Worship Schedule FILLED: Responding to God’s Generosity November 3 November 10 November 17 November 24 God Fills Our Need - Pastor Melissa Preaching, 2 Kings 4:1-7 We will celebrate Holy Communion God Fills Us With Unexpected Extravagance - Pastor Liz Preaching, John 2:1-12 God Fills Others Through One Person’s Generosity - Pastor Melissa Preaching, John 6:1-14 When have you filled the needs of others? God Fills Us So That We Can Fill Others - Pastor Melissa Preaching, Acts 2:1-7; 42-47 Filling the Hole Inside You Join us for a special celebration on Sunday, November 24, after worship, as we give thanks for the ways God fills us and the ways God uses our church to fill others with God’s love. We’ll have a special coffee bar, entertainment, and fabulous decorate-your-own treats. Hint: What food is known by its hole? FUMCAH NEWS November 2019 November is, appropriately, the season of both Stewardship and Thanksgiving; appropriate because of the strong connection of gratitude and generosity. As Jesus said, “...give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Jesus knew that life is paradox and that it is in giving that we receive. Generosity is powerful for the giver and the receiver. Through our many gifts, we support ministries in the Northwest suburbs, our nation, and around the world. Our gifts change lives. Indeed, United Methodists are committed to making disciples for the transformation of the world. But through our giving, we, too, can be transformed. I am currently reading The Second Mountain, by David Brooks. Brooks writes about people who “radiate a permanent joy.” The people who radiate a permanent joy have given themselves over to lives of deep and loving commitment. Giving has become their nature, and little by little they have made their souls incan- descent. There's always something flowing out of the interiority of our spirit. For some people, it's mostly fear or insecurity. For the people we call joyful, it's mostly gratitude, delight, and kindness. This month, may we practice both gratitude and generosity, delighting in all we have received and giving until both others - and ourselves - are transformed. Pastor Lynn Mikels
Transcript
Worship Schedule
FILLED: Responding to God’s Generosity
November 3
November 10
November 17
November 24
God Fills Our Need - Pastor Melissa Preaching, 2 Kings 4:1-7We will celebrate Holy Communion
God Fills Us With Unexpected Extravagance - Pastor Liz Preaching, John 2:1-12
God Fills Others Through One Person’s Generosity - Pastor Melissa Preaching, John 6:1-14When have you filled the needs of others?
God Fills Us So That We Can Fill Others - Pastor Melissa Preaching, Acts 2:1-7; 42-47Filling the Hole Inside YouJoin us for a special celebration on Sunday, November 24, after worship, as we give thanksfor the ways God fills us and the ways God uses our church to fill others with God’s love.We’ll have a special coffee bar, entertainment, and fabulous decorate-your-own treats.Hint: What food is known by its hole?
FUMCAH NEWSNovember 2019
November is, appropriately, the season of both Stewardship and Thanksgiving; appropriate because of the strong connection of gratitude and generosity. As Jesus said, “...give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Jesus knew that life is paradox and that it is in giving that we receive.
Generosity is powerful for the giver and the receiver. Through our many gifts, we support ministries in the Northwest suburbs, our nation, and around the world. Our gifts change lives. Indeed, United Methodists are committed to making disciples for the transformation of the world. But through our giving, we, too, can be transformed. I am currently reading The Second Mountain, by David Brooks. Brooks writes about people who “radiate a permanent joy.”
The people who radiate a permanent joy have given themselves over to lives of deep and loving commitment. Giving has become their nature, and little by little they have made their souls incan- descent. There's always something flowing out of the interiority of our spirit. For some people, it's mostly fear or insecurity. For the people we call joyful, it's mostly gratitude, delight, and kindness.
This month, may we practice both gratitude and generosity, delighting in all we have received and giving until both others - and ourselves - are transformed.
UMW Recycled Christmas Sale, 9am-3pm, Fellowship Hall. Buy gently used Christmas decor to support our missions.Gently used Christmas décor will be collected November 10-12. Call Jacqueline Raitano for more info, 847-612-8444.16
Basic Bible Study in the Wesley Room after worship.10
2020 Stewardship Campaign Kickoff. This year's theme and sermon series is “Filled: Responding to God's Generosity.”“College and Family Financial Planning” in the Wesley Room after worship.03
Feed my Starving Children Packing Event, 2pm, 740 Wiley Farm Court, Schaumburg.02
Christmas Services at 4pm, 7:30pm, and 11pm.Dec 24Illinois Brass Band joins us for worship.Dec 22Longest Night Service: An Advent worship service for those who grieve or for whom the holidays are a difficult time.Dec 18Illinois Brass Band concert in the Sanctuary.Dec 15Church Conference, 7pm, in the Wesley Room.Dec 9Breakfast with Santa, 9am. Pancakes, Christmas crafts, and a visit with Santa.Dec 7
Save the Date!
Event and Contact InformationNovemberFUMCAH CALENDAR
“College and Family Financial Planning - 10 Tips to Get You on Track,” will be presented by Kate Leipprandt on November 3 in the Wesley Room after worship. Kate is a long time member of FUMCAH, and is a Certified Financial Planner professional and a member of the Financial Planning Association serving clients at Baldwin Financial Advisors, LLC in Arlington Heights and the surrounding communities.
Basic Bible Study on November 10 in the Wesley Room after worship. We’ve got Bibles, do you have questions? This Kaleidoscope will consider key Biblical facts and terminology as well as hints for navigating the books of the Bible. Before you leave, you’ll even study one whole book – Philemon!
“Too Soon to Forget,” a documentary from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, will be featured on November 17, in the Wesley Room after worship. Understanding the emotional experience of Alzheimer’s can encourage each of us to be more empathetic and supportive. In sharing the stories of nine families living with Alzheimer’s disease, the film helps us better understand the isolation, the adjustments, and the healing power of community.
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is providing disaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Dorian. If you are looking for a way to help with disaster relief in the United States and around the world, UMCOR is one way to join other United Methodists to aid short-term and long-term relief efforts. Visit UMCOR’s website (umcor.org) for more information and to stay informed on their efforts.
November Mission: Hurricane Dorian relief through UMCOR
With your support, youth and adults from FUMCAH have been helping families in need in Central Appalachia for 45 years! The new underpinning on Bethany’s home has made it warmer and drier. Repairs to Cordus’ roof and a wheel chair ramp made his home drier and safer. With ASP’s help, the Thompsons were able to start a new home for their family of six. Team ASP 2020 will be traveling to central Appalachia in June 2020 to participate in this “relational ministry with home repair on the side.” To help raise the necessary funds to get our group to Kentucky or West Virginia, ASP will be holding our annual Holiday Gift Card Sale starting November 17. Place your order for gift cards any Sunday from November 17 to December 15 and pick up your order the following Sunday. The final pick-up day will be Sunday, December 22. Make your holiday gifting easy and help Team ASP 2020 in their mission to make homes warmer, safer, and drier. You can also choose to help two missions at once by purchasing gift cards from ASP and giving them to ChildServ. You can brighten the Christmas of a needy child in the Chicagoland area and help Team ASP 2020 at the same time!
ASP Gift Cards
Did you know that our church is the most generous participant in ChildServ’s Holiday Gift Project? ChildServ is a local United Methodist Ministry whose mission is to protect, heal, and educate children and families so they can build better lives. They’ve been doing so since 1894 but we are about to embark on our 15th year providing Christmas gifts to 150 children, a mere fraction of all the children they serve.
In November, we will have gift tags available for these children. Each tag contains their first names, the ChildServ program to which they are assigned, their ages, clothing size, and gift wish list. Purchasing gifts for these children is a perfect way to both celebrate the holidays by making a child smile, and also to teach our children the importance of philanthropic giving.
We are partnering once again with ASP’s Gift Card Fundraiser so you can make your gift count twice. Buy Target or Walmart Gift cards and use them to purchase your gifts at the store; or you can gift them to the children in the ChildServ program!
To learn more about ChildServ, go online to childserv.org or contact Roylene Gallas via email at [email protected] or text at 847-222-1071. Let’s make Christmas merry together!
ChildServ is Around the Corner!
United Methodist PreschoolPreschool and We-e Care Fun Facts The First United Methodist Preschool was begun in 1973 and has been an ongoing ministry of our church ever since. There are currently 131 children in the preschool and 37 in we-e care for a total of 168 children coming to our church weekdays. There are 22 staff members, 5 of whom are church members. A Board of 15 meets monthly to oversee policies and philosophy of the program. Half are members of our church and half are preschool parents. One is both! Please feel free to come and visit this wonderful and vital mission that has been an important part of our church for 46 years.
“Noodles Night” Fund Raiser, December 3 Support our Preschool and make dinner preparation extra easy. Just purchase dinner at Noodles, 66 South Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, from 4-8pm; 25% of each purchase will benefit the Preschool.
Craft Beer and Soda Tasting and Silent Auction, February 29, 7-9pm Leap into some fun at Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove while supporting the FUMCAH Preschool. Tickets will be available soon. If you would like to donate something to the auction, email Michelle Goreham at [email protected].
New Director of Communications, Media, and SoundThe Staff Parish Relations Committee is pleased to announce that Chris Rice, who has served as our Media and Sound coordinator for seven years, is adding Communications to his portfolio. Chris brings experience in social media marketing, web page management, and newsletter production from his business, Rice Custom Guitars.Chris grew up in Arlington Heights, and he has deep roots in the community. All four of his grandparents moved here in the 1960s, with his maternal grandparents in Berkley Square and his paternal grandparents on Lake Briarwood. Chris went through the local schools, attending Poe, Cooper, and BGHS before heading to Harper and then Elmhurst College to pursue a degree in music. He has over 19 years of experience as a music teacher, and has performed across the country and internationally.Chris moved to Palatine with his wife, Christina, in 2012. You can often find Christina assisting behind the soundboard or with a flute in her hands during services.You can reach Chris at [email protected].
Richard Taylor, who was the Communications Coordinator previously, is returning to freelance work. We wish him the best in this new endeavor.
Studio 1903: Learn the DrumsKyle Gentile will be offering drum lessons in the Sanctuary as part of Studio 1903.Kyle grew up in this church, and attended Rolling Meadows High School. He has a Bach-elor of Music in Jazz Studies from Capital University, as well as a Masters of Music in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He is the son of our long-time drummer and keyboardist, Kevin Gentile, and has been our church drummer since September.If you are interested in drum lessons, please email Kyle at [email protected].
Congregation NewsBirthGraham Gary Laatsch on September 29, son of Glenn and Suzanne Laatsch, grandson of Cathy and the late Gary Laatsch, and great grandson of the late Bill and Gerry Will.
DeathsFrank Diaz on October 13, husband of Liz.Dale Klinger on October 20, member of FUMCAH for 60 years.
Consider making a gift to FUMCAH's ministries or monthly mission focus in celebra-tion of a birth, birthday, anniversary, graduation, or other special event. We will acknowledge the special event and gift in our Sunday bulletin, newsletter, and e-news.
Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 7Planning for your family visit with Saint Nicholas? Enjoy a mall-free festive morning at FUMCAH with your children or grandchildren, experiencing wonderful holiday traditions.
9:00-11:00: Breakfast Buffet 9:15-11:30: Stories, Crafts, and Photos with Santa 10:30-11:00: Prospect High School Madrigal Singers will perform
Register online at gofumcah.com/breakfast-with-santa or by calling the church office. The suggested “cost” is a food donation to the Northwest Compass pantry. Recommended items include canned goods (fruits, vegetables, chili, spaghetti, stew), cereal, rice, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and cookies.
Getting to Why Retreat by Pastor Melissa Earley
So often we define ourselves by “what” we do and not by “why” we do it. We are defined by the “whats” we box ourselves in and lose the ability to innovate in changing times. Without knowing why we do what we do, we are also prone to burnout. “Whats” speak to the head, “Whys” speak to the heart. When communities know their “whys,” they open themselves to God’s possibilities.
A group of about 20 people spent the better part of 4 hours sharing stories about our church. We started with the ques-tion, “When were you most proud to be part of this church?” The answers were powerful. A few of them were:
• After General Conference 2019, we filled our lawn with rainbow flags and ended the service singing “Child of God.” We felt connected and made a statement to the community about our welcome of all people. It was important to us to take a stand.
• When our church voted overwhelmingly to support the Building for All project, I felt such deep appreciation for all the hard work that had gone into the plans. It was a bold move after General Conference.
• The process we went through to become reconciling brought people out to share about their families. In the final meeting to vote, some people spoke against it, but they’ve stayed. I’m proud they felt like they could stick around.
• A child with special learning needs was welcomed warmly into our Wednesday might JAM children’s ministry. He was welcomed and encouraged to participate without having to ask or push. It felt above and beyond.
• When our church hosted Father Pfleger, I was proud to be part of a church standing against racism.
As we talked about the contribution our church had made in people’s lives, some of the verbs we used were: supported · listened · risked · were courageous · inspired · agonized · struggled · accepted · welcomed · questioned · learned · loved.
Then we asked, “What did the contribution of our church allow others to do or be?” Some of the answers were:
• Be bold in the face of injustice
• Be and share their authentic self and use their gifts
• Be less fearful knowing that God loves them
• To grow and evolve in their understanding
When we pulled together our stories, verbs, and contributions, we came up with two statements about our church’s “Why.”
• To love boldly because a new world is possible.
• To grow a loving community so that each is empowered to be in the world as Christ’s disciple.
The Pastors, Lay Leader, Church Council Chair, and SPRC Chair will meet on October 28 to talk through which of these to choose, to pull these into one statement, or to continue the process. These clergy and lay leaders will also establish a process to identify how we live our “why” and prioritize what we do to live our “why.”
On October 26th, FUMCAH hosted a night of music and treats to raise funds for Hurricane Dorian relief through UMCOR. Church singers and musicians put on a splendid show and raised over $1400. A very special thanks goes to Jeannie Workman and Kevin Gentile, as well as to all of the singers, instrumental-ists, and volunteers who made this night possible.
Our first community seminar on aging included a keynote speaker on brain health as well as workshops both informational and experiential. How might our lives be filled with grace at every age and stage?
FUMCAH put the “fun” in “fearful” at our Trunk-or-Treat! Thanks to all who decorated trunks and participated in this celebration of God’s gifts of playfulness and imagination.
FUMCAH is truly a multi-generational church; what a blessing! On Grandparent’s Day, we enjoyed worshipping and learning together – both in the Sanctuary and in “Messy Church” in Fellowship Hall.
STUDIO 1903
or current resident
Art ClassesYouth Art Classes: From 4-5:30pm on Tuesdays for ages ten and older; and on Thursdays for ages 6-9. Projects include clay, jewelry, drawing, painting, and more.Saturday Open Studio: From 9:15-11:15am on Saturdays, open to ages 13 and up. Whether you are a beginner or have experi-ence, our open studio allows you to work at your own pace on projects of your choice, such as painting, printing, drawing, mosaic tile, glass fusing, and more. Drop in for however long you wish in our relaxing, supportive setting.All classes are $7 per class or $25 for a punch card of four, participants need not attend every week. To sign up, call or email Thom Frerk at 773-507-5340 or [email protected].
Yoga ClassesChristine Pellum, a certified yoga-fit instructor, welcomes adults on Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm, in the Chapel. Molly Kranovich leads a Friday morning Yoga from 9:30-10:30am in the Chapel. Cost is $10 per session. For more information, call the church office at 847-255-5112.
Music LessonsVoice lesson times are offered on Wednesday and Friday after-noons. Individual sessions are $30 for 30 minutes. All ages are welcome. Scholarships are available. Contact Lorena ([email protected]) for more information about pricing and scheduling.Drum lessons are offered in the Sanctuary with Kyle Gentile. Contact Kyle ([email protected]) for information on pricing and scheduling.
Zumba®Burn lots of calories while dancing to a blend of Latin and World music. Routines can be modified for your level of fitness. Classes are led at FUMCAH by one of our own church members, Veronica Biazo, ACE certified group fitness instruc-tor and licensed Zumba® instructor. Regular Zumba® classes are Thursday evenings (6:30-7:30pm).Classes are open to all church members and the public (age 16 and over), $8/drop-in class, save with a class pass (5 classes/$35, 10 classes/$60, 20 classes/$110).Seniors (62+) and Students w/IDs (16+), $6/drop-in or 10 classes/$50.
