Here’s some interesting events from 1917: *President Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany and enters World War 1 *Mata Hari is arrested and executed *Emperor Nicholas 1 of Russia abdicates his throne and the Bolsheviks take over in Russia *Women hold their first protest demanding the right to vote *Blanche Sapato is born The incredibly long and healthy life of our oldest member Blanche is something amazing to ponder. When she was born automobiles were a novelty only the rich could afford. When she died everybody was walking around with smart phones in their pockets whose computers are more powerful than ones that filled entire buildings in the 1980s. As a girl could she have ever imagined that the moon she looked at would one day be walked on? Yet with all those life experiences, it was obvious that her participation in our faith community at Salem is what she cherished most. When she returned to our church, after decades away, she found the face, hands and feet of Christ in all of you. This truly lifted her spirits, and her joy became our joy. This is what happens when we come together to serve, give, pray, worship, welcome, forgive and love. We all lift one another’s lives, spirits and reality. Christ is made visible. He was made visible in Blanche’s smile and love, and that will be missed. However, our faces, and new faces that will come, will keep the resurrected Christ visible for each of us still on the journey. The Lord is Risen! He is Risen indeed! May we continue to live out that beautiful promise until we meet again. Peace, Pastor Steve From the Pastor... Salem United Church of Christ Oak Lawn, Illinois NEWS and NOTES September 2019; Issue 486
Transcript
Here’s some interesting events from 1917:
*President Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany and enters World War 1
*Mata Hari is arrested and executed
*Emperor Nicholas 1 of Russia abdicates his throne and the Bolsheviks take over in Russia
*Women hold their first protest demanding the right to vote
*Blanche Sapato is born
The incredibly long and healthy life of our oldest member Blanche is something amazing to ponder. When
she was born automobiles were a novelty only the rich could afford. When she died everybody was walking
around with smart phones in their pockets whose computers are more powerful than ones that filled entire
buildings in the 1980s. As a girl could she have ever imagined that the moon she looked at would one day be
walked on?
Yet with all those life experiences, it was obvious that her participation in our faith community at Salem is
what she cherished most. When she returned to our church, after decades away, she found the face, hands
and feet of Christ in all of you. This truly lifted her spirits, and her joy became our joy. This is what happens
when we come together to serve, give, pray, worship, welcome, forgive and love. We all lift one another’s
lives, spirits and reality. Christ is made visible. He was made visible in Blanche’s smile and love, and that will
be missed. However, our faces, and new faces that will come, will keep the resurrected Christ visible for
each of us still on the journey.
The Lord is Risen! He is Risen indeed! May we continue to live
out that beautiful promise until we meet again.
Peace,
Pastor Steve
From the Pastor...
Salem United Church of Christ
Oak Lawn, Illinois N E W S a n d N O T E S September 2019; Issue 486
Marianne Cox’s new address: 7928 Trinity Circle #1NE, Tinley Park, IL 60487
September Scripture Readings
The Revised Common Lectionary is used in a broad array of churches and offers passages for each Sunday. Usually they are Old Testament with a related Psalm, Gospel and Epistle Readings (with some seasonal variations).
Although it is not the practice in our church to read all the passages each Sunday, you may wish to do that as preparation for weekly worship.
What a pleasure and honor it is to have so many older seniors with us. Bless you all!
Memorial Pavers
Leave a lasting memory at Salem with the purchase of a memorial paver. You can purchase one in
memory of a loved one, from your family, or a gift in love. Engraving charge for an 8x8 paver is $100/paver.
If you are interested, please grab a form from Jean in the office!
Electronic Giving
Are you ready to join the electronic age and give to the church via the web? You can make a one-time
donation or set up weekly, recurring donations and never have to worry about forgetting your checkbook or
cash at home on Sundays! You can also donate straight from your smartphone. Search your app store for
GivePlus Church, and put in 60453 as the zip code to search and then click on Salem!
First Communion Sunday – September 15
Join us September 15th as Abby Fasano & Cooper Lake take their First Communion and move deeper into a
relationship with God.
STAR WORDS - Everyone who comes to church on Rally Day will receive a Star Word. A Star Word is one
word that you will ponder and reflect on until Epiphany Sunday in January. Think about the significance this
word has in your life and how God might be trying to speak to you through it. On Epiphany Sunday there will
be a time to share how your word found a way to be significant in your life. Be sure to get your Star Word on
Rally Day!
Stations Sunday Next Sunday– September 1st
Be sure to invite somebody to join you for worship next Sunday, September 1st. Come and find the healing
presence of God.
Women’s Guild Meeting-The women’s guild meeting has been changed from September 10th to September 17th. The reason for the change this month is because Rally day is that past Sunday and everyone needs a
break from Rally day. Also several people could not make the 10th.
We are going to need volunteers to help set-up for the luncheon as our dear Blanche is no longer with us and
Lynda will be late. If you can help would you please let Marianne know ASAP. Thank you.
Musichorale Concert Date Change-Mark your calendars for December 8th. The tickets are $13 as long as we have 12 members going. I will start collecting money in November. Please let me know if you have a suggestion as to where to go for dinner afterwards. If I don’t hear from anyone we will go back to the Royal-
berry. ~Lynda Ganzer
Deadline for the October issue of News & Notes is
Friday, September 20th!
Spousal Loss Support Group
Vitas Hospice will host a workshop on dealing with the loss of a spouse on Saturday, September 28th at
10am in Zion Hall. It will run about an hour and a half and be followed up with lunch. This is free and
open to the public. Whether your loss is recent, or long ago, this workshop will help you work through
the loss.
Neighbors In Need
Our 5 for 5 campaign continues on Oct. 6th with Neighbors In Need. This mission of the UCC supports
ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Please help support this worthy
mission of our church. ~Missions Committee
Board of Christian Education
Our new season of Salem's Sunday School will begin with Rally Day on Sunday, September 8th. Our theme this year is "Even The Stars Praise His Name". There are sign-up sheets on the entryway table for donations and volunteers. We hope to see everyone there!
Sunday School classes will resume on Sunday, September 15th. Make sure your kids are at church each Sunday so they might absorb all we have to offer about the teachings of Jesus.
Abby Fasano and Cooper Lake will be making their First Communion on September 15th as part of the church service. Let's all share this special occasion with them. Congratulations to Abby & Cooper!!
Liturgists for September:
1st Linda Jennings
8th Lynette Lake
15th Beth Romanzow
22nd Linda Jennings
29th Pam McWilliams
Greeters for September:
1st Gatton Family
8th Lake Family
15th Tom & Alice Machtemes
22nd Deb Hoover and Daughters
29th Sharon Shields & Family
Acolytes for September:
1st Zach McWilliams
8th Maggie Lake
15th Mackenzie Gatton
29th Essie Loth
Prayer for the Beginning of Autumn
O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons.
As we welcome the autumn months,
may the earlier setting of the sun
remind us to take time to rest.
May the brilliant colors of the leaves
remind us of the wonder of your creation.
May the steam of our breath in the cool air
remind us that it is you who give us the breath of life.
May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given
and bounty we are to share with others.
May the dying of summer’s spirit remind us of your great promise that death is tem-
porary and life is eternal.
Even The Stars Praise
His Name
Salem United Church of Christ
9717 South Kostner Avenue
Oak Lawn, Illinois
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL SUNDAY SCHOOL
KICK-OFF CELEBRATION
RALLY DAY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
Outdoor Worship (Weather Permitting) 10:00 a.m.
Food, Festivities, and Fun:11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Fun includes:
Inflatable
Games
Bingo
Minute to Win It
$1 & $2 food items
BRING YOUR FRIENDS TO RECEIVE OUT OF THIS WORLD PRIZES
September Birthdays:
September 2: Lynette Lake September 22: Betty Lovato
September 15: Martin Gatton September 25: Gil Oliva & Shirley Miller
September 21: Kayleigh Bendik & Pam McWilliams September 28: George Anton
Shut-in List: Prayer List:
Carolyn Henry Marianna Vasquez-Loor
Claude Wolcott Stan Burgess
Loretta Brinnegar Terry Ganzer
Jan Tolchin John Thorne
Dorothy Kopeck
Tom & Sue Heuss
Ruth Streitberger
Jack VanZee
Carol Miller
Sue Lammel
Bob Hays
Mark your calendars for another amazing month at Salem! Sundays, 10am
September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Church Service
Mondays, 10am-11am September 9, 16, 23, 30
Blanket Making
Tuesdays, 9am September 3, 10, 17, 24
Bazaar Crafters
NOTE: Beverly Theater Guild rehearses at Salem on Sundays.
Also, the Men’s Group meets every Tuesday. For more information on the Men’s Group, please email Don Michaels at [email protected].
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at Salem on Tuesdays at 7pm. Overeaters Anonymous meets at Salem on Fridays at 7pm.
Al-Anon meets at Salem on Wednesdays at 7pm.
Two Beautiful Ladies
In the past couple of months our church family lost two beautiful ladies. First it was Trudy and then this past week Blanche. Both of these ladies were pillars of the church. They both had smiles on their faces and always had a kind word for everyone. Both Trudy and Blanche were very active in a lot of church activities. They truly will be missed by everyone who knew them. They both are with the lord now and I am sure they are both happy to be united with their husbands again.
Once again Salem BEDS Plus Homeless Shelter program along with several other churches in the surrounding communities of the greater Oak Lawn area and West Suburban Cook County are preparing to open their doors for the upcoming season from October 2019 to April 2020. There is a lot of preparation involved in achieving another successful season. One of the essential components in running our shelter program is having ample volunteers to assure a comfortable and safe over-night stay of our guests. Volunteers are needed each Sunday to setup the sleeping areas; facilitate guests’ access to show-ers and provide clothing & personal care items as needed. In addition, separate teams of volunteers are needed who will be specifically assigned each Sunday for the purpose of providing hot meals to the guests at the evening dinners and food supplies for breakfast as well as bag lunches for the next day. A team of volunteers who are assigned to the 4th shift assist in preparing a simple breakfast for the guests while 2nd shift volunteers prepare bag lunches that are given to them before they leave in the morning.
The BEDS Plus’ professional staff provide a continuum of year-round services in mental health rehabilitation, addiction re-covery, employment and permanent supportive housing assistance that are all designed to complete the journey to inde-pendent living. BEDS responds to a wide spectrum of need among the homeless in Prevention & Stabilization Services through Certified Case management staff who provide counseling and other case management services. Each client's unique set of needs are identified and addressed through scheduled appointments in their offices as well as on site as needed during the first shift of each overnight shelter.
Our newly built 22-unit apartment building constructed last year in LaGrange, Illinois to house several of our homeless guests is at full capacity. New office facilities are also located in this building serving our homeless community. In addi-tion, BEDS Plus, Inc. has developed for our homeless guests an array of more permanent scattered housing opportunities in various surrounding communities of the Western & Southwestern suburbs of Cook County. BEDS Plus operates its vari-ous homeless shelters in local churches in the community by recruiting volunteers as site managers who are responsible for coordinating the overall services at each site. Team leaders are also chosen to assist the managers in finding and coor-dinating assigned volunteers and facilitating the program on the assigned day of each week. BEDS Plus will assist us in this process when possible. Salem United Church of Christ will continue to provide shelter for our guests each Sunday evening from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Volunteers from Salem, St. Germaine Catholic Church and the community work in in the operation of the site on designated Sundays each month. Volunteers recruited from St. Germaine team leadership run the 1st and 3rd Sundays. Salem volunteers work at the site operation on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays. Each Sunday has four shifts. The shift hours are: 1st shift 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., 2nd shift 11 p.m. – 3:00 a.m., 3rd shift 3 a.m. - 7 a.m., 4th shift 5:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. There will be an orientation for all new volunteers before the season begins sometime in September. I can assure you that your time and commitment as a volunteer will reap many benefits not only for our homeless guests, but also for you. Some of these benefits are:
• Become a part of a loving community that gives love and gets a lot of love back.
• Improve physical and mental health, particularly depression, and can even extend your life expectancy and quality/satisfaction of life when you give your time to others.
• Improves the quality of life in the communities we live in which benefits everyone.
• Meet new people and make new friends.
• Have fun! Most volunteers have a great time regardless of what they do. It’s just the experience of meeting different kinds of people and different kinds of experiences in life.
• Most importantly it strengthens our faith in a life lived in Jesus Christ by giving us a new way of seeing & experiencing God at work for good in our own lives as well as in the lives of others.
If you are interested in joining our Salem BEDS Plus team in any capacity please contact me at:
