie Matewan. The subject is labor relations in Appalachia.
Book Review Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Road. Rev. Jim Wall will discuss the book "Palestine - Peace Not Apartheid" by Jimmy Carter. A personal friend of the Carters, Jim Wall, passionate about Palestine, will speak specifically about Carter's new book, his history with the Carters, and the issues Carter addresses. All are welcome. If you have any questions you can call Norma Lee.
CROP Walk Organizational Meeting, Wednesday, April 25, at7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Road. Pastors are asked to please send a representative from their church to this important organizational meeting for the fall CROP Walk. The Bensenville-Elmhurst CROP walk is losing its long-time coordinators and new leadership is needed to keep this important ministry alive. Help us find a solution. If you have any questions you can call Norma Lee.
Women of Bethel
THE NEXT LADIES LUNCHEON will be held April 9th at Dorothea Odom’s home at 11:30 a.m. All ladies are welcome to join us. Bring a brown bag lunch and warm friendly smiles.
Ninth Annual Victorian Tea Will Be Saturday, April 14 Mark your calendars now for the Women of Bethel’s ninth annual Victorian Tea on Saturday, April 14. We’ll once again have a full-tea menu of frozen fruit cups, scones, sandwiches, desserts and, of course, tea, followed by our program, “The Magic of Music,” presented by The Profiles Singing Ensemble. This unique group of multi-talented women has been entertaining audiences throughout the Chicago area since 1966 with engaging performances filled with tantalizing tunes and lively humor. You may remember their delightful program at our 2003 Tea. Tickets for the Tea will be available to Bethel members AND the public beginning Sunday, March 11; seating is limited, so be sure to get your tickets early. Call for ticket availability and to make reservations; cost is $18 per person and your reservation is confirmed when your check is received. Please make checks out to Women of Bethel. The Tea begins at 12:30 with guests seated at that time. The program starts at 1:45 and tickets can be purchased for the program only for $9. Child care is free of charge but we need your reservation by April 9. Don't forget--guests are invited to wear hats and gloves!
Your help with food preparation, set-up on Friday afternoon, April 13, or clean-up following the Tea on Saturday would be greatly appreciated. Please contact one of the committee members, Arlene Sandvik, Fern Wilson, Pat Zugehar, or Linda Lyman if you can help.
ANCHORAGE BI-MONTHLY BIRTHDAY PARTY
WHEN: WED., APRIL 25, 2007
WHERE: MEET IN THE ANCHORAGE DINING ROOM
TINE: STARTING AT 1:30 PM.
We will be recognizing residents who have March/April birthdays with a small gift. If you would like to help, please place $2.00 in an envelope marked Anchorage Birthday Party and place this in the WOMEN OF BETHEL BOX in the staff office by Sunday, April 15th. Georgia DeClark and her 4 year olds will provide a program... starting at 2:00 pm. We thank the children and the BLC staff. There is a need for a total of (8) cakes: (6) 9x13 cakes, baked in a disposable pans...(pre-sliced) with no nuts or coconut and (2) angel food cakes for diabetic residents. There is a need for 4 or 5 persons to set the tables and serve the cakes as well as coffee and tea. For further information: call Arlene Sandvik. Thank you for volunteering and helping to make this a special day for the residents.
Music
Ministry
Greetings Members and Friends of Bethel -
I am thrilled to report that the first part of our Adult Choir exchange with the Adult Choir of St. Luke the Evangelist in Glen Ellyn went extremely well. As many of you may know, the combined choirs performed John Rutter’s Magnificat at St. Luke’s during their March 25th worship. This music is glorious, moving, beautifully constructed, and this performance was a wonderful opportunity for fellowship as well as having the privilege to perform such a truly inspired composition for the glory of the Lord. Penny Goldman, in an email to me, summed up the experience at St. Luke’s very nicely and I would like to share this with you:
“I cannot tell you how many people came up to me to say thanks for coming
and singing with their choir. Those are the things you can't put a price on,
and one of the big reasons I love to sing. For many people, what we do is
something they would not even try or dream of trying. So when we sing,
hopefully we give them a gift, something You do not find in any store, but
one size (two choirs combined this time) fits all.”
The combined choirs will perform the Magnificat in our Bethel worship on April 15th. Again, this music is simply glorious and I encourage our congregation to attend this worship. I applaud our Adult Voice Choir for their total commitment and very hard work on this technically encompassing work.
The final performance of the 8th annual Monday Evening Concert Series will feature our own soprano Jenny Riddle Monday May 7th at 7:30 pm. We have been working hard on this program for a long time, and I can assure all of you that this is one evening of music you will not want to miss. Please support one of our Bethel fundraisers as well as support two of your Bethel members in concert. For more information regarding this performance contact the Bethel office at 279-4040.
Jeff Panko, Minister of Music
Did you ever wonder . . .
Why is the fish a Christian symbol?
From time to time, the symbol of the fish appears on religious jewelry and in churches. Many of us have connected the fish with the story of the feeding of the 5000, or we may have heard an explanation of the symbol in Sunday School class. One of my early introductions to the symbol was in a wax museum in Canada, where wax figures were used to tell the story of the early Christian church. Our guide told us that the symbol of the fish indicated where Christians were meeting to worship, but they walked in the direction of the fish’s tail, not its head. Apparently, this was to confuse their Roman persecutors. I have no idea whether or not the guide spoke from scholarship, folklore, or some other source. But the interest in the fish as a symbol stayed with my nine-year-old mind along with the museum’s portrayal of early Christian suffering.
Whatever the accuracy of what I learned on my visit to the wax museum, the symbol of the fish was prominent in a recent article about a very early Christian church discovered in the Holy Land by prisoners in northern Israel. When archeologists were called in to learn more about the ruins, they dated the site to about 230 A.D. On the mosaic floor they discovered the design of two fish, a symbol for Christ. The article also mentions an explanation of the importance of the fish as a symbol. The Greek word for fish is ichthys. Each of those letters stands for a Greek word in the following phrase: Jesus Son of God, Savior. The article also reminds us of the many times that fish appear in the gospels.
Anyone wishing to read the entire article can find it in the March/April edition of Biblical Archaeology Review. Happy reading!
Rev. Sally Scheib, Associate Pastor
From your Parish Nurse
Health Hints – April, 2007
Greetings! This month I’d like to focus on Alzheimer’s disease. According to the 2007 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, there are now more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease. This represents a 10% increase from 5 years ago and more than double the number in 1980. Alzheimer’s has also now become the seventh leading cause of death in the country and the fifth leading cause of death for those over age 65. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whereas death rates from 2000-2004 declined for most major diseases, Alzheimer’s disease deaths continued to trend upward, increasing 33 percent during that period.
With 78 million baby boomers beginning to turn 60 last year and the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s being increasing age, it is clear that this disease may very well be “the health care crisis of the 21st century”. (Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association) Even though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, new improved knowledge of the disease creates the hope of new medications that can prevent, slow or even reverse damage to the brain that occurs.
What is Alzheimer’s disease? It is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. Some people also experience changes in mood and behavior. On average, the course of the disease from diagnosis to death usually spans 4-6 years but can vary between 3-20 years.
Early diagnosis in important!
If treatment is initiated early, it can slow the progression of symptoms and enable a person to continue to function longer. This is very valuable for people who will provide care for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. Family caregivers will have more time to seek necessary support and resources that can help them provide care for their loved ones while still taking care of themselves. There will be many important decisions about care, finances and legal matters that will need to be made. If I can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to call.
What is the difference between normal aging and signs of Alzheimer’s disease?
Normal Aging Alzheimer’s
Periodic forgetfulness Increasing problems with short-
term memory that interferes
with daily functioning.
Forgetting where you left Forgetting what your car keys are
your car keys. used for.
Forgetting a friend’s birthday. Difficulty recognizing friends and
family.
Occasionally misplacing items. Putting things in strange places (for
example, placing an iron in the
freezer).
Is usually able to care for self. Is gradually unable to care for self.
Helpful Resources:
Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org 1-800-272-3900
National Family Caregivers Association: www.nfcacares.org 1-800-896-3650
Children of Aging Parents: www.caps4caregivers.org 1-800-227-7294
National Institute on Aging: www.nia.nih.gov
U.S. Administration on Aging: www.aoa.ahhs.gov 1-202-619-7501
Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov 1-800-677-1116
Prayer: Help me remain patient, loving Father/Mother God, with the older people in my life. Keep me mindful that you have blessed them with long life, and, in my dealings with them, let me honor life by honoring them. Amen. (AdvocateHealthCare)
Kathy Murray, RN
Human Concerns
FOOD PANTRY In April we will be collecting rice, beans, and legumes to be distributed by the local food pantries. Please leave your donation in the basket just inside the North entrance.
MANY THANKS to the following Bethel members who participated in the recent Northern Illinois Food Bank work trip: Jan and Jim Dondlinger; Ellen Braun; Roxanne Schwoch; Chris Smith; Leslie Stipe; Ann Emma, and Lucy LaPalermo. We worked hard, we had fun and we packed over 2800 pounds of food in about 2 hours! Watch future newsletters for upcoming dates to the food bank as we will definitely go again this year and would love to have anyone 14 and older join us.
Ann LaPalermo
Pass It On We are pleased to say that 40 people have signed on for the "Pass It On" Campaign. The $50 envelopes were passed out on March 4th and March 11th. As you may remember, the money was given to us by an anonymous donor and our committee decided to ask the congregation to use this money in missions of their own. We hoped to get people and their families thinking about how to make this money make a difference. We are excited to hear where this money goes and will have a special service in May around this mission. We have already received two replies and anxiously await the rest!
Spotlight on Mission One of our new charities this year is Nature Conservancy. Their motto is "Saving the Last Great Places on Earth." Their mission is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities that represent diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and water they need to survive. They work in the United States and around the world. In each state, Nature Conservancy partners with local and state agencies to improve habitats and ecosystems. This collaborative science based approach achieves conservation results.
Many scientists predict that access to fresh water will be one of the most important issues of our century. In Illinois, Nature Conservancy launched programs a decade ago to conserve the Great Lakes and the Illinois River. Flood plain efforts were begun at Merwin Preserve at Spunky Bottoms. Native vegetation is blooming there on land that had been row crops for 80 years. This led NC to Emquon, a 7,000 acres land purchase, where "we" are restoring one of the richest flood plains on the Illinois River. The lessons being learned here are being applied to other large rivers in the US, China, South America, and Africa.
Some other projects include: rebuilding coral in the Florida Keys, checking mercury contamination in Eastern songbirds and expanding it to more species, and restoration of native oyster reefs that are disappearing from US coasts. Healing the ecosystem on Santa Cruz meant the return of the eagle and native foxes to the area. The list goes on and on.
"Are we losing our lands and our waters?" is the type of question that Nature conservancy tries to analyze and answer. I was surprised to learn that the Great Plains of the US are an endangered ecoregion disappearing with little or no conservation attention.
We are happy, with your help, to support the Nature Conservancy and its' efforts to preserve the health of our planet.
For more information go to nature.org Chris Smith
AIM (Adults in Mission) Plan Trip to Appalachia April 22 – 27 We are proceeding well with our plans for our first adult mission trip to Kentucky. Thanks to all who have helped with our fundraising efforts to date! We served over 120 baked potatoes in our two potato dinners and raised over $550 towards our building materials. We are excited to announce Appalachia Empowerment, Inc. has raised $1,400 and has a total of 12 preferred and 10 common shareholders investing in our initial public offering. Shares are still available until April 15th at a price of $20 for common shares or $100 for preferred shares.
On Sunday, April 15th, we will be gathering our gifts for the children of Appalachia. The breakfast club will be assembling the following items to give to their counterparts in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky:
• Backpacks or Book bags
• New or gently used sports equipment
• Athletic shoes
• Games and books
• Purses and t-shirts
Our group of 14 adults would like to thank the congregation for the ground swell of support for our first mission endeavor. We are planning a special presentation about our trip and the people we were able to help at a coffee hour in May.
Back Bay Mission Update—“This is the Church” A few months ago I accompanied the Breakfast Club on their weekend retreat, invited by Pastor Steve and CE intern Emmy Odean to help chaperone. The retreat’s theme of “Who is the Church?” focused on how being the Church is different from being in church. As I listened to the kids’ stories of finding the Church in the kindness of a stranger or a selfless act, I struggled with just how I would explain ‘The Church’—generosity and humility are certainly important parts of being the Church, but somehow, I felt, it was more than that.
The end of my first week as the Volunteer Coordinator at Back Bay Mission, the UCC community justice ministry located in Biloxi, Mississippi, offered me the perfect solution to my quandary. Church groups from Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and North Carolina had just spent five days toiling in the sunny but ‘no-see-ums’-infested climate of the Gulf Coast, rehabbing the houses and the lives of local people hit hard by Katrina. They gathered on their last night to feast on Gulf shrimp and to share the highs, lows, and surprises of their experiences. Some talked about the bugs, the poverty, the destruction; some mentioned the locals’ continued graciousness and generosity after months of having to accommodate volunteers; others spoke of their surprise at learning they could install molding or use a miter saw. One told of the child living in a FEMA trailer who walked into his almost-finished bedroom and exclaimed, arms outstretched, “I have a room!”, while another voiced the feeling that no matter how many bedrooms you finished, it was still just a drop in the ocean. The most frequent thing I heard, however, was the appreciation and wonder of the growing camaraderie among these three far-flung groups, the cooperation established between near strangers, and the feeling that the Holy Spirit was ever present in the midst of the laughter and the difficulties.
Shari Prestemon, Back Bay’s executive director, noted how valuable Back Bay’s work was, not only for the extremely underprivileged community it serves, but also for those who leave the four walls of their own churches to partake in its ministry. These participants return home to share Back Bay’s story with a considerably broadened view of what constitutes the body of Christ. “This,” she said, pointing to worn-out people gathered in fellowship on rickety picnic tables, “is the Church.”
Your support of Back Bay Mission, both financial and prayerful—and, on the upcoming 2008 BYF Work Trip, physical—exemplifies your willingness to move beyond Bethel’s four walls and to be the Church. Thank you, so much, for that.
Blessings,
Leah Lyman